Old Acquaintances

One thrives. One rues.

Arguably two of the biggest moves ahead of the 2012/13 Premier League season were Robin van Persie’s switch to Old Trafford from Arsenal and Brendan Rodgers’ decision to take charge of Liverpool.

Both deals dominated headlines throughout the summer and continue to do so but for contrasting reasons as one enjoys high-flying success and the other struggling to get off the ground.

Shall we take the good news or the bad first?

Ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Liverpool Newcastle clash at Anfield, Mr Rodgers faces significant pressure and will be desperate to see his side start to gather momentum.

Take a moment and reminisce on Swansea City’s recent years which have seen them rise to fame.

Fluid football. Classy performances. Attractive style. Barcelona-esque comparisons.

All have become synonymous with the Swans’ as their artistic panache and flair have made them household names in the top-flight.

However, much credit for this philosophy of football being brought to the Liberty Stadium must be given to Rodgers.

Yet, despite his departure from the Welsh club a dramatic fall from grace has not followed because what Rodgers had begun forging at Swansea was a culture.

Indeed, Chairman Huw Jenkins pulled somewhat of a masterstroke by bringing in Michael Laudrup to succeed Rodgers but many will be left thinking the Irishman made a move to a ‘big name’ club naively.

Evident was the success Rodgers enjoyed at Swansea City, gaining promotion to the Premier League and registering an 11^th-place finish in their first top-flight season, but the challenges facing the 39-year-old are extremely different on Merseyside.

A club rich in history with dedicated and passionate fans, Liverpool has potential to be a manager’s dream appointment. Or maybe nightmare in equal measure.

The die-hard fans lining the Kop week in, week out have expected silverware and success at the club for many years and now additions to the famous Anfield trophy cabinet are long overdue.

Taking an evolving team on a journey from lower-league to top flight is an inspiring narrative but attempting to transform a club under the spotlight and in turmoil requires far greater dogged determination.

A midweek Capital One Cup fixture will surely have torn the heart strings of Rodgers as his former club visited Anfield and left 3-1 victors.

The Swans then went on to hold league leaders Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium to cap off a fruitful week for the club.

Two wins in nine Premier League encounters leaves Liverpool a lowly 13^th and struggling to inspire Kopites and footballing audiences worldwide.

On the opposite end of the spectrum Robin van Persie is in glorious form at the head of Manchester United’s strike force.

With his former club Arsenal the visitors for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off Van Persie made clear early why he sits first in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot.

Eight goals already have seen Van Persie become an instant favourite at Old Trafford and a third minute goal against the Gunners during United 2-1 victory will inflict further wounding on his former teammates while delight will sweep around the Red half of Manchester.

Reports this week have suggested the Dutchman turned down a £300,000-a-week deal at Premier League champions Manchester City to join their city rivals United.

Few can argue Van Persie has made a bad move as he has seamlessly become a pivotal player in Sir Alex Ferguson’s line-up.

Arsenal’s frailties were all too easy to see once again in Saturday’s match with a lack of ambition and poor defending the resonating tones from Arsene Wenger’s men.

Van Persie must be left feeling he got out at the right time and to the right place.

Vastly opposing stories here.

Rodgers – wrong time, wrong place?

Van Persie – right place, right time?

What do you think?

Ben Hampshire (@BH92)

Just when you thought you had seen it all…

More comes along.

Did you know?

Two day of Capital One Cup fourth round action. Eight matches. 43 times the ball hits the back of the net.

More than five goals per game on average!

Do not even dare say the magic of the cup is dead.

In my previous post I ended with a plea for that very spirit to live on and Wednesday’s fixtures definitely did not disappoint.

Manchester United graced Stamford Bridge again just days after the saga which unfolded on Sunday which resulted in them taking three Premier League points against leaders Chelsea.

This time it was a place in the quarter-final at stake and Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea were after revenge.

United led 2-1 at the interval but Chelsea threatened a young and frail visiting defence throughout.

Gary Cahill equalised for Chelsea before Nani gave the away side the lead once again before Scott Wootton conceded a 92^nd minute penalty gifting the opposition a ticket to extra time.

