It’s time for the Premier League Weekly Awards, where The Football Faithful reward the very best – and worst – of England’s top-flight from the week gone by.
Moment of the Week
I present to you all-round good guy, Sadio Mané.
Sadio Mané telling Troy Deeney to "take care of my boy" – Senegal team-mate Ismaila Sarr pic.twitter.com/dkb4dFbcpt
— World Football Index (@WorldFootballi) December 15, 2019
Player of the Week
Kevin De Bruyne‘s form went out the window just as Manchester City needed it the most this past month, but unfortunately for Arsenal it came back with a vengeance.
The Belgian midfielder scored twice, his first ever brace in the Premier League, assisted the other goal in City’s 3-0 win, and generally ran the show.
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Goal of the Week
Just look at those dancing feet of Lucas Moura. The finish is pretty great, too.
Fast feet. Thunderous finish.
⚡️ ???? What a goal, @LucasMoura7! #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/ZRjSJqKx1l
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 15, 2019
Runners-up: Kevin De Bruyne, Man City (vs Arsenal); Mo Salah, Liverpool (vs Watford).
Pass of the Week
James Maddison hit a beautiful ball over the top to Jamie Vardy in the second-half of Leicester City‘s 1-1 draw with Norwich. Vardy’s touch to bring the ball under control was also exceptional, and the whole play deserved to end in a goal, but Tim Krul did well to deny the Foxes.
Save of the Week
Aaron Ramsdale set the tempo on Saturday with a fine save in the first half against Chelsea. The Bournemouth goalkeeper did very well to react to a close-range header from Mason Mount, before quickly slapping the ball away. From then on the Blues knew it would take a lot to beat the visitors.
The Cherries have made the brighter start, while Ramsdale's saved well from Mount.
16' | 0-0 // #CHEBOU pic.twitter.com/s209FVw29e
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) December 14, 2019
Stat of the Week
Following yet another win for Liverpool:
Liverpool 2-0 Watford (FT) – For the FIRST TIME in the 131-year history of the First Division of England a team has added 25 wins and 1 draw in an interval of 26 consecutive games. They have 76 of 78 possible points. They have no rival. They only fight against history. pic.twitter.com/DPlFW4Q1Yk
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) December 14, 2019
Howler of the Week
Doing a long, winding run-up for a penalty is entirely pointless if you’re just going to smash the ball off the crossbar, Jack Grealish.
78' GREALISH MISSES!!!!!!!! GET IN!!
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 14, 2019
Donkey of the Week
Duncan Ferguson has done a good job of steering the Everton ship out of choppy waters, first by beating Chelsea 3-1 at home before getting a draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But the Scot erred massively late on in the game against Man United when he substituted the substitute, Moise Kean, who was thoroughly unimpressed and walked straight down to the changing rooms without saying anything.
This was incredibly sad. Terrible management from Duncan Ferguson. pic.twitter.com/tPhxljXbTy
— UnitedReview (@TheUtdReview) December 16, 2019
The caretaker manager’s reasoning didn’t sit right either. After the game he said just wanted “some fresh legs”, to kill some time and, because he had so many attackers on the bench, the Italian was the one to be sacrificed. But if he’s telling the truth, then why didn’t he explain that to the player at the time instead of ignoring him?
In the press conference, Ferguson said he would talk to him when he sees him, “probably tomorrow”. Again, why was it not possible to have a chat earlier? Why let him stew on it for an entire night?
Kean is a professional footballer, but he’s also a teenager and an incident like this can crush the self-esteem of a young athlete all too easily. Don’t forget, this is the club that told Kean’s mother “We will take care of your son.”
No doubt some of the Toffees faithful lapped up seeing a club legend taking off his jacket in the freezing cold, when it was lashing rain because it was apparently “too warm”, but the supporters need to see through his performative nonsense. Ferguson’s attitude’s are from a bygone era and the quicker he’s moved away from the sideline and making first-team decisions, the better.
