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English Premiership Football News ( 26 August 2008 )

Premiership week two: Who’s HOT and who’s NOT

Hot team
Newly promoted Stoke City taught Aston Villa and perhaps the rest of the Premiership should not be underestimated this season - especially the Britannia Stadium.

The buoy by an energetic crowd Potteries, Stoke played with confidence and ability, but some clearly against Villa by title.

Mamady Sidibe strike secured a 3-2 victory which saw the club currently above the likes of Tottenham and Portsmouth in the league table.

Fellow new boys Hull City continued their impressive start campaign with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn, while Fulham inflicted the biggest upset of the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

No hot team
It's sad… northward. North London, it goes without saying.

Tottenham produced their second performance teeth as many weeks on Saturday, being beaten 2-1 by Sunderland at White Hart Lane. With Dimitar Berbatov excluded from the team not to be "in the right frame of mind" to play according to Juande Ramos, Spurs have not any threat of attack.

It is a great week for the club and the failure to bring in at least one new front man before the transfer window closes on 1st September could be catastrophic.

Patron Arsenal Arsène Wenger admitted his side lower in their 1-0 defeat to Fulham. The Gunners managing just one shot on target all night and besides marking Brede Hangeland the goal was non-existent.

Hot Keeper
In the first choice Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones injured in the warm-up before the clash with Liverpool boss Gareth Southgate must have feared the worst.

But 23-year-old stand-in goalkeeper Ross Turnbull more than proved its value as Boro came close to snatching a shock victory at Anfield. Mido gave Boro a 1-0 lead 69 minutes and Turnbull made a number of fine saves to maintain that lead. His confidence grew throughout the day the culmination of his work has been an excellent reflex save to deny Steven Gerrard scores a thunderous free kick.

End goals gave Liverpool a 2-1 penalty-deserved victory, but Turnbull poster will be one of Boro can take many positives of the game despite the defeat.

No holder hot
Brad Friedel considered far to ensure its self Villa in the 3-2 defeat at Stoke.
In addition to concede three goals, the American participated in a number of embarrassing defensive mix-ups. A communication breakdown between him and defender Martin Laursen Stoke Ricardo Fuller presented with an objective to open a stage in the match.
Hopefully for Villa, it was just a blip in the form of an excellent goalkeeper in general.

Hot Defender
Anthony Gardner looked out of his depth as a defender of the Premiership for Tottenham Hotspur, but a change of club seems to have done him well.

He played a key role in the hull of the excellent early season and was the man pre-game for their excellent call to Blackburn on Saturday. As the mobilization his defence superbly, Gardner also held Blackburn Roque Santa Cruz quiet all afternoon.

Defender not hot
Ledley King's ability to produce excellent performances in the few games he has played for the Spurs last season were impressive, given the current player on knee problems.

King was unable to continue heroism upon his return to the Tottenham first team on Saturday, looking out kind of game and lack of sharpness.

To be a real force in the Premiership this season, the Spurs need a form and the form of Ledley King. The fear of Juande Ramos is that May never be a reality.

Midfielder hot
Thus, in the World Cup rarely do we see a player worthy of the tag "complete midfielder." But in Deco, Chelsea and the Premier League May found only one.

His passing, shooting, management and technical ability was again demonstrated on Sunday as the Blues beat Wigan 1-0. Had it not been for the Portuguese star, this result could have been different.
Deco magnificent 25-yard free kick must surely be a competitor of the goal of the month. His long-range could be even higher.

Midfielder not hot
Few can argue that on the day, Arsenal play the best football in the Premiership. However, on the first four, it is also difficult to deny that the Gunners have less strength in depth. The case in point, their 1-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday.
Reserve midfielder Denilson proved why it is exactly that offers little in terms of movement or creativity. Having been a number of seasons to develop, the clarity of his Brazilian-May be a little depth to the Emirates.

Hot Striker
Ricardo Fuller scored one of the best goals of the weekend in Stoke 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.
The forward collected a ball from Liam Lawrence with his back to goal, get started on his shoulder running past Luke Young and Martin Laursen in the process before rifling home.
Magic stuff.

Striker not hot
Dimitar Berbatov is the accolade for a second consecutive week not even be mentally fit for selection for the Spurs Sunderland.His Thursday with a desire to move to Manchester United is clear and without doubt, Bulgaria will get the move, there must surely wants.But better ways to get what you want, effectively only by the strike for the weekend.

by soccernews