Frantic times continue in English Premiership

By Vic Mills

LONDON (JP): These are frantic days in the English Premiership. Over a 48-hour period last weekend, Alan Shearer was sidelined and diagnosed as requiring surgery; Manchester United was hit for six at Southampton; lowly Leicester humbled Newcastle and Arsenal regained top spot. Breathtaking stuff.

The news, late last week, that 15 million man Alan Shearer would be missing for around six weeks due to a groin injury colored Newcastle's celebrations following its eclipse of Manchester United.

Unperturbed, Keegan simply moved Beardsley to play in the "hole" behind Ferdinand and added Lee Clark to midfield for the game against Leicester. On the day, Newcastle made enough chances to win two games. Shearer's absence, then, while not critical, has robbed it of a serial goal scorer.

Anxious to improve life around his own penalty box, Keegan has recruited former Liverpool centerback and Eire international, Mark Lawrenson, to act as defensive coach. His skills were not required against Ferencvaros in the UEFA Cup on Tuesday evening as Newcastle strolled to a comfortable 4-0 victory on the night and 6-3 on aggregate.

Two goals from the colorful Colombian, Faustino Asprilla, should give him a starting position tomorrow in the home game against fellow northeasterners, Middlesbrough. With the likes of Ravanelli, Juninho and Emerson in their number, Newcastle's new defensive order is set for an early test.

One member missing from the visiting side will be England international, Nick Barmby. Unable to command a regular place, he was transferred to Everton Tuesday for 5.75 million.

For once there was no interest in the sale from Manchester United. As with Newcastle, forwards are the last thing on the agenda at the moment. Having conceded 11 goals in the last two Premiership games, manager Alex Ferguson is beset by trouble among his talented but temperamental team.

Indeed, as the score mounted last week, so the inquests began; McClair bellowed at Irwin, Irwin berated Beckham, Schmeichel ranted at anyone within earshot (although he does this even when United is winning) and all the while, the United bench looked accusingly at the officials.

Indiscipline

The truth, though, was that Manchester United, once again, was victim of its own indiscipline. Before it apportions blame outside its own camp, it would do well to address some simple, direct questions to Roy Keane.

Keane, like Ince before him, too often epitomizes the modern United; easily aggrieved and snarlingly arrogant. His dismissal in the 22nd minute was his fifth in 17 months for club and country.

Captain Cantona, with his pat of condolence, and Alex Ferguson, with his indignant manager's march on the pitch, tacitly pardoned the miscreant. For all their video evidence and bleating about officialdom, the simple truth is that they do not like losing.

Nor was there chance to repair the damage in mid-week as a one-nil scoreline in favor of Fenerbahce in the Champion's Cup was United's first home defeat in 40 years of European competition.

Today will bring yet another test of temperament with the visit of Ruud Gullit's Chelsea side to Old Trafford. The game, to be aired live on SCTV today at 11 p.m, will see the return to Manchester of old boy, Mark Hughes. A distinguished servant of the club, United's defense will not relish his robust style of play.

The physical side of football will be to the fore at Selhurst Park today where Wimbledon entertains Arsenal in the match of the day. Denied the respect of others, Wimbledon, fourth in the Premiership, plays the game in its own image -- hard, fast, aggressive and direct. Yet they will need all these qualities and more to keep table-topping Arsenal at bay.

Rarely tested against Leeds last week, Arsenal's aging players are not only proving durable but also appear to be adapting to Arsene Wenger's new methods of training which emphasize the suppleness of body aided and abetted by nutritious diet and limited alcohol intake.

The only diet they adhere to on Merseyside is that of winning. The 2-1 victory over Derby on Sunday moved Liverpool into third place, a game in hand and just a point behind Arsenal. In scoring both of his side's goals, Robbie Fowler signaled that he is close to recapturing his form of last season.

Which is bad news for bottom club Blackburn Rovers, which entertains Liverpool tomorrow. Champion just two seasons ago, and now managerless with the departure of Ray Harford, Blackburn has never recovered from losing Batty, Shearer and Dalglish in quick succession.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Aston Villa, with 4.5 million to spend following the sale of Savo Milosevic to Italian Serie A side Perugia, entertains Nottingham Forest. Deep in the danger zone, Forest's manager, Frank Clark, is another fearful of the future.

Buoyed by its victory over Manchester United, Southampton travels to Hillsborough today to play Sheffield Wednesday; while just 40 miles south, Derby County hosts fellow Midlanders, Leicester City. With all four teams touted as possible relegation candidates, such fixtures, even at this stage of the season, take on added significance.

Finally, West Ham takes its multi-national team to White Hart Lane today to face a Tottenham side just one place above them in the Premiership. With a host of talent on view, this all-London fixture may well turn out to be the most entertaining of the weekend.