WEEK 14. FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT THIS PAST WEEK ON THE EPL.

Actions are beginning to come in thick and fast in the English Premier league, as it makes her midweek debut appearance of the season. Manchester United and Arsenal set the ball rolling for a mouthwatering clash in the weekend, as they both were on the winning side of high scoring encounters. Tottenham dropping point is becoming a regularity, and Riyad Mahrez’s magical goal ensured that Spurs were beaten at the King Power stadium. Burnley and Chelsea continued in their splendid form as both teams picked up slim victories against Bournemouth and Swansea, respectively. More importantly, City survived on the back of yet another Sterling performance, as Southampton could not do enough to seal the deal. But here are  the five things we learnt this past week on the EPL. 

1. Be Patient, Wilfred Ndidi (Patience) is the next best thing after Kante. 

Signed from Belgian side, Genk, the teenage Nigerian midfield sensation, was supposed to come in at Leciester City and fill up the huge gap that the departure of Ngolo Kante left at the club. Many optimism greeted the signing of the then 19 year old who had neither been tested in the English Premier League before then, nor had he even garnered enough appearances for country. Many argued that the work load that Ngolo Kante carried for the all conquering Leciester City team was too big a load to place on the shoulders of a lad from the most populous black nation in the world. But since coming on board, the Nigerian has taken the English Premier league by storm. His work rate has been phenomenal. His tackle winning has been top notch. His goals and assists tallies are not that bad either. And more importantly, the Leicester City fans have taken to him like white on rice. Ngolo who, right? 

On match day and against Tottenham, the 21 year old had shone bright, displacing the likes of Moussa Dembele and Eric Dier in the middle of the park. He had been in the centre of everything good for Leciester City, and he was involved in the build up to getting the ball to Leicester Winger, Marc Albrighton, who had played in the ball beautifully to the path of  Jamie Vardy to loop over the  head of Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal. Before Vardy goal, the former Flying Eagles star had had a tame shot at goal expertly covered by the Spurs goalie. 

After the first goal had gone in, Leciester City were on the back foot, and it was left to their never tiring midfield gem to handle the incessant pressure on the Leciester city team. And he did that beautifully. And in first half stoppage time, he channeled his inner Kante, turning defence into attack, before feeding Mahrez with an assist. And the Algeria went on to do bad all by himself, cutting in from the right and finding the top left corner of the post. And by the time Harry Kane and Co. awoke to a potential comeback, the Nigerian and his teammates had grew in confidence and blocked off any means of a comeback. Harry Karnes goal was then but a mere consolation, with the game ending 2-1.

Ndidi is a gem. He is a fantastic footballer. But he still has not hit his best form yet. His club and country needs to be patient for him, and he would grow into a world beater. 

2. Show them Ashley, that you are forever Young

The former Aston villa and Watford winger rolled back the years on match day 14, against his former club, Watford. Once heralded for his skill, guile, and pin point cross accuracy, Manchester United’s Ashley Young had personified the decline that his club has endured since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson handed over the baton. He was used sparingly as a winger when David Moyes was in charge of affairs, and by the time former Netherlands coach, Louis Van Gaal, took over at the club, he was a full blown left back. While United struggled and started to take a nose dive from their lofty heights, Ashley Young was being pushed further back on the pitch. Eventually, the man did become a bench warmer when it became Jose Mourinho’s turn to test the waters at the club. 

Although he had won three trophies with the club in the 2016/17 season with Manchester united, but many had expected him to split when the 2017/18 season kicked off. But he stayed still. And now he has started the process of making the left back starting berth his own. And the solid performances he put in United’s last two matches have helped his course a great deal.

On match day, and back off his 3 points winning goal against Brighton, the 32 year old left full back had scored two first half goals to steal maximum points from in form Watford. For the first, he had started a darting run on the left, to give support to Jesse Lingard who had been played through on goal by Romelu Lukaku. Lingard is stopped on his track by the back tracking Hornets defenders, but he managed to play a pass to Ashley Young standing on the left hand side on the edge of the box. The England man bounces the ball off the ground, having the beat of his marker, before he let loose an unstoppable shot that just squeezes past the keeper in his near side. If his first goal was beautiful, his second was even more spectacular, as he curled in a free kick, beauty that it had Gomes rooted to the spot. Further goals from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard, killed off the game, even as the Hornets tried to gather momentum. 

This season is proving to be one of the best in a long while for the former Watford man, and if he keeps up his exceptional performances, he might just make it the world cup with the Three Lions.

3. Once upon a Golden Boy

Remember the name, Renato Sanchez? Of course you do. He was the star of the all conquering Portugal team in the 2016 European Competition. Prior to that, he had had a break out season with Benfica in Lisbon. He was so good, Fernando Santos had to take him to the Euro. He was so good, he won the prestigious Golden Boy Award that year. He was so good, top clubs around the world jostled for his signature. He was so good, Bayern eventually coughed up a whooping 35 millions Euros for the then teenage sensation. But he had us all fooled, didn’t he? 

