The Premier League weekend once again delivered a feast of drama, intensity, and tactical intrigue. From Manchester United’s fragility under pressure to Chelsea’s persistent struggles in front of goal, the latest round of fixtures painted a vivid picture of where several top-flight clubs stand. While Brentford and Wolves continue to punch above their weight thanks to stars like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, giants such as Manchester United and Chelsea remain frustratingly inconsistent.
This week’s Hits and Misses unpacks the key talking points: Mbeumo and Cunha’s brilliance, United’s lingering flaws, Chelsea’s striker conundrum, and what it all means for the Premier League landscape heading into a crucial phase of the season.
HIT Mbeumo’s Leadership and Lethality Elevate Brentford
When Bryan Mbeumo arrived at Brentford in 2019, few would have predicted he would one day lead the Bees’ attack in the Premier League. Yet with Ivan Toney’s suspension, Mbeumo has stepped up magnificently, evolving from a supporting winger into a complete forward who combines pace, movement, and composure.
Against Manchester United, Mbeumo was electric. His relentless pressing exposed United’s defensive hesitation, his intelligent movement dragged defenders out of position, and his finishing — sharp and instinctive — ensured Brentford punished every mistake.
What stands out most about Mbeumo is his leadership. He sets the tone with his work ethic, and his confidence on the ball inspires those around him. In Thomas Frank’s system, Mbeumo has become the heartbeat of Brentford’s attack — not just a scorer, but a creator and motivator.
With Toney’s future uncertain and rumors swirling about potential big-club interest, Brentford can take pride in knowing they have another talisman in Mbeumo — one capable of leading them through adversity.
His rise is also a testament to Brentford’s recruitment philosophy: finding under-the-radar talents and nurturing them into Premier League standouts.
MISS Manchester United’s Structural Weaknesses Persist
For Manchester United, this weekend’s performance against Brentford served as another reminder that the club’s underlying problems run deeper than form or injuries. Despite periods of control, United once again looked disjointed — a team lacking cohesion, identity, and defensive discipline.
Erik ten Hag has often spoken about intensity and structure, yet his side continue to be vulnerable when pressed. Brentford’s aggressive setup repeatedly forced errors in midfield and exposed United’s back line. Casemiro, once the rock of stability, struggled to cope with the energy of Brentford’s transitions, while Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans lacked the mobility to deal with Mbeumo’s runs in behind.
Even more concerning is United’s inability to maintain control once they lose momentum. The midfield becomes stretched, the pressing disjointed, and the defense isolated. Ten Hag’s insistence on building from the back often results in risky situations when the players simply don’t look comfortable doing so.
In attack, United remain over-reliant on individual brilliance rather than cohesive patterns of play. Marcus Rashford continues to cut a frustrated figure on the wing, while Rasmus Højlund, though full of promise, is being starved of service.
The loss to Brentford — or rather, the nature of it — should concern Ten Hag. It wasn’t just about the result; it was about the pattern. United’s frailties are no longer occasional lapses — they are systemic flaws that smarter, hungrier teams like Brentford are exploiting week after week.
HIT Matheus Cunha’s Masterclass for Wolves
Over at Molineux, Matheus Cunha delivered a performance that showcased his evolution into one of the Premier League’s most underrated forwards. The Brazilian, once criticized for inconsistency, is now thriving under Gary O’Neil, combining flair with maturity and tactical awareness.
Against a stubborn opponent, Cunha was a constant menace — drifting between the lines, linking play with Pedro Neto, and using his body strength to shield the ball under pressure. His dribbling created openings, his creativity unlocked tight defenses, and his work rate epitomized Wolves’ collective resilience.
Cunha’s biggest asset lies in his versatility. He is not just a traditional striker; he can drop deep to orchestrate play or stretch defenses with his movement. In doing so, he brings the best out of Wolves’ wide players and allows midfielders to push higher up the pitch.
His goal — a composed finish after a dazzling team move — summed up Wolves’ attacking philosophy under O’Neil: dynamic, fast, and unselfish.
