More Rooney Controversy, Arsenal Injuries, and Howard's Resilience

Is Rooney ‘Dat Guy?’

After last weekend I was very critical of Wayne Rooney’s reaction to Leicester City’s equalizer in the second half.  This week, it’s more of the same from Rooney, who this time almost cost Manchester United a home win with a reckless challenge on Stewart Downing.  It’s becoming more and more evident that Van Gaal may have made the wrong choice in handing the armband to Rooney, while it remains to be seen how his suspension will impact United.  If, and it is a big if, United appear the better side without their captain in the lineup, things could yet get more interesting at Old Trafford.  

The New Balotelli

In what was seen by many as a terrific risk over the summer, Liverpool paid a controversial 16 million pounds for the services of Mario Balotelli.  To his credit, Balotelli has not let any off-the-field issues that have plagued his career affect Liverpool.  In a face-to-face spat with Adrian last weekend, Balotelli kept his cool and was unfortunate to see yellow in an indecent clearly designed to wind the Italian up.  However, Balotelli has now scored just one goal in has last 20 premier league appearances, and although he is showing signs of maturity, the mercurial goal-scorer we all know is currently MIA.  

Arsenal Injuries Continue

Already without Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy, and Olivier Giroud, Arsene Wenger now has more fitness predicaments to navigate.  Aaron Ramsey picked up a knock that will keep him sidelined for a month (which, guessing by past experiences, could mean more than just a month), Mikel Arteta also came off injured, and the status of Jack Wilshere remains up in the air heading into key clashes with Galatasalry and Chelsea.  This could mean the return of Abou Diaby to the side, but more worryingly could spell trouble ahead for the Gunners.  Arsene Wenger may be rueing his failure to sign a top defensive midfielder right now.  

Southampton Steady

Word out of the South last week was that Southampton players refused a day off from Ronald Koeman, much to the dismay of Mrs. Koeman.  The Dutch boss reportedly gave the players the day off, but captain Jose Fonte informed Koeman of the recent development, forcing the manager to put plans with the wife on hold.  With each week, Southampton look more and more impressive, while the likes of Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, and Adam Lallana sit behind their former club in the premier league table.  

Chelsea Aiming High

If you don’t consider Chelsea favorites to win the league by now, shame on you.  Jose Mourinho is in a bit of a self-proclaimed pickle right now though with the fitness concerns of Diego Costa.  Costa has eight goals from six games in the league, but as the Champions League progresses Chelsea will need more out of their supporting forwards.  Right now, Bayern Munich and Chelsea look the strongest teams in the competition, so keeping Costa fit will be key for Chelsea.  If they can do so and get production out of Loic Remy and Didier Drogba in the league from here on, they have a chance for the treble this year.  

American Resilience

Aside from Phil Jagielka and his wondrous striker to steal a point from Anfield, Tim Howard was Everton’s finest player in the Merseyside Derby.  Following arguably his worst performance in the premier league, Howard put to rest any doubts about his age and current form for that matter.  Several huge saves aided the draw, particularly denying Mario Balotelli from point-blank range to keep the Italian searching for his first Liverpool tally in league play.  Howard continues to be a mainstay in the premier league, last week’s gaffes being an unusual deviation from his usual rock-solid self.  

England’s Surplus of Left Backs

The North London Derby was highlighted by Nacer Chadli’s opener, Alexis’ mysterious exclusion from the starting XI, and both sets of fans’ standard quota of pints and song.  However, two bright spots from he Three Lions perspective were the play of both Danny Rose and Kieran Gibbs at left back.  Rose limited Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s influence on from the right, and forced his countryman to find opportunities in the middle, which he ultimately did.  Gibbs had a similarly impressive match, although he spent much more time going forward.  The 25 year old has really come of age since Gael Clichy’s move to Manchester City, and both men are giving Roy Hodgson a lot to think about going forward.  

Round Five: Studs & Duds

Studs

Frank Lampard, Manchester City: Don’t do a double take, that’s right, Frank Lampard plays for Manchester City now, at least for a few more months.  No one could have predicted this storyline a year ago, one which saw the former Chelsea man score the equalizer in a hotly contested match against the club he spent over a decade at.  His emotional goodbye to the traveling Chelsea supporters was a heartwarming sight, and his refusal to celebrate his goal showed his undeniable class.

The Leicester City Forwards: Leonardo Ulloa scored a booming header seconds after United extended their lead to 2-0, and later a spot kick after Jamie Vardy won the second of two penalties.  Vardy’s work-rate was inhuman on Sunday, while the eight million pounds Nigel Pearson paid for Ulloa is paying dividends.

Winston Reid, West Ham: Reid opened the scoring with a simple tap-in from James Tompkins’ flick off of an excellent Stewart Downing ball in.  Reid was constantly in the right place defensively, serving as a leader on the West Ham back line.  His goal was what started the momentum for the snatch-and-grab Hammers.

Ryan Bertrand, Southampton: Bertrand had expensive shoes to fill at the Saint Mary’s Stadium following Luke Shaw’s move to Manchester United, but the on-loan Chelsea man has proved his worth in the South.  Bertrand, billed as the successor to Ashley Cole a few years ago when he joined Stamford Bridge, is finally flashing the form we all expected of him back then. 

Mesut Ozil, Arsenal: “I don’t play to prove anything to anyone, I play for Arsenal.”  These were the words of Arsenal record signing Mesut Ozil in the morning papers, who silenced critics with a scintillating contribution at Villa Park on Monday.  Everyone points to the positional change as the reason for Ozil’s performance, but it’s nice to see the player confidently stand up for himself with both his words and his play on the pitch.  

Duds

Wilfried Bony, Swansea: Bony cost his side a chance to continue their strong start when he inexplicably earned himself two very bad yellow cards.  The second challenge on Maya Yoshida was unforgivable, and the suspension which follows the red card will further cost the Welsh club.  Credit to his teammates for keeping it close playing a man down for so long.   

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool: I called Gerrard’s display ‘spineless’ in my power rankings today, and after much contemplation, I concluded that this was not too harsh of a word to describe the former England captain.  Gerrard’s positioning as the only defensive midfielder doesn’t help him, but the one-club man’s influence is waning on Merseyside.  

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United: Rooney assisted on Di Maria’s mercurial tally in the first half, but otherwise struggled in the playmaking role for Manchester United.  The image of Wayne Rooney losing his head after Leicester tied the game won’t vacate twitter anytime soon, and neither will the speculations that Van Gaal chose the wrong man to captain his side.  

