TEAM: TOTTENHAM
This was a very tough one to call for a number of reasons. Although there were several very good performances this week, there was not one real outstanding one, which made the decision all the harder.
However, I decided, given the circumstances to give it to Spurs for their destruction of Leeds. Although everyone seems to be destroying Leeds, after losing away to Burnley and Leeds getting destroyed at Liverpool, at home you were expecting a Leeds reaction. They started well, but Spurs came out the traps on fire, picked Leeds apart and steam rolled them.
Well done also to West Ham, Newcastle, Leicester, Southampton, Man City and Aston Villa who was close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD (Everton)
Very few times a goalkeeper gets this award when his team had lost the game, but this was not a normal defeat. City did pepper Everton during the game and he really had to be at his best to keep the score down.
He did that and could have, maybe should have got something for it but for a very questionable VAR call but it would not have been possible if it wasn’t for his performance.
Shout out also to Burnley’s Pope, Brentford’s Raya and Watford’s Foster who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: KURT ZOUMA (West Ham)
Off the field distractions aside, it was a very important battle of the surprise teams trying to infiltrate the top four.
The game didn’t exactly live up to expectations, but it wasn’t for the want of trying by Wolves, but they just couldn’t get past the West ham defender who played out his skin. It felt like he was a magnet to the ball and stopped absolutely everything to help his team to a vital win.
Well done also to his teammate Cresswell, Southampton’s Walker-Peters, Everton’s Coleman, Watford duo Cathcart & Samir, Palace’s Anderson, Leicester’s Soyuncu and Villa’s Cash who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: ROMEU (Southampton)
This was a really tough one to call and it could have been any number of players to claim this but, it went to the Southampton stalwart.
Most of his work has gone unnoticed, however, with Southampton on a very good run, having only one defeat in their last 10 league games, with his unsung work in midfield being a catalyst for this, allowing other players to go and play.
This was evident again against Norwich giving energy, winning the ball, breaking up play, good distribution and the most unlikely, coming up with a very good goal, for a man of the match performance.
Shout out also to Spurs trio Son, Kulusevski & Doherty, Man City duo Foden and B.Silva, Leicester duo Albrighton and Maddison, West Ham’s Soucek, Newcastle duo Joelinton and Willock, Burnley’s Lennon, Everton duo Allen and Van de Beek and Villa’s McGinn who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: JAMIE VARDY (Leicester)
I’m sure nobody needed reminding but in just over 18 minutes of his return from injury, he showed why he is still one of the top strikers in the league and everything his team has been missing.
Leicester were being frustrated by Burnley, headed for a drab draw, but his energetic running off and on the ball provided an assist, then a superb finish to seal a much-needed win for his team.
Well done also to Tottenham’s Kane, Palace duo Schlupp & Olise, Newcastle’s Fraser, Villa’s Watkins and Southampton’s Adams.
MANAGER: STEVEN GERRARD (Aston Villa)
With just one win in their last seven games, all of a sudden Gerrard was under some pressure, away to Brighton was no easy feat.
However, his team seemed to deal with Brighton in their won stadium better than most, restricting them to just one shot on goal as they strolled to a comfortable away win scoring a goal in each half.
UNSUNG HERO: JOELINTON (Newcastle)
Who would have thought he would be transformed into such an effective midfielder when he was missing chances and looking so ineffective as a striker? However, his renascence has been spectacular and very impressive.
Going from a bit part disappointment striker to a highly influential midfielder who, even though Brentford had an early red card, was all over the field and go figure, as a confident midfielder he comes up with the opening goal for his team on the way to three points.
GAME: EVERTON 0-1 MAN CITY
After a back and forward game where there were several chances for either side, with Everton having the better of the first half chances and Pickford pulling off several saves in the second half.
Man City got a late break through when Bernardo picked up the ball on the left flank and put a low cross in that was deflected off Allen, which wrong footing Keane and deflected off him, into the path of Foden who made no mistake from two yards out (82).
There was still enough time for late drama when following an Ederson save, the spin of the ball bounced up onto Rodri’s who controlled the ball with his arm but inexplicably, VAR failed to give it and the game ended in controversy.
GOAL: ROMEU (Southampton) v Norwich
Ward-Prowse took a corner from the right side that he swung into the box. As a group of players challenged, a Norwich player got his head to it first and headed the ball out to the edge of the box where Romeu was waiting.
As the ball bounced, just on the edge of the box, he wound up and hit the ball first time, sweetly, that flew with power into the net giving the keeper no chance.
FOOL: CHRIS KAVANAGH (VAR)
I really don’t need to say much about this. All and sundry could see how bad this was. This is not a VAR issue; this is a human issue.
More specially, an English official issue. Everyone and anyone who watched the game, even if you didn’t watch the game and just saw a short clip would call that a stonewall penalty.
But for some reason, Mr Kavanagh, after looking at it several times for almost two minutes went against everyone in the world and said no penalty. The decision is that bad it had many fans saying corruption and prompted Everton to write a formal letter to the FA. FOOL!
