S5M11: Quarter Marked

Gary Neville was a breath of fresh air when he started his punditry career on Sky, and the "Gareh" & "Jaaaayyymeeee" double act is certainly a good watch. But Red Nev's taking a bit of a kicking this week, after his comments that the 1st half in the Manchester Derby was as good as anything he'd seen this season (as well as his inability to be objective as an FA coach over England captain Wazza, but that's another story). James Richardson explained this on the Football Weekly podcast with a quotation from an Italian (shocker) coach, who felt that 0-0 was the perfect score, as no team had made any errors.

Whilst there are such things as brilliant 0-0 draws - think Rome 1997, or, from my personal experience, the home tie against Real Madrid in the 2006 Champions League, it's a mistake to claim that all 0-0 draws are a result of immaculate play - a footballing stalemate. You can have error strewn 0-0 draws, where attacking incompetence "cancels out" defensive ineptitude. You can also have 0-0 draws, where both sides seem to settle for a safety-first attitude even before the game has kicked off - and it is in this category that I'd argue the game at Old Trafford fell. It was a game low on attacking endeavour, in part due to injury, and in part due to poor form. Martial seemed to be the only player willing to force the game in the first half, and I think the first shot on target came in the last 10 minutes. To me, that's hardly perfect football.

Elsewhere, Timmy's gone, which was hardly a shock. He's just not very good. No offence yeah, mate. The Ayew brothers scored in the same game for the second time in a calendar year - I have no way of knowing how common that is, but I'd wager, not very - at least at the top level. Jamie Vardy scored a goal after a Messi-esque dink overt the 'keeper to keep alive his remarkable scoring run, whilst Watford captain Deeney finally got his first Premier League goal in a great away win at Stoke. Arsenal held on a little to beat Everton in a game they should have won more comfortably, whilst the HarryKane has "returned" with a hat trick against a Bournemouth team looking a little shell shocked at the pace of the top flight. Let's see if this is the start of a streak. Sunderland beat Newcastle in a "jammy" 3-0 win to continue this ridiculous thing about new managers, 2nd games etc. Liverpool, Klopp, something etc. I'm boycotting that until the love dies down.

Something else happened....WBA....no, not  quite...

Delicious. West Ham haven't done too badly either.

Let's get statty:

This week, 27 people played

Most popular predicted result: Arsenal WIN (26/27)

Most disputed result: Norwich vs WBA (8-11-8 split...unusual)

Highest odds: RDM 89020/1 - I despair

Lowest odds: Me, 3063/1

Average odds: 25,406/1

Best predictors: Zoë Daniels, Tarek Najm, Sam Ruback 6/10

Lowest predictor: Hesham Zakai 2/10

Average score: 4.15

Best predicted result: Arsenal WIN (26/27)

Worst predicted result: Watford WIN (2/27)

Swing: Sadio Mane's equaliser - 16 disappointed

Everyone's results:

Yep - highest & lowest odds score the same...

For the leaderboard (>2/3 - 7/10)

In other news, here's the proof that the trophy actually exists, and now resides with someone who has earned it...

Congratulations Josh Gaon - although looking at the standings so far, it's as insipid a defence as say....Chelsea?

To this week's predos:

Chelsea vs Liverpool - DRAW

Crystal Palace vs Man Utd - DRAW

Man City vs Norwich - MAN CITY

Newcastle vs Stoke - NEWCASTLE

Swansea vs Arsenal - ARSENAL

Watford vs West Ham -WEST HAM

WBA vs Leicester - LEICESTER

Everton vs Sunderland - EVERTON

Southampton vs Bournemouth - SOUTHAMPTON

Spurs vs Aston Villa - SPURS

Total odds:  1561/1 (PaddyPower)

Good luck guys