🏏 Football rises from the Ashes
Cricket season's over (just ignore the World Cup). Let's chat about the Premier League.
The September international break marks the end of an enthralling start to the 2023/24 Premier League season - what better time to add my whack opinions into the fold?
I’ll be doing a deep dive into the transfer window soon (subscribe to get first peek at that), but first let’s tuck into some of the patterns that are emerging from the first four gameweeks.
Star Performers
With the table starting to take rough shape, these players have been instrumental to their sides’ success in August.
Bryan Mbeumo
No Toney, no problem. Doubts over whether Brentford could perform without their star striker have thus far been unfounded. Bryan Mbeumo has filled those boots admirably, and has even emulated Toney’s impressive penalty scoring record. Brentford (Mathias Jensen in particular) loves playing long, raking balls in behind opposition defences, and between Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa, they’ve got fast and increasingly clinical players on the end of it.
I really hope Mbeumo can continue this run of form and keep Brentford firmly in the top half of the table; I always find them an entertaining watch and am a huge fan of Thomas Frank.
James Ward-Prowse
West Ham sit prettily alongside the titans of the league at the top. Perhaps not surprising (they did come sixth and seventh in consecutive seasons under David Moyes, and have a European trophy to their name), but nonetheless a little unexpected for most. Holding onto Lucas Paqueta (in possibly nefarious circumstances) will prove a huge bonus, but it’s James Ward-Prowse that’s impressed me most so far.
A consummate professional with laser guided dead ball capabilities and a proven top flight record, he was an absolute steal at £30m and I’ll die on the hill that the big clubs missed out here. Ward-Prowse suits West Ham’s play style tremendously well, especially when Moyes has made a point of ignoring his data-led recruiting team and doubled down on low block, set piece and counter attack focussed play. I have no doubt he’ll collect the captain’s armband by Christmas.
Ones To Watch
While patterns are beginning to emerge, nothing in this season is decided already. I’m looking out for this pair to see what more they can bring to the table in the next few months.
Brennan Johnson
Postecoglou-ball has won hearts already. Led by a talismanic Maddison (who I’m sure I’ll be mentioning a lot this season), Spurs are playing free-flowing, positive football, much to the delight of their fans. I’m super excited to see how Brennan Johnson fits into this team – Richarlison’s lack of form coupled with Son’s supremacy through the middle against Burnley suggests a starting wing spot could be up for grabs. Whisper it to begin with, but life post-Kane is looking pretty rosy for Tottenham.
Raheem Sterling
While Todd Boely’s football utopia has yet to materialise (read: I don’t think they’ve spent their money well), Mauricio Pochettino looks to have sparked something in Raheem Sterling. While it’s easy to dismiss a scintillating performance against Luton (with the greatest respect, they are not going to disrupt all that much this season), the directness of his attacks are reminiscent of peak Liverpool Sterling. Exuding confidence, a good run of form on his part might help Chelsea ignite their season.
Tactical Trends
Manchester United and Arsenal are two teams that have yet to hit their stride, and for me it’s a problematic middle third that is wreaking havoc.
Manchester isn’t United
Ten Hag’s unbalanced midfield experiment remains shaky – Mount taking up defensive playmaking roles alongside Casemiro has left United overrun in the centre of the park. Considering this was the manager’s plan last season too (lest we forget the 4-0 demolition by Brentford with Eriksen at sea on the edge of his own box), Ten Hag must have faith in the system, but the question remains whether he has the personnel to fulfil his dreams. Sofyan Amrabat may be the solution – let’s see if an anchored trio can then unleash Rashford and Garnacho. And failing that, Hojlund’s physical presence offers a different angle of attack that can provide a much needed additional dimension to their attack.
Too many midfielders in their Arsenal
Similarly intriguing (or bewildering, depending on your mood) is Arteta’s adaptation of his midfield. It has felt at times that Arteta has tried to shoehorn Havertz into a system that has no space for him, likely to the chagrin of his defensive unit that has suffered as a result. Even affording lenience to the Gabriel situation, plonking Thomas Partey at right back to then come into midfield has put the entire backline one step out of position.
Don’t get me wrong, 10 points from 12 is a solid start and will be invaluable come the end of the season, but it feels like stick or twist time for Arteta. Either persevere with Havertz in midfield alongside Rice and Odegaard (to which seasoned Chelsea fans would have justified reservations about) or revert to the winning, if more predictable, formula of last season with Ben White at right back.
City of Stars (Foden and Alvarez cover)
It's particularly hard to not compare these title chasers to Manchester City, especially when similar tinkering by Pep Guardiola hasn’t impacted results. City’s team does appear weaker than previously, and the squad is riddled by injuries (De Bruyne, Grealish and Stones would walk into any other team in the league). Yet their new look midfield hasn’t impacted results in the slightest.
Foden playing centrally, Alvarez starting every league game and Kovacic getting up to speed has still led to 4 wins from 4 without City going north of third gear, or even looking that great. I’m fearful that the championship may already have been wrapped up, regardless of improvements other teams make – the insatiable results machine will continue whirring, while the Brentford and Brighton’s of the world will keep making dents in the chasers’ points tally.
Areas Of Worry
As much as Brighton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have had success in the early season, not all have been so lucky.
Toon turmoil (question mark?)
Newcastle had incredibly challenging fixtures on paper, but it’s the manner of their defeats that might be cause for concern. In spite of Tonali’s brilliance in midfield, Isak in good early form and Gordon causing nightmare for Trent Alexander-Arnold, they failed to shut down 10 men Liverpool and were played off the park by Brighton. Eddie Howe’s hard work creating a rock solid back four has rapidly disintegrated.
With the dual challenge of a punishing Champions League group alongside an increasingly competitive home division, I’m curious whether the Toon have time to regroup before their season becomes unredeemable (in context of challenging for the top four once again).
The relegation siege
It’s also been an unceremonious return to the top division for all the promoted clubs. Unthreatening up front and leaky in defence is not great to say the least, and on the evidence Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley all suffer from these afflictions. Luckily for them though, Everton seem to be making it their mission to get relegated as quickly as possible (Jordan Pickford being the only one not to get the memo).
It’s easy to see why games like Everton vs Sheffield last weekend are already being billed as relegation six-pointers, such is the gulf in class between them and the mid table stalwarts like Crystal Palace. I’m backing 3 of these 4 to go down, with Kompany’s experience to carry Burnley over the line. Either way, it’s not a relegation battle - it’s a relegation siege.
Thanks for joining me on this early look at the 2023-24 season. Get subscribed for more content throughout the year, and why not drop a comment telling me which of my opinions are terrible – it’s fun to be challenged.
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