26 January MW21 Part 2 SYMMETRY The five matches over the weekend yielded 18 goals with Saturday’s games involving five goals each, Sunday’s four each and Monday’s none. Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Palace match not as evenly distributed as Brentford’s 3-2 victory over Forest. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli’s late brace came in added time with theContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”
Tag Archives: Manchester United
Premier League Nuggets 2023/24
19 January MW21 EMERY’S FIRST BLANK Unai Emery’s proud/odd record of never having overseen a goalless draw in his Premier League career with either Arsenal or Villa, came to a stultifying halt at Goodison Park in his 97th match. It was the Spaniard’s 21st draw so you might say it was coming. Villa’s relatively poorContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”
2023/24 Premier League Nuggets
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”
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
24 November MW12 During the international break attention shifted towards off the pitch issues. MANAGERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND STUCK As we near the end of November there is yet to be a managerial departure during the season (Julien Lopetegui left Wolves in the week prior to the beginning of the season). This is a rarity in theContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”
A brief history of top-flight points deductions
Everton’s 10-point deduction is the heaviest punishment in the history of the English top flight, but they are not the first club to have been docked points. Sunderland were the first club to be docked two points in the 1890-91 season when they fielded an unregistered player, Ned Doig. The Scottish goalkeeper went on toContinue reading “A brief history of top-flight points deductions”
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”
Going back to their roots
During his heyday Sergio Ramos would not have won many popularity contests outside his own club’s fanbase. As an exponent of the dark arts Ramos was irascible, spiky and often infuriating in his on field behaviour. His career was littered with various misdemeanours, including 28 red cards, 20 of which he received in La LigaContinue reading “Going back to their roots”
Premier League Nuggets 2023/24
September 1st The one remaining 100% record in the Premier League rests on the familiar shoulders of Manchester City while Everton and the three promoted clubs are already nine points adrift of the champions. Plus ça change at the top and the bottom. BRENTFORD DRAW COMFORT Brentford’s draw with Palace on Saturday broke the Bees’ recordContinue reading “Premier League Nuggets 2023/24”
Palace’s FA Cup semi-final : a chance to celebrate
As a Palace supporter I find it difficult to contain the thrill of going to Wembley this weekend for the club’s fifth appearance in an FA Cup semi-final. While for the fans of our opponents Chelsea and the other semi-finalists, Liverpool and Manchester City, this is much more routine. It is all part and parcelContinue reading “Palace’s FA Cup semi-final : a chance to celebrate”