Week 7: Premier League Tops & Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

OMG!

And once again Luis Suarez added to his Oscar nominations for the best drama queen! The Uruguayan striker stole the show once again with his antiques at Anfield. The 25-year old appeared to be stamped on by Stoke defender Robert Huth earlier on in the goalless game, the German lucky to stay on the pitch, before Suarez himself committed an embarrassing dive in the box, which he also escaped from uncautioned. Tony Pulis may slam Suarez for his drama performance and Rodgers may bemoan the missed chances and the officials' prejudice against his renowned forward, but both manager cannot deny the facts and problems they have to work on and improve on: Stoke's discipline and Liverpool's goal conversion rate (+ Suarez' balance), they are both as bad as each other! 

WOW!

Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney are hitting it off together for Manchester United. The two strikers may not have been on the scoreboard this week, but their hard work is paying off for their side. Both were providers for the first and second goal by Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra respectively. Tom Cleverley's dipping shot made it 3-0 from outside the box on the left bending across and past Steve Harper. It was United's first win at St James' Park since 2009 and a perfect comeback from their home defeat against Tottenham last week. That is something what Sir Alex Ferguson likes to see, I am sure. 

TOP!

Manchester City shut up their doubters this week with a clean sheet and convincing win against Sunderland. Smashing free kicks from Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner and a sweet Sergio Aguero goal ended Sunderland's unbeaten run in the league and gave Roberto Mancini the satisfaction of being proven right. The Italian manager was over-confident before the game and the three points won will justify this for him. Before this outing, City had conceded 16 goals in all competitions. But with Micah Richards having made a perfect return from injury after being out since April 2011 and added to the back line, the difference showed for City and will surely make it more difficult for Mancini to change - if he would ever consider to that is. So far so much better.

FLOP!

Norwich were thrashed the second time in a row. Last week they conceded five goals against Liverpool, this week they let through four against Chelsea. Manager Chris Hughton has only been in the job for a couple of months, but after seven games, no wins and 17 goals conceded, the worry is obvious, in the back line. Ok, The Canaries have only scored five too, which means they have conceded the most and scored the least in the whole Premier League. So, where shall they start you ask? Front? Middle? Back? The first ten minutes showed they can scare the opposition and score. Striker Grant Holt drilled one past Petr Cech and could not have made a better start for the visitors at Stamford Bridge. But the surprise did not last long. Hughton's men crumbled to bits. They may make good starts, but they have to learn to pull themselves together and hold onto what they have.

HERO!

Arsenal look back on track thanks to a star performance by new boy Santi Cazorla. The midfielder pulled all strings for The Gunners against The Hammers and crowned his performance with a breathtaking strike from 25-yards out to make it 1-3 with seven minutes remaining. Arsene Wenger said Cazorla's slick footwork reminds him of Glenn Hoddle and Theo Walcott, who was also on the score sheet, described him as their "conductor". The Spaniard certainly dictated the game for Arsenal, gliding through the competition, creating and providing for his team mates. I am certainly looking forward to seeing more from him. And so too from Olivier Giroud, who scored a fine first Premier League goal and set up Walcott for his. Promising signs and moves from Arsenal, that is for sure.

ZERO!

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is unpopular enough as it is. After his pathetic attempt to rebrand his club's ground as the Sports Direct Arena, the English billionaire is now reported to be negotiating a sponsorship deal with payday loans company Wonga. This did not go down well with the fans, which is an understatement. And after their side's defence was flawed once again by set pieces and thrashed 0-3 by United, I'm sure the fans won't be off Ashley's case or warm up to him any time soon.

Ashley Cole the twit and John Terry will have time over the international break to think over and take responsibility for their idiotic actions. The club have launched disciplinary proceedings against the prior whilst the latter will be consulting his legal advisers to decide whether to appeal against his four-match ban and £220,000 fine. I say to both, be a man, stand up and take responsibility for your actions! Yes, you were stupid, snot your normal self, so, yes, take the punishment and move on! Sometimes it is the best and only way to learn, the hard way! And the more and better you no next time, not to be such an idiot again! FULL STOP!

