GAME ON!
Nineteen games in the 1st week of the Premiership and if I told you I know who would be winning the Premiership, I’d either be guessing or being untrue.
So who would be the greatest among the greats, come end of season?
KLOPP
Jurgen Klopp’s win at the Emirates – a direct title contender – was the most impressive statement on the first day. 4-1 up at some point and I really feared the worst for Arsenal, but then Klopp’s boys quickly reminded us why Liverpool FC are pretenders to the throne and are yet to win the Premier League in a long time.
What they possess in fire power and speed upfront, they lack in defence. As Sadio Mane, Coutinho, Lallana, Wijnaldum, Origi and the others tore Arsenal to shreds at the back, the back line of Klavan and Lovren struggled to contain a tame Arsenal onslaught.
Yes the game was won in a 25 minute spell, but Arsenal could not live with Liverpool for those minutes and it was like watching a Premiership team turning on the tap against a modest League One side. Klopp’s side showed in those 25 minutes what they can do to any defence in the world, with their pressing game, but once again showed the side effects of the turbo engine.
Phillipe Coutinho limped off with minutes to go, meaning the pace of the Ferrari has once again damaged one of the bolts holding the engine. With Sturridge already on the treatment table, Coutinho becomes another key member of the squad in need of body repairs at the service workshop. How many more Liverpool players would be claimed by injuries remain to be seen, but if Klopp can address his defence and injury woes, he may just be in pole position to blow dust on everyone else with his squad of speed racers.
PEP
I arranged and re-arranged Manchester City’s formation and tactical changes on my tactical board several times and with each passing phase of the game, it was clear. This was a superior tactician, laying building blocks for a foundation for a magnificent edifice. Pep Guardiola’s invention has begun at the Etihad.
His elements and apparatus are not minerals and spatulas, but millionaire players, space and the ball. Pep Guardiola is not working in a science laboratory either, but the training grounds at the Etihad. From 4-3-3 to 3-2-4-1 to 2-3-2-3 to 2-3-5 to 4-1-4-1 to 2-5-3, Manchester City kept changing formations on the pitch and I pitied Sunderland as they were pulled all over the park.
That a team changes formation during games is nothing new, but to be done on purpose and with such fluency and style was a beauty to behold.
The scary thing is that he has only worked with the team for a few weeks and I wonder what would happen when they get it right. What is also intriguing is the number of Bentleys and Ferraris who were missing from the starting line up; Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, Gundogan, Sane, Otamendi, Iheneacho, Navas and Fernando!
That each Premiership team would pose a different challenge to Pep with different styles, varying tactics and the English mental/physical strength is a given, but the Pep signature has already been imbibed.
I watched them destroy Steau Bucharest in the Champions League last night. High pressing, highly intensity and high energy were the hallmarks of yesterday’s display. Two penalties missed and five goals scored!
Fasten your seat belt and get ready for the Pep Revolution!
JOSE
Imagine you want to drive to a town next to yours. Most people would take their GPRS system and pluck in the destination and listen to the traffic news a few hours before they set out. Most people, except for a certain type, like Jose Mourinho.
Jose would plan for the trip one year in advance; how many cars travel on the route between the hours of 7am to 12 noon, 12noon to 6pm and 6pm to midnight….
He would look at every possible route to get to the destination, by car, train, bus, coach, bike and air, just in case his car broke down in the middle of the journey. He would interview those who travel that route daily, weekly, yearly and ask questions. He would demand to know what the weather would be like and plan for the weather, he would know the telephone numbers of every taxi company nearby and in both states and would even profile the drivers so he knows which one drives fast and which one is always late or slow…
Get the gist? Jose Mourinho will not miss any detail & would focus on the only objective: GETTING THERE. The objectives for Manchester United FC are very clear; WINNING and RETURNING TO THE GLORY DAYS and in Jose Mourinho they have a manager who is capable of taking them there.
Against Bournemouth it was about winning and they did that without any resistance from Bournemouth truly (apart from the first half hour)
Pogba, Mikhytarian, Smalling, Rashford, Lingard are still to play but United played with purpose and objective on Sunday. Jose’s success would hinge on how ruthless he is at leaving out big names without any sentiments and also how quickly he can integrate a team of 15 players from his large squad. Let the fireworks begin!
CONTE
How do you revive an under-achieving team that was once the best in the League?
First thing, you get Antonio Conte in to make them fit enough to play 120 minutes every 3 days.
Then you get him to instil confidence in their best player. Then you get him to give everybody a fair crack at the whip (Victor Moses came on for Hazard and Oscar was chosen ahead of Cesc)
Chelsea FC were not in any trouble at all against West Ham, who struggled to even understand the movements and positioning of Chelsea (They had their first shot on target in the 70th minute!)
Can this team win the league? I don’t know, but without the distractions of the mid-week games, the team seem to be heading in the right direction.
Efficiency, empathy and Passion is what I saw on the sidelines on Monday night and I hope he can transmit that through the veins of the team and take Chelsea back to the top.
Pochettino and Koeman also look like they’ll have a say where the title ends up and as for Mr Wenger, I hope the three points he dropped on Sunday would not come back to hunt him on prize giving day.