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Premier League Round Three: The good, the bad and the ugly

By Michael Peters

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The Bad

Manchester United attack

One proper goal scored in three league matches is unacceptable for any side, let alone Manchester United. The performance at home to Newcastle was much better than the first two matches, but the result was disappointing.

At the moment it seems there is a wall blocking the goal when United shoot because it does not seem to matter how good the scoring chance is, something will go wrong. You know things are not going your way when you score a goal which looked legal, but was ruled out for offside. The goal looked as though it should have stood and both commentators from NBCSN’s broadcast agreed that it should have been given.

Newcastle keeper Tim Krul made a great kick save against Javier Hernandez late on to keep the match scoreless. Then, during stoppage time, Chris Smalling, or Mike Smalling if you are Louis van Gaal, heads the ball towards the goal from a set-piece. The header looked destined for the net until it struck the post and went out for a goal kick.

United deserved the goal and the victory, no matter what Alan Shearer thinks, but it was not meant to be. The performance was encouraging, but the bottom line is that United dropped two points their title competitors are likely not to drop themselves.

Chelsea defense

What is going on with the Chelsea defense? The champions’ ability to defend fueled their title run during last season’s campaign, but this season’s defense looks like it belongs on a milk carton. It has been missing in action in each of The Blues’ three matches this season.

Let us start with the first match of the season. The Blues played host to Swansea City and they made sure The Swans had every accommodation needed. The Swans outshot The Blues 17-11 total and 10-3 in shots on target. The match ended 2-2.

Round two saw Manchester City clobber the champions 3-0. The Citizens outshot The Blues 18-10 in total and 8-3 in shots on target. This time Chelsea were not as clinical as they were against The Swans and it cost them.

Round three was supposed to be a walk in the park for The Blues as they traveled to The Hawthornes to face lowly West Bromwich Albion. While Chelsea never trailed, they never pulled away from The Baggies either. West Brom had failed to score a goal in both of their fixtures to start the season and seemed to be the perfect candidate for The Blues defense to get back on track.

Not so fast, though, as The Baggies outshot The Blues 6-5 in shots on target. To make matters worse, John Terry was sent off during the match. Two red cards in three matches is not an ideal start to the season for Chelsea. Jose Mourinho’s charges will have to improve their performances if they are to challenge the sides from the northwest of England for the title.

Transfer Requests

West Brom striker Saido Berahino and Everton defender John Stones both submitted transfer requests in an attempt to secure moves to Tottenham and Chelsea, respectively. Both clubs rejected their requests to leave. West Brom is sticking to their valuation of Berahino while Tottenham stick to theirs.

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Since Roberto Martinez has arrived at Everton they have been reluctant to sell anyone, and I mean anyone. Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman were both the subject of interest from Premier League giants Manchester United, but Everton would not budge. Rumor had it that the only way the moves could have happened was if either player went straight to the club and demanded to leave. Neither player wanted to do that, thus they are still Everton players.

Kevin Mirallas looked out of place the entirety of last season. He was not performing well at all. Tottenham, for some reason, still wanted to buy the player and Mirallas wanted to go. Inexplicably, Everton refused to cash in on the struggling Belgian.

John Stones, on the other hand, did specifically request to leave the club. Well, now it looks like there really is nothing a player can do to leave the Martinez-led Toffees.

“Money can’t buy everything,” Martinez said. I wonder what his reaction would have been if Barnsley had said the same thing when Everton raided their club for young Stones. Everton taking offense to Manchester United or Chelsea coming in for their players is exactly the same as a club like Barnsley taking offense to Everton raiding them.

Pot meet kettle, Mr. Martinez.

Next: The Ugly

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