WEEKLY AWARDS: December 3rd-5th 2016

TEAM: BOURNEMOUTH

This was by far the toughest team of the week award decison. While North London rivals Spurs & Arsenal were great from start to finish scoring five against struggling teams. Chelsea were irresistible for 45 minutes to come back from a goal down to beat Man City in their own back yard. But to be losing 2-0 then 3-1 and score three in 15 minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat agains in form Liverpool. The Cherries take this award.

GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD (Sunderland)

There wasn’t a load of superb goalkeeper performances this week but again the young England man stood out. Leicester have been struggling, but certainly came out with intent in this game. But even with their attacking talents it took until the 80th minute to get past Pickford who again demonstrated his abilities with some trademark quality saves. Shout out also to Chelsea’s Courtois. Leicester’s Zeiler. Stoke’s Grant and WBA’s Foster.

DEFENDER: DAVID LUIZ (Chelsea)

Apart from getting away with a blatant block in the first half that should have seen him shown a yellow, some calling for red. He was surprisingly assured, comfortable and looked dominant at the center of the back three. So much so that Aguero was so frustrated he tried to take him out with an ugly two footer. Well done also to Bournemouth duo Cook & Ake. Stoke’s Muniesa. Sunderland’s Van Aanholt. WBA’s Evans. Middlesbrough’s Fabio, Arsenal duo Monreal & Mustafi.

MIDFIELDER: RYAN FRASER (Bournemouth)

To say he made an impact is a huge understatement. He came on with his team losing 2-0.  A minute later he was fouled in the box for a penalty. He then scored Bournemouth’s second and assisted their third in a 30 minute, energetic, inspirational, all action display that steered Bournemouth to a miraculous come from behind victory. Shout out also to his team mate Arter. Liverpool’s Mane. Chelsea duo Fabregas and Hazard. Stoke’s Arnautovic. Spurs’ Eriksen. Bor duo Forshaw & Ramariz. WBA’s Phillips & Everton’s Gueye.

FORWARD: ALEXIS SANCHEZ (Arsenal)

This was one of the easier decisions. Although there were a few very good forward performances, Sanchez was head a shoulders above the rest with a stunning hat-trick. For someone who is not an out-and-out striker, it was a tremendous demonstration of movement, touch, close control, skill and of course finishing that any forward in the world would have been proud of. Well done also to Chelsea’s Costa. Spurs’ Kane. Palace’s Benteke. Stoke’s Walters and Sunderland’s Defoe.

MANAGER: ANTONIO CONTE (Chelsea)

His team came back from a goal down to put on a masterclass for 45 minutes in the second half, to blow City away at the Etihad. Chelsea’s balance look spot on. With the wing backs creating width, back three looking solid, a strong center and forward line looking menacing. He recalled Fabregas who had a great game. Luiz all of a sudden looks a top class defender. Moses has a new lease of life. Hazard looks great again. Costa’s playing like a man possessed and Chelsea have a three-point lead at the top of the table.

UNSUNG HERO: CESAR AZPILICUETA (Chelsea)

This is the type of player this award was made for. A full back all his career. He’s already showed his versatility by playing both left and right back. But now since Conte changed the formation, he’s been part of the back and three and has been equally solid, not putting a foot wrong. It’s the mark of a good defender that you hardly notice him. Has gone about his job in typical hassle free fashion, he’s an absolute joy and asset to the Chelsea squad.

GAME: BOURNEMOUTH 4-3 LIVERPOOL

Mane opened the scoring when he ran onto Can’s long ball and poked the ball past the keeper (20). Two minutes later, Henderson fed Origi down the right, who beat the on rushing keeper and superbly slotted in and an almost impossible angle from just outside the right side of the box (22). Wilson pulled one back from the spot when Milner fouled Fraser (56). Can then curled in a beauty from just outside the box to make it 3-1 (64). Fraser then pulled another goal back when he slotted past Karius following a counter attack (76). Then Cook’s superb control, turn and finish leveled the game up (79). Amazingly, Ake won it when he tapped in following Karius spilling Cook’s effort (90+3).

GOAL: STEVE COOK (Bournemouth) v Liverpool

As the ball was cleared high out of the box. Wilshere challenged and won the ball out of the sky, then played a ball wide right to Fraser. He then played a lovely first time ball back into the box. Cook, with his back to goal, stuck a foot out and controlled the ball in mid-air, then turned in one movement and slotted a first time shot off the bounce, into the corner of the net.

FOOL: LORIS KARIUS (Liverpool)

There were a few candidates this week. West Ham. Southampton’s Foster. Man Utd’s Fellaini. Man City’s Aguero. But the jury had been out for Karius for sometime. Because of Liverpool’s good form, he had got away with it. But after this performance, the pressure is well and truly on. He didn’t get near any of Bournemouth’s four goals and two of them were very questionable. His fumble that allowed Ake to score the winner was just abysmal. To be honest he is yet to really convince. This is someone who was meant to be second best only to Neuer in the German league last season. So far he doesn’t look worthy of playing in the Championship. I’m sure Mignolet is thinking “THIS is who I got dropped for”? FOOL!

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