Premier League – Who’s Hot and Who’s Not?

Hot team
I know Blackpool are not the strongest opposition the top sides will face this season but they have proved that they are not mugs. The way Chelsea brushed them aside in the first half of yesterday’s game was a joy to watch, unless you are Blackpool fan.

For forty-five minutes Chelsea were simply irresistible and played with the type of pace and power that would be capable of beating anyone. Who is going to beat them?

Not Hot team
Nobody will find it easy against Manchester City this season I am sure, but I am also sure that Manchester City won’t get many easier wins than they did against Wigan yesterday.

Wigan have looked a little better in their last two games but they were right back to the form that saw them concede ten in their first two games in this one.

Hot keeper
Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel has consistently been one of the best keepers in the Premier League for quite a few years now. He still is.

Friedel made a string of fine saves in Villa’s 1-1 draw with Bolton and the watching Gerard Houllier, who takes over today, must feel very comfortable about that particular part of his new team.

Not Hot keeper
I really do feel sorry for Robert Green because since that horrible moment in the World Cup he has taken an awful of stick. He made one really exceptional save on Saturday to be fair to him, but he still looked so shaky and he still dropped the ball when it was easier to catch.

Hot defender
Arsenal have been crying out for a decent centre-half and in Laurent Koscielny I think they may have found one.

He looks strong, quick and everything else you want in a Premier League defender. If only Arsene could find a goalkeeper!

Not Hot defender
Wolves were looking really good at Tottenham and looked like causing another White Hart Lane shock. 1-0 up with thirteen minutes to go and the last thing you need is for one of your defenders to dive in recklessly and give away a pointless penalty when the opposition player is going nowhere.

Step forward Stephen Ward. Thirteen minutes later you have lost 3-1 and it can all be traced back to your silly challenge.

Hot midfielder
Many clubs around the world have looked at France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa but decided against taking a chance on him. His talent is undoubted but his reputation as being a player that makes Nicolas Anelka look like a happy young man who is easy to manage and get on with, has put most people off.

Newcastle have taken the chance and given the Frenchman a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League and in his debut on Saturday at Everton, didn’t he show us! He scored a stunning goal that turned out to be the winner. There can have been few better debut goals.

Not Hot midfielder
I have got really mixed feelings about Everton’s Marouane Fellaini. Sometimes he looks like a world beater and other times he looks like a Sunday morning park football thug.

On Saturday he was the latter. He should have been sent off for throwing out an elbow and then he missed an absolute sitter in the last minute that would have earned his team a point.

Hot striker
No contest this week. He has finally arrived at Old Trafford. What a fantastic performance by Dimitar Berbatov.

Not Hot striker
This is probably a little harsh on the player but how much better were West Brom in the second half after they took off Marc-Antoine Fortune at half-time?