James Maw of FFT.com's sister site Talentspotter marks this weekend's Premier League performances out of 10. Rate the players by following the links â or argue your point below...
MANCHESTER UNITED 9.0(won 3-2 against Aston Villa)
This, put simply, was textbook Manchester United. Back in the late-âÂÂ90s they used to pull off this kind of crazy stunt every other week. And if it was good enough then to see them win the treble, it should now be enough to seal another league title â at least.
STOKE 8.5(won 2-0 at West Brom)
The Pottersâ first away of the season and a big, big step towards sealing their Premier League survival. Another goal for James Beattie too, as he continues to make the ã3.5 million spent on his signature in January look a complete bargain.
Beattie seals precious points for Potters
LIVERPOOL 8.5(won 1-0 at Fulham)
A hard-fought win, and one that for a long time looked like wouldnâÂÂt materialise. Liverpool kept plugging away and, not for the first time this season, earned themselves a late, late victory. The stuff of champions â or it would have been had United not matched the trick 24 hours later...
BLACKBURN 8.5(won 2-1 against Spurs)
A crucial win for Big SamâÂÂs men and, much like LiverpoolâÂÂs victory (above), one that looked for a long time would escape them. The decision to stick Christopher Samba up top in the second half seemed a strange one, but it paid dividends as the man-mountain set up Benni McCarthyâÂÂs equaliser.
WEST HAM 8.0(won 2-0 against Sunderland)
Despite the limping wounded in the physioâÂÂs room, West Ham still look in good shape for a European push. Goals from young duo Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins were enough to seal this win, but the Hammers have much tougher fixtures coming up and will need to improve if theyâÂÂre to hold onto seventh place.
Hammers stay on course for Europe
CHELSEA 8.0 (won 2-0 at Newcastle)
We predicted that Chelsea would come unstuck against Alan ShearerâÂÂs new charges, but in the end Guus HiddinkâÂÂs greater experience (and massively better squad) shone through and the points were ChelseaâÂÂs. The well-deserved win keeps them just about in the title hunt, but that Federico Macheda goal means itâÂÂs very much out of their hands.
ARSENAL 8.0 (won 2-0 against Manchester City)
After a long, hard season, things finally seem to be coming together for the Gunners. Saturday was a good day for more than just the result. The returns of Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas to the first team fold are a massive boost ahead of this weekâÂÂs Champions League quarterfinal against Villarreal.
BOLTON 7.5 (won 4-1 against Middlesbrough)
This emphatic win should finally convince Trotters fans that Gary Megson is the man to take the club forward. Only joking, they generally still hate him and probably always will. ItâÂÂs hard to know what to expect from Bolton nowadays â theyâÂÂre as capable of this kind of performance as they are the footballing suicide they committed against Fulham a couple of weeks ago, and itâÂÂs probably that inconsistency that most frustrates the Reebok faithful.
Time to start looking up, rather than down?
EVERTON 7.5 (won 4-0 against Wigan)
A win that should pretty much guarantee more European football next season. We had predicted a home defeat for the injury-ravaged Blues but Moyesâ boys came up trumps and kept up their momentum ahead of their FA Cup semi in just under two weeks time.
PORTSMOUTH 6.0 (drew 0-0 at Hull)
Given the results achieved (or not) by the teams below them, this away draw was probably a fairly good result for Pompey. The speed with which Paul Hart has transformed Portsmouth back from hapless relegation certainties to plucky battlers probably says all you need to know about Tony Adamsâ reign at the club. But will SvenâÂÂs suddenly availability mean more managerial changes are afoot at Fratton Park?
HULL 6.0(drew 0-0 with Portsmouth)
Much like in PompeyâÂÂs case (see above), this stalemate was made to look a better result thanks to the defeats of those below them. Their alarming descent towards the foot of the table from their lofty autumn position seems to have halted and, although far from safe yet, they look like they should be OK.
FULHAM 5.5 (lost 1-0 to Liverpool)
Earlier in the season Craven Cottage was something of a fortress, with the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea all failing to win there. Things havenâÂÂt gone as well recently though, with this their third home league defeat in four and Manchester United being the only team they were able to beat â pah!
This loss of home form coupled with their perennial struggles on the road make a push for a Europa League place look less likely by the week.
Benayoun strike dashes UEFA Cup ambitions
TOTTENHAM 5.0 (lost 2-1 at Blackburn)
Not a terrible performance by any stretch, but the way Harry RedknappâÂÂs side limply conceded defeat as soon as they went down to 10 men suggests there is still a fair bit of work to be done on the training ground before Spurs realise their potential. A win in next weekâÂÂs crunch game with West Ham and all will be forgotten, though.
MANCHESTER CITY 4.5(lost 2-0 at Arsenal)
Another defeat and poor performance on the road, and another sighting of Robinho being hauled off early following an indifferent showing away from home. Unless they can somehow reverse their fortunes away from Eastlands, CityâÂÂs only chance of European next season will come via winning this seasonâÂÂs UEFA Cup. But on this showing they wonâÂÂt do that either.
ASTON VILLA 4.0 (lost 3-2 at Manchester United)
Ouch. Just as it looked like Villa might just have got themselves back on track they suffer the cruellest of sucker punches at the hands of Manchester United. MOâÂÂNâÂÂs open formation contributed to a great game, but if he had his time againâ¦
Improved performance but Champions League hopes fading
WIGAN 4.0 (lost 4-0 at Everton)
A pretty poor showing from Steve BruceâÂÂs side, but at least this comprehensive defeat will allow olâ Brucie to forget the strife being caused by AWOL striker Amr Zaki. Every cloud, ehâ¦?
NEWCASTLE 4.0 (lost 2-0 to Chelsea)
Anticlimax, much? Not a terrible performance, but hardly one that inspires feelings that a major resurgence is in the offing. To be honest though, this wasnâÂÂt the game that NewcastleâÂÂs Premier League future would be decided in â thatâÂÂll be the upcoming matches with Stoke, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.
SUNDERLAND 3.5 (lost 2-0 to West Ham)
Another lacklustre performance from Ricky SbragiaâÂÂs increasingly struggling side. Now just one place outside the top three and old buddies Newcastle United.
MIDDLESBROUGH 2.0 (lost 4-1 at Bolton)
With Sunderland and Newcastle both well in the relegation mix, Middlesbrough make it a North East treble. Unlike Sunderland and Newcastle, however, Boro havenâÂÂt really ever shown a prolonged spell of quality that suggests theyâÂÂll be able to fight their way out of the bottom three this term.
After this limp performance, Gareth Southgate thinks Boro will be down if they donâÂÂt win one of their next two matches, at home to Hull and Fulham. Good to see heâÂÂs keeping positiveâ¦
Gareth: Running out of games, and ideas
WEST BROM 1.0 (lost 2-0 to Stoke)
This was a match that West Brom really couldnâÂÂt afford to lose â at home to one of the sides just outside the relegation zone who had yet to win away all season. That was until Saturday. West Brom have already been relegated, if not mathematically, then mentally. Their determination to âÂÂplay the right wayâ has been commendable, but sadly they donâÂÂt have the quality to do it well enough to stay in the Premier League.
----------------------------------------------
FourFourTwo.com: More to read...
Inside Track homeBlogs home
News home
Interviews home
Forums home
FourFourTwo.com home
Talentspotter.com
