Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
Regions: Hampshire v London
Managers: Russell Martin v Ange Postecoglou
Targets: Southampton would just like to see daylight once this season; Spurs want to go back up into the top half.
Expectation: Spurs all day long
Ground: St. Marys
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 11

Less than sixty seconds on the clock and Spurs were already ahead, silencing St. Marys and perhaps setting up a real thrashing for the Saints. 12 minutes gone and the visitors were two up, Son capitalising on some awful defence and into the net. Two minutes later Spurs had tripled their lead, far too easy. Southampton may as well not have been on the pitch. They went on a rare attack in the 17th minute but were unable to reduce Tottenham's lead; didn't look like they would have too many other chances as it stood.

Play moved back down the home end and Sarr helped himself for his team's fourth, only 25 minutes gone. This could be a savaging for the Saints. Before the half-hour the home fans had started making their way out of the stadium. Never saw that before. I've seen disgruntled supporters leave at half-time, but never before it. They were probably right though, as in extra time at the end of the first half it was five, as Madison took advantage of the almost non-existent Southampton defence to net again.

Those who stayed would have seen their team at least give it a go in the second half, though not a goal, but at least they didn't concede any more. Totally battered though; Spurs could have gone home at the break and it seems unlikely Southampton could have scored even then.

Result: Southampton 0 - 5 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Madison (2), Son, Kulusevski, Sarr (TOT)
VAR decision(s), if any:
Respective current positions (After match): 20 & 10
Respective final positions: 20 & 10
Effects: Spurs move up one place, into the top half of the table. Southampton remain at the foot, any hope they had of getting out of the relegation zone surely vanished now, and with the sacking of their manager, it can't be a good time to be a fan of the Saints.

[Trollheart]

Monday December 16 2024


Teams: Bournemouth v West Ham
Regions: Dorset v London
Managers: Andoni Iraola v Julen Lopetgui
Targets: Bournemouth want to move up the table; West Ham just want to get out of the bottom half
Expectation: Could see the Cherries taking this
Ground: Dean Court
Respective current positions (Before match): 7 & 14

From what I can see, this match was heading for a nil-all draw until three minutes from the end, when West Ham got a penalty. That should have won the game for them but on the stroke of full-time the home side hit back to level the game and take a share of the points.

Result: Bournemouth 1 - 1 West Ham
Scorer(s): Unal (BOU); Paqueta (WHU)
VAR decision(s), if any: Unknown
Respective current positions (After match): 6 & 14
Respective final positions: 6 & 14
Effects: Bournemouth displace Aston Villa at 6th, pushing them down to 7th. West Ham stay where they are.

[Trollheart]

Meh of the Day: N/A

Scratch of the Day: Possibly the last match, tonight's one, which, though I didn't see it, looks as if West Ham threw it away. Given a penalty after fighting out a 0-0 draw almost to full time, they seem to have let in Bournemouth in the last minute to tie the game and take two points from them.

Player of the Day: James Madison for Spurs would be my pick

Goal of the Day: Probably have to give it to Man United's Diallo; that was some tight angle, and to win the match with such a goal.

Miss of the Day: Jackson in the opening minutes of the second half with the Brentford goal at his mercy. Also Strand-Larsen for what would have been Wolves' second.

Save of the Day: Martinez in the first minutes of the second half against Forest, denying them the opening goal.

VARiations: Nothing of note

Climb of the Day: Would be Palace, struggling out of the relegation zone and taking 15th place, two points above the drop.

Drop of the Day: Nobody really dropped that many points, though Man City falling back to 5th might be worthy of note.

Howler of the Day: Terrible backpass by Man City which let Man United in for the winning goal.

Mirth of the Day: Didn't see or hear anything particularly funny

Quote of the Day: Meh

Pen of the Day: Nothing spectacular

Score of the Day: Tottenham's 5-0 battering of Southampton

Cliche of the Day N/A

Keeper Kapers Good: Martinez saving against Forest, and against almost the laws of physics. Possible save of the season, too. Pickford stopping Odegaard from opening the scoring for Arsenal.

Bad: Martinez again, letting the ball bounce off him and into his net.

We Wuz Robbed! Not really

Trollheart's Hates:

Arsenal

At least they didn't win, and a draw at home, especially a nil-all, is not good for their image, nor their title ambitions.

Crystal Palace

Annoyed to see them win, as always, but even more so now that they've managed to drag themselves out of  the relegation zone.
 
Nottingham Forest

Really furious to see them beat us, especially with that dodgy winning goal. Now they're ahead of us in the table. Fucking cunts. I hope they all die in a fire.
 
Manchester United

Disappointed, but not that surprised, to see them beat City in the derby.

