Quite a few big surprises this year so far. Every so often a player has an instant impact on the Premier League even though he is the last player you’d expect to quickly gel into the league. Others arrive with star billing but end up flopping like Mario Balotelli or Fernando Morientes.
Then you have managers or whole teams who upset expectations by either excelling or being totally unable to cope with the top English division. Who has caught our eye this campaign as the big surprises for 2017-18?
Jamaal Lascelles
The 23-year-old centre-back went within weeks from hardly getting a game to being club captain at Newcastle United. The giant defender has had problems in the past with his attitude off the pitch but right now his relationship with Rafa Benitez has him sitting high in the ranks as a Toon army favourite.
The ex-Nottingham Forest man has been a rock at the back for the Magpies and he deserves a lot of the praise for their turn of form.
So far this season he has scored a winner, cleared a shot off the line and been man of the match in one of his team’s unexpected wins.
United’s Goals
After multiple transition years and new managers putting the shape on the Red Devils’ teams, we’ve all been wondering if they can get back to scoring goals. Last season, Jose’s first, was worrying for everyone as they plugged a leaky defence but seemed to struggle to score other than from Zlatan’s boot.
But that meant they needed to play “long ball to Zlatan” football which rarely got the best from the impressive midfielders. Adding Lukaku of course meant some goals but now they are menacing up front. Look out minnows against this attack
Pascal Gross
Brighton is another of the newly promoted sides that has needed inspiring by an individual and in the case of the Seagulls that spark has come from goal-scoring midfielder Gross.
Signing the German from FC Ingolstadt 04 has turned out to be an incredible bit of business by the seasiders and one of the surprises of the early season as he’s already managed to score twice and grab two assists.
David Wagner
I don’t want to harp on about the promoted sides but Huddersfield has stunned us all and manager David Wagner has to take a big chunk of the credit.
His friendship with Jurgen Klopp might be influencing his crazy antics on the touchline but his passion for the game and the way his team presses opponents into making errors is very unusual for a newly promoted club.
Most newcomers tend to sit back and soak up the pressure but the Yorkshire club has been, as they say, giving it a proper go.
Gabriel Jesus
We all knew he was good but I don’t think anybody imagined him to be this good. The Brazilian already looks like an experienced Premier League striker and is playing as if he’s been around for years and scoring goals for fun.
It’s a nice surprise and Jesus is easily one of the stand-out performers of the early season, with a brace of goals against Crystal Palace taking him to four goals in five league appearances.
In fact if he keeps it up the Manchester City forward may well be competing for player of the season.
Burnley
It’s astonishing to remember that Sean Dyche’s Burnley really struggled just a few seasons ago when they were promoted but as they say, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
That has certainly been the case for this club. After a tremendous start to the season including three points away at Chelsea and a point at Anfield, there is every sign that this could be a big campaign for The Clarets.
Marco Silva
It has to be said that Watford’s manager has some real similarities to Jose Mourinho. Both Portuguese managers are able to shut out the opposition and the start Watford has had this season (ignoring the Man City game), suggests they will continue doing well under Silva.
He almost pulled off a miracle when he tried to keep Hull City in the Premier League but they didn’t have enough in the end. After six games of this campaign Watford is in sixth place, with just goal difference keeping it out of the top four.
I’d have Watford down as one of the biggest surprises of the season for a finish in the top eight or nine.
by Nubaid Haroon
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi
The post Football: Big Surprises of The Premier League appeared first on Felix Magazine.
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