Premier League round-up - Pogba shows Manchester United the way

Most important goal

Michael Antonio has an ability to score important goals, and to turn up to provide support in the middle from wide positions. West Ham’s ground might be many things that are unpleasant, and the funding for it is at best questionable. They might not be an especially likeable club, but as it is, Slaven Bilic is an entertaining and engaging presence, who produces enjoyable football on a smaller budget at the disposal of some serious dull managers. The players, too, don’t have the same obnoxious, tedious qualities of Neil Ruddock or Julian Dicks. They are, basically, fine. There are were no Dicks on the pitch today.

Antonio’s goal marks the start to a promising period for West Ham. Their first goal and victory in their new ground, in a new location. It might be a traditionally soulless new stadium, and the owners might all be Tories, but there’s a slim chance that the team might be enough to distract us all from that with their achievements.

The David Moyes award for David Moyes-ing

When David Moyes took over at Manchester United, we were told of the ways in which he scouted players. Colour-coded names were set in rows, to track the evolution of current players, and their possible replacements. It was, we were told, a radical overhaul of the scouting at United. Given Alex Ferguson’s predilection for dealing mainly with his extensive contacts rather than anything quite as systematic, it is probably fair to say that it might have been the basis of a potential improvement. Moyes was not given much of a chance though, and we’ll never know. However, exempt Juan Mata - not a player he especially wanted - and his most recent signings are Marouane Fellaini, Donald Love, Paddy McNair, Adnan Januzaj and Steven Pienaar. All are players that he has had before, all are uninspiring players.

Where, then, is this extensive scouting system that Moyes uses? Because it looks almost entirely as if he relies on the familiar, not on finding the very best players of the thousands available. Sunderland struggled against newly promoted Middlesbrough, and there are only a few weeks left for Moyes to sort out his transfers - bringing in Leon Osman and James Wilson will probably not be enough. ‘It was a terrific effort,’ claimed Moyes, after the game. His inspiring approach does not appear to have improved after his time in Spain.

Player currently most likely to be bought for tens of millions by Real Madrid

Paul Pogba’s performance against Southampton wasn’t actually particularly special, by Pogba’s standards, but it worked as an indictment of the late Alex Ferguson era. One, Ferguson’s hatred for Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, spoke of his overbearing need for control in matters financial, and the stinginess with which he ran United once the Glazers were paying his wages. Two, it demonstrated the utterly insufficient talents of Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs in their superannuated conditions, however able they may have been, relative for their age. Three, a midfielder was actually allowed to attack and think for himself, rather than grind out a miserable victory, much as United did as Ferguson wound down his career and ambitions.

Pogba showed remarkable poise and close control under pressure. He judged inventive passes well, and had a level of fitness that was remarkable considering his extended off season after the European Championships. If Pogba goes on to build on this performance, and there’s no reason to doubt he will, then surely he will finally earn the record-breaking deal to Barcelona or Real Madrid that the very best football players want.

A miserable time for…

Arsenal fans. This week, Arsene Wenger said that if he had £300 million to spend, then he’d spend it. There are a couple of problems with this. One, it’s a straw man argument. Nobody is asking him to spend that much, and there is no player who would cost that much. People don’t want Wenger to break the transfer record, they want him to perform sensibly and quickly in the transfer market there is now. So far, Arsenal have a single point from the season, hampered by defensive instability last week, and a toothless attack this week. Arsenal are not the only side with players who featured in international duty this season, and there is nothing preventing Wenger from spending the money the club have built up in reserve. Unless, of course, he is not being honest when he is able to spend money should he want to. Second, Arsenal do have the money to break the transfer record if they really needed to. Wenger has promised to buy a defender, as if shocked by the need that has been apparent for four consecutive seasons.

Arsenal fans should be worried. Wenger is promising a defender, and no more. The best will no longer stoop to the club’s level.

Goal of the weekend

When Burnley came up into the Premier League last time, they played to the best of their ability. They didn’t give up or become disconsolate in frustration at their financial and footballing disadvantages. They kept playing for their manager and were, considering their budget and talent, impressive performers. Instead of breaking up the team, or sacking the manager, Burnley have largely stuck together as they make another attempt at Premier League survival. If they play like they did against Liverpool, they have a chance. There two banks of four, occasionally augmented by both strikers falling behind the ball too.

Liverpool dominated the match, but not where it mattered. 81% of the ball means nothing if you score 0% of the goals. With James Milner at left-back, and Daniel Sturridge still suffering from his latest fitness problem, they were not quick, direct or inventive enough to break down the Burnley defence. Conversely, Burnley were happy to make the most of the defensive poverty of Liverpool. They may yet become more organised under Jurgen Klopp - who needs much more money to really build something special at Anfield - but against Arsenal, and at Turf Moor on Saturday, their ramshackle, skittish behaviour in defence was ruthlessly seized upon by Burnley. Sam Vokes seized on that by dispatching an excellent strike into the top corner in the first two minutes. Football is a simple game, you just have to score the most goals. Anything more, anyone frustrated by Burnley should remember, is sophistry.