Spoiler

Nine things we learnt from the Weekend’s Football

Because ten would be one too many

It’s not just Chelsea who can’t defend crosses:
Lost amidst the great excitement of Villa’s two goals on Saturday, was the fact that Arsenal conceded a pathetic goal from a cross, and Manchester United seemed puzzled every time the ball arrived in the air too. Add to this Liverpool conceding 75% of their goals from set pieces, and it is clear that when the punditocracy talk of big four vulnerability, the aerial ball is where they are at their most brittle.
The era of Carragher, Rio and Terry being a class above is clearly coming to an end, and whilst managers scuttle around for their replacements, the lesser teams are taking advantage.

The best-paid referees in the world don’t know the rules:
Last week their fitness was called into question; this week their knowledge of the rules. There are only 17 laws in football, and the small booklet weighs in at less than 50 pages, so one would hope a professional referee could manage to skim through it in their spare time. But of the four officials on call at the S of L on Saturday, none of them knew that Bent’s goal should not have stood.

Arsenal have made the best start in Premier League history:
27 goals in their first eight matches is more than any other side has managed since 1992. Crazily, most people still don’t consider them genuine title contenders.

Everton’s season is all about the Europa League:
In the past two seasons, Everton’s reliability against the lesser sides was a major factor in their successive top five finishes, particularly when contrasted to their struggles against the four above. With the Man City millions ripping Lescott off him, perhaps Moyes realised that in the league, Everton had gone as far as they realistically could. By placing all his eggs in the basket marked Europa League, silverware could be on the horizon.

Manchester City aren’t ready for the title yet:
In their two most recent away fixtures, City have equalised early in the second half, only to sit back and settle for the draw. It’s hard to imagine United or Arsenal at their pomp, content to draw at either Villa Park or the DW. Mark Hughes’ biggest challenge is to change the City mindset to that of a truly big club.

England’s number one isn’t even United’s number two:
Having declared earlier in the season, “I have said it before and I will say it again, there is no question in my mind that he will be England’s goalkeeper. There is nobody better. I am absolutely convinced of that,” Sir Alex has since decided Tomasz Kuszczak is better to name but one.
It is no exaggeration to say it is possible Foster will never again play for United. Fergie has shown in the past how ruthless he can be with goalkeepers – just ask Massimo Taibi.

The Welsh get ignored:
Such is the media’s obsession with the English untouchables of Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney etc, that their attention can only be elicited away by a glamorous foreigner, a Drogba, Torres or Fabregas. But if you’re Welsh or Scottish, you might as well not exist to the majority of football writers.
Darren Fletcher has been criminally under-rated for many years, as has the brilliant Craig Bellamy. James Collins has been a revelation since he joined Aston Villa, whilst West Ham’s defence has suffered without him carrying England star Matt Upson. Yet his MOTM performance on Saturday is treated as a one-off, as if he has suddenly appeared from nowhere.

Inter are a real threat this season:
Their dismantling of Genoa on Saturday night showed that when it comes to pace and power, Inter can now compete with Premier League sides, unlike previous years.

The Championship is really poor:
Three awful teams from last year are in the top four, and Middlesbrough even managed to lose at home to Watford this weekend. Message from Scudamore- “please stop sending us up such dross!”

What did you learn from the weekend – tell us below…

• Arsenal
• Ben Foster
• Chelsea
• Everton
• Liverpool
• man united