Notebook Review: Premier League Roundup II
By: Maxwell Argento
Tags: Europe, Writing, Sports, International, Soccer

Notebook Review: Premier League Roundup II

By: Maxwell Argento

Manchester United 6–2 Leeds United

Manchester United never looked back from Scott McTominay’s two goals in the first four minutes of the match, finishing with six in total against Leeds United.

~ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer very clearly had an informed perspective on how to break down Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds based off his selection of Daniel James on the right wing as well as pairing Scott McTominay and Fred at the base of midfield because of their ruggedness and mobility.

~ Both McTominay goals in the first handful of minutes are a result of terrible Leeds fundamentals without the ball…giving players like Bruno Fernandes as much space as he was afforded when the ball turned over is what relegation-bound sides do.

~ Ole will be encouraged by his squad finally getting off to a hot start in a match in the Premier League; for the last several weeks it has felt like United have had to concede in order to come into the game and start playing.

~ The amazing thing for Bielsa and Leeds is that even when they are down by 2–3 goals the match is still so finely poised because of their ability to dash forward and poke a goal in at any time. Feeling like they are in every match regardless of score must be an addicting tonic for Leeds fans.

~ Leeds, by employing their standard style, played right into the hands of Manchester United, who have been looking for an excuse to play a match without the handbreak and use their speed and creativity instead of sitting behind the ball or building methodically with possession.

~ One thing is for certain…United don’t have any problem scoring goals, which should delight their fans to no end.

~ If United are the real deal within the league they will use this result to kick on and beat Leicester City in their next match. If they are the United that we have grown accustomed to since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure they will lose to Leicester and take the two steps back that have seemed to come after the one step forward.

~ Leeds should definitely have enough to stay in the league, but going into next year how will Bielsa infuse new players into the squad in order to go again the right way and not fall off like Sheffield United have?

Tottenham Hotspur 0–2 Leicester City

Spurs striker Harry Kane (10) and Co. were never ruthless enough with their chances, falling to Brendan Rodger’s Foxes at home 2–0.

~ Astute observers of the game will have expected the stylistic nature of the match playing out how it did in the beginning stages of the game; Tottenham sitting behind the ball with their two holding midfielders in front of the back four and Leicester using their width and pace to try and get Jamie Vardy in behind the back line.

~ The opening 30 minutes of the match are all about Leicester’s possession and hold on the game with the ball, but not threatening the goal with any shots on frame plays right into Mourinho’s hands.

~ The Serge Aurier penalty basically right at the stroke of halftime is exactly what Mourinho was brought in to combat, and could be a massive dash to Tottenham’s title hopes if they don’t bounce back from it sooner rather than later.

~ Tottenham very clearly did not look comfortable having to chase the game, which could in part be because of how dangerous Jamie Vardy is when the game becomes stretched. I have no problem saying that Vardy’s movement as a striker is elite in the context of world football.

~ I give Mourinho credit for bringing Gareth Bale on at half time in an attempt to turn the tide of the match, but unfortunately his new number 9 didn’t really turn up. I am still waiting for Bale to put his stamp on a match like we have seen him do for nearly a decade in the white of both Spurs and Real Madrid. Does having the trio of Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoka and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg all on the pitch at the same time when the Spurs needed a goal the most make sense? To me it doesn’t.

~ The way Leicester handled Spurs in the second half is how you have seen Spurs handle opponents for the last few months before this recent dip in form; sitting behind the ball knowing they can break on their opposition and punish them with their pace and flair if/when they get the first goal.

~ The midfield trio of Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans is as underrated a midfield group as there is in the Premier League.

~ I think both Brendan Rodgers and Jose Mourinho understand that there realistically isn’t room enough for the both of them in the Champions League places, which could explain Jose’s treating Leicester like a top-six side tactically in this match.

Everton 2–1 Arsenal

~ Rob Holding wearing the armband and Eddie Nketiah leading the line for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is all you need to see to identify that the dressing room must be in shambles. Where is the presence of the senior professionals at the football club? Non-existent apparently.

~ Arsenal cannot invite pressure collectively like they do, concede own-goals because of poor defending, and expect to claim points against the worst sides in the league, let alone a side like Everton.

Arsenal have not secured a win in the Premier league in seven straight matches, their last win coming against Manchester United on November 1, 2020.

~ Hopefully Nicolas Pépé converting from the spot gives him the confidence to kick on and put together a decent run of performances in the squad.

