Results - Week 9

Welcome to The Emirates on a sunny September afternoon where a capacity crowd watched a high intensity North London Derby. Arsenal set up very much to nullify the threat of Hazard and the Belgian was kept quiet for the entirity of the first half. The game was played at a high tempo early on with Tottenham keeping the ball however they fell behind to a moment of brilliance from Cazorla who skinned his marker before slotting it home. This gave Arsenal the lead into the break. However, their brave resistance lasted only 36 seconds into the second half as Hazard finally got free of his marker before scoring an audacious lob. This caused the game to sway right into Spurs' favour as they launched attack after attack but some superb defending mixed with a huge dollop of luck kept Arsenal in it. The final chance of the game fell to Gervinho but he smacked it into row Z!

Experts Opinion (Bobby Heenan):

Frankly today it was a case of not being fair to flair, as Arsenal went surprisingly defensive at home against the attacking prowess of Spurs. What followed was an intruiging derby where neither side could stamp their authority on the other.

I think Arsenal have left themselves wide open reading the tactics. How
they want to defend in such a massive game & being at home confused
me slightly, but will get some success down both flanks with Spurs
choosing to be narrow defensivly. It will be very much a cat & mouse
game with one team going ahead only for the other team to peg them
back, overall, there will be nothing that will seperate them after 90
Mins.

Tottenham offered a lot more going forward than Arsenal,
who packed the midfield out to combat the threat of Hazard and co. It
turned the game into an entertaining one, both sides going for the win,
ends 2-2.

Arsenal have a solid base and pace to counter with

Spurs just too much in the end against the week Arsenal fullbacks

How the votes were spread
1-5-1

Arsenal 1-1 Spurs
Cazorla; Hazard

Welcome to the Hawthorns for a highly anticipated relegation 6 pointer. However the hopes of the away fans were hurt within the opening minute as West Brom broke straight from the kickoff with Lukaku scoring a thunderbolt past Robinson. The game then settled down for a large period hower Chamakh missed two sitters that would have brought the two sides in level at the break. West Ham grew into the game more and more however the quality of the West Brom midfield nullified the Hammers throughout. The introduction of Dos Santos was the final nail in the coffin for the Hammers as he jinxed his way past Tomkins before slotting home. This win will lift the Baggies whereas the Hammers could be a bit deflated.

Experts Opinion (Graeme le Saux):

A fantastic relegation 6 pointer but one that in the end came down to that little bit of sparkle that West Broms team has over the West Ham team. I thoroughly enjoyed todays match and feel that both sides should be in a position to fight off relegation come week 15

Big 6 pointer of a game! Both teams have set up well to have ago knowing
they need the points. I just think that West Brom have more of a
creative egde with West Ham struggling to cope with the 3 forwards. I
also think brining on Dos Santos would
tire West Ham in the closing
stages. West Brom to take the lead after 3 excellent chances. West Ham
finally get control of the game making it 1-1 only for West Brom to hit
them with a counter twice taking the points

Better tactics from
WBA this week compared to last week. Both sides went 4-3-3 but I feel
WBA's midfield trio had more about them and it eventually earned then a
2-1 win

West Brom take control of the midfield and game

Fair result, neither side really offer that much to break the deadlock

How the votes were spread
6-2-0

West Brom 2-0 West Ham
Lukaku, Dos Santos

A resurgent Southampton side played host to the ever tough Stoke this week.

The match started off at a quick pace with Saints on top early on with Adam playing in Lambert only for Sorenson to make the save from close range. And this pattern continued for most of the first half with Matt Phillips hitting the post, and Lambert heading over from 8 yards. Southampton were well on top, but it was Stoke, with there only shot on target of the half who went in ahead with Michael Owen latching onto a Pennant cross to score from close range.

Saints came out second half a much better side and outplayed Stoke, but it wasn't until they made the substitution on 66 mins that the game really changed in there favour. And it was there talisman Rickie Lambert who got the equaliser on 78 minutes to get them a much deserved point.

The Expert's Opinion (by TheBrahmaBull)

2 reserve teams, Southampton have some young players with plenty of hunger while Stoke have some over the hill has beens.

Feel the two sides would cancel each other out, however goals would be readily available

This is a tight game, where I can only see a draw being the outcome. Stoke are set out well as always, but Saints also are a threat.

How the votes were spread
2-2-2

Southampton 1-1 Stoke
Lambert; Owen

An intriguing game at Goodison Park today.

