- CENTRAL MIDFIELD: NEMANJA MATIC (CHELSEA)
Chelsea has been on a rampage this season with Jose Mourinho’s men finding the back of the net twice or more in all but one game so far. While it has been Diego Costa that has scored the major chunk of the goals, it has been Cesc Fabregas who has played the role of the provider. And even while they have shared all the applause, one man that has really flown below the radar is Matic.
Matic has started all of Chelsea’s matches alongside Fabregas and has played the role of the holding midfielder with perfection, letting Fabregas control the game by supporting the attack. Without a player like Matic, Chelsea would have really struggled to match the attacking display they are currently showing.
- CENTRAL MIDFIELD: JOEY BARTON (QPR)
Joey Barton has always been in the news for the wrong reasons, his discipline and behavior brought into question quite a few times before. But this season surprisingly, he seems to have mended his ways and has played remarkably well. Deployed in the double-pivot for QPR, Barton is among the top chance creators so far and second only to Cesc Fabregas (3.6) in key passes per game with 3.3 key passes per game. In each of QPRs three initial fixtures Barton was their most impressive player and would have had a few assists if the strikers were sharper.
His absence against Manchester United due to an injury hurt QPR really bad as they missed someone like Barton who could hold possession and control the game from the midfield. The partnership of Barton and Niko Kranjcar looked enticing before Barton was subbed off with a hamstring injury. With QPR struggling at the bottom of the table, Harry Redknapp would be hoping Barton would recover soon and help them climb up the table.
- RIGHT MIDFIELD: STEWART DOWNING (WEST HAM UNITED)
Downing is regarded as one among Liverpool’s worst signings ever, but one year after his departure from Anfield Downing seem to be hitting his best form of his career at West Ham. Handed the role in the right flank in the initial games, Downing looked menacing with his looping crosses and scored the second goal in the 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace.With the arrival of Alex Song, Downing has been shifted to a more central role and he has impressed further, providing the assist to Morgan Amalfitano’s winner against Liverpool this week.
Downing has 3 assists and a goal and averaged 3.2 key passes per game, third in the League behind Fabregas and Barton and has already made 24 crosses of which 10 were accurate, one of the highest in the league so far.
- LEFT MIDFIELD: ANDRE SCHURRLE (CHELSEA)
Not exactly the most underrated player but it is no surprise that Schurrle’s impressive performances has been overlooked because such has been the form of Diego Costa and Fabregas that even the excellent Eden Hazard has been left in their shadows. Even from last term, whenever he has gotten the opportunity Schurrle has delivered. This season he started off extremely well with that beautiful goal against Burnley and looked dangerous throughout the match. He also scored Chelsea’s lone goal against City this week, after coming off the bench.
It is his ability to get behind the defenders that makes him a real threat. In addition his penchant for taking shots is evident from the fact that he has fired 13 shots on goal in the 214 minutes he has played, which is greater than both Costa and Hazard. Although, he might be important for Chelsea’s multiple trophy quest, he is likely to remain in the shadows of is more popular teammates.
- ATTACKING MIDFIELD: DUSAN TADIC (SOUTHAMPTON)
Despite the mass exodus, Southampton has looked really solid with Ronald Koeman building up a balanced team that has retained the nucleus from last season and filled the missing parts. And Dusan Tadic has filled in the void left by Adam Lallana with ease. The Serb, like Downing, has played the role of the provider to perfection. Despite having only two assists to his name and Graziano Pelle and Morgan Schneiderlin taking the major chunk of attraction, Tadic has been at the heart of most of the Saints forays upfront, with his incredible knack to spot his teammates with accurate crosses and through-balls.
Despite having only played in the Eredivisie and the Sebian Superliga before, Tadic has adjusted to the physicality of the Premier League with ease and is forming an irresistible partnership with Graziano Pelle. With the arrival of Sadio Mane as well, Tadic and Southampton looks destined to keep the goals coming.
- STRIKER: GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR (ASTON VILLA)
While all the other impressive strikers gathering praises for their performances, it is only the former England international that has stayed away from the focus. Even though naturally not a striker, Agbonlahor has partnered Andreas Weimann upfront and stepped up to the task in the absence of Villa’s main strikers’ Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak. Even though Weimann has also been particularly impressive, Agbonlahor has had the extra responsibility of captaincy in the absence of Ron Vlaar, and he has led the side really well. Villa looked really well organized in all their 4 early matches and was even impressive before being rocked by the three quick goals against Arsenal.
Agbonlahor has scored twice already and both goals have been winners, with the first one coming against Hull City and the other one a very important one against Liverpool away at Anfield. With games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton in the next three weeks, Paul Lambert will be really looking forward to Agbonlahor to get him the goals and the points.