My Predictions => Actual Results
Man City 3-2 Sunderland => 3-0
Chelsea 3-0 Norwich => 4-1
Swansea 2-1 Reading => 2-2
West Brom 2-0 QPR => 3-2
Wigan 0-1 Everton => 2-2
West Ham 0-2 Arsenal => 1-3
Southampton 1-2 Fulham => 2-2
Liverpool 2-0 Stoke => 0-0
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa => 2-0
Newcastle 2-2 Man United => 0-3

Liverpool's worst run continues against United

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 1:2 Man United

Ten-man Liverpool let the game slip away as Robin van Persie's second half penalty handed Manchester United a 2-1 victory on an emotionally charged afternoon at Anfield. 

 

The two rival sides showed unity before the match in remembering the Hillsborough victims and families. The fans held up "The Truth", "Justice" and "96" mosaics on three sides of Anfield for the first minute of the match whilst all players shook hands before kick-off, including Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra. 

So, both the fans and the players spared themselves from any kind of abuse and distasteful acts or chants as they were renowned for in the past. But from kick-off, the two great rivals produced a typically competitive and contentious encounter. 

Liverpool dominated possession and play giving United hardly any look into the game. Even after being reduced to ten men, the home side did not give up or way that easily. 
The sending off incident was controversial when after Jonjo Shelvey and Jonny Evans both went for the ball, clattering into each other, the prior seeing red for it whilst the latter played the victim and got away. 

The 20-year old Liverpool midfielder showed his discontent with the decision to the referee and Sir Alex Ferguson on his way down the tunnel. 

The Reds held their heads up high and skipper Steven Gerrard volleyed them ahead second after the restart. But only five minutes later, Rafael Da Silva smashed in a spectacular equaliser with a sweet left-footed curler over Pepe Reina and in off the far post. 

United took over the last 20 minuted and when Antonio Valencia raced clear 50 yards into the area after Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson collided, the Ecuadorian made the most of the latter's comeback challenge, the referee pointing to the spot. 

It was clear, luck/justice/goals/points were not on Liverpool's side that afternoon. From the spot, RVP drilled home the winner even though Reina was oh so close. It was a much more encouraging display by the Reds, hopefully the results will and must follow, eventually!

Liverpool Goals: 45:49min Steven Gerrard (8).

Man United Goals: 50:29min Rafael Da Silva (2), 80:11min Robin van Persie (20).

Liverpool: 25 Reina (bkd 77.); 2 Johnson, 5 Agger (23 Carragher - 80.), 37 Skrtel, 34 Kelly; 33 Shelvey (s.o. 39.), 24 Allen, 8 Gerrard; 31 Sterling (14 Henderson - 66.), 7 Suarez, 29 Borini (30 Suso - HT). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 3 Jose Enrique, 4 Sahin, 11 Assaidi.

Man United: 13 Lindegaard; 3 Evra, 6 Evans, 5 Ferdinand, 2 da Silva (19 Welbeck - 89.); 11 Giggs, 16 Carrick; 17 Nani (22 Scholes - HT, bkd 58.), 26 Kagawi (14 Hernandez - 81.), 7 Valenica; 20 van Persie (bkd 84.). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 De Gea, 8 Anderson, 23 Cleverly, 28 Buttner.

Sky Stats: Liverpool-Man United
Attempts: 14-8
On target: 6-3
Offsides: 0-1
Corners: 7-3
Free kicks: 7-14
1st half Possession: 63.1%-36.9%
2nd half Possession: 41.2%-58.8%
Possession: 52%-48%
Passes: 459 - 420
Passing Success: 84.7%-85%
Tackles: 23 - 29
Tackling Success: 69.6%-72.4%

Referee: Mark Halsey
Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard

Week 3: Premier League Tops & Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend 

This weekend ended a window/month/week/day of transfer madness and saw only nine Premier League games as Chelsea played Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup on Friday. But still, all these games had plenty to shout about with 28 goals, 243 shots, 88 corners, three penalties (two scored, one saved), 177 fouls, 24 bookings and two red cards! Here are my best and worst picks:

OMG!

