Issue 53 - Takeaways And Tackles

The football advent calendars are now open. This means a whole feast of December action up and down the country and it starts this evening. Not ideal for the publishing cycle of my newsletter but better to have lots to talk about than nothing at all. Issue 53. Go.

Filtering The Weekend

If i dissect the weekend and preview the midweek action, it will probably take until Friday evening to read this issue. Therefore, the newsletter is going to live up to its name and literally filter out the biggest talking points of the weekend.

Caicedo Red Card

It took enough time to reach the decision but I think it was the right call in seeing Moises Caicedo given a red card against Arsenal. Not quite the top of the table clash after Manchester City’s win the day before, was it two points dropped by the Gunners?

Had it been 11 v 11 for the duration of the game, you could argue that Mikel Arteta’s men would have taken a draw away from home. Especially as it would mean Chelsea did not erode the gap at the top.

However, the numerical superiority on the pitch was not taken advantage of and although the Gunners are still head and shoulders above everyone else in the Premier League this season, that draw may have just opened the door to their rivals once more.

A lack of cutting edge seems to be that knawing underlying issue for Arsenal. It won’t be an issue if they do go on to win the title. It will certainly be an issue if they let it slip through their fingers once again.

The Goalkeeper Loophole

Manchester City played a get out of jail card on Saturday and although Gianluigi Donnarumma’s treatment after going down was not against the laws of the game, it was easily against the spirit of it.

Then again, the loophole that allows for extra instructions to be handed over when a goalkeeper goes down ‘injured’ was not abused for the first time this season at the Etihad and until the law makers close it off, it won’t be the last.

Of course, Leeds still had to play out a large swathe of the game between those instructions and then final whistle, their poor game management may only accelerate the end of Daniel Farke’s management at Elland Road.

Getting His Goal

Alexander Isak gets his first league goal for Liverpool. Mo Salah on the bench against West Ham. It would be too simple to suggest that the former was a consequence of the latter but it does also suggest the future direction of the Merseyside men.

Do you now build the team around the Swedish striker and not the Egyptian King? There has to be an element of transition at some point and although in an ideal world you could co-exist with both, it may well be that you have to see less of Salah to get more out of Isak.

Thomas Frank Terrorball

Another poor showing for Tottenham in front of their own fans. Defeat to Fulham, a howler from Vicario. The manager suggesting that booing your own players is not a welcome sound.

Not the kind of statement you can make when you suffer a third league defeat in four - having picked up just one point from 12. Spurs simply do not have a ball carrier at present, the on-field product is not worthy of earning European football next season.

Sunderland Keep Flying

Sunderland will not be relegated at the end of the season. Which means a non-promoted team will. Wolves the easy decision as their likely replacement, you can also make a strong case for the bottom three as of right now being the bottom three at the end of the season.

Cherries Turning Sour

Like Tottenham, Bournemouth have only picked up a point from the last 12 on offer. No sign of crisis at the Vitality but maybe the need to be more pragmatic under Andoni Iraola. They’ve conceded 23 goals in their first 13 games.

Very easy on the eye but is this the problem? Do they need to recalibrate when it comes to flair versus steel. The next couple of weeks may answer that question once and for all.

Other Results Available

Brighton win on the road, they have now picked up 13 points from the last 15 on offer. For those who say they are inconsistent, they are proving this is not the case.

Aston Villa squeeze out a win at home to Wolves but their top four momentum continues at pace. They host Arsenal soon. They couldn’t gatecrash the title race could they?

Palace stall at home to Manchester United, Oliver Glasner and Jean-Philippe Mateta stalling in terms of contract talks. A source of friction at Selhurst Park.

Brentford’s fortress becomes stronger at the GTech. Could Igor Thiago be leading the line for Brazil this summer?

Newcastle found their groove at Everton. Turns out they can win away from home. Jordan Pickford with a performance that he would rather forget. As with Everton, it is always a sense of one step forward and two steps back.

Ten Quick Tackles

A look at the main talking points as we head into the upcoming Premier League midweek schedule.

Bournemouth vs Everton

Bournemouth leaking goals for fun, Everton cannot score for Toffee. A neat juxtaposition before the two teams meet at the Vitality Stadium in just a few hours. The Cherries finding themselves in the bottom half of the table, a win could thrust them as high as seventh for at least 24 hours.

While Everton’s head of steam was extinguished at the hands of Newcastle on Saturday. If they cannot score against a Bournemouth that is conceding left, right and centre at present then it will only further highlight the attacking woes that David Moyes is having to deal with right now.

Fulham vs Manchester City

A hugely important win for Fulham on Saturday night, one that just gives the Cottagers more breathing space between themselves and the bottom three. Now though, it is a case of out of frying pan and into the fire with the visit of Manchester City in just a few hours.

City’s return to winning ways at the weekend was far harder than it needed to be, at 2-0 up you would have thought they were done and dusted. At 2-2, they showed that this crop under Pep Guardiola are a team that can be got at. They need to make sure they are not got at in West London.

Newcastle vs Tottenham

Newcastle buoyant by back-to-back league wins, Tottenham terrified at the thought of visiting Tyneside this evening. The Magpies’ home form could be the key in this, they have won four of their first six league clashes at St James’ this season.