Tim Howard, Everton: It was unusual to see Howard make two such glaring errors.  First, Howard and Jon Stones had a collective brain fart, then the American missed his punch which led to Frazier Campbell’s goal.  As an American, I’m not used to seeing Howard make such awful mistakes.  

Liverpool Back Line: Between Manquillo, Lovren, Moreno, and Sakho, the Liverpool back line from Saturday’s horror show have one year of premier league experience.  Brendan Rodgers, known for his philosophies on the offensive side of the ball, may want to allocate more attention to his increasingly shaky back line led by a big-money signing who admitted to a lack in confidence early on.  

Arsenal Face a Familiar Foe

Some rivalries live forever.  There are those which fizzle out and are forgotten, and some so ridiculous that not even those involved ever reconcile.  Then there’s the rivalry between Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane. 

Arsenal face a familiar face on Saturday when they travel to Villa Park to take on Paul Lambert’s red-hot Aston Villa side.  The two clubs don’t necessarily have a heated rivalry, but one of the men on the Villa touchline has quite a history with the North London club.

For nine intense years, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira gave fans some of the most intense matches to date.  The two captains simply hated each other and had a hateful playing relationship to put it lightly.  The Battle of Old Trafford amidst Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/2004 season comes to mind, as does the famous tunnel incident that took place before the opening whistle had even blown. 

It’s in Gooners’ blood to hate Keane, and it’s in Red Devils’ to hate Vieira.  There isn’t a personal rivalry in the league today that even sniffs at the feuds between these two giants of the past.  For Keane though, his new position as assistant manager at Aston Villa gives him a chance to exact some more pain on Arsenal. 

Defender Alan Hutton recently hailed the influence Keane has had on the squad, citing the former Manchester United man’s motivational skills and belief he holds in his players.  Similar to how Steve Bould has transformed the Arsenal back line in the last few years, Keane has added an extra bite to a side who feeds off positive energy and momentum. 

Fabian Delph is the poster-child for the club right now, as he recently won his first caps with England.  Delph’s call-up is indicative of the work the entire club has put in.  His inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro qualifiers gives hope to Tom Cleverley, whose once promising career spiraled and spiraled downward until he was promptly loaned to Villa on deadline day. 

Always lacking confidence with United, it will come as no surprise to see Cleverley reinvent himself under the tutelage of Lambert and Keane.  Often the scapegoat to supporters, the Englishman was never going to succeed at a club whose supporters want absolutely nothing to do with him.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Cleverley saw limited playing time in his favored position, and as a result his form and confidence were shot.  Keane, who less then a year ago called Ferguson ‘egotistical,’ will instill the same rebellious and fiery approach in Cleverley that he abided to in his playing days. 

Last December, Keane and Vieira together reconciled and re-lived all the epic battles in which they were involved.  In essence, this rivalry embodies the perfect personal rivalry in sports; two men who hate each other on the field, but one day have the respect and intelligence to acknowledge his counterpart’s passion and ability.

The Frenchman now manages the reserve squad at Manchester City, while the Irishman no longer associates himself with Manchester United.  The intensity of these two men’s rivalry will likely never be replicated in today’s more harshly policed style of play, but on Saturday expect every bit of Roy Keane’s hatred for Arsenal and passion to be injected into a hungry Aston Villa side.

United Face Tougher Tests Ahead

The dust has settled, the rumors are over, and six new faces have joined the ranks at Old Trafford in the summer.  Louis Van Gaal’s re-vamped Manchester United side impressed in their last outing against Queens Park Rangers, but the coming weeks will be a better indication of how good this team really is.  

The win against QPR was albeit a spectacular match to watch from a red perspective, but as I have already stated beating arguably the worst premier league side at home is not a proper barometer for the caliber of this group.  

Angel Di Maria is drawing rave reviews after his first two performances for United, Ander Herrera marked his return from injury with a goal, while Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, and Falcao each made their debuts last weekend.  To cap things off for the new boys, Jonny Evans declared Luke Shaw talented enough to be the best left back in the world today.  

Spirits are high at Old Trafford right now, but it’s imperative that Van Gaal decipher what system works best for this group, and also the personnel that will get the best out of the system (and vice versa).  Playing four in the back looks like the front-runner as of now, with Daley Blind’s two-way play justifying this formation.  

Thus, after a midweek rest during European competition, Van Gaal has had sufficient time on the training ground to figure out what works best for his team.  Between now and the end of November, United will face their first true tests of the season in the premier league.  

It starts this Sunday, when the Red Devils travel to Leicester and take on a group fresh off an upset win on the road at Stoke City.  Then, Van Gaal will take the Red Devils into a slightly more manageable fixture when they host West Ham six days later.  

The following Saturday, Manchester United host Everton in what will be Van Gaal’s toughest test to date.  The defensive midfield duo of James McCarthy and Gareth Barry are never easy to break down, and Roberto Martinez is more than capable of setting up his team accordingly to thwart United.  

After another two weeks rest, United travel to the Hawthornes and take on a desperate West Brom side, followed by an evening with Chelsea at Old Trafford on the 26th of October.

November is when United will be tested the most.  By then, expect a fully integrated squad with familiarity and confidence.  November second sees the first United derby of Van Gaal’s tenure, followed by a trip to the Emirates two games later on the 22nd.  

What benefits Manchester United in this upcoming schedule is that they only have to focus on one competition.  Champions League football is obviously not coming to Old Trafford this year, but their chances of bringing it back are boosted by this in itself.  

The tough part for the players will be staying patient and knowing their place in the squad with so fewer games to play.  The players have buy into the long-term goals of the club if they are to be competitive in the league this season. 

After just four games, United have accrued just five points while playing a very manageable schedule.  Going forward though, the absence of European football will help see this group through a rough transitional period as it did for Liverpool last year.  

Power Rankings: Chelsea's Reign Continues

1. Chelsea (1): No surprises that Chelsea have claimed the top spot for the third time in four weeks.  Diego Costa now has seven from four games, and if he keeps this up Chelsea can get away with the odd defensive error that they are culpable to commit.  Loic Remy also got in on the action, scoring his debut goal for the Blues.  

2. Manchester City (3): Manchester City are given the second spot by way of a hard-fought draw at the Emirates and the shocking home defeat to Liverpool.  With Fernando out, City lack steel guarding the back line, but like Chelsea, this team can score in bunches.

