Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Saturday November 8 2024
Brighton v Manchester City
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Brentford v Bournemouth
Wolves v Southampton
Crystal Palace v Fulham
West Ham v Everton

Note: from today on, "form" will be shown not the way it is in the table, last five games etc, but just a general idea of how the team is doing. Also. from here on in "VAR decisions" will only include those that influenced the match, either by sending the ref to the monitor and changing his mind, or by overruling him. In other words, if VAR and ref agree, then I don't note it. If VAR just check something and no decision is issued, I don't note it. Basically, I'm fucking sick of VAR and will refer to it as little as I can.




Teams: Brighton v Manchester City
Regions: East Sussex v Manchester
Managers:  Fabian Hurzeler v Pep Guardiola
Form: Man City lost their grip on first spot last week when Liverpool retook it, and Pep's boys were looking at a fourth straight defeat in a row after being battered by the soon-to-be-arriving new Manchester United coach's Sporting during the week. Brighton were on a season-long unbeaten streak at home.
Targets: Man City need to reclaim top spot, or at least not slip further. Brighton currently at 8th, could conceivably go fourth if results went their way.
Expectation: Any other day I'd be for City. It could be a storming fightback to show their title credentials are still good, or they could collapse after the humiliating defeat to Sporting. Brighton would seem to have the edge.
Ground: The Amex
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 2
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 2
Respective final positions: 6 & 2

City were on the attack right away, seemingly ready to avenge that loss during the week, and Haaland, with two bites of the cherry, had them ahead on 22 minutes. He was on the hunt again shortly afterwards, a seeming foul waved on by the ref for advantage, but this time the Norwegian could not put it away. The resultant corner went wide, again it was City's top scorer who got his head to it, then Welbeck was almost on the score sheet but the keeper stopped it.

1-0 at the break then as Brighton went on the offensive, almost levelling within seven minutes, a great header but palmed out by the City keeper, Brighton piling all the pressure on now. They did everything but score, and the visitors grimly hanging on to their one goal lead. 12 minutes from time that pressure told for the home side as Joao Pedro put it away to level the game. The Seagulls turned the game around with 8 minutes to go as O'Riley doubled their tally.

In extra time City desperately tried to at least get a point out of the game, Foden and Walker both coming close, Haaland and a Brighton player seeming to square-dance in the box after the ball was in the keeper's hands - take your partner by the shirt... But it was frustration at yet another game lost, and history made by Manchester City as they lost their fourth game in a row. Could the cracks be showing?



Result: Brighton 2 - 1 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Haaland (MNC), Pedro, O'Riley (BHA)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Effects: Brighton climb to 4th, but drop to 6th after Sunday. City remain in second, five points now behind Liverpool.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Liverpool v Aston Villa
Regions: Merseyside v West Midlands
Managers: Arne Slot v Unai Emery
Form: Liverpool have been flying, winning every game, both in Europe and at home, and currently top the Champions League after a 4-0 demolition of the mighty German side, Bayer Leverkusen. Villa have slipped from the top three, currently in 6th place, and 8th in Europe after their loss to Club Brugge.
Targets: Liverpool need to stay top and open the gap between them and Manchester City, Villa hope to get back up into the top 3.
Expectation: Much as I root for Villa, I have to expect Liverpool at home will take this.
Ground: Anfield
Respective current positions (Before match): 1 & 6
Respective current positions (After match): 1 & 8
Respective final positions: 1 & 9

Villa had the first meaningful attack on 19 minutes, but from the resultant corner Liverpool turned defence into attack with a classic breakaway move, Salah haring up the pitch, trailing defenders in his wake, only stopped by being taken down by Leon Bailey. No foul, but Nunez carried on the attack and blasted into the Villa net to put the home side ahead. Total counter-attack, Villa stunned, Anfield erupting. Villa thought they had a penalty down the other end two minutes later, but the ref gave it the other way against Watkins.

On the half-hour the visitors got another corner, and again it became yet another Liverpool attack, Villa done twice but this time Nunez shot high, lucky for us. Think we'd learn, now wouldn't you? Not even two consecutive corners AND Kelleher flapping for the ball and missing it could get the ball into the Liverpool net, and maybe it just wasn't going to be our day. In the second half yet another sitter for Villa, who just didn't seem to be able to put it away, while Liverpool were totally in control, though the score remained as it had at the break.

