It was another weekend
of drama in the premier league. Arsenal and Cardiff were the biggest winners, Liverpool continue their impressive form and Jose Mourinho's cannot just stop talking. Here are 5
things we learnt
Two Sides Of A Coin Tale At The Etihad
So, Manuel Pellegrini,
how are you enjoying life as a manager in the Premier League?
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The start of the season is often the time of the
most severe knee-jerk reactions with statements after the first weekend’s
action often being quickly retracted after the second. As such, criticism of
Manchester City’s performance in losing in Cardiff should be balanced and
mindful of how impressive Manuel Pellegrini’s side were in eviscerating Newcastle
United last Monday night.
It is safe to say after the displays of Joleon Lescott
and Javi Garcia however, that the return from injury of centre-backs Vincent
Kompany and Matija Nastasic cannot come quick enough for the Citizens. Many
more similarly shaky displays from their second-string centre-halves – and the
knock-on effect it seemed to have on the already underperforming Joe Hart
behind them – and they could be playing catch-up by the time they return.
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Remember earlier this week, when City were being
lauded for their genius in spending £50 million on Fernandinho and Jesus Navas?
Those two really flew all over the pitch against
Newcastle, didn't they? Especially when the Magpies went down a man. The new
midfielders were all anyone wanted to talk about then.
Right, so neither Fernandinho nor Navas was to blame
for City's dearth of centre-back options, they did not play significant roles
in any of Cardiff City's three tallies.
Spurs Have
Found The “New Gareth Bale”
Having lost out on Willian and with Spurs still
being linked to Erik Lamela, it’s clear that Spurs are desperate to replace the
seemingly outgoing Gareth Bale.
On the evidence of Thursday night in Tbilisi and
this game at home to Swansea, they’ve already got his replacement – Andros
Townsend.
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Townsend is looking quick, skilful, direct and
dynamic with a scintillating left foot and a hunger for goals.
However many attacking midfielders Spurs intend to
splash out on to replace the Welshman, they can potentially shrink that number
by one because Townsend is a home-grown alternative. Erik Lamela alone will
suffice, while money can be used elsewhere to strengthen the defence and to
give Soldado some serious competition up front.
Although it has to be stated that since the departure
of Luka Modric and Raphael Van der Vaart, Spurs have not really gotten an
attacking midfielder that can link up play. Willian would have been ideal but
has moved to Chelsea instead. Look into that AVB!
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Mourinho’s
Failed Mind Games
Anyone wondering whether the newly self-styled
Happy One had changed in his six years away from Stamford Bridge, received a
firm answer this weekend. While he may no longer consider himself the Special
One there is now no doubt as to whether he remains the Mischievous One or not.
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Having stated on Wednesday that he would not lodge
another bid for Wayne Rooney until after Monday’s meeting of Manchester United
and Chelsea, Mourinho has since spent his time further unsettling
the player and his manager before yesterday's clash.
Typical Mourinho, arriving in his more traditional manner; playing the game, attempting to weaken his opponents and looking to score a big blow before the first whistle has sounded.
But the 27 year old played remarkably well
yesterday night. Playing in a deeper role than Mourinho
would use him for Chelsea, the England forward did well on his first start
since April, and tested Petr Cech with one late strike and showed Chelsea what they
are missing.
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The talking point of the encounter although was
Mourinho’s decision not to field a recognize striker against the Red Devils;
probably a signal to Wayne Rooney that he is more than welcomed at Chelsea as
the main striker if he chooses to make the switch. Well done Jose, but I think Rooney will stick with United.
Newcastle
Need To Act Fast
A club who are unquestionably in dire need of
additions to their squad to enable them to have any hope of meeting expectations
are Newcastle United.
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A summer which has seen the same number of
recruitments to the Director of Football’s office as there have been to the
playing squad, has left the Magpies short of both quality and quantity as they
look to improve on last season’s disastrous 16th-placed finish..
News that Arsenal-target Yohan Cabaye refused to
play against the Hammers, despite being selected in the side, seems to have all
but confirmed his departure from the club, pending the Gunners or long-time
suitors Paris St-Germain offering a fee acceptable to owner Mike Ashley.
With Demba Ba having departed in January to
Chelsea, Cabaye is the only remaining truly consistent top talent at the club
(Hatem Ben Arfa’s performances are too unpredictable to qualify and Remy is as
yet unproven) and he will leave a huge hole in the centre of their park, a
deficit which will need filling before the transfer window shuts.
Whether Kinnear has the player in his sights to
adequately replace Cabaye and whether he has the negotiating nous to secure his
signature, could just well decide if Pardew will remain in the St. James’ Park
hotseat past this season.
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Arsenal
Fans Are The A Confused Bunch
Two games, six goals, qualification for the
Champions League group stages all but secured and three points in their Premier
League account – what was all that fuss about after Arsenal’s opening day loss
to Aston Villa?
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It has been a pretty ridiculous seven days at
Arsenal, starting with a humbling 3-1 defeat to Villa, but ending in triumph
with the same scoreline away at Fulham.
Just a few thoughts: Gunners fans won’t be fooled however, as this is what Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger do. A number of times in recent years they have been on the cusp of a genuine crisis only to produce when the chips are down. See their late runs to third (crucially ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur) and fourth position in the Premier League in the last two seasons as two occasions they have fought back to ward off a potential watershed crisis.
The underlying problems fuelling their latest one –
underinvestment in the squad, failure to land any world-class signings, a
feeling that Champions League qualification rather than Champions League
triumph is the board’s goal – won’t be washed away by a couple of wins but it
relieves some of the pressure building on the manager, the board and,
consequently, the players.
The only way to start solving those problems is by
spending big and by spending well in the last week of the transfer window, something
Wenger has yet to do in his managerial career. Whether the Frenchman can learn
this new trick and learn it quickly will determine if Arsenal are to avoid any
further impending crises this season.
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