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Better late than never.......
Without Chelski and ManYoo in action, it was a quiet weekend in the Premiership. But it should liven up on Saturday when Charlton host Sheffield United...
Winners
Cesc Fabregas
Finally, a league goal for the player who, until Saturday's winner, had made more shots on goal without scoring than any other player in the Premiership.
Goalscoring - or lack of it - is the major shortcoming in his game. Two months ago, the chief sports writer of The Daily Mail declared Fabregas the 'best teenager in the world'. It is an extraordinary accolade that cannot be endorsed until he troubles the scorers more frequently.
Arsenal
But for Rob Styles justifiably waving away Bolton's pleas for a last-minute penalty when the ball struck Emmanuel Eboue's arm (rather than Eboue's arm striking the ball), Arsenal's same old failing would have left the door slightly ajar for Bolton to break into the Big Four's closed shop. Less than a minute before that, Abou Diaby, in conjunction with Julio Baptista, squandered a second clear goalscoring opportunity in a manner that was pathetic even by the Gunners' disgusting standards.
Arsene Wenger promised to "look at the video" to understand how his side failed to convert their superiority. Alternatively, he could look at himself. Instead of berating his side for their profligacy against CSKA Moscow in November, Wenger described the performance as "great". The Frenchman's refusal to acknowledge that the art of finishing is integral to the value of a performance set in stone the Gunners' disregard for prioritising victory over indulgency that cost them dearly in February.
Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, berated Styles for refusing to adjudge Eboue's handball deliberate. Conveniently forgetting that Bolton's winner at the Reebok in November against Arsenal was approximately two yards offside, Allardyce suggested that Styles' judgement was "affected by the crowd at a big stadium like this". Ahh yes, that notorious Arsenal crowd. Presumably, Allardyce has never read a book in his life because he is too intimidated by its volatile custodians to enter a library.
Sheffield United
The Blades' first victory in six matches was their most important of the season.
Reading
The Royals' first victory in seven matches was their least important of the season.
Everton
They've left it late but Everton may have timed their surge up the table perfectly. Indeed, last-gasp success is becoming their hallmark - the Toffees have scored three injury-time goals in their past seven matches, and a further three in the last 15 minutes.
James McFadden's terrific winner against Charlton carried significance at both ends of the table, leaving the Addicks two points adrift of safety and propelling Everton above Bolton courtesy of their superior goal difference. McFadden's joy was in sharp contrast to the lumbering labours of James Beattie. The former half-decent striker hasn't scored for over a year, missed two clear opportunities before being hauled off after an hour, and has probably started his final game in Everton colours.
Losers
Fulham
One of the reasons why Chris Coleman's panic-induced and panic-inducing dismissal appears both misguided and mistimed is because Lawrie Sanchez's task is to deliver a repeat of the rescue act that his predecessor completed exactly four years ago to get the job.
Back in April 2003, with Fulham in freefall following Jean Tigana's exit, the desperate Cottagers turned to Coleman with five matches of the season remaining. Three wins and a draw were sufficient to protect Fulham's Premiership status and earned Coleman the manager's job on a full-time basis.
Hopes of another instant transformation this April were dispelled by an appalling offside call at Reading on Saturday and the consequent defeat. With Arsenal and Liverpool to follow, Fulham desperately require victory over Blackburn next weekend. But unlike Coleman in 2003, Sanchez barely knows the names of his players and he may struggle to exert significant change beyond imparting a few new set-piece routines.
And can Sanchez's judgement be trusted in any case? After all, this is the man who last week embarked on a skiing holiday just as Britain was given a Mediterranean tan.
Nicky Hunt and Emmanuel Eboue
It has been a particularly bad year for the profession of right-back. Micah Richards and, to a lesser degree, Fulham's Liam Rosenior have bucked the trend, but otherwise the position has been in decline.
Hunt's future at Bolton was already in jeopardy before his slackness enabled Tomas Rosicky to cancel out Nicolas Anelka's opener at the Emirates, a goal for which his Arsenal counterpart was at fault. Although the MOTD replays failed to highlight his error, Eboue was caught ball watching as Kevin Nolan snuck in easily behind him.
