Premier League Team of Week 5: Danny Welbeck and Eliaquim Mangala Make a Point
Welcome to the fifth instalment of our Premier League Team of the Week for the 2014-15 season.
Here we analyse every game and pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation (in this case, a 4-3-3).
Leicester City's remarkable comeback to secure a 5-3 victory over Manchester United is recognised, along with a couple of summer signings who made an impact for their new sides this weekend.
Read on for the selections.
GK: Julian Speroni
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The value of a good goalkeeper was on evidence at Goodison Park on Sunday, as Tim Howard made mistake after mistake and Julian Speroni made one crucial save that laid the platform for victory.
As Howard faced questions about his decision-making for all three of Crystal Palace's goals, Speroni made a couple of key saves as the Eagles held on to seal a valuable 3-2 win.
His performance summed up the life of a goalkeeper: You cannot save every shot that is thrown at you, but if you can deal with the ones you should, you will always give your team a chance.
DF: Nathaniel Clyne
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Despite the summer departure of Dejan Lovren, Southampton have kept three clean sheets from their first five matches, with another coming against Swansea City on Saturday.
Nathaniel Clyne was again a key part of that solid back line, the full-back marauding up and down his flank—shutting down Swansea attacks one minute and helping to join the away side's forays at the other.
After England played a centre-back (John Stones) out of position at right-back during the last international break, surely Clyne's form is bringing him closer and closer to a first Three Lions call-up.
DF: Winston Reid
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Winston Reid scored his first West Ham goal in a year in the opening 90 seconds of Saturday's game against Liverpool, but it was his defensive efforts that really made the difference as the Hammers held on to secure a 3-1 win.
The New Zealand international, still returning to full speed after injury, was impressive as Mario Balotelli et al were kept quiet. Sam Allardyce's side took full advantage of some hesitancy and lethargy in the ranks of a Liverpool side that is usually so incisive.
Much has been made of the greater attacking threat West Ham pose this season, but Reid's display was a reminder that they still do the basics as well as they ever did.
DF: Eliaquim Mangala
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Eliaquim Mangala was brilliant on his Premier League debut, ably assisting Vincent Kompany in keeping Diego Costa quiet for almost the entire match.
It was a bold decision from Manuel Pellegrini to throw his summer signing into a game of that magnitude, but Mangala showed it was barely a gamble at all with his calm, assured display. City fans will be excited about Mangala getting even better as he gets a few more games under his belt.
"Eliaquim Mangala's Man City debut: 100% aerial duels won 91% pass accuracy 4 tackles won 4 clearances 1 key pass pic.twitter.com/KmIH52pvZN
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 21, 2014"
DF: Ahmed Elmohamady
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He could not help his side hold on for the victory but Ahmed Elmohamady nevertheless enjoyed another good game at the weekend, as Hull City were eventually pegged back to a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Saturday.
The full-back's cross was enough for Nikica Jelavic to break the deadlock shortly after half-time, while he played his part (alongside Curtis Davies) in preserving the visitors' clean sheet—until Papiss Cisse was introduced that is.
MID: James Milner
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James Milner justified his manager's decision to select him against Chelsea with a brilliant performance in the biggest match of the weekend, one that culminated in him setting up his side's late equaliser...from left-back.
Milner's versatility was in full view at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, as he moved from midfield to full-back following the sending off of Pablo Zabaleta. But it would prove an inspired move, as a gallivanting Milner rounded off a solid individual display with a surging run into the box that resulted in Frank Lampard's crucial goal.
Milner is often mocked whenever he is involved in big games at club or international level—this performance was a statement about why that is the case, and why it will surely continued to be.
MID: Esteban Cambiasso
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Would Leicester City have had the wherewithal to come from behind to beat Manchester United if they did not have Esteban Cambiasso at the heart of their midfield? It is a difficult question to answer, but a worthy one to pose, considering the quality of the Argentine's performance on his home debut.
Clearly short of match fitness, but not short of quality and experience, Cambiasso was doing a great job isolating Wayne Rooney from the game even before he pushed forward following United taking a 3-1 lead.
Cambiasso moved the ball around cleverly and then got the goal that made Leicester believe anything was possible—a smooth, controlled finish that underlined the composure he had shown all game.
By the time he was withdrawn late in the second half, the tide of the game had turned completely in Leicester's favour. Cambiasso had played his part in that.
MID: James Morrison
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James Morrison was West Brom's best player in Sunday's game against Tottenham, even before he got the winning goal in a valuable 1-0 away win.
The Scotland international touched the ball more times than any of his team-mates (65 in total), won crucial tackles in midfield and distributed the ball to relieve the pressure at White Hart Lane. His goal was a bonus, but it was fitting reward for a great individual effort.
FW: Papiss CIsse
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He might not have started the game, but Papiss Cisse gets in this list for scoring twice from the bench to give Newcastle United a much-needed point at home to Hull City.
Cisse's brace was made all the more remarkable by the fact he was not even deemed to be fit by the club's medical team.
Following the game manager Alan Pardew said (per the Daily Mail):
"Cisse should not have played. My medical staff did not agree that he should be included. He’s trained five days.
But myself and John looked at him on Thursday and thought 'He’s fresh, he’s bright, he’s not ready for 90 minutes but he knows how to carry the jersey'.
"
Whether the decision was the right one, or one motivated motivated by Pardew's own uncertain job status, is a point to be debated. But it certainly paid off for manager and player, who gets bonus points for dedicating his goals to team-mate Jonas Gutierrez, who is currently battling testicular cancer.
FW: Danny Welbeck
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Danny Welbeck opened his Arsenal account against Aston Villa on Saturday, scoring the second of three goals in four minutes as the Gunners romped to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Welbeck's goal was a straightforward but important one, as he peeled off his man to power home Mesut Ozil's astute low cross. It came moments after Welbeck had been the provider for the German, showcasing how he can link this team together, as well as score goals for it.
Holding the ball up well and exchanging passes with his team-mates, this was an encouraging display from the £16 million striker following his goalless games against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
Bagging his first Arsenal goal was an important moment for the young Englishman, and it will be interesting to see how he goes on to play in the coming weeks.
FW: Jamie Vardy
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From non-League to Premier League and the Bleacher Report Team of the Week: Can it possibly get any better for Jamie Vardy?
The forward was brilliant against Manchester United at the weekend, showing a grace under pressure that would have eluded some of his more experienced peers as he coolly beat David de Gea after being played in one-on-one.
From 3-1 down to 4-3 up, Vardy was the instigator of one of the comebacks of the ages—even if he should have been whistled for a foul in the build-up to penalty he won off Rafael.
Still, that was the referee's mistake. As Vardy showed when Manchester United's defence began to disintegrate, he was simply there to take advantage.
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