[Trollheart]

Overview

A good day for Chelsea, who closed the gap to two points, but a bad one for Liverpool, though it could have been worse, as they were looking unlikely to draw and could have lost. Forest pushed ahead of Villa, the bastards, after a performance that to be fair deserved the win by the home side, Man City lost the Manchester Derby and looked a frail shadow of themselves, Pep even seeming depressed. Palace hauled themselves out of the relegation zone, for now, and Everton slid down towards it.

Despite a thumping victory over Leicester, Newcastle were unable to move up, whereas Southampton seem to have set up camp on the bottom rung of the table, and don't look like they're moving off it until they're relegated, which is about as much a cert as it raining the one day you decide to take a day off. Wolves and Ipswich remain there too, circling each other like, well, wolves, but getting nowhere, Tottenham prove they can turn it on against the weakest team in the Premier League, and despite winning the Manchester Derby, Man United remain in the bottom half of the table.

[Trollheart]

Managerial Mayhem




Not that terribly surprising to see Russell Martin part company with Southampton after their 5-0 drubbing by Tottenham Hotspur, his team barely off the bottom of the table all season. The question is, who would want to replace him?




Also kicked to the kerb is Wolves manager Gary O'Neil, who was very critical of his team (or I guess I should say, ex-team) after the defeat to Ipswich, more or less taking no responsibility for their awful performance this season. Again, not a job that will have the managers lining up to fill.

[Trollheart]

Time to crack a wry smile and have some


Football Fun!



To Beard or not to Beard?

With the departure of two more managers this weekend the whole balance of power has shifted. Let's see who's still in play.

Now we have six who are bearded (with two possibles) versus nine definitely not.

Definitely bearded:
Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)
Sean Dyche (Everton)
Pep Guardiola (Man City)
Ruben Amorim (Man United)
Nuno Espirito Santos (Forest)
Russell Martin (Southampton)
Ange Postecoglu (Spurs)

Possibly bearded:
Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton)
Gary O'Neil (Wolves)
Julian Lopetegui (West Ham)

Clean shaven:
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
Unai Emery (Villa)
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth
Thomas Frank (Brentford)
Oliver Glasner (Palace)
Marco Silva (Fulham)
Kieran McKenna (Ipswich)
Arne Slot (Liverpool)
Eddie Howe (Newcastle)


If you want to weigh in on the "possibly bearded" ones, let me know.

So at the moment it's 9-6 to the clean shaven, but with a possible 2 subs on the bench, which could turn the tide for facial hair. All depends now on who Southampton's board get drunk enough, or have enough compromising evidence on, to force him to manage their team, and who decides managing Wolves would be better than sitting at home watching them lose.

Watch this space!

[Trollheart]

[jimmy jazz]

The pull on Rogers was definitely a penalty but it was a disgusting collapse from the team.

As bad a loss as we've had all season. Not the result but the feeling after.

Once again we fail to make up ground when everyone else above us (pretty much) drops points.

[Trollheart]

All they had to do was boot the fucking ball up the pitch. Yes, the penalty had been scored and we were level, but there was no need to lose the poxy game. What a stupid, lazy pass. I just couldn't believe it. Now we're down another place after Bournemouth drew tonight.

[Trollheart]

Saturday December 21 2024
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
West Ham v Brighton
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Ipswich v Newcastle



Teams: Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Regions: London v London
Managers: Oliver Glasner v Mikel Arteta
Targets: Palace want to try to remain above the relegation zone; Arsenal want to make up ground on Chelsea, and Liverpool
Expectation: Got to expect the Gunners to take this
Ground: Selhurst Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 3

How has Oliver Glasner still got his job? Both Wolves and Southampton have lost their bosses, and while you'd have to say Palace are getting some results and have managed to haul themselves out of the zone, I think Wolves played better but have just been unlucky with draws and last-minute winners that have turned the games against them. Surely the man must be feeling the pressure, the hot breath of the board on his neck, the door marked EXIT opening for him? But we hear nothing about his position at the club. Maybe they're more forgiving?

That sense of tolerance would have taken a serious knock when Arsenal scored after only six minutes at Palace's home ground, easily cutting through an absent home defence to allow Jesus to put his own name in lights so close to Christmas. Away in a manger indeed. Five minutes later the home side had equalised, which must have had the board perhaps putting the letters demanding Glasner's resignation away. For now. In the time it takes to boil an egg the Gunners were ahead again, and it was that man who'll be born in four days' time again who put them 2 to the good. Palace missed a gilt-edged chance to draw level again down the other end but Raya spread himself well to keep the ball out.

