Matchweek 2 Preview

The Graham Potter derby. Unsurprisingly for a Potter managed team, West Ham come into this game in need of a win. In the Premier League, any team can get turned over on the day, but losing 0-3 to promoted for the first time in nearly a decade Sunderland is inexcusable. It is also extremely a Potter thing to do. Jarrod Bowen has not looked the same player since he fractured his foot, but he could hardly be asked to carry the weight of 10 other players with a dodgy foot can he. Shorn of Kudus, West Ham look barely mediocre. Potter isn’t a bad manager, even if he is milquetoast. West Ham will look to get their season started in earnest when their dearest of neighbors come calling Friday evening.

Somewhat surprising for Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, they also turn up at the London Stadium as close to desperate for a win as a team can be going into week 2. Chelsea looked every bit like a team that spent the summer dealing with the heat and humidity of the United States summer. Slow, stodgey, and lacking of energy and creativity. Moises Caicedo did what he always does, had a great game. Outside of the World’s Best CDM, few in blue shirts covered themselves in glory. Josh Acheampong was rather impressive, but filling in for the irreplaceable Levi Colwill is always going to be a massive job. He acquitted himself nicely. Chelsea were noticeably missing Colwill’s vision and passing range. He was third on the team in completed through balls per game last season. He builds the Chelsea attack, catching teams before they can sit into their low block. Something Josh doesn’t quite have in his locker, at least he hasn’t yet shown that he does. 

Chelsea have too much firepower for West Ham. They should walk this one and show that the opening day draw with Palace was down to Chelsea’s fatigue as much as Palace’s ability to defend well.

The smart money is on Spurs here. They always seem to have what it takes against City in recent times. They just walked over Burnley 3-0 on the opening weekend. It’s all coming up Spurs.

This will be the first real test for Thomas Frank at “a big club”. He’s done well against the top teams at Brentford. By done well, I mean he’s given a good account of himself with very few points to show for it. I have almost zero faith that Richarlison can do it against a top club, I have barely any more faith that Solanke can do it against a top club. Kudus has a propensity to go missing or simply not turn up. Spurs will need all the stars to show up and play to their fullest potential to have a shot in this game.

A common cudgel used to beat Pep Guardiola is that he’s “never built a team” he’s only “bought stars” and that he “doesn’t grow teams”. What they don’t say is that it is not important. What is important, Pep makes TEAMS better. After a near decade of dominance the passion and desire of the squad took a year off. He’s gone out and retooled in the areas of need. He’s replaced been there done that stars with players hungry to show they belong. After a slightly slow start they dismantled Wolves last week. Reijneders looked like a future Player of the Season candidate with a goal and an assist (and made the first goal if not officially an assist). Rayan Cherki did more than enough in his cameo to remind the world why he was one of the most coveted young stars a few seasons ago. 

Tottenham simply don’t have enough midfield or defense to stop City. The best they can hope for is to contain them. City to win, and win rather easily.

Andoni Iraola’s cherries have lost nearly their entire defense, and it showed last week. Diakite needs a bit of time to get up to the speed and physicality of the premier league but he looks fully capable of doing so. Marco Senesi is a grafter, he can get a job done but you wouldn’t want to be relying on him week in week out as your starting center half. Yet Bournemouth will have to. The good news for Bournemouth, the defense is likely to have most of the day off. 

Wolves didn’t look awful for the first 30 minutes or so against City. Within that, they didn’t really look impressive in any way. The question remains, who is going to score the goals for Wolves. Strand-Larssen puts himself about, but he’s hardly prolific. The same can be said for Hwang. With Cunha gone to United and Ait Nori to City, they look woefully understaffed in the attacking areas.

Bournemouth won’t blow the doors off Wolves, but they should win this one with relative ease.

Keith Andrews is not a Premier League manager. Brentford have lost most of their Premier League quality players. Unless they’ve uncovered a gem they can polish into 20 goals a season they are going to struggle mightily. 

Aston Villa didn’t look great week 1. Emery will work that out. His teams don’t often go on extended runs of poor results. Morgan Rogers is an undeniable talent and Bizot looks a more than suitable replacement for Emi Martinez. 

A close game, but Villa edge it.

If ever a game said 0-0 ahead of kick off, it’s this one. 

Sure Sunderland looked great week 1 and Burnley looked poor. The easy call is to say that trend will continue. 