~ Carlo Ancelotti’s fingerprints are all over Everton’s collective response to conceding the penalty by scoring on a set-piece of their own several minutes later; his winning DNA must be rubbing off on those players with every training session, meeting and team-talk.

~ Arteta’s insistence on playing Bukayo Saka as a left wingback as opposed to an out-and-out midfielder or winger makes no sense. Saka has been one of the only players who has shown the desire or capability to take players on and be positive, so to hamstring him by making him play in defense seems like self-sabotage.

~ Everton will be able to take a ton of positives from being able to hold on to a one-goal lead for 45 whole minutes, especially at home. If Ancelotti’s men have plans on playing in Europe next year those are the results that need to stay wins instead of draws.

~ I am not sure Arteta is making the right choice by trusting his youngsters in this critical moment in time, but he has no choice if the senior members of the club aren’t on board with him.

Burnley 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Ashley Barnes’ first goal in over a calendar year in the 35th minute and Chris Wood’s penalty-box poach in the second half were enough to claim three points for Burnley.

~ It is so interesting to see how different these two teams operate, and how stark the clubs look physically based off what their managers want; Burnley with strong, tall, hulking figures and Wolves with several slighter, more flair-based players.

~ Burnley’s game plan was executed to perfection, with both of their big strikers claiming goals inside of the six yard box of the opponent’s penalty area, which is where they are at their strongest.

~ This match was shouting out for the impact of a player like Rául Jiménez for Wolves, who can use his physicality and presence to be the fulcrum of his side’s play. Without their Mexican talisman I don’t think anything other than finishing in the top half of the table is realistic for Wolves.

~ If Burnley can consistently get points from their games at Turf Moor they will stay up because of their experience both on the field and in the dugout in the Premier League.

~ Wolves’ knack of dragging themselves back in games in the second half didn't show up in this match, mostly because they weren't able to break open Burnley without playing through the midfield, mostly because of Burnley’s ability to muck the game up.

~ Will Nuno Espirito Santo be given funds to spend on a striker in January, or will the impact of Covid-19 affect their spending habits, especially considering they aren’t exactly in a relegation battle?

Chelsea 3–0 West Ham United

Tammy Abraham’s (left) brace helped Chelsea push three past West Ham and Declan Rice (right), who was the best player on the pitch for both teams over the course of 90 minutes.

~Easily the most bizarre, interesting result of the matchweek

~ Both managers made interesting tactical choices considering their recent moves when lining up their team: David Moyes choosing club captain and legend Mark Noble as a third in midfield, and Frank Lampard choosing Jorginho in the hole while pushing N’Golo Kanté into a #8 role despite having delivered several weird results lining up that way weeks ago.

~ The start to the match was quite lively, with Chelsea starting incredibly fast with a Thiago Silva headed goal on a corner in the 10th minute and Ben Chilwell being withdrawn due to an ankle injury.

~ West Ham’s response to giving up the goal was immense, and for the rest of the half they always looked like the more likely team to score.

~ Chelsea did not look at all settled trying to operate with the ball with both Kanté and Jorginho in the middle of the park. They both like to occupy the same positions on the pitch when they are at their best, and I am not sure Chelsea are in need of the Italian’s passing ability because of the fact that their centerbacks are talented with the ball at their feet and can start play with their passing from the back.

~ Declan Rice (who is a known Chelsea target in the January transfer window) and his best friend Mason Mount on the other side of the pitch looked the two best players in the entire stadium. Lampard must daydream about having both young Englishmen in the same midfield in Chelsea colors constantly, and I don’t blame him.

~ Is Timo Werner’s wastefulness becoming a problem? If you were to ask him where he feels most comfortable playing, would he say “where I am playing right now”?

~ It isn’t necessarily a terrible thing for Chelsea that they were able to win by such a scoreline and not look the better side for major stretches of the match. Often times being ruthless with the few chances you get is what separates you from being a top-six club or a club fighting just to be in the top half of the table.

~ David Moyes has re-established West Ham’s identity, and should be backed in the January transfer window. A player in one or two important areas and West Ham should be able to realistically justify making a serious push for Europa League football next year.

~ The amount of examples of healthy squad competition present in Chelsea’s squad will do them an incredible amount of good as the season continues. Frank being able to pick from handfuls of players in each position on the pitch means that the levels stay high in training and the desire to achieve for the squad to retain your place remains present.

~If Chelsea are legitimate title contenders (or shoe-ins for Champions League football) they thrash Arsenal when they are down on Boxing Day and look cool while doing it.