TEAM: NEWCASTLE
Three teams picked up two wins this week. Although the other two were more unfancied and equally impressive, there can only be one, and I had to go with the Geordies.
In both their wins this week, particularly at Tottenham, they showed a new strength and resilience, playing with confidence in attack, but also looking equally confident and assured at the back, to claim six points and move them into the top four.
Well done also to Notts Forest. Man City. Man Utd. Southampton. Also, Fulham and Leicester were both very close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: DEAN HENDERSON (Notts Forest)
He put in a timely performance this week. Not just for his team but for his World Cup prospects.
Who would have thought he’d come away from these two games with two clean sheets? He faced seven shots in each of the two games and made some confidence saves, as well as some superb ones, especially against Liverpool to help his team to four valuable points.
Shout out also to Southampton’s Bazunu. Liverpool’s Alisson. Chelsea’s Kepa. Man City’s Ederson and Leicester’s Ward, who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: STEVE COOK (Notts Forest)
This was another category with several candidates, but I was unexpectedly impressed with his performances this week, and it was just what Forest needed.
He put in a solid display at Brighton to get a credible clean sheet and point. Then, a man of the match performance in the win against Liverpool, and was also involved in the winning goal.
Well done also to his teammates Williams, McKenna & Aurier. Southampton duo Perraud & Caletta-Car Man Utd duo Martinez & Dalot. Everton’s Tarkowski. Chelsea’s Chalobah. Leicester trio Castagne, Amartey & Faes. Newcastle duo Trippier & Schar and West Ham’s Zouma.
MIDFIELDER: HARVEY BARNES (Leicester)
He was the only midfielder to notch goals in both games this week. Barnes has been a driving force behind Leicester’s recent revival but was also one of the few doing it when they were struggling.
He has emerged as a key performer for Leicester and a player they looked to for a spark when it is needed. Now his consistency is getting the recognition it deserves.
Shout out also to his teammates Dewsbury-Hall. Tielemans & Maddison. Man Utd trio Casemiro, Fred & Fernandes. Man City’s De Bruyne Southampton’s Elyounoussi. Brighton’s Brassard. Forest trio Kouyate, Yates & Gibbs-White. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. Palace’s Eze. Everton duo Gordon & McNeil. Arsenal’s Xhaka. Villa’s Bailey also Fulham trio Willian, B.Reid & Reed.
FORWARD: MIGUEL ALMIRON (Newcastle)
He is in red-hot form at the moment. Its not often you score two winners in the space of four days to lift your team into the top four.
Both goals showed he is playing full of confidence. It was a superb, first-time finish from outside the box against Everton. Then showed pace, skill, and a clinical finish to sink Spurs.
Well done also to his teammate Wilson. Man City’s Haaland. Forest’ Awoyni. Fulham’s Mitrovic. Villa duo Watkins & Ings. Palace’s Zaha. Wolves’ Traore. Liverpool’s Nunez. Southampton duo Armstrong & Adams. Everton’s Calvert-Lewin. Tottenham’s Kane. Leicester’s Vardy and Leeds duo Rodrigo & Summerville.
MANAGER: MARCO SILVA (Fulham)
We all know how hard it is for a newly promoted team to not only get wins in the top flight, but go on a run. However, Silva seems to be excelling with his side.
He has the new signings mixing well with the old. They are playing with freedom and fluidity, scoring bags of goals and looking confident as their six points this week moved them up to seventh in the table.
Shout out also to Leicester’s Rodgers and Burnemouths Howe, who were very close to winning this
UNSUNG HERO: WILLIAN (Fulham)
It was touch and go with his teammate Reid but, in the twilight of his career, after his disappointing stint with Arsenal two seasons ago, I thought we’ve seen the last of him in England.
When Fulham signed him, I was sceptical. There is no doubting his ability, but his commitment at this stage in his career was seriously called into question. However, I am not sure what Fulham’s done, but he’s rolled back the years.
He seems to be enjoying his football and playing superbly, which has elevated everyone around him. Topped off a great week with the winner at Leeds.
GAME1: CRYSTAL PALACE 2-1 WOLVES
Palace started the game well, and Doucouré rattled Wolves’ post before somewhat against the run of play.
Wolves took the lead following good build-up play from Podence and Neves to send Bueno down the left, and his deep cross was met by Traore, who headed in at the far post (31). Neves then rattled the post from a free kick on the stroke of halftime.
Then in the second half, Palace got an equaliser when Olise cut in onto his left foot and put a peach of a ball in for Eze to head back across at the far post and in (47).
Palace then won it when Eze threaded a ball into the left channel for Edouard to run onto. As he got into the box, he then cut back onto his right foot and squared for Zaha to take beautifully in his stride, and swept home with just the keeper to beat (70).
GAME2: LEEDS 2-3 FULHAM
Fulham started the game well and had an effort saved off the line. Leeds then took the lead when Harrison sold Robinson from an Aaronson pass, his shot was saved, but the rebound was nodded in by Rodrigo (20).
Fulham was soon level when Mitrovic headed Pereira’s corner at the near post (26). Late in the second half, Fulham took the lead when B.Reid unmarked in the box, headed in Pereira’s cross (76).
The points were then sealed, following good work from Reed near the right touchline, and he squared for Willian to slide in his first for the club (84).
Leeds got a consolation when Gelhardt swapped passes with Bamford and slipped in Summerville to stretch and poke it home past the keeper (90+1).
GOAL1: MIGUEL ALMIRON (Newcastle) v Everton
Following another Newcastle attack, Trippier floated a ball from the right flank to the back post, which was headed back across the goal by Murphy.
Just before the ball got to Wilson, an Everton defender headed the ball away, but only as far as Joelinton, just inside the box.
He touched it back for Bruno Guimaraes just outside the box, who squared it for Almiron, standing side-on, he hit a first-time, side-footed, curling effort that sailed over the keeper, into the top far corner.
GOAL2: YOURI TIELEMANS (Leicester) v Wolves
Maddison swung over a free kick from the left, which was headed out by a Wolves defender. As the ball bounced, just over 20 yards out.
Tielmans came running onto the ball and hit it first-time, on the volley, flush with the laces. Arrowing the ball with pace and power into the top left-hand corner of the net, slamming off the inside corner of the goal and in,
There was also a good goal from Everton’s McNeil.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM FC
Aside from Liverpool, who was very close to being up here. There were four teams this week who lost both their games. Managerless Wolves.
A Leeds team who survived relegation through the skin of their teeth last season. Bournemouth, who had a caretaker manager and was previously on a six-game unbeaten run, and Spurs.
A team with a world-class, experienced manager, world-class players, a squad in the Champions League and touted to challenge for honours this season. However, they missed the chance at putting pressure on the top two.
There was no shame in losing at Man Utd, but the manner of the loss was disappointing, as they were never in the game and lucky due to Lloris it was only 2-0.
Then with a perfect chance to bounce back a few days later at home to Newcastle, they put in another lacklustre performance to lose two in a row and put more weight to the word Spursy. FOOLS!
