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Premier League Weekend: The Talking Points – John Terry Still Elite

By Kevin Kelly

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In the first of a new column on Playing For 90, Co-Editor Kevin Kelly looks back at the weekend’s Premier League action, taking a look at several key talking points, including Boring Chelsea’s road to the title victory (nearly), reality biting Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United, and much more.

Defensive Contributions Writ Large Through Terry and Stones:

This weekend’s Premier League action was very much all about Super Sunday on Sky Sports as first Everton hosted Manchester United and Arsenal took on Chelsea in their backyard. Narratives were rife among both fixtures and the subsequent games – and results – said much about each team’s season , and the odd Premier League campaign as a whole.

Firstly Everton’s consummate 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Goodison Park was pertinently about the performance of John Stones. Showing grace on the ball and tenacity and precision off of it Stones showed once more why he’s the best young defender England has produced in a generation. His goal, a fine header from a Leighton Baines corner in the first half was just a cherry on top for his mercurial efforts at the back.

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While as a fan it is never nice to hear such comments immediately after such a fine victory, the Blues will surely already be wondering how long they can keep a hold of the central-defender. It felt poignant on some level that on the day Stones showed his massive potential, John Terry showed the world he is still the Premier League’s best. Yes, he may have lost his pace, but through clever management by Mourinho he’s still – at age 34 – untouchable as a central-defender in England.

How can it possibly be that John Terry can play so undeniably well but not even merit a place on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award? “I told John Terry in the dressing room he had [put in some] fantastic performances for me, but this was his best,” José Mourinho said.

“It was the best John Terry has ever played. It was absolutely amazing. He’s had fantastic performances in the five or six years we worked together, and some of them with goals. One performance at Highbury, I think in my first season, was a fantastic performance too. But I think today everything was clean: reading the game, giving cover, leading the defensive line, making interceptions, even in the pass. The team was phenomenal, but John was one step ahead of every other player”, said Mourinho.

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Boring Chelsea – Really?

While we’re on the topic of Chelsea somewhat, how boring have Chelsea actually been this season? They’re last two performances – 1-0 victory vs. Manchester United, and 0-0 vs. Arsenal may not have been the most exciting performances, but the stats tell us a slightly different perception of the Blues’ season.

Arsenal fans chanted “Boring, boring Chelsea.” You hope there was some self-awareness from the fans who often got the same directed at them during the George Graham era – or indeed Wenger’s early days of 1997/98 when Adams and Keown’s defensive prowess ruled the roost at Highbury. Regardless, Chelsea haven’t even been that boring – as Jonathan Wilson points out only Manchester City have scored more than Chelsea’s 65 goals and nobody has scored more than the 34 Chelsea have managed away from home.

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You can look into it further; the Blues average 55.1% possession (5th most), and manage 14.9 shots per game (4th most) – with 5.6 on target, which is the 2nd most. They have be build on very solid foundations, but Chelsea were flying before Costa’s injuries began building up, and Fabregas dropped off of form. Boring Chelsea? Perhaps, but undoubtedly victorious Chelsea.

Leicester’s Revival Continues:

Another curious point deriving from the past few weeks of Premier League action is Leicester City’s revival under the tutelage of the controversial Nigel Pearson. Leicester have won four Premier League games on the bounce, whereas, the preceding four games they could only garner two points.

This fine run of form has catapulted Leicester to 17th, one point clear of the relegation zone. While still a precarious position, such form seemed a world away less than a month ago when they lay bottom of the table. Jamie Vardy’s winner vs. Burnley lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time since November.

Pearson will not prioritise the game against Newcastle over the one against Chelsea. “I’ve got things I need to look at,” he said. “[David] Nugent’s been out injured, [Jeffrey] Schlupp’s injured, Vardy’s had an injection in his foot before he plays today. We’ll assess it and we want to win that game. Simple as,” said Pearson.

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