Week 11 (up to and including 7 November)
A bit caught up on Wednesday night so apologies for the late service. Still better late than never so here it is . the latest exciting edition.
The Games
Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1
Surely if Arsene really was a voyeur, he wouldn’t bother watching Chelsea , he couldn’t see more attractive football than that which happens in his own backyard. With Henry nearing full fitness and Van Persie having forgotten about his alleged midsummer indiscretions, Arsenal were the epitome of finesse. Van Persie it was, who stole the limelight from Thierry as they shared all 3 goals. Sunderland pulled one back through a bundled Stubbs effort but were never in serious danger of unsettling the Gunners.
Goals: Henry 2, Van Persie . Stubbs
Assists: Van Persie , Campbell, Lauren, Caldwell, Murphy
YC: Breen
RC:
MoM : Van Persie
Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2
A more forward thinking approach from Liverpool, which could be because they were visiting one of Europe’s major cities….er Birmingham. Benitez succombed to pressure and played 2 strikers although Cisse eventually defaulted to the right wing and Morientes generally defaulted. It took 2 late goals from their midfield maestros to win the game, Gerrard from the spot and Alonso with a sweet strike.
Goals: Gerrard, Alonso
Assists: none, sorry Crouchy
YC: Barry, McCann, Alonso, Sissoko
RC:
MoM : Carragher
Blackburn 4 Charlton 1
The wheels normally come off Charlton’s season much later than November, but if they are not completely detached after this result then someone has at least made it away with their hubcaps. Blackburn in contrast performed like a well oiled engine with Tugay the key cog. He didnt score but did pick up man of the match, the goals coming from Emerton with a screamer, Dickov with an offside header, Pedersen and Bellamy. Charlton pulled one back through Bryan Hughes who may well win the prize as the Premiership’s most anonymous and non-descript player, if there was such a prize that is.
Goals: Emerton, Pedersen, Dickov , Bellamy. Hughes
Assists: Pedersen, Reid, Kuqi . Bent, Ambrose
YC: Hughes, Perry
RC:
MoM : Tugay
Fulham 2 Man City 1
In the summer City were sniffing about Malbranque like a dog around a new lamp post. Not that they wished to deflower him, more to sign him, and their desire has surely grown much stronger after he netted a double to take the three points. Lee Croft pulled one back in a game which highlighted major flaws in 2 areas. First David James thinking he is an outfield player, caught hopelessly upfield at a corner which allowed Fulham to break in a 3 on 1 to an unguarded net, and secondly the officials who allowed a forward pass to be played and play continue with only one defender in evidence. A clear breach of the offside rule I hear you cry, and you would be right but the ref and assistant ref didn’t spot it. Clowns.
Goals: Malbranque 2. Croft
Assists: Boa Morte 2
YC: Boa Morte. Barton , Ireland , Croft Jordan
RC:
MoM : Malbranque
Newcastle 1 Birmingham 0
Not much of a game and not much of a surprise. Maik Taylor threw away his second successive game fumbling a deflected Emre shot. Not long before Bruce throws him a seat on the bench I’d wager.
Goals: Emre
Assists:
YC: Taylor, Emre , Shearer. Izzet , Lazaridis
RC:
MoM : Jarosik
Portsmouth 0 Wigan 2
And on it rolls, the Wigan bandwagon relentlessly in pursuit of the Premiership title. Not quite, but another great win and I become less astonished every week with their progress. Next five games are toughies though Arsenal. Spurs, Liverpool , Man U and Chelsea. Not too many points in the offing but you never know with this team. Chimbonda and Roberts did the honours .
Goals: Chimbonda , Roberts
Assists: Bullard, Chimbonda
YC: Stefanovic. De Zeeuw , Francis
RC:
MoM : Kavanagh
West Ham 1 West Brom 0
West Ham have always been known as a good passing football team but have not been recently renowned as having a mean defence. Only one goal in this game and it came from the evergreen Sheringham as their defence stood resolute again.
Goals: Sheringham
Assists: Repka , Dailly
YC: Dailly , Mullins
RC:
MoM : Gabbidon
Everton 1 Middlesbrough 0
James Beattie fancies an England recall, but let’s run before we can walk James. Back to the form of last year with a one nil win against opposition not on their game, with a big guy scoring a header. Still its progress, a few more of these and they can start thinking seriously about safety.
Goals: Beattie
Assists: Van der Meyde
YC: Neville, Van der Meyde . Rochemback
RC:
MoM : Arteta
Man Utd 1 Chelsea 0
It’s a load of Ballacks said Fergie when he heard that Michael didn’t want to sign for Man Utd , he also said it after this game when questioned about his future. He also said it was complete wubbish , whatever that meant. Chelsea never got going and to be fair United never let them. A game that lived up to its hype for once with a hurricane style tempo, although the football wasn’t always the prettiest. Fletcher settled it with a lucky header into the corner when he was surely aiming back across goals. It matters not, United back on the road, and all thanks to Keano . Aye right!
Goals: Fletcher
Assists: Ronaldo
YC: Smith, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Drogba , Gallas, Ferreira, Makelele
RC:
MoM : Smith
Bolton 1 Tottenham 0
Twas a windy night in Bolton when Tottenham Hotspur came to town,
Nolan scored and Spurs they suddenly found themselves one nil down
They huffed and puffed with no reward before succumbing to fatigue
As big Sam’s lads they stayed on course to reach the Champions League.
Goals: Nolan
Assists:
YC: Dawson
RC:
MoM : Nolan
The Points
Back by popular demand, the top players this week were:
GK :
6 - Martyn , Given, Van der Sar , Reina , Jaaskelainen , Filan
DEF:
14 Chimbonda
11 Carragher, Gabbidon
9 - Repka
MID:
17 Malbranque
12 Nolan
10 - Pedersen
7 Jarosik , Tugay , Kavanagh , Gerrard, Emerton, Arteta
STR:
14 Van Persie
12 Henry
7 Bellamy, Beattie, Sheringham
The Table
All change, well not quite all but in an increasingly tighter top ten its some new names edging in there. Taking advantage of their various unique US presidential pardons its Jack Bauers Testimonial 24 who can’t be split from Singtims in joint 2 nd , just ahead of RUSKobie . A minor slide from Picked with a Pin sees them in 8 th .
Tops this week were Batbox United with a terrific 57, with good hauls for Battered Lard, Jane’s Buddies and Billy Oceans Eleven. Also climbing on the blind side are BBQ Spare Ribs, suddenly into 11 th , Dynamo Flummery, up to 17 th and the Past Its (now 62 nd ). Quinn of the North bounced back 14 places this week after last weeks criticism, clearly having thrown a few virtual tea cups round the dressing room.
Worst this week were Ridiculous Names X (+ Frank Lampard) with 9 and the Off Cider Rule who have sedimentally settled back at the foot as the Mighty Pie Munchers keep their promise to take a right good look at their team (still due a bump with extra points we’ll get to that!)
The Dedication
Congratulations to our newly wedded FFL couple, John and Andrea McAuslin no they didn’t meet through the site, o you think this is blind date?! And also congratulations to Paul Mullan, manager of Stampy Socials New Recruits on the birth of son, heir and future FFL manager, Jack.
Cheers,
Simon
