Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Everton v Chelsea
Regions: Merseyside v London
Managers: Sean Dyche v Enzo Maresca
Targets: Chelsea will want to try to overhaul Liverpool at the top, Everton just want to win a game and get up into the top half of the bottom half of the table, so to speak.
Expectation: Everton at home. Should that make a difference? It should, but I doubt it will. Chelsea for the win.
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 16 & 2

Some very tenacious attacking by Chelsea could have given them the first goal, but the keeper was able to do his job, then a second good save from Pickford kept the visitors out, but resulted in a corner. Nothing doing for Chelsea though. Pickford may have been lucky to have stayed on the pitch through after a rather exuberant tackle on the striker. Scoreless it remained at the break, then, and the Chelsea keeper had to be alive to the danger as Everton went on the attack, then Tarkowski lost it when he was taken down in the box and reacted as men do in those situations.

Moving past the hour then as Chelsea pressed for the first goal, but again right at Pickford, and a long shot up the pitch should have given the home team the lead, and maybe the game, but a fine tackle in the box kept them out. Was this going to end in a nil-nil? Every shot seemed to be getting saved, or missing, and yes, in the end, no goals for either team, two points dropped for Chelsea, the chance to close in on Liverpool lost.


Result: Everton 0 - 0 Chelsea
Scorer(s): None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 2
Respective final positions: 15 & 2
Effects: Everton move up one place, Chelsea miss the chance to close the gap to 2 points on Liverpool.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester United v Bournemouth
Regions: Manchester v Dorset
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Andoni Iraola
Targets: Bournemouth want to move up into 5th place, Man United want to get back into the top half of the table
Expectation: Hard to say really. Go for a draw here.
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 6

United were on the attack from the sixth minute, and could have been ahead but the keeper stopped the shot, then Bournemouth headed down their end and got a free just before the half-hour, and in a good position. And they scored, to silence Old Trafford, taking the lead. Shots of Ruben Amorim shaking his head, thoughts possibly going through his head along the lines of "why did I come here?" Fernandes had a chance to level late in the half but missed the target, then the scorer of the goal was guilty of giving the ball away in the last minutes, but his keeper literally saved him. A third attempt for the United captain went wide, and so into the break with the visitors one to the good.

On the hour things got even worse for the home side as a terrible challenge in the box gave the Cherries a penalty, and a two-goal lead. Three minutes later and that two-goal lead had become a three-goal lead, Bournemouth all over United, who just did not seem to be able to deal with them. Garnaco had a shot but straight into the keeper's arms, then on 70 Hoijlund's shot was saved. As extra time ticked away United became increasingly desperate but the visitors kept them out and kept a clean sheet. Not only that, they beat United by exactly the same scoreline they had when they last met at Old Trafford.


Result: Manchester United 0 - 3 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Huijsen, Kluivert (p), Semenyo (BOU)
VAR decision(s), if any: Possible handball for Bournemouth's third goal, but confirmed not to be.
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 5
Respective final positions: 13 & 5
Effects: Bournemouth move up one place into 5th, looking at possible European football next season; Manchester United spend Christmas in the doldrums, mired in the bottom half of the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Leicester v Wolves
Regions: Leicestershire v West Midlands
Managers: Ruud van Nistelroy v Vitor Pereira
Targets: Wolves need to get out of the relegation zone, Leicester need to stop the slide towards it.
Expectation: I would like to see Wolves get a win. No real idea though.
Ground: The King Power
Respective current positions (Before match): 17 & 19

Under new management, Wolves faced a Leicester City side sliding down the table and desperate to arrest that fall, and nearly went down to a Vardy attack which the Wolves keeper stopped, only avoiding a red card when he stepped out of his area to stop the ball by making sure it came nowhere near his hands. Could have been a close-run thing. Wolves then opened the scoring just before 20 minutes had elapsed, a shot out of nothing really, Leicester behind at home. They hit back quickly, but Sa was equal to the shot, and just after the half-hour Wolves were two to the good, the second goal a total miscommunication which allowed the opposition player in. Vardy had another shot as the half drew to a close, but could not get past the big man in the Wolves net. In the end it was Wolves who took their chances and bagged a third just before the break.

Third time lucky from Jamie Vardy? No, he still couldn't get it into the net, the angle narrowing all the time till it was just impossible, even for a player of his calibre. Wolves nearly went four up, but the keeper stopped it as Leicester fans began to stream out of the stadium, another defeat on the cards. Another chance to make it four was squandered, but the game was already won at that stage.

