Early impressions
After just two games, it is far too early to make any judgements about this season's Premier League outcomes, although Manchester City do look head and shoulders above the rest of the league, whilst Sunderland look clearly the worst of the bunch, deservedly at the bottom of the table.
Pelligrini's City team, with Raheem Sterling their only new face in the starting line-up, trounced Chelsea who sit below Spurs with a worse goal difference. City, and their captain Vincent Kompany have got their mojo back with two 3-0 wins. Sheik Mansour's input continues to have a significant effect on and off the field of play. They have increased their capacity to 55,000, and have that amazing Academy and Training Complex, literally just over the road. I was there for Spurs'under-21 game last Friday, and can assure you the complex and the EDS stadium looked very plush.
As for Sunderland, who have looked woeful against Leicester and now Norwich, former Spurs captain Younes Kaboul came in for a lot of negative focus from Gary Neville on Sky's Monday Night Football programme. Spurs got good money for Kaboul, but he is naturally stale, having played very little first team football since last November.
Bournemouth looked more than plucky and were unlucky to lose by one dodgy goal at Anfield, where the assistant referee seemed to get his interpretation of the Premier League's latest offside rule guidance wrong. Benteke scored, but Moutinho, who was in an offside position did make a move for the ball, and did distract the Bournemouth goalkeeper. Bournemouth, with two former Spurs Academy players in their squad (Charlie Daniels and Adam Smith) will entertain plenty of people this season, and not just their own fans.
Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe has continued to seek fast, snappy football from his players. If only Spurs could play their football in such a fashion. Mauricio Pochettino and his team have come in for plenty of criticism already, and of course Daniel Levy, for leaving one of the most crucial pieces of transfer business until almost the last minute, as usual. The void is for an out and out striker to either support or fill in for Harry Kane. The latest I'm hearing is that Fazio may go to West Brom. Perhaps that will be a part of a deal for Berahino. Mind you, Berahino missed a golden opportunity against Watford, so he might not be the answer to Spurs fans' prayers.
There was wide criticism of Pochettino's substitutions on Saturday, with both Bentaleb and Lamela being castigated for their ineffectiveness, being graded accordingly by the near 200 voters in our survey.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Eric Dier share the Spurs man of the match vote, with Ryan Mason very close to them.
Spurs will have their work cut out at The King Power Stadium on Saturday wwhen they face a confident Leicester team, who have also won both their opening games.
· See the spursometer in full.
Results 14-17.08.15
A. Villa 0-1 Man Utd
S'hampton 0-3 Everton
S'derland 1-3 Norwich
Swansea 2-0 Newcastle
Spurs 2-2 Stoke
Watford 0-0 West Brom
West Ham 1-2 Leicester
C. Palace 1-2 Arsenal
Man City 3-0 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-0 B'mouth
Barclays Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 2 2 0 0 6-0 6 6
2. Leicester 2 2 0 0 6-3 3 6
3. Liverpool 2 2 0 0 2-0 2 6
4. Man Utd 2 2 0 0 2-0 2 6
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5. Everton 2 1 1 0 5-2 3 4
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6. Swansea 2 1 1 0 4-2 2 4
7. C. Palace 2 1 0 1 4-3 1 3
8. West Ham 2 1 0 1 3-2 1 3
9. Norwich 2 1 0 1 4-4 0 3
10. A. Villa 2 1 0 1 1-1 0 3
11. Arsenal 2 1 0 1 2-3 -1 3
12. Watford 2 0 2 0 2-2 0 2
13. Stoke 2 0 1 1 2-3 -1 1
14. Spurs 2 0 1 1 2-3 -1 1
15. Newcastle 2 0 1 1 2-4 -2 1
16. Chelsea 2 0 1 1 2-5 -3 1
17. S'hampton 2 0 1 1 2-5 -3 1
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18. West Brom 2 0 1 1 0-3 -3 1
19. B'mouth 2 0 0 2 0-2 -2 0
20. S'derland 2 0 0 2 3-7 -4 0