A free for Villa then allowed them to get the men forward, but could they make it count? Out of nowhere then, a penalty check but seemed to be turned down, though it wasn't made entirely clear, and then Nunez, who seemed to be all but a one-man strike force, fired again but the Villa keeper caught it. If this game ended as 1-0 it was certainly not representative of the chances on both ends. In the dying minute Salah got the ball and there was no way he was going to miss. Given away by Villa, and another defeat. Liverpool remain imperious at the top.


Result: Liverpool 2 - 0 Aston Villa
Scorer(s): Nunez, Salah (LIV)
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty for Villa turned down
Effects: Liverpool remain at the top and open up a five-point lead there, Villa slide to 8th, then 9th after Sunday.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Brentford v Bournemouth
Regions: London v Dorset
Managers: Thomas Frank v Andoni Iraola
Form: Bournemouth are riding high on that historic defeat of Manchester City last week, Brentford lost their match on Monday against Fulham, but are slightly higher up the table.
Targets: Both teams need to move higher up the table; Bournemouth are two places above Brentford, who want to be in the top half.
Expectation: I would go for Bournemouth, allowing for the "happy factor" of having beaten the Champions
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 12 & 10
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 11
Respective final positions: 11 & 12

Bournemouth had the best of the early chances, spurning a great chance to take the lead, then were gifted a goal when an incredibly sloppy pass by Van den Berg let Evanilson in to score his third in three. A long throw up the Bournemouth end did not for once end up in a goal, until it did. Which is to say, a throw from the left side did nothing but when the throw was taken, moments later, from the right, Wissa got on the end of it and we were all square, halfway through the first half.

Four minutes into the second half the visitors were ahead again as Kluivert netted from a short corner. Brentford though were a different team now, and equalised minutes later through Damsgaard, parity restored. The home team then turned it around just before the hour as Wissa got his second, putting his team ahead for the first time in the match. Bournemouth went on a last-minute attack in the dying seconds and could have earned a point, but the ball came back off the bar, shot blocked and the the ref blew for full time.


Result: Brentford 3 - 2 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Evanilsan, Kluivert (BOU), Wissa (2), Damsgaard (BRE)
VAR decision(s), if any: Wissa's goal checked for possible handball, decision was it stood.
Effects: Brentford climb into the top half of the table, Bournemouth one place behind them. After the Sunday games however, both slide back to the top of the bottom half of the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Wolves v Southampton
Regions: West Midlands v Hampshire
Managers: Gary O'Neil v Russell Martin
Form: Not good; each team is in the relegation zone, only a place and a point between them, so this is what you would call a real relegation six-pointer - whoever won today would lift themselves beyond that dotted line, at least for twenty-four hours.
Targets: For both, just get out of that relegation zone
Expectation: I've seen Wolves pull off some pretty spectacular comebacks in the last few weeks, and I've seen very little from the Saints, despite their surprising win last week, so guess who I'm going for?
Ground: Molyneaux
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 19
Respective current positions (After match): 18 & 20
Respective final positions: 19 & 20

The visitors were true to form, putting the ball in the path of the Wolves player and giving away a first goal with only two minutes gone. They made amends for this ten minutes later though, as Manning got the best of a crowded Wolves' box and slammed the ball beyond the keeper. 1-1 after 12 minutes: who would have thought it? Well maybe not: VAR seemed to think there was a collision in the box, and the goal was ruled out. Southampton went in search of another though, all the play coming down the home end, but Wolves retained the lead going into the break.

1-0 was never going to be comfortable though, especially with the stakes so high, and the home side tried to add to it, managing this six minutes in when Cunha fired a long-range shot, surely a contender for goal of the month if not goal of the season? Wolves were almost three up when a careless Ramsdale gave the ball away to them, but the shot, which, had it gone in, would have been as good as, if not better than Cunha's shot, bounced wide to spare the keeper's blushes and keep it at 2-0. Another chance missed for the home side, but the game was theirs.

Result: Wolves 2 - 0 Southampton
Scorer(s): Saabia, Cunha (WOL)
VAR decision(s), if any: First goal for Southampton ruled out for a foul in the box; general consensus was that not only should the goal have stood, it was a foul on the other side. VAR fucked up, is what happened.
Effects: Wolves climb almost to the line, now 18th, and have recorded their first win of the season. Southampton fall back to the bottom. Again. Wolves actually fall one place after Sunday, with Ipswich's result.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Crystal Palace v Fulham
Regions: London v London
Managers: Oliver Glassner v Mario Silva
Form: Fulham won their last match while Palace were, perhaps, cheated of a first win with a goal that was ruled out last weekend.
Targets: Palace are just above the relegation zone, and need to move in the right direction. Fulham fancy a move further up the top half of the table.
Expectation: Fulham won on Monday so I would think - hope - they'll defeat Palace, though the Eagles are at home, which always helps.
Ground: Selhurst Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 17 & 7
Respective current positions (After match): 17 & 7
Respective final positions: 18 & 7