What a goal to equalise for Newcastle!!! Centre-half Cieran Clark scored opener for Villa, what a comeback for his side after seeing red last weekend and serving his suspension in midweek. It looked too easy, no defender was anywhere near when Barry Bannan's cross from the left was headed in.

Hatem Ben Arfa then produced a sensational right-foot rocket, stunning smacker from outside the box to equalise for the Toons after Demba Ba went down, claiming fowl play. What a hit!
And United's comeback was a classic. But even for them it's a record, it was the first time since 1996 the Red Devils came back from two goals down after 85 minutes!

WOW!

The Saints were superb against United! They will have been gutted to find themselves pointless at the bottom of the table at the end of the day. The results have been harsh on the promoted side, their performances impressing and encouraging much in contrast to the scoreboard and results so far. I am sure things will turn for the better for Southampton and they will not have to worry about the drop if they continue this way and style of play.

TOP!

It was a contrasting weekend for the top three Chelsea, Swansea, West Brom - the league leaders and Champions League winners were shamed and thrashed by Atletico Mardid in the UEFA Super Cup.

Neil Taylor went off injured and Chico Flores was sent off for the Swans in their 2-2 draw against Sunderland. Steven Fletcher's double for the visitors was levelled thanks to the fighting Swans, Wayne Routledge with a smacker and Miguel Michu with a header. It was a point hard fought for.
Shane Long gave West Brom the lead off Peter Odemwingie 1-0 and Gareth McAuley made it 2-0 off a corner, fine times for The Baggies.

FLOP!

The two clubs from Merseyside will be very frustrated after this weekend, both going back home pointless and a lot to scratch their heads about! They will be glad to have the international break to be able to go back into the training room and put chalk and changes to the board.

HERO!

Robin van Persie - whoever had their doubts the Dutch striker would be able to fit in and produce at United, well, they can eat their words and throw their predictions out the window! A hat-trick later, who said anything after he missed the spot-kick??? Not me, no, never... :-P

Tottenham's Brad Friedel created a brilliant double save against Robert Snodgrass, earning his side a draw against Norwich. Breathtaking stuff!

ZERO!

Liverpool will mourn missed chances and missing players once again! And Pepe Reina slipped and flopped AGAIN! What's going on with the Spaniard! Brendan Rodgers will have been fuming at the end of deadline day, Andy Carroll out on loan and Liverpool unable to fork out the money to strengthen their attack. Stats speak for themselves... weekend analysis

Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone's sending off for his two-footed tackle on Norwich's Jonny Howson was very harsh as it did not look intentional or with any force. Unlike Chico's stupid kick into Louis Saha's head! Swansea can't have any complaints against that dismissal!

TRANSFER MADNESS!!!

Over £480 million were spent by all Premier League clubs counted together, Chelsea being top spenders with nearly £80 million whilst West Brom finish the list at the bottom after having only spent £3 million. Tottenham, Man City, Man United and Arsenal complete the top five, the Gunners having spent not even half of Chelsea's shopping total! Full table => Totaliser table

My Predictions => Actual Results:
West Ham 2-2 Fulham => 3-0
Swansea 2-0 Sunderland => 2-2
Tottenham 1-0 Norwich => 1-1
West Brom 1-0 Everton => 2-0
Wigan 1-1 Stoke => 2-2
Man City 3-1 QPR => 3-1
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal => 0-2
Newcastle 2-0 Aston Villa => 1-1
Southampton 0-2 Man United => 2-3

Week 24: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

Top game: The first half at Stamford Bridge was relatively uneventful, not much happening, nothing note-worthy anyway, apart from Chelsea taking the lead through a Jonny Evans own goal. Then in the second half it all kicked off! Chelsea took 30 seconds to double their lead, throwing Sir Alex Ferguson's half-time team talk out the window. Four minutes later it was 3-0 and I would have liked to have seen one blue fan not celebrating three points in the bag. But two penalties later and a Javier Hernandez header six minutes from time, the comeback drama was complete! Typical United!

