Troy Deeney names his Premier League team and manager of the week
Troy Deeney has selected his Premier League team and manager of the week following this round of fixtures, publishing his 11-player lineup and his choice for manager. His selections and short assessments are listed below, and readers are invited to respond via the comments form.
Deeney picked Zion Suzuki (Aston Villa) in goal; defenders Jay Dasilva (Coventry), Luka Vuskovic (Brighton), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool) and Lewis Hall (Newcastle); midfielders Chema Andres (Brighton), Joe Willock (Newcastle) and Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton); forwards Johan Manzambi (Aston Villa), Antoine Semenyo (Man City) and Brian Brobbey (Sunderland). He also named Keith Andrews (Brentford) his manager of the week and provided brief notes on each choice. The pundit encouraged readers to share their own team of the week using the BBC comments form.
In goal, Deeney underlined Suzuki's command of his area, saying he "let in two against Spurs but that was when Villa decided they weren't really going to try any more so no pressure on him for those goals." Deeney added Suzuki has adapted quickly to the Premier League and "came and took the ball a lot," noting there was "no real change considering Emiliano Martinez has left."
At right-back, Deeney gave the spot to Jay Dasilva after Dasilva scored Coventry's first Premier League goal for 25 years and the match-winner; Deeney said that merited a place at right-back. On Brighton's Luka Vuskovic, Deeney — who said he attended the Arsenal game — called him a dominant defender who pressures aggressively, moves into midfield to win possession and is calm on the ball. Deeney described Jeremy Jacquet as "best player on the pitch by a mile against Bournemouth," noting his pace, aggression and composure, and he highlighted Lewis Hall's progress at Newcastle with "goals, assists, keeps getting better," questioning why Manchester United did not sign him after their performance against Fulham.
In midfield, Deeney praised Chema Andres for Brighton's work against Arsenal, saying the side "suffocated Arsenal in midfield" and that Andres "must have won the ball back off Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Odegaard at least 15 times," adding he scored a goal. Joe Willock earned a place for his increased role, with Deeney noting "he's really coming out of his shell this season," that Eddie Howe had used him sparingly previously, and that injuries have made him "the main man again in midfield," with energy, goals and the ability to "drag you 50 yards up the pitch." Deeney credited Charalampos Kostoulas with a goal and an assist, strong link-up play and physicality, saying injuries to Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck leaving have given the Greek teenager freedom in Brighton's starting XI.
Among the forwards, Deeney said Johan Manzambi showed why Villa invested in him, citing his form for Freiburg last season and noting that after limited game time due to injury he produced one goal and one assist in his first start. Antoine Semenyo was selected after "two goals and an assist," with Deeney commenting that he appears to be playing with more freedom under manager Enzo Maresca and contrasting Maresca's approach with that of predecessor Pep Guardiola, adding "Guardiola is trying to tell you what to do with every single action." Brian Brobbey was included after scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City; Deeney said that despite Sunderland's defeat the striker deserved credit and would not want the international break to come given his form.
Deeney chose Keith Andrews as manager of the week, saying he "can't get a Brentford player in the team despite them beating Chelsea 3-0" but that Andrews has kept momentum going and deserved recognition for an "unbelievable start." Have your say on these selections by submitting your own Team of the Week via the comments form below.
