Harry Redknapp has probably risen in esteem in the eyes of quite a few people. After turning down a very lucrative job with Newcastle United (£5 million a year, use of the club owner's personal jet to commute from his home on the south coast of England) at lunchtime, the managerless Magpies put in an abject performance at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the afternoon. They were witless, clueless, rudderless and hapless as United thrashed them 6-0. If he'd accepted the job, 'Arry would be walking into a very funereal dressing room.
Redknapp said later of the decision, that his "heart was at Portsmouth". He turned down millions and the promise of strong backing in the transfer market because
he felt he owed something to the cluband to the players that he had brought in. In today's money-hungry world (Juande Ramos leaving Sevilla, the third-best team in Spain last season and back-to-back UEFA Cup winner, for Spurs, at the time of his joining the third-worst side), it's refreshing to see a man listening to his heart and coming out on top for it. Newcastle's rabid fans might also have had something to do with the decision.
On to other matters. As already mentioned before, Man United beat Newcastle to go top of the table courtesy of goal-difference. Ronaldo (a first-ever hat-trick), Tevez (brace) and Ferdinand were the scorers. Arsenal helped them on their way by dropping two points at home against Birmingham, a 1-1 scoreline being the result at full-time. Chelseas stayed near the top two by beating Spurs 2-0 at home; Belleti and Wright-Phillips weighing in with two stunning strikes. Liverpool looked set to provide the Premiership with its eighth mangerial casualty this season after they drew with Middlesbrough. A Torres goal late in the second half saved the blushes for Rafael Benitez's team and the beleagured coach simply seems unable to find a way to win a match.
In a match that was billed as the Fight for Fourth, slow and steady Everton beat flashy Man City 1-0 at Goodison Park. It's a result the puts them on 39 points, the same tally as City, Liverpool and Aston Villa. A very interesting situation is developing in that portion of the table. As is being suggested in many forums, the time may be ripe for a new club to gatecrash the top four.
Aston Villa maintained their charge with a 3-1 victory over Reading. John Carew scored a brace in th match and the victory takes them to 39 points. Derby County lost 1-0 to manager Paul Jewell's old club Wigan. Wigan gained three valuable points in the relegation battle as Derby, almost a certainty to be relegated, seem to be looking to do it with a record low points total.
That's it for Saturday. I'll probably write about tomorrow's action too.
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