Top team: Never write off Arsenal, or Manchester United. If there is one thing we have learned over the last couple of decades, it is that just when you think they are going to fall they make a comeback, which makes script writing in the title drama(s) impossible! I found it very amusing to hear the commentators criticise Arsenal when Blackburn equalised against the run of play. They were picking out the Gunners' faults, gaps and recklessness and predicting their downfall if they continued like that. If only they had know what was going to follow... I would have liked to have seen the odds on a 7-1 Arsenal win at that point! Martin O'Neill and Sunderland need a mention in this category as they are top of the form table with five wins in the last six.

Top player: Robin van Persie had to make up for last week's goalless display and he more than did so with a hat-trick. On-loan star Thierry Henry poked his nose onto the scoreboard right at the end too, just to remind the Dutchman he has some French competition. But they played well together, 7-1 reflecting that more than clearly. A great contrast to last week's frustrating disappointment, I have to say!

Top goal: Papiss Cisse's debut goal for Newcastle was a stunning left-foot strike! He looks to have hooked up a very promising partnership with his countryman Demba Ba. Credit where credit is due, Alan Pardew has been mastering his job, getting the right players and right results, taking his side within a point of Chelsea and the top four!
Morten Gamst Pedersen's equalising free kick for Blackburn against Arsenal was a breathtaking goal too! Juan Mata's smacker to make it 2-0 for Chelsea against United was a perfect start to the second half!

Top news: Harry Redknapp was cleared on both counts of cheating the public revenue on Wednesday and on the same day, just hours later, he shot up to become the favourite to become the new England manager ahead of Euro 2012. What a difference a day makes, ey? He's doing so well at Spurs, I just don't want to see him ruining his managerial career like so many have done beforehand by taking on an impossible job!

Flop game and team: Everton's draw at Wigan was a scrappy game which did not see much action until the last 15 minutes. Liverpool's goalless draw against Tottenham kept their unbeaten home record intact, taking the run to 15 games. It was a big improvement compared to the 4-1 thrashing Liverpool got the last time these two sides met, however, the Reds will be more frustrated with yet another draw with eight out of twelve home games ending up with just one point in the bag for Liverpool. Spurs deserved the point for their gritty defending, showing backbone, eventhough they missed their manager and key players.

Flop player: Djibril Cisse's red card turned him from hero to zero for QPR. The Frenchman scored a superb debut goal last week. This week, he raised his hand to fight off defender Roger Johnson, a stupid, stupid mistake. In contrast to that, Robert Huth's sending off for Stoke was harsh. He went for the ball, got the ball, but due to the weather conditions and snowy, slippery field, he took Sunderland's David Meyler with him. Referee Martin Arkinson should have considered both those factors in his decision. But he is known for his hard line on such tackles, having sent off Jack Rodwell and Yohan Cabaye for similar tackles in the past.

Flop goal: I don't know how Fernando Torres could miss that! He found the gap, raced into the box and then instead of shooting he just danced an extra couple of steps of tango which in the end wasted the chance and lost possession. Tim Howard's SPILL gifted Wigan a goal against Everton, what a howler! The goalkeeper failed to collect a ball and saw it deflect off his own player Phil Neville. OUCH! This weekend saw a collection own goalss/deflections/dodgy penalty decisions! CRINGE!

Flop news: And England have more than enough excuses to flop in a major competition yet again. Fabio Capello's resignation after the FA's decision to strip John Terry of his England captaincy due to the pending racism case against him is a farce! The whole thing is a farce! Euro 2012 - forget about it!

