Theo Walcott is on fire. Manchester City are starting to looking leggy and tired. West Ham are in the process of developing some gumption while Sunderland look doomed already. There are so many things to talk about from this Saturday's exciting Premier League encounters. David Moyes, please read this. It will help you save your job.
#1 Christian Benteke deserves Crystal Palace
Brilliant on one match day and average in the next. The lack of consistency is why Benteke did not make it at Liverpool. His fans will point out to the fact that the system in Liverpool did not suit the big Belgian. They may also point to the fact that the man hardly got a consistent run out at Anfield. However, it is getting clearer and clearer that the striker has not developed into the world beater he should have been by now yet.
Both Benteke and Crystal Palace struggled against a resolute West Ham defence. The lack of creativity in midfield was apparent for all to see. To his credit, the forward never gave up. But there was never a moment in the game where one thought, ‘Benteke can turn this game around himself.’ He did give it his all and did well to win the penalty. But there was never a period where Benteke looked like he would unlock the door West Ham kept closed through the evening.
Ten goals from thirty-six games for Liverpool never made for good reading. Three in five for Palace do, so far. But here is a limited striker playing for a limited team and unfortunately for all concerned, this looks like Benteke's peak. Pity, because this was a footballer who should have been destined for bigger and better things.
#2 Sunderland need to change tactics and not manager (yet!)
David Moyes is out of ideas. He looks tactically inept and has no idea how to organize a defence. But these are things we knew already didn’t we? There are players in his starting eleven who look like they still aren’t back from holiday. Add to that, the fact that so many of his players simply aren’t going to cut it in the Premier League or need a serious talking to and one can’t just help but feel that the clock is ticking for Mr. Moyes.
To start off; Lamine Kone needs to grace the bench for a bit. The central defender looks like he has all the depth perception of a dead Emu and one of the many ways to get past him on the football pitch is to simply walk past.
There is also the pressing need to play a big man for Defoe to play off. For Defoe to thrive, he needs to get behind defenders and link up with someone who can bring the ball down for him. Maybe Anichebe deserves to be looked at. Because against Stoke, the Sunderland players looked like headless chickens who deserved to be beaten by more than the final tally of two goals.
Finally, it is time for Sunderland to play five at the back. When a team concedes so frequently, it means that there has been a loss of structure. Time for Moyes to really really really really give a 3-5-2 a long and hard think. It would bring the best out of Defoe, Januzaj, and Lens whilst not over-exposing the midfield.
#3 Theo Walcott is thriving in a new look Arsenal
Theo Walcott of fast running and ‘Sign da ‘Ting’ fame isn’t playing to prove the masses that he’s good enough, not to get a new contract or for a move to Liverpool and certainly not to prove to the boss that he can be the next Henry. He is playing for himself and the team. And it’s working. This Arsenal side, sans a focal point, is as fluid as fluid gets, as the front four interchange positions and look to cause overloads on the flanks on a regular basis.
This serves Walcott well as he looks to Alexis, Ozil, Iwobi (and Cazorla and Xhaka to an extent) to pick him out as he makes runs behind the defence. What’s more is that Walcott is finally not overthinking when he has the ball. Both his movement and passing are now more instinctive. This serves him and the team well as the football is moved around with pace in the opposition’s third.
This was apparent to see against a Swansea team trying to figure out a new identity. Walcott skinned Taylor repeatedly but unlike previous years it wasn’t his only party trick. He also found space behind Amat and gave the Spaniard a torrid afternoon. With Bellerin developing into a world class right-back who complements Walcott’s game, Arsenal seem to have a right-hand side that most opponents will fear.
#4 Chelsea are in it to win it
Antonio Conte is adapting to the Premier League. In his defence, the man inherited a squad full of issues. From an Ivanovic in decline to a Costa struggling to make a positive impact in a game to an Eden Hazard who looked shorn of any confidence whatsoever,;Conte had his hands full when the season started.
Slowly but surely, he has ironed out the kinks. Ivanovic in decline? Switch to a 3-5-2 using new recruits Luiz and Alonso in positions where they can showcase their skill sets and where damage can be minimized.
Costa and Hazard have definitely been spoken to and regained their confidence, as on Saturday they linked up well, drifted wide and ran at defenders. Kante looks the real deal in midfield, ably shepherded by the reinvigorated Matic. Azipilicueta already looks he has been a centre-back his whole life and the team has been told be more creative and positive.
This is a Chelsea side on the rise and opponents will do well not to underestimate them. If further proof was required of how deep their squad is, then take note of this: Fabregas, Batshuayi, and Oscar didn’t play a single minute and Willian had flown back to Brazil to be with his family after his mother’s unfortunate and untimely demise. What did Chelsea do?
Dominated posession, scored two before the break, ensured that Musa and Vardy were marked out of the game, whilst Victor Moses showed he can be called off the bench when the time arises and the team blooded three of their youngsters. All on the way to a comfortable 3-0 win. Not a bad afternoon’s work at all.
#5 City need a back-to-the-goal striker
Let’s face facts first. Manchester City have the best squad in the Premier League. Depth in every position is complemented by the fact that almost every member in the starting XI would walk into any of the other nineteen Premier League teams. Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho are all cogs in a well-oiled machine that purrs like a kitten most days.
This Saturday was one of the days that the machine stalled. Granted, Everton were a bit lucky as wave after wave of City attack were thwarted by an inspired Stekelenburg, even though Jagielka seemed determined to donate three points to The Citizens.
This may not happen to City on most days, but on the occasions where teams play two banks of four, Silva and De Bruyne may not always be able to glide their way into the penalty box. Similarly, Sterling and Aguero will struggle against a physical defence. Iheanacho is still developing and will be a wonderful player some day, but his time as a bonafide starter has not yet begun.
Now sans Dzeko and/or Bony, the lack of a striker who can bring down the ball and link up with the midfield, is the only shortcoming of the City Squad. One that may hurt them between now and January when they can buy again. Against teams who are defensively imposing who through sheer work rate and determination can keep City's midfield runners and artistes at bay for sixty minutes of a match, a big man would have been a great plan B as the team gets tired and leggy. The hallmark of a title winning squad always has been having a plan A, B and C.
Is the lack of this kind of player going to cost the blue half of Manchester this season? Maybe someone can call Yaya and ask him whether he wants to have a go at the striker position. He can play anywhere, that one.
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