The Palace keeper was under pressure early on, but proved equal to it, and Fulham could have been ahead before the break, but for the acrobatics of their keeper, then minutes from the end of the first half Mateta could have put Palace in the lead but the ball was cleared off the line. It was though Smith Rowe who put the visitors ahead in the last seconds before half time. Palace missed a sitter in the first minutes of the second half, then got a free, which they wasted and Fulham were on the break, Smith Rowe scoring his and Fulham's second, except it was ruled out for offside.

Ten minutes from time Palace's troubles increased as they had a man sent off for a straight red, Wilson completing thier misery by scoring Fulham's second and putting the game well beyond the home side. And then a third, just to rub it in. But VAR wanted the ref to have a look, believing Wilson had controlled the ball with his hand. Sent to the monitor, the ref agreed, and the goal was struck off. But it didn't help Palace, who remain just above the line, still without a single win.


Result: Crystal Palace 0 - 2 Fulham
Scorer(s): Smith Rowe, Wilson (FUL)
VAR decision(s), if any: Fulham's third goal ruled out for handball; Smith Rowe's second ruled offside.
Effects: Crystal Palace remain where they are, but fall into the relegation zone after Sunday. Hooray! May they stay there. Fulham remain at 7th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: West Ham v Everton
Regions: London v Merseyside
Managers: Julen Lopetegui v Sean Dyche
Form: Everton are hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, just 2 points in it, while West Ham are not doing much better. Both teams need to start climbing before they sink further.
Targets: Pretty much just survival for both teams at this point.
Expectation: Really could go either way; hard to know who wants it more
Ground: The London Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 14& 16
Respective current positions (After match): 14 & 16
Respective final positions: 14 & 16

An early corner for the home side ended in an attack by Everton, almost in the same way Villa lost possession to Liverpool earlier, though this did not result in a goal. A few chances, but not much to talk about as we went into the second half, neither team able to score, and perhaps both showing why they are where they are. A long shot by Bowen came close as the second half got underway, and they were certainly pouring on the pressure now, a long range shot from Rodriguez nearly giving them the breakthrough.

Everton came as close, but really you'd have to say this was a game of two goalkeepers, each as athletic and acrobatic as his counterpart. West Ham almost took it, but Summerville hit the corner of the post and back it came, Ings shot but straight at Pickford, and it was beginning to look like a game with nil-nil stamped all over it. Not for the want of chances, Ings trying again and the Everton keeper again equal to it, but scoreless it ended, no use to either team.

Result: West Ham 0 - 0 Everton
Scorer(s): None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Effects: Both remain where they are, for now.

[Trollheart]

Sunday November 9 2024
Chelsea v Arsenal
Manchester United v Leicester
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
Tottenham Hotspur v Ipswich



Teams: Tottenham Hotspur v Ipswich
Regions: London v Suffolk
Managers: Ange Postecoglou v Kieran McKenna
Form: Tottenham are in good shape, and in the right half of the table. Ipswich have only 5 points and are looking a cert to go back down.
Targets: Spurs look to go 5th with a win, Ipswich, struggling at the other end, could climb out of the relegation zone with an unlikely victory.
Expectation: Got to go for Spurs on this one.
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 9 & 19
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 17
Respective final positions: 10 & 17

The team fighting relegation weren't hanging around, and almost scored within the first two minutes, but the Tottenham keeper was ready for the shot. A minute later it was Spurs who were on the attack, Johnson missing by a whisker. End to end stuff, as the Tractor Boys went back up the opposition end, got a corner, missed as it came back off the bar, the home team having their own go in the 19th, but the Ipswich keeper as alive to the danger as was his opposite number. On the half hour it was they who struck, Szmodics, who had had the first chance in the second minute, coming good as he pulled off an impressive overhead kick into the Spurs net.

The gulf in positions told though as Ipswich almost shot themselves in the foot as the half drew to a close, a wayward kick out from the keeper finding its way to Sarr, but luckily for the Suffolk team Spurs could not capitalise on the error, and then went two behind after some woeful defending let Delap in for Ipswich's second, Tottenham's defence needing a lot of work. In fairness, this did not look like a game between two teams almost at opposite ends of the table!

