1. The Ballon d’Or complaining needs to stop
Last year, it was Real Madrid believing Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or over Vinícius Júnior was such a travesty that they boycotted the ceremony (and did so again this week). This year, it was Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, calling Ousmane Dembélé’s triumph a “moral injustice.” Dembélé had nearly twice as many goal involvements (14) in the Champions League than Yamal did (8). His team won every competition it entered. He is a deserving winner.
Other players were deserving too. That’s what makes these debates fun now that the award isn’t going to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo every year. The conversation stops being enjoyable when so many influential people flat-out refuse to entertain the possibility that more than one player has a strong case. It’s disrespectful to Dembélé and his improbable journey to the sport’s top individual honor. They make themselves look silly in the process too.
2. This is what’s possible when Crystal Palace begin well
The last team to beat Crystal Palace was Newcastle back on April 16. In their 18 games since, Palace have faced Liverpool three times, Manchester City in a cup final, Arsenal at the Emirates and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They sold a star player for a second summer in a row and are third in the Premier League table. Just one Premier League team remains undefeated, and it is managed by Oliver Glasner.
There was a belief this kind of start was possible last season after their superb end to the 2023-24 campaign. It never happened, and they followed the same pattern again, recovering in the second half of the season and winning the FA Cup. They performed like a Champions League club at times and a relegation candidate at others. Even a little bit of consistency would make them one of the most dangerous teams in England. If they’ve found it, a top-four finish is absolutely within reach.
3. Graham Potter was in a tough spot
Graham Potter was going to have a difficult time convincing his bosses to stick with him after five losses and a -9 goal difference through six games. His situation got even more perilous when Nottingham Forest dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo. West Ham didn't have to wonder whether there was a better option out there. Someone was going to hire Nuno. They just had to decide whether it was going to be them or if they were going to give someone else the opportunity.
It's not hard to envision Nuno doing the same thing he did at Forest at West Ham. He inherits a squad that has not performed up to its potential for some time. That was also true of Potter, but there were no signs of progress and very little optimism that he would be the one to turn things around. He wasn't going to get the benefit of the doubt when the guy who had Nottingham Forest battling for a Champions League spot was available. The managerial change was going to happen at some point. The circumstances just accelerated the process.
4. LAFC are rolling at the right time
Son Heung-Min made his LAFC debut against FC Dallas on Aug. 23. In the six games the team has played with him, LAFC have scored 17 times. Every single goal has come from Son and Denis Bouanga. During their current four-game winning streak, the duo has produced three hat tricks and 15 goals. All of a sudden, LAFC have the third-highest points per game total and second-highest maximum point total in the Western Conference. The No. 1 seed is very much in play.
Son was clearly a much more natural fit for the team’s system than Olivier Giroud was. The surprise has been how fast he and Bouanga – two players used to operating on the left wing – have clicked. They are not just playing well together; they are making each other better. That is a terrifying thought for the rest of the West, especially when the teams LAFC are chasing are not used to having pressure on them in the playoffs.
5. Aston Villa badly needed a good week and got it
Aston Villa’s week began with the exit of Monchi, the club’s president of football operations, with Villa winless in their first six games. Then they kept a clean sheet and beat Bologna in their Europa League opener on Thursday. On Sunday, they scored three unanswered goals to dispatch Fulham and double their points total in the Premier League. That victory moved them out of the relegation zone.
Even though Villa were probably never in real danger of being relegated, their season was already on the verge of unraveling. With so many questions being asked about the club’s transfer activity and overall direction, Unai Emery and his players were in need of a confidence boost. It feels like Villa are much more stable than they were just a few days ago, and everyone can take a breath now. Winning sure does fix a lot.