Goals from Daniel Sturridge and Ramires shot the home side into a 5-3 lead leaving many feeling the game had been put to bed.

Ryan Giggs managed to net a consolation penalty but with just seconds left on the clock his race back to the half-way mark was in vein as the final whistle from Lee Mason shortly followed.

In an all top-flight evening of affairs in the Capital One Cup it was again not just a tale of one drama.

Brendan Rogers’ sketchy Liverpool side hosted his former club Swansea City who produced a somewhat regal display to send their ex-gaffer packing.

Chico gave the visiting side the lead at the half-way mark of the tie before Nathan Dyer doubled the tally for the Jack Army.

Luis Suarez provided retaliation just four minutes later to give Rogers some hope to cling onto.

Before Wednesday’s clash Swansea had scored three goals in their last nine league cup fixtures and De Guzman sent the Welshmen into double figures with his 90^th minute tap-in sealing a place in the last-eight.

Meanwhile at Carrow Road Andre Villas-Boas’ tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager took a further blow as his side scored two goals but managed to lose 2-1.

Gareth Bale gave Spurs the lead in the second half but an 84^th minute own goal from Vertonghen brought Norwich back into the tie.

With a quarter-final place up for grabs the pressure was on and an added half an hour loomed.

But Simeon Jackson gave the home side a 2-1 lead in the 87^th minute and with Clint Dempsey failing to convert a late penalty it was the Canaries who were left to progress to the final eight.

Tuesday, scintillating.

Wednesday, enthralling.

Cup football, incomparable.

If anyone’s fire for football ever needed reigniting these two autumnal evenings of theatre are just what the doctor ordered.

Ben Hampshire (@BH92)

Clattenburg Controversy

Not for the first time Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg is centre of the headlines. Chelsea have launched an official complaint against the man who was in charge of their 3-2 defeat at home against Manchester United on Sunday.

Reports from Stamford Bridge claim Clattenburg made comments containing “inappropriate language” against two Chelsea players during the top of the table clash.

However, Mr Clangerburg is not new to stealing the show with a number of previous faux pas making him a controversial character.

January 2005

During his time in goal for Manchester United Roy Carroll fumbled a shot from Pedro Mendes which crossed the line and Clattenburg, along with his assistants on the day, failed to award the goal.

October 2007

Clattenburg dismissed Everton full-back Tony Hibbert in bizarre fashion as he appears to show a yellow card before quickly changing his mind to produce red. As the game progressed he then failed to show red to Dirk Kuyt for a double-footed lunge on Phil Neville, resulting in the match official kept away from Toffee’s matches until 2012 and the Durham man is yet to make an appearance at Goodison Park since.

August 2008

The referee was withdrawn from the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Portsmouth before being sacked as allegations came to light he owed £60,000 as a result of a failed business venture. By February 2009 Clattenburg was reinstated.

December 2009

Allegations are made against Mr Clattenburg claiming he asked Manchester City players “how do you work with Craig Bellamy all week” during a match against Bolton before sending off Welshman Bellamy for a second yellow card.

October 2010

Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes places the ball down believing he has a free kick before Manchester United winger Nani runs up and kicks the ball into an empty net without Clattenburg blowing the whistle yet the referee allows the goal to stand.

Although this is another case to add to a long list for Clattenburg possibly the most worrying and harrowing thought is that a match official could face investigations of racial abuse.

In recent weeks football has seen more than enough of the R word with John Terry being found guilty by the FA and the riot which ensued following an England Under 21 match in Serbia. And the case of Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez is not much of a distant memory for many football fans either.

It is one thing for isolated instances to occur in the heat of moment, which in themselves can never be condoned, but should match officials be involved in such incident it is absolutely intolerable and the fA have no option but the crackdown and serve out severe punishments to quash the issue.

As cycling begins a mountain climb following the Lance Armstrong doping saga and cricket aims to eradicate match-fixing scandals which has engulfed officials football now needs to find a way to calm it’s very own storm and move on to get back to the heart of the ‘beautiful game’.

Ben Hampshire (@BH92)