Spurs set about damage limitation as the second half got under way, Solanke helping them pull one back almost immediately, but there was a suspicion of handball, so would the goal stand? VAR confirmed the ball had come off the Spurs striker's hand, and the goal was chalked off. They did halve the deficit twenty minutes from time though, through Bentancur, but had the home side left it too late, and were Ipswich, doomed to relegation, about to record their first win? As extra time ticked away, the visitors almost did it again, giving the ball away in front of their own goal, but Solanke was unable this time to take advantage, and some last-ditch defending from Ipswich condemned Spurs to another defeat but more importantly gave the Tractor Boys their first win in the Premier League, and allows them to move out of the relegation zone for the first time.

Result: Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Ipswich
Scorer(s): Szmodics, Delap (IPS), Bentancur (TOT)
VAR decision(s), if any: Offside given against Solanke for handball
Effects: Ipswich finally put daylight between themselves and the dotted line, hauling themselves up to 17th. Tottenham slide to 10th, just hanging on there at the bottom of the top half of the table.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
Regions: Nottinghamshire v Tyne & Wear
Managers: Nuno Espirito Santos v Eddie Howe
Form: Forest are flying, in the heady reaches of third, with three wins in three and an in-form Chris Wood just behind Erling Haaland on goals this season. Newcastle are in the wrong half of the table, but a win today could lift them into the top half.
Targets: Forest look to be challenging for the title, damn them, and a win will keep them third, whereas Newcastle want to get into the top half.
Expectation: On form, you'd have to think Forest would take this one. And they're at home too.
Ground: The City Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 3 & 12
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 8
Respective final positions: 5 & 8

An elbow in the face from Yates could have given Newcastle a free, but the ref ignored that, as did VAR (well, they cleared it when it looked like a foul to me) and then compounded that by penalising the Magpies when they took down a Forest player on the break. Given that this was the City Ground, can that be seen as bias? Or just a failure to see what had happened? A mistake? Newcastle weren't happy about it anyway, and they were even less happy when they went one behind as Murillo rose to nod in from a corner on 21 minutes, Forest one to the good.

The Magpies tried to reply almost immediately, but the Forest keeper kept it out, maintaining their one goal lead into the second half, where Newcastle went close to levelling, but shot high. 1-0 is always a narrow lead though, and Newcastle's star man Isak drew them level just before the hour, no more than the visitors deserved, given their efforts. They had the bit between their teeth now and went for the win, Isak coming close to putting them ahead, but was it only a matter of time? Oh yes! Joelinton scored a peach with less than twenty minutes to go. Interestingly, both Newcastle goals went in off the post, the near for Isak's and the far one for Joelinton's.

Forest in for their first defeat in four now? There wasn't a lot of time to restore parity, and with 7 minutes of normal time to go, Barnes made sure that was impossible as he netted for Newcastle's third. The City Ground stunned.

Result: Nottingham Forest 1 - 3 Newcastle United
Scorer(s): Isak, Joelinton, Barnes (NEW), Murillo (FOR)
VAR decision(s), if any: Confirmed no foul for Newcastle
Effects: Forest slide down for the first time in a few weeks, to 5th while Newcastle capitalise on their win to move to 8th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Chelsea v Arsenal
Regions: London v London
Managers: Enzo Maresca v Mikel Arteta
Form: Both teams are in the top half of the table, a place between the two, equal on points, but Arsenal lost both their last match and in Europe, and may be demoralised, or may be out for blood. Chelsea are doing really well, and whoever wins today has a chance to get into the top four.
Targets: It's a razor-thin margin, and either team would like to be up there with the teams chasing the title and/or European football.
Expectation: Can't call it.
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 6
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 4
Respective final positions: 3 & 4

Chelsea were on the front foot from the first minute, Cole Palmer going close but Raya equal to the shot. A terrible miss then by Gusto, who headed the ball with gusto (sorry) but over the bar it went. A ball given away then near the end could have given Arsenal the lead but neither player could convert. Not, that is, until Havertz stole in on 32, but the goal was ruled out for offside, and so nothing to separate the teams as we went into the break.

Over the top again by Forfana as Chelsea opened the second half as they had the first, pushing for what might very well be the only goal, the one that would settle the match. It was however the visitors who scored just on the hour, through Martinelli with an inch-perfect strike. Ten minutes later Chelsea were level as Neto fired into the corner of the Arsenal net. Another glaring miss then for Arsenal minutes later as they tried to double their lead, missing again three minutes from time, surely the game today with the most missed chances. A final chance to win it was fluffed by Arsenal with yet another wide shot, right across the face of goal.

