10 Things We Learned From The English Premier League Football Weekend (15-17 September 2017)

8. "Premier League Class"

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their fourth goal
Laurence Griffiths/EMPICS Sport

Not to pick on Paul Merson too much - though he hardly helps his own cause - but his use of the phrase "Premier League class" is particularly galling, given his inept predictions record and inability or unwillingness to carry out the most rudimentary spot of research. If he had only bothered, he'd have determined that Huddersfield have carried their superb home form over to their new Premier League surroundings in their maiden season. Merson had this to say ahead of their clash with Leicester:

I know Leicester lost to Chelsea last weekend but I think they will have too much for Huddersfield, who looked a bit short on Monday.

Both insights, if you can refer to them as such, indicated that Merson only gives a cursory glance over to the previous week's results to inform - again, if you can refer to his method using such a word - his picks. Merson hasn't backed Huddersfield to win any of their home fixtures. Their record at the John Smith's Stadium this year? Won, Drawn, Drawn. The Terriers have engineered this run - and the draw against Leicester City on Saturday - through a series of disciplined performances, quietly going about their business with more than a touch of the "Premier League class" so many cannot see because of their unfashionable name and dreaded, unknown quantity.

Backing - or researching - them is too much like the hard work they use to get results.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!