PREMIER LEAGUE NUGGETS – MatchWeek 6
BEES LIGHTNING STRIKES THRICE
Thomas Frank’s men did it for the third consecutive match, scoring inside the first minute is becoming a hasty habit in West London. This time they were at home and Bryan Mbeumo repeated what he had done at Tottenham the previous week only this time it took a relatively pedestrian 38 seconds for him to beat the keeper with an accomplished volley. Next up at the Gtech stadium are Wolves, so be warned and try to hold out for over a minute.
WINLESS QUINTET
Talking of Wolves, they are one of five clubs yet to register a win after six matches, joining Palace and the three newcomers Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton. This is only the second time in the Premier League that five clubs are without a victory after so many games – the other season was 2021/22. This is the second consecutive season that the three promoted clubs have failed to register a win in their opening six matches, last season the first three points came in Burnley’s seventh match, an away win at fellow promoted club Luton.
It is significant that the number of clubs failing to win after six matches has increased in the last decade or so, as the gap between top and bottom grows ever wider. Between 1992/93 and 2003/04 [12 seasons] there were never more than two clubs without a win at this stage of the season. In 2004/05 Palace, West Brom and Norwich were still looking for their first three points and in the following ten seasons up to 2013/14 there was only one more occasion when that many clubs were in the same boat, in 2012/13 with Norwich, QPR and Reading.
So in the first 22 Premier League seasons only twice were there more than two clubs winless after six matches or 11%. While by stark contrast, that percentage has shot up to 64% as in seven of the eleven seasons since at least three clubs have been spluttering this badly in their first half dozen matches.
It Started With a Kick
Episode 26’s guest needs no introduction as one of the most recognisable voices over the last five decades and more of football commentary. Martin Tyler was the voice of the Premier League for the first thirty years; his obsession with football began back in 1953 as he visited Kingfield to watch Woking beat Kingstonian in the FA Amateur Cup. During his long, illustrious career Tyler has not only been a commentator but also a fan, player, coach and he even helped paint Woking’s ground. He once played alongside Bobby Moore at Wembley and got a lift back from Newcastle on the Chelsea team bus courtesy of Jose Mourinho. Listen to these and other cracking stories in this episode
Part 1 – https://bit.ly/4eGQH1J
Part 2 – https://bit.ly/3XQEZef
The Football Mine 