The highlight of the week, and not for the first time so far this season is the failure of Chelsea to gain all three points at home to Southampton as they were defeated by three goals to one.
Attached to that is the Jose Mourinho narcissistic beliefs and that he can do no wrong and the real person to blame for their poor form is Robert Madley, and before him half the quota of the Premier League’s listed match officials.
Now, I like Jose Mourinho. The Premier League is a better place with him in it. He brings entertainment, as does the team he manages. Sir Bobby Robson’s former protégé can be controversial at times but in doing so he is often protecting his players and letting the media spotlight shine solely on him. He is not stupid. Or is he? Does this man really believe Radamel Falcao’s dive in an attempt to win a spot kick was really a penalty? He is the only one if so.
Surely Mourinho’s time would be better spent focusing on his team’s lack of cutting edge this season compared to last, along with their inability to keep a clean sheet thanks to some pretty shocking individual errors week upon week.
The whole Mourinho versus the world crusade is becoming a bit tiresome. Of course, there is focus on Chelsea, they are a massive club playing in the world’s biggest football league (do not be smart NFL fans, you know what I mean!).
When things are going well Jose will soak it up, he can play up to the media and embrace them, but when the questions asked are negative, and for good reason, it appears he cannot handle it. Maybe the stresses of managing at a high level are seriously getting to the man. Without being churlish, this guy may genuinely be struggling.
Whatever happens, I can see it coming to a head soon enough. This Chelsea team are too talented to be just above little old West Bromwich Albion on goals scored in sixteenth place. I do not think he will get the sack and as crazy as the Portuguese sounds at times, he is not far wrong when he says that he is the best man for the job, he just needs to cut out the nonsense.
Moving on and my side, the Baggies, suffered at the hands of Palace on Saturday, and rightly so. We showed about as much attacking intent as a San Marino side would in an away trip to play Brazil. Boss Tony Pulis has done great things for us, and I am not going to be jumping on any bandwagons just yet, but many Albion supporters are starting to turn in fear of Albion’s style being likened too much to that egg
chasing sport everyone seems to be watching at the moment!
Manchester City turned in the team performance of the week coming from a goal down at the Etihad Stadium to put Steve McClaren’s Newcastle United in to a full blown crisis thanks to a 6-1 pummelling. Sergio Aguero stole the headlines thanks to his five goals, and in doing so became just the fifth player in Premier League history to do so.
From Aguero to Advocaat who became the first top flight managerial casualty of the season, although he was not sacked, he probably stepped down a couple of weeks before that eventuality came to pass, mind. His former Sunderland team gave up a two goal lead and went on to draw 2-2 with West Ham United.
Elsewhere on Saturday there were home defeats for Norwich City and Aston Villa at home to high flying Leicester City and Stoke City respectively, while Bournemouth drew at home to Watford in a fixture
that graced the Championship last season.
The headline on Sunday was the second managerial casualty of the weekend as Brendan Rodgers was stood down by his employers at Liverpool following his sides failure to beat Everton in the Merseyside derby. For me this one is a long time coming, and although I am never one to be too fond of constant change, this one should have happened before a ball was kicked this season. Former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp looks like he will be taking the Anfield hot seat and it would be no surprise if this coincides with a rise up the table.
In the two Sunday games Arsenal easily saw off Manchester United at the Emirates and Swansea City played out a draw with Spurs.
There is never a dull moment in the Premier League. See you after the international break.
Premier League Table
| 1 | Manchester City | 8 | 12 | 18 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 8 | 6 | 16 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 4 | Crystal Palace | 8 | 4 | 15 |
| 5 | Leicester City | 8 | 2 | 15 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 8 | 6 | 14 |
| 7 | Everton | 8 | 4 | 13 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 4 | 13 |
| 9 | Southampton | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| 10 | Liverpool | 8 | -2 | 12 |
| 11 | Swansea City | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 12 | Watford | 8 | -1 | 10 |
| 13 | Norwich City | 8 | -2 | 9 |
| 14 | Stoke City | 8 | -2 | 9 |
| 15 | Bournemouth | 8 | -2 | 8 |
| 16 | Chelsea | 8 | -5 | 8 |
| 17 | West Bromwich Albion | 8 | -5 | 8 |
| 18 | Aston Villa | 8 | -5 | 4 |
| 19 | Sunderland | 8 | -10 | 3 |
| 20 | Newcastle United | 8 | -11 | 3 |
