The English Premier League.Week #9. Five things we learnt this past week

Week 9 was littered  with mouth watering clashes as Everton hosted Arsenal, and Tottenham welcomed Liverpool, but it was Manchester United's first loss of the season that caught the most attention. Kevin De bruyne continued his good form as he provided yet another assist for leroy Sane to wrap up all three points at home against Burnley, and open a 5 point gap for the Citizens at the summit of the table. Also, Chelsea mustered a miraculous comeback, following Conte's tactical genius, winning 4-2 at the Bridge. In addition, there were important victories away from home for Liecester City and Bournemouth, to move them up the table. But what are the things we learnt this past week in the EPL.

1. Nemanja could be Manchester United's autoMATIC, but he has to study the manual.

Following man united's lacklustre outing against newly promoted Huddersfield Town, questions have began to arise over their ability to actually compete for the English premier league title, with the likes of red hot, manchester city, and maybe Tottenham. Although the 2-1 loss against the Terriers came as a surprise, but on the day United were so basic that they hardly ever mustered enough to mount a comeback, even as they went two goals behind in the first half of the encounter. Statistically speaking, it was so bad, man utd had just one shot on target in the first half.  The attacking quadrant of Martial, Mata, lingard, and Lukaku did little to trouble the defence line of the Terriers, and it took the second half introductions of Marcus Rashord and Henrikh Mikhitaryan for them to even get a goal back.

However, the offensive players could not have done much because their colleagues at the back all had a bad day at the office. The defence was sloppy, and nothing creative came out of the midfield. More specifically, Nemanja Matic did not rise to be counted when it mattered most.

Signed from rivals, Chelsea fc, in the summer, the big Serb was touted as the final piece in the Jose Mourinho jigsaw. In all fairness, he has proven to be just as pivotal to the Jose came plan, as his presence has freed up Paul Pogba to go on to do exploits further up the pitch. Even after Paul Pogba was injured, the Serbian helped bring out the best in Pogba's deputy, the big Belgian, Maroaune Fellaini. This much embellishes the importance of Nemanja matic, as the fulcrum of this manchester united team. Subsequently, he ought to be at his best always. Not sometimes, always. Not most times, always. Why? Simply because, this new look manchester united is as good as Nemanja Matic on the day. If he plays as good as he has previouly done this season, manchester united go on to have a great game. But when he does as badly as he did against Huddersfield Town, the whole red devil's army shudders. Hence, the manual has to be read to the Serb. He is the matic in manchester united's mobile automatic.

2. Too much negative football would only bring negative result, Jose.

After the rather unceremonious dismissal of Louis Van Gaal, much optimism greeted Old Trafford faithfuls. They had hoped that that would usher the kind of football that had been used to under the great Sir Alex Ferguson. Then Jose Mourinho was appointed manager. 

In his first press conference as manager of manchester united, the portuguese tactician had promised not to sacrifice the manchester united style of play on the altar of winning titles. In his first season, he did win, but did he win the united way? 

Recently, against liverpool, Mou had set up a defensive strategy to deal with the pace of the Liverpool forwards. He parked the proverbial bus and got a point. Good result, yeah? But didnt Pep Guardiola, and United's noisy neighbours, leave the Anfield men for dead after a 5-0 drubbing? 

Then again, in midweek, against Benfica in the UCL, it was another drab encounter, with united comfortable sitting back and waiting to spring out on counter attacks. They did win, as Rashord's goal was enough to settle things in Lisbon, but the team exhausted so much energy in getting that result. Yes, playing the Mourinho way does tire one out. 

Against Huddersfield Town, it was obvious that the team had tired legs, and a little nudge on Phil Jones meant the English centre back had to be withdrawn after he went down injured in the first half. Phil Jones is one of the many senior manchester united players currently out injured. Perks of playing the Mourinho way. 

In addition, the psychological paradigm shift from playing one way this week, to adopting another strategy the next week, takes its toll on the players, and affects the outcome. Against Liverpool, the entire united team were made to defend for the vast majority of the game. And then against Huddersfield Town, they could not get themselves to attack as much as they would have loved to. It looked like the players had forgotten how to attack, as they kept finding it difficult to break down the Terrier's defence line. Thumbs up Pep, you win this round (he would stick to one style of play come rain or shine).

3. Batman is as good as they get, he should be in the Avengers.

Chelsea's Italian manager, Antonio Conte raised doubts at the beginning of the season over the ability of then first choice striker, Mitchy Batshuayi, to lead the lines. Although he seemed to have done enough in the pre season to make every one think he was ready to step into the big Diego Costa boots, his Italian manager was not having it. Consquently, Alvaro Morata was signed, and the 24 year old Belgian was once again relegated to the background.  

