The things that have shocked the pundits.
As the new 2013/14 Premier League season rumbles on, fanatix takes a look at the biggest surprises from the fresh campaign.
5. The promoted sides aren’t happy to be whipping boys.
As is always the case the promoted teams from the Championship are always the favourites to go straight down and with reason, as only twice in the history of the Premier League have all three clubs managed to avoid relegation at the first attempt.
However, this season’s supposed whipping boys are showing that it may not be the case this year, as both Hull City and Cardiff City recorded their first wins of the campaign this weekend – with the Blue Birds 3-2 triumph over Manchester City particularly impressive.
Crystal Palace look like they will struggle however, after spending a club record fee for unproven striker Dwight Gayle and losing their second successive match this term to Stoke City.
4 Kolo Toure is still a defensive rock.
Liverpool fans were collectively mocked when manager Brendan Rodgers decided to bring in 32-year-old Kolo Toure on a free transfer from City this summer.
The Ivorian was set to replace the retired Jamie Carragher and although Toure was a member of the ‘Invincibles’ Arsenal team of 2003/04, much has changed since then with the most prominent being the centre-back’s waistline.
However, the doubters and mockers have had to change their tune as fine defensive performances from the African has seen the Reds put together back-to-back 1-0 victories.
3. Joe Hart is not the world-class goalkeeper everyone thought.
City had the best defensive record in the Premier League last term and many attributed that to England No.1 Joe Hart.
The 26-year-old was fast becoming regarded as one of the finest stoppers in European football and in 2012/13, single-handedly kept the Citizens in several Champions League ties.
Yet an injury to Vincent Kompany has exposed Hart’s fragility as a ‘keeper, particularly from set pieces, and rumours are circulating that the Englishman will be dropped.
2. Tottenham can cope with life after Gareth Bale.
Spurs enjoyed their best points tally in Premier League history last season when a combination of Andre Villas-Boas and Gareth Bale led the side to 71 points and a fifth-placed finish.
Since then Bale has been hounded by Real Madrid and after a summer of negotiations, a world record deal for the Welshman looks set to go ahead.
Tottenham were thought o be something of a one man team, but the quick and shrewd negotiations of Villas-Boas, chairman Daniel Levy and new director of football Franco Baldini, has seen the north London club actually look stronger and more together than when Bale was playing.
1. Joe Mourinho does not rate Juan Mata.
A bumper season for Chelsea in 2012/13 that eventually ended in a Europa League triumph and a third-placed finish in the league, was largely attributed to one man – Juan Mata.
The Spaniard played a colossal 64 matches throughout the year and was widely regarded as the Blues’ best player, recognised by a nomination for PFA Player of the Year.
Yet with Mourinho back at the helm at Stamford Bridge, Mata has failed to start any matches and rumours are that the 25-year-old will be sold; a decision only the ‘Special One’ seems to understand.
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