By Ollie Irish
The Weekend Hero: Ian Holloway
Blackpool’s gaffer gets the nod as our first Weekend Hero of the new season, for leading his unfancied team to a shock 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic. Twas the result of the weekend, no question. ‘Ollie’ appears to have cut out the court-jester act, which is both a good and bad thing: good because people will soon realise that he’s a damn fine football manager with a lot more wisdom than he lets on, and bad because his post-match conferences won’t be as entertaining.
Honourable mentions: Joe Hart, Dave Jones, Marlon Harewood, Didier Drogba
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Joe Cole’s wife Carly (left) reacts to his sending off vs Arsenal
… And the Weekend Villain (booo!): Joe Cole
Cole ruined his much-anticipated league debut at Anfield with a red card, for a reckless two-footed challenge on Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny. It was the right decision, and the first sending off of Cole’s pro career. In terms of dream debuts gone wrong, it’s up there with Jonathan Woodgate at Real Madrid.
Dishonourable mentions: The whole Wigan team., West Brom’s defensive ‘wall’, Scott Carson, Chris Kirkland, Tim Howard, Pepe Reina (not a great weekend for keepers, eh)
Who was your Weekend Hero/Villain?