As we look forward to another exciting round of football in the English Premier League, Econsport examines the talking points from matchday 10.
WHERE WOULD PALACE BE WITHOUT WILFRED ZAHA?
Crystal Palace 2 vs 2 Arsenal
Goals (Crystal Palace Luka Milivojevic 45’, Luka Milivojevic 83’ : Arsenal Granit Xhaka 52’, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 56’)
Crystal Palace manager would have been delighted to see his side halt a mini slump in form, that saw them lose three straight games, with an hard-fought 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Selhurst Park. What was crystal clear however is the over-reliance on Ivorian winger, Wilfred Zaha. He is their go-to man, bringing the sparkle to transform losses to draws, and draws to wins. Indeed, Palace had failed to win since his solo goal ensured a 1-nil victory away at Huddersfield on September 15. Zaha has been directly involved in four out of the seven goals Hodgson’s side have scored this season (57%) with three goals and an assist so far. His impact however transcends beyond providing just goals and assists. According to Opta, Since the start of 2014-15, only Jamie Vardy (13) has won more penalties in the Premier League than Wilfried Zaha (11 - level with Raheem Sterling). He is the focal point of his team, relieving pressure in games with his ability to hold off defenders, unleashing blistering pace and tricks from his big box of skills. With defeat starring them in the face after goals from Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang overturned Luka Milivojevic’s first half penalty, Zaha took center stage. 82 minutes on the clock, he tricked his way into the Arsenal box, bamboozling Xhaka with tricks and step overs which saw the Swiss international concede a penalty, from which Luka Milivojevic equalised for Crystal Palace. With 25 premier League goals, he is their all-time record goalscorer in the EPL. The days of the image of a lonely teenager at Manchester United who looked like fish out of water are long gone. He is proving to be invaluable in Palace’s quest for survival. The lack of alternative potent scoring options should worry Hodgson however. Christian Benteke has never truly convinced since his arrival from Liverpool in 2015, Alexander Sorloth looks little more than a back-up option, Conor Wickham has been plagued by injuries, and new signing Jordan Ayew is still adapting to life at his new club. Time and again, Palace have looked blunt once Zaha has been marked out of games, with opponents recognising his tremendous talent with some serious close marking. The Crystal Palce manager would do well to prioritise the signing of a reliable scorer to ease the burden on Zaha come the January transfer window.
BOURNEMOUTH ARE RIDING A WAVE OF FORM; THEIR UPCOMING GAME AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED IS A TRICKY TIE
Fulham 0 vs 3 Bournemouth
Goals (Bournemouth; Callum Wilson 14’, David Brooks 71’, Callum Wilson 85’)
What a a fantastic job Eddie Howe is doing at Bournemouth. The 40 year old along with Sean Duche at Burnley is the emblem of a new breed of young progressive British managers making waves in the modern game. After securing promotion in the 2015-2016 season, Howe has led Bournemouth to 16th,9th, and 12th place finishes, while playing a brand of football that has captured the hearts of many. Opearting on a tight budget, he has shown an ability to coax the best out of his resoureces at his disposal –think of Junior Stanislas, Callum Wilson—In that time clubs like West Brom and Stoke City (2017-2018), Middlesbrough (2016-2017), Aston Villa (2015-2016), who spent more in the transfer market in those seasons have been relegated. Throwing money at your problems doesn’t always yield results. Working on the training ground however does. A glance at the EPL table shows the Cherries’ sitting comfortably in sixth place –above bigger names, Manchester United, West Ham United, and Everton- having amassed six wins, two draws and two losses from ten matches so far, giving their fans many reasons to cheer about. Eddie Howe’s side have scored two or more goals in seven of their ten games so far, amassing 19 goals along the way. Saturday’s 3-0 spanking of Fulham at Craven Cottage was the latest in a series of impressive results. It is difficult to call just how high they can climb this season. In previous campaigns, they have shown a tendency to go missing and embark on a poor run of results before steadying the ship later on, especially when the pressure mounted. Which makes Saturday’s game against Manchester United an intriguing prospect. Jose Mourinho’s charges are on a three game unbeaten run after the negativity engulfing the club in recent weeks. Welcoming the 20 time Premier League winners to the Vitality Stadium, offers Howe a chance to get one over the big boys, or Mourinho’s men an opportunity to quell the increasig excitement around the Vitality Stadium, and place thoughts clioser to reality. In this exciting season ahead, it remains to be seen how far Bournemouth could go.
DO SPURS AMBITION MATCH POCHETTINO’S?
