Jermain Defoe's record-equalling five-goal performance for Tottenham against Wigan makes him the easiest choice yet for a place on the FanHouse EPL Team of the Week.Believe it or not, there are some journalists who believe that only a truly faultless performance is worthy of a coveted 10.
Unfortunately for Defoe, our man at the game is clearly among that hypercritical group and points out that he missed a few chances. However,a quick poll has shown he is the only one of our writers who didn't think the Tottenham striker worthy of top marks. As they say, it's a game of opinion.....
And, regardless of marks, there was little doubt that this was one of the performances of this, or any other, Premier League season.
And partner Peter Crouch was not bad, either.
A couple of other strikers matched Crouch's mark over the weekend but the giant target man was worth his place for his role in Tottenham's stunning 9-1 demolition of Wigan.
The recent mini-resurgences enjoyed by Birmingham City and Hull are also reflected in this week's Team of the Week. Birmingham's useful 1-0 victory over Fulham led to goalkeeper Joe Hart and midfielder James McFadden making the line-up and, arguably more importantly, also showed that the Blues are finding some real resilience in the bid to keep hold of their Premiership status.
And if there was any doubt as to whether Jimmy Bullard's return from a long injury lay-off would help Hull, that was surely removed on Saturday when he sparked the Tigers' thrilling come-from-behind draw against West Ham.
Bullard's was one of a number of eye-catching midfield performances over the weekend - Florent Malouda produced another with his goal in Chelsea's stroll against Wolves. And David Dunn has become a frequent visitor to our Team of the Week with his form helping Blackburn pick up an easy win at Bolton yesterday. His performances this season beg the question as to what the midfielder might have done with his career had it not been so cruelly held back by injuries.
Such were the quality of midfield performances over the weekend that Manchester United's increasingly impressive Darren Fletcher can only get into our team at right-back - and we're justifying that decision because he spent the last half hour there on Saturday as Manchester United hammered Everton.
Nemanja Vidic also wins a place in our team for his performance in that game, as did Leighton Baines who was one of the few Everton players to emerge from the 3-0 defeat with any credit.
Finally, Thomas Vermaelen rounds off the team despite Arsenal's defeat at Sunderland.
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart (Birmingham) - FanHouse score 7
Right back: Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) - FanHouse score 9
Centre back: Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) - FanHouse score 8
Centre back: Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) - FanHouse score 7
Left back: Leighton Baines (Everton) - FanHouse score 8
Right midfield: Florent Malouda (Chelsea) - FanHouse score 9
Centre midfield: David Dunn (Blackburn) - FanHouse score 9
Centre midfield: Jimmy Bullard (Hull) - FanHouse score 9
Left midfield: James McFadden (Birmingham) - FanHouse score 9
Striker: Jermain Defoe (Tottengham) - FanHouse score 9
Striker: Peter Crouch (Tottenham) - FanHouse score 8
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Don't think there could have been many better right midfield displays than Aaron Lennon -- but I didn't watch the Chelsea game, so I'll assume Malouda was extraordinary!
5 goals in a game = 9 what does he have to do to get 10.
Aaron Lennon made 4 scored 1 not in the team.
Peter Crouch 1 goal didn't play particularly well in comparison and hes in.
You didn't watch it
I watched both the Chelsea and Spurs games and have no doubt 'Azza was head and shoulders above Malouda. Eveything Lennon touched turned to goal-d and obliterated the completely inefectual Edman (wicked 40-yarder for Spurs!) on the right wing...Malouda made one (good) goal and not much else.
what games were you guys watching??? Lennon yesterday was by far the best wing play by any player in the Premiership this season by a counrty mile and he did not get in the team of the week?? out of interest what score did he get??
Congratulations to Defoe and the Spurs team, coming from an Arsenal supporter that`s praise indeed.However, I have to be critcal of Wigan when I say "no team worthy of a place in the Premier League should concede nine goals". The EPL is made up of `have`s and have not`s` just like modern life and the `have not`s` are just fodder. The `have`s` should become part of the Euro Super League and leave the rest to entertain us within their means.So,instead of embarrassing teams like Wigan and quite a few more let the rich kids play each other. It really has come down to how much money is in the bank or a `sugar daddy`.
absolute cop out to put Fletcher at right back! the justification is absolute rubbish. Also, terrible decision to leave out Lennon he was the creative driving force of spurs' win. 4 assists and a goal what more does a winger have to do?