Hit | Miss | Sideline: Everton on the up and up
HIT
Everton were truly fantastic over the weekend and, after going a goal down to Southampton, they ran them ragged to win 3-1. David Moyes is the best manager when it comes to organisation and bringing the best out of his players. From the likes of Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka, all the way through to Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic.
Nobody had really heard too much about the last-named pair but Jelavic and, in particular, Fellaini have become two of the better players in the Premier League. Fellaini is unplayable at his best and Jelavic a born winner.
Great credit has to go to Moyes, his backroom staff and scouting system. Everton look set for a great season.
MISS
Manchester United really look out of sorts at the moment and the consistency that Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand had as a partnership has gone through no fault of their own, through injuries. Jonny Evans is a good player and so are the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones but they are not in the same class as Vidic and Ferdinand.
United will always score goals with their vast array of attacking flair but, look over the years, and all your successful teams have a strong, resilient backbone – from Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen at United to Petr Cech, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho at Chelsea.
Unless United acquire a top-class, experienced centre half or two in the near future, then I don’t see them regaining the title any time soon.
SIDELINE
It was great to see Steven Fletcher notch another goal in Sunderland’s first win of the season, 1-0 at home to Wigan. Many people, myself included, flinched at the price Sunderland paid Wolves for his services – £12 million – but, right now, it looks like a snip.
He isn’t carrying the heavy price tag on his shoulders. Instead, he is thriving off it and carrying Sunderland in the goalscoring department. Sunderland are a big club with big expectations and he has fitted in so well and, most importantly, he is playing with a smile on his face. He could well turn out to be one of the signings of the season.
I beg to differ. United’s problems are less about defending and more about having to replace the ageing Paul Scholes in midfield. United’s midfield experiments and players have been struggling to find the right combination and Paul Scholes’ continued career in the centre is proof. When United’s midfield woes are solved then the defence will itself be sorted.
No Evertonian I know expects us to remain near the top all season once our squad is tested by injuries. I’m pleasantly surprised by our start and enjoying some really entertaining football after the garbage I had to watch in the 90s.
Miralles is going to become a key player I hope. Another Moyes unknown.
Speaking of hits, Fernando Torres put in another fine performance for Chelsea this weekend. He’s being championed now, though, for the very things he was being criticised for at this stage last season – notably his work rate.
The only difference is that he has one more league goal at this stage than in 2011/12.