3. Southampton (5): Graziano Pelle is turning out to be one of the buys of the summer for Ronald Koeman, whose stock is soaring at the Saint Mary’s Stadium these days.  The spirit at the club couldn’t be stronger at the moment, with Southampton netting seven from their last two outings.  

4. Arsenal (6): New boy Alexis turned in an outstanding performance on Saturday, but the man of the hour was undoubtedly Jack Wilshere.  So often criticized for his performances for both club and country, the 22 year old Englishman hit back at his critics with a near perfect display anchoring the Arsenal midfield with his tenacity and driving runs.  A collision with Samir Nasri typified Wilshere’s toughness and fearless approach.  

5. Aston Villa (8): Take a bow, Paul Lambert.  Aston Villa pulled off one of the upsets of the season on Saturday, as they snatched three points in front of a stunned Anfield crowd.  Fabian Delph’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad is a testament to the entire club’s body of work early on in the season.  Tom Cleverly was impressive…there, I said it.  

6. Swansea (4): Swansea were not shy in their clash with league-leaders Chelsea, but the Blues proved too much for Gary Monk’s men.  Swansea have much to be proud of after their gritty performance at Stamford Bridge, and are looking like the 2013/2014 Southampton of this season in the early goings.  

7. Liverpool (2): Liverpool take the biggest plummet in the rankings, as they were left searching for an answer to Daniel Sturridge’s absence.  Perhaps losing their talismanic front man had something to do with it, but resting an in-form Raheem Sterling was a blatant mistake by Brendan Rodgers.  

8. Manchester United (9): Much has been said about how good United looked in their 4-0 dredging of QPR on Sunday.  However, beating arguably the worst team in the league at home should be a formality.  Nonetheless, new signings Angel Di Maria and Daley Blind collectively proved their worth and offered a glimpse into the future for Manchester United fans desperately seeking piece of mind. 

9. Everton (11): Romelu Lukaku impressed in the away victory at the Hawthornes.  Rather than squander a two goal lead as they did against Arsenal, Everton locked down defensively and kept a clean sheet ahead of their home clash with a sputtering Crystal Palace side.  

10. Tottenham (7): It has been a tale of two pairs of outings for Tottenham.  The first two games couldn’t have gone better for Spurs, while the last two are definitely ones to forget.  However, I expect them to learn from last season and do better this year.

11. Leicester City (16): Leicester impressed in their second consecutive fixture with a win at the Brittania Stadium.  Leonardo Ulloa’s winner earned Leicester their first win at Stoke in 10 years.  

12. Burnley (13): Burnley wasted an opportunity to snatch an improbable three points from Selhurst park.  Sean Dyche still searches for his first premier league win as a manager following Burnley’s promotion from the Championship.  

13. Hull City (14): Hull City’s home fixture against West Ham was a riveting contest, and Mohamed Diame haunted his former club with a goal.  New signing Abel Hernandez also netted for the Tigers, but an own goal from Curtis Davies spoiled the win for Hull City.  

14. Stoke City (10): Stoke City were unimpressive in their loss to Leicester at home.  Mark Hughes has to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to add some offense to this side.  

15. Sunderland (15): Gus Poyet’s side benefitted from a late Harry Kane own-goal in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.  Their performance was subpar, with Christian Eriksen carving up the midfield several times.  The Black Cats will head to Burnley next weekend against a team desperate for three points.  

16. Crystal Palace (12): Crystal Palace had a chance to take three huge points from a fixture involving two winless teams.  Julian Speroni saved a penalty late on, and the Eagles were lucky to end up with just a point in a game that featured lots of poor finishing.

17. West Ham (17): West Ham earned a solid point in one of the more exciting games of the season to this point.  Enner Valencia’s first league start culminated in a stunning goal, hopefully a sign of things to come for the Hammers.

18. Newcastle United (16): Alan Pardew’s job is surely in jeopardy now.  Underdogs going into the fixture against Southampton, the Magpies hardly showed up to play and were subsequently thrashed by Ronald Koeman’s revolutionary side.  Pardew needs results or he’ll join David Moyes in the unemployment line.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (19): The bottom two spots in the rankings stay the same for another week.  Queens Park Rangers were subjected to a coming out party at Old Trafford for several big signings.  Realistically they were never going to get points from this fixture, but a 4-0 shellacking is never good for morale.  

20. West Brom (20): West Brom had a chance to steal a point at home from Everton but were promptly dispatched by Romelu Lukaku and the Toffees.  They show organization for much of their games, but unforgivable gaffes at the back have cost them in recent weeks, Saturday in particular.  

New Boys Shine Brightest

After weeks of wondering, pondering, hoping, and celebrating, the transfer window if finally closed.  Oddly enough, there were three rounds of premier league fixtures while the window was still open, a moot point, but a curious one. 

Nonetheless, the distraction of transfer talk is no more, and we can finally focus on football.  This weekend, it was the new boys on the block who shined the brightest.  

Diego Costa, Chelsea

Praise continues to be heaped on the Brazilian errrhmm…Spaniard.  It remained to be seen if Costa could handle the physicality of the premier league, but this is by no means an issue.  With seven goals from four games, Costa has enjoyed a historic start to life at Stamford Bridge.  

His goal record is indicative of his nature; he simply doesn’t miss when given the chance to score.  Chelsea is brimming with midfielders who make a living off of creating chances, so it’s no surprise Costa has been seeing the back of the net with such frequency.  With the addition of Costa, this could be one of the strongest Chelsea squads ever.  

Alexis, Arsenal

I was recently in a debate as to whether or not Arsenal needed the services of Alexis.  35 million pounds is a lot of money, but so far he has proved he is worth every penny.  The Chilean’s work-rate is ridiculous, and his injection of relentlessness into the lineup seeing Arsenal hunting the ball more effectively high up the pitch.  

His go-ahead goal was a thing of beauty, a perfectly timed side foot volley past a helpless Joe Hart.  The Emirates crowd is adopting Alexis as a fan favorite, a title he completely deserves.  He has now scored a goal in each of his last three appearances for Arsenal, but his performance against the Citizens on Saturday proves he doesn’t shy away from the big stage.  

Angel Di Maria, Manchester United

Di Maria was at the core of most of Manchester United’s attacking moves on Sunday.  His dynamism from a deeper role earned him a man of the match performance.  Had Robin Van Persie finished Di Maria’s sublime outside-of-the-foot chipped pass among other chances, the game could have been worse for QPR.  

