Hot team
A few contenders for this award this week with Portsmouth getting their season off the ground with an excellent 3-0 win at Everton, Wigan spanking the new boys of Hull City 5-0 to give them a reality check and Manchester City, about whom we are going to hear a good deal more over the next few hours and days, getting a super win at Sunderland 3-0 with new/old boy Shaun Wright-Phillips bagging a brace.
However, because I am humble and can admit when I may possibly have been wrong, I’m giving this award to Arsenal this week. Just after I ‘slagged them off’ they produced a sublime performance of stunning football to destroy a pretty decent Newcastle side.
Not hot team
Well, all the teams who were on the receiving end from the ‘hot teams’ above must be in with a shout of picking this one up but I’m going to go with a team who actually got a point. They actually got quite a good point really and they are joint top of the table.
I’m giving it to Liverpool who played such a negative fashion at Aston Villa that they made me doze off watching the television. As long as they play with absolutely no width and approach games like Villa away with the mindset of picking up a 0-0 draw, they will not seriously challenge Chelsea or Manchester United.
Hot keeper
He was one of the best keepers last season and was very unfortunate to be left out of the England squad by Fabio Capello. Rob Green at West Ham has started this season well, made a great penalty save on Saturday in the slightly flattering 4-1 win over Blackburn and has been recalled to the England set-up.
Green deserves the award as it looks like he might be getting plenty of practice over the coming months!
Not hot keeper
There weren’t any horrendous goalkeeping errors this week so this one is difficult to award. I’m going to give the unwanted prize to Blackburn’s Paul Robinson. I do so on the basis that unlike Fabio Capello, apparently, I think he is simply a ‘not hot keeper’.
Hot defender
Although Liverpool failed to attack very much in the game at Aston Villa the home side skipper Martin Laursen was faultless. He was impeccable at the back and always provided a serious threat to Liverpool from set pieces. He was excellent last season and looks to be at his best again now.
Not hot defender
Danny Collins of Sunderland had a bit of a nightmare against a rampant Manchester City side, but I’m going to give this award to Christopher Samba of Blackburn. He didn’t play well and scored an own goal in the 4-1 defeat at West Ham.
I am, however, also aware that Samba is an absolute giant of a man and if he ever finds out I have given him the award I shall claim that somebody else used my details and wrote the article pretending to be me!
Hot midfielder
This has to go to the returning prodigal son, Shaun Wright-Phillips. Two goals in his second Manchester City debut must have been beyond even his wildest dreams.
He was a great player for City before and I think he can be so again.
Not hot midfielder
Amdy Faye of Stoke City is a crucial part of the newly promoted club’s tactical play in away games in the Premier League. As the defensive midfield player he plays the essential role of protecting a back four who will at times, inevitably, get battered. Therefore by getting yourself sent off for a ridiculous challenge on the edge of your own area after just thirty-six minutes when the score is 0-0, you have no alternative to being named ‘numpty’ of the week.
Hot striker
Robin Van Persie was a big miss for Arsenal last season when he was injured for long spells. He is back and he is looking good. If he can establish a decent partnership with Adebayor they will take a great deal of stopping.
Two goals for the flying Dutchman on Saturday.
Not hot striker
Nicolas Anelka was really not very good for Chelsea and Robbie Keane was pretty poor for Liverpool. However, on the basis that Keane was played as a defensive left sided midfield player, which isn’t his main strength, I’m going to give this to Anelka.
In fact, the Frenchman can’t be far away from a lifetime achievement award in this category!
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