Taking stock: What the managers will be thinking of over the break

International breaks are often met with sighs of frustration and cries of derision, but for club managers, a few days off can be a useful period. Time for introspection and to reflect on the early season performance. Sure, there have only been a handful of games and it is often said that Christmas is the perfect time to take stock of your team’s performance. Where you are at Christmas is usually where you end up, say the pundits.

But even 7 games can say a lot about about a football team. Amidst all the madness and chaos of football matches every 3-4 days, this is a perfect getaway for the managers. Most players are away on international duty, and there are no impending matches for the near future. So, what are the men at the helm of the top teams thinking of at the moment?

Roberto di Matteo

Laughing all the way to the bank!

Not even in his wildest dreams could RDM have expected this. The new signings have taken to the EPL like a fish to water, and Chelsea are flying high. It’s safe to say they have played the most eye-catching football, and Juan Mata is simply a joy to watch. The backheel to Cole for the late goal against Stoke was a true masterstroke from an awesome player.

Torres is firing on all cylinders with 6 goals, and the defense has only let in 4. Eden Hazard has sprinkled some much-needed glitter on to the EPL stage, and there seems to bring great balance to the side, even if the team may seem attack-heavy on paper.

Good times at the Bridge then, and the early signs are promising. This is a side capable of winning the title, and off to a superb start. Oh, did I mention how awesome Juan Mata is?

Sir Alex Ferguson

There’s never enough time.

Joint second, and who else to share the podium with but their noisy neighbors. 9 goals conceded, the most of the top 8 teams. At the other end, 17 goals scored, the most in the league. Robin van Persie is continuing on with his ridiculous vein of form – 35 goals in his last 45 EPL games. Vidic has lost weight and looks pale, whereas Fletcher has managed to gain weight and come back to add some steel to a fragile midfield.

Fergie’s reliance on older legs in the midfield is bordering on the insane, with Giggs looking his age against athletic and agile opposition. At this stage, even Anderson seems like a better choice than Giggs, and when that happens, you know you are in trouble. No prizes for guessing who has the most yellow cards. Paul Scholes, the Ginger Ninja continues to silently assassinate his victims with his deadly tackles, so its business as usual.

Wayne Rooney brushed off a frightening thigh injury and tops the assist charts with 5. It’s déjà vu as far as the defense is concerned, with early season injuries once again hitting them hard. Have Arsenal and Man United exchanged medical staff? Or does Fergie make them train with rocks instead of footballs?

Roberto Mancini

Work in progress.

It’s been a dodgy start for the Citizens. The 3-5-2was quickly abandoned in favour of the proven 4-2-3-1 against Sunderland. There are problems in defense, as the 8 goals conceded in 7 matches will testify. Last season, they conceded 29 goals in 38 games.

Clearly, Mancini’s tinkering with his team, combined with below-par displays from his men, have resulted in a shaky defense. The strikers are up to speed, with Tevez and Dzeko netting 4 each. Yaya Toure is still a marauding man-mountain, so nothing changes there.

A 2^nd place standing should appease Mancini, although his antics on the sidelines tell of a different story. Most title-winning sides have forgettable second-seasons, so Mancini will be vary of complacency. It’s been a week and Mario Balotelli hasn’t done anything crazy. Something’s wrong at the Etihad.

Arsene Wenger

Good start, can do better.

Talks of misfiring strikers are premature, since only 5 teams have scored more goals than the Gunners this season so far. The defense is unusually sturdy, and for once, the goalkeeper’s latest clanger is not the talking point. It’s always difficult replacing a goal-scoring machine, but the arrivals of Podolski and Cazorla have made Arsenal more direct. No longer do we see pass after pass around the box, and there is a sense of purpose to the team. Mertesacker has been excellent after a forgettable first season, and Ramsey has started off well too.

Maybe this is all they need, for all the players to step up to the plate. And in Cazorla, they have their own magician. His left-footed drive against West Ham will certainly not be his last of the season. He is an anomaly in a sea of players determined to use only one foot. The Spaniard is a genuine 2-footed player. Now that’s something.

It’s entirely possible they won’t even need Giroud to get more than 10 goals over the season, if Walcott, Podolski and Gervinho can each chip in with 15. Split the workload, and no-one will remember he-who-must-not-be-named.

David Moyes

Usually at this stage of the season, Everton are firmly mired in the bottom half, with Moyes’ hastily-stitched side struggling to get going. It’s only in the second half that they suddenly decide to start playing like a capable side, and miraculously make it to their customary 7^th place finish.

The winds of change have certainly blown over Goodison Park, as Everton have started off in spectacular fashion, and for once, Moyes can bask in the limelight. Holding on to 4^th place will be a challenge, but this is one team that probably everyone wants to do well.

Brendan Rodgers

Only 3 teams have less wins than Liverpool this season, and the fact that all 3 of them are languishing in the relegation zone, is a warning signal for Rodgers. Get back to winning ways, or get sucked into the bottom.

Andre Villas Boas

AVB is used to knee-jerk reactions, so news of him doing something right is met with surprise. Defoe looks like a completely different striker under him, and in Dembele, they have a complete midfielder. Watch out for Spurs, they are going to upset a lot of apple-carts this season.