Forgot my predictions this week, so here are just the results:

Arsenal 7-1 Blackburn

Norwich 2-0 Bolton

QPR 1-2 Wolves

Stoke 0-1 Sunderland

West Brom 1-2 Swansea

Wigan 1-1 Everton

Man City 3-0 Fulham

Newcastle 2-1 Aston Villa

Chelsea 3-3 Man United

Liverpool 0-0 Tottenham

Week 12: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Top game: Liverpool's 2:1 win at Stamford Bridge showed the difference between the new boy and the old school. Tactically Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and his assistant Steve Clarke got everything spot-on and outclassed and outplayed André Villas-Boas' side. David Luiz and John Terry fell victim to Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez on the flanks and Craig Bellamy supporting Luis Suárez and could not recover after a dire first half. With Manchester City next on the fixture list, Liverpool will hope they can continue that trend.

Top team: The records keep on tumbling for Manchester City. With 11 wins and one draw in the first 12 league fixtures, City have made the best start by any team in Premier League history. And with 42 goals, they have the highest goal tally at this stage since Tottenham with 44 goals in the 1963-64 season. Who needs Carlos Tevez? Talking about Tottenham, they are enjoying their best start to the season since 1966, scoring at least two goals in the last nine games.

Top player: Robin Van Persie was the man again, scoring both goals in Arsenal's 2:1 win at Norwich. He has scored 31 goals in 29 league games this year, only five away from Alan Shearer's record of 36 goals in a calendar year. Theo Walcott partnered brilliantly with the Dutch striker as attacker and provider, although the Gunners still showed worrying signs at the back after conceding the 18th away goal this season, the worst record in the Premier League.

Top goal: Glen Johnson's fine run and left-foot shot, after steering the ball through Ashley Cole's legs off Charlie Adam's probing pass to the right wing, summarised and won a match where Liverpool dominated a flawed Chelsea side. Emmanuel Adebayor's acrobatic finish put a sweet touch onto Tottenham's win against Aston Villa, a game they also dominated and never saw or got much opposition to fear.

Top news: The Champions League is back in action this week, the decisive stage of the group phase kicking off.

Flop game: Fulham's goalless draw at Sunderland had its opening 15 minutes of excitement, the home side hitting the woodwork twice and visitors seeing a chance cleared off the line, but that was about it. Mark Schwarzer's right-leg save after diving the wrong way when Stephane Sessegnon's shot had taken a wicked deflection off Philippe Senderos was the most sensational and crucial action of the game, Fulham's 25th game of the season, their fatigue showing.

Flop team: Losing three out of the last four Premier League games after their fourth defeat of the season against Liverpool, Villa-Boas will most certainly feel the fans, the players and a certain Russian breathing down his neck. Everyone will have a sell-by-date in mind for the Portuguese and if Chelsea continue like this I don't think he will reach 2012. Too negative, too scrambled and too leaking, that is how they looked against the Reds. And we all know Roman Abramovich's patience.

Flop player: Ryan Taylor will want to forget this weekend as quickly as possible. The Newcastle's defender's mistakes led to two goals conceded within four minutes against Manchester City. First he gave away a penalty with an obvious handball, netted cooly by Mario Balotelli, and then he let Micah Richards score an easy one without much of a challenge. What makes these kind of errors the more frustrating is the fact that Newcastle were everything else but outplayed. The were in it with a shout, testing Joe Hart thoroughly and constantly.

Flop goal: The media and press have covered Blackburn's 3:3 draw at Wigan as controversial with a corner and penalty that should not have been. I don't agree with that. I see the prior as a last minute change of heart, Morten Gamst Pederson taking the (ball from) the corner rather than Yakubu Ayegbeni, providing David Hoilett to head it in. And the penalty given in injury time was a penalty-and-a-half, even if it was goalkeeper Paul Robinson attacking a late corner in the opposition's box and being kicked in the face for it by David Jones, it was still a penalty which saw Yakubu net the eqaliser in the 99th minute. That is what the game is all about, making the most of what you have and (can) (maybe) (hopefully) get!