Result: Leicester City 0 - 3 Wolves
Scorer(s): Guedes, Gomes, Cunha (LEI)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 17 & 18
Respective final positions: 17 & 18
Effects: Leicester are now precariously balanced just above the drop zone, a mere 2 points between them and Wolves, who move up one place but are still stuck there.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Fulham v Southampton
Regions: London v Hampshire
Managers: Marco Silva v Ivan Jurich
Targets: Fulham would like to get up the top half of the table; Southampton, as ever, are mired in last place
Expectation: Have to be Fulham's
Ground: Craven Cottage
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 20

Fulham showed they meant business when they went close after only three minutes, and twice tried in the first half but beleaguered Southampton kept it nil-all, having a shot themselves after the hour mark, but nobody able to break the deadlock. Ramsdale made a fine save on the hour to keep the home team out, all the action down the Southampton end, but still no net bulging on either side. A draw away certainly a good result for the Saints, though they remain bottom of the table.

Result: Fulham 0 - 0 Southampton
Scorer(s): None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Respective current positions (After match): 9 & 20
Respective final positions: 9 & 20
Effects: No change for the Saints, who hold bottom place over Christmas, as they have done for most of the season. It won't be a Happy Christmas in Southampton! Fulham drop one place, hanging on there in the top half.

[Trollheart]

Meh of the Day: None still thank god. Even the two nil-nils had excitement and interest in them.

Scratch of the Day: N/A

Player of the Day: Isak, who got his first ever hat trick and played out of his skin for Newcastle

Goal of the Day: Nothing spectacular, even with 9 in the game between Liverpool and Spurs.

Miss of the Day: Mitoma for Brighton to send his team ahead, but screwed it wide of the post. Harder to miss than to score!

Save of the Day: Double save by Arsenal keeper to deny Palace a goal

VARiations: Not much to write about this weekend at all.

Climb of the Day: Newcastle climb 5 places to 7th but then are pushed down one place by Bournemouth's win and end up at 8th, still a climb of 4 places.

Drop of the Day: No huge drops, but Tottenham, Leicester and Brentford all fall one place, Spurs into the bottom half and the Foxes close to the relegation zone.

Howler of the Day: Ipswich keeper passing to his defender, only for that defender to be easily dispossessed by Isak to score Newcastle's third goal as half-time loomed.

Mirth of the Day: Gary setting up Alan Shearer before Newcastle's game against Ipswich, praising him for scoring a last-minute equaliser but then slagging him off for missing a penalty! Also, comment made by the commentator during the Liverpool match, "it's beginning to look a Slot like Christmas!"

Quote of the Day: Gary Lineker: "Merry Christmas Ashley (Williams); Alan (Shearer) - see you on Boxing Day!" Ah, no rest for the wicked, eh? Also Ange Postecoglu, when asked if the fact that Spurs are shipping too many goals is due to missing players: "If people can't see the obvious I'm just going to stop answering these questions."

Pen of the Day: Only one in all the matches this weekend. It was okay but nothing special.

Score of the Day: No contest: Liverpool 6-3 against Spurs is the highest score achieved in any Premiership game this season. What a thriller!

Cliche of the Day Newcastle fans (fat ones of course) standing in the freezing Suffolk winter without any tops on. They breed them hard in the north! Or maybe, they just don't have the sense to realise they're risking pneumonia! All for the Toon, eh lads?

Keeper Kapers Good: Two fine saves from  Raya. Wolves keeper managing, despite coming out of his area, not to touch the ball with his hands, and still keep the ball out.

Bad: A real mix-up between Ipswich's keeper and his defender, allowing Newcastle to triple their lead at the worst possible time, just before the half-time whistle. Foster passing the ball to Salah almost in the first minute, nearly giving away the first goal. Leicester's keeper letting in the second goal for Wolves; should have been able to keep that out. Pickford lucky to stay on the pitch after he tackled an Everton player in what could have been seen as dangerous play, but was accepted as not being so.

We Wuz Robbed! Nope

Team of the Day: I think that has to be Newcastle, thrashing Ipswich and making huge strides up the table into the top half. Howay the - oh. I've said that before haven't I? Well, some other Geordie expression then. Way-aye!

Trollheart's Hates:

Arsenal

Annoyed to see them win, but then, they did beat Crystal Palace, so there is that.

Crystal Palace

Delighted to see them beaten, slaughtered in fact, even if it was by Arsenal.

Nottingham Forest

Hate the fact they won, hate more the fact that they're above us now. Bastards.

Manchester United

Delighted to see them beaten, hammered in fact. Boos ringing around Old Trafford, and the fans leaving in droves. Ruben Amorim looking shell-shocked, like a man who has backed the wrong horse. All great to see.

