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

7. The Rafalution Continues

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their fourth goal
2016 Getty Images

(In which supporter bias may bleed through the thin veneer of objective analysis).

Rafael Benítez Maudes is the most perfect creature commanding the technical area of this fair planet. His newly-promoted Newcastle United side is an austere, pacy, counter-attacking machine - and when the Ironborn defensive warriors of the back four ship a goal, they demonstrate the wherewithal and spirit of the Night's Watch to recover from the waves of attack.

Clearing the fog of delusion, elements of an uplifting performance were undermined by the odd concern. Joselu is only an update on the profligate Aleksandar Mitrović in that he isn't likely to steer an elbow into somebody's skull every other game. Isaac Hayden at times seemed overawed by the relentless PL pace, picking up his second successive yellow card with an involuntary, ill-timed lunge. Captain Fantastic Jamaal Lascelles, top scorer, is a centre half.

Still, this was a proper, battling home performance masterminded by a manager of incredible technical nous and a playing staff better than most - even their own supporters - initially marked them as.

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!