Since the opening day of the season, the young Belgian centre forward has been made a bit part player. He is only considered when the shit hits the fan, and Alvaro Morata has not delivered on the day. Such was the case at the Vincente Calderon, as he came on late to snatch all 3 points for chelsea in the Uefa Champions League group game. Then again, he was the saviour at the weekend. Recuperating Alvaro Morata had been given the nod ahead of fully fit Michy Batshuayi, and as expected, the Spaniard fluffed his lines. And then in the second half, on came the much maligned Belgian forward. And like it was in the game versus Atletico Madrid, he came in, and almost single handedly, won the game for the blues- scoring two goals in the process. 

The young belgian is almost the complete package really, as he posesses both power and skill- attributes that made Didier Drogba a legend and fan favorite at the Bridge. His first goal was a deft header from a cross from the right, to level things, after goals from Abdoulaye  Doucoure and Roberto Pereyra, had put Watford 2-1 up. His second however was a remininscent of what chelsea used to have with the deadly Drog, as Batshuayi showed strength to first shield the defender away from Timoue Bagayoko's nod down pass, and unto his right foot, whilst still managing to lift the ball over the on rushing Heurelho Gomes in the watford goal. 

Just as it was in Spain, and in front of Diego Costa, Mitchy came in and turned the tides in Chelsea's favour at the weekend, against a really strong Watford team. His talent is obvious, but Conte is not believing. But eight goals so far, across all competitions, suggests that the Batman is ready for the big step up. 

4. Time's up for Maurice and co, man.

Of all 20 teams in the Epl, the former Southampton manager and the Everton board had the busiest transfer window in the summer. They had brought in some of the best players from across the best leagues in Europe. Although they lost top striker, Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United, they wasted little time in bringing in some top draw players. The likes of Davvy Klassen (Ajax), Wayne Rooney (Man utd), Gyfil Sigurrdson (Swansea), Sandro Ramirez (Malaga) and the Nigerian sensation, Henry Onyekuru, amongst others, were introduced to help propel the team to an even greater height, haven qualified for the Europa league in the previous campaign. 

Much like how they started this season, the game had started with Everton managing to go ahead early in the game through a Wayne Rooney long ranger, after just one shot on target. And as expected, the gunners pegged them back, as Nacho Monreal drew the gunners level just before half time. After the secnd half resumed, the gunners- led by the devastating trio of Sanchez, Ozil and Lacazette- ran riot on the Everton defence, registering well over 20 shots in the process. Although substitute Niasse, sparked hope of a late comeback, Arsene Wenger's charges were up to the task on the day as Alexis Sanchez rounded off the goals to make it 5-2 in the highest scoring match of the week. 

Thier bad domestic form has transferred into the Europa league campaign as they sit rock bottom in thier group on one point, after only managing to draw third place team, Apollon and losing to both Atalanta and Lyon.

In the wake of Leciester City's sack of Graig Shakespeare, it is only logical to think that more heads would roll. So, it is a sit up or be shipped out for Maurice and co, man.

5. Forget Dele, Kane, and Eriksen, Pochettino is the real MVP at Spurs.

After the Argentine tactician had led his Tottenham team to the home of Spanish giants, Real Madrid, many paundits started to apllaud the genius that is Mauricio Pochettino. The reason for this is nof far fetched, as the former Argentina defender is the chief orchestrator in the transformation of the north London club from premier league contenders to world beaters. 

The Argentine manager first arrived England in 2013, replacing Nigel Adkins as manager of Southampton Football club. And in his first full season at Southampton, Pochettino led the team to an eighth-placed finish, their highest league position since 2002–03 , while also recording their highest points tally since the Premier League began in 1992–93.

On the back of that season, Tottenham hotspur snapped up the South America tactician on a five year deal in May, 2014. Since then, he has led them to successful consecutive champions league campaign, and just last season, his Tottenham team narrowly missed out on the English Premier league title, as they finished second just behind champions, Chelsea fc.

More recently, his playing style and philosophy had become something to rever in the English premier league. Speaking on his style of play, Pochettino says his style of play is "about your personality, who you are. You show on the pitch who you are. If you are brave in your life, you cannot behave in a different way on the pitch. I don’t understand how to play in a different way. Always, be brave. I like to be brave.”

Pochettino is a brave man, and it has rubbed off on players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Son, Dembele and Christian Eriksen, to mention a few. And on the weekend Tottenham, and Poch's, bravery was on full display as they swept aside high flying liverpool 4-1 at the Wembley Stadium. It is only a matter of time before the A list teams come calling for the Argentine gaffer.