The Quilty view......football opinion: The EPL holiday period is officially over!

Writing back on 29th December I suggested that the holiday period typically through up some 'turn up' results....this years holiday did not disappoint.....upsets a plenty! Some point out that professional clubs with large squads should be able to handle the strains of 3 or 4 games in eight days......However the task is not just a physical one....the holiday period really puts the routine out of whack. Clearly Wayne Rooney found it difficult to break his holiday plans going out for dinner with wife Coleen. Old red face took offence and fined him a weeks wages:)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2080836/Wayne-Rooney-axed-Manchester-United-Boxing-Day-dinner-Coleen.html

Trivia aside who were the winners and losers from this period? Apart from tracking who picked up the points it is just as relevant to look at the coaches in the EPL. Obviously some are under more pressure than others. Steve Kean at Blackburn could have possibly expected to pick up one win facing Man Utd and Stoke.....beating the former 3-2 on their own patch was the periods biggest upset. Owen Coyle of Bolton got a win and a draw while Wigan boss Martinez only got a single point in the period. Double losers were QPR, WBA and Man Utd ....perhaps SAF should have sent the whole squad out on Boxing Day:) Chelsea coach Andres Villas-Boas will be hearing the ticking of the clock on his tenure, a bit like Captain Hook who was pursued by a crocadile, who had swallowed a ticking clock, they both need to recognise the signs....losing 3-1 at home to Villa is one.:)
Martin O'Neil has got off to a great start at Sunderland winning away to Wigan and beating leaders Citeh 1-0. Newcastle will be pleased to have a 3 points from the 6 on offer, facing Liverpool and ManUtd. Harry Redknapp seems a happy chappie at Spurs while Arsene Wenger just never seems pleased these days. The return of Thiery Henry might cheer him up and seems only for the good for the Gunners...losing players to the African Nations Cup in January is something several clubs will need to deal with. Citeh will lose both Toure brothers while Chelsea will be without Drogba. Arsenal lose Gervinho and Chamakh. Newcastle will be without Ba and Tiote.

http://goafrica.about.com/od/africafestivalsandevents/a/nationscup08.htm

That all said we are only at the half way point of the 38 game season. Distraction this weekend with the third round of the FA Cup. Personally it saddens me as a Spurs fan that some clubs, including my own, seem to discount the cup using the games as a run out for fringe players. In our case it may just be a sign of change of expectation....we have always been known as a cup side for that is where almost all our success has arisen. Third in the League at the start of the New Year we are reaching giddy heights indeed.

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

Barclays Premier League

Newcastle 3-1 Man Utd

Everton 1-2 Bolton |

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Barclays Premier League

Man City 3-0 Liverpool |

Tottenham 1-0 West Brom |

Wigan 1-4 Sunderland |

Monday, 2 January 2012

Barclays Premier League

Aston Villa 0-2 Swansea |