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Winners
ManYoo
The new favourites to win the Premiership this season. Such an accolade may prove shortlived, however, as Chelski will play twice before ManYoo make their next appearance, against West Ham on Sunday evening.
Gary Speed
The first player in Premiership history to record 500 appearances.
The downside is that Craig Bellamy claimed in October to have been so inspired by Speed's dedication to the job that "I stand here today as a Premiership and international footballer simply because of the experience of being with him."
Matthew Taylor
The Observer said it best when they said that sometimes in sport an act is committed that is so breathtakingly wonderful that no words can do its brilliance full justice.
Jamie Carragher
As his last Premiership goal occurred in the previous century, against Southampton in January 1999 to be precise, Carragher now holds the Liverpool club record of the longest period between league goals.
It was also a suitably symbolic goal by the living definition of a Scouse Scally at a time when the 'Liverpool family' is in danger of being evicted by Dubai-based investors.
Tottenham
The injury to Robbie Keane will prove to be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham if it finally persuades Martin Jol to move halfway towards selecting a settled strike partnership by confirming Dimitar Berbatov's status as 'an untouchable'.
Obafemi Martins
The ghost of Alan Shearer lives on and haunts Martins' every move. The scale of Martins' task in succeeding Shearer was summed up by Toon supporters, fresh from watching the Nigerian scoring twice at Blackburn, still jamming the phone lines for Saturday's 6-0-6 to voice their dissatisafaction with his work.
Michael Essien
The best right-back in the league.
Gilberto Silva
Arsene Wenger confirmed last week that Gilberto's promotion to captain is only a temporary measure whilst Thierry Henry recuperates but if the Brazilian can regularly repeat his Stamford Bridge performance then Wenger must reconsider.
Henry is, in truth, an appalling captain and totally unsuited to the role (not least because he is a forward and it is an accepted footballing aphorism that the best captains are either defenders or midfielders). Gilberto is hardly inspirational or vocal in the manner of John Terry, yet he was an authoritative figure on Sunday and led by example. His sensible rebuke of Emmanuel Eboue following some unnecessary showboating was a more worthwhile example of captaincy than Henry has produced in almost two years.
The Brazilian is also a player transformed from the lumbering liability of yore. The 4-5-1 formation has been his making, just as his diligence in acting as Cesc Fabregas' minder has been the Spaniard's making.
Arjen Robben, Joe Cole and Shaun-Wright Phillips
In 360 minutes of play against, Liverpool, Arsenal, ManYoo and Bolton this season, Chelski have scored a total of four goals. Two were the type of long-range strike so unexpected that they classify as flukes, while the third and fourth occurred directly from a corner.
Against the Gunners, Chelski created the clearer opportunities, but rarely, if ever, threatened from open play. As at Old Trafford two weeks ago, it was only after Arjen Robben took the place of Andriy Shevchenko the champions found the width and penetration to unsettle their opponents.
It is decision time for Jose Mourinho. The Chelski boss claims that Shevchenko is not an 'untouchable', in which case it is difficult to believe that he can retain his place following the improvement that Robben inspired. The Ukrainian's effort cannot be faulted but his contribution has been otherwise negligible and a spell out of the firing is what both the player and team require.
Losers
Philippe Senderos
While the vile Cashley took the role of pantomime villain, Senderos resembled the village idiot. Perhaps the traumatised Swiss defender was undermined by the presence of his long-time nemesis Drogba, but an unerring ability to pass to a red shirt - and, on two occasions, simply make contact with the ball - suggested that he will remain a liability no matter the identity of his opponents.
The solid display of Johan Djourou further damned his compatriot in comparison.
Didier Drogba
Back to his old tricks, while the whipping boys of Watford are the Ivorian's only goalscoring victims in his past nine Premiership outings.
Jens Lehmann
Arsene Wenger described his goalkeeper's knockabout with the equally-theatrical Drogba as "comedy", yet the Arsenal manager must be exasperated with Lehmann's behaviour. It's certainly arguable that, as he committed the first push during his spat with Drogba, Lehmann should have conceded a penalty, just as he did at Tottenham two years ago.
After the highs of the previous twelve months, Lehmann's form has nose-dived and his shortcomings have been a principal factor in the Gunners' continuing vulnerability from set-pieces. Only the studs on Mathieu Flamini's left boot spared the German further scrutiny after he inexplicably dropped Arjen Robben's tame shot at the feet of Frank Lampard.
Put your money on the Gunners introducing a new keeper for 2007/08.
