Opinion: Tadic or Pelle that is the question!

Five big questions ahead of this weekend’s English Premier League action.

1. Pelle or Tadic: who is more important?

A great existential football debate for you here! Who is more important in a team, the goalscorer or the goal maker? Does the team without creativity suffer more than the team without goals? Thankfully Southampton have both bases covered due to the astute summer signings of Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle. Both men came from the Eredivisie in Holland, where manager Ronald Koeman had seen them in action, working alongside Pelle at Feyenoord and coming up against Tadic at Twente. The two players have taken superbly to life in England and have developed a great understanding. Pelle has scored nine in 12 games, as well as a scoring debut for Italy this season, while Tadic has one goal and is closing in on ten assists in his role as chief creator. The Italian’s goals have taken more of the headlines, but the Serbian has been pulling the strings. What is not in doubt though is that Southampton have got themselves two high-quality players who are making a big difference to their team. Let’s see if the Pelle-Tadic axis reaps more rewards away at Hull.

2. Is it Groundhog Day for Arsenal?

Sometimes you could be forgiven for wondering which season it is at Arsenal. After their stuttering start to this campaign with only three wins from nine in the league, it feels like most of the last ten and certainly all of the last five or six. Phone-ins, talk shows and TV analysis are full of comments like, ‘If Arsenal had signed a top-class striker…’, ‘Why did Wenger not strengthen at the back or in midfield?’, ‘We’re only a couple of great players away from challenging’. It’s the same statements every year, the same frustrations, the same dashed dreams for Gunners supporters. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger are stuck in a comfort zone created by the Champions League. They’re doing enough to stay in that competition but not enough to win the Premier League. They never gamble and they are often beaten in the same way by the same teams, and it’s beginning to look a bit embarrassing. A home game against this season’s whipping boys Burnley is a no-win afternoon at The Emirates. They are expected to win, so no plaudits for that, yet a draw or even a defeat would spark much anger in North London. Season tickets don’t come cheap in N7, and Arsenal fans are entitled to demand much better.

3. Is Chelsea’s pre-season planning the reason for the flying start?

Robin Van Persie’s injury-time equaliser last Sunday was probably the first thing that Chelsea have got wrong this season. If Manchester United hadn’t salvaged that point, Jose Mourinho’s side would have a six-point lead after only nine games. Their rivals have all shown serious flaws, while they have motored out of the blocks. But did their pre-season ensure they were more ready when the gun sounded? Normally, the West London club would have headed off to conquer the world in pre-season, looking to spread their empire. This summer, while Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool headed to the USA to take part in the Champions Challenge, Chelsea made a series of short hops around Europe to Slovenia, Turkey, Austria, Germany and Holland. With their players arriving back to training from the World Cup in dribs and drabs, it made more sense. The last thing players wanted after a gruelling season was a gruelling pre-season tour. New signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas settled quickly, results went well and now the team is flying. And it will take an almighty effort from QPR to stop it being anything other than three more routine points at Stamford Bridge.

4. Will home comforts keep the wolves at bay for Leicester?

It’s fair to suggest that Leicester City have already enjoyed their finest day of the season. Coming from 3-1 down to beat Manchester United’s millionaires on September 21 was a glorious moment for Foxes supporters. Since then, Premier League reality has struck with just one point gleaned from four matches. The three losses have all been without a goal scored and have caused Nigel Pearson’s men to slide towards trouble. They are now in 17th place and in desperate need of a pick-me-up. But at the King Power Stadium so far, they have been invigorated, full of energy and full of goals. Strong home form will be their passage to survival and the visit of West Brom, a side they would have genuine ambitions of finishing above, is vitally important. Leicester have waited ten years for Premier League football to return and they don’t want it to be a one-season wonder. The likes of Jamie Vardy, David Nugent and Liam Moore earned their crack at the big time and they don’t want a ticket straight back to the Championship.

5. What now of Pardew?

At various points already this season and certainly ahead of the trip to Swansea on October 4 the guillotine was hanging precariously over Alan Pardew. Now the Newcastle United manager is attempting to lead his side to their fourth win in a row, with fortunes seemingly on the up. They were scrappy in beating Leicester to get going, they came from behind impressively at Tottenham before their reserves produced an outstanding display to deservedly knock holders Manchester City out of the Capital One Cup in midweek. Now Liverpool are in town for a fixture that usually delivers goals. The Geordies have the scent of a mini revival, while they have swapped places with Sunderland, who now occupy a spot in the bottom three and the role as North East Crisis Club. Yet, is Pardew completely out of the woods? What would a heavy home defeat do to this small bubble of optimism? However, look at the other side St James will be packed and rocking and there are few finer atmospheres in the league. A win could kick-start the campaign properly and send confidence running from top to bottom at the club again.