As I said on twitter this morning, Di Maria is proving his worth.  His game is much more complete than people imagined, and as a fan of the sport it is always a treat to see a player of his quality develop even further.  Touted as a speedy winger, the Argentine has much more to him than initially meets the eye.  

Graziano Pelle, Southampton

In a way, Pelle is a poor man’s Diego Costa.  The Italian is proven physical poacher.  He takes his chances well, and is a big reason Southampton are in the position they are.  At 29, Pelle is by no means a ripe prospect, but that’s not what Southampton need out of their strikers.  

Pelle is similar to Rickie Lambert, in that he is an intelligent forward who is an exceptional header of the ball.  Ronald Koeman deserves a gold star for signing the Italian, who must prefer his new life in England to the dull nature of the Dutch league.

The Van-Gaalacticos

Now that the dust has settled on their record summer, Manchester United look ready to earn their first victory of the season when they play host to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.  At this point in the season, no game is a must-win, but surely that’s what it must feel like for the Red Devils.  

Unless he were truly the most unappreciative employee in history, Louis Van Gaal has to be pleased with transfer kitty Ed Woodward provided him for the summer.  It resulted in the Dutchman completely re-shaping the United first team.  Here is the result of the biggest shopping spree in league history:

Ander Herrera, 25, 28.85m pounds

Already an established star in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao, Herrera joined the Red Devils for just under thirty million pounds.  The Spaniard is a complete midfielder, equipped with size, skill, and a creative knack for precision passing.  He is a technician in the mold of Frank Lampard, always looking for the ball and taking very good care of it when in possession.  Herrera went off injured on opening day against Swansea, and his return to full fitness coincides with the capture of three more signings for United.  

Luke Shaw, 19, 30m pounds

The most expensive teenager in league history and the only Englishman purchased by Van Gaal, Luke Shaw brings a difficult-to-believe level of maturity with him to Old Trafford.  His reputation as the next electrifying young fullback in the league speaks for itself, as he is already a fantastic player.  Jose Mourinho questioned the judgement to give Shaw such a big contract, but that’s the way of things for United right now.  They may have overpaid for his services between transfer fee and wages, but Shaw’s talent is undeniable and has the potential to be the best two-way fullback in the world.  

Marcos Rojo, 24, 16m pounds

Rojo is the second of four left-sided players to join Manchester United this summer.  Easily the most controversial transfer of the summer, the Marcos Rojo deal is a testament to the problems posed by third-party ownership.  Nonetheless, he is also an excellent footballer, as he showed in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final.  One of the things I’ve always liked about Rojo, which he has in common with Shaw and Daley Blind, is his ability to defend.  His left foot is ferocious going forward, but his reliability across the back line was more of an asset to Argentina in Brazil.  

Angel Di Maria, 26, 59.7m pounds

The premier league’s record signing has been impressive since his move to Old Trafford.  He was by far the Red Devils’ best player on the pitch against Sunderland, but lacked match fitness and was the first to be subbed off.  A man of the match performance against Germany over the international break only reinforced how talented this player is, while the backlash in Madrid is a negative one following the sale of fan favorite Di Maria.  Even though he is the most expensive player ever to join the league, there is much less weight on his shoulders than one would assume given the sheer number of recruits joining over the summer.  

Daley Blind, 24, 13.8m pounds

I would argue that Daley Blind may be the signing of the summer from a value perspective.  He is versatile on the left wing and excellent in a deep-lying midfield role, so expect him to feature quite often this season.  A favorite of Louis Van Gaal, Blind’s coming-out party was in Brazil, but his body of work prior to this summer was under-the-radar to say the least.  The Dutchman is the reigning player of the season in the Eredivisie, and is the son of Danny Blind, who is set to take over the Oranje following the 2016 Euro in France.  I would compare his reliability to that of Ramires; you know exactly what you’re getting out of him each time he steps on the pitch.  

Radamel Falcao, 28, loan

Ironically enough, Falcao is the shortest of all Manchester United recruits at just 5’10.  Then again, this doesn’t matter when you’re one of the top strikers on the planet.  Falcao’s exclusion from the World Cup because of injury was quickly forgotten due to the exploits of James and Juan Cuadrado, but his class is unquestioned.  Since I need not talk about how ruthless of a striker Falcao can be, this deal gives me the chance to voice a concern over the parameters of financial fair play.  

A buy option was included in the loan deal, set at just over 43 million pounds.  The loan deal is nothing more than a gambit designed to thwart the influence of fair play regulations, since United will likely trigger the permanent deal unless something extraordinary happens (torn ACL?).  Do Manchester United need Falcao?  No.  Will he improve the overall quality of the squad?  Absolutely.  However, this deal is a head-scratcher, with the likes of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney already at the club.  

Premier League Stars Shine During Break

Angel Di Maria, Manchester United/Argentina

After the first round of international friendlies, Di Maria is undoubtedly the top performer of anyone involved.  He assisted the first three goals for Argentina before getting in on the action himself for the fourth goal in a shocking 4-2 win over Germany.  Red Devil fans can rest easy that the club’s money was well-spent on this electirying playmaker.  

Loic Remy, Chelsea/France

After Karim Benzema had a goal disallowed in the first half for offside, second half substitute Remy struck to sink Spain, who are still in a free-fall following the World Cup.  

Mathieu Debuchy, Arsenal/France

Debuchy was one of five outfield players for France who played the entire 90 minutes against Spain in a 1-0 win.  Debuchy has made the right back spot his in the national team, keeping ex-Arsenal fullback Bacary Sagna nailed to the bench.  

Raheem Sterling, Liverpool/England

Sterling was by far the best player on the field for the Three Lions, who lacked both invention and energy.  Sterling won the penalty that decided the game, and could have inflicted further damage on Norway when he was granted a central position as Rooney made way.  

Edin Dzeko, Manchester City/Bosnia-Herzegovina 

Dzeko helped Bosnia-Herzegovina to a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein, netting his 37th international goal in 66 appearances.  The physical forward continues to be the face of and lead the line for his national team.  

Erik Lamela, Tottenham/Argentina

Lamela has completely turned around his career in the premier league with some impressive performances in preseason and in the first few fixtures.  His form with Argentina was also impressive last night, scoring the second goal and causing problems for Germany all the while.  

Power Rankings: Chelsea Overtake Stumbling City

Chelsea take the top spot in this weeks power rankings, while Stoke City and Aston Villa made the biggest leaps following their impressive wins at the weekend.  

