TEAM: BOURNEMOUTH
This week saw some superb performances, which would have claimed that award on any other week.
However, no team can begrudge The Cherries winning it after handing four-time champions Man City their first league defeat of 2024 and snapping their 32-game unbeaten run.
Well done also to Tottenham. Notts Forest. Newcastle. Southampton. Liverpool and Fulham.
GOALKEEPER: AARON RAMSDALE (Southampton)
He put in a man-of-the-match performance to finally help his team to a first win of the season with a solitary goal.
However, Southampton would not have gotten over the line if not for his heroics and several saves to keep Everton out.
Shout out also to Man City’s Ederson. Liverpool’s Kelleher. Brighton’s Vergruggen. Forest’s Sels. Bournemouth’s Travers & Brentford’s Flekken.
DEFENDER: LEWIS HALL (Newcastle)
Newcastle’s 20-year-old fullback went up against Arsenal’s star boy and shut him down with a man-of-the-match performance.
Although he had help from his teammates, he was left one-on-one several times against Saka but was equal to almost everything Saka had to help his team earn a clean sheet and an important home victory.
Well done also to his teammate Liveramento. Bournemouth duo Kerkez & Senesi. Forest duo Aina & Milenkovic. Palace duo Guehi & Chalobah. Liverpool duo Alexander-Arnold & Gomez.
Ipswich duo Davis & Johnson. Man City’s Gvardiol. Leicester’s Vestergaard. Man Utd’s Mazraoui. Tottenham duo Dragusin & Porro, and Fulham duo Robinson & Tete.
MIDFIELDER: HARRY WILSON (Fulham)
He sealed the West London derby with a smash-and-grab job, after entering the field in the 82nd minute to draw his team back from a goal down to win the game.
Both goals weren’t easy. The first was a sharp run to the near post and a deft touch that looped in. The second, in stoppage time, did well to contort his body and get something on the ball at the near post to nod home.
Shout out also to his teammates Berge, Iwobi & Troare. Bournemouth duo Semenyo & Tavernier. Forest duo Hudson-Odoi & Dominguez. Newcastle duo B.Guimaraes & Wilock. Chelsea’s Caicedo.
Wolves’ J.Gomes. Spurs foursome Kulusevski, Sarr, Bentancur & Maddison. Man Utd duo Fernandez & Casimero. Brighton’s Kadioglu. Ipswich’s Hutchinson. Leicester’s Buonanotte and Brentford’s Janelt.
FORWARD: DOMINIC SOLANKE (Tottenham)
He was the only striker to notch more than one goal, and both his goals showed something different in quality.
He took his first beautifully, with great movement to find space, then an exquisite chip. Then he showed awareness to be in the right place at the right time to finish the second to put his team up from the goal behind.
Well done also to his teammate Johnson. Liverpool duo Gakpo & Salah. Forest’s Wood. Southampton’s Armstrong. Leicester’s Ayew. Bournemouth’s Evanilson. Newcastle duo Isak & Gordon and Wolves’ Cunha.
MANAGER: ANDONI IRAOLA (Bournemouth)
Although several managers deserved this, none could deny the Bournemouth manager this award. Not only did he end Man City’s long unbeaten run, but he beat Arsenal just two weeks ago.
I was impressed with how he set out his team, how they pressed with high intensity, defended well and demonstrated quality with two lovely worked goals and top finishes.
Shout out also to Newcastle’s Howe, Forest’s Nuno Espirito Santo and Fulham’s Silva.
UNSUNG HERO: MILOS KERKEZ (Bournemouth)
He was just beaten for the man-of-the-match performance but deserved massive praise for his performance against the champions.
He created both goals with good running and crosses. But he defended excellently and, in both halves, put in goal-saving blocks.
Well done also to his teammate Semenyo. Forest duo Milenkovic & Wood. Liverpool’s Gakpo and Spurs’ Kulusevski.
GAME: WOLVES 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
After a tight first half, all the goals came in the second when Chalobah scored after a corner from a Wolves’ mistake (60).
However, after Wolves made some changes, the game changed as they scored two quick goals from Larsen (67) and then Gomes’ first-time finish from some lovely football (72).
But Palace equalised five minutes later when Munoz swung in a corner, and Guehi stole it at the far post to sweep home (77).
GOAL: OLA AINA (Notts Forest) vs West Ham
After the Forest fullback marauded down the right and bulldozed his way inside, just outside the box, he seemed to lose control of the ball as it rolled to a West Ham player.
However, he blocked an attempt to chip the ball past him. He then took another touch further inside, and from fairly central, just over 20 yards from goal, he unleashed an arrow-like effort that flew into the top far corner.
FOOL: ARSENAL
West Ham’s Alveraz can hang his head in shame. Everton could have been here, but Arsenal more than deserved this.
However, the favourites for the title at the start of the season, such is their poor form and performances. Some are writing them off already after just ten games. The worst thing is, against Newcastle, they had just one shot on target. That’s not exactly a team trying to win a title. FOOLS!