Middlesbrough
Describing Boro as 'mediocre' would be flattering and their ever-decreasing number of fans know it. Just 23,638 were in attendance for the tepid draw against Wigan, the lowest gate of the season. To arrest the decline, children will be allowed in for £1 for the December 23 date with Charlton, but it is an act of desperation rather than seasonal goodwill.
Scott Carson and Charlton
It has boded badly all season for Charlton that they have been bottom of the league even when their keeper has been in fine form. Carson's average performance against Tottenham indicated just how poor the Addicks really are.
Alan Pardew
"It's important that I give strong leadership and guide them through this difficult period," said the West Ham boss after his side's capitulation at Bolton. The catch is that the capitulation, in front of an evidently dismayed Eggert Magnusson, has weakened his position to such an extent that, upon being asked if he expected to still be Hammers boss next week, a chastened Pardew could only meekly reply: "I hope so."
Defeat at Bolton is not uncommon. Yet it is unusual for a team to accept defeat before the match had been played. Nor is the downgrading of a 4-4-2 formation in favour of a 4-5-1 the obvious course of action following ten hours of play without an away goal. For the record, this was the Hammers' tenth defeat in eleven games outside of Upton Park.
One newspaper claimed at the weekend that Pardew had 'suffered' for having 'Mascherano and Tevez forced upon him'. Nonsense. Lest we forget, he celebrated their arrival by proclaiming that the Hammers would soon be challenging the best of Europe.
Pardew wanted the Argentines and his inability to merge two players widely recognised as 'world-class' into his team is a failing of management. On Saturday, he omitted Mascherano and selected centre-half Christian Dailly as the holding midfielder and sent striker Tevez to the wing.
The January transfer window offers Pardew possible salvation, but his future will probably be decided before then. According to a report in The Times, Pardew was summoned to a meeting with Magnusson following last week's home defeat to Wigan and warned that 'results had to improve...and would have to improve immediately if he wanted to be around when £12 million will be made available to strengthen the relegation-threatened side next month.'
No wonder he sounded so meek. Magnusson, in turn, must also be wondering whether Pardew can be trusted to use the money wisely after mismanaging the talents of Mascherano and Tevez to the extent that the Argentines have become, as with Shevchenko, a self-imposed handicap.
Pete Gill
ManYoo
The new favourites to win the Premiership this season. Such an accolade may prove shortlived, however, as Chelski will play twice before ManYoo make their next appearance, against West Ham on Sunday evening.
Gary Speed
The first player in Premiership history to record 500 appearances.
The downside is that Craig Bellamy claimed in October to have been so inspired by Speed's dedication to the job that "I stand here today as a Premiership and international footballer simply because of the experience of being with him."
Matthew Taylor
The Observer said it best when they said that sometimes in sport an act is committed that is so breathtakingly wonderful that no words can do its brilliance full justice.
Jamie Carragher
As his last Premiership goal occurred in the previous century, against Southampton in January 1999 to be precise, Carragher now holds the Liverpool club record of the longest period between league goals.
It was also a suitably symbolic goal by the living definition of a Scouse Scally at a time when the 'Liverpool family' is in danger of being evicted by Dubai-based investors.
Tottenham
The injury to Robbie Keane will prove to be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham if it finally persuades Martin Jol to move halfway towards selecting a settled strike partnership by confirming Dimitar Berbatov's status as 'an untouchable'.
Obafemi Martins
The ghost of Alan Shearer lives on and haunts Martins' every move. The scale of Martins' task in succeeding Shearer was summed up by Toon supporters, fresh from watching the Nigerian scoring twice at Blackburn, still jamming the phone lines for Saturday's 6-0-6 to voice their dissatisafaction with his work.
Michael Essien
The best right-back in the league.
Gilberto Silva
Arsene Wenger confirmed last week that Gilberto's promotion to captain is only a temporary measure whilst Thierry Henry recuperates but if the Brazilian can regularly repeat his Stamford Bridge performance then Wenger must reconsider.
Henry is, in truth, an appalling captain and totally unsuited to the role (not least because he is a forward and it is an accepted footballing aphorism that the best captains are either defenders or midfielders). Gilberto is hardly inspirational or vocal in the manner of John Terry, yet he was an authoritative figure on Sunday and led by example. His sensible rebuke of Emmanuel Eboue following some unnecessary showboating was a more worthwhile example of captaincy than Henry has produced in almost two years.
The Brazilian is also a player transformed from the lumbering liability of yore. The 4-5-1 formation has been his making, just as his diligence in acting as Cesc Fabregas' minder has been the Spaniard's making.
