TEAM: WEST HAM UNITED
Last week’s fools made a dramatic turnaround in an exciting and morale boosting game. Not one for the faint hearted, they had to overcome a dubious disallowed goal, to then go one goal down, to equalise, then to go a goal up in the second half, only to get pegged back, to then go on and get a late winner against a Chelsea team who had just defeated Man City and confirm their two year title dominance in the Premier League had ended. It’s the kind of performance nobody expected and West Ham needed, especially if they are to stay in this league. Well done also to Man City, Man Utd, Burnley, Southampton, Newcastle, Arsenal, Everton, Wolves and Sheff Utd who was close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: NICK POPE (Burnley)
This is almost by default, as there were not many goalkeeper performances this week to highlight. However, the Burnley keeper was a steady rock behind a defensive display at Palace where, when the defence was breached, he stood strong and stayed impenetrable, which allowed Burnley to go on and get a very important and impressive away win to move above Palace into the top half of the league. Shout out also to Arsenal’s Martinez, Man Utd’s De Gea, Man City’s Ederson & West Ham’s Fabianski.
DEFENDER: BEN MEE (Burnley)
It was an almost flawless performance, where if it was physically and humanly possible to be everywhere, he would have been. He marshalled the likes of Zaha, Ayew and Townsend very well, stopping them at every instance. Then when his team needed him at the other end of the pitch, he popped up to expertly head home the winner to take his team into the top half of the league. Well done also to his team mate Taylor, Southampton duo Walker-Peters & Vestergaard, Newcastle’s Lascelles, Everton’s Digne, West Ham’s Ogbonna, Man Utd’s Wan-Bissaka, Arsenal’s Cedric, Wolves Boly and Sheff Utd trio Egan, Basham & Robinson.
MIDFIELDER: BRUNO FERNANDES (Man Utd)
It’s not often one player has come in the middle of the season and had such an impact to totally transformed the fortunes of the team. For it to be at such a massive club as Man Utd, it shows the quality of the player. His quality was again on show at Brighton where he demonstrated his movement, awareness, vision, anticipation and above all, finishing ability as he scored two in a comprehensive victory. Shout out also to his team mate Greenwood, Arsenal duo Xhaka & Ceballos, Newcastle trio S.Longstaff, Shelvey & Lazaro, Everton’s Gordon, West Ham foursome Soucek, Rice & Bowen & Yarmolenko, Burnley’s Westwood, Wolves’ Dendoncker, Southampton’s Ward-Prowse, Man City’s De Bruyne and Sheff Utd’s Berge.
FORWARD: PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)
In by far the hardest category, there were several strikers worthy of taking this award. However, although it was against the bottom team, the Arsenal man takes it. Not only because he showed his striking prowess to notch two and assist one. But because he scored his 50th for Arsenal and in the process, he became the fastest player in Arsenal’s history to get 50 goals, quicker than the likes of Henry and Wright. Well done also to Everton’s Richarlison, Chelsea’s Willian, West Ham’s Antonio, Newcastle duo Gayle & Saint-Maximin, Man City duo Foden & Sterling, Sheff Utd’s McBurnie & Southampton’s Ings.
MANAGER: DAVID MOYES (West Ham Utd)
If ever his team needed an unexpected win, this was it. Nobody gave them a chance, especially after Chelsea beat Man City and West Ham were toothless at Spurs. But his team showed great character. He had to raise their spirits at half time after their goal was ruled out with a very dubious var decision. He then had to raise their spirits again after going a goal down. Then after being pegged back to 2-2, they lifted themselves once more to go on and get what could be an extremely vital three points.
UNSUNG HERO: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
I think it was Micah Richard’s that said people keep talking about him being one for the future, but he is one for the present also. To be fair, it’s been a perfect time with the lockdown, Liverpool winning the league and the preparations/delay in Europe that he has been given a run of games. However, he is really taking full advantage of this opportunity and scored and assisted in every game he has played so far. It’s an understatement to say he is destined to be a real star.
GAME: WEST HAM UTD 3-2 CHELSEA
In a surprisingly open London derby, West Ham were unlucky early on when Soucek’s goal was disallowed due to Antonio being offside, even though he was on the floor. Chelsea then took the lead from the penalty spot when Diop fouled Pulisic and Willian made no mistake from the spot (42). However, West Ham struck back before half time when Soucek turned in Bowen’s cross to equalise (45+2). In the second half West Ham took the lead following good work from Bowen on the right and Antonio reacted quickest, after being fouled in the build up to touch the ball in from a few yards (53). Chelsea then got an equaliser when Willian expertly curled in a lovely free kick from 25 yards out (72). West Ham then won it late when substitute Yarmolenko raced onto Antonio’s ball down the right, cut inside the defender and finished in the far bottom corner (89).
GOAL: BRUNO FERNANDES 2nd (Man Utd) v Brighton
Maguire won a header on the edge of his own box and the ball fell to Matic, who controlled on his chest and played a lovely, volleyed pass, across field to send Greenwood marauding down the left. He took one touch to push the ball to the edge of the box, then sent a cross in to the on rushing Fernandez, who hit a first time volley into the ground, just outside the six yard box, which saw the ball thunder off the ground and into the back of the net.
FOOL: BOURNEMOUTH FC
Although Tim Krull was lucky not to be here. There is no more of an indication of your teams relegation surrender and capitulation than getting trounced at home against a mid table team with nothing to play for. Sadly, the Bournemouth players seem to be waving the white flag with a sense of inevitability, they were atrocious against Newcastle, riddled with mistakes and showing as much fight and resistance as a half dead baby deer. Sitting in the relegation zone, but still with a chance of making it out, this is meant to be the time to show fight and your character. But it seems these Bournemouth players have given up and it could be a very long, embarrassing last six games. FOOLS!
