5 things we learned from Saturday's action in the English Premier League

None of the big dogs were in action on Saturday in the Premier League, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable. There were goals galore and much to get thrilled about. The expectation of an upset wasn’t there, but this was a clear opportunity for all to see what the ‘pretenders’ had up their sleeves.Could Spurs start off their campaign after a not so lucky start at Old Trafford? Could Swansea build on their opening day point at the home of the champions? Could Newcastle carry on from their fine performance at home to Southampton and could the Saints themselves pick up the momentum after the return of Roald Koeman?There were questions aplenty. But did we get all the answers we were looking for? We certainly did get a few. Let’s start off with them.

#1 Steve McClaren has a long way to go before he can bring a feel good factor at Newcastle

Steve McClaren needs to up his game.

3 wins in 21 Premier League games. That’s Newcastle for you in the year 2015. That record doesn't only shout relegation but also disheartens the most loyal of supporters.

If even an essence of hope was rekindled last week with their performance against Southampton, it was quickly put to rest at the Liberty stadium. A goal down before the match clock even hit ten minutes and a man down before the game was even an half-an-hour old. With Swansea flying high and the Newcastle team again showing glimpses of the haplessness that had driven the Toon Army mad, the result was nothing but a foregone conclusion the moment Daryl Janmaat was sent packing for his ineptness at handling the speed and guile of Jefferson Montero.

Newcastle have invested for sure, but they still need more players even if they want to even grace mid-table. Janmaat’s dismissal proved how threadbare their squad is at the moment. They neither had the resources to pull the Dutch international early from the game nor replace him with a genuine wing-back after he was dismissed. Their defence, which was the second-worst after QPR last season still gives away goals like an enraged wife gives away her husband's belongings to charity.

The fixtures don’t get any easier for them in the coming weeks with a visit to Old Trafford lined up next week; followed by an Arsenal visit to St. James’ Park. It won’t really surprise me if they were dumped in the bottom three after the month of September.

#2 The Swans have finally got their wings

Swansea are soaring thanks to Gomis, Ayew and the rest of the attackers

Newcastle’s haplessness shouldn’t really take the shine off their performance. The Swans were hard done by when Mourinho’s furore over his medical team overshadowed the fine performance put in by Gary Monk’s side.

Their midfield just ruled the roost from the get go and never really allowed the Magpies to establish any real stronghold on the proceedings. Whilst their duo of Jonjo Shelvey and Jack Cork were efficient, their wing pair of new boy Andre Ayew and Jefferson Montero along with Gylfi Sigurðsson were in a word – sumptuous. The men in the middle explored holes within the ‘not-so-well-drilled’ Newcastle side.

Whilst on the left Montero gave Janmaat some lessons in “how to not defend if the guy you are on is quicker”. The South American was not only quicker but also better in every sense of the word. They had found a mismatch and exploited it till Newcastle’s Dutch right-back crumbled.

Andre Ayew wasn’t as prolific as he was against Chelsea the other week, but the managed to get his name on the scoresheet as well, rounding off a great day for the Welsh side. By the look of things, Swansea might be in for another top eight finish or even more.

#3 The red and white stripes are a mess

Southampton don't look anything like they did last year

“Magic Dick” worked for Sunderland last time around. But, two games into the season and the magic seems to have faded away. Two games in and it’s already boiling point at Wearside. Two consecutive defeats in which the Black Cats allowed a combined seven goals to go in is certainly not the statement they would have liked to make.

They have made hard work of it in the Summer transfer window and the lack of quality showed on the pitch. A 3-1 humbling by the hands of new boys Norwich let out shouts of ‘Are you watching Ellis Short’ in the stadium. It might be now or never for Sunderland.

The biggest shock of the weekend so far might have come at St. Mary’s on the opposite side of the country. Southampton is another team in red and white who are enjoying (well not exactly enjoying) a similar dysfunctional start to the season. If last year was a new year with a comforting wife, this year seems to have begun like that old nasty mother-in-law for the Saints. Koeman might have suffered a ruptured Achilles pre-season, but the defeat to Everton on Saturday surely would have hurt more.

There were too many players in the team who seemed below par. The service from the wings was abysmal and in the end, there were too many unforced errors all around the park. Even the youngster from the Saints’ academy, upon whom the fans trust and believe seem to have disappeared. This game was not only a case failure at execution but somewhere deep inside many would suggest it was also a case of not wanting it enough

#4 Leicester have gone on from where they left off

Leicester City look like an incredible team under Claudio Ranieri

The management might have changed, but Leicester City have carried their momentum from last season into the new one and how! Under the vigilance of Claudio Ranieri, the Blues of King Power stadium find themselves at the summit of the league standings after the end of second Saturday.

Whilst many might have predicted a win for them against Sunderland on the opening day, a win over high-flying ‘Arsenal-demolishing’ West Ham was very far away from anyone’s imagination. This might just be a bubble for all we know, but none can say that their six points from their opening two games were undeserved.

First appearances in the Premier League can often be deceiving, but no one can argue about the ‘heart on sleeves’ brand of football the Foxes brandished at Upton Park is unsustainable. It would have been a travesty if West Ham were to complete a comeback after the Hammers seemed to have come into life in the second half. However, their feistiness going on the attack was equally replicated at the back as Wes Morgan and Robert Huth looked like colossal figures, who would fight to the bitter end to eke out a result.

If the first half was a display of how well they can play the game and take their opponents by surprise, the second one was a show of dogged determination to get the result. Combine the two in every other game and Leicester are surely going places.

#5 Spurs produce another Spursy performance

Same old. Same old.

By the end of the ninety minutes at White Hart Lane the Spurs fans had that eery feeling of having seen it before creeping into them. For the faithful, Tottenham have become that uneasy girlfriend/boyfriend who doesn’t seem to change even after showing glimpses and promises of a new self.

The North Londoners still have it that quality to draw themselves into the most unlikeliest of doldrums even when their flight seems to be one without a hint. The Spurs team on Saturday wasn’t really flying but their grip on the proceedings seemed strong enough to bag them their first three points. A first home win was on the cards as the seeing themselves two goals to the good with 13 minutes of regulation time left on the clock.

If Spurs aspire for qualification in the Champions League, these are the games they need to win. This wasn’t a loss, but it sure felt like one.