TEAM: IPSWICH TOWN
Obviously, it was a very tough decision, but an away win against an established Premier League team competing in Europe for a first top-flight victory since 2002 takes it for me.
They showed two sides to this victory: fearless attacking play and clinical finishing in the first half, then a strong and disciplined defensive play in the second.
Well done also to Newcastle. Fulham. Man Utd. Liverpool. Wolves. Brentford. Also, Brighton, who were so close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD (Everton)
This was a close decision. However, his heroics in goal earned his team a point and this award.
West Ham will be ruing their missed opportunities, but a lot of that had to do with Pickford man of the man-of-the-match performance.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Kelleher. Fulham’s Leno. West Ham’s Fabianki and Ipswich’s Muric.
DEFENDER: IBRAHIM KONATE (Liverpool)
It’s not easy to upstage the colossus that is Van Dijk, but Konate has arguably been Liverpool’s best defender.
With the help of Virgil by his side, he has performed exemplary which he demonstrated once again by locking down Watkins, with ease, then Duran when he came on.
Well done also to his teammate Van Dijk. Fulham duo Anderson and Robinson. Chelsea duo Fofana & Cucurella. Wolves’ Dawson. Brighton duo Van Hecke & Igor. Ipswich’s Davis. Forest’s Murillo. Everton’s Tarkowski and West Ham’s Kilman.
MIDFIELDER: JOELINTON (Newcastle)
I think everyone is still scratching their heads wondering how he went from a hit-and-miss striker to a wonderful, bruising, neat and tidy, with an eye for a goal midfielder.
He put in another influential midfield performance which is becoming a trademark. He then topped off the performance with a wonderful finish for the second that virtually sealed the game.
Shout out also to his teammates Guimaraes & Barnes. Man Utd duo Garnacho & Fernandez. Ipswich’s Cajuste. Chelsea duo Caicedo & Neto. Arsenal’s Odegaard. Fulham duo Smith Rowe & Wilson.
Brentford duo Damsgaard & Janelt. Bournemouth duo Kluivert & Cook. Spurs’ Bentancur. Wolves trio Gomes, Lemina & Sarabia. Brighton duo Baleba & O’Riley and Liverpool’s Gravenberch.
FORWARD: YOANE WISSA (Brentford)
He was the only striker to score a brace this week as his team had to come from behind twice to win the game.
He nodded in the equaliser, showing great reactions and accuracy. He then won the game with his movement, anticipation and clinical finishing.
Well done also to Newcastle’s Isak. Ipswich duo Szmodic & Delap. Arsenal’s Martinelli. Bournemouth’s Evenilson. Wolves’ Cunha. Brighton’s Pedro. Man City’s Haaland. Liverpool duo Nunez, also Salah, who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: FABIAN HURZELER (Brighton)
This was another debate, however, it was his decision-making that swayed the game and my decision.
After no shots in the first half, going a goal down, it’s very rare, if ever, that teams come from behind to beat City. But two of his second-half subs, Pedro equalised, then assisted O’Riley for the winner.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Slot. Newcastle’s Howe. Fulham’s Silva and Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna who was so close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: MO SALAH (Liverpool)
Obviously, he is not unsung, but though he gets plaudits, I still think he is underrated. The consistent numbers he puts up season after season are ridiculous and not talked about enough.
Once again, he made the difference with an assist and a goal to sink Villa. Once again is breaking records, becoming the first man to get ten goals and ten assists by November.
Well done also to his teammate Konate. Brentford’s Damsgaard. Ipswich duo Szmodic & Delap. Brighton’s Pedro. Wolves’s Cunha and Fulham duo Smith-Rowe & Wilson.
GAME: BRENTFORD 3-2 BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth took an early lead when Evanilson pounced on a terrible back pass to round the keeper and walk into an empty net (17).
Ten minutes later Wissa nodded home the equaliser (27). In the second half, Bournemouth took the lead when Kluivert rounded off a brilliant passing move from a short corner (49).
A minute later, Brentford equalised when Damsgaard scored from an acute angle at the near post (50). Brentford won it when Wissa finished off another great move following Janelt’s dummy then through ball (58).
GOAL: YOANE WISSA (Brentford) vs Bournemouth
From inside his half, Pinnock played it down the line to Janelt, on the line, who dummy’s the ball to wrong-foot his man,
He then swivelled to receive a pass back from Lewis-Potter. Janelt then looked up and played a through ball, in between two Bournemouth defenders.
Wissa then ran onto the ball and neatly dinked it over the Bournemouth keeper for an excellent winning goal.
There were also good goals from Wolves’ Cunha and Ipswich’s Szmodics.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM
That Spursy tag will never leave them. One week, superb, another week dreadful, Ipswich had not won a league game this season.
Yet they were two up by half-time, Spurs were left shell-shocked. You were expecting a fightback in the second half, but it was minimal, and Ipswich were deserved winners. Spurs by name, Spursy by nature. FOOLS!
