Sportskeeda EPL Team of the Week: Gameweek 12
So we had ourselves a weekend of upsets in the Premier League. The so called smaller sides made the best of the home advantage. Norwich at home to Manchester United, Liverpool at home to Wigan, West Brom’s duel with Chelsea at the Hawthorns, Reading’s comeback against Everton and even the Black Cats snatching a victory away to Fulham, a rarity in it self.
The North London derby peaked in interest when Emmanuel Adebayor scored to put the visitors in front, only to be sent off a few minutes later. Somehow, the Citizens find themselves at the top having a solitary point, lead at the top from their “not-so noisy” neighbours.
Another week of brilliance from the strikers mean another week of 3-4-3 as our team of the week.
John Ruddy (Norwich)
A stand-out performance between the posts resulted in all three points to the Canaries against the “not so Red” Devils. Commanded the box well and came out to collect any stray attempts at a cross from the United wingers. His reflexes were top draw and even when he fumbled a pile-driver late on in the game, had the agility to gather in the ball before the on rushing Paul Scholes to keep another clean-sheet. The performance should nail his place in the England squad if he hasn’t already.
Honourable Mention: Boaz Myhill (West Brom)
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
Held his lines well on the right hand side, although Hoilett bothered him time and again. Provided constant support to Jason Puncheon on the overlap. Set up the winger for Saints’ second and saw one cross come off the cross bar.
Sébastien Bassong (Norwich)
The win against Manchester United meant it was heir best sequence of results since 1993. The result came courtesy of a brilliant display at the backline as it was the turn of the Cameroonian international to put in a dominating performance to thwart one the most potent forward lines in the division.
Martin Škrtel (Liverpool)
The Wigan offense seemed to have gone AWOL and the man leading the cause was the Slovakian mainstay of Liverpool’s defense Martin Skrtel. He never let the Latics have as much a sniff of an opportunity to get back into the game and a clean shhet to show for it all.
Honurable Mentions: Jonas Olsson (West Brom), Steven Whittaker (Norwich), Maicon (Manchester City)
Jose Enrique (Liverpool)
For the second consecutive game, the left started in an advanced role and gets a mention in the team of the week in both editions. No one at Liverpool in their wildest dreams would have seen the Spaniard as one of the answers to their offensive worries but that’s why they say “football is no rocket science”. One of the most potent displays at his time in Liverpool and the best attacking one since against Blackburn at Ewood Park for Newcastle in 2010-11 season.
David Silva (Manchester City)
City’s offensive game has really been missing in many of the games and it been sheer determination coupled with a bit of luck that has carried them so far. At the Etihad on Saturday, the City faithfuls however didn’t see any struggle as they saw one their midfield maestros in the form of David Silva come back to form. Silva made the men in blue tick efficiently as clockwork as he controlled the middle of the park and guided some pin-point through balls to make it memorable for City.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
“If you get a full-toss, you still have to put it away” they say in cricket. When you see your opponents reeling, you still have to ram home the advantage. That’s exactly what Arsenal did against Spurs as the visitors played majority of the game down to ten men. Cazorla was the architect as the Gunners pummeled their hapless North London neighbours for five goals. Cazorla collected one himself and set up another as he mastered the midfield battle, if you could even call it a battle.
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
Fearsome display from the winger as he helped the Saints come out on top of the “El Sackiko”. Peppered the QPR goal with shots coming from all round the field and forcing Cesar to make one fine save after another. Puncheon had Traore in his pockets seemingly as he wandered around the right side of the midfield at his will.
Honourable mentions: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
Carlos Tevez headed the striking powers at the Etihad as Machester City were in cruise control on their way to three points against Villa. Tevez played the link between the midfield and the ever-opportunist Aguero to perfection and collected two goals for himself as well. Always looked in control and in command.
Shane Long (West Brom)
A goal and an assist from the Ireland international set up West Brom’s win against Chelsea at the weekend. The dimunitive forward went toe-to-toe against the Chelsea pair of Cahill and Luiz, proving to a real thorn for them throughout the game. His constant runs creating channels never gave the pair any respite and the Chelsea’s defense looked shaky hence.
West Brom’s win means 18 points at home for the Baggies so far and the the best start to a campaign since 1982.
Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Luis Suarez is the “man” right now. He seemingly has the Midas touch right or do you want call him Alchemist? The Uruguayan added another couple of goals to his tally to take over in the goals scoring charts. Suarez is in the form of his life and it was for all to see against Wigan as he tore the Wigan defense with his nifty movement and clinical finishes.
Honourable Mention: Adam LeFondre (Reading)
So here’s the line up for this week:
