The top five players from the second weekend of Premier League action.
CollinsBeans co-founder Matt Snelling and I have trawled through the weekend’s action and selected the top five performers from our perspective. Predictably perhaps, there’s not a Wigan man in sight…
Nicolas Anelka
Slapped with an 18-match ban by France during the week, Anelka appeared without a care in the world on Saturday afternoon as he glided around the JJB (sorry, 'DW') Stadium, helping himself to his first two goals of the season. You always got the impression that international duty was something of a chore to Anelka, yet he really does seem settled and happy at Stamford Bridge. Playing most games out on the wing, Anelka is still devastatingly effective, and he genuinely appears happy to help out the team, and put the needs of the club first. With the old Anelka, you'd probably expect a sulky showing after such a ridiculous ban was thrust his way, but in his own words he "laughed it off", and got on with helping Chelsea to another three points.
Andy Carroll
It would probably be worth asking young Ciaran Clark what he thought about his day on Sunday. In only his third appearance in the Aston Villa first team he was left battered, bullied and hounded remorselessly into submission by a devastating 90 minute spell of centre forward play from hattrick hero, Newcastle’s Andy Carroll.
Just like Top of The Pops and episodes of the Bill that focussed on ‘good honest police work’, the ‘traditional British centre forward’ is an often lamented, thing of the past. That is, the type of centre forward for whom the phrase ‘barn storming’ was created for and the type of striker just as likely to put the opposition goalkeeper into the back of the net as they would the ball. Andy Carroll is something of a throwback. There is nothing too refined, he’s not a work of art by any stretch, but to decry him as a lumbering oaf, or just an ‘effective battering ram’ does the young man a huge disservice. Last season in Newcastle’s title winning campaign he was the focal point for a well drilled side, short on frills, but high in competitiveness and rugged determination. An excellent finisher, powerful in the air and a developing ability to hold up the ball and bring midfield runners (such as Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton) into the game, shows him to be a truly 21st century version of the ‘classic No. 9’.
Theo Walcott
No doubt the debate will continue about Walcott - he is just really fast, and can he develop a consistent end product? Whatever you think, there can't be any question marks over his performance on Saturday. It was only Blackpool at home, but Walcott demonstrated what an explosive player he can be. It's worth remembering too that he's still only 21, despite seemingly being around for years and years. There is clearly room for improvement, but time is on his side and Walcott has some seriously good raw attributes. Maybe this will be the season when he finally silences a few critics...
Brede Hangeland
How we deal with adversity in life, generally shows how strong a character and personality we have, and whilst in the grand scheme of things recovering from scoring an own goal to score an equalising header at the other end is not exactly life changing stuff, cached purely in footballing terms, it’s very much something to be admired. Giant centre back Brede Hangeland is arguably one of the key reasons for Roy Hodgson’s ascent to management duties at Anfield. Not only was he the rock with which Hodgson’s reputation was rebuilt on as Fulham prospered into a side that could reach a European final it also showed the new Liverpool manager’s eye for a player off the radar and for an unheralded fee. What marks Hangeland as top class is not only his ability to read the game, make last ditch tackles and physically dominate his opponents, but the responsibility he took to pull his side back into a game in which they were unfortunate to be trailing in and the modesty he showed in his pre-match interview that he would prefer to go unrecognised. Tough luck I’m afraid my friend.
Gareth Bale
Bale is fast becoming one of the best players in the league. Pushed into a left wing role, he looks frighteningly destructive and has a lot of qualities. Bale seems to have finally brushed off the "player with potential" tag, and most clubs are now looking on in envy. His first goal on Saturday was extremely lucky, but the second was stunning. If he can keep up this level of influence, and continue to chip in with goals. Bale could have a season to remember.
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