The Ivorian has stumbled spectacularly this season (not least because spectacular stumbles are an all-too frequent part of his match routine). In view of the Gunners' susceptibility at set-pieces, Wenger must surely considering replacing Eboue with his fellow Ivorian Kolo Toure at right-back next term. Both William Gallas and Toure have excelled in recent years as the smaller half of a central-defensive partnership and lack the height to repel the Gunners' obvious deficiency. Marrying Gallas with, say, Jonathan Woodgate could be the answer.
Wigan
Wigan retain a lead about as well as Devon Loch. Paul Jewell's side were pegged back three times by Tottenham this weekend, extending the number of points they have dropped from a winning position to 26.
Steve Sidwell
The summer transfer window won't open for almost two months but Reading have already opted to take their star midfielder out of the shop window. Despite claims Sidwell was rested against Fulham, the reality was that he was omitted in preparation for his inevitable departure. The decision is certainly curious as Steve Coppell has deliberately weakened his own side and somewhat suspicious given that the Reading manager has expressly declared that he believes qualification for the UEFA Cup would ultimately harm the club. After the furore over Middlesbrough fielding a weakened team against Citeh, would something similar have been said if Fulham had defeated the depleted Royals this weekend?
The only certainty with Sidwell's future is that it will not be based in Berkshire. The 24-year-old is a fine player, yet not of a sufficient standard to play at a top-four level. His Arsenal connection should remove Tottenham from the equation, leaving Aston Villa and Newcastle as his likeliest destinations - despite both clubs being destined to finish below his current employers this season.
Manchester Citeh
Oh for the days when Citeh were fun. Occasionally they were terrible, but they were always fun. Not now. Not now that they have been renamed Manchester Citeh Nil. The stalemate with Liverpool was the 17th occasion from 34 attempts in which they have failed to score in the league this season. Only Watford have scored less.
West Ham
Finally, the Hammers' luck has run out and their stay in the Premiership is almost over as well.
There can be no suggestion that West Ham are too good to go down, or that their lowly position does not accurately reflect their collective talent. It is telling that the Londoners have won just twice this season in league matches against their five relegation rivals. Those matches have determined their fate.
The January transfer window offered possible salvation, but funds were frittered away on flops. Of the five players acquired for approximately £15m, only Lucas Neill started at Bramall Lane.
Pete Gill
Without Chelski and ManYoo in action, it was a quiet weekend in the Premiership. But it should liven up on Saturday when Charlton host Sheffield United...
Winners
Cesc Fabregas
Finally, a league goal for the player who, until Saturday's winner, had made more shots on goal without scoring than any other player in the Premiership.
Goalscoring - or lack of it - is the major shortcoming in his game. Two months ago, the chief sports writer of The Daily Mail declared Fabregas the 'best teenager in the world'. It is an extraordinary accolade that cannot be endorsed until he troubles the scorers more frequently.
Arsenal
But for Rob Styles justifiably waving away Bolton's pleas for a last-minute penalty when the ball struck Emmanuel Eboue's arm (rather than Eboue's arm striking the ball), Arsenal's same old failing would have left the door slightly ajar for Bolton to break into the Big Four's closed shop. Less than a minute before that, Abou Diaby, in conjunction with Julio Baptista, squandered a second clear goalscoring opportunity in a manner that was pathetic even by the Gunners' disgusting standards.
Arsene Wenger promised to "look at the video" to understand how his side failed to convert their superiority. Alternatively, he could look at himself. Instead of berating his side for their profligacy against CSKA Moscow in November, Wenger described the performance as "great". The Frenchman's refusal to acknowledge that the art of finishing is integral to the value of a performance set in stone the Gunners' disregard for prioritising victory over indulgency that cost them dearly in February.
Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, berated Styles for refusing to adjudge Eboue's handball deliberate. Conveniently forgetting that Bolton's winner at the Reebok in November against Arsenal was approximately two yards offside, Allardyce suggested that Styles' judgement was "affected by the crowd at a big stadium like this". Ahh yes, that notorious Arsenal crowd. Presumably, Allardyce has never read a book in his life because he is too intimidated by its volatile custodians to enter a library.
Sheffield United
The Blades' first victory in six matches was their most important of the season.
Reading
The Royals' first victory in seven matches was their least important of the season.
Everton
They've left it late but Everton may have timed their surge up the table perfectly. Indeed, last-gasp success is becoming their hallmark - the Toffees have scored three injury-time goals in their past seven matches, and a further three in the last 15 minutes.
