1.) Late signings prove their worth
After all the madness of the transfer window and deadline day, many have called for the transfer window to close at the very beginning of the season, rather than three weeks into it. Try telling that to the clubs who have made signings since their opening game of the season and have seen their new recruits have an immediate impact.
If the transfer window’s critics had their way, the likes of Moussa Dembele, Steven Fletcher and Andy Carroll would have been denied their late moves to Tottenham, Sunderland and West Ham United respectively. Dembele and Fletcher certainly did not come cheap for their new clubs but both began to pay back the investments made by their managers by grabbing goals on the weekend while Andy Carroll almost single handedly dominated the Fulham defence at Upton Park.
The transfer window’s late closure of course has it faults, as the likes of Fulham can testify. The Cottagers have seen their previously promising start to the season shot to pieces by the loss of Dembele and fellow talisman Clint Dempsey so late on in the transfer window. However, for the clubs who did buy, the boost that a new signing can give after a bad start to the season, can be crucial.
2.) Carlos Tevez may be an enigma but he is crucial for Manchester City
The smile on his face and the wave to his family as he fortuitously or instinctively depending on what you think prodded home the third goal for Manchester City in stoppage time to make the game safe for the champions told the full story: Carlos Tevez is well and truly back as a world class footballer committed to Manchester City.
Looking leaner than he has ever done and working with his customary passion and industry, Tevez was the outstanding player on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday. In the continued absence of Sergio Aguero to injury, Tevez has assumed the mantle of City talisman again and he looks to be relishing it – scoring in every game so far this season and renewing his cult-like status with the City fans.
It is a world away from the drama of last season when Tevez spent a good six months of the season working on his golf handicap and credit must be given to Roberto Mancini for managing to repair their relationship. For all of the money spent and for all their outstanding players, Tevez remains one of the first names on the City teamsheet.
3.) Arsenal off the mark but Olivier Giroud continues to struggle
Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool which secured their first win and first goals of the season, was stylish and impressive. Santi Cazorla was magnificent, Lukas Podolski effective, Abou Diaby dominating the midfield in the manner of Patrick Vieira. However, while new recruits Cazorla and Podolski got on the scoresheet, the form of fellow new signing Olivier Giroud continues to provide concerns for the Gunners.
The Frenchman endured another difficult afternoon at Anfield, struggling with his touch and hold up play and generally not combining well with his team mates. Vitally for a player who is clearly lacking in confidence at the minute, the potentially crucial opportunity he missed at only 1-0 up will not have helped matters. Giroud does have his assets and his off the ball running in particular has caught the eye in his short Gunners career to date. He also clearly knows where the goal is, 21 goals last season for Montpellier will tell you that and in Arsene Wenger he has a manager who will give him ample opportunity to prove his worth. But on a weekend where the man he replaced, Robin Van Persie, struck a hat trick of consummate ease for Manchester United (and could have had several more), Giroud’s toils became ever more stark.
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