"Life's just not fair"

...that's the title of Derek Robson's blog this week, in reference to the sad plight of Middlesbrough and West Brom - two teams that try to keep the ball and play the game on the ground - as well as to Rafa Benitez, in the wake of his comments over the weekend.

Robson is really clever, and has some amusing comments about this past weekend's English Premiership action...

On Middlesbrough and WBA - Both Boro and Albion have at least tried to keep the ball on the deck and knock it around. At times both teams have been a nice watch - like Arsenal but without the results. Then again Arsenal are like Barca but without the results. It's a bit blinking irritating when teams with big lads who treat a football like it needs to be taught a lesson - Stoke, Bolton, Blackburn - end up way above you. I think all three of them will stay up next year 'n all, mind, cos no matter what your average half-interested lass says, football's not about being pretty. Just ask Steve Bruce. It's about results.

On Manchester United - Time too to grit your teeth into a clenched dead man's smile and congratulate the Beetroot of Govan for another job well done. Rafa take note. We used to slate Benitez for his rotation policy but then he used to replace fillet steak with economy frozen burgers. Fergie's first 18 are in their prime. The defence, but for one little blip, has been rock-solid and the Tumbler had been close to his best. Do we think his strop the other day against City was cos he wanted more goals and as it stands Anelka might yet pip him to the golden boot? Nah, he wouldn't be that vain.

On Benitez - So I'm not sure why Benitez is being quite so petty. Perhaps it's cos he knows that he spent half the season being way too negative and ever since they lost at our place, they've been, well, brilliant and exhilarating and, a poor home display against Chelsea in the Champs league apart, unstoppable. In short, by being too cagey it's Liverpool that've lost it. Can't see that mistake happening next season - so come on, sulky-chops! Say well done, and win it next year.

On Hiddink and Drogba - That's what Guus Hiddink would be saying if he was to stick around at the Bridge. Every time that bloke opens his gob I'm more impressed. The players like him and any one who can get two self-appointed members of football's royalty to dovetail like Drogba and Anelka have done in the last few weeks deserves all the plaudits going. The bloke shouldn't be off back to Russia he should be helping Blair's Middle-East peace talks. I don't know whether Drogba will be there either but every time that bloke sets his mind on staying on his feet for 90 minutes he's twice as good a player. Lesson learned? I doubt it. If he's in Serie A next season he'll be expected to revert to type and he'll be throwing himself on the floor and weeping like a Blue Bell regular.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/robborobson/2009/05/lifes_just_not_fair.html