Daily Nation Buzz Mag.
Date: 11.05.2014
Page 7
Article size: 385 cm2
ColumnCM: 85.55
AVE: 0.0
HARDBALL
YOU WILL NOT CRY ALONE
wfttl PHARIS KIMARU
This is it, the last round
essary to save the game. The goal
difference was nothing without the
drama. The title is half de­
points and once Palace scored the
first it was time to be practical and
cided on where it should go and it's
that room for doubt that is going to
shut down shop. Kolo Toure and
Daniel Agger were on the bench. A
make this an interesting day con­
sidering that the relegation battle
is sadly over. Fulham, Cardiff and
different coach would have brought
of games in the Premier
League and a day of high
on one, Mourinho both.
League so that dramatically reduces
A few weeks ago I wrote Liverpool
fans needed to prepare to party and
to cry hwcause it could go either way
the number of tears we shall see to­
and the prediction has come true.
Norwich are gone from the Premier
day but I digress.
Speaking of tears, you have to feel
for Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers,
Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and the
entire club and its fans. An excellent
season packed with thrill and thrall
at almost every turn fell to ruins on
Monday night.
All is not lost though, there is the
all neutrals and as Rodgers himself
admitted, finishing second was be­
yond what anyone expected of them
this season. They are back in the
Champions League next season and
with the right reinforcements in the
summer they could make another
strong play for the title next season.
Man City have spent just 13 weeks
on top of the table but they are now
there when it matters the most. Ar­
senal spent months on top and then
retreated to where they feel more
possibility that West Ham could
comfortable, fourth.
beat Man City today. That is Sam
Man City only need a point to
win the title but they, of all people,
Allardyce's team and they are physi­
cal and good at set pieces, all it takes
is a corner or a free kick plus they
have Andy Carroll, the perfect big
man for the job who conveniently
At 3­0 up, Liverpool were still
potential champions, then they self­
has ties to Anfield,
destructed in those last 11 minutes.
though is that West Ham have al­
You can also replace self­destruct
ready secured Premier League sta­
with; choke, implode or crash, they
tus which is job done for them, they
The problem with this argument
Joaow that the last day of the season
is often excessively dramatic. They
won the title two seasons ago with
the last kick of injury time. One
luck from West Ham could take
everything away. Cool heads must
prevail.
Ryan Giggs led United to a routine
actually had their end of year party
3­1 victory over Hull City in a game
where the player manager opted to
Ten months of excellent work
on Tuesday night. That's not the
showcase United's next generation
undone by the inability to bold
onto what Brendan Rodgers called
kind of team you can pin your hopes
on unless you believe that since they
have nothing to lose, they will play
the football of their lives today.
For the entertainment Liverpool
are ail appropriate.
"defensive structure". The truth is
Liverpool have had little defensive
structure this season, indeed part
of their thrill and thrall has been the
starting three youngsters, two for
the first time ­ Lawrence and Wilson
­ and the third. Ad nan Janujaz now
a regular.
Wilson, a left footed striker went
on to score two goals before making
way for Van Persie to score the third
alone, they have won the hearts of courtesy of a Ryan Giggs pass,
Giggs addressed the United faith­
have provided this season, I am con­
vinced that Liverpool will not cry
3­2 and 4­3 wins.
I am surprised Brendan Rodgers
did not make the substitutions nec­
ful and told them that the good
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
Daily Nation Buzz Mag.
Date: 11.05.2014
Page 7
Article size: 385 cm2
ColumnCM: 85.55
AVE: 0.0
times will come back. Van Persie
said exactly the same thing when
interviewed. Let's wait and see.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya