S7M30 results + FA Cup R6: Homenatge a Pep

I've previously written about my love for watching this City side. I'm a huge fan of the Guardiola school of possession based football. Love the ball, keep the options open with an easy pass, perpetual motion to move the space around and then *BANG* - the vertical passes with support runners to maximise the efficiency of any chance. It's made even better by having the best players in the world, but in my opinion, the core tactic is so good as to be effective even lower down. It relies on a defense who can cope with the inevitable counters when a move breaks down - and this has often been the downfall, but no system is perfect and I've always preferred the proactive to reactive schools of football.

You then add in players like KdB, David Silva, Aguero, Jesus and my current favourite, Sane and you have a near perfect attacking machine - pace, skill, finishing, dribbling, shooting from distance. Whatever defensive plan you have is likely to fail due to the skill and flexibility in their attack. It's mesmerising, and I think the best attacking unit since that Chelsea side who were also free-scoring - 2010? Liverpool could argue that the Suatrez/Sturridge/Sterling triumvirate was equally thrilling, but I don't think they offered the same cover-all-bases approach that City have. Seriously...throw a heading machine in to the mix for set pieces and we're done.

This is watching one of the great sides in action, and I'm going to enjoy it. It might be unfair to put them above say, the Utd side of 2008 with the Tevez/Ronaldo/Rooney front-line, and the superb Vidic/Ferdinand/VdSar defence but I don't remember getting the same thrill from watching them that I get from watching City - arguably they shouldn't have won the league that year too (come and hear about my Eduardo theory another time...) leaving them only with the CL win, you know, in Moscow, when John Terry slipped and missed the "winning" penalty. Any excuse...

Anyway, City could wrap up the league next week which would be record-breaking - along with being on course for most goals, most points and so on. The major difference this season compared to 10 years ago is the number of good sides - previously you'd argue it was a 2 or 3 horse race. This year, there are 5 good sides and Arsenal who should be a better side but City have just blown them out the water. Relentless, and frankly I could wax lyrical for longer if I didn't have to get on with the rest of the blog. I'm sure I'll have opportunity in a few weeks.

The weekend started with Man Utd putting in a classic Mourinho performance holding Liverpool at arms-length for a relatively comfortable win. Everton arrested their recent wobble with a win over Brighton who are approaching flip-flop territory. Huddersfield & Swansea drew - they should both be ok on the "3 worse teams" principle. Newcastle should be in the same boat - a big win over Southampton creating more space and costing Pellegrino his job. WBA lost again - they're done and it's incredible Pardew hasn't been sacked. He's been useless. Similarly, West Ham are in crisis and if they don't rally you can see them sinking without trace. That should be the end of Moyes' career too.
Chelsea & Spurs with relatively comfortable wins. This just leaves Arsenal, who won easily against Watford too; the game remarkable for the events immediately after Arsenal's second goal.

A lazy, dangled leg from Maitland-Niles gave Peyrera the penalty and up-stepped 'Cojones' Deeney - motormouth and "scourge" of Arsenal in recent times.

Cech yourself mate.

200 PL clean sheets. First penalty save since the Middle Ages. An important lesson for all young kids watching - don't run your mouth fool.

Loved this too:

Have to admit I'm deeply disappointed no Arsenal players went full 'Martin Keown' on Deeney after that penalty

— Alastair Brookshaw (@albrookshawAFC) March 11, 2018

Let's get statty:

This week, 21 people played
Most popular predicted results: Chelsea & Man City WINS (21/21)
Most disputed result: Huddersfield vs Swansea (7-7-7 split, <3)

Highest odds: Steven Daniels ( 4434/1)
Lowest odds: Doron Salomon  (2351/1)
Average odds: 3393/1

Best predictor: Dagmar (9/10) - she must really hate Jose...
Worst predictor: Matt Abbott (4/10)
Average score: 6.95/10

Best predicted results: Chelsea & Man City WINS (21/21)
Worst predicted result: Burnley WIN (3/21)

Everyone's scores:

Leaderboard (>2/3; 21/30)

No PL game this week as too few fixtures due to the FA CUP

FA Cup Round 5 Results:

6/9 people played
Most popular predicted results: Leicester, Chelsea, Spurs Man City & Brighton WINS (6/6)
Most disputed results: Sheff Wed vs Swansea & WBA vs Southampton (4-2 & 2-4 split respectively)

Best predicted results: Leicester, Chelsea, Spurs & Brighton WINS (6/6)
Worst predicted result: Wigan WIN (0/6)

Best predictor: Me (7/8)
Worst predictors (of those who played): Feneleys & Steven Daniels (5/8)

FA Cup R6 predos:

Swansea vs Spurs - SPURS
Man Utd vs Brighton - MAN UTD
Wigan vs Southampton - WIGAN
Leicester vs Chelsea - CHELSEA

Good luck guys