After completing his mouth watering move to Bayern Munich, the Portuguese could not live up to expectations as he was terminally confined to the substitutes bench, when it would have been easier to actually get game time. Xabi Alonso was nearing his retirement, and space was beginning to open up in the centre of the Bayern midfield (the Portuguese’s preferred position), but he didn’t seem to know how to do what to do right. Subsequently, he was reduced to cameo appearances and when Bayern signed Florentin Tolisso from Olympique Lyon, the former Benfica man was shipped out on loan to Swansea. 

On match day, against Chelsea and Ngolo Kante, Renato Sanches was nowhere to be found. He put in a wrong foot at every turn, misplaced passes in crucial positions and was clumsy with tackles. At one point, his manager had his hands on his forehead, looking like he was sorry to have started the young man ahead of Leroy Fer. And when second half started, the lad was hurled off. The story of his life in 45 minutes. 

The young lad is obviously talented, but he needs to get his act right. Work on his confidence, his attitude towards his game and his awareness level. Only then would he have a shot at becoming one of the greats there ever was. 

4. It’s official, Spurs are out of the title race.

Mauricio Pochettino and his lads had had wonderful seasons in the previous years he had been in charge. Twice they have come close to winning the title, and twice they had fallen short, finishing second on both occasions. First, they had capitulated towards the end in the 2015/16 season, finishing just behind eventual champions, Leciester City. Then the next season, they had given Antonio Conte’s men a run for their money until they began to implode in the last lap of the title race. And this season, many had expected them to go all the way to the summit of the league, considering they had had enough close shaves to actually claim the title for themselves; or so we thought. 

They started the season with a 0-2 away win at Newcastle, and after four round of matches, they had won two, drawn one and lost to London neighbors, Chelsea. It is however their form in recent weeks that is threatening their status as title contenders. It started with the loss to Arsenal, when every one expected them to win. And then in quick succession, there was the draw at home to West brom and the recent loss to Claude Puel’s Leciester city. 

After 14 rounds of matches, the Londoners have won just 7, losing 4 and drawing 3 games. From a possible 42 points, they have managed to garner just 24 points, and maintaining the 7th position on the log. The Manchester clubs have not made it easy for them either, as their high flying starts to the current campaign have made Tottenham’s 24 points look a meagre figure. Manchester City, who are in impeccable form and 1st on the log, are eight points ahead of Manchester united on 32 points. Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool sit 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively, with just 3 points between them. 

Although it is not impossible, but it is difficult to see how Mauricio Pochettino’s lads can lead a surge for the title, considering the imperious form that the clubs ahead of them are on. Even Burnley, currently 6th on the log and a place ahead of the new tenants of Wembley, are in such marvelous form. The clubs at the top do not look to relinquish their position, and even still, Tottenham do seem to know how to hive them a fight. Hence, it is safe to call at this point in time, Tottenham is down… and out!

5. Big Sam to the rescue, again! 

The man who has never been relegated from the English premiership, all hail almighty Sam Alardyce! Recently, news broke that the former England manager was to finalize the process on becoming the next manager to take over at the blue corner of the Merseyside. And as expected, the man was on ground to watch the resurgent Toffees, brutally annihilated David Moyes’ West ham united. Wayne Rooney had done what Wayne does best, scoring a super hat trick, but it was signing Sam Allardyce that was the bigger win of the day. 

The erstwhile Bolton Wanderers coach, has so far had coaching stints with six premiership club (Everton would make it seven) and have so far managed to avoid relegation with them all. Making his coaching bow at Bolton Wanderers leading them to the premiership in his second season in charge (2000/01). In 2007, he was appointed Newcastle United manager after eight successful years with Bolton. 

In January 2008 he left Newcastle, but he was back in management in the Premier League  with Blackburn rovers the next season. Moving on from the Lancashire club, Allardyce was appointed manager of relegated West ham united and was tasked with returning the club straight back to the top flight of the English division. And he did that in brilliant style, beating Blackpool in the championship playoff in 2012. In October 2015, Big Sam was appointed as replacement for Dick Advocaat at Sunderland, with the club sitting deep in troubled waters. They only lost once in the final 11 matches, as Sam engineered their escape from relegation.

After a rather short 2 months spell as manager of the England national team, Big Sam was back in club management as he took over from Alan Pardew at relegation threatened Crystal Palace. The club were low on confidence and lay 17th on the log, with 15 points from 17 matches. But victories against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, amongst others, made sure that the manager maintained his status as the man who has never been relegated. He eventually quit the Palace job at the end of the season, in May 2016.

Big Sam’s Curriculum Vitae sits well with the Everton situation, as the toffees are currently flirting with relegation. They’ve been low on confidence all season, and who else to do the job than Big Sam himself?

TEAM OF THE WEEK #14

Manager: Pep Guardiola

 Petr Cech

Mustafi  Morgan  Rudiger

 Kolasinac    Kante    Ndidi    Young

Ozil                     Rooney

 Salah

Substitutes bench

Fraser Forster

Nicholas Otamendi

Raheem Sterling

Jesse Lingard

Kevin Debruyne

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