In Saturday’s Premier League action, Chelsea look to build on their perfect start, while Liverpool seek to stifle an upset.
Diego Costa maintains his residence in the heroes column with a hat trick versus Swansea City, while Queens Park Rangers’ entire defence earns villain status for a woeful display in a 4-0 loss to Manchester United.
HEROES
Jack Wilshere’s recent performances with Arsenal had brought savage criticism not just from journalists but also from ex-players like Paul Scholes and Tony Adams. After this weekend, everyone now knows why. His display for Arsenal against Manchester City — powerful, aggressive, incisive and ruthless — was a reminder of why people were so excited when he broke through in 2008. Wilshere has it in him to dominate the biggest games, to lead his club and his country by example, but he hasn’t done it often enough. Saturday’s game was his best in months. You shut your critics up by playing like that, not by pleading with them to shut up.
If Diego Costa continues the form on which he’s started this Premier League season, plan on him being a permanent resident in the heroes column.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa might as well just set up camp in this section. Until he gets injured or suspended, he’s not going anywhere. Like Cesc Fabregas, also deserving of praise this week, he’s been so impressive that his price tag is now irrelevant. He’s brutal, he’s hungry and he’s deadly in the box. The manager loves him, the fans love him, and you’d imagine that his teammates are pretty impressed, too. In four league games, the former Atletico Madrid striker has bullied four defences, scored seven goals and banished all memories of … you know … the expensive Spanish chap with the sad eyes. What was his name again?
Some days you can take players like Man City centre-back Vincent Kompany for granted. Saturday was not one of those days. Even by his own high standards, this was a majestic performance. His positioning was so sound, so prophetic, so far ahead of the curve that it was as if he’d already watched and rewatched the game on DVD and knew exactly where he had to be. Kompany had a mixed season last year and struggled with injuries. It’s fair to say that he looks much better now. He remains, by some considerable distance, the greatest of all of City’s post-takeover signings.
Ronald Koeman was supposed to be firefighting as Southampton manager this season wasn’t he? The sell-off of Southampton’s star players, the departure of Nicola Cortese, the odd distrust of the ownership — it was all supposed to add up to a nightmarish season and a relegation battle. Instead, the Saints find themselves in fourth place having scored seven goals in their past two games. It’s early days, but they certainly didn’t look like a team destined for the Championship. Contrary to expectations, Koeman’s cool head and shrewd recruitment seems to be working. Southampton are not noticeably weaker than they were last year.
Old Trafford faithful have waited to see how all the new toys at Louis van Gaal’s disposal would fit together. Quite nicely it turns out.
It seems churlish to single out Manchester United players for individual praise when so many of them were so accomplished. Angel di Maria made a mockery of Real Madrid’s transfer policy, Daley Blind ran the midfield as if he’d been there for 10 years, Rafael gave one of his brightest displays in months, and even Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie looked bright. Most pleasing, though, was Tyler Blackett. A young man whose confidence could have been destroyed by such an appalling start to the season, he looked composed and cool-headed. Apparently, United’s faith in youth did not end with the departure of Danny Welbeck.
Manchester United
Queens Park Rangers
FT
VILLAINS
Manuel Pellegrini’s refusal to moan about referees in his short tenure as Manchester City manager won him many friends last season, but is the mask slipping now? We allowed him one rant after a bad night in Europe because everyone gets cranky, but does a second one mean that he’s just like all the others after all? Mark Clattenburg didn’t have a great game at the Emirates. He missed a couple of decisions and his policy on yellow cards seemed a little vague, but it was hardly the worst or most unbalanced performance of the season. It’s not as if he missed a penalty-area body slam or allowed someone to sneak a concealed weapon onto the pitch.
ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol analyses Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Anfield.
Liverpool’s new attackers are better than this. Liverpool are better than this. Aston Villa were magnificent and deserve every credit for both their victory and their start to the season, but for a team that scored 101 goals last season to manage just a single shot on target against a side that shipped 61 just isn’t good enough. The departure of Luis Suarez is not an excuse. The injury to Daniel Sturridge is not an excuse. New players are not an excuse. As Brendan Rodgers rightly said on Saturday, “We had new players when we played Tottenham two weeks ago, when we were outstanding.”
We’re not saying that the Queens Park Rangers’ defence is slow on the uptake, but there are trees with quicker reactions than this lot. Granted, when you’re losing by a significant margin at Old Trafford, belief is hard to sustain, but it’s only polite to at least pretend to care. Time and time again, QPR’s back line simply stood and watched as their opponents ran at them. Rio Ferdinand, in the stadium where he enjoyed his greatest successes, looked like a man trapped in an anxiety dream. Harry Redknapp’s team will have to defend better than this, or they’re going straight back down again.
– ESPN FC TV: Nicol breaks down Liverpool’s loss
– Jolly: United’s new boys crush QPR
– Team of the Weekend: Costa features, Van Gaal managing
If you’ve ever had a pet rabbit escape in your garden, you’ll know exactly how West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster feels this week. Rabbits are skittish creatures, ludicrously fast and capable of extraordinary changes of direction, rather like a big-eared Raheem Sterling, if you will. Try to catch one with your hands and you’ll do exactly what Foster did: You’ll lumber over, drop to the ground and claim nothing but a handful of fresh air. Foster’s only problem was that this wasn’t a rabbit; it was a football that was travelling at a steady speed and made absolutely no change of direction. Still, at least he had the courage to take responsibility for the mistake.
It’s not just the appalling form that has put Alan Pardew’s job at Newcastle United in jeopardy, it’s the excuses. Transfer policy, fitness, referees, scheduling, atmospheric conditions, Supermoon, there’s always something to blame when Newcastle United lose. Still, at least there was no one else he could blame this time. Who can you blame for a 4-0 defeat to Southampton and a performance that was characterised by the sort of defending that makes QPR look like Helenio Herrera’s Internazionale? What’s that, Alan?
“The fans were on us from the start, on me in particular. That didn’t help the situation.”
Ah. … Oh, dear.