Jesus went in search of his hat-trick just after the half-hour but couldn't quite manage it, a corner also failing to widen the gap between the two teams as we headed towards half-time. Then he almost made it but it was Havertz who tapped it into the Palace net to make it three. Sarr came close to reducing that lead from the restart, again Raya alive to the threat, but Palace clearly not down yet. A wonderful double save by the Arsenal keeper stopped them reducing the deficit again and Arsenal went on the attack and on the hour made it four, no way back now surely for the relegation strugglers? Certainly not when Rice netted with four minutes to go, and the game was Arsenal's.


Result: Crystal Palace 1 - 5 Arsenal
Scorer(s): Jesus (2), Havertz, Martinelli (ARS); Sarr (PAL)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 3
Respective final positions: 16 & 3
Effects: Arsenal stay third for Christmas, 2 points behind Chelsea and 6 behind Liverpool. Palace slip one place, 4 points above the relegation zone.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Aston Villa v Manchester City
Regions: Birmingham v Manchester
Managers: Unai Emery v Pep Guardiola
Targets: Villa need to climb into the top four, City the same
Expectation: We're at home, so you'd hope City's stuttering form would allow us to beat them.
Ground: Villa Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 7 & 5

Our last chance to end up in the top four before Christmas, but City would be trying to do the same, and put a stop to their poor results here and in Europe. Almost immediately we could have been ahead, thanks to a terrible City pass, but Duran, of all people fluffed it, then almost over the line a few seconds later, but the goal decision system said no. Villa kept up the pressure and Duran got his goal in the 16th minute. As we passed the half-hour mark City came close to equalising but shot wide, then as the half came to a close the visitors went on the attack again, but over the top this time.

Villa kept up the pressure as the second half began, and almost netted again but side netting only, then Duran scored again but he ended up being offside, which was kind of expected, but in those situations you play to the whistle. Villa had all the play but 1-0 is never enough and they needed the cushion of a second goal to be sure. And they got it in the 65th minute after a fine run by Rogers which left City defenders for dead. Another great surge forward by the Villa man nearly had Watkins in for their third, but unable to get past, then City scored in injury time, no clean sheet for Martinez, but too late to change the outcome.

Result: Aston Villa 2 - 1 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Duran, Rogers (AST); Foden (MNC)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 6
Respective final positions: 6 & 7
Effects: Villa move up to 5th but drop to 6th on Sunday due to Bournemouth's storming win against Man United. City drop 2 more places. The self-destruction continues.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Regions: London v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Thomas Frank v Nuno Espirito Santos
Targets: Forest can try to get third place, Brentford want to move back into the top half of the table
Expectation: Brentford at home, could take it. Hopefully will.
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 4

After they overtook us last weekend, it would be the perfect Christmas present for me if we could replace Forest at 4th, but I don't know if we can get that high. Still, I'd prefer to see them lose of course. The home side could have been ahead within four minutes, but shot right at the keeper, then 20 minutes in a terrible pass should have had them one up, but it bounced harmlessly off the roof of the net. They might rue those misses, a third chance spurned a few minutes later. And so into the half-hour as Forest got down the Brentford half, almost opening the scoring themselves, the Bees keeper able to keep it out, but just before half-time the visitors did take the lead.

The second half saw Forest take control, Wood almost doubling their lead but sending the ball instead into the stands, then it was two as the home team gave it away cheaply in front of their own goal. As we headed for the hour mark it was almost three, the Brentford keeper the only man keeping it at two, and when the Bees went down the opposition end it should have resulted in their first goal of the match, but a fine save by the Forest keeper left them still scoreless. And so it remained, as the visitors took the game to remain fourth over Christmas.

Result: Brentford 0 - 2 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Aina, Elanga (FOR)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 12 & 4
Respective final positions: 12 & 4
Effects: Forest remain fourth, only 2 places between them and third-placed Arsenal, and the possibility of a title challenge? European football anyway. Brentford slide down one place.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Ipswich Town v Newcastle United
Regions: Suffolk v Tyne & Wear
Managers: Kieran McKenna v Eddie Howe
Targets: Ipswich would just love to spend Christmas out of the relegation zone. Newcastle want to get back up into the top half.
Expectation: Can't see Newcastle losing this.
Ground: Portman Road
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 12

Newcastle were ahead within thirty seconds - until the flag went up and the goal was deemed offside. VAR got involved, the decision being reversed, and Newcastle were awarded the opening goal, to Ipswich's dismay. 15 minutes later Murphy was almost in for their second but off the bar it came. The Tractor Boys went on their own attack but the keeper smothered it, as the rain poured down on the Suffolk coast, perhaps a metaphor for the dire and dreadful season Ipswich are having, sliding further down the table it seems every week. They say it never rains but it pours, and on the half-hour Ipswich were being soaked to the skin as Murphy scored to double their lead. In the last moments of extra time two became three after some defending that would have been comical, had the home side not been in the position they are.

