Hot And Not Hot Soccer Players

At half-time on Saturday Manchester United looked anything but a ‘Hot team’. At 2-0 down it looked very much as though they were going to do all they could to hand the title to Liverpool.

In the second half they looked every inch a ‘Hot team’. OK, Howard Webb the referee was probably their star man, but the other eleven weren’t bad either!

# Not Hot team
They might just about be safe but Sunderland look like a very average side at the moment. To lose at West Brom has been pretty difficult to do this season. To be thrashed 3-0 had looked all but impossible. Despite that, Sunderland managed to do it with ease.

Their front pairing of Cisse and Jones were totally toothless and at the back, they were woeful. I think they are very lucky that at least three teams can’t seem to buy a point at the moment and they are all behind them.

# Hot keeper
A special mention should go to Paul Robinson who has been in the wilderness for a few seasons but performed brilliantly for Blackburn yesterday.

Over the past few weeks I have been pretty critical of Chelsea’s Petr Cech. I haven’t been alone in that as he has come under increasing criticism for his shaky looking performances.

On Saturday, he kept a clean sheet that enabled Chelsea to pick up a tough three points and he included a penalty save in his performance.

I have never doubted that he is a fine keeper but now perhaps he can kick on from here and show us all just how good he is.

# Not Hot keeper
It’s not right to kick people when they’re down, but the question has to be asked as to whether Middlesbrough keeper Brad Jones has the necessary quality to play at this level.

He made some good saves at The Emirates yesterday but when his team really needed him he came flying out of his goal and handed the second and decisive goal to Arsenal.

It doesn’t matter how many saves a keeper makes, he will always be judged on his mistakes. Jones makes too many.

# Hot defender
Fulham are the surprise package of this season for me and the star of that package has been centre-half Brede Hangeland. He was outstanding again for Fulham in their 1-0 win over Stoke and hardly put a foot wrong.

# Not Hot defender
Having said that Hangeland hardly put a foot wrong, Sunderland’s Anton Ferdinand hardly put a foot right. The player who looked so good at West Ham and became a regular in the England under twenty-one side has lost his form in an alarming way.

At one stage I thought he might even get better than his illustrious brother (although Rio was in with a shout for this award after his performance on Saturday!) but his career has seriously stalled.

# Hot midfielder
The one player who was not nominated for the PFA Player of the season award who I thought should have been was Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso.

Rafa Benitez wanted to get rid of the Spaniard in the Summer but he must be so glad now that he didn’t.

He was the engine behind Liverpool’s win at Hull, and he scored an excellent goal. He has had a wonderful season and has been one of the best players in the Premier League.

# Not Hot midfielder
I’ve never really liked Jermaine Jenas. I can’t put my finger on why that is, but I just haven’t. I don’t think he’s good enough to justify his place in the Tottenham midfield and in the second half on Saturday he totally disappeared as United overpowered them.

When he needed to stand up and be counted he totally failed to do so.

# Hot striker
Wayne Rooney was outstanding for Manchester United and in any other week he would have won this title. This week however, Robinho not only scored a goal, made a goal and played exceptionally well, but he did it away from the City of Manchester stadium.

For that reason and the fact that he finally showed why the club paid the money for him, I’ll give this week’s title to the Brazilian.

# Not Hot striker
Earlier in the season I thought West Ham had a gem in Di Michele. I’ve now decided that they haven’t. He really was very poor against Chelsea.