After what seemed like ages the premier league returned this weekend and with it came a first chance to see many of the deadline day signings.
The most anticipated game would have to be Manchester United's home game against QPR on Sunday. Louis Van Gaal had been busy over the transfer window bringing in big names and spending obscene amounts of money, on the other side of the fence 'Arry had not had as good a transfer window as he normally does, only bringing in the likes of Sandro and Kranjcar on deadline day added to Leroy Fer and Rio Ferdinand who Redknapp had brought in earlier in the window.
Rio was returning to Old Trafford for the first time in a QPR shirt after spending 12 years with the Red Devils, it must have been quite an emotional feeling to come back to a club were you have had so many good and successful times. Obviously Rio would have been looking to go there to help the R's to a positive result against his old team. It was always going to be a tough game for the visitors but when LVG shook hands with Harry and then sat in the dugout and unpacked his team selection on the pitch like a Fortnam and Mason luxury hamper, Harry, Rio, Stan Bowles, Bob Hazel, Rodney Marsh and Gerry Francis all know they could be getting a pasting in this game.
To be fair Harry did everything he could to avoid a mauling, he set his team up in a 4-5-1 formation and tried to nullify the creative and talented Man Utd midfield, but alas it was all in vain as the super hoops crashed to a 4-0 defeat.
Van Gaal had decided to try a new formation in this game he had ditched the 3 at the back and had gone for the ever increasingly popular 4-4-2 diamond formation. To be honest though with the quality of players at LVG's disposal he could have played a square, circle, rectangle or any other sort of shape on Sunday and the result would have been basically the same.
The formation meant he could play Rooney and Van Persie up front with Mata just behind the front two Daley Blind as an anchor man in midfield with Di Maria one side of midfield and Herrera the other side, it worked a treat and I reckon this could be the way United set up at home for most of the season. With RVP and Rooney up top it did mean however that the eagerly awaited introduction of Falcao was not forthcoming till the 67th minute when he replaced Jaun Mata.
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| At last the fans got to see Falco in action. |
Manchester United fans will no doubt be happy with the performance of their team this weekend and so they should be. Louis Van Gaal has come in for a lot of criticism lately but if I were a Man Utd fan I would be beside myself with excitement, with no distraction of European football or League cup they can just get on with their business in the league and if they can get some positive results against the big four this season they could and really should be back in European football next season at the very least.
Manchester United will not win the league though as Chelsea will win the Premier league by a country mile and then some, Jose's boys went 1-0 down at the weekend to a then unbeaten Swansea City, but turned the game on its head with a Hat-trick from Diego Costa and a debut goal for new signing Loic Remy to run out 4-2 winners. I will say it now I really believe that this Chelsea team is one of the best football teams I have seen. I don't like Chelsea I am not a fan but even I can't help purring at some of the stuff they play at times it is just magical, I wouldn't be surprised if they go the whole season without a defeat to their name, I really think this team is the real deal, it is head and shoulders above any other in the top league.
It looks like Alan Pardew is getting flack again at Newcastle and yet again his job looks under threat, personally I think he has a half decent team there and I think he is a bit unlucky that it hasn't gone for him yet, unfortunately for him its a results business and if he doesn't get a decent result at home to Hull on Saturday you fear for his job. Newcastle sit bottom of the pile at the moment with just 2 points. I think he should be given a chance but unfortunately that is not how football works these days.
Another manager who always seems to be under pressure is Big Sam at West Ham after a poor game at home to Southampton last time out the Irons were looking for a win at Hull last night it was a good game to watch with plenty of new signings for both teams taking their bow. The game ended 2-2 with West Ham being denied at the death by a goal line clearance from new Hull boy Michael Dawson. Ah Michael Dawson when he was at Spurs I used to think he was nothing but an average player, if you looked up average in a picture dictionary there would be old unreliable Daws looking back at you. but not last night as far as I could see he was almost exceptional at the back for the Tigers and his last ditch defending was a fitting end to a very good display from the centre back.
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| Average: The usual or ordinary Michael Dawson. |
Goal of the week:
Has to be Enner Valencia's wonder strike against Hull last night an absolute beauty.
Save of the week:
Chris Dunn for Cambridge against Daggers the keeper tips the ball over the top of the bar to foil daggers debutant Ade Yussuf's chest control and volley to keep the U's 3-2 up.
Pass of the week
AC Milan's Jeremy Menez's pass to himself as he runs round the keeper before back heeling the ball into the roof of the net. If you haven't seen it it is on vine watch it it is amazing.
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