A fairly mad weekend in the Premier League saw sackings, spankings and lots and lots of goals. Here’s our selection of the five that really stood out.
Even by the standards of this year’s Premier League (low quality, high excitement) that was a pretty extraordinary weekend. Thirty goals flew in, Martin O’Neill flew out the Sunderland door and we ‘welcomed’ Paolo Di Canio to the party.
At the bottom QPR and Reading now look to be doomed with just seven games left after both lost this weekend but the question of who will join them in the Championship next season is anyone’s guess.
Up top Manchester United, with a little help from Titus Bramble, edged ever closer to the title while Chelsea continue to tumble down the table and are now at a real risk of falling out of the top four. Rafa won’t be there so he probably doesn’t care, one of the many problems that the nature of his appointment has caused.
Anyway, here’s who the JOE team deemed worthy of a place on our five-a-side outfit this weekend.
Goalkeeper: Tim Howard (Everton)
They haven’t kept too many this season but Saturday’s clean sheet against Stoke was vital for Everton. Courtesy of a few top-class saves by Tim Howard, the Toffees are now right in the hunt for a Champions League spot. Just four points behind current incumbents Chelsea, David Moyes side play Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea before the end of the season.
To make it they will need their American stopper to be in the sort of form he was on Saturday.
Defender: Jan Verthongen (Spurs)
The one-time Ajax man has been hugely impressive in defence this season and he has started to add some threat at the other end of the pitch now too. After two goals against Liverpool the other week he scored the first against Swansea and set up the goal that would ultimately prove to be the winner for Gareth Bale too.
Midfield: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
It’s no wonder there is talk of a new contract floating around. The Liverpool skipper was super against Aston Villa on Easter Sunday. He coolly slotted the winner from the penalty spot and he made the save of the weekend with his head to deny Villa and keep the Reds’ lead intact.
Striker: Gervinho (Arsenal)
There was a lot of competition for the front two spots, and Dimitar Berbatov nearly did enough last night against QPR, but for the weekend that as in it, Gervinho’s performance was miraculous.
Two assists, and a goal meant the Ivorian had easily his best game since joining the Gunners against Reading. A one-off or a sign he has finally settled in London? Time will tell.
Striker: Andy Carroll (West Ham)
Another resurrection. It is almost two years since Andy Carroll bagged a Premier League brace (for Liverpool, against Manchester City). Against West Brom, who are admittedly awful away from home, the loanee from Anfield was at his unplayable best.
Injury has dogged the big fella but with Brendan Rodgers seemingly not interested, and with Sam Allardyce probably unable to pay the fee Liverpool want, a solid end to the year could be vital from Carroll’s Premier League future. We expect a few more games like this before mid-May.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
