Luck-o-Meter 26-27 - Gameweek 7

 

I'm continuing with this series of weekly reviews for a while (although they are rather irksomely time-consuming), using the simpler format I developed in the second half of last season: a tabulation of the major types of 'lucky' incidents. 

I will try to resist any extended commentary (although I probably will still indulge in a few diatribes about any particularly egregious penalty or handball incidents).

Red cards awarded: Ryan Sessegnon's late sending-off for his foul on Robinio Vaz was extremely harsh. The challenge did look a bit petulant, flicking out a leg in an attempt to trip the opponent; and his studs did briefly rake against his Achilles tendon; but the contact was absolutely minimal, there was no force or violence in it. Barely even a yellow-card offence, for me.

Red cards not awarded: Everton's Harrison's Armstrong was a little lucky to receive only a yellow card when he went flying in on Josh Acheampong early in the game. He got a little of the ball, but the challenge was two-footed, out-of-control, and he swept the opponent's legs with his trailing leg as he slid through - could have been a leg-breaker.

Sven Botman definitely should have been sent off for his wild scissor-challenge on Jackson. It is unbelievable that VAR didn't at least recommend that incident for a second look by Jarred Gillett.

Penalties awarded: 

Penalties not awarded: 

Tight/dubious offsides:  

Goals wrongly allowed/disallowed: 

Surprise omissions/early substitutions/injuries: Isak and Szoboszlai were unexpectedly ready to return to action from the start at Brentford. Araujo was mysteriously replaced by Frimpong at half-time; but Frimpong himself went down with a muscle injury after only 5 minutes or so, and had to be replaced by Ngumoha.

Ryan Giles was surprisingly replaced by Brooke Norton-Cuffy in Hull's starting line-up.

We saw the return of 'Pep Roulette' big time at the Etihad on Saturday, with Maresca suddenly resting Gvardiol, Anderson, Fernandez, Cherki, and Semenyo - in favour of O'Reilly, Bouaddi, Kovacic, Foden, and Doku (it is nice to have such 'back-up' available!). Gvardiol did come on for O'Reilly - seconds after the hour mark.

Near misses: Just before half-time, Caicedo thumped a tremendous volley against the angle of post and bar.

In the closing minutes, Barcola curled a good effort against the face of the bar.

Ndiaye smashed a close-range effort against the crossbar late in the game (having been set up by a Haaland header; the folks who triple-captained the big Viking were miffed that he missed out on an assist to accompany his brace... and even more miffed when he volleyed home a third goal moments later, only to see it ruled out for an offside by Enzo Fernandez). In the dying minutes, Ndiaye had a cross-shot from an acute angle tipped away by Walton, and just moments later was played in again by Haaland, but saw his shot flash inches wide of the post.

Emi Buendia smacked a firm shot against the face of the post, and the rebound nearly went in off Hornicek's back. 

Big misses/big saves: Thierno Barry added to his catalogue of costly misses when Grealish's perfect chipped cross found him unmarked in the middle, 7 yards out - and he planted his header straight into Martinez's midriff. If Everton had taken the lead midway through the first half, a misfiring Chelsea might have found it difficult to come back. Late in the game, Chelsea enjoyed a three-on-two break and Palmer played in Joao Pedro - who shot straight at Pickford.

Barcola had an early one-on-one break after a mistake by Janelt, but chipped his effort wide of the post.

Josh King's firm cross-shot took a slight deflection off a defender's shin and needed a fine reaction save from Tzolakis with his leg. A few moments later, the Fulham youngster had an even better chance, but played in with an open goal he shot straight at the Greek keeper. Tzolakis almost had to make a sharp save from Iwobi.

A cracking 25-yard drive from Ruben Dias was well palmed away by Christian Walton early in the game at The Etihad.

In the second-half on Tyneside, Botman, who really shouldn't have been still on the pitch, smashed a ferocious shot goalwards - well saved by Suzuki. Late on, Hornicek made a sharp save from substitute Ross Barkley's low shot from just outside the box.

Outstanding goals:  

Outstanding performances: 

Big mistakes: The thus-far nearly flawless Konstantinos Tzolakis really should not have let Iwobi's deflected shot squirm through his hands at the foot of his near-post.

Bad luck/good luck: 

FPL weirdness: Yet again I find myself ruing the fact that dummies get no recognition in the game. Palmer really deserved an 'assist' for Neto's first goal!

How did Alex Iwobi get the credit for Fulham's solitary goal?? His shot was clearly off-target, until it deflected off Lucas Herrington's midriff.

Unexpected results: Saturday's games all went much as expected; although Ipswich gave City a bit more of a fight than most anticipated. Fulham, though somewhat improved, were fortunate to meet an uncharacteristically flat Hull side, who produced their weakest performance of the season.

The 'Team of the Week', so far, includes absolutely no-one, apart from Haaland, who's very widely-owned (Isak was jettisoned by more than 500,000 more managers this week, bringing his ownership down below 12%; and probably not many of those started him, as he hadn't been expected to be ready for a return to a first-team start yet). At least there have been no really outrageous refereeing cock-ups yet (although I think Botman and Armstrong should have been sent off, and Sessegnon shouldn't), so it's only a 2 out of 10 on the 'Luck-o-Meter' as yet.