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Another exciting round of Premier League came to an end with Everton’s 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday. With Arsenal winning, Spurs only managing a draw with Chelsea and both Manchester clubs losing, Arsenal remained on top. Whilst at the other end of the table, Norwich City finally managed to win and ease some pressure off C Hughton. So let us take a look at the major talking points from the weekend.
Lukaku might yet prove Mourinho wrong
After a splendid season on loan at West Brom, many expected the Belgian forward to stake a claim for a place in the Chelsea starting lineup. Unfortunately for him, even though those ahead of him weren’t in any real form, Mourinho decided to loan him out for another year and might yet live to regret that decision. With Torres seemingly out for a few games at least after his red card, he has no proper backup to call upon.
But, Chelsea’s loss has been Everton’s gain as Lukaku showed just what Everton were missing in the past couple of seasons in the game against Newcastle United on Monday. Whilst Everton were no doubt, a good side under Moyes, they lacked a top quality striker who could score 25 goals a season. Lukaku might be just the man to provide them that. With both fullbacks in fine form, the Belgian won’t be starved of any supply and will almost certainly relish the prospect of playing first team football week in and week out.
Manchester in Crisis?
Under new management, both Manchester clubs are struggling to recapture the form that saw them win the league in the past two seasons. David Moyes has gotten Manchester United off to their worst start in the history of the Premier League. On the other side, Pellegrini hasn’t done much better, as his side have collected just a solitary point from their first three away games.
Whilst both managers are no doubt just getting started, neither of them have managed to find their best XI as yet. Both teams are where they are, only due to individual performances and are yet to find their feet as a team. Whilst it may take time, unfortunately for both of them, time isn’t on their side. If both clubs don’t improve their form, both their manager’s jobs, might yet come under the scanner in the not too distant future.
Hull City might yet stay up
At the start of the season, if someone had told Steve Bruce that his side would be in the top half of the league after six games, ahead of Manchester United and level on points with Manchester City, he would have certainly bitten your hand off. But, as it stands, their second home win in three games ensured that they finished the weekend in eighth place with 10 points.
Robbie Brady has certainly been their main man so far with three goals and an assist to his name, in just six games. If Hull keep up their good home form, which sees them unbeaten in three and pick up the odd away win here and there, like they did against Newcastle, they stand a very good chance of proving everyone wrong and staying up.
Martin Jol is under pressure
With just one win and four defeats in their opening six games, Fulham find themselves in the bottom three ahead of Crystal Palace and Sunderland. A nervy 1-0 win against Sunderland on the opening was their solitary win so far and even in that game, they were lucky to escape with a victory. Jol started this season with plenty of hopes and dreams, but none of which would have involved the kind of start that the cottagers have enjoyed.
Whilst the team is filled with gifted footballers in Berbatov, B Ruiz and A Taarabt, they seem unable to combine skill with substance. In a team where everyone loves to, and wants to, attack, there have been times when they have been found wanting at the back. And, if they don’t manage a victory against Stoke at home next Saturday, Jol might well be without a job by the time the international break comes around.
Where have all the goals gone?
After six rounds of games, there has only been 136 goals scored in total, by all the Premier League clubs. In comparison, the last three seasons had yielded 137, 132 and 143 goals respectively after just five rounds. And of the 20 clubs, 13 of them have scored just seven goals or fewer and only Arsenal and Manchester City have hit double digits so far.
Whether it’s down to astute defending or profligate striking, this season is yet to produce too many high scoring, entertaining, end to end games. In fact, although there have only been six 0-0 draws so far, there have also been only six games in which there have been at least five goals. So, some five, six and seven goal thrillers are long overdue.
