Here comes another edition of A slice of Motd to enhance your four day Easter weekend. You’re welcome.
Eight games for this Saturday’s edition so let’s get cracking.
The two Alans will be providing some form of punditry whilst Walkers’ top man Gary Lineker is presenting.
Fashion update: Lineker does well with a light purple shirt that, quite frankly, puts the two Alan’s efforts to shame.
Things get started with Sunderlandvs Man United in what turned out to be Martin O’Neill’s last game as manager of Sunderland. No doubt we’ll see him doing some work on Match of the Day before long. The Black Cats lost 1-0 and are staring down the deep dark barrel of relegation. Shearer says O’Neill’s dismissal is bad timing and I am inclined to agree but desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose. Analysis of the game is summed up nicely by Shearer: Sunderland’s problem is they can’t score goals. But they better start doing so soon or they’ll be dropping down to the Championship.
Southamptonvs Chelsea next and how good have Southampton been recently? This 2-1 victory over Chelsea follows a 3-1 success over Liverpool. Outstanding stuff. So how have they been doing it? Shearer says it is their attacking prowess that is helping stand up with the big boys. And how about that Rickie Lambert free-kick? Peach.
Following that we have Swansea vs Tottenham and the pressure was on Spurs having lost their last two league games and Arsenal gaining ground but they were able to fend off Swansea to secure three important points. Hansen creams his pants over Bale’s goal and general performance. It was a good goal, yes, but Vertonghen? Everybody loves a free scoring centre back.
Arsenalvs Reading follows and the Gunners brushed aside the Royals 4-1 to keep the pressure on Spurs and Chelsea ahead of them in the table. It was all too easy for Arsenal as Reading once more displayed their inability to defend which Shearer highlights in his post-match analysis. See Arsenal’s third goal for damning evidence.
As the clocks go forward it means it is time for Wigan to start playing like world beaters and survive another relegation battle. Things get off to good start as they beat Norwich 1-0 thanks to a late goal. It is very strange how Wigan allow this to happen each year but there is no doubt that they will see themselves out of trouble once again. Bogey team or what.
Man Cityvs Newcastle next and could Newcastle find themselves dragged into the relegation battle too? More shoddy performances like this and then Pardew (now sans tramp beard) and his Toon Army will start to feel the heat. Shearer and Hansen agree that this could be the case.
Off to East London for West Hamvs West Brom and miraculously Andy Carroll (remember him) managed to score two (!) goals in one game. Well, that’s what 35m will get you eh? His second goal is pretty decent actually but that hairband is so silly I can’t take the man seriously. Of course Shearer loves Andy Carroll since he used to be a Newcastle No.9 himself and he gushes over his performance.
Rounding off proceedings is Evertonvs Stoke and that was a nice goal Kevin Mirallas. Hansen likes Everton (despite being a Liverpool man) and says Moyes has done a good job with limited resources. They’ll do well to finish top four mind.
And that, my chocolate filled friends, is that.
Good work all round from everybody in this edition. Hansen threw out some of his usual waffle whilst Shearer chimed in with some good stuff. Lineker did his chirpy little thing and everybody went home a winner.
‘Till next week and a Happy Easter to you.