1. Chelsea (2): Jose Mourinho’s men flexed their muscles at Goodison Park on Saturday, blowing away Everton at the tail end of a 6-3 thriller.  Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have taken this team to the next level, while players already at the club have improved as well.  They’ve been the best team going into the international break, and are 100% deserving of the top spot. 

2. Liverpool (5): Many thought Sunday’s contest with Tottenham would be an even contest, but Liverpool stormed the gates of White Hart Lane to a 3-0 win.  There are always room for improvements, and it will take time for Mario Balotelli to re-acclimate himself with the league.  But, as Brendan Rodgers said this morning, Liverpool is not the Balotelli show, and they showed it.  

3. Manchester City (1): As surprising as the result was for Manchester City, it’s not shocking to see this team go missing for almost an entire game.  This happened several times last season in their road to the championship.  However, Manuel Pellegrini will have to go back to the drawing board in order to get his high-octane offense going once again.  

4. Swansea (6): Gary Monk has enjoyed nine points from nine for Swansea City to start the season.  Going into the international break, Nathan Dyer has given Roy Hodgson something to think about next time around; the winger was a revelation on Saturday, linking up nicely with Wilfried Bony, whose form and power make Michu a forgotten man in Wales.  

5. Southampton (7): For all the work he’s put in in the first three fixtures, there wasn’t a man more deserving of a goal than Graziano Pelle.  The Italian finished off a 3-1 road win at Upton Park which saw Morgan Schneiderlin pick up a brace that will surely ease the pain of being left behind to face the music at Southampton.  James Ward-Prowse is making this team click with his precision long-balls and ability to control the tempo of the game.  

6. Arsenal (4): A flat performance from the gunners saw them drop two points to new boys Leicester City.  The loss of Olivier Giroud is still having an impact on the team, but Danny Welbeck’s arrival should ease pressure off of Alexis Sanchez and the flailing Yaya Sanogo to produce goals from the tip of the attack.  

7. Tottenham (3): Just when we all thought Tottenham were for real, Liverpool came to town and swept them away 3-0 at White Hart Lane.  After two wins to start the year, Mauricio Pochettino has some thinking to do over the international break.  The talent is there for Spurs, but they must figure it out as a unit. 

8. Aston Villa (14): In a matchup of damage control after two respective mid-week losses, Aston Villa were the more resilient side against Hull City.  Andy Weimann continues his excellent start to league play, and Paul Lambert can rest easy during the international break.  Tom Cleverly will improve the side as Carlos Sanchez settles into life in England.  

9. Manchester United (11): I had to move Manchester United up in the rankings despite the disappointing away draw to Burnley because of what they did in the dying days of the transfer window.  Angel Di Maria was the Red Devils’ best player on the pitch Saturday, while Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao should further improve the starting XI.  

10. Stoke City (19): Going into the matchup, finding Jim Morrison alive would be more likely than Stoke City snatching all three points from the Etihad.  Thanks to some excellent organization and defending, especially from Ryan Shawcross, Stoke were able to pull off the deserved shocker against the holders.  

11. Everton (10): Everton were brutally exposed by Chelsea, but it shouldn’t deter Roberto Martinez’ men one bit.  Chelsea put six goals past Tim Howard, but there are plenty of positives to take from a match in which Everton wouldn’t stop clawing back.  The Toffees will look to bounce back in a fortnight when they head to the Hawthornes to take on West Brom.  

12. Crystal Palace (17): Times are looking up once again for Crystal Palace.  New manager Neil Warnock was rewarded a point against Newcastle by new signing Wilfried Zaha, who looks to re-vamp his post-United career. 

13. Burnley (15): Similar to Leicester City, Burnley had a chance to inflict damage on an already hurting club in the confines of their own stadium.  The point against United is a good one, but like their fellow new boys will regret not snatching three shocking points from a doable fixture.  

14. Hull City (12): Hull City endured a poor week, losing mid-week in the Capital One Cup, then falling 2-1 to Aston Villa.  Things could have been much worse for Steve Bruce, who say his Tigers thoroughly outplayed in the first half.  

15. Sunderland (9): Gus Poyet will regret not seeing his team go ahead early on, as they dominated the first portion of the match with QPR.  Overall, a disappointing result against a team who has scored one goal in three matches thus far this season.  

16. Leicester City (18): There are two sides of the coin to take from Sunday’s match with Arsenal.  Leicester City should be somewhat satisfied with a point against the Gunners, but will rue the opportunity to snatch three points against a top four team at home.  

17. West Ham (8): Sam Allardyce will not be happy with the atrocious defending on Southampton’s second goal, which saw the Saints catch the Hammers off guard from a corner.  After a big week two, West Ham are among the biggest fallers in this week’s rankings.  

18. Newcastle United (16): On the bright side, Rolando Aarons has arrived and could be a pleasant surprise for the Magpies this season.  On the not so light side, a late goal conceded cost Alan Pardew two valuable points in an otherwise outstanding contest from a neutral perspective.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (20): The highlight of the game was probably new signing Leroy Fer’s cannon off the crossbar, but other wise a huge step in the right direction for QPR.  Three points will ease pressure on Harry Redknapp, but more work is to be done if they are to stay in the league next season.  

20. West Brom (13): West Brom were thoroughly outplayed by Swansea City on Saturday, and because of it have fallen to the bottom of the rankings.  Swansea are off to a miraculous start, but the usually tough and physical Baggies were overrun by Gary Monk’s men.  

Blind, Welbeck, Alderweireld, and Falcao Join on Deadline Day

Daley Blind, Manchester United

This one just had to happen.  It made too much sense for it to not happen.  Daley Blind bid farewell to his boyhood club Ajax and arrived for a fee in the region of 16 million pounds.  Pound for pound, Blind is United’s best value signing of the summer.  He plays two positions excellently, and playing under Louis Van Gaal will undoubtedly see him integrate smoothly with the system.  

Danny Welbeck, Arsenal

One of those deals that benefits all parties, but for Welbeck this is an enormous chance to prove himself.  Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last week or so, you’ve probably heard about Olivier Giroud’s issues.  Welback arrives with one job, and one only; play center forward.  Supporters will applaud his work rate, and aged only 23, the Englishman has a chance to re-vamp a sputtering career on the bench at Old Trafford.  

Toby Alderweireld, Southampton

Ronald Koeman was a deciding factor in the 25 year old’s decision to join Southampton.  Alderweireld can play center back or right back, and has won trophies at Athletico Madrid most recently.  After losing Dejan Lovren, Calum Chambers, and Luke Shaw in the summer, Koeman needed a proven versatile defender at the right price.  He got exactly what he wanted in Alderweireld.  