[Trollheart]

Overview

A thrilling weekend which saw Liverpool extend their lead at the top over Christmas with an amazing game which gave us the highest ever Premier League score this season, 6-3 to the table toppers. Newcastle did themselves proud, beating relegation-troubled Ipswich 4-0, Isak getting his first ever hat-trick, his team moving up to 8th place. Forest stormed into 4th after a powerful performance against Brentford, and we had the pleasure of beating a fading Man City, climbing to 6th ourselves while they slid down the table.

Their Manchester counterparts were beaten - and booed - off the pitch at Old Trafford by Bournemouth, who rise to fifth while United remain in 13th, Leicester look destined for relegation unless they win their next match, and Southampton remain at bottom, but did at least force a draw against Fulham, neither team scoring. Arsenal almost produced the top score of the weekend with a 5-1 demolition of Crystal Palace, until Liverpool took the field, and Chelsea missed the chance to make ground on the Reds when they could only manage a nil-nil draw against Everton.

[Trollheart]

Managerial Mayhem!




I asked last week who would be crazy enough to take the job at Southampton, and here's our answer! Ivan Juric, a Croatian national in his day, seems to have spent his managerial career in Italy, and from my brief reading of his time there with clubs like Torino, Genoa and even Roma, did not impress. I suppose when you're Southampton you can hardly be picky, but he doesn't look like the saviour the Saints need. Guess we'll see. Southampton are definitely going down, so his job will be to try to bring them back up next season. That'll be hard enough in itself! Hey! I see he's a metalhead! That'll be handy: he can drown out the boos at St. Marys with Napalm Death and Obituary.




After sacking Gary O'Neil last week, Wolves try to emulate struggling Man United and turn to a Portuguese, in this case Vitor Pereria. I can't say for certain (JJ can confirm) but I think this may be the first time there will be two managers from Portugal in the Premier League? Pereira's credentials include winning two titles with Porto, a league and cup double with Olympiakos and, um, the Chinese Super League. Sounds like a better man for the job than the one Southampton plumped for. Maybe he can make the Wolves growl again.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Coming in January


MANCHESTER MELTDOWN:
THE FALL OF A FOOTBALLING DYNASTY

[jimmy jazz]

Should have been the case 10 years ago but as we know, Abu Dhabi have been cheating the game.

It's about to collapse I think. The players know it's all in doubt, their honours could be stripped. They aren't giving their all because there is such a shitstorm around the club. You don't go from four titles in a row to this without something going on. One injury to Rodri doesn't explain it.

Tick tock 

[Trollheart]

Ah yes but the thing is that it's United too. For the first time in recorded history, BOTH Manchester clubs are fucked. I think I'll make this a new thread rather than try to cram it in here. You know me: history is my thing and brevity is a word I can spell but not understand. I've already begun researching and have written an introduction and have begun chapter I: "The Busby Babes: Rise of the Red Devils".

[Trollheart]

Thursday December 26 2024

Liverpool v Leicester
Manchester City v Everton
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Fulham
Wolves v Manchester United
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v West Ham
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace





Teams: Liverpool v Leicester City
Regions: Merseyside v Leicestershire
Managers: Arne Slot v Ruud van Nistelroy
Targets: Liverpool want to extend their lead at the top, Leicester need to pull away from that relegation zone, which is getting ever closer.
Expectation: Got to go for Liverpool here. Should be an easy win.
Ground: Anfield
Respective current positions (Before match): 1 & 17

In heavy fog on Merseyside the home team applied the pressure, as you would have expected them to, both Salah and Jones coming close in the opening minutes, but the Leicester goal held firm. Six minutes in it was the Foxes who struck with what must surely have been seen as an unlikely goal to take the lead as Ayew capitalised on some uncharacteristically poor Liverpool defending. Anfield shocked. The visitors could have been in for their second a few minutes later as Liverpool struggled to sort themselves out. Arsenal, due to play tomorrow, surely watching with interest, hoping the league leaders would slip up.

24 minutes gone and a poor clearance from the Leicester goalkeeper almost allowed Salah in, but he shot against the bar, the resultant corner seeing McAllister try to head his team level, but 1-0 it remained. As half-time beckoned another Liverpool attack had Salah trying again, but again the woodwork came to Leicester's rescue. But the home side were not about to let the score remain as it was at half time, and in the first additional minute Gakpo shot from distance to curl a lovely shot in and give Liverpool the equaliser. Psychologically speaking, the best time for the Reds to score, the worst possible time for Leicester to be pegged back.

All the momentum with the home side now as the second half got underway, only four minutes needed before they were ahead, taking the lead through Jones. On the hour it could have been three, but Salah was cut out and the Liverpool attack turned into a Leicester one. Daka, however, stumbled over the ball and Liverpool could breathe again. Then it was Darwin Nunez's turn to shoot at the Leicester keeper, while Gakpo scored but was ruled offside as Liverpool pushed for a third. With 8 minutes to go they got it as Salah finally made the Leicester net bulge, the game well won now.

