Fish & Chip Shots: Breaking Berba

Marching to his own tune for so long, the silky smooth Bulgarian is finally acting like a refined thoroughbred in his third year at Old Trafford.
I am of course referencing the terrific season that the Berb has put in for Manchester United so far this year, notching an impressive six goals in his team’s first five league matches, including a herculean hat-trick against bitter rivals Liverpool on football jersey
Sunday.
So what do we owe this presumed changed in form from a guy who for the most part lolly-gagged around the pitch contributing the odd back heel or fall on his extra-long-sleeved hands?
Patience. Beautiful priceless patience.
I’ll start my little rant on the now savior of the Stretford End by saying I have always thought Berbatov was a tremendous player and of all the £30 million signings floating around these days, he was the best. I have not once criticized his play or contributions to the Red Devils because I simply haven’t seen reason to.
He does the little things so well. Those little unnoticed efforts that really pay off for his club. The goals may not always be there (well, to me, 21 goals in 53 matches isn’t awful), but his presence on the field has been huge for United and I never questioned Sir Alex’s decision to field him.
So let us pretend I’m someone who did give him a hard time and now I’m recanting on all my allegations because of yada yada yada. Here is that yada yada yada.
As I said earlier, a big part of it is the patience that Sir Alex has bestowed in Berbatov—Keeping him in there and hoping good things will happen. I think he’s also greatly enjoyed playing in a lone striker type role, with Wayne Rooney working off of him and not the other way around. Funny how that happens.
Who knows if some switch flicked on his mind over the summer that is goading him to play the way he has to start the year, but you can bet the rest of the team would have liked to have seen this sooner.
We all knew he had it in him and his emphatic treble against Liverpool has really helped him turn the corner into one of the top strikers in the game today. With Wazza-pants struggling to find his identity, not to mention his dignity, having Berba step up has been a must for United in their quest for the elusive 19th title. Distinguishing himself as a force in the middle, whether it’s with his head (two of his three on Sunday were off the old noodle, if you didn’t see) or from his refined boot, the 29-year-old is quite the asset.
Oh, and for the record, if we really want to get into all this goal-scoring talk, he’s netted 27 goals in 69 league matches for United, while at Spurs, when he was much-ballyhooed and all that, scored a whopping 27 goals in 70 matches. Well then. De-freakin’-bunked.
This is the last I’ll say about him: Good player off to a great start. Let’s see what happens.
Pickled Onions
Another split week rounds up my spotty start to the season. In the first match, I had Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
United topping the Reds of Merseyside by one goal. That happened as predicted because I’m awesome.
Following that I thought Arsenal would have taken a result from Sunderland and they really should have. Up 1-0 with a penalty chance to seal it, the most overrated player in the Premier League, Thomas Rosicky, did his best John Carew impression and roofed the PK into the fabled row Z. Then Darren Bent scores in the 175th minute to tie the match, effectively blowing a perfectly good win for your boy. Nice.
Finally, Everton were beaten by the newly-promoted Newcastle at Goodison Park. Yikes. What on earth is going on with the Toffees this season? I seem to remember all the millions of Evertonians on twitter bashing my pre-season prediction for their beloved team. I…hate…to…say…I…told…you…so. Ok the season isn’t anywhere near over, but these struggles shouldn’t be a surprise.
Overall: 3-3-1
Still split down ze middle. More tough matches lie ahead, as they do each and every weekend, so getting this thing going may be tough. Do like Dimi.
Mushy Peas
I guess the main bit of news floating around lately is how those talented, eloquent and wonderfully-conditioned referees are being treated by the men in the tactical area on the sidelines.
First David Moyes went ballistic Martin Atkinson for blowing the whistle a bit prematurely and then Arsene ‘Le Prof’ Wenger lost it because Phil Dowd blew it a bit late and allowed Darren Bent to score.
My two cents, you ask? Honestly, it’s a hard one to fight. Referees have the power to add as much time after much as they please and then have the power to kill the game when they see fit. Arguing about it and screaming in their face solves absolutely zero.
You’re just going to get yourself fined and banned from the touchline for acting like a little baby. I guess it all stems from my hate for people who constantly complain. I mean, half the time it’s your fault you’re in that situation to begin. Moyes should be happy with the massive point against United. Wenger’s side failed to capitalize on a number of chances against Sunderland. Deal with it, fellas. Life goes on.
The Fixins’
The Oh Snap They’re Getting A New Stadium? of Minnesota Vikings jersey
the Week
It is becoming more and more likely that Tottenham Hotspur will have a new stadium in North London to call their happy home. Plans for a new White Hart Lane were apparently approved and the club can now move forward in their quest to have the second nicest stadium in the area. The Emirates is tops, as all know. What it means? Well, England’s hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup are boosted, among other things. Plus, Spurs are going to need a bigger trophy cabinet to help house their ever-growing amount of hardware.