Flop news: Believe it or not, the FA confirmed the possibilty of goal-line technology from the 2012-13 season. Yeh, I won't believe that until I see it!

My predictions - Actual results

Norwich 1:2 Arsenal - 1:2

Everton 1:1 Wolves - 2:1

Man City 3:1 Newcastle - 3:1

Stoke 1:2 QPR - 2:3

Sunderland 2:0 Fulham - 0:0

West Brom 1:1 Bolton - 2:1

Wigan 1:1 Blackburn - 3:3

Swansea 0:1 Man Utd - 0:1

Chelsea 2:0 Liverpool - 1:2

Tottenham 2:2 Aston Villa - 2:0

Week 10: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Top game: With 38 goals in total, all 10 games had their spoils of action and entertainment, but my vote goes to the big London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal. Stamford Bridge saw eight goals, five bookings, a lucky goalkeeper in Wojciech Szczesny and loads of missed chances including some good saves at both ends. It could have been 10 goals each!

Top team: Newcastle continued their high ride with their win at Stoke, taking them up to third, just one point behind Manchester United! They are definitely in the top four race with more than a shout, joining an impressive Tottenham (with a game in hand!), adamant Arsenal and persistent Liverpool. Chelsea have to watch out!

Top player: Robin van Persie pinned down his mark on the game and team with his hat-trick at Stamford Bridge, if it needed any further consolidation. It just shows what he is for Arsenal, that he IS Arsenal, the question is whether he will stay put or go and condemn his team to doom. With his second hat-trick of the season, Demba Ba needs a shout out too again, riding high like his side, the sky is the limit.

Top goal: Juan Mata's equaliser to make it 3-3 was breathtaking. The 25-yard swerver looked to grab Chelsea a point with only 10 minutes left on the clock, but van Persie and Arsenal had another idea. Both sides' first goals at Carrow Road were stunners. Junior Hoilett put Rovers ahead with a sweet 20-yard finish before Steve Morison's smashing strike drew Norwich level. And that just got the game started!

Top news: Plenty of Champions League action this week, the week which marks Sir Alex Fergusons 25th anniversary at Old Trafford!


Flop game: Both Chelsea's and Arsenal's defence had a nightmare of a day, the prior letting in five, the latter "only" three. The back line rarely got it right, leaving too big gaps, giving away too easy chances, hence the scoreline. As mentioned above it could have been 10-10 the way the defenders were going!

Flop team: Chelsea have to be careful they do not slip and end up too far away of grabbing a top four spot after two consecutive defeats. It is not just the fact they have lost two games in a row that is all too worrying, but the way and it what fashion they lost them. The were taken to pieces by Arsenal this week and crumbled to bits against QPR last week with two players seeing red! They will not want to see a repeat of either!

Flop player: As mentioned above, Szczesny was a lucky man not to see red for his tackle on Ashley Cole outside the box (as he confessed himself on twitter), but John Terry added to his shame after the whole racism debacle when he slipped and missed Florent Malouda's pass for van Persie to slot in his second and Arsenal fourth, condemning the Blues to another defeat.

Flop goal: As mentioned above, Terry's slip up was a cringer but the last-minute handball penalty given against Steven N'Zonzi was just outright cruel! The Blackburn defender was squeezed between two Norwich players and put his hands up to appeal for a free kick. He did not see the ball and could not help it bounce of his arm, HARSH penalty and harsh result on a Blackburn side that finally made manager Steve Kean more proud and able to hold his head up high with an impressive performance. Just the wrong result.

Flop news: Whilst a police investigation has been launched against Terry in the racism row and the Tevez malarkey is bubbling on, Harry Redknapp has undergone heart surgery without making a drama of it! It puts things into perspective doesn't it? I hope it wakes up certain whiners and idiots to reality and what really counts.

