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There were some big and well documented performances this weekend but a few others who snuck out of the spotlight. This is my Premier League team of the weekend.
Alex McCarthy – Reading
There were a few good options in goal this week, including Mignolet and De Gea, but that he was an unquestioned pick shows how good McCarthy’s performance was against Liverpool. He made an astonishing 12 saves, including a couple of breath taking ones, as he provided the only resistance to the Liverpool tide of pressure. He stood up in the face of constant pressure and somehow escaped with his clean sheet in tact. He is the Player of the Week.
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John O’Shea – Sunderland
O’Shea was absolutely rock solid for Sunderland and provided the on-field leadership that the frantically encouraging Paolo Di Canio was demanding. He led a rejigged Sunderland unit to a clean sheet which gave the attack a base to build on, and because they made such a solid start, it filled them with confidence. If they’d conceded early they might well have been swamped but, led by O’Shea, they didn’t.
Michael Turner – Norwich
How does a defender who conceded three times get in? Well, Turner was outstanding in Norwich’s valiant but ultimately failed attempt to withstand the Arsenal onslaught. It was also his goal that put Norwich 1-0 up, a lead that they looked like they might hold on to in no small part because of his good and committed defending.
Nemanja Vidic – Manchester United
There were concerns that De Gea could be vulnerable to Stoke’s aerial assault but Vidic made sure that he wasn’t put in to a position where he was tested. Vidic played like the old Vidic, getting his head on to the ball and thwarting Stoke’s simple tactics. His rugged toughness spread through the team and they dominated the game.
Leighton Baines – Everton
Baines was back to his best against QPR after a couple of quiet games and he was a rampaging threat all game from left back. His link up play with Steven Pienaar was sparkling again and he was defensively solid. He really has established himself as one of the most consistent players in the league over the last couple of years.
Michael Carrick – Manchester United
Carrick draws a lot of ire for some reason, but surely the clue for those who doubt him is that Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t. He was at his best against Stoke, both as a defensive shield in midfield but even more impressively in possession of the ball. He was metronomic on the ball and kept it moving at a good solid tempo so that United were never hemmed in by Stoke in any meaningful way. Also grabbed the early goal which stunned the crowd.
Wayne Rooney – Manchester United
This was another example of Rooney being deployed in a position which it seems more and more likely he will end up playing in later in his career. Ferguson wanted the pace and last line threat to be posed by Javier Hernandez, so it was Rooney who was moved backwards in to midfield, and he shined. His more expansive passing was an ideal compliment to Carrick’s more simple tempo game. If he can work out how to get in to goal scoring areas from his new position, he could be lethal.
Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
Arteta is a divisive figure amongst Arsenal fans and there are real questions as to whether he can really lead them to a title challenge, but he was a critical figure for them against Norwich. He kept a calm head in midfield and made sure that Arsenal stuck to their guns by keeping the passing going which eventually broke Norwich down. More importantly though, he showed great nerve in stepping up and scoring the 85th minute penalty which kick-started the winning charge. The last time he had a late penalty to win against Fulham, he missed it, but he didn’t shy away from his responsibility.
Kevin Mirallas – Everton
Mirallas makes this team for the second week in a row and was close to being the Player of the Week. If it hadn’t been for McCarthy’s career-best game, he might have won it. It is no coincidence that Everton’s current run of form has coincided with his return from injury and he has now been involved in 4 goals in the last 5 games. Last week, a magical dribble led to a goal of his own; this time his sweet fleet-footed surge in to the QPR box nearly led to another. QPR couldn’t cope with him.
Andy Carroll – West Ham
Carroll has become something of a poster boy for extravagant money wasting but the truth is he is an effective Premier League player who causes chaos every time he plays, if supplied properly. If he had moved for half the price he did, he wouldn’t catch anything like the heat he does. He was rampaging all over Southampton and scored an excellent free kick. He was unlucky not to score another with a nice scoop from the ground. A menacing showing.
Stephane Sessegnon – Sunderland
Sessegnon has been conspicuous by his absence as a danger this season, but he was at his best against Newcastle, right when his team needed it most. Di Canio must have said something to him because he stepped right up at a key time. His mazy run and expertly accurate finish for the opening goal let off the pressure valve on a nervy team and they unleashed all of their pent up frustration on Newcastle.
