PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK WITH SELECTOR KUSOLO: Chelsea maintained a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League after a 2-1 win over QPR in their London derby. Southampton continued their impressive start to the season with a win at Hull, while Manchester United and Aston Villa suffered costly defeats after having a man sent off. Newcastle kept up their resurgence with a victory over Liverpool, Arsenal were comfortable winners against Burnley, and West Ham snatched a draw in a pulsating game at Stoke. But who stood out this weekend? Heres my team of the week. GOALKEEPER - Joe Hart (Manchester City) Hart kept his 83rd Premier League clean sheet for Manchester City, a club record What a save it was by Joe Hart in the Manchester derby. Im not sure how he got his right hand down to the shot from Angel Di Maria but it was a match-winning save. In a recent Match of the Day poll, Hart was considered the third-best keeper in the country behind Chelseas Thibaut Courtois and Manchester Uniteds David De Gea. Well, he was certainly the best keeper this weekend. DEFENDER - Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton) Clyne has made more tackles - 51 - than any other player in the top flight this season This lad has come on in leaps and bounds since his days at Crystal Palace. Against a persistent Hull, Nathaniel Clyne looked unbeatable at times. Strong in defence and purposeful in attack, he must have impressed the watching England manager. Its time Roy Hodgson stopped pussy-footing around and put Clyne in the England team. DEFENDER - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) Kompany is the only man to have played all 900 minutes of Man Citys Premier League season It was a terrific performance by Manchester Citys captain as they beat United. City were a bag of nerves towards the end of the game. It needed a big man to keep them from crumbling against a resurgent 10-man United, who look more like a top-four side every time I see them. The battle between Kompany and Marouane Fellaini was worth the admission fee alone. DEFENDER - Gael Clichy (Manchester City) Clichy set up Sergio Agueros winner with his first Premier League assist since March 2013 Gael Clichy handled Angel Di Maria comfortably for most of Sundays Manchester derby, before exposing a stretched defence with a superb pass for Sergio Aguero to clinch the points. The full-back doesnt get many starts for City - but he seldom lets them down when Manuel Pellegrini selects him. A polished performer. DEFENDER - Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle) Coloccini has kept 43 Premier League clean sheets for Newcastle, the sixth-highest total at the club Hes done it again. We saw Fabricio Coloccinis qualities in abundance last week at Spurs - and again this week against Liverpool. The Argentina international is back to his commanding best and is leading the Newcastle revival, much to manager Alan Pardews relief. I dont know what Coloccini is saying to his team-mates, but its doing the trick. MIDFIELDER - Yaya Toure (Manchester City) Toure has hit the woodwork three times this season but only scored once With no David Silva to provide the inspiration for City, there was only one man who was going to prise open a battling Manchester United side, who appeared determined to leave Etihad Stadium with at least a point. Yaya Toure capped a fabulous display with a superb pass that led to the winning goal. In a game as tight as this, it was always going to take a touch of class to make the difference - and he provided it. MIDFIELDER - Victor Wanyama (Southampton) Southampton have won two of the five league games Wanyama has started this season - but all five of the games that he hasnt I must admit I nearly chose Newcastles Mehdi Abeid, who I thought had a magnificent league debut against Liverpool. However, I simply couldnt resist Victor Wanyamas wonderful winning goal for Southampton at Hull. As Martin Keown pointed out on Match of the Day, Wanyamas overall contribution to the game wasnt bad either. But lets be honest, anyone who can score a goal like that deserves some recognition. MIDFIELDER - Oscar (Chelsea) Oscar has scored three goals and provided two assists in his last six Premier League games for Chelsea Chelseas victory over QPR wasnt their best performance this season by a long chalk. But you can afford the occasional off-day when you have player such as Oscar to bend a ball with the outside of his right boot past an international goalkeeper. The Brazilian only seems to score spectacular goals and complements beautifully the contributions made by Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas. FORWARD - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) Sanchez has scored five of Arsenals last seven Premier League goals Alexis Sanchez is on fire at the moment. He could have had a hat-trick before he got his first goal against Burnley, but the desire he showed in outjumping two defenders to score was immense. Arsene Wenger might have had a point with his suggestion earlier in the week that the South Americans who learn their football on the street are made of tougher stuff than our rather over-coached academy darlings. FORWARD - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) Aguero has hit 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games - including Sundays derby winner The finish that won Sundays Manchester derby was first class - and something weve come to expect from Sergio Aguero. The striker was clipped on two occasions in the box and should have been awarded a penalty both times. But the Argentine never allowed the referees rebuttals to affect him or divert his focus. Thats a sign of a top-class player. FORWARD - Stewart Downing (West Ham) Only Cesc Fabregas (31) has created more chances than Downing (28) in the top flight this season It was another excellent performance by the West Ham man to save his side a point on Saturday. The Hammers were 2-0 down at Stoke - who should have put the game to bed - but then Downing took proceedings by the scruff of the neck. He made the first goal for Enner Valencia with a superb run down the right-hand side and an even better cross, before completing the rescue with a terrific strike for the equaliser. The only problem for manager Sam Allardyce now is: where does he play Andy Carroll when hes fit?
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 03:28:35 +0000
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