Premier League Team of the Week: Howard, Andre Ayew and Sagna Shine

Published on: 01 September 2015
Premier League Team of the Week: Howard, Andre Ayew and Sagna Shine
Andre Ayew

GK: Tim Howard, Everton

Tim Howard
Tim Howard
There's no questioning this one, is there? Tim Howard put in a magnificent display for Everton on Saturday as they squeezed a 0-0 draw out of Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The USA international had a woeful 2014-15 campaign, costing his team a multitude of points due to a series of defining errors, but he's bounced back Alan Partridge style and put together a very strong first four games.

His key save this weekend was a one-on-one stop on Harry Kane, but he showed value throughout the 90 minutes, producing a steady string of good saves to preserve the clean sheet and the point.

LB: Aaron Cresswell, West Ham

Aaron

Aaron Cresswell has been absolutely horrific in West Ham's last two home games, but he upped his performance by a considerable margin for the visit to Anfield this weekend. He was a key figure in a remarkable 3-0 win for West Ham.

He played his part in a good defensive performance, tucking in and protecting the left flank well as the Reds probed and pushed, and he also picked up an assist for Manuel Lanzini's goal just two minutes into the match.

Hammers fans will hope this kind of performance becomes the norm, rather than the one against Leicester City.

CB: Ashley Williams, Swansea City

AshleyMuch has been made of Federico Fernandez's impressive form for Swansea City over the past 14 months, but Ashley Williams is still No. 1 in that back line. He's the only constant as things change around him, proving his Premier League pedigree every season.

Another brilliant, rock-like performance came along this weekend as Williams shone in the Swans' 2-1 victory over Manchester United. There was no clean sheet to be had, but he did step in to make a number of timely interventions and passed smoothly from the back to start attacks.

CB: Damien Delaney, Crystal Palace

Damiem

Damien Delaney had a great game this weekend, irritating and winding up Diego Costa and nullifying the striker's effect on the game. He's an old-school centre-half and relishes the physical battle perhaps more than anyone else in the league.

The Irishman made a couple of excellent challenges, including one that stabbed the ball out for a corner in an extremely dangerous position, and held his own in a genuine one-on-one battle with Chelsea's star Spaniard.

Given the gulf in quality between the two as players, you have to praise Delaney for the cancellation job done here.

RB: Bacary Sagna, Manchester City

Bacary

Bacary Sagna's had a cracking start to the new Premier League season, taking full advantage of Pablo Zabaleta's late return to duty post-Copa America and making the right-back slot his own. The Argentinian has been ruled out for a month with an injury, but even if he was fit, he'd be sat on the bench watching.

Sagna's a better one-on-one defender than Zabaleta, and his prudent approach to that side of the game has been a key factor in Manchester City's four successive clean sheets to begin the campaign. He also delivered the cross for Raheem Sterling's opener, swinging a slick, curling delivery across the face of the goal.

The challenge now is for the Frenchman to continue in this vein; he's finally been afforded the chance to string some games together, and he needs to keep his foot on the pedal. If he does, we'll see the revival of one of the division's best right-backs, and City's right side will remain a true strength.

DM: Cheikhou Kouyate, West Ham

Chio

West Ham had a busy summer of recruitment, but it's arguable their best overall player is one former manager Sam Allardyce bought from the Jupiler League last summer. Cheikhou Kouyate put in a stunning display at Anfield as West Ham turned Liverpool over to the tune of three goals.

His power, drive and verticality are traits that the Reds have tended to struggle to contain during the Brendan Rodgers years, and Kouyate becomes the latest in a lengthening line of midfielders to truly slice through the home side's formation.

Bursting from box to box, he set the tempo and dragged his side up the pitch, defending superbly then leading counters.

CM: Oriol Romeu, Southampton

OrioOriol Romeu produced one of his best-ever performances as Southampton destroyed Norwich City on Sunday; the Spaniard single-handedly strangled the midfield and established dominance over the central zones.

His tenacity and bite helped set the tone early on, and his careful, controlled recycling of the ball allowed the Saints to return to playing good football—not hoof ball—as he brought it forward and distributed it evenly.

He had an excellent showing regardless of the Canaries' red-card mishap.

Wing: Dusan Tadic, Southampton

Tadic

Twinkletoes Tadic, they call him (probably).

Dusan Tadic tore Norwich City apart with his productive dribbling and opportunistic finishing. Every move ended in something positive—a chance created, a dangerous cross or a corner kick—and the Canaries wholly failed to keep a lid on him, allowing him to dominate the left touchline.

He swept home two goals thanks to some clever positioning, and once the game was done, he broke out the tricks and flicks, dizzying his marker Andre Wisdom into a stupor.

Wing: Andre Ayew, Swansea City

Andre Ayew swans

What a wonderful signing Andre Ayew is proving to be. Four Premier League games in and it's become abundantly clear the rave reviews that followed him from Ligue 1 were not misplaced.

The Ghanaian, playing on the right of midfield again, had another extremely productive game, scoring Swansea City's leveller against Manchester United and then setting up Bafetimbi Gomis' winner. He's strong, quick, intuitive and works very hard off the ball.

The Mirror's John Cross has wasted no time in labelling him "one of the signings of the season."

ST: Bakary Sako, Crystal Palace

BakaryBakary Sako impressed greatly last week as Crystal Palace beat Aston Villa 2-1, netting the winner with a curling effort and cementing his place in the XI for this weekend's game against Chelsea. Alan Pardew kept the faith and was very well rewarded.

He bagged a goal and an assist as he made his second telling contribution to the club's cause, only this time it was at Stamford Bridge against Jose Mourinho and the 2014-15 Premier League's best defensive line.

A physical, direct menace, he swept home a nice finish at the second time of asking to give his side the lead and set up Joel Ward's late winner.

Source: Bleacherreport.com

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