My predictions - Actual results

Everton 1:1 Man Utd - 0:1

Chelsea 2:1 Arsenal - 3:5

Man City 4:0 Wolves - 3:1

Norwich 1:1 Blackburn - 3:3

Sunderland 1:1 Aston Villa - 2:2

Swansea 3:1 Bolton - 3:1

Wigan 0:0 Fulham - 0:2

West Brom 1:2 Liverpool - 0:2

Tottenham 5:1 QPR - 3:1

Stoke 2:0 Newcastle - 1:3

Week 6: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Top team: Stoke did a brill job in their hard-fought draw against Manchester United, especially after the hammering they had received against Sunderland. Unlike in their win against Liverpool, they stayed on top, kept control and players in all areas, frustrating the hell out of their visitors, the stats showing and confirming their strength and competitiveness at home: Attempts 11:10, On target 5:4, Corners 8:8, Bookings 1-0, Possession 47%-53%. The question is whether they can keep this up week in, week out, home and away.

Top player: Obviously Robing van Persie needs a shout out in this category for scoring his 100th goal for Arsenal, only the 17th Gunner to do so and it was a cheeky one he coolly tucked in with the outside of his left boot, top notch. However, for scoring his first goal for his club and making a hat-trick out of it, my vote goes to Newcastle's Demba Ba. One beauty and a couple of headers and it could have been more, Ba showed he is top of the show right now, like the Magpies who are still unbeaten sitting comfortably in 4th place, two points ahead of Liverpool in 5th, only one behind Chelsea in 3rd. Nice.

Top goal: So many beauties to pick from: Fernando Torres' right-footed, on turn, first touch beauty; Nani's buildup and shot side-stepping Jonathan Woodgate to open the score for Manchester United at Stoke; but my vote goes to Ba again with his first goal for Newcastle, a fine drive, right-footed turn off Leon Best's cross from the left, smash-boom-bang, he went on to get a hat-trick in his side's 3-1 win against Blackburn. Sweet.


Top news: I loved Jeff Stelling's rant against the Southampton Chief Executive Nicola Cortese on Sky Sports News' Gillette Soccer Saturday, defending his colleague, friend and Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier and Lawrie McMenemy... Good on ye!

Flop game: The goalless draw between West Brom and Fulham was not much to shout about. Manchester City's win against Everton was not much of a competition either though. Apart from the goals, there was not much going on...


Flop player: Again, Torres went from top to flop, hero to zero within minutes! Last week he missed an open goal against Manchester United, this week he got himself sent off with a stupid two-footed tackle on Mark Gower minutes after he scored the opener for Chelsea against Swansea. 

Flop goal: Liverpool were lucky with the opener to take the lead against Wolves at Anfield. It was a fine cross from the left by Charlie Adam which looked to go wide before Roger Johnson's intervention, his header putting it into his own net. Ouch. Liverpool went on to dominate after that and won the game not comfortably but convincingly 2:1 which shows what a difference a goal/an error makes.

Flop news: Can Carlos Tevez still call himself a football player (payed around £250k per week!!!) after refusing to play football?!?!?! He's a joke! I think the suspension he has received is the least the club can do, with their hands tied on money and market matters, the question is, how can they punish him without punishing themselves with it? And for once in my life I agree with what Fifa said!!!

My predictions - Actual results

Man City 3:2 Everton - 2:0

Arsenal 3:1 Bolton - 3:0

Chelsea 3:0 Swansea - 4:1

Liverpool 2:1 Wolves - 2:1

Newcastle 1:2 Blackburn - 3:1

West Brom 2:1 Fulham - 0:0

Wigan 0:2 Tottenham - 1:2

Stoke 0:1 Man Utd - 1:1

QPR 0:0 Aston Villa - 1:1

Norwich 1:1 Sunderland - 2:1

Week 3: Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Week

Manchester highs, London lows, goals galore, penalties missed, ... Just loads to choose from this weekend gone, unbelievable scores, scenes, action, teams, players and goals! That is the Premier League at its most shocking best!!!

