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Premier League Gameweek Six Winners/Losers – West Ham Fly Again

By Azeem Siddiqui

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Match day six of the Barclays Premier League had some amazing matches, where the favorite teams missed out on crucial wins and some surprise results were on the show with some scintillating performances from the minnows. That’s all we have in this week’s edition of Winners & Losers from Match Day 06 from Barclays English Premier League.

Winners:

Watford

First in the list of winners, we have a surprise inclusion in the form of Watford, who won an impressive match against struggling New Castle at St. James’ Park. Watford had a tough fixture by every means, where Newcastle was desperate to get off the mark after a very disappointing start to their campaign.

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Sanchez Flores side were quick off the mark, and had a far superior physical presence in the game. Capoue in the middle were instrumental, as well as Abidi on the wing offered a lot of pace to the striker Ighalo, who struck a brace to keep Newcastle in the bottom half. Flores’s side looked like a team that has more intent, and will prove to be a tough team to beat for the clubs who will face them in the matches to come.

West Ham:

Next in the list of winners is another surprise in the form of West Ham, who handed the league leaders their first defeat on the Match Day six in the Barclays English Premier League. Before the match, West Ham Manager Slaven Bilic said in an interview that this will be the toughest game for him and for his team, but they came out of it with flying colours.

West Ham, as in the previous big matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, played counter attacking football that paid dividend on the field with a victory, and that too against the most expensive starting XI ever feature in the Premier League history.

Defensively, West Ham remained solid as their players give it all and put their body on the line to defend, especially in the 2nd half. Reid, Jenkinson and Goal Keeper Adrian remained solid as a rock, even when City were attacking from all fronts.

On the offensive front, the pace of Sakho, Moses and Payet proved too hot to handle for the league leaders, as they found wanting on the more than couple of occasions. Overall, a very impressive show from a team that is now in a serious position to challenge for a spot in Europe as said by new signing Payet in his post – match interview.

Norwich

Last in the list of winners for Match Day six in the Barclays English Premier League feature another surprise package in newly promoted Norwich, who managed to get a draw against a struggling Liverpool side at Anfield. The star of the show for Alex Neil side was Goal Keeper Rudy, who managed to earn a precious point for the Alex Neil side away from home.

In the game where Norwich was dominated in most of the part, Rudy kept them in the game at more than one occasion, and it was down to his effort that gave center back Martin an opportunity to equalize Danny Ings first goal for his new side. A draw means the Norwich is closer to the Top half of the league after 6 match days, which should give them more than sniff of a chance to stay in the top flight for at least another season.

Losers:

Newcastle

First in the list of Losers for Matchday six in the Barclays English Premier League features Newcastle, who are already in a serious relegation battle after just match days of the new season. After spending more than £50 Million in the transfer Window, the Magpies would have hoped to have a far smoother ride in the season, but it is proving to be anything but that. Steve McClaren has some serious work to do as his side seems to lack intent as well hunger to get anything out of the game. In the first half, Newcastle were slow to start with and never pressurized Watford players when they had the ball.

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It improved in the 2nd half, but it was just good enough to earn anything out of it. There was no attacking intent as well, and Newcastle’s best attacking player was their right back Janmat, who kept making those dangerous runs down the flank, and that’s why he ended up scoring the only goal for the Toon army, as their bad days just got worse. McClaren’s days as the new manager won’t get any easier as they will have to face City and Chelsea in the next 2 match, and as of now, it seems very unlikely that they will get anything out of those matches either.

Man City

Next in the list of losers for the Match Day 06 in the Barclays English Premier League features league leaders Manchester City, who suffered 2nd consecutive loss in a week on their home ground and first league loss of the season. Pallegrini put the most expensive side on the field in the history of the league, with Otamendi and De Bruyne had their first start of the season. City will be bitterly disappointed coming away with no points as they nearly had 70% of the possession, and had 5 times as many shots as Slaven Bilic’s side.

However, it was the City’s defense who could not cope up with the counter attacking play of the West Ham’s trio of Sakho, Payet and Moses, and Pallegrini’s man had to pay the price in the end. The brightest player of the match for City was the new signing £55 Million man Kevin De Bruyne, who looked a part with his vision, touch and attacking work rate.

Liverpool

Last in the list of losers for the Match Day 06 in the Barclays English Premier League features another Premier League giants Liverpool, who only managed to get a draw at home against newly promoted Norwich. Brendan Rodgers is now facing a serious risk of losing his job after another dismal performance at home, even with playing the strongest team possible. Sturridge, who were making yet another comeback after a long layoff, seems to lack the co-ordination upfront while playing with Benteke.

The midfield looked rigged and out of sorts even after the arrival of Coutinho, who himself looked lackluster on his comeback after serving the suspension. Mingolet had another dismal night for the reds, as he once again failed to keep a clean sheet at home. Brightest player for the reds all night was left back Moreno, who showed his attacking stint down the left hand side and also provide the only assist to Danny Ings, who finally got on the score sheet for his new club. After spending more than £250 Million in 3 transfer windows since he took charge 3 years back, pressure is mounting on Rodger’s to deliver as Liverpool is drifting away from the top 4 spot, which was their minimum target this season.

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