Tevez: a natural leader

Oldham-dwelling Manchester City kit manager and former Latics star Les Chapman’s football weekly
THE 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Eastlands was easily our best performance of the season, especially taking into consideration the friendly games.

Gareth Barry, Nigel De Jong and Yaya Toure were solid in midfield, Micah Richards had his best game for a while and Vincent Kompany — a very good player — was fantastic at the back . . . not to mention the special talent up front that is Carlos Tevez.

Being handed the captain's armband doesn't seem to be weighing him down at all.

Carlos has a remarkable attitude towards football which makes him run and fight for everything, before you even get to talking about his obvious goalscoring ability.

His English might not be great, but it doesn't matter because he leads by example with the way he plays.

That's why the City fans loved Athletic manager Paul Dickov — a 'one million per cent player'.

Up next for us is the Europa League second leg against Timisoara at Eastlands tomorrow night, followed by a trip to Sunderland on Sunday.

It would be nice to get another three points at the Stadium of Light before the international break.


THE goals have been flying in all around the Premiership, with Arsenal's Theo Walcott grabbing a hat-trick in the 6-0 victory over Blackpool.

Opinion is split on Theo. He is an obvious talent who needs an injury-free run of matches to grow in confidence.

He is only 21 and it isn't his fault that he probably went to the World Cup in 2006 when he wasn't ready.

If he keeps working hard and stays fit, I am sure we will see what a consistently brilliant player he can be.


SOMETHING else which splits opinion is goal-line technology and extra officials.

I am an avid fan of technology in football.

Look at the World Cup, a multi-billion-pound global event. A decision like the one ruling out Frank Lampard's 'goal' against Germany would never have been an issue because replays showed it was far over the line.

It works perfectly well in rugby and cricket, so I am astonished we don't use it in football.

It's going to happen eventually and when it does it will save all the controversy and 'what-ifs'.


NEWCASTLE United gave Aston Villa a shock with a 6-0 thumping at St James' Park.
I don't think we can assess the relegation candidates yet, although Wigan Athletic are in a rut and West Ham United have picked up where they left off last season.

After another three or four games the table will probably start to take shape.