Tottenham Hotspur 0 vs 1 Manchester City
Goals (Manchester City : Riyad Mahrez 6’)
It’s an almighty ask making the transition from being also-rans to serious contenders. In the four seasons Mauricio Pochettino has been in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, the North London side have finished 5th, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd. An amazing achievement considering the shoe-string budget on which the club is run. In that period Spurs have had a net spend of just £29 million. For a club of such stature, that is bewildering and grossly insufficient. It is to Pochettinio’s credit that he has managed to get the best of resources at his disposal, cementing their place in the top four for the past three seasons, but such an ability to continually squeeze out the best from what is on ground can only take one so far. Last summer, Chairman Daniel Levy’s transfer struggles during the transfer window must have struck a negative chord with Pochettino. In that same window, defending champions Manchester City bought Riyad Mahrez for £60 million, Manchester United bought Fred for £54 million, Chelsea splashed out on Jorginho, Arsenal brought in World cup star Lucas Torreira, and Liverpool went on a shopping spree bringong in new faces such as Allison, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita. In modern footballing climate, managerial genius alone cannot take a club to the next level. Player quality as much as managerial ability plays a vital role. Ask Pep Guardiola. It is this that will irk Pochettino the most. He is a bright ambitious manager eager to challenge for the major honours. He loves Spurs and the feeling is mutual. Tottenham though seem to be stagnant, having come so far since the Argentine’s spell as coach. He claimed they are "so close to the next level ", but it's a case of so close yet so far for Spurs. They last won a trophy a decade ago. Signing star striker, Harry Kane and midfield stalkwarts Dele Alli to new contracts has been a sound bit of business, protecting the future of the club. But Levy has to do much more. Few would begrudge Poch were he to be tempted by the lure of clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid -despite the short managerial span of coaches in the Madrid dugout - with huge spending might should they become available. At the moment while their rivals are pinning for the hotshots, Spurs seem to be content with the “best of the rest”. In a week when their manager admitted to feeling low, ongoing stadium incompletion and lack of signings certainly a factor, there is a big question mark if the club’s and Pochettino’s ambition are in sync.
VICHAI SRIVADDHANAPRABHA MASTERMINDED THE IMPOSSIBLE. HE GAVE LEICESTER FANS THE MOMENT OF A LIFE TIME.
02nd May 2016, a date many Leicester and football fans around the globe would never forget. How do you forget such? The stuff of dreams, this though was real. Leicester City 5000-1 outsiders with the bookmakers for the EPL title having finished 14th the previous season were crowned Premier League champions following a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. It couldn’t happen many thought.They would fall short. But they stood tall holding the EPL trophy come May. A remarkable journey made possible by the outstanidng leadership of Owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Having bought the club in 2010, the Thailand billionaire completed the biggest sporting story of the millenium by laying the foundations for an unpredicted Premier League triumph. Unassuming, friendly, committed and having a special bond with the fans and the greater football world, he was liked by many. It was not just on the field were his impact was felt. His charitable contributions in the community spoke of a man devoted to the club in its entirety. A constant face on matchdays at the King Power Stadium, he would regularly make trips to and fro his native Thailand to come support his beloved Leicester City. It was so unfortunate that one of such return trips would result in the Helicopter crash that claimed his life and that of four others on Saturday. He brought Leicester out of the shadows and placed them on the world map. He gave many fans reasons to believe that impossible was nothing. He put smiles on their faces and for that he will always be remembered forever. The affable, likable owner who etched Leicester’s name in the annals of sporting history and made a seemingly impossible dream come true. May his soul rest in peace.
In other results last weekend, an Anthony Martial inspired Manchester United defeated Everton 2-1, Chelsea spanked Burnley 4-nil at Turf Moor, Leicester City and West Ham United played out a 1-1 draw, Watford put three unreplied goals past Huddersfield at home, Southampton and Newcastle United settled for a 2-2 draw. Elsewhere, Liverpool breezed past Cardiff City 4-1, and Brighton & Hove Albion defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers by a single goal.
MATCHDAY 11 FIXTURES
3 Nov : Bournemouth vs Manchester United
3 Nov : Cardiff City vs Leicester City
3 Nov : Everton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
3 Nov : Newcastle United vs Watford
3 Nov : West Ham United vs Burnley
3 Nov : Arsenal vs Liverpool
3 Nov : Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur
4 Nov : Manchester City vs Southampton
4 Nov : Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
5 Nov: Huddersfield vs Fulham
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