Falcao, Manchester United

The summer of 2014 has seen Nani, Shinji Kagawa, Danny Welbeck, and Chicharito leave Old Trafford among others.  A bizarre deal to me, Falcao earns roughly 350,000 pounds per week, 200,000 of which will be paid by United.  I would have thought Van Gaal needed a hard man at the back more than a striker, but Falcao is undoubtedly world-class.  Falcao and Rooney? Falcao and Robin Van Persie? Or boring old Van Persie and Rooney?  Ed Woodward may have gotten this idea from playstation, but it definitely makes United more dangerous in the final third.  

Di Maria Shows Promise, Tactical Questions For United

Manchester United will have to wait a bit longer for their first premier league win in the new campaign.  The Red Devils drew 0-0 to an organized Burnley side at Turf Moor today, bringing their tally to just two points from three relatively easy games.  

The man of the moment was Angel Di Maria who made his Manchester United debut wearing the club's beloved #7 shirt.  Di Maria impressed for the most part in the first half.  Many speculated he would play in an advanced wide role, but the Argentine started deep and delivered some fantastic long balls over the top.  

He created three good scoring chances for Manchester United in a central role during the first half, then moved to a more advanced position after halftime.  Di Maria’s movement off the ball was excellent, offering an outlet for the under-pressure defensive line.  

His willingness to drop deep along with his exceptional vision make him a viable option in central midfield.  His work rate is impressive, but was certainly a little out of his depth in the overwhelming speed and physicality of the league.  He will adapt, as all great players do.  

In Louis Van Gaal’s new system, everyone is still acclimating to both the tactics and more importantly each other.  It remains to be seen if he will change his formation, but regardless United must get on a better wavelength.  

Burnley captain Jason Shackell was outstanding in defense, making several key interventions and all the while keeping the back unit tightly knit.  Danny Ings impressed too, harassing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans into a few early mistakes.  

Again, all three center backs for United were guilty of making errors which could have easily led to a concession.  The first two minutes alone saw Jones and Evans make two glaring errors, making a case for Van Gaal to go with four in the back.  The arrivals of Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind will aid either formation.  

Both players are extremely versatile, and fill needs at multiple positions.  Blind made the left wingback role his own in Brazil and was Erividise player of the season as a defensive midfielder last year.  Rojo, as I’ve mentioned before, can play both center back and left back with athleticism and stamina.

In terms of fitness, The Red Devils’ substitutions were indicative of where their star player are at physically.  Di Maria was running on fumes by the 60th minute, while Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata were also looked tired as they left the pitch.  

A point away to a hungry bottom-feeder team isn’t the worst thing to happen, but United still have a long way to go.  After four games, Van Gaal is still in search of his first win and is still answering tough questions every day.  I do believe, however, that a healthier and more cohesive Manchester United team will look much, much better.  

Weekend Preview: United Badly Need This One

Under-fire manager Louis Van Gaal is not finding life simple in England.  After the 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup this week, one would assert that things couldn’t get any worse for the Dutchman and Manchester United.

Well, cheer up Louis, because even though it’s away from home, you’ve got Burnley this weekend, a side who also suffered defeat to a lower-division side in the Capital One Cup this week.  However, anything less than three points would mean the support calling for your head and probably another awkward meeting with Ed Woodward. 

It could be worse for United in that they are lucky they don’t play a nightmare fixture following two already rather lenient games to start the season.  Manchester United have to take it one match at a time, and regardless of their recent form, should take care of business at Turf Moor on Saturday.  

As I mentioned earlier, Burnley were stunned by Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup in front of a lackluster crowd at Turf Moor.  Even thought it was just a cup game, you would think the supporters would turn up to support their side.  On Saturday, don’t expect a half-empty stadium, but know that the support for the recently-promoted club is not what it should be.  

A week one defeat to Chelsea was almost a formality, but last weeks fixture against Swansea was hotly contested.  Although Nathan Dyer scored the only goal of the game in the first half, the second period was dominated by the Clarets.

From a Burnley perspective, this fixture could mean a great deal to them.  If they were to grab a point or perhaps stun Manchester United as bottom-feeder clubs are so accustomed to, it could be a springboard for them.  

If they lose, it's far from the end of the World...they're Burnley, not Manchester United after all.  The Clarets will come out and attack, with Danny Ings leading the line against a United side seriously lacking confidence.  

On the other side of the ball, Van Gaal will likely have Argentinian signings Marcos Rojo and record signing Angel Di Maria available for selection, and if that’s not a boost to the club I don’t know what is.  

Di Maria led La Liga by a wide margin with 17 assists last year, and was man of the match in the Champions League final.  His impact for Argentina in the World Cup was immense, while his injury absence from the semifinal and final were noticeable.  

Di Maria’s offensive prowess is well-documented, and people have been comparing his new role to that of Arjen Robben under Van Gaal.  What makes Di Maria better than the Dutchman is his willingness to defend at times, something which earned him starts in the middle of the pitch last season after Gareth Bale was bought from Tottenham.  

As for Rojo, he immediately becomes arguably Manchester United’s best defender.  Rojo starred under Alejandro Sabella in Brazil, also showing he can play on both sides of the ball to devastating effect.  However, he is just one player, and his impact can only be felt at one position.  

Rojo’s versatility will make him an excellent tool in Van Gaal’s constantly changing tactical scheme, but with the recent run of injuries to almost every midfielder at the club, the focus of concern is slurring between defense and the midfield.  

Finally, it remains to be seen how United will line up with their new star player in the fold.  United have a wealth of attacking talent in Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, and now Di Maria.  The key will be integrating Di Maria while maintaining a defensive presence in the back.  

Against MK Dons, Manchester United were made up of either untested academy players or men Van Gaal is phasing out of the club; hardly a side with any motivation or confidence.  

Right now, Van Gaal doesn’t have the luxury of selecting his best players with all the injuries.  It is imperative that the Dutchman instill it in all eleven players on the pitch that laziness or complacency will not be tolerated.  I expect United to take three points from this game, but it will not be easy at all.  United will grab the early lead, Burnley will fight back, but come up just short.  2-1 Red Devils.  

Be Patient With Van Gaal

Upon his arrival at Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal brought an aura of confidence and optimism with him following the World Cup.  I asserted that Manchester United fans should be encouraged by the Netherlands’ success in Brazil, and that Van Gaal showed the qualities necessary to turn things around at Old Trafford.  