As for Spurs, if we are being frank, then they need to earn a win tonight. Almost non-existent back in October when the two teams met in the Carabao Cup at the same venue, after Saturday’s showing there is little reason to suggest anything different later on.

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

Moving on to Wednesday and Wolves are still looking for not only their first win under new manager Rob Edwards but simply their first league win of the season. Nine points from safety already as we enter December. 10 points behind the team they host on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest were second best to an in-form Brighton on Sunday, maybe a knock-on effect that the Thursday/Sunday European cycle creates. The games come thick and fast now, so Sean Dyche and his players will just have to get use to it. Three points on Wednesday will be the perfect tonic.

Arsenal vs Brentford

League leaders Arsenal will look to reinforce their standing at the top when they play out another London derby on Wednesday. This time around the Gunners open their doors to Brentford. On paper, this has all the hallmarks of a routine home win. Many neutrals will be hoping for something different.

While Brentford will hope the difference is with them picking up all three points at the Emirates. They don’t care much for the title race but the prospect of moving further up the top half of the table will be of interest to Keith Andrews. There is always a midweek shock somewhere.

Brighton vs Aston Villa

Two in-form teams meet in East Sussex on Wednesday as Brighton play host to Aston Villa. Not a fixture that would necessarily have been attached to top four jeopardy at the start of the season, but this feels like not any normal season.

Both teams arrive at The AMEX having picked up league wins on Sunday. The Seagulls have picked up 14 points from their last 18 on home turf. Something for Unai Emery’s men to consider as they will look to four successive league wins on Wednesday.

Burnley vs Crystal Palace

Four successive defeats for Burnley, nobody really talking about it because nobody expected much different. That is not to say that Scott Parker’s men are playing badly or giving a poor account of themselves, just another case of the fine margins going against them. Now those fine margins need to land in their favour.

They welcome a Crystal Palace side who will be disappointed in letting their Sunday lunchtime lead slip against Manchester United. They start the midweek schedule sitting ninth, they could be in the bottom half by the time they take to the Turf Moor field of play. Another example of how volatile this league has been this season.

Leeds vs Chelsea

Leeds need a win on Wednesday, it really is that simple. Five defeats from their last six league outings, everything I have said about Daniel Farke in the past couple of weeks still rings true before the visit of Chelsea. Spirited in their loss to Man City on Saturday, spirit alone does not put points on the board.

Visitors Chelsea will be spirited by their own performance at the weekend - especially as they were a man short for more than 45 minutes against Arsenal. If they are to be considered genuine title challengers, they will need to win at Elland Road on Wednesday. Anything less (assuming Arsenal beat Brentford) and that will probably be that.

Liverpool vs Sunderland

Liverpool end their dreadful streak, now they need to go on a monster run themselves. They face Arsenal next month, if they can win that game and get the margin of error down to just three points after success at the Emirates, then they would be back in the title picture. Then again, they cannot overlook Sunderland on Wednesday.

At what stage do the Black Cats stop being the surprise act of the season? That is the question that everyone is asking, it is probably too early to rid that tag but if they can send Liverpool packing at Anfield, then it will certainly create more misery for Arne Slot and his players.

Manchester United vs West Ham

Manchester United have won one game in a row, with the run of fixtures that are ahead of them in the next few weeks, that bloke must be quietly confident of getting his haircut just after Christmas. At the same time, the Red Devils must be quietly confident of beating West Ham on Thursday.

A West Ham side that travels to Manchester without the services of Lucas Paqueta. An absolute mindless sending off at home to Liverpool on Sunday, if it weren’t for Allison trying to cool his compatriot down, I think the Hammers’ midfielder would still be arguing with the referee.

Predictive Power

They are the main takeaways but what are the main outputs from my AI predictive model?

Five results right last time out. My AI assistant not bidding for the European places.

What do you think the scores will be this midweek. Can you beat AI? Let me know in the comments below.

The Filter Five

Five sprints up the touchline to keep you warm

Round The Corner

Much has been made of VAR not being able to decide whether a ball has correctly gone out for a corner or not. Nottingham Forest had a phase where it was seemingly happening every week.

Thankfully, this will not be an issue at the upcoming World Cup. Is this too much scope creep in terms of technology? I’ll say no but happy to hear your thoughts on the matter.

World Cup Draw

The World Cup draw takes place on Friday. However, the scheduling of the tournament is not confirmed until Saturday. I guess FIFA have to work out what games can get the biggest audiences with the time differences to the US.

Surely AI could work out that in seconds?

No Summer Break

As soon as the World Cup finishes, the Premier League are planning to take four of their clubs to Asia for the next edition of the ‘Summer Series’

No doubt this will somehow be the fault of the FA Cup when it comes to discussing player fatigue at the top level.

Look, It’s Antman

Rangers midfielder Oliver Antman is out for the next two months with a leg injury. For the record, the 24-year-old does not have six legs like his insect namesake.

Fantasy Stuff

FPL deadline is 18:00 Tonight. Do not fall into the midweek trap.

Admin

Right, that’s the end of issue 53 as word continues to spread around the football world.

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