In the second half it was more of the same, Ipswich muscled off the ball, the Magpies almost making it four but the post intervened, but Isak got his hat-trick just before the hour to make it four, and no hope at all for the doomed home side now. Twelve minutes from time they could have at least given the home fans something to cheer about, but the keeper stopped it. The visitors thought they had their fifth but called offside, but maybe that might have been rubbing it in just a little too much, eh lads?


Result: Ipswich Town 0 - 4 Newcastle
Scorer(s): Murphy, Isak (3) (NEW)
VAR decision(s), if any: First goal ruled offside but VAR ruled it was good and awarded the goal to Newcastle
Respective current positions (After match): 18 & 7
Respective final positions: 19 & 8
Effects: Ipswich remain firmly stuck in the relegation zone, slipping one place; Newcastle vault 4 places up into the top half of the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: West Ham v Brighton
Regions: London v East Sussex
Managers: Julen Lopetegui v Fabian Hurzeler
Targets: West Ham need to move up and away from the dotted line, Brighton want to improve on their position in the top half of the table.
Expectation: Brighton should be on for this
Ground: The London Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 14 & 9

Eight minutes in and West Ham were pressing, coming close but no cigar. Brighton then came close but the keeper able to divert it past the post. Bowen came within inches of opening the scoring, but into the second half and nothing between the teams. You started to wonder if either would score? Then someone did, and it was Brighton. Suspicion of offside but VAR cleared it. On the hour Kudus took the rebound shot as Bowen's came back off the keeper, and West Ham were level. And so it remained as the game wound down into extra time, Brighton pushing for the winner but having to be happy with a draw


Result: West Ham United 1 - 1 Brighton
Scorer(s): Wieffer (BHA); Kudus (WHU)
VAR decision(s), if any: Confirmed first (and only) Brighton goal when it had been called offside.
Respective current positions (After match): 14 & 9
Respective final positions: 14 & 10
Effects: The draw does nobody any good, but Brighton drop one place while West Ham remain where they are.

[Trollheart]

Sunday December 22 2024
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
Everton v Chelsea
Manchester United v Bournemouth
Leicester v Wolves
Fulham v Southampton


Teams: Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
Regions: London v Merseyside
Managers: Ange Postecoglu v Arne Slot
Targets: Liverpool of course want to try to extend their lead at the top before Christmas, Tottenham want to move up the top half of the table
Expectation: After Spurs' thrashing of Southampton last week, you'd think they'd be up for it, but this is not Southampton. This is Liverpool, and I can't see them losing.
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 10 & 1

A bad start by Spurs almost cost them the opening goal when the keeper passed lazily and Salah was in, but only hit the side netting. Liverpool were on the attack again and this time Foster had to keep it out. Another bad pass let Salah in again and this time the Liverpool striker hit the top of the post, 19 minutes gone. A patient build-up in the 23rd gave Liverpool first blood, but it had been coming. Just after the half-hour McAllister pounced to make it two, Liverpool firmly on top. Spurs had not had a shot on goal. Then they did, but straight at the keeper. Disaster though for the visitors when McAllister emulated Chelsea's Cucarilla last weekend and slipped, allowing Maddison in, and he scored to halve the deficit just before the break. Liverpool weren't having that though, and scored their third before the half-time whistle, to restore their two-goal lead.

Spurs were on the attack early in the second half, but Liverpool turned that attack against them, nicking the ball and heading downfield to score their fourth, and surely at this point putting the match beyond Tottenham. A long ball down field could have made it five, but the angle was too tight, then almost a repeat of the stealing of the ball from Spurs led to Salah's second and Liverpool's fifth. Spurs pulled one back with 18 minutes to go, but it was going to be a long haul for the home team to get anything out of this match. Then Solanke scored with 8 minutes to go, Liverpool's lead looking perhaps not so strong now. Until the visitors scored again, making it six, with five minutes of normal time left. A fine save by Allison kept out what would have been Tottenham's fourth, and who knew how much extra time there was going to be? Already the highest-scoring game in the Premier League this season, and surely Liverpool's highest goal tally, the game ended with Liverpool still three goals ahead, but you couldn't say Spurs hadn't given it a go. Eventually.

Result: Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 6 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Diaz (2), McAllister, Szoboszlai, Salah (2) (LIV); Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke (TOT)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 11 & 1
Respective final positions: 11 & 1
Effects: Despite a dogged fight back, Spurs fall out of the top half of the table; Liverpool open up a 4-point gap between them and Chelsea, and remain top over Christmas.