A Case Worth Defending

These two think they know it all.

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have been scathing in their view of how some teams are playing in the Premier League this season. Carragher said after Newcastle were defeated 1-0 by Manchester City ' It's becoming embarrassing,' ' it's becoming a joke. The Premier League now is becoming a bit of a joke league, with the top teams being so far ahead of the ones at the bottom', whilst Gary Neville had this to say ' No ambition from Newcastle. That’s not acceptable in this league'.

These two former players have seen the teams they support, Liverpool and Manchester United, employ a style of football that has an emphasis on counter attacking opponents by employing swift forwards who can take advantage of space left at the back when they themselves are defending. They have spent a significant amount of money making this style work and when it does it makes for an entertaining game for the impartial viewers and , of course, the winners.

However, defending is also a part of a football game and teams are finding that they can nullify Liverpool and Manchester United by not allowing them the space to utilise. This goes against the grain for some, especially those with 'delusions of grandeur', who are resentful that these 'lesser' teams should not allow their team to play the way they want to and not be challenging the exceptional Manchester City team this year. It is all very well saying that both teams in a match should 'have a go' at each other and show ambition but recently Bournemouth conceded four trying to attack Liverpool and Southampton tried to play Spurs off the park and conceded five. With both these teams near the relegation battle they were roundly criticised by pundits for their naivety but patronised for 'having a go'

There have been quite a number of results this season that proves the Premier League is anything but a joke, as surely Burnley have proved and Leicester before them, and it is a fact that Newcastle came within a shot, deflection or refereeing decision to nicking a point for which Carragher and Neville would have been applauding Rafa Beniitez.

Ironically it was earlier this season that Gary Neville defended Mourinho for his defensive tactics in Manchester United's in 0-0 draw against Liverpool, insisting Jurgen Klopp was equally conservative in the match. 

Robbie Fowler was quick to respond last night to Neville on twitter, "Was it acceptable when Utd did it at Liverpool and against City?... #icomeinpeace"