And both teams set out in the 4-5-1 formation today, and this was not a game for the fans as neither team really took control. The first half an especially dire affair with neither side creating anything of note.

The second half however picked up, and Norwich wasted a good chance with Pilkington crossing for Holt who headed into Vorm's hands from 6 yards out. Then Everton got up a head of speed, and they got the goal they wanted with Lennon crossing for Jelavic to profit, and score another goal. Norwich from here huffed and puffed but couldnt break down a stern Everton defence.

The Expert's Opinion (by CricketFan90)

I think Everton have set up well knowing where to hurt Norwich. However Norwich can put on a very gritty performance defending well with Everton going close on a number of attemps. Norwich will hit Everton with a sucker punch taking the lead. Everton will then take control hitting Norwich with wave after wave of attacks breaking them down with 2 quick goals

Both sides went 4-5-1 to counter each other, and it worked. It just didn't work out for the fans. 0-0.

Its a mismatch down the flanks and Jelavic will profit

How the votes were spread
3-1-2

Everton 1-0 Norwich
Jelavic

Craven Cottage played host to surprise package Fulham and Liverpool today

The match started off slowly with a midfield battle emerging, a war of the trenches in the first half, with neither side really creating much first half.

However second half they the game picked up with Theo Walcott breaking past Aaron Hughes and slotting past the great Neil Etheridge on 47 minutes. This however sparked Fulham into action and they dominated the rest of the game, with Dimitar Berbatov grabbing an equaliser and getting them a much deserved point

The Expert's Opinion (by Rich Eisen)

Fulham seem to have put their effort into defending, bullying Liverpool's attacking play. With Liverpool having small players upfront Fulham will dominate the first half. However, Liverpool's pace & skill will finally catch Fulham out with Suarez blasting home from 4 yards out. Fulham won't know how to respond with Liverpool again hitting Fulham with their pace going 0-2 up. Fulham will try and salvage something with Berbs netting, but just running out of time after some late chances in the game. I think with the cup Fulham looked a little of colour missing 1 or 2 players

Interesting ploy from Liverpool to play Walcott as the main striker, it works as he does get in behind but Theo is wasteful with his chances and it haunts Liverpool, as the Fulham midfield begins to control the tempo and Berbatov scores the only goal from the edge of the area after a run and cut-back from SWP. 1-0

Fulham are light this week, and Liverpool have too much firepower.

Russ has got Fulham playing beautifully, could be shock of the season

How the votes were spread
2-2-2

Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
Berbatov; Walcott

Welcome to Villa Park for the arrival of Manchester United in what was really a game of two halves. Throughout the first half Villa looked slightly off the pace following their triumphant time in the FA Cup against Everton. This lead to United taking the lead halfway through the first half as Benzema beat the offside trap before calming finishing past Fabianski. United then proceeded to dictate play until half time with Valencia, Schurrle and Benzema (again) going close however they failed to add to their lead. After half time, however, that all changed. As the limited instructions from the United boss came back to really hurt them, the Villa midfield started to grow in confidence before Aquilani sent Ba clear as he made it 1-1. Just 5 minutes later Bent made it 2-1 and Villa Park was rocking. Little did they know that things would get better and better as Herd came off the bench to make it 3! In the end the full time whistle came in mercy for United as this could have turned even more humbling. The Villains can celebrate a famous victory!

Experts Opinion (James May):

I came to Villa Park today expecting one of the pre-season favourites to lift the title to swat away the challenge of a Villa side that played in the cup in midweek and at half time that was exactly what it looked like. However, in the second half Villa shifted through the gears and got a more than deserved victory. The United manager will have to motivate the players better before next weeks match if they are to claim silverware this season. Villa on the other hand can be very proud of their performance today as this was more than a smash and grab job!

Shame Villa had the Cup in midweek as at full strength they would have
really pushed for all three points, against a United side lacking in the
ability to spell their own players' names correctly. Bull's tactics are
rushed and telling the midfield to dominate isn't really an instruction
as you need to tell them how. Villa press well and lead through
Aquilani's long range effort, but United scrape a late equaliser from
the mercurial Benzema. 1-1.

Bulls tactics are still stupid

Fresh
off their cup win Villa ran rampant over United who were set up very
very poorly. 5-0 was generous to United as it could have been 9!

How the votes were spread
3-4-0

Aston Villa 3-1 Man Utd
Ba, Bent, Herd; Benzema