2021/22 Premier League Review: Matchday 14
Pintsized Background
Is football exhaustion a real issue? What feels like three matchdays wrapped into one week, the bottom of the table has started to heat up. Newcastle managed to bottle a free win at home with an early red card, Leeds distanced themselves from the relegation pack and Arsenal have started to look a far cry from their bloated top-half position. Oh yes, Neil Maupay also left my Hammer’s heart in shreds. Onwards to Premier League Review: Matchday 14.
Failed to catch the action from the Premier League last weekend? No worries. Peep our preview of Premier League Predictions: Matchday 14.
Unconvinced by Pintsized’s mystical predicting powers? Take a look at our prediction success last week detailed in Premier League Statistics: Match Day 14.
The Good
Match of the Week
Southampton 2-2 Leicester. Any match that features Jonny Evans slotting one in the corner has to be championed. Scrappy openers from both sides opened the game into a free-flowing end-to-end affair. The creative hearts for Southampton and Leicester, James Ward-Prowse and James Maddison, worked their socks off all night. The Foxes will be left rueing a string of chances in the dying embers of the second half. Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy scuffed solid chances, failing to relieve the pressure, Brendan Rodgers, finds himself under.
Player of the Week
Andrew Robertson (2 Assists, 3 Clearances, 5 Tackles, 6/10 Ground Duels, 3 Key Passes, 1 Big Chance Created). The Scotsmen was in fine form on derby day as he tore apart a rapidly declining Seamus Coleman. Andy embarrassed the Toffees at home, setting up a tent on the edge of Pickford’s 18-yard box. While TAA was similarly outstanding in attack on the other side of the field, it was Robertson’s defending that emphasised his performance. Andros Townsend may as well not have been playing with Robertson restricting the winger to just 34 touches.
Honourable Mention
Cristiano Ronaldo (2 Goals, 3/3 Dribbles, 3/4 Ground Duels, 1 Clearance). Throughout the first half, CR7 whiffed long shots in atypical fashion, scuffing the ball well wide of the sticks. It wasn’t a spectacular Ronaldo game in regards to chances created, but his lethal conversion rate is what separates the Portuguese legend from the riff-raff. A rapid counter-attack saw him nestle the ball out of Ramsdale’s reach, while a clutch penalty in the 70th minute was never in doubt when Ronaldo stepped up.
The Bad
Match To Forget
Wolves 0-0 Burnley. Who could have guessed that two of the least prolific goal-scorers would create a cure for insomnia? Together, the motley crew mustered just three shots on target and less than 1xG. Burnley will be happy taking a point away from home, but Wolves’ toothlessness in the final third HAS to be resolved in January.
Performance to Forget
Seamus Coleman (1 Error Led to Goal, 2/5 Ground Duels, 28 Times Possession Lost, 0/1 Crosses, 2/8 Long Balls, 0/1 Dribbles). A dire atmosphere at Goodison Park amplified after a derby blowout to rowdy rivals, Liverpool. Coleman, at fault for the Red’s third goal, felt the pressure as he lost total control over the game. Bad injuries and age have seen the Irishman drop a touch of pace, a terminal ill for modern-day PL full-backs.
Dishonourable Mention
Martin Atkinson. Firstly, Arsenal’s goal should have stood in regards to the circumstances in which it occurred. The issue was Atkinson’s decision not to blow his whistle when he saw De Gea on the floor. The replays show the referee raised his whistle but dropped it anyway. It seemed strange not to blow when his usual instinct is to flag up the barest of touches.
The Ugly
Top Prediction
Steviano (Spurs 2-0 Brentford). Bang on the money from the old man.
Predictor of the Week
Steviano/Pint (5/10 Results, 1/10 Scores). A stellar week from the predicting front-runners.
Dunce of the Week
Ryan (4/10 Results). Ryan’s reckless support of Man United benefitted him this weekend, but bottling the Spurs result bit him.
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