I just don’t see that happening. Twenty four points separated these teams in the Championship last season. There’s been changes on both squads, of course. Most notably, Burnley lost Trafford to Manchester City. The bulk of the squad that conceded just 16 goals last season remains. They have experience with Le Bris’ tactics. What they don’t have going for them, Scott Parker has yet to prove he can cut it as a manager at the Premier League level. 

Score draw in this one.

Arsenal looked well off the pace against Manchester United. Some better finishing, or some less United-ness and they well and truly would have been in trouble. Though they scraped a goal off a foul on Bayindir corner kick routine. They might have Eze in their ranks come Saturday. I won’t expect him to start, or really provide too much more than Arsenal already have in their stable of players. He’s a lovely footballer, but he won’t be taking free kicks at Arsenal. He won’t be the focal point of the attack, nor will he be the primary point of creativity. I’m not saying he’s going to flop, but I don’t see how he takes Arsenal to the next level.

Leeds were a breath of fresh air. Bombing down the wings, crossing the ball at every opportunity. If I didn’t know better I would have expected to see Sir Alex in the tactical area. The problem for Daniel Farke’s squad, who’s going to bang those crosses in the net? Gabriel and Saliba are going to eat those crosses up. 

Hard to see anything other than an Arsenal win here.

Two teams who like to sit back, defend in numbers, and counter attack. Two teams who are happy without the ball, who would prefer to concede possession and stay in their defensive shape. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the football just sitting, uncontested, in the center circle as both teams dare the other to try and come attack them so they can counter.

It remains to be seen what Palace will look like without Eze. I feel that Glasner will keep it simple, keep it tight and let Mateta win Palace the game.

Hard to call anything other than a draw though.

First game at Hill Dickinson stadium. The atmosphere should be exciting, though you never can tell with these new ultra modern stadiums. It would be hard for it to be any quieter than, say, The London Stadium when it opened or Spurs last weekend. 

On the football front, Everton looked fairly toothless against Leeds last weekend. They did not manage the press well in the first half and as a result barely made it over the halfway line. David Moyes made changes at the break that helped them get into the game a bit, but they never really looked dangerous. 

Brighton looked good enough against Fulham. I think they match up well against Everton here. Brighton are combative in midfield, talented and speedy down the flanks, and strong in goal. Brighton’s largest issue will be the same as it was week 1, who’s going to score the goals? If Mitoma or Minteh don’t bring their shooting boots this could be a difficult afternoon.

I think Brighton spoil the party, winning a close one.

United played well against Arsenal. They controlled the ball and attacked Arsenal continually. They were only let down by poor finishing. Mbuemo and Cunha look tailor made for Ruben Amorim’s set up. As a team, United look like they are getting to grips with what Amorim wants from them. Lenny Yoro looks very good in a back three. Which is useful since none of the other center halves inspire any confidence. And then you have the goalkeeper. Be it Bayindir again, or Onana returning there’s uncertainty and anxiety aplenty. Whether its Onana who can’t seem to keep simple shots out of his own net or keep from passing the ball directly to the opponents, or Bayindir who’s more likely to punch a ball into his own goal than claim a cross the goalkeeping options are the worst I can remember.

Fulham weren’t impressive at the Amex, but they did enough to keep the game close. Then they took their chance when it fell to them. They will have to be that clinical to send United back up north empty handed. Alex Iwobi needs to quickly rediscover the form from the first half of last season. The same can be said for Emile Smith-Rowe. If Marco Silva can get those two clicking, Fulham can give anyone again. With Raul Jimenez up top, and United’s horrendous goalkeeping you just about give Fulham a chance at home. 

I expect Manchester United to get the win in a close game with both teams scoring.

The game of the weekend for subplots. What a story it would be for Eddie Howe and Newcastle to down Liverpool. Though it might just prompt Liverpool to pony up the dough to take Isak off their hands. 

It’s only 1 game, but Liverpool looked vulnerable against Bournemouth. They look more like the early Jurgen Klopp teams than they look like Arne Slot’s title winners. They look set to go blow for blow with their opponents and determined to just outscore them. If Ekitke ends up as good as he’s looked early on, and Salah keeps doing Salah things, they won’t have a very hard time doing that either. What can’t be quantified, but must be accounted for, when does the Diogo Jota energy wear off? They had a great emotionally draining win to honor their lifetime #20. How much does that take out of them, or how much does it continue to energize them?

Newcastle have a real chance to get one over on their summer tormentors. They might not only keep hold of Isak, but take 3 points off the champions. 

Newcastle will give St. James park into rapture, and get the win.