Weeks later, Manchester United are now out of the Capital One Cup courtesy of League One side Milton Keynes Dons, who ruthlessly bludgeoned the Red Devils 4-0 today.  After a poor start to the premier league, Van Gaal was the first to tell us that things would get worse before they would get better.  Well, the Dutchman was right, and things are now worse…or are they?

One of the things I love about Van Gaal is his willingness to put promising but unproven players on the pitch in competitive matches.  Marnick Vermijl and Saidy Janko were given their debuts for the club, a sign that Van Gaal is looking toward the future.  Besides, is this not what explicitly what Van Gaal promised in his first press conference at Manchester United?

Being eliminated from the competition altogether negates the likeliness of these players seeing more chances, but first-team players should nonetheless be wary of Van Gaal’s affinity for fresh blood.  Reece James, Tyler Blackett, and Michael Keane have featured heavily in preseason and in games against Swansea and Sunderland, and are likely to stay in contention for roles in the squad.

The presence of new faces from within will only push the likes of Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, and Jonny Evans.  Van Gaal will instill it in his players that no one is assured a spot in the team, and that a younger, hungrier player will always be waiting in the wings should someone become complacent or lazy.

In the long run, getting these players on the field will benefit the club, and don’t be surprised to see more unknowns make their debuts for the club this season.  Van Gaal said after the game that he is here to build a new team, a feat impossible in such a short amount of time.  He’s right, and United fans have to maintain their patience with the accomplished Dutchman.

Meanwhile, Anderson, Nick Powell, Shinji Kagawa, Chicharito, and Danny Welbeck all failed to impress.  One can only wonder if any of these men have played their final game in a Manchester United shirt.  In the end, seeing these players play such a horrible game collectively is a blessing in disguise since players more likely to feature in the years to come will see more opportunities.   

The worst thing that can happen at Manchester United right now is for the supporters not to be 100% behind Louis Van Gaal.  He is not David Moyes, and he has won handfuls of trophies over the years.  One of the conditions of his arrival was that he would be given time, and time is definitely still on his side.

Ed Woodward knew of the imminent departures of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and Patrice Evra, but did nothing to soften the loss of three quarters of United's best back line for years.  It isn't just that Woodward hasn't replaced them by now, it's that he didn't do it years ago.  Van Gaal implied his displeasure at the lack of work done already when he arrived, calling his new team a 'broken squad.' 

On a final note, I will reiterate how important Van Gaal has been to the shape of football since his first coaching role with Ajax in 1991.  Wherever he has managed, Van Gaal has injected previously unknown talent into the spotlight.  By no means are Reece James, Michael Keane, or Saidy Janko destined for super-stardom, but here are a few reasons to still be positive if you’re a Red Devil fan.  

At Ajax, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, and Patrick Kluivert all saw their first-team debuts.  The Dutch national team consequently enjoyed high degrees of success in the late 90’s.  

Over two stints in charge of Barcelona, Van Gaal integrated Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Victor Valdes into the Catalan squad, two of those men spearheading three major tournament wins for Spain.  

Most recently at Bayern Munich, Van Gaal installed first-team players Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, and Holger Badstuber.  All three are integral to both club and country, and have enjoyed the highest success at both levels.  

Is Di Maria Worth It?

It has been one point shy of a nightmare start for Louis Van Gaal in the premier league.  Following a lackluster defeat to Swansea at home, Manchester United bagged a point in week two away to Sunderland.  Things cannot get much worse for the Dutchman, but with the addition of Marcos Rojo, and the imminent signing of Angel Di Maria, things are looking to improve.  

It is widely believed that Angel Di Maria will be unveiled as a Manchester United player Tuesday morning, having completed his move to Old Trafford for a fee in the region of 60 million pounds.  

This will break the English transfer record by 10 million pounds, so one has to wonder if Di Maria is worth the fee.  However, the way things are going at Manchester United right now, it’s a given that the club will have to overpay players of Di Maria’s pedigree to join.  

The 130,000 pound-per-week wage package given to Luke Shaw was heavily criticized by Jose Mourinho of all people.  These comments mean a lot coming from “The Special One”, who has spent more than any manager in the world since 2004 (now over 900 million euros) and would be better suited for the title “The Spending One.”  

Part dig at a rival club, and part truth, this accusation that United are overpaying for Luke Shaw is completely spot-on.  Mourinho justifies this by saying a deal that large for a 19 year old would derail morale amongst the older players, but United would not have the youngster had they not stumped up that amount of money.    

United are not in a position of leverage right now as they had been for decades under Alex Ferguson.  Liverpool are exiting their own era in which they had to overpay for players, while United are taking their turn dealing with the cruel nature of the transfer market.  Coming off a seventh-place finish in the league and no Champions League football to show for it, United are in the precarious position of being forced to pay top dollar for everything.  

Di Maria is no exception to this, but even so, the fee is very, very steep.  Paris Saint Germain were priced out of a deal for Di Maria a month ago, so Van Gaal must be beyond impressed by the Argentine to shell out this much cash for him.  

Di Maria showed his worth to Argentina in the World Cup, and was awarded man of the match in the UEFA Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid.  His pace is unquestionable, and although he has shortcomings defensively, Van Gaal will accommodate these with the team he puts on the field. 

However, it remains to be seen if Di Maria can be ‘the man’ for a team.  For Argentina, he always plays off of Lionel Messi, while Madrid have their own fair share of world-beaters to grab headlines.  Stepping out from under the shadow of these players will be a big step in the career of the Argentine.  

Di Maria impressed me greatly last season when he still managed a spectacular year with the arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham.  The Argentine played more through the middle than he had in years past and was a catalyst for both club and country with a more free role.  

If Di Maria can handle the rockstar-type media attention that will hover over him like a dark cloud, he could very well justify the 60 million pounds United are paying for his services.  Earlier in the summer, Di Maria turned down a lucrative contract extension, and given the arrival of James and the presence of Bale, it’s no surprise he has moved on.  

Coming off Champions League glory in Lisbon and a silver medal in Brazil, Di Maria easily could have signed a bigger deal and sat around in Madrid likely surrounding time to the likes of Isco, Modric, and James.  The winger’s desire is on full display right now; he has left the Galacticos in favor of spearheading a rebuilding project.  

The Argentine is stepping out from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and taking it upon himself to be ‘the man’ at Old Trafford.  In fact, it is rumored that Ronaldo had to do with Di Maria's decision to join United.  It would be poetically just if the Argentine brought back the same flair that has been missing from Old Trafford since Ronaldo left.  

