Weekly Awards: November 22nd-24th 2014

TEAM: BURNLEY

Often, when questioning a player or teams brilliance the saying is “but can they do it on a cold night in Stoke” it wasn’t exactly at night but Burnley did. At a place that’s notoriously hard for even the top sides to pick up points, Sean Dyche’s men secured only their second win in as many games. Well done also Man Utd and Crystal Palace who were close to winning this.

GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA (Man Utd)

It’s becoming a weekly occurrence that the Spaniard is producing a display befitting a top class keeper. This was probably the best of the lot. When Arsenal threatened to over run United, De Gea was the only resistance with a string of fine saves. He maintained that level throughout and was only beaten in the 95th minute. You really wonder where they would be without him. Shout out also to Leicester’s Schmeichel, Sunderland’s Pantilimon, Swansea’s Fabianski and West Brom’s Foster.

DEFENDER: ANTONIO VALENCIA (Man Utd)

With not much great defender performances this week the United wing back stood out. His performance grew as the game went on, demonstrating great energy and desire up and down the right flank. In the end he got his reward when his effort was turned into his own goal by Gibbs. Well done also to his team-mate McNair, Man City’s Zabaleta, Everton’s Distin, Southmapton’s Clyne, Villa duo Clark and Okare, West Ham duo Jenkinson and Cresswell also Burnley’s Shackell.

MIDFIELDER: YANNICK BOLASIE (Crystal Palace)

He created two and gave the Liverpool defenders a torrid time throughout. The first when his superb effort rattled the post for Gayle to turn in the equaliser. Then showed a lovely bit of trickery to bamboozle Lovren and create the second on a plate for Ledley. Well done also to his team-mate Jedinak, Burnley’s kightly, Newcastle’s Sissoko, Man City’s Toure, Chelsea’s Fabregas, also his team-mate Hazard, Everton’s Osman and Tottenham’s Erikson who were all close to winning this.

FORWARD: DANNY INGS (Burnley)

He scored two real poachers goals, demonstrating great movement, awareness and his knack for being in the right place at the right time. He’s slowly starting to show what all the fuss was about from last season and hopefully for Burnley, he can hit a bit of form. Shout out also to Everton’s Lukaku, Chelsea’s Costa, Palace’s Gayle, Tottenham’s Kane, Man Utd’s Rooney and Villa’s Agbonlahor.

MANAGER: NEIL WARNOCK (Crystal Palace)

The wild old fox outsmart’s the young pretender again. Warnock hit a few master strokes in this game. First recalling to the starting line up Gayle to re torture the LFC defence, and he got the equaliser. After Bolasie worked to good effect on the right, Warnock switched him to the left and that’s where he created Palace’s second from. Also, part of that move was to bring on McArthur for Puncheon (who was on the left) for a bit more steel in midfield.

UNSUNG HERO: JOHN O’SHEA (Sunderland)

After conceding ten goals in two games something had to change. Since then, they have only conceded two in three and two were away games. In my opinion a lot of their recent mini revival has a lot to do with O’Shea and they the way he has stepped up to lead the team. He has really led by example in recent weeks and held the defence together.

GAME: ARSENAL 1-2 MANCHESTER UTD

Arsenal started the game with a string of chances but just couldn’t get past De Gea. In the second half, against the run of play Young’s cross from the left was punched by Szczesny on the stretch, straight to Valencia. His first time effort back was turned in by Gibbs from six yard box (56). As Arsenal pushed for an equaliser, they lost the ball on the edge of the box, Fellaini’s pass split the defence and found Di Maria. With a defender to beat, he slipped the ball in the path of Rooney who delightfully dinked it over the keeper (85). Giroud then pulled a late goal back with a superb first time effort from the edge of the box(90+5).

GOAL: WILFRED BONY (Swansea) v Man City

The ball got played into Bony with his back to goal, 20 yards out. He played it first time to the left to Dyer. The midfielder, faced with a line of City defenders, cut inside and dinked an exquisite ball with the outside of the boot, bypassing five City defender perfectly in the path of Bony’s run, who controlled with his chest and coolly slotted in a low effort, first time, past Hart.

FOOL: BRENDAN RODGERS (Manager) Liverpool

Although Lambert scored in the first minute the saying is “he went from Suarez and Sturridge to spending £100m to starting Lambert up front on his own”. LFC’s dismal performance and run of now 4 defeats in a row (three in the league) has one and all questioning his credentials and bringing out a multitude of Rodgers quotes from last season about other teams spending money, ball possession and transfer policies. Now his name and reputation are well and truly and the chopping block. Sad thing is with the players at his disposal and more importantly his decisions I cannot see LFC’s fortunes changing anytime soon. What a difference a year makes. Taxi for Mr Rodgers FOOL!