Arjen Robben, Joe Cole and Shaun-Wright Phillips
In 360 minutes of play against, Liverpool, Arsenal, ManYoo and Bolton this season, Chelski have scored a total of four goals. Two were the type of long-range strike so unexpected that they classify as flukes, while the third and fourth occurred directly from a corner.
Against the Gunners, Chelski created the clearer opportunities, but rarely, if ever, threatened from open play. As at Old Trafford two weeks ago, it was only after Arjen Robben took the place of Andriy Shevchenko the champions found the width and penetration to unsettle their opponents.
It is decision time for Jose Mourinho. The Chelski boss claims that Shevchenko is not an 'untouchable', in which case it is difficult to believe that he can retain his place following the improvement that Robben inspired. The Ukrainian's effort cannot be faulted but his contribution has been otherwise negligible and a spell out of the firing is what both the player and team require.
Losers
Philippe Senderos
While the vile Cashley took the role of pantomime villain, Senderos resembled the village idiot. Perhaps the traumatised Swiss defender was undermined by the presence of his long-time nemesis Drogba, but an unerring ability to pass to a red shirt - and, on two occasions, simply make contact with the ball - suggested that he will remain a liability no matter the identity of his opponents.
The solid display of Johan Djourou further damned his compatriot in comparison.
Didier Drogba
Back to his old tricks, while the whipping boys of Watford are the Ivorian's only goalscoring victims in his past nine Premiership outings.
Jens Lehmann
Arsene Wenger described his goalkeeper's knockabout with the equally-theatrical Drogba as "comedy", yet the Arsenal manager must be exasperated with Lehmann's behaviour. It's certainly arguable that, as he committed the first push during his spat with Drogba, Lehmann should have conceded a penalty, just as he did at Tottenham two years ago.
After the highs of the previous twelve months, Lehmann's form has nose-dived and his shortcomings have been a principal factor in the Gunners' continuing vulnerability from set-pieces. Only the studs on Mathieu Flamini's left boot spared the German further scrutiny after he inexplicably dropped Arjen Robben's tame shot at the feet of Frank Lampard.
Put your money on the Gunners introducing a new keeper for 2007/08.
Middlesbrough
Describing Boro as 'mediocre' would be flattering and their ever-decreasing number of fans know it. Just 23,638 were in attendance for the tepid draw against Wigan, the lowest gate of the season. To arrest the decline, children will be allowed in for £1 for the December 23 date with Charlton, but it is an act of desperation rather than seasonal goodwill.
Scott Carson and Charlton
It has boded badly all season for Charlton that they have been bottom of the league even when their keeper has been in fine form. Carson's average performance against Tottenham indicated just how poor the Addicks really are.
Alan Pardew
"It's important that I give strong leadership and guide them through this difficult period," said the West Ham boss after his side's capitulation at Bolton. The catch is that the capitulation, in front of an evidently dismayed Eggert Magnusson, has weakened his position to such an extent that, upon being asked if he expected to still be Hammers boss next week, a chastened Pardew could only meekly reply: "I hope so."
Defeat at Bolton is not uncommon. Yet it is unusual for a team to accept defeat before the match had been played. Nor is the downgrading of a 4-4-2 formation in favour of a 4-5-1 the obvious course of action following ten hours of play without an away goal. For the record, this was the Hammers' tenth defeat in eleven games outside of Upton Park.
One newspaper claimed at the weekend that Pardew had 'suffered' for having 'Mascherano and Tevez forced upon him'. Nonsense. Lest we forget, he celebrated their arrival by proclaiming that the Hammers would soon be challenging the best of Europe.
Pardew wanted the Argentines and his inability to merge two players widely recognised as 'world-class' into his team is a failing of management. On Saturday, he omitted Mascherano and selected centre-half Christian Dailly as the holding midfielder and sent striker Tevez to the wing.
The January transfer window offers Pardew possible salvation, but his future will probably be decided before then. According to a report in The Times, Pardew was summoned to a meeting with Magnusson following last week's home defeat to Wigan and warned that 'results had to improve...and would have to improve immediately if he wanted to be around when £12 million will be made available to strengthen the relegation-threatened side next month.'
No wonder he sounded so meek. Magnusson, in turn, must also be wondering whether Pardew can be trusted to use the money wisely after mismanaging the talents of Mascherano and Tevez to the extent that the Argentines have become, as with Shevchenko, a self-imposed handicap.
Pete Gill
