Ruben Amorim’s new era at Manchester United finally got off to a flying start as debutant Senne Lammens put in a dominant display in a 2-0 win against Sunderland. The Belgian goalkeeper’s clean sheet was a relief to Amorim’s side while Mount and Sesko netted the goals.
While that was happening, in the northern part of London, Mohammed Kudus showed that he was worth to Tottenham in a hard win against Leeds, and made good use of the club’s £55 million summer signing. Sad to say, Nuno Espirito Santo experienced a West Ham’s agonies reality after a crushing defeat to Arsenal. The English top-flight matches over the weekend had new players stepping up their game, teams changing their tactics, and coaches realizing the facts — basically, revealing the first draft of this volatile season.
Lammens Brings Peace and Assurance to Old Trafford
Senne Lammens’ first appearance could hardly have been more successful. Completed late in the summer window from Antwerp, 23-year-old was calm, commanding, and confident all through. The highlight of the game for him was towards the end when he stopped Chemsdine Talbi with a firm shot of the leg, and then got the applause for a calm interception from a cross in the added time.
In a time when Altay Bayindir’s performances are not convincing, Lammens’ confident attitude to the job gave United supporters a glimpse of what security between the sticks might finally look like. His play – he was able to quickly change both hands – added a further dimension to Amorim’s backline build-up strategy. There was one moment full of tension when Bruno Fernandes and Lammens crossed paths, but on the whole, the Belgian’s first outing was very mature. So, if he can keep this flow, Lammens might just be the goalkeeper that Amorim’s will have to rely on in the long run.
Kudus Is Tottenham’s Mentality Change In One Person
Tottenham were able to get away with a narrow 2-1 victory at Leeds, which was a bit messy, but was it deeply symbolic. The hero of the day was without a doubt the new signing from West Ham, Mohammed Kudus, who netted his very first goal for Spurs — a winning goal that captured the way he had gone. The Ghanaian’s sharpness and energy were the mirror image of the Tottenham’s change of direction under Thomas Frank, who has brought the team a new mental strength.
Kudus already five goal contributions are a stark indication of his offensive role and his commitment in tight situations is elevating the Spurs to the next level. Even if the scoreline might not have been the main thing, it was actually a true testament to the fighting spirit of Tottenham and their evolving winning mentality. Frank’s system seems to have unlocked Kudus’ creativity, giving him freedom to drift inside, combine with Maddison, and deliver chaos in the final third.
Author’s Opinion
In contrast, the Red Devils were strong defensively overall with the return of Lammens to his best level. Tottenham appears to be mentally stronger than before and as a result, they are able to maintain their performance level, whereas West Ham’s issues are only the signs of a club in a difficult phase of a transition. Weekend games were very much about one theme — that of resilience being the main factor behind the victories of the first few rounds of the Premier League when there is still very little room for the show of skills.
And, actually, Lammens and Kudus were the ideal figures to represent this idea. If early patterns are anything to go by, these two could shape their clubs’ identities for the months to come, standing as symbols of calm and conviction amid Premier League chaos.
