A week is a long time in politics and a long time in football too. On Monday Night Football after Manchester United's humiliation at Brentford, Jamie Carragher criticised United’s new centre-back, Lisandro Martinez.
"Now, we should never judge managers or players too early, but I'm convinced this can't work because of the size of him playing in a back four.
"Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four, he cannot play there in the Premier League," said Carragher.
Fast forward a week later, 5ft 9in Martinez put in a stirring performance against Liverpool. The reactionary nature in football, from both pundits and fans alike, has created an absolution particularly on social media.
Ahead of the first game of the season, Erling Haaland failed to score a couple guilt-edge opportunities presented to him in the Charity Shield against Liverpool.
The other big money striker playing that day, Darwin Nunez, scored for the Reds which led to internet hot takes that Haaland was not cut out for the Premier League and Pep Guardiola’s rigid system of football.
A week later, Haaland scored two, winning a penalty and converting it himself in a one man demolition of West Ham.
"One week ago he could not adapt to the Premier League. Now he’s alongside Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo," grinned City boss Guardiola.
Now, Manchester United are back and Erik ten Hag holds all the answers, Liverpool meanwhile are in a crisis despite winning two cups last season and not being far off a coveted quadruple.
Speaking on the RTE Soccer Podcast, former Shamrock Rovers player and current underage coach Graham Gartland said, "It’s just hyperbole isn’t it? The lad (Lisandro Martinez) plays one good game… he makes a few tackles and roughs up one or two people, he’s exactly what United need.
"Players at the top level in the Premier League, you’re remembered for being consistent over a period of time. Martinez needs to settle down and settle into the team and you can judge him after a season or maybe two seasons, they’re judging him after three games," said Gartland.
"I think the critics of him over the first few games were a bit harsh and I think the praise for him in this game is a little bit over the top. Everyone needs to calm down on things, we’re so quick to put titles on people."
Virgil van Dijk has been heralded as one of the best defenders in the game since his move to Liverpool, but was highly criticised for failing to close down Jadon Sancho’s opener.
"I think you have to criticise him over that first goal where he didn’t step out and block (Jadon) Sancho because it was an easy decision to make. I really don’t understand it," said RTE Soccer analyst Conan Byrne.
Despite Manchester United’s recent failures, the games against their eternal rivals Liverpool remain the biggest games in English football. The background was dominated by the protest over the ownership of the club and broadcasters from all over the world flocked to Old Trafford. Every minute detail is caught on camera.
"The body language as well, there's cameras looking at you from every single angle. And if you're not playing, or there could be something going on in your personal life, they’re going to be saying they are not happy with his manager," said Byrne.
"Like even with Ronaldo the other day, there was a player cam of him sitting on the bench seeing what his reaction was after a goal and then they’re saying 'ah it’s brilliant the way he’s clapping his hands’ when Sancho put the ball in the back of the net, it’s madness."
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