So after the latest week of the Premier League season, here’s what we learnt this weekend:
Firstly we’ve learnt that David Moyes continues to be one of the most unlucky men in football after his Everton side were dealt a cruel blow early in their 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season. There was no way that Jack Rodwell’s challenge on Luis Suarez should have resulted in the England U-21 star being sent off and it was nowhere near being a malicious challenge.
Martin Atkinson though for some strange reason thought it was and despite the game being goalless at the time, effectively wrapped up the three points in a present and gave them to Liverpool who rightly took advantage of the situation and went onto win the game by handing out the red card to Rodwell. Thankfully the FA have seen sense and reversed the red-card but it’s come too late for Moyes who was rightfully livid after his side went unfairly down to 10 men.
We’ve learnt that unless Owen Coyle’s Bolton improves then they really could in for a relegation-scrap this season. Bolton ever since the Scot took over have without a shadow of a doubt become an attractive team to watch but with the team struggling, perhaps they need to chance their tactics/style and go back to what made them a successful Premier League team under Sam Allarydce and that’s winning ugly. Fans may not like it, but it will make them harder to beat.
Bolton’s start to their game against Chelsea was embarrassing and whilst it was nice to see Danny Sturridge (a talented English forward who should have been called up by Fabio Capello by now) get a brace, there’s no doubt Coyle’s side could have dealt with the goals better. Poor Adam Bogdan in goal looked out of his depth and probably needs more experience before he can be trusted to fill in for Jussi Jaaskelainen on a permanent basis in the future.
We’ve learnt that if both Manchester clubs keep winning then the first match between the two this season is going to be hyped up more than any match so far this season. City demolished Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, ensuring that they ended a week, which has been headlined by Carlos Tevez’s idiotic behaviour, in style much to the delight of their manager Roberto Mancini who it appears is now even more popular with the media and City fans than ever before.
United, meanwhile laboured to a win against Norwich City at home. Despite having defensive injuries at the moment the reigning Champions look strong and showed the strength of their squad which knows how to win a game when not playing well, something which City for all their money and players may not know how to do, but I guess it’s hard for both teams to win games in that manner this season if they continue to play as well as they are at the moment though!
We’ve learnt that after his winning goal for Spurs against Arsenal in the North-London derby that Kyle Walker will continue to be rated as one of the best young defenders in the country. The former Sheffield United player has started the season in fine form and clearly is reaping the benefits of his loan spells at QPR and Aston Villa last season. He fully deserved a call-up into the full England squad and has worked hard to become a first-choice under Harry Redknapp.
Arsenal meanwhile look a side short on confidence and it must have been gut-wrenching for their boss Arsene Wenger to mark his 15 years in charge of the Gunners with a defeat to their bitter rivals. His side have enough quality to turn their league fortunes around and can still finish in 5/6th place this year. How their fans must wish that Emmanuel Adebayor who they jeered non-stop on Sunday was still at them banging in the goals like he used to do.
Lastly we’ve learnt that QPR despite the signings of Joey Barton and Shaun Wright-Phillips proved against Fulham that they are still weak at the back, that Blackburn’s criticism of Steve ‘Yes Man’ Kean is getting out of hand, that Swansea’s record signing Danny Graham can score in the Premier League, that Frank Lampard is far from finished for Chelsea and that Gabriel Abgonlahor who struggled last year looks to be back to his scintillating best this season.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87