Cunha’s improvement is symbolic of Wolves’ resurgence. Once written off after losing key players like Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez, they now look rejuvenated. The Brazilian’s form has been central to that turnaround, and his chemistry with Neto and Hwang Hee-chan gives Wolves one of the most balanced forward lines outside the top six.
MISS Chelsea’s Endless Striker Problem
If there’s one issue that continues to haunt Chelsea, it’s their inability to find — and keep — a reliable striker. Despite heavy investment under Todd Boehly’s ownership, the Blues still lack a natural finisher capable of turning dominance into goals.
Their latest performance was another frustrating example. Chelsea controlled possession, created chances, but once again failed to convert. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer buzzed around creatively, yet without a clinical presence in the box, much of their build-up play went unrewarded.
Nicolas Jackson, while energetic, remains raw and inconsistent. His movement is clever, but his decision-making in key moments still needs refinement. The absence of a seasoned poacher has left Chelsea toothless in games they should have won comfortably.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has publicly defended his young squad, urging patience, but patience wears thin when the same story repeats itself. Chelsea’s recruitment strategy, focused on long-term potential, has overlooked the need for experience in vital positions — and striker is the most glaring example.
Even in matches where Chelsea dominate, there’s a sense of inevitability that they’ll squander chances. The midfield creativity is there, the width is there, but the killer instinct is missing. Until that changes, their ambitions of breaking into the top four remain distant dreams.
HIT Tactical Maturity Emerging Across the League
One of the most fascinating aspects of this Premier League season is the tactical evolution across mid-table clubs. Teams like Brentford, Wolves, Brighton, and Fulham have all shown that with the right structure and coaching, they can compete with — and often outplay — traditional giants.
Thomas Frank’s use of a hybrid pressing system allows Brentford to remain compact defensively while still carrying a potent counterattacking threat. Gary O’Neil has instilled balance and discipline at Wolves, transforming them into one of the most tactically astute sides in the division.
Even clubs like Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have embraced modern footballing principles — pressing in zones, building patiently, and maintaining shape in transitions.
This tactical parity makes the Premier League more unpredictable than ever. The so-called “smaller” clubs no longer simply defend deep and hope for the best. They play with ambition, intelligence, and confidence — something that continues to challenge the complacency of established powers.
MISS Manchester United’s Identity Crisis Deepens
For all of Erik ten Hag’s efforts to impose a philosophy, Manchester United still lack a clear footballing identity. One week they look like a pressing side, the next they revert to reactive football. Their inconsistency is not just physical — it’s philosophical.
The midfield imbalance continues to haunt them. Casemiro, at 32, can no longer cover as much ground as before, while Scott McTominay is often caught between roles. United’s transition defense — once a hallmark under Ten Hag’s Ajax — now looks chaotic.
Furthermore, their attack lacks synergy. Rashford prefers to play on instinct, Bruno Fernandes seeks vertical passes that aren’t always on, and Højlund is often isolated. Without coordinated movement, United’s forward play looks static and predictable.
This isn’t merely a dip in form — it’s a symptom of a club that still hasn’t found coherence after years of managerial upheaval. The gap between the vision Ten Hag preaches and the performances on the pitch remains worryingly wide.
HIT The Rise of Intelligent Pressing and Positional Play
Another key highlight of the Premier League this season is the growing sophistication in pressing and positional play among mid-tier sides. Brentford’s ability to overload specific zones to create turnovers, Wolves’ compactness when defending in a 5-3-2 shape, and Brighton’s patient build-up through the thirds demonstrate how well-drilled these teams are.
Gone are the days when pressing was merely about running hard. Now, it’s about pressing with purpose — cutting off passing lanes, forcing errors, and launching attacks in transition.
Coaches like Frank, O’Neil, and De Zerbi deserve immense credit for implementing complex tactical systems without the budgetary luxuries of the top clubs. Their work underlines how the Premier League’s middle class has grown stronger — and smarter.
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