GW2 - What did we learn?

 

No great revelations or surprises this week....

Brighton have started well, and clearly have the attacking players to cause almost anyone a problem. But they lack control in the middle of the park, and their defence looks vulnerable because of that. Jasone Steele's in great form, and might tempt people as a 4.5-million-pound goalkeeper option - but it must be doubetful if he'll keep his place once Verbruggen's available again. 

United once again look a mess, and there must be doubts about why Ten Hag apparently doesn't trust Zirkzee or De Ligt for immediate starts.... when they appear to be fully fit, and there's obviously a desperate need for them. Or indeed why he once again doesn't want to make any use of Sancho, yet persists with the unimpressive Mount and the downright woeiful Rashford....

Palace were a bit unlucky to lose to West Ham. Eze, in particular, is playing well, and for the second week running came very close to scoring a goal. However, losing Andersen, who has been the rock of their defence for the past four seasons, is a huge blow. The departure of Ayew as well is probably not as momentous in itself, but he at least brought experience and versatility to the club, so it's a loss of squad depth they could do without. And the ongoing rumours of a possible move for Guehi are further unsettling them. It's probably not wise to go for any of their assets at the moment, particularly not at the back, until things settle down for them.

Max Kilman is looking one of the best of the summer signings, giving West Ham a solidity at the back which they've lacked in recent seasons. They still don't seem to be creating a consistent attacking threat, though. It will be interesting to see how their style under Lopategui may evolve once Fullkrug is deemed ready to play 90 minutes with them.

It's nice to see Emile Smith Rowe get off the scoring mark with Fulham. But I think anyone hoping that he's going to be "this season's Cole Palmer" are going to end up being disappointed. He - and Iwobi too - will probably prove to be very good value for his price point; but that means a 150-160-pt season, not 200+. And, of course, there are lingering doubts about whether he can avoid injury.... and how soon he'll be fit enough to play a full game.

Leicester are looking quite decent, though I have little faith in Cooper's ability as a coach at this level; they may at least put up a decent fight to stay up... rather than being as good as gone by Christmas, like most of the promoted sides in the last few years.

Ipswich may have to consider their goalkeeping choices, after Muric's abysmal display at The Etihad. Maybe he's just ring-rusty, after sitting out most of last season.... but they can't afford any more performances like that between the sticks. At least they've notched their first goal now; and, after their brutal start to the season, they've now got a long run of mostly quite winnable games. I would think they are the likeliest of this year's promoted teams to be able to stay up.

City are still some way off their best, and were really quite fortunate to win this one as comfortably as they did. Apart from a five-minute spell in the middle of the first half where Ipswich completely lost their composure - after a very soft and contentious penalty award against them - the visitors kept tham at bay pretty well.

An important win for Forest against Southampton, as this was essentially the first relegation six-pointer of the season. Neither of them really showed much here - didn't do anything to indicate they deserve to stay up.

Alarm bells are ringing at Everton. I always thought their clean-sheet record last season was a bit of a freak, and unlikely to be repeated - but without Onana to provide a screen for the back-four, they look likely to be overrun almost every week. The one bright spot for them might be that Branthwaite's injury may allow them to hang on to him through this transfer window. But I doubt if even the formdiable Sean Dyche can save them this time, without some significant new signings; they have to be among the favourites to go down at the moment.

Spurs, for me, are still not firing on all cylinders; but at least Son is looking sharp. And once Solanke finds his feet there, they could be ready to challenge for a top four spot.  Good as their back four are, I think their high line will leave them too exposed to goals on the counter-attack - so, probably none of them will be great FPL choices.

Villa, likewise, have yet to hit their stride - though Morgan Rogers continues to impress, and might have cemented a regular start for himself. Watkins hasn't found his scoring boots yet - but surely will, before very long. It's the leaky defence that worries me most... although, if Cash has a serious hamstring problem, Nedeljković may suddenly have become the most appealing 4.0 player in the game.

Arsenal I'm not completely convinced by yet: when their outstanding outfield player is Partey (two weeks in a row!), I feel something's not quite right with them; and when Raya's having to make saves, something's not quite right. They've let two of their best back-up players, Nelson and Smith Rowe go, and now seem about to lose Nketiah too; but it looks like they've failed to land either Merino or Gyokeres. If so, their transfer business in this window will have been disasrous. The only new player they have brought in, Calafiori, Arteta seems strangely unwilling to play at the moment. He, and perhaps Martinelli also, don't seem to have their manager's full confidence. Signs of 'trouble in paradise', I fear.

Newcastle are obviously going to struggle at the back without Trippier and Schar (and Botman... and Lascelles...), but I wouldn't give up on Isak just yet: Gordon, Barnes, and Joelinton all look sharp and five of their next six fixtures are fairly inviting.

A bit of a 'game of two halves' from Bournemouth, who allowed Newcastle back into the game, after dominating the first 45 minutes; but they were ultimately robbed of a deserved win by yet another bonkers VAR call. Replacing Solanke is obviously a problem for them, but Semenyo is looking good... and Evanilson may work out. They're again going to be a reasonably strong mid-table side, I think, not in any danger of relegation.

Maresca is still struggling to find his best 11 among his bloated squad; and there are worrying rumours that he's pressured to play people he doesn't really rate, just to keep them in the shop window. Palmer is obviously more dangerous when allowed to play a free 'No. 10' role as here, but may get stuck on the right flank a lot of the time to accommodate Nkunku or Joao Felix or Enzo in that sort of central area. And possibly being without both Caicedo and Lavia for the next game would be a huge blow. Even with them screening the back line, they still look very vulnerable in defence; and Sanchez is the most unconvincing goalkeeper selection in the league at the moment (well, perhaps now second to Muric!). Jackson is one of the pleasantest surprises of the season: his pace and strength were always dangerous, but he's making much more intelligent runs now, getting in good positions far more often - both in the box, and deeper during the build-up. He must be under pressure for his position from Nkunku and Felix, but, for me, is looking good enough to keep the place for now (still needs to work on not straying offside so often, though....).

Brentford have big problems, especially at the back; and are likely to take a bit of a spanking in GWs 4 and 5. At least Flekken's shot-stopping is looking sharp; but it needs to be, because they're giving up so many chances. In other areas of the game, he still doesn't convince me he should be their starting choice. Mbeumo still attracts me as a goal-scoring 'midfielder' who could get loads of Fantasy points - but his potential will be restricted if they're floundering in the relegation zone, which is looking ominously likely at the moment (Maybe the silver lining there is that it might free Thomas Frank up for the England job...?)

I don't think things are entirely rosey at Liverpool: twice now they've laboured to get a win against a side who will probably be at the bottom end of the table for most of the season. Their forwards are all looking in great form, and that will almost always carry them through. But their midfield isn't really working at the moment, and the defence hasn't looked as daunting as it was in Klopp's heyday a few years back. I was particularly pleased to see such a bright display from Luis Diaz, who has always been a favourite of mine; but, despite my own counsel against this as one of the worst FPL vices, I admit to having become rather superstitious about him: he has been the unluckiest player in the league over the past two seasons, and I am convinced something awful will happen to him the moment I bring him into my squad....  (So, for now, I'll stick with Jota... who, of course, has never been known to suffer any bad luck!)