Result: Liverpool 3 - 1 Leicester City
Scorer(s): Gakpo, Jones, Salah (LIV); Ayew (LEI)
VAR decision(s), if any: Gakpo ruled offside (eventually) for what would have been his second, and Liverpool's third goal
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 1 & 18
Respective final positions: 1 & 18
Effects: Leicester slip into the relegation zone; Liverpool widen the gap at the top to 7 points.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Chelsea v Fulham
Regions: London v London
Managers: Enzo Maresca v Marco Silva
Targets: Chelsea want to close the gap on Liverpool, Fulham can go 6th with a win
Expectation: You'd have to see this as being Chelsea's
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 9

Cole Palmer opened the scoring for the Blues inside 16 minutes, racing free of the Fulham defence to slot the ball in with confidence, and nearly doubled their lead four minutes later but this time shot at the keeper. Fulham then went on a run but the Chelsea keeper stopped the shot, while Cucharilla could have taken Chelsea's second but again straight at the keeper. Three minutes into the second half and they tried again, but a super save kept it at still just the one. Would the home side have cause to rue those missed chances as the game progressed?

Indeed, Fulham nearly made them pay, but again the man between the sticks ensured it remained as 1-0. For now. Just after the hour Jackson was the next to try  his luck, but since Palmer, luck was a commodity eluding Chelsea, who had certainly had the lion's share of the chances, but had still only the one goal to show for it. 14 minutes from time the visitors again came close, another shot into the keeper's arms though. With eight minutes of normal time they made the breakthrough, levelling the game, Chelsea trying desperately to claim all three points with two great chances in extra time, but it was the Cottagers who took their first ever victory against Chelsea away since - wait for it - 1979! In the fifth minute of extra time the ball was hoofed down field and lashed into the Chelsea net, to deprive the home side of even the point they had been expecting to take. A famous historic victory for Fulham, and serious points dropped for Chelsea in their attempt to keep up with Liverpool.


Result: Chelsea 1 - 2 Fulham
Scorer(s): Palmer (CHE); Wilson, Muniz (FUL)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 8
Respective final positions: 2 & 8
Effects: Fulham move up one place and take a historic victory, while Chelsea lose the chance to close the gap on Liverpool.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Newcastle v Aston Villa
Regions: Tyne & Wear v Birmingham
Managers: Eddie Howe v Unai Emery
Targets: Villa need to get higher in the table; Newcastle are just enjoying being where they are but would like to advance
Expectation: Always going to go for Villa
Ground: St. James Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 6

The omens were not good for us as Newcastle scored within 2 minutes, though a free in the 20th could have levelled for us. Perhaps had Duran taken it, but he was overruled and Digne missed, after which there were some histrionics from Villa's top scorer, and a bad tackle saw him get a red card, and Villa were down to ten men. Childish temper tantrums as he disappeared down the tunnel won't have helped our cause, and could result in further action being taken against the young player. As the half wound down, Newcastle could have been two up when the ball was nicked from us but Martinez showed why he's considered the world's number one, and kept it at just the single goal. The second half would be a hard slog though.

It certainly was. On the hour Isak made it two, and Villa's cause seemed lost, especially when Isak scored again two minutes later, but this one ruled marginally offside. It was only a matter of time though, and despite a good chance for Digne to halve the deficit, it was of course the Magpies who took all three points as they scored again in added time.

Result: Newcastle 3 - 0 Aston Villa
Scorer(s): Gordon, Isak, Joelinton (NEW)
VAR decision(s), if any: Giumaresh goal ruled handball so did not stand
Red Cards: 1 (Duran, straight red)
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 9
Respective final positions: 5 & 9
Effects: Newcastle rise to 5th, while Villa continue to slide down the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur
Regions: Nottinghamshire v London
Managers: Nuno Espirito Santos v Ange Postecoglu
Targets: Forest want to get into the top three; Spurs need to get back into the top half of the table
Expectation: Hope to see Spurs win
Ground: The City Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 4 & 11

Forest were of course on the attack early, but Spurs had their own chances later in the half, neither managing to open the score until just before the half-hour when Elanga put the home side ahead. Ten minutes later Johnson nearly equalised but the Forest keeper was able to keep it out. Three attempts by the home team in the second half failed to double their lead, then Spurs broke to get a corner, from which Tottenham wanted a penalty for handball, but the decision went against them. As the fog began to roll in, time began to run out for Spurs, who had a man sent off with three minutes to go, leaving Forest to take the match with the one goal.


Result: Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Elanga (FOR)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: 1 (Spence; two yellows)
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 11
Respective final positions: 3 & 11
Effects: Forest go third; Spurs remain outside the top half.