PLAYS OF THE WEEK
Hello Footy fans, I hope you enjoyed last week’s post as
young Recce Oxford was crowned with the player of the week after his mature
performance against Arsenal. Week 2 of the football season saw the continuation
of the French Ligue1 and Barclays Premier League, and we also welcomed the
start of the Bundesliga which added more spice to our treat.
Here’s PLAYS OF THE WEEK, week 2.
Here’s PLAYS OF THE WEEK, week 2.
FLOP OF THE WEEK: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea).
After Chelsea’s disappointing first day draw to Swansea,
they had to up their game as the visited the home of runners-up from last
season Manchester City. It was another drab and lazy performance from the blues
(Chelsea) and at the pick of that was top player with 18 assists last season
Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas played as a no 10 right behind Diego Costa and was
totally not in the game, Jose Mourinho possibly gave him instructions to man
mark David Siva but the Manchester City player went through him easily like hot
knife and butter. He (Fabregas), did not track his runners and failed to do his
defensive duties which lead to two Manchester City goals. Okay let’s give him a
break he’s not that good defensively, but he did not show anything going
forward as well. He made one key pass all game and that was in the 90th
minute were he fed Diego Costa who latter hit the post. Since the beginning of
the year Cesc has not been himself, he needs to find that form that made him a
general in midfield.
GOAL OF THE WEEK: Martin Hansen (Ado Den Haag).
This is our freak of the week and rare in our round leather
game. Ado Den Haag were trailing 2-1 to PSV in their mid-week Eredivisie
fixture and Den Haag had a last minute free-kick were the goalie Martin Hansen
came up for. The ball was swung into the box and Hansen met it with his back
heel acrobatically which passed through the crowded box and PSV goalkeeper into
the net. What goal this was, fit enough to win any match in football, its price
was just a point which is good for Den Haag.
SAVE OF THE WEEK: Beto (Sevilla).
The Champions of the two elite European competitions
collided in the UEFA Super Cup. There were loads of thrills and it gave us our
save of the week. Sevilla were trailing 2-1 to Barcelona close to half time and
they pumped men up to find an equaliser. Barcelona’s defence was able to deal
with the attack and started a counter-attack were Rakitic found Luis Suarez
with a long diagonal which brought about a one-on-one situation with Suarez and
the Sevilla goalie Beto. Suarez had calmed himself and was expected to finish
the job as he tried to place the ball in the left hand side of the Sevilla goal
but Beto quickly spread his legs to keep the ball from going in. Unlucky for
Beto and Sevilla the ball spilled back to Suarez and this time he squared a
pass to Rafihna who scored to make it 3-1 before half-time.
MATCH OF THE WEEK: Barcelona V Sevilla (UEFA Super Cup).
We introduced the game above and this was a blockbuster of a
match that had everything you could think of. The goals started rolling in the
first half, within 16 minutes we had three goals which were all free-kicks.
Ever Banega beat Ter Stergen in the 3rd minute as he left the
Barcelona keeper rooted on his spot, World player of the year Lionel Messi then
showed us his masterpiece as he scored his first free-kick in the 7th
minute and Beto could not reach, then in the 16th minute he scored
another scorcher free-kick that made it 2-1 to Barcelona. Barcelona now had
total control of the game creating chance upon chance even getting a goal ruled
out for offside. 45th minute Barcelona had their 3rd in
the game as Suarez found Rafihna who slotted the ball home giving Barca a
healthy lead.
Second-half started and it was like Sevilla were resting on
the laurels they did not have, giving possession away easily and allowing Barcelona
a free-pass in the game. A poor back pass from Tremoulinas fell to Luis Suarez
who finally put the ball past Beto to make it 4-1 Barcelona. That goal seemed
to ignite fire into the Sevilla players as it was all them after the Barcelona
4th goal. Captain Jose Antonio Reyes met a cross from Vitolo at the
far post and buried it into the Barcelona net to make it 4-2. Reyes was
substituted minutes after for new signing Yvene Konoplyanka and Barcelona
skipper Andreas Iniesta as well was substituted as Sergi Roberto took his
place. Sevilla were still in control of the game with Banega and Khorn-Deali
pulling strings from midfield. Another break down the right saw Tremonilas and
Banega combine for the latter to send a cross into the Barcelona 18 and Vitolo had
found space for a free header but was impeded by Jeremy Mathieu and Sevilla was
gifted a penalty with a yellow card for Mathieu as well. Kevin Gameiro stepped
up and buried the penalty with power to make it 4-3, game on. Ciro Immobile
came on in the later stages of the game and his pace and energy caused havoc
for the Barcelona defence. From a throwing, he shimmied his way into the box to
square a pass for Konoplyanka who tapped the ball into an empty net to make it
4-4. That was how it finished extra-time beckoned.
