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Friday, August 22, 2008

Man U go missing - Champions Absent from Premier League Team of the Week while Chelsea Top the lot

Every XI will be selected according to different criteria plucked from Championship Manager's extensive database of footballing statistic

This week, the men in white coats have picked the team based on their overall performance. And here it is:

1. Shay Given (Newcastle) - kept champions Manchester United at bay in their opening fixture of the new season.

2. Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea) - due to the price Chelsea paid, Bosingwa was under pressure to play well on debut. He controlled the entire right wing from an attacking full back position.

3. Stephen Warnock (Blackburn) - Played well in Blackburn's defeat of Everton. Will he join Newcastle before the transfer deadline, though?

4. David Wheater (Middlesbrough) - Scored the first goal in Boro's victory over Spurs. If he continues to play well he will win his first full England cap very soon.

5. Michael Turner (Hull) - contributed to Hull City recording a historic opening-day victory over Fulham with a solid defensive display.

6. Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle) - the Argentinian impressed on his debut against Man Utd, particularly on the ball.

7. David Dunn (Blackburn) - opened the scoring in Blackburn's win over Everton with a great goal.

8. Deco (Chelsea) - scored a fantastic goal and orchestrated all the attacking play in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Portsmouth. Barca's loss is Chelsea's gain.

9. Mikel Arteta (Everton) - unlucky to be on losing side against Blackburn. Scored a thumping free kick to beat former Spurs stopper Paul Robinson.

10. Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) - justified the decision by Villa to give him a new four-year deal by scoring a superb hat-trick against Man City. A call up to the senior England squad is surely now an inevitability.

11. Dean Ashton (West Ham) - ccored both West Ham's goals in their defeat of Wigan, and looked to be on for a hat trick before aggravating

Top performer: Chelsea's maestro Deco

Manager of the week: Luiz Felipe Scolari for starting the new season with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Portsmouth. Kevin Keegan is second for leaving Old Trafford with a point.

Daily Mail


Premier League Team Of The Week: Round 1
Welcome to Goal.com's team of the week. After each round of the Premier League we sieve out the major performers. This week, three debutants and five Englishmen make the first eleven...

Goalkeeper

Shay Given (Newcastle): The Republic of Ireland international pulled off a string of saves to keep Manchester United at bay in their own ground. Even managed to pull of a remarkable block from a Fraizer Campbell header using his own forehead.

Defenders

Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea): He has a lot to live up to after making a €30 million move, but most definitely made the perfect start, bombing up and down the right as Chelsea used their width to good effect.

Andrew O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers): Was named as the local paper's Player of the Season last term, and began the season in equally fine form as he proved a thorn in Stoke City's attempted attacks.

David Wheater (Middlesbrough): A defender in the old-school mould. Not the most elegant of players on the ball, but can tackle well, and possesses an aerial threat from set-play. Netted 'Boro's first goal with twenty minutes left on the clock after having a goal disallowed in the first half for alleged shoving.

Ashley Cole (Chelsea): Flourished under Scolari's regime, returning to his scintillating days donning the Arsenal red. Mirrored Bosingwa on the opposite flank, attacked well, and defended stubbornly.

Midfielders

Deco (Chelsea): What a debut. The Portuguese international was a revelation in his roaming role, pulling strings from start to finish as Portsmouth were made to look pedestrian. A fantastic and much deserved debut goal too.

Xabi Alonso (Liverpool): Came on after the break and turned Liverpool's display around, eventually setting up Fernando Torres with a precise pass. One fails to understand why Rafa Benitez has been looking to replace him with Gareth Barry all summer.

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa):
There may be a cloud over his future, but the Villa skipper has shown over the last four days that he is not going to let it affect his game. Helped set up three goals as Villa romped to a 4-2 win.

Samir Nasri (Arsenal): Was everywhere. His link-up play with Clichy was so well-rehearsed it looked as though the playmaker had been a Gunner for years, rather than weeks. Capped his debut by rounding off a typical Arsenal move with a goal in the opening three minutes.

Strikers

Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa): A superb seven minute hat-trick heaped more misery on a Manchester City side already under pressure. If he can get to 20 for the season, Villa might well finish in the top five.

Dean Ashton (West Ham United): The strong centre forward scored both of West Ham goals in their victory over Wigan. The first was pure power, the second was from close range. Would have been happy to have sealed a brace within the first ten minutes, especially as it was under the watchful eye of England head coach Fabio Capello, unfortunate to have his day ruined by injury.


Given

Bosingwa O'Brien Wheater Cole

Deco Alonso Barry Nasri

Ashton Agbonlahor


Managers: Luiz Felipe Scolari & Phil Brown, for impressive Premier League debuts.

Those Who Came Close

Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Mikel Arteta (Everton)
Danny Guthrie (Newcastle United)
Geovanni (Hull City)
Boaz Myhill (Hull City)
Michael Turner (Hull City)
Johan Djourou (Arsenal)
Jimmy Bullard (Fulham)
Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)

Goal.com

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