Sky Sports analyst also reflects on another debatable refereeing decision
Sunday 28 December 2014 11:03, UK
Chris Kamara has his say on the weekend's Premier League action, including Liverpool's late show and Wayne Rooney's new role.
Liverpool’s late show could be huge for Rodgers
Martin Skrtel’s late goal against Arsenal was absolutely massive for Brendan Rodgers. It was a major goal because of the spirit and the character they showed to come back – it was a little bit more like they were last season. It’s a huge goal for Brendan and Arsenal will be disappointed they didn’t take all three points, that’s for sure.
Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, has shown that when he’s fit there’s real competition for places up front at the Emirates, with Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck in there. When they’ve been successful before, they’ve always had the goals to bring in, and lately they’ve always been relying on one person like they have with Sanchez for most of the season. Now Giroud’s back it gives Arsene Wenger a headache in terms of selection, so that can only be a good thing.
Rooney may be settling into a deeper role
Radamel Falcao could be the reason Wayne Rooney stays in midfield, if he continues up alongside Robin van Persie. Sir Alex played Rooney there occasionally and that’s where I think it could be. That could prove an interesting situation for Roy Hodgson and might be an opportunity for the young guns who are coming through and scoring goals to get a chance for England.
Lamela fulfilling his potential at last
I was at White Hart Lane on Saturday, and Erik Lamela was absolutely brilliant. It’s the first time I’ve seen him and he was exciting – you just wanted him to get the ball because he’s got the ability. He was almost showing contempt for left-back Ben Mee or Kieran Trippier when he switched over to the other side as well. I don’t know if that was the best game he’s had in a Spurs shirt because, as I say, it’s the first time I’ve seen him since joining, but he was certainly very impressive.
Tottenham are still a work in progress, and I think Mauricio Pochettino would say the same. He’s a top coach. I spoke to him on Saturday and he’s settling in well – the guys absolutely love him. January will be interesting – he can shift a few faces out the door, bring in a few of his own, and the dynamic there will change again.
Newcastle ending the year on a low
It’s amazing, football. Alan Pardew got manager of the month and everything in the garden was rosy, then a couple of weeks later they’re out of the Capital One Cup, they’ve lost 4-1 at Arsenal and then they lose in the big derby. That’s football – it’s just the way it happens. From thinking he’s going to finish the year on a high note having had the ups and downs he’s had, with that defeat to their local rivals it’s ended up on a low note. But he knows his chairman won’t be panicking – it’s just a little setback for the supporters who were beginning to turn in his favour.
He has to be looking to strengthen in January. He’s obviously going to be looking to add more goals – he needs a regular goalscorer. Papiss Cisse did it when he first came in, but now sometimes he does it and sometimes he doesn’t. Ayoze Perez is still coming to terms with the pace of the Premier League and he’s not going to start every week.
Austin deserves an England shot
At first, you say: "He needs to find his feet in the Premier League," but Charlie Austin’s done that now. He’s scored a hat-trick at all levels of English football, so he’s proved himself as a goalscorer. The next level up is international level – the first thing is to introduce him to the squad, get him to know the lads, and who knows after that?
It’s very much similar to Rickie Lambert, who was another player who came up from the bottom, worked his way up and proved himself at every level. He then proved himself in the Premier League with Southampton, got the call-up and scored on his debut.
It could be the same for Charlie, but from a national perspective it’s just really good that he is top-scoring Englishman in the league at present. The top scorer in Germany or in the Premier League – whatever nationality they are – will be picked by their national squad, so why shouldn’t Charlie?
Agbonlahor’s red will be rescinded
It wasn’t a sending-off – we don’t need to go over that too much. Villa put the shutters up and that’s the end of the game. It was a mistimed challenge because of the fact Ashley Young just took the ball away. Young wasn’t faking injury – nothing like that. He got kicked so he’s entitled to lay down and be hurt because it’s not natural to be kicked!
The referee got it wrong – we’ve seen it before – and I’ve got no doubt that’ll be rescinded. You never know if that affects the result, though, because sometimes 10 men rally.