Top game: All Manchester, 16 goals in their two games, 13 goals between the two Mancunian rivals on the day, both topping the Premier League table, United just beating City to the top by one goal more in their goal difference. Mark the 23rd October in your football diary - the first Manchester derby of the season! What are the odds on a 0-0 in that match, I wonder?


Top team: All Manchester again, both sides riding high over everyone at the moment, although Liverpool would want a shout here too with a beautiful display and strong play in their 3-1 win against Bolton. Luis Suarez was crucial and controversial as always, the ref did well though and kept control.


Top player: Scoring the first City hat-trick since 1962, Edin Dzeko is on fire fire fire! Wayne Rooney scored his 102nd United league goal, top notch Premier League record for United, to make it 4:1 against Arsenal. The former Evertonian then completed his 6th career hat-trick with a penalty to make it 7:2, his 151st for the club overtaking Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes in the process! And that still wasn't the end of that game!!!


Top goal: Jose Bosingwa's bullett against Norwich to make it 1-0 to Chelsea,was a brilliant strike from outside the box, over 20m away! Grant Holt's equaliser was a cheeky breathtaker too, with his back to the goal, hurling it over the keeper, although it came from Chelsea nr 3 Ashley Cole's mistake/backpass, stunning play.


Top news: Transfer madness to end the transfer window! Arsenal finally having a shout, too, very late on...


Flop game: There was not much happening at Villa Park, 0-0 and yawns against Wolves. It just wasn't meant to be at Swansea, 0-0, Sunderland were saved by woodwork though. Swansea were good up front but showed too many gaps at the back, to be punished against stronger side unless they learn and tighten up. QPR will be wondering what they are doing wrong after hitting the bar three times and still going home without any points! There was very little in the game, mm and a little bit of luck the difference between them.


Flop team: Tottenham once again, showed a strong start, but didn't take their chances, ended up falling to pieces against a strong attack and were thrashed for all their (lack of) effort. The Gunners certainly got their gobs smacked! Another missed penalty for Robin van Persie v David De Gea for Ashley Young to make it 2:0 seconds later with a stunner... But no one could have foreseen the downfall and whipping, hitting, thrashing torture that followed! Unbelievable!


Flop player: When Didier Drogba was knocked out cold, the players showed good reaction, character and attitude, the Norwich keeper John Ruddy especially, he could have just ignored it but realised straight away how serious it was! Respect. But then: Ruddy got himself sent off for felling Ramires in the box, shame but good refereeing after everything, contact was made, risky tackle. Frank Lampard was relieved to net it too, bang straight down the middle. With 11 minutes added time, the third goal came in the 11th minute, good refereeing all round I would say after the Drogba delay. Don't know what the Norwich manager Lambert was on about...


Flop goal: Missed penalties! It was just not meant to be for Blackburn, missing two of them!!! Then a penalty came for Everton, after Chris Samba jumped onto and over Marouane Fellaini, caught him in a sandwich, Mikel Arteta showed Blackburn how it's done and netted the spot kick easy, 0-1, on 90+2! Cruel, cruel, cruel! Of 9 penalties so far this season, 6 have been missed! I think all penalties were correct according to the rule book, harsh but right! (This was before the flood of goals on Sunday, I may note- Rooney netting one penalty and van Persie missing his one makes it 7 misses out of 12 penalties in total so far this season, if I haven't missed anything that is... :-P)

Flop news: Man City's chief executive Garry Cook's resignation over mocking email - rightly so, heartless b....... 

My predictions - Actual results

Aston Villa 1:1 Wolves - 0:0

Blackburn 1:2 Everton - 0:1

Chelsea 2:1 Norwich - 3:1

Swansea 0:0 Sunderland - 0:0

Wigan 0:1 QPR - 2:0

Liverpool 3:0 Bolton - 3:1

Newcastle 2:0 Fulham - 2:1

Tottenham 2:3 Man City - 1:5

West Brom 1:2 Stoke - 0:1

Man Utd 3:1 Arsenal - 8:2