James McFadden's terrific winner against Charlton carried significance at both ends of the table, leaving the Addicks two points adrift of safety and propelling Everton above Bolton courtesy of their superior goal difference. McFadden's joy was in sharp contrast to the lumbering labours of James Beattie. The former half-decent striker hasn't scored for over a year, missed two clear opportunities before being hauled off after an hour, and has probably started his final game in Everton colours.
Losers
Fulham
One of the reasons why Chris Coleman's panic-induced and panic-inducing dismissal appears both misguided and mistimed is because Lawrie Sanchez's task is to deliver a repeat of the rescue act that his predecessor completed exactly four years ago to get the job.
Back in April 2003, with Fulham in freefall following Jean Tigana's exit, the desperate Cottagers turned to Coleman with five matches of the season remaining. Three wins and a draw were sufficient to protect Fulham's Premiership status and earned Coleman the manager's job on a full-time basis.
Hopes of another instant transformation this April were dispelled by an appalling offside call at Reading on Saturday and the consequent defeat. With Arsenal and Liverpool to follow, Fulham desperately require victory over Blackburn next weekend. But unlike Coleman in 2003, Sanchez barely knows the names of his players and he may struggle to exert significant change beyond imparting a few new set-piece routines.
And can Sanchez's judgement be trusted in any case? After all, this is the man who last week embarked on a skiing holiday just as Britain was given a Mediterranean tan.
Nicky Hunt and Emmanuel Eboue
It has been a particularly bad year for the profession of right-back. Micah Richards and, to a lesser degree, Fulham's Liam Rosenior have bucked the trend, but otherwise the position has been in decline.
Hunt's future at Bolton was already in jeopardy before his slackness enabled Tomas Rosicky to cancel out Nicolas Anelka's opener at the Emirates, a goal for which his Arsenal counterpart was at fault. Although the MOTD replays failed to highlight his error, Eboue was caught ball watching as Kevin Nolan snuck in easily behind him.
The Ivorian has stumbled spectacularly this season (not least because spectacular stumbles are an all-too frequent part of his match routine). In view of the Gunners' susceptibility at set-pieces, Wenger must surely considering replacing Eboue with his fellow Ivorian Kolo Toure at right-back next term. Both William Gallas and Toure have excelled in recent years as the smaller half of a central-defensive partnership and lack the height to repel the Gunners' obvious deficiency. Marrying Gallas with, say, Jonathan Woodgate could be the answer.
Wigan
Wigan retain a lead about as well as Devon Loch. Paul Jewell's side were pegged back three times by Tottenham this weekend, extending the number of points they have dropped from a winning position to 26.
Steve Sidwell
The summer transfer window won't open for almost two months but Reading have already opted to take their star midfielder out of the shop window. Despite claims Sidwell was rested against Fulham, the reality was that he was omitted in preparation for his inevitable departure. The decision is certainly curious as Steve Coppell has deliberately weakened his own side and somewhat suspicious given that the Reading manager has expressly declared that he believes qualification for the UEFA Cup would ultimately harm the club. After the furore over Middlesbrough fielding a weakened team against Citeh, would something similar have been said if Fulham had defeated the depleted Royals this weekend?
The only certainty with Sidwell's future is that it will not be based in Berkshire. The 24-year-old is a fine player, yet not of a sufficient standard to play at a top-four level. His Arsenal connection should remove Tottenham from the equation, leaving Aston Villa and Newcastle as his likeliest destinations - despite both clubs being destined to finish below his current employers this season.
Manchester Citeh
Oh for the days when Citeh were fun. Occasionally they were terrible, but they were always fun. Not now. Not now that they have been renamed Manchester Citeh Nil. The stalemate with Liverpool was the 17th occasion from 34 attempts in which they have failed to score in the league this season. Only Watford have scored less.
West Ham
Finally, the Hammers' luck has run out and their stay in the Premiership is almost over as well.
There can be no suggestion that West Ham are too good to go down, or that their lowly position does not accurately reflect their collective talent. It is telling that the Londoners have won just twice this season in league matches against their five relegation rivals. Those matches have determined their fate.
The January transfer window offered possible salvation, but funds were frittered away on flops. Of the five players acquired for approximately £15m, only Lucas Neill started at Bramall Lane.
Pete Gill
