TEAM: WEST HAM UNITED
Although there were several good candidates for this, on another day, four teams could have claimed this award. However, I went with the East Londoners, who welcomed their rich West London rivals with a memorable beating.
What made it even more impressive is after Chelsea equalised, you expected them to go on and win the game, but West Ham defended and scored a second early in the second half.
Then after getting a man sent off in the 67th minute, you were expecting Chelsea to take control. But West Ham played with their hearts and got a late penalty to seal the game.
Well done also to Notts Forest. Liverpool. Man City Arsenal, also, Villa, Brentford, Spurs and Brighton were all close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: ALPHONSE AREOLA (West Ham)
There were few candidates for this award, but the West Ham man more than made his mark. Late in the first half, after Chelsea equalised and were on top, Chelsea got a penalty.
But he made a great save which arguably was the turning point in the game. If West Ham went in at halftime a goal down, I doubt they would have come back. He also made two other telling saves in the game.
Shout out also to Tottenham’s Vicario, Brighton’s Steele, Forest’s Turner, Liverpool’s Alisson, and Bournemouth’s Neto.
DEFENDER: PERVIS ESTUPINAN (Brighton)
He has become a real find for Brighton; and already showing he is not just a one-season wonder. I am not sure how he possesses so much energy, but he is up and down that left flank all game.
He assisted the first and scored the second while being solid in defence with his tracking back and challenges. I have been increasingly impressed with his decisions in another impressive performance.
Well done also to his teammates Webster and Dunk. Villa duo Digne and Torres. West Ham duo Zouma and Ogbonna. Liverpool’s Konate. Spurs’ duo Romero and Van de Ven. Man City duo Walker & Akanji, Arsenal’s Saliba and Forest’s Aurier.
MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
This was probably the hardest decision this week with several worthy candidates. However, Foden in a central position just looks different class. Up against experienced midfielders in Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali and Joelinton. The 23-year-old ran the show,
Picking up the ball at every opportunity, almost demanding it from his teammates, and making things happen. Dare I say it was very De Bruyne-like.
Shout out to Liverpool’s Szoboszlai, Brighton duo Enciso and March. Villa trio Luiz, Bailey and McGuinn. Spurs duo Sarr and Bissouma. Chelsea duo Chukwuemeka and Sterling. West Ham trio Soucek, Paquet and Ward-Prowse. Also, Arsenal’s Odegaard.
FORWARD: KAORU MITOMA (Brighton)
I must admit I am cheating a little on this one, as technically, I usually put him in the midfielder category. However, such was his forward play I had to recognise him.
He scored a brilliant opening goal at Wolves, then assisted the second and was a constant menace to the Wolves defenders, who just could not handle him. Another who is showing he is not just a one-season wonder.
Well done also to the Forest duo Awoniyi and Wood. Liverpool trio Diaz, Salah and Jota. Man City’s Alvarez. Villa’s Duran. West Ham’s Antonio. Sheff Utd’s Hamer. Wolves Hwang. Bournemouth’s Semenyo. Also, Brentford duo Wissa & Mbeumo was close to winning this.
MANAGER: DAVID MOYES (West Ham)
No Rice, no problem. Moyes’ men gave the billionaires of Chelsea a rude awakening in their first home game of the season. It was a performance full of determination, heart, and desire, with a bit of quality thrown in.
His acquisition of Ward-Prowse already looks like a good one, with the midfielder’s contribution, not to mention the subs he made and how his team rallied for 25 minutes with 10 men against a mega-expensive Chelsea squad.
UNSUNG HERO: JAMES WARD-PROWSE (West Ham Utd)
This was quite a difficult decision. But I went for the debut man who, against the transfer-happy Chelsea team, showed his quality with two assists to help his team to a memorable victory.
He must have felt pressure coming in after the departure of Rice, but his two assists and all-around performance must have already warned the Hammers fan’s hearts.
Well done also to Brighton’s March, Spurs’ Bissouma, Forest’s Awoniyi and Brentford’s Mbeumo.
GAME: WEST HAM 3-1 CHELSEA
West Ham opened the scoring early when debut man Ward-Prowse swung over a corner to the back post, and Aguerd rose high to power a header home (7).
Chelsea then equalised when a cross was blocked and came back to Chukwameka just inside the box on the left. He dropped his shoulder, jinxed to the right and whipped the ball into the far corner (28). Just before halftime, Sterling was fouled just on the edge of the box. Enzo stepped up, but his penalty was saved by Areola (43).
In the second half, West Ham took a shock lead when Ward-Prowse’s first-time ball found Antonio running forward. He was slowed up by two Chelsea defenders, but used his strength to fend off one and hit a low, powerful shot from just inside the box that nestled in the far bottom corner (53).
West Ham then went down to 10 men when Aguerd slid in on Jackson for a second yellow (67). Chelsea pushed for an equaliser, but in a rare West Ham foray forward, they got a penalty when Caicedo fouled Emerson, and Paqueta made no mistake from the spot (90+5).
GOAL: KAORU MITOMA (Brighton) v Wolves
Mitomo picked up the ball on the left touchline. He cut inside a defender, continued forward, and surged past another, pulled back but kept going forward.
As he raced into the box, he skipped past a third defender, avoided another pull back and slotted the ball past the keeper into the bottom far post.
There was also good goals from Sheff Utd’s Hamer and Man City’s Alvarez.
FOOL: CHELSEA FC
This was a tough one as Wolves and especially Everton and Man Utd could easily be up here. Not to mention some dodgy ref decisions. However, with all that has gone on over the summer and the last few transfer windows. Chelsea must be called out.
The owners seem to be playing fantasy football with the amount of money they have shelled out over the past 18 months.
Although they did not play too badly. The defeat proved you can have all the money in the world, but you still have to do it on the pitch, and money doesn’t always guarantee instant success. FOOLS!
