TEAM: LEEDS UNITED
Everyone was excited and intrigued to see if Leeds’ exciting brand of football could transfer into the Premier League and it certainly has, but at times, so far with no rewards. However, at Villa, they certainly were rewarded. Against the only 100% team in England and at a ground where the champions conceded seven, Leeds, overwhelmed, overrun and outplayed Villa to brush them aside with relative ease. Well done also to Southampton, Leicester, Palace, Spurs and Liverpool.
GOALKEEPER: LUKASZ FABIANKSI (West Ham)
Although Man City have not started the season as you would have expected, no matter when you play them, your keeper has to have a good game and that’s exactly what happened. If it wasn’t for Fabianski, West Han could have ended up with nothing, however, although he was unable to stop Foden’s equaliser, he was equal to everything else City had, to earn and a very good draw for his team. Well done also to Leicester’s Schmeichel, Chelsea’s Mendy, Leeds’ Meslier and Fulham’s Areola despite conceding two in a losing effort.
DEFENDER: JANNIK VESTERGAARD (Southampton)
Southampton haven’t lost since he’s started a game, he was drawn in after the saints conceding five against Tottenham and even though they conceded three at Chelsea, he got the last minute equaliser. Against top of the league Everton and joint top scorer Calvert-Lewin, he performed superbly and hardly gave the England striker a kick, which helped his team confine Everton to their first defeat of the season. Shout out also to his team mate Bednarek, WBA’s Ajayi, Brighton’s Webster, Newcastle’s Murphy, Leicester duo Fofana & Evans, Man City’s Cancelo, Man Utd’s Lindalof, Chelsea’s Silva, Liverpool’s Gomez, Leeds duo Alioski & Ayling, Spurs duo Davies & Alderweireld also Burnley’s Long.
MIDFIELDER: NATHAN REDMOND (Southampton)
In a midfield, up against the likes of Colombia’s Rodriguez, Brazil’s Allen, it was the Englishman Redmond that outshone everyone. His running with and without the ball caused havoc and kept Everton guessing. But he also showed great desire to get back and do his defensive work, winning the ball back on several occasions then was prepared to go galloping back up the pitch to start the attack. It was superb and dominant midfield display where Everton just couldn’t live with him. Well done also to his team mate Ward-Prowse, Leeds’ Harrison, Liverpool’s Henderson, Palace’s Riedewald, West Ham duo Rice & Soucek and Man City’s Foden.
FORWARD: PATRICK BAMFORD (Leeds United)
Obviously this was an easy one and it’s a lesson in never giving up. In the first half he was getting himself in positions, but not finishing the job. But like all good strikers, he never let his head drop and kept going, eventually he got his reward for being in the right place at the right time to score his first. Then with confidence flowing, he produced two very different but equally stunning strikes for a superb hat-trick. Well done also to Liverpool duo Mane & Jota, Palace’s Zaha, West Ham’s Antonio, Wolves’ Jimenez, Leicester’s Vardy, Southampton duo Ings & Adams, WBA’s Grant and Spurs duo Son & Kane.
MANAGER: MARCELO BIELSA (Leeds United)
This was a real tough one as I really wanted to give it to Brendan Rodgers for his smash and grab job at the Emirates, but just couldn’t ignore the way Bielsa has Leeds playing with so little fear, as they went to a Villa side who were full of confidence and put seven past Liverpool. However, Leeds absolutely ran them to death and played them off the park. Also, not many managers would be brave enough to make a change at 0-0, after only 21 minutes, but it really paid dividends.
UNSUNG HERO: WESLEY FOFANA (Leicester)
I had to have a double take and check his age. I was astounded to learn he is only 19 years old. Amazing, in only his second game in the Premier League, fair enough Aubemeyang was playing more on the right, Lacazette was off, Saka & Pepe wasn’t quite at it, but he barely put a foot wrong and for Rodgers to put so much trust in the teenager, coming from another country and thrust straight in to perform like that, helping his team earn a valuable away win and three points. Its says a lot for his footballing abilities and quality.
GAME: WEST HAM 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY
In a very low scoring week, there was not much to choose from. However, West Ham opened the scoring in spectacular fashion. Soucek kept the ball in by the corner flag and played it back from Coufal to swing in a first time cross for Antonio, with his back to goal to execute a picture perfect overhead kick, giving Ederson no chance in goal (18). In the second half City brought on Foden and he made an instant impact. It was good work down the left from Cancelo who played in Mahrez, his first time cross was just behind Foden, however he swivelled, got a bit of luck as the ball bounced off his knee, then swept the ball in expertly on the turn for the equaliser (51).
GOAL: MICHAIL ANTONIO (West Ham) v Man City
A ball was played into Soucek in the City box, where his heavy touch took him to the right corner flag, he just about retrieved the ball and played it back down the line for Coufal who swung in a first time cross. As the ball dropped in the box, Antonio, with his back to goal and being tightly marked by Diaz, tying to ease him away, hit a superb, first time, overhead kick that flew past Ederson into the back of the net.
FOOL: SHKODRAN MUSTAFI (Arsenal)
I really could have gone on another English official tirade about their poor handling of another VAR decision. I could have also gone in on Digne for his nasty (acting like it was an innocent) tackle. But instead I am going for the Arsenal defender. Yes, he has been out for a while, however, he is still a very experienced defender and a World Cup winner. Everyone and their uncle knows what Vardy’s game is, however, it must have slipped Mustafi’s mind as his positioning was abysmal, allowing Vardy acres of space to score and complete a smash a grab job. At the end of the day, when you make David Luis look good and the fans upset at him going off injured, then you know you are bad, FOOL!
