Premier League Roundup: The Ramsey show puts Arsenal on top, Mazacar flops for Chelsea

Losers:

Mazacar

Mata, Hazard and Oscar [i.e. Mazacar] proved to be Chelsea’s undoing at Newcastle. Rarely do you describe a Mourinho team as being weak in midfield or failing to put up a fight but that is the verdict after watching their display this week. For all their possession, they failed provide any creative spark and came up on the losing side in challenges with Tiote, Cabaye and the remaining Newcastle midfield.Mazacar’s inability to find Torres with passes or crosses meant the lone forward had to drop deep to get involved in build-up play and saw his aggressive efforts result in a foul during the first half. Hazard is proving to be a flat-track bully and Mata, despite saying the right things in the media, fails to convince us all that he is best suited for a wide-role or play behind the striker as Mourinho wants. If you haven’t noticed, only the Brazilian Oscar escaped from this game guaranteed to start in GW11 and that is only because his closest competitor, Mata was worse when he was on the field.

Mourinho

Jose Mourinho: I made 11 mistakes

I made 11 mistakes, 11 mistakes. I should have picked another 11 and not this one. I made 11 mistakes. It’s the feeling I have. When my team plays so badly, it’s the feeling I have. I’m exaggerating. Of course we had some guys with, I am not saying outstanding, but with some normal, good performances, but the feeling is that I made 11 wrong choices.” said Jose after the match

–There is nothing more I can add that he hasn’t said himself.

Liverpool F.C.

Brendan Rogers commitment to his new 3-5-2 formation is impressive. Analysis after the game suggested that his formation let him down as he failed to address Arsenal’s midfield. Perhaps he placed too much faith in his players and his new system but only one team left with their title-chasing credentials strengthened.

This cannot be stressed enough, anything less than top 4 finish would be a disappointment. Watching Suarez opt for goal rather than pass to Sturridge when Liverpool had a glorious chance in the 2^nd half was particularly telling. The ‘SAS’ combination is not so much a partnership as it is two individual talents that are playing well. Can SAS be relied upon to pull each other when the team [and themselves] are having a bad game? One game is too small a sample size but I think the answer is no. They can build a partnership during the course of the season but at the moment, all is not well.

For L’Pool fans wanting some good news, Coutinho’s return was a welcome sight. Yes, he was rusty and looked off the pace but still showed flashes of brilliance that should see him return back to his imperious form before his shoulder-injury.

It is worth nothing that Liverpool ended the match against Southampton with the team they should have started with. Enrique should have played instead of fielding a back four of center backs and Sterling’s performance eclipsed Aspas who failed to match the injured Coutinho in terms of creativity and starting attacks.

David Moyes

Back to back wins, the first time this season for United is nothing to scoff at but the reason Moyes finds himself in the losers section is for his failure to manufacture a dominating 90minutes of football as United’s manager. The 1^st half at Craven cottage suggested more of the same in the 2^nd half but whiles City went on to score more goals, Moyes opted to see out the rest of the game which resulted in sustained Fulham pressure and a failure to keep a clean sheet. The best form of defense is to attack, Moyes must have missed the memo.

One key quality of good managers is the ability to choose the right squad and make changes during the game. Moyes got the first 11 correct but shot himself in the foot with his 2^nd half substitutions. In this game, Moyes has not done much to change opinions that he is a defensive-minded coach who is out of his depth at United. With Arsenal coming up this week, this is Moyes’ chance to show his attacking intent and show evidence of what it was Ferguson saw in him to install him as his successor.

TorresSo much for the mini-revival that saw him dominate Manchester City during game week 9. To be fair, he was starved of service. Yes he has lost a yard of pace but it is important to remember that at Liverpool, all the offense run through him. At Chelsea, he is contending with midfielders that are eager to get on the score-sheet as well. Passes to Torres were few and far between and he drop deep to attempt to retrieve the ball and be involved in link-up play. In fact, his average position during his time of the field was in the middle of midfield, right next to Mata and Oscar.

SunderlandThe Guy Poyet-led mini revival lasted exactly one game. 2 wins in 10 games. Sunderland need to find ways to win if they are to remain relevant this season and feature in the 2014/2015 EPL season.

Swansea 3 wins in 10 games, Michu failing to score and Bony still not settled in. Swansea’s domestic form is worrying to say the least. Thinking that their European games are leaving them tired is simplistic but their performance in the first Welsh derby did nothing to dismiss that claim. Some analysts are of the opinion that after playing in Europe [and doing well mind you], playing in the EPL is losing its allure for the players as they are more willing/prepared to give more during their European games than in the EPL. Whatever the case, Swansea is a team that plays fantastic football. Neutrals are being denied good football and they better sort that out quickly. They are not at crisis levels yet, but this was supposed to be an easy run of fixtures. This is worrying.

Fulham

Martin Jol has to start scoring and quick. November is typically when club owners cut lose under-performing managers and Jol, with the run of poor results he has had with Fulham finds his name on the list.

Relegation Teams

Playing Norwich, Sunderland and Crystal Palace seems to assure any team of a guaranteed wins. Their fans deserve much better and of the 3, none seem ready to give this season the good old college try. A disturbing development. Sunderland and Palace have already changed coaches. Use that nugget of information as you will

Joe HartNo start for Hart and City win by 7 goals and keep a clean sheet. Should he be worried? A look over at Casillas says yes. No keeper is immune to bad form but recovering your position after a run of bad forms is easier said than done.

Thanks for reading this week’s edition—As usual, leave your comments and lets get a discussion started.