Bloodied But Unbowed

Uh, not exactly.

Steven Taylor suffered a nasty cut when he collided with the post attempting to clear a ball off the line.  Jon Champion was impressed that the center back was able to continue; "bloodied but unbowed" were his words.  Too bad that didn't apply to Newcastle more generally.  The Magpies dodged the blow several times in Sunday's derby with Sunderland but in the end - the 90th minute to be exact - conceded a goal and fell to their bitter rivals again, 1-0.


 The match had all the passion you would expect in a derby, if by passion you mean senseless fouls (30) and yellow cards (8) early and often.  First half might have been a slight edge to the Black Cats.  Second half Newcastle had the run of play but every time they threatened, the shot was right at the keeper, like he had a bulls-eye painted on his jersey.  You can't accuse Pardew of playing conservative - he sent on Cisse in the 75th minute, replacing Tiote.  It did result in better offensive pressure but in the end, left them exposed on the game winning counter attack.

I heard some talk that it's unlucky to lose in the last minute that way.  For me, this glass was half empty.  Newcastle was lucky not to be down 0-2 and that "game-winning" goal could have easily been the nail in the coffin.  They didn't lack for opportunities (14 shots, 7 on goal) but the finishing wasn't there.  Is that luck or lack (of skill)?  The winter silly season (January transfer window) is nearly upon us; is there a striker out there to help and maybe another center back for some depth?


There Will Be Blood

Not a good day to be a center back.  In the Liverpool - Arsenal match,  Martin Skrtel's skull was split open by Giroud's cleat (accidentally) in the second half but after the physio's stapled the wound (I'm not making that up - see the picture), like Taylor, he was able to continue.  But the Slovakian saw a better ending.  Skrtel tied the match in dramatic fashion in the 97 minute with, wait for it, a stunning header.  Guess the bandage didn't affect his aim. 

This match was great theater.  Coutinho for the early Liverpool lead, Debuchy leveling in first half stoppage time.  Giroud gave the Gunners the lead in the 64th minute.  Liverpool had chances but their fate seemed sealed when Borini got two yellows in a short space, leaving his side down a man.  But there would be stoppage time - nine minutes thanks to Skrtel's injury.  And since was it was his time, why not make the best of it?  Seemed like it could have been a derby.


Agbonlahor and Dennis Both See Red

I am a little sad that this Sportcenter commercial is rapidly becoming my mantra for the Villa season.  For the third time (though Steve would argue it is only the second), a Villa player was shown an undeserved red.  Unlike the other two times, there is NO WAY to argue that this one was deserved.  Agbonlahor went in a little hard on a challenge and kicked the United player in the ankle as seen in this week's YouTubeable Moment.  That's it.  No raised hands, no aggression, not even a real slide tackle, in the midst of a very clean game.  This call was so egregious that, for the first time, I broke the sacred etiquette of soccer viewing and texted Steve without checking to see if he was even watching.  The card has since been rescinded and the ref was not assigned for a match on Sunday, which does ease the pain.  

Fortunately, even the worst of calls was not enough to ruin the day.  Any match that starts with Tom Cleverly ineligible is a good thing in my book and it is a shame that his 1 match card accumulation ban overlapped with his "can't play against a parent club" ban.  About 30 minutes in, Benteke did Benteke things - excellent settle off his chest, two touches to wrong foot a defender, then curl a beauty into the upper left corner - to take a 1-0 lead and my hopes for both the match and the season soared.  United equalized just after half and Agbonlahor's card came in the 65th minute.  Villa amazingly seemed to play better down a man and certainly could have stolen all 3 points right at the end when an excellent chance rolled just past a wide open Benteke. Another solid all around performance could be the spring board to a mid-table finish.......or just attract the vulturous other teams needing to beef up their rosters come January.  If this squad is intact come February, I like are chances of staying up.  If both Delph and Vlaar are gone, and rumors suggest they are being targeted by multiple teams, we could be in some deep trouble.


Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

As expected Chelsea (2-0 over a surprisingly stubborn Stoke City) and Manchester City (3-0 over Crystal Palace despite missing key players) widened the gap at the top of the table.  West Ham kept the bubble machine busy with a 2-0 win over Leicester, maintaining their hold on fourth.  Tottenham had their hands full with Burnley but ground out a 2-1 win to stay within striking distance of the fourth.   And Southampton did in fact use Everton to get healthy, slapping a 3-0 defeat on the Toffees.  Didn't see the match so I don't know if the score flatters the Saints or not but that had to be encouraging for them.  Shorter Shane Long: "We're not dead yet."


Boxing Day and More

Friday, Sunday, Thursday (New Year's Day) - everybody has three matches in seven days.  A chance to see how deep your squad really is.

On Boxing Day (Friday), NBCSN has Chelsea-West Ham at 7:45 (though winning, the Blues haven't been as dominating lately - can't wait to see if the Hammers have something to say), Manchester United - Newcastle at 10 (ugh - won't even be watching live as BFS staff will be meeting to celebrate one year anniversary and will be live streaming Swansea-Aston Villa) and Arsenal-QPR at 12:30.  Sunday has Tottenham-Man United at 7 am (Michael B - wanna watch live?), Southampton-Chelsea at 9:05 and Newcastle-Everton at 11:15.  New Year's Day goes Stoke-Man United at 7:45, Southampton-Arsenal at 10 and Tottenham-Chelsea at 12:30.  Three fine days of viewing.

Looking at the home sides, hard to say what to expect from Newcastle.  Man United looks like a tough match but the Magpies did win at Old Trafford last year.  Off of recent form, Everton haven't looked so tough but I keep waiting for them to snap out of it; Newcastle might be their chance.  They end the holidays with a home match against Burnley; a loss in that one will raise the "sack Pardew" din to at least earlier levels, if not higher.  Four points would be awesome, three not too bad but frankly, I'm afraid that after the holidays,we'll be back to talking about relegation again; that shouldn't be happening with this team.

Aston Villa's task is somewhat less daunting.  The trip to Wales may not be likely to bring a result but home matches with Sunderland and Crystal Palace are.  This is a great opportunity to put relegation well back in the rear view mirror.  Six points is not out of the question.

Hope you don't get a lump of coal in your stocking, or its EPL equivalent, getting shut out in your holiday matches.