Spurs awaken the beast in Sergio Aguero; managers raging like beasts – EPL talking points

Harry Redknapp, Gus Poyet and Garry Monk were remarkably open and angry for various reasons, writes Paul Radley.

Harry Redknapp, the Queens Park Rangers manager, was critical of Adel Taarabt's work ethic. Paul Gilham / Getty Images

Redknapp still raging

Harry Redknapp said he is not in fear of the sack, despite overseeing another weekend of comedy defending at rock-bottom Queens Park Rangers, which sort of supports the theme proposed by many of his detractors.

They have said Redknapp is going through the motions at the London club. If he does not fear the sack, it may be because he does not rate the job anyway.

Apathetic, ambivalent, over it. Harry really could not care less. So they say.

Unless you get him on the topic of Adel Taarabt, it seems. The lavishly remunerated, work-shy, “three-stone overweight” Moroccan playmaker is guaranteed to fire Redknapp’s passion.

“He played in a reserve match the other day and I could have run about more than he did,” an apoplectic Redknapp raged when it was put to him Taarabt may be the cure for his side’s misfortunes.

“I can’t pick him. I can only pick people who want to try, and deserve to be at a good football club like QPR.”

Poyet humiliated

We have all been there. Your team gets a pasting, so all you can you do is come off and blame the referee.

Gus Poyet could be forgiven for being a touch shell-shocked after his Sunderland side were shamed by Southampton. So unedifying was the 8-0 defeat, Poyet came over all Sunday League.

“If the referee did his job, it’s a penalty and a red card – and maybe 2-1,” said Poyet, who did acknowledge it had been his most “embarrassing” day in football.

“Then we’re are talking about a different game.”

Righto.

Monk’s oath of honesty

Losing 8-0 does not leave a manager with too much credit in the bank with which to go and complain about the officials.

Garry Monk, though, had ample scope when his Swansea City side were forced to stomach a 2-1 defeat after Michael Oliver awarded a penalty for a curious foul on Stoke City's Victor Moses – and he did not hold back.

“He’s cheated the ref and then the ref’s cheated us in terms of giving a decision that never was,” Monk said of Moses.

Spurs awoke the beast

Back in May 2010, Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City on their home turf, and thus also beat them to Uefa Champions League football.

It turns out that was a daft thing to do – it was like poking a big bear with a blunt stick – and they have been made to pay several times over since then.

Saturday's latest demolition was more or less a one-man show, with Sergio Aguero scoring all four, and he even showed some pity by missing a penalty.

He is not the only player at City who has scored four in a match against Spurs. Edin Dzeko did the same at White Hart Lane in 2011.

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