TEAM: ASTON VILLA
This was a very close decision, and admittedly, I changed my mind several times on this. However, after considering many things, I went with Villa for a spirited away win at a place where the league leaders Arsenal lost a few weeks ago.
Following their loss in the Merseyside derby, Everton must have been itching to get back home and right that wrong, but Villa, after their heartbreak of losing at home to the league leaders in stoppage time.
They put that behind them and travel to Goodison to put in a professional performance. To stay in the game, ride their luck, and then hit Everton late to win. Well done also to Arsenal. Man City. Leeds, also West Ham and Tottenham who were both close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JOSE SA (Wolves)
Not much to choose from this week, so, given the circumstances, I went with the Wolves’ keeper, who had to be on his game to keep Fulham at bay. Wolves shocked high-flying Fulham with an early lead.
The remainder of the game was Fulham driving forward, trying to get back, but Sa’ did his best to frustrate them, and he was only beaten by a superb strike to where Sa was slightly unsighted. He then had to pull off a good save to earn his team a point.
Shout out also to Aston Villa’s Martinez, Everton’s Pickford and Leeds’ Meslier.
DEFENDER: JUNIOR FIRPO (Leeds)
Not only was he the match-winner in an extremely important game at the bottom, but he was defensively sound in a game that could have gone either way.
Credited, Southampton wasn’t exactly offering much in attack, but his constant energy on the left flank kept Southampton restricted. Then, just when you thought he would run out of steam. He found the energy to pop up with a late winner to earn his team three valuable points.
Well done also to his teammate Wober. Wolves’ Bueno. Fulham’s Tete. Liverpool’s Van Dijk. West Ham duo Ogbonna & Aguerd. Arsenal’s Zinchenko. Villa duo Cash & Mings. Also, Spurs trio Dier, Langlet and Romero.
MIDFIELDER: OLIVER SKIPP (Tottenham)
It was a toss-up between him and his teammate, but I went with the young midfielder, who set the tone by scoring his first goal for his club in a very important win.
There have been questions about him in this team, but this performance could have gone a long way to easing those fears. He was tenacious in defence, while positive in attack and against a star-studded Chelsea midfield, with the pressure on, he looked comfortable and assured.
Shout out also to his teammate Emerson Royal who was close to winning this. Also, Wolves’ Sarabia. Man City duo Foden & Gundogan. Arsenal’s Xhaka. Villa duo McGinn & Buendia. West Ham’s Rice. Bournemouth’s Lerma and Palace’s Olise.
FORWARD: DANNY INGS (West Ham)
He has had a slow start to his West Ham career, but I did say when he was signed, it was a good signing and surprised Villa let him go.
It was always only going to be a matter of time before he started scoring, and he showed Forest what we all already knew, and exactly what he is about. In typical fashion, he sniffed out a chance and being in the right place at the right time. He notched two goals, and to be fair, was unlucky not to get a hat trick.
Well done also to his teammates Bowen, Benrahma & Antonio. Arsenal duo Martinelli & Trossard. Tottenham’s Kane. Fulham’s Soloman. Man City duo Haaland & Alvarez. Leeds’ Summerville and Villa’s Watkins.
MANAGER: CRISTIAN STELLINI (Tottenham)
Another close-run thing. However, I went with the stand-in manager, who has got a perfect record of four games and four wins.
It was a tail of two managers as Potter is struggling with Chelsea, but he seems to have the knack. Although he will be modest and give all the credit to his number one, Conte.
The Spurs hierarchy may raise eyebrows at his performance, especially as Conte had been stuttering. Shout out also to West Ham’s Moyes. Arsenal’s Arteta. Villa’s Emery and Leeds’s Gracia.
UNSUNG HERO: MANOR SOLOMAN (Fulham)
There were several worthy candidates this week, but I went with the Fulham forward, mainly because he has missed out on this award a few times but continued to put himself in continuation.
He came off the bench again to score and rescue a point for his team with a lovely finish. He is now the first Israeli since Ronnie Rosenthal to score in three consecutive games, and the way he has taken his goals, he must be pushing for a start.
Well done also to Man City’s Lewis. West Ham’s Bowen. Villa duo Watkins & Buendia, also Spurs’ Emerson Royal.
GAME: EVERTON 0-2 ASTON VILLA
It was an end-to-end game where both teams had several chances to win. in the first half, Mings somehow managed to clear off the line from Maupay’s header from two yards out.
Then Pickford somehow managed to stretch and get a fingertip to the ball and push onto the post after Watkins’ header bounced off the ground and was heading into the far corner.
The pivotal moment in the game came when substitute Buendia collected a throw into the box and touched back for McGinn on the edge, he surged into the box but was fouled by Gueye. Watkins, then made no mistake from the spot to become the first Villa player to score in five consecutive games (63).
Villa sealed the game when McGinn played Buendia in on the left, he then sidestepped the defender and as the angle was closing, lashed in the left-footed effort inside the near post (81).
GOAL: MANOR SOLOMAN (Fulham) v Wolves
Picking up the ball wide on the left. Soloman cut onto his right foot and ran at a defender, then quickly jinxed across the box to get a yard of space.
Once he found it, he unleashed a lovely curling effort, with whip and bend that sailed in the far bottom corner, just out of the reach of the keeper.
There was also a good goal from Tottenham’s Skipp.
FOOL: CHELSEA FC
I could have easily given this to the manager again for his abysmal record of 1 win in his last 11 games, and it would be fully justified.
But, at some point, the players must also take some responsibility. Yes, the manager has constantly made several changes, and possibly, this has caused issues with continuity.
However, the new players seem to be feeling the pressure and not performing, added to the older players who are not performing or leading by example.
This, combined with the manager not getting it right, has just made for a whole mess at Chelsea, which is now a full-blown crisis. FOOLS!