Result: Chelsea 1 - 1 Arsenal
Scorer(s): Martinelli (ARS), Neto (CHE)
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Effects: A point moves each up a place, Chelsea taking third, Arsenal behind them on 4th

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester United v Leicester
Regions: Manchester v Leicestershire
Managers: Ruud van Nistelroy v Steve Cooper
Form: You don't need to be told about United's form, surely? Leicester are midway up the table, but in the wrong half.
Targets: United need to improve on results ahead of the arrival of their new boss, and Leicester could do with getting higher in the table, too.
Expectation: I'd imagine Leicester might shade it, though with United at home, and City losing, who knows?
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 15
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 15
Respective final positions: 13 & 15

It was that man who scored first for United, Ferandes shooting into the Leicester net, perhaps somewhat against the run of play, the Foxes going clear soon after but unable to beat the keeper. Seven minutes from time Fernandes had doubled the home side's lead. Or had he? The goal was eventually given as an own goal, but I suppose he didn't care all that much. The important thing was that struggling Manchester United were 2-0 up at home, and just missed the chance to triple their lead in the last seconds.

Leicester were determined to come back though and went about their business as the second half began, but found themselves unable to get past the United keeper, and the home side caught them on the break, Garnacho scoring eight minutes from time to put the result in no doubt, and give Van Nistelroy, in the last of his brief managerial matches, an almost perfect record of wins, and set things up for the new boss, due to arrive next week.

Result: Manchester United 3 - 0 Leicester City
Scorer(s): Fernandes, Kristiansen (og), Garnacho (MNU)
VAR decision(s), if any: Fernandes's second goal ruled an own goal
Effects: Despite winning the game, and by a comfortable margin, Man United remain at 13th. Leicester stay where they are too.

[jimmy jazz]

In Unai I trust.

[Trollheart]

Time then, before we close, for those all-important facts and statisics.

Meh of the Day: I think the West Ham v Everton match qualifies. Some chances, a few sitters missed, no goals, no real thrills. Something of a borefest; a lot of huffing and puffing but nobody's house got blown in.

Scratch of the Day: Brentford coming back to win against Bournemouth 3-2, having been down 2-0.

Player of the Day: Darwin Nunez, who almost led the Liverpool line single-handedly against Villa.

Goal of the Day: Cunha's long-range shot for Wolves against Southampton or Szmodics's overhead kick against Spurs

Miss of the Day: Take your pick of the many Spurs missed against Ipswich: I kind of lost count.

Save of the Day: Nothing special

VARiations: Again, a weekend on which not too much interference from VAR, and no decisions made that turned games around either way.

Climb of the Day: Newcastle jump 4 places from 12 to 8 and into the top half of the table.

Drop of the Day: Nothing really major, though Crystal Palace do drop into the relegation zone.

Shock of the Day: A few actually. Certainly, Brighton beating Man City for the first time ever is one. So is Newcastle beating an in-form Forest, and credit has to be given, too, to Ipswich on their first ever win, which lifts them out of the relegation zone.

Mirth of the Day: The little dance done by Haaland and his partner behind the goal.

Quote of the Day: Bruno Fernandes on the awarding of his second goal to Leicester as an own goal: "I think the fantasy manager will not be too happy with you guys."

Or

Arne Slot, when asked if he will relax during the upcoming international break: "I may have to help my kids with their homework." Oh, the glamorous life of a Premiership manager!

Pen of the Day: Never mind best pen, this was perhaps the first week without a single one!

Gaffe of the Day: Brentford gifting Bournemouth the first goal of the match, with only the keeper to beat. And he beat him.

Score of the Day: Between Ipswich's 2-1 against Spurs and Newcastle's 3-1 victory over Forest.

Cliche of the Day Not really anything I saw or heard.

We Wuz Robbed! Nah.

Trollheart's Hates:

Arsenal

Held to a 1-1 draw with Chelsea, which doesn't help their title ambitions, so I'm happy enough with that.


Crystal Palace

Delighted to see them well beaten and falling into the relegation zone.


Manchester United

Hate to see that they won at home, but they did play better than Leicester.


Nottingham Forest

Delighted to see them lose, at home, and not only lose but be hammered by Newcastle. Have I said Up the Toon before? Well, I'm saying it again: Up the Toon!


So verall then it's

[Trollheart]

And finally, the table as we head into the international break:


See ya in two weeks!