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| Anthony Martial has lived up to his £36million price tag after a phenomenal start to life at Man Utd |
It could be the strangest Premier League season of all.
Eight games in, Chelsea have gone from champs to chumps. All the title favourites have already lost at least twice. Surprise results have become the norm. Away wins have outnumbered home victories. Harry Kane has scored as many own goals as goals. Wayne Rooney and Diego Costa have been outscored by Norwich centre-back Russell Martin.
But in among the shocks, there are some trends. After two months, some have seen their stock rise. Others have suffered, along with their fortunes and reputations. RICHARD JOLLY picks our early-season winners... and losers.
WINNERS
Anthony Martial
WHO? How much? Martial’s arrival at Manchester United provoked shock. They could end up spending £58.8million on on a rookie. Yet 21 minutes into his debut and, with the pace, skill and nonchalance of Thierry Henry, he scored against Liverpool – the first of four in his first four games.
Slaven Bilic
IT was an historic feat. No one else had won at the Emirates and the Etihad Stadiums plus Anfield in the same season.
Bilic did it in his first three away league games as West Ham manager. It does not seem such a gamble sacking Sam Allardyce now.
And the brilliant Dimitri Payet looks one of the signings of the summer.
Claudio Ranieri
THE Tinkerman was yesterday’s man. So it seemed, anyway. Ranieri had been sacked as Greece manager after losing to the Faroe Islands.
A smiling Italian seemed a strange choice to replace the stern Nigel Pearson. But he has carried on where his predecessor left off at Leicester.
City have attacked and won. Ranieri has somehow made Jamie Vardy the Premier League’s top scorer.
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| West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has beaten Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool away from home already |
Crystal Palace
THREE of the top four are the usual suspects. Then there is Palace, the gatecrashers at a private party.
They achieved the unlikely when they beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Their record buy, Yohan Cabaye, has brought class in the centre of the pitch and Alan Pardew’s team are the kings of the road with a wonderful away record.
Kevin De Bruyne
HUGE transfer fees were supposed to be burdens on players. Not for De Bruyne.
Manchester City’s £54million Belgian midfielder has only started five games since his move from Wolfsburg but has already scored four goals and created three more.
And his volley against Newcastle last week was simply magnificent.
Other Winners
JAMIE VARDY: Scored five league goals last season. Has seven already.
ANDRE AYEW: Free Swansea transfer has scored against Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs.
VINCENT KOMPANY: City have only conceded one goal with him on the pitch.
LOSERS
Brendan Rodgers
THE biggest loser of all. Rodgers lost his job at Liverpool.
He may never get another chance at a club of their stature.
His record this season, with an injury-hit team, was not disastrous but his downfall began last season. Rodgers could neither turn his fortunes around nor turn back time.
Jose Mourinho
THE Special One does not look so special anymore.
Not when Chelsea have made their worst start for 37 years, when his title-winning team are all out of form and when Roman Abramovich has had to give him a vote of confidence.
Mourinho used to mock Claudio Ranieri, Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini. Now they are in the top six. He is 16th.
Steve McClaren
Paid out more than £50m in summer transfers but for the first time since the 19th century, failed to win any of their first eight league games – to the despair of boss Steve McLaren.
It sums up Newcastle that they played well for 40 minutes at Manchester City last week and took the lead but still lost 6-1.
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