Carlos happy and focused
So that's 100 goals for Carlos Tevez in English football . . . and it's been some journey. You are never quite sure how long he will be hanging around, but right now he looks settled at City and his goal on Sunday earned them a point they hardly deserved. Tevez seems focused and happy and said so in a Sky interview. Let's hope it lasts.
Hot shot: Carlos Tevez scores against Liverpool
Allen the pass master
I picked out Joe Allen as one of my players to watch because he plays in my old position and I like the habit he has of giving the ball to a team-mate. Yesterday we saw how he slides the ball in to a red shirt. The weight he puts on a pass is delightful and the Liverpool fans will grow to love him. He's their kind of player.
Laudrup lording itI like what Michael Laudrup is doing at Swansea. He's showing that a new manager doesn't need to go in with a bulldozer when joining a new club. He has made subtle changes, a few tweaks and has applied the old adage: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. It's a mature approach and the Dane has two wins and a plus-eight goal difference.
Impressive start: Swansea boss Michael Laudrup
Dyer delight
One of the delights of Swansea's start has been the impressive form of Nathan Dyer. I wonder if he will get an England call-up when the squad is named on Thursday. His intelligent runs off the ball show that he is more than just a speed man. He's a smashing lad too and deserves his recognition. He had too much for West Ham.
Back at homeThere has been a lot written about Marouane Fellaini in Everton's impressive start, but I want to recognise the role of Steven Pienaar. That was a delightful goal he scored at Aston Villa and shows the confidence he has at Everton, where he has freedom to play as their main man after injuries impacted on his time at Spurs.
Freedom: Everton's Steven Pienaar
Villa chiller
Aston Villa are in for a difficult season. They have been in decline for years and it shows that you need more than a change of manager to have a change in fortune. Who will create and score their goals? Since Darren Bent was injured last February, only 10 goals have been scored. Now he's back, they need to give him more ammunition.
Star man: Prince InceIan Holloway will be a nervous man before the window closes. His main goalscorer Matt Phillips remains a target, but winger Thomas Ince has a growing reputation too. Four goals in three games has taken Blackpool top of the Championship and young Ince was involved in five of their six against Ipswich. He can play, too.
Tasty: Blackpool's Tom Ince
Two good deals
I do like the business carried out by Martin O'Neill in recruiting Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher for Sunderland. They might be two of the smartest deals in the transfer window. O'Neill has always liked a target man (Chris Sutton and John Hartson were excellent at Celtic) and Johnson can walk past defenders.
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