Top, Only Just

Everton players celebrate with Richarlison (REUTERS)

As usual, The Premier League offers unique entertainment this season. Pep Guardiola and his Manchester city side continue to school the rest of the league and Liverpool and Chelsea just about equal their efforts with admirable unbeaten starts to the season.

I have been thoroughly impressed though (and few would disagree), by certain teams and their dynamic managers in the eleven games we have witnessed so far.

Everton, fully awake from the slumber of last term that saw them toil in the relegation zone for most of the season till Big Sam Allardyce came in and drilled some solidity into the side, have seen an upturn in fortunes -and playing style- due to Marco Silva’s exciting approach this season.

Marco Silva (GETTY)

The Portuguese manager favours an attacking style of play, even to the detriment of not being defensively sound but it hasn’t stopped the fans dreaming of an European spot at the end of the season.

Everton transition from defence to attack with power and precision, each forward pass made with purpose and intent to move the team forward. The 4-2-3-1 set-up already ensures balance across the team with rapid wing play being executed by the likes of Bernard and Theo Walcott. 
Gylfi Sigurdsson has been superb in the no. 10 role behind recently-converted false striker, Richarlison (who netted a brace in their 3-1 over Brighton at the weekend and now has six goals this season).

With a specialist striker in Cenk Tosun in the squad when needed and the likes of Andre Gomes gradually settling into the side. Experienced campaigners, Leighton Baines (33) and Phil Jagielka (36) will be there to provide guidance and support to the team. Expect Everton’s impressive season to continue.

Eddie Howe (GETTY)

Bournemouth and baby-faced manager Eddie Howe have been making steady progress since being promoted to the premier league in 2015 and have won admirers and plaudits along the way. 

Stability at the Vitality stadium outfit has been impressive and the gaffer’s work with largely the same promotion-winning squad without being overrun by the premier league’s more fancied clubs has to be lauded.

Yes, they have taken a few spankings from the big boys in those three-and-quarter seasons but Eddie Howe has created a fantastic side that are now enjoying their best ever run of form in the top flight.

Callum Wilson (GETTY)

Callum Wilson, the spear-head of their promotion to the top flight and subsequent premier league campaigns, has been immense again. Being the focal point of their attack, he helps Ryan Fraser and summer signing David Brooks to shine.

Bournemouth press high or counter attack according to their opponents and the progress of a game and their 3-4-3 formation gives balance and frees the aforementioned Fraser and Brooks of too many defensive duties.

The Cherries have scored three and four goals with regularity this season and it’s no surprise given they’ve always possessed that attacking verve. It is reward for their efforts and stability that they now sit pretty in the top half of the table.

Manchester United luckily escaped the Bournemouth juggernaut last weekend after being steam-rollered in the first half but completing a second half turnaround.  José Mourinho acknowledged his side should have been 5-1 down at halftime but the Cherries came unstuck in this one.

Nuno Espírito Santo (soccersouls.com)

Wolverhampton Wanderers have dared to dream this season, and deservedly so. Last season’s championship winners, led by Nuno Espírito Santo, promised to not change their style and play like champions on their return to the Premier League.

Eleven games into the season and they have been swashbuckling at times, forcing United and City to 1-1 draws earlier in the season. 

Wolves under Nuno’s tutelage are organized and determined. Their wing-backs regularly bomb up and down the flanks and the balanced Portuguese midfield pairing of Rúben Neves and João Moutinho offers poise and control. 

Raul Jimenez, despite not being a prolific scorer, offers a lot more in link up play upfront and brings other players around him into play. He has scored a few this season and would be very important to Wolves’ campaign. 

Wolves are in a bit of a wobble at the moment having lost 3 consecutive games after coming up short at a turnaround attempt from 3-0 down in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Tottenham but take nothing away from this side.

I have been endeared to Nuno’s demeanour in the press; he gives off the feeling of a focused and determined man who knows what he is doing. I hope he really does.

Javi Gracia (GETTY)

Watford, led by Javi Gracia, are having a massively impressive season as well. A four-game winning run at the start got the Premier League to take note of activities at Vicarage road.

The hornets have remained consistent since and sit eighth on the table. Gracia has them playing in an impressive (and very interesting) 4-2-2-2 shape that features pressing as a unit, short passing and switching play with long passes.

Roberto Pereyra, arguably Watford’s player of the season so far, sits wide on the left flank when in possession which allows the right winger to come inside to overload the center of the pitch to engage in short passes with the strikers and deep midfielders.

In other instances, Pereyra comes inside to allow space for the left fullback for crosses on the outside OR central midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure switches play with long passes to the flanks.

That they have been able to maintain their form without injured skipper and marksman Troy Deeney, now pairing Nigerian Isaac Success and Gerard Deulofeu in attack makes Javi Gracia’s work all the more impressive. 

It’s fantastic for the most watched league in the world to have these less-heralded clubs have so much success and dynamism whilst the top six square-off for the top honours. If there’s a slip up at the top we can look forward to deserving replacements, it’s the beauty of the premier league.