Rafa May Just Be Reigniting Fernando Torres
Torres notched two goals at Sunderland on Saturday and was very unlucky not to have a hat trick. Added to his two Champions League goals midweek, Torres is now in double figures for the season. For all the stick that the Spaniard has taken this season, he has now scored more goals this season than the likes of Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Demba Ba. With plenty of speculation that Benitez was mainly brought in so that Abramovich would be given a return on his investment on Torres, it is starting the pay dividends whether it is true or not. His first goal on Saturday was brilliant and was exactly the kind of predatory instinct that he showed in his Liverpool days. His second was a penalty which was the first he'd taken since moving to England five years ago. We have seen Torres shun the responsibility of taking spot kicks in the past but the bottle and confidence he showed to step on Saturday proves that something has clicked with him in the past couple of weeks. The Rafa factor or a mere coincidence? Make up your own mind.
Norwich Really Are a Decent Side
When Norwich travelled to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, it is fair to say that most eyes were on Swansea after their brilliant win against Arsenal last weekend. But Norwich City stole the show with a blistering first half which was arguably the best 45 minutes of football we've seen in the Premiership this season. 3-0 to the good at half time, Swansea did get it back to 3-2 but Norwich showed the resilience that they lacked earlier on in the campaign and went on to win the game 4-2. There were a few people ridiculously calling for Chis Hughton's head after the opening games of the season but the Irish manager has turned things around at Carrow Road and has won the Canaries faithful over with some excellent results coupled with a decent brand of football. Wes Hoolahan and Robert Snodgrass have been instrumental for Norwich with the latter scoring a goal as well as laying on two assists on Saturday. Norwich are the only team in the Premiership that are undefeated in their last eight league games. With a home game against Wigan up next for Hughton's side, few would back against their excellent run continuing next weekend.
QPR Remain Without a League Win This Season
It all seemed so rosy for QPR when Harry Redknapp came in and took over from the failing Mark Hughes. Although it is still early days in the Redknapp era, we are almost half way through the Premiership season and the Rs remain without a league win. Admittedly they are unbeaten in their last three games which is as long as he has been in charge but at this stage of the season, they really need to start winning games, if they are to harbour any realistic hopes of avoiding relegation. QPR were 2-1 up with less than twenty minutes remaining on Saturday but managed to keep the lead for just three minutes. If they continue to throw away leads in this fashion, the chances of the them avoiding the drop look bleak. They will take comfort from the fact that they are unbeaten under Redknapp but their search for a first league win heads into its 17th Premiership game. Their draw away to Wigan at the weekend also means that they now failed to win an away league game in their last twenty attempts - another unwanted record that they could have banished, had they held on for the win on Saturday.
Mario Balotelli Has Run Out Of Chances At Manchester City
How many more chances is the enigma that is Mario Balotelli going to be given at the Etihad Stadium? He was a surprise starter in the Manchester Derby yesterday but was largely anonymous and was replaced after 50 minutes. His needless attempt at an audacious back heel failed to come off which sent Roberto Mancini into a fit of rage that ended in him calling for Carlos Tevez to replace the Italian. With just three goals (one in the league) this season, the €22 million striker is running out of chances at Man City. Having performed so well at last summer's Euro 2012 tournament, plenty of people thought that this would be the season that Balotelli proved his doubters wrong. His reaction at being subbed yesterday in many ways summed up his time at City. The dagger stare that was cast at Mancini was followed by him ignoring Tevez on the sideline while he headed straight down the tunnel. His manager lamented his display afterwards in saying: "When you have a player that has Mario's quality, you cannot understand why he continues to throw it out of the window. It is incredible." With the January transfer window fast approaching, Balotelli's days at Manchester City look to be numbered but he may not be the only one.
Everton Are Serious Contenders For a Champions League Spot
1-0 down with fourteen minutes remaining at Goodison Park, Everton looked dead and buried. The spirit and fight that they showed in the dying minutes of the game was very impressive. First Steven Pienaar crashed a brilliant header past Iloris in the Spurs goal while Nikica Jelavic provided the killer blow in what was a frantic finish in Merseyside. The win saw the Toffees climb into fourth spot in the Premiership, above both Tottenham and West Brom. David Moyes has built a fantastic squad at Everton and on a shoestring budget. If he can hold onto his key players like Marouane Fellaini in the January transfer window, Everton are in with a real chance of claiming a Champions League spot this season. From an Irish point of view, Seamus Coleman provided Pienaar with the equaliser while it was Darren Gibson's ball into the Spurs penalty area that caused the commotion that lead to Jelavic's winner. Both players are a key part of this Everton side and if they were to reach the Champions League it would bode very well for the international side with Aiden McGeady currently the only player playing in the competition. The celebration when Jelavic was subbed off after his late winner showed that Everton have a sense of togetherness that could prove crucial. There is a long way to go yet in the race for fourth but the form that Moyes' side have shown in the first half of the season has proved that they are genuine contenders for a Champions League spot this season.
