Source: Daily_Mail
Jamie Redknapp's Weekend Watch: Jittery big four, poor Mark Hughes
Jittery big fourLiverpool's defeat by improving Portsmouth and the loss by Sir Alex Ferguson's United at Fulham means the Big Four have lost 19 Premier League games already this season. They had lost only 10 by this stage last season and the final total was 17. With Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City all winning this weekend, too, it's exciting times.[LNB]Making his markI feel for Mark Hughes. That job was always going to be a poisoned chalice. The facts are that Manchester City have lost two games all season and are in the Carling Cup semi-finals. Hughes can leave Eastlands with his head held high. I wish Roberto Mancini good luck, but his lack of experience of the Premier League won't make it easy.[LNB] Last goodbye: Mark Hughes salutes the City fans for the last time[LNB] Good job, BellersIs there a sharper player around than Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy. The Welshman is a real threat with his running and his goals. Foreign bosses tend to buy foreign players, but I have one piece of advice for new boss Mancini it would be a hell of a mistake to overlook Bellamy. He gives City a cutting edge.[LNB]Monster MaschLiverpool manager Rafa Benitez can have no complaints about the red card shown for Javier Mascherano's tackle on Tal Ben Haim. It was over the top and dangerous. The incident is indicative of Liverpool's plight at the moment, because the players are letting the club down. They look a long way from the top four now.[LNB]Seriously good: Bobby Zamora[LNB] Stop sniggeringWhen I was at Southampton, I said Peter Crouch could play for England one day and people laughed. Just look at him now, a proven international. Now Bobby Zamora is being tipped, because he is on a hot scoring streak to match his hard work. If he carries on like this, the sniggerers will have to accept Zamora is seriously good.[LNB]Set Fletcher freeManchester United need to get their defenders fit. And fast. That back three they used at Fulham Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Ritchie de Laet would struggle to finish in the top six. Sir Alex Ferguson has taken his most influential midfielder, Fletcher, out of the middle, where he runs the game. United miss him in there.[LNB]Train takes the strainMichael Essien is known as 'The Train' and Chelsea are missing his dynamism after he picked up a hamstring injury against APOEL in the Champions League. [LNB]Chelsea are a different animal without Essien, because his understudies, Michael Ballack and Jon Mikel Obi, are very similar and not so multi-dimensional. Scott Parker was excellent again for West Ham. His performance highlighted how much Chelsea miss Essien.[LNB] PIERS MORGAN: Wolves boss Mick McCarthy should be sacked for putting his ego before his teamWest Ham 1 Chelsea 1: Delight for former Stamford Bridge idol Gianfranco Zola as Blues miss chance to pull away in title raceGARY LINEKER: Liverpool's Alberto Aquilani... possibly the worst £20m ever spent on a playerSir Alex Ferguson: I hope Fulham defeat will not cost Manchester United the title[LNB][LNB]