First-half of extra-time saw Pedro come on for Mascherano in
other to find what was touted to be the winning goal. Barcelona did all the
pressing but Sevilla with their tired legs were resolute and looking to hit
their opponents on the break. First-half of extra-time stalemate.
Second-half began, Barcelona were still pushing for the win
looking to crack the Sevilla wall and breakthrough came when Messi was fouled
just outside the box. He stepped up to take the free-kick, could not beat the
wall at the first attempt, ball spilled back to him and he immediately hit a
shot which Beto saved and spilled but substitute Pedro was quickest to react as
he smashed the ball to the roof of the net and made it 5-4, thrilling totally
thrilling. 5 minutes left it was Sevilla turn to break, a set-piece by Ever
Banega found an unmarked Coke who misplaced his headed shot and also a quick
free-kick from Banega found Immobile in the box, he squared to Adil Rami but he
could not control his feet so the ball went wide, lucky Barcelona. The referee
blew the final whistle to call it stops on the match. Am sure we neutrals would
have wanted penalties.
MANAGER OF THE WEEK: Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City).
The Italian veteran took the Leicester job after leaving
Chelsea 11 years ago and has shown us he still has something to offer.
Leicester are currently top of the table in the Barclays Premier League with
two wins scoring six and conceding three. The manager had continued Leicester’s
form from last season pacey attackers and closing down from the front helped
them survive the drop. With the likes of Okazaki, Vardy, Mahrez and Albrighton
teams should be weary of the threat Leicester carries this season.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Athletic Bilbao (LA LIGA).
The Spanish cup runners-up beat Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate
(4-0; 1st leg, 1-1; 2nd leg). To win the Spanish Super
Cup. It’s the Basque’s club first trophy since the 80’s so recognition is due
for a club that only signs players from their serene.
COMBINED TEAM OF THE WEEK: 4-4-2
GK: Martin Hansen (Ado Den Haag).
It’s rare to see the goalies running up in the last minute
to score a vital goal. Well Martin Hansen did that to save a point for his team
as they drew 2-2 in their Eredivisie fixture.
RB: Bacary Sagna (Manchester City).
Had a good game silencing Eden Hazard as he helped
Manchester City thrash Premier League Champions Chelsea 3-0
CB: Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
The rejuvenated skipper was a leader from the back as he
rallied his troops to see out Chelsea last weekend. The defender was rock
solid, not giving Diego Costa space to operate. He got a goal as well just to
wrap a wonderful performance.
CB: Mats Hummels (Borrusia Dortmund).
The calm centre-halve has squashed rumours about leaving Dortmund
and he put in a smashing performance against Borrusia Moncheglabach as he
helped his team win 4-0 in their opening Bundesliga fixture.
LB: Steven Whitaker (Norwich).
Was part of the Norwich defence that stopped the attacking vibe
from Sunderland as they went on to thrash their opponents 3-1 in their Premier
League fixture, Whitaker got one of the goals on the day.
CM: Ever Banega (Sevilla).
The Argentine international had a hell of a game in Sevilla’s
Super Cup game versus Barcelona. He was the leader of the orchestra on the
pitch, standing his ground against the likes of Iniesta and Rakitic. He scored
a classy free-kick on the day and was good with his team’s dead-ball situations
CM: Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao).
Spanish International who is caught the limelight with his
50 yard goal in Bilbao’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Spanish Super cup. The
midfielder stood his ground on the day and made life difficult for the
Barcelona attackers.
RW: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borrusia Dortmund).
The Armenian international was a key figure in Dortmund’s
win against Monchenglabach. He scored two goals on the day.
LW: David Silva (Manchester City).
The Spanish attacker had a smashing game as he copped 2
assists in his team’s match against Chelsea. Silva was a menace for the Chelsea
players and none of them could come close on day.
ST: Romelu Lukaku (Everton).
Scored a brace for Everton as they saw out Southampton 3-0
in their Premier League fixture. Lukaku totally ran the show with his power,
pace and link-up play. He made a good gesture at the end of the game as he went
to apologise to the woman he hit when he misplaced his shot during practice.
ST: Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao).
The forward scored four goals (hat-trick; 1st
leg, lone goal; 2nd leg), against Barcelona as he helped beat La
Liga champions 5-1 on aggregate.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao).
What a performance from the 34 year old who has been racking
up goals all his career. It’s unfortunate that he is one of the players pundits
do not look at with his quality in front of goal. He is the first player to
score a hat-trick against Barcelona since Diego Forlan for Villareal in 2005.
At 34 years you can say he has passed his peak but still expect him to show on
the goal scoring charts.
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