Five More Excellent Signings

Marcos Rojo, Manchester United (20m euros)

After a drawn-out transfer saga involving rumors, finger pointing, and apologizing, Manchester United finally have their man.  Marcos Rojo arrives as a much-needed reinforcement, and although he cannot feature this weekend against Sunderland, his impact will be very positive for the Red Devils as the season progresses.  

Mario Balotelli, Liverpool (undisclosed)

A terrific signing for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.  Balotelli will contribute to some of Luis Suarez’ missing goal output and the Anfield crowd will adopt him unconditionally as they did with the Uruguayan.  It is this reason that I believe Balotelli will flourish at Liverpool, because rarely has the misunderstood 24 year old striker felt the love from the crowd.  

Giorgios Samaras, West Brom (free)

West Brom snapped up the Greek on a free transfer this week, adding a player with a bevy of Champions League, Europa League, and international experience under his belt.  Samaras is accustomed to playing in sides who hunker down defensively, and is effective roaming the pitch for the odd scoring chance.  

Leroy Fer, Queens Park Rangers (undisclosed)

Queens Park Rangers made an excellent signing in Leroy Fer, who joins from relegated Norwich City.  Fer featured at the World Cup and scored a goal for the Netherlands, and impressed with the Canaries last season.  He will be an excellent midfield engine from box to box and has room to grow at the age of just 24.  

Victor Moses, Stoke City (loan)

Stoke City looked slow offensively at home last weekend against Aston Villa in a 1-0 defeat.  Surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Moses will join Stoke City on a season-long loan and will definitely upgrade the Potters’ attacking options.  The Nigerian pitched in with some impressive performances at Liverpool last season and should see his opportunities increased at Stoke.  

Power Rankings Going into Week Two

1-  Chelsea: The additions of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa have given the Blues an immediate boost.  More is yet to come from this squad who has yet to solidify why will start from a deep pool of players.

2-  Manchester City: Manchester City were my favorites to win the title two weeks ago, but Chelsea’s ruthless span of football and solidarity in the second half put them ahead of a City side which allowed a great deal of pressure from Newcastle.

3-  Liverpool: More is also yet to come from this squad who have yet to feature Mario Balotelli, Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno and Emre Can.  Expect minor changes to the squad as they look to reek havoc at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.

4-  Arsenal: Sluggish at times, but the return of Mesut Ozil will galvanize the Arsenal attack.  Alexis is still settling in, as are the players returning from World Cup layoffs.  Still in need of a couple more players before the window closes.  Everton will be eager for a result following their draw with Leicester, but it would be a massive result away from home for Arsenal if they were to win. 

5-  Tottenham: Is there the start of a new revolution at Spurs?  Eric Dier’s winner off of Harry Kane’s sublime pass could be symbolic of improvements in North Londoners.  Spurs play host to QPR on Sunday, who will be chomping at the bit to erase the home defeat to Hull City at Loftus Road.  

6-  Southampton: Tadic and Bertrand formed an exceptional partnership down the left, and Schneiderlin logged an impressive display in an opening loss at Anfield.  Another hard fixture awaits as West Brom visit Saint. Mary’s.

7-  Swansea: Soaked up pressure for much of the day but capitalized on two scoring chances.  Dealt Manchester United an opening blow in the league and should pick up all three points when they play host to Burnley this weekend.  

8-  Manchester United: Highlight of the match for me was watching Louis Van Gaal graciously sign those kids’ match day programs.  Reinforcements are on the way but a stern test away to a hungry Sunderland side awaits.  Marcos Rojo has been ruled ineligible for Saturday's clash, further complicating the situation for the Red Devils. 

9-  Everton: The loss of Ross Barkley shook the Merseyside club in the days leading up to Saturday, but Roberto Martinez is more than capable of turning things around.  They will be tested as they were against Leicester City when Arsenal come to town on Saturday.  

10-  Hull City: An opening win at Loftus Road saw the Tigers emulating manager Steve Bruce’s fiery approach he displayed as captain for Manchester United decades ago.

11-  Aston Villa: Winning at the Brittania Stadium against Stoke City is much harder than it sounds, and things are looking up for Aston Villa who just added Colombian Carlos Sanchez.  Sanchez, nicknamed ‘the rock,’ could feature right away against visitors Newcastle who showed promise in week one.

12-  Sunderland: Gus Poyet’s men delivered a hard-fought point at the Hawthorns as they look forward to hosing Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United at the weekend.  Coming off their season-defining win against the Red Devils last Spring, the Black Cats will be hungrier for more in week two.  

13-  Crystal Palace: Deserved a point against Arsenal in a game which saw Jason Puncheon sent off late and a stoppage-time winner from the impressive Aaron Ramsey.  Similarly, West Ham were unlucky in week one and should make up for an exciting affair.

14-  Newcastle: Fought valiantly against Manchester City and were unfortunate not to have grabbed equalizer.  Sergio Aguero’s late goal sealed a cruel fate for the Magpies who look to turn the tables on hosts Aston Villa.

15-  Leicester City: Everton were in for a long day when they played hosts Leicester City, who showed fight and spirit which culminated in a 2-2 draw.  It doesn’t get any easier in week two which sees them travel to Stamford Bridge for Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas’ home debuts.

16-  West Brom: Saido Berahino was one of the stars of week one for a West Brom team which looked unusually weak in defense.  Sunderland really brought it in week one, and now the Baggies must head south where the resilient Saints await.

17-  West Ham: One could argue Sam Allardyce should have put on an extra striker a man up.  Maybe, maybe not, but Big Sam wasn’t happy to see his outstanding defense let Eric Dier slip through for the winner at the death.  West Ham are in for another fight when they play a spirited Crystal Palace side. 

18-  Burnley: Showed spirit against Chelsea, both in the opening sequence and parts of the second half.  A rough draw in week 1 sees them travel to Swansea as underdogs to an impressive side who won at Old Trafford on Saturday.

19-  Stoke City: Losing at home to Aston Villa won’t sit well with Mark Hughes and his men.  They go into a difficult matchup with Hull City, but expect a fight from the strong and resilient Potters.

20-  Queens Park Rangers: Harry Redknapp is back.  Awesome.  In other news, Loic Remy has re-joined his parent club which lost to Hull City 0-1 at home last weekend.  QPR must now march into White Hart Lane for Tottenham’s home opener and hope they can come away with a point.