Matchday 36 – Quick Round Up

Match Day 36 Round Up

Saturday 9th May

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

An appallingly bad display from both sides, who seemed to be trying to lull everyone watching to sleep with their slow build up play. It is little wonder boos rang out around the stadium at the end, it was well deserved for two extremely expensively assembled teams who are badly letting down their fans.

Starmen:
The fans – for bothering to watch this slop.

Flops:
Both clubs’ boards – for the mismanagement that has dragged both teams down so far. The players are there, the money has been spent but neither have been able to hire a manager to make the most of them.

Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United

Man Utd have started to become more passive as the time wears on under Carrick, in large part likely due to the influence of Steve Holland, who seems to favour this style of play. That, for me, is the main reason they failed to beat a Sunderland side that has been on such a poor run of form in recent weeks and is missing their main centre-back Ballard. Though, it must be said, neither team have much left to play for this season. I did think that the decision to bring back Martinez hampered them, it meant the backline was worryingly slow. Sunderland did look more like the team that started the season so well, aggressive and trying to play always on the front foot, but just lacking good finishers and simply not good enough to beat the Red Devils.

Starmen:
Geertruida – filled in at right-back and did a good job.
Xhaka – he holds this team together.
Lammens – having a good solid keeper has made such a huge difference to Man Utd’s team.

Flops:
Hume – he really is not Premier League quality, even though he always gives his all.
Brobbey – he is a handful for defenders but his finishing is woeful.
Zirkzee – needs to get himself more involved.
Cunha – so much talent but has been disappointing so far.

Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

A one-sided stroll for the Seagulls, with Wolves very limp and clearly not really putting their all into the match. It was little wonder Edwards was so angry on the sidelines and called out his players after the game, he has been utterly unable to motivate them and has lost his cool with them now. It must be so frustrating to manage these multimillionaires that just cannot be bothered to earn their enormous wages.

Starmen:
Cuyper – under no pressure whatsoever defensively, so was able to gain a couple of assists.
Dunk – even a very average defender like Dunk can stroll…