22 December MW 17 OFF, OFF, OFF, OFF, OFF In a season littered with red cards even last weekend’s flurry of dismissals was quite something. Only once before in Matchweek 2 have there been as many as five. The Brentford Villa match was the third this season to feature two sending-offs, but the first toContinue reading “2023/24 Premier League Nuggets”
Category Archives: Aston Villa
2023/24 Premier League Nuggets
15 December MW 16 VILLA HOME COMFORTS By beating Arsenal and Manchester City in quick succession at Villa Park, Aston Villa secured their 14th and 15th successive Premier League home wins. A run that stretches back to February when they lost 4-2 to Arsenal. Over those 15 matches they have scored 39 goals and concededContinue reading “2023/24 Premier League Nuggets”
Premier League Nuggets 2023/24
3 November MW 10 NEW BOYS, OLD TROUBLES Another pointless round of matches for the promoted three. With just a solitary point from their first ten matches, Sheffield United are beginning to look a tad beleaguered. A goal difference of minus 22 is the joint worst of any side at the bottom of Premier LeagueContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”
Premier League Nuggets 2023/24 – MW 5
22 September Week 5 TO THE BITTER END Both Tottenham and Aston Villa scored twice after the 96th minute of their matches, the latest in an increasingly long line of goals scored in 2nd half added time. There have been 18 goals scored this season after 90 minutes, 12% of overall total. Tottenham’s second goalContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24 – MW 5”
Premier League Nuggets 2023/24
So that’s Week 1 done and dusted and here are the tastiest Nuggets from that opening weekend :- Week 2 NEWCASTLE As Newcastle fans rejoiced in hammering Villa 5-1 on Saturday, as well as being top of the league, they could be forgiven for missing out on the fact that they are currently the onlyContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”
Premier League Nuggets
As the thirtieth Premier League season is over, it is high time for some Nuggets, all 30 of them firstly club-by-club, and then some generic ones. 1. Starting with Arsenal who lost more games (13) than Brighton (11) & Palace (12) but won more (22) than Chelsea (21). 2. Next up it’s Aston Villa –Continue reading “Premier League Nuggets”
A return to Selhurst for a fond farewell
Picture c/o Chris Hopkins It had been far too long since attending my last match, 438 days to be precise. I and thousands of others have sorely missed the matchday experience. Meeting up for a drink beforehand, bumping into familiar faces and then watching the game itself with its combination of anxiety and exhilaration. AfterContinue reading “A return to Selhurst for a fond farewell”
Own Goals Part Three: Richard Dunne the undisputed OG king
This is the third part of the series on own goals and the focus is very much on the doyen of OG, but before honing in on the master of the art, we start with the first outfield player to get in on the act, Manchester City’s Garry Flitcroft. Just a week after Mark Crossley’sContinue reading “Own Goals Part Three: Richard Dunne the undisputed OG king”
Own Goals Part One – Keepers’ Clangers
They are football’s equivalent of tragicomedies. Own goals litter the football landscape with an intoxicating mixture of laughter and tears. Over the next few weeks here on The Football Mine I will be publishing an occasional series of pieces that focus on these captivating slices of football history, those little vignettes that can define aContinue reading “Own Goals Part One – Keepers’ Clangers”
The Kids are Alright
The FA Cup third round is often portrayed as the most exciting weekend of the football calendar. It’s when David gets to meet Goliath as the Premier League clubs join the fray and non-league clubs have the chance of playing against the elite. This year’s competition threw up a few such contests with the mostContinue reading “The Kids are Alright”