This week Gary Lemke looks at the “Mr Clean” of English football, the ever-present VAR, the importance of clean sheets and why the 1-0 scorelines can’t keep coming at a rate of 26% – surely?
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
I was today-old when I found out that Gary Lineker, one of England’s greatest-ever strikers, and who won the top-flight Golden Boot with Leicester, Everton and Tottenham and also at the 1986 World Cup, never once received a yellow or red card in his career. He played 230 times in the English First Division (the Premier League of the day) and scored 145 goals. Compare him with Chelsea’s newbie striker signing Nicholas Jackson, who before Friday night’s match against Luton, had been yellow carded twice in two games, despite committing only one foul.
Gary Lineker with the stats 🔥 (or lack of)#lineker #garylineker #england #fa #wembley #premierleague #pl #tottenham #leicester #barcelona #legend #goldenboot #tekkers #fifa #fut #messi #ronaldo pic.twitter.com/FINmKYgSpw
— goplaybook (@goplaybook) November 19, 2018
STILL GOT A VAR WAY TO GO
One of the big talking points of the past couple of EPL seasons is that of VAR. Many supporters feel that their club is the one that is on the wrong end of the decision made by the Video Assistant referee. So, hre we will keep a regular “table” of Var for 2023/24. So far, and we’re only two rounds into the season the three teams who have received the most good news from VAR are Bournemouth, Luton and Manchester United (all having benefited from one decision that they were fortunate to have). The three clubs who can feel hard done by (VAR have got it wrong once) are Brighton, Liverpool and Wolves. Watch this space for regular updates.
Premier League referees and VARs angry with ex-colleague Mike Dean for his claim that he refused to overrule referee Anthony Taylor as VAR because ‘he is a mate’.https://t.co/8IoO3N68Bp
— Darren Lewis (@MirrorDarren) August 26, 2023
‘SOMEONE’S “O” HAS TO GO’
We all know that clean sheets are the foundation to a team’s success in the EPL and after just two matches into the season there were only three teams with 100% defensive records heading into this weekend. Perhaps the fact that fwo of the three teams are Arsenal and Manchester City endorses the fact they are favourites to fight it out for the League tite again this year. The third club with a 100% record heading into this weekend was Fulham. As fate would have it, Arsenal host Fulham on Saturday. And, as they say in hyping up a boxing match: “Some’s O has to go!”
Arsenal's home record vs Fulham is filthy 🔥#ARSFUL #Arsenal #AFC pic.twitter.com/B50xn3xDjs
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) August 25, 2023
AN EARLY SILLY SEASON
The summer transfer window for 2023 hasn’t even closed and already there is speculation about player movements ahead of January’s 2024. Apparently, Brentford’s Ivan Toney has signed with a new agent, and that agent has been making inquiries about the striker’s availability from January. Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban for a breach of gambling regulations and if the gossip is to be believed he has played his last match for the Bees. And, predictably, Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham have been put on red alert.
Thomas Frank has commented on a potential Brentford exit for Ivan Toney amid tentative links with Manchester United #mufc https://t.co/VDgO8XLub8 pic.twitter.com/X95LcGQoSB
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) August 26, 2023
FOR THE PUNTER
I would like to end this column with a bit of betting advice each week. Of the 19 games played in the opening two rounds, five of them ended 1-0 – which was also the most popular scoreline from last season. There have also been only two draws in 19 games (1-1 and 2-2). While there have been six away wins in 19 games. What’s all this mean? Well, believe it or not, there is a fathomless recurrence with scorelines in the EPL. As I keep saying, I go for three away wins per round of 10, with a maximum of four. So far, so good through two rounds. I’m expecting a 0-0 scoreline to be thrown up soon, as well as another 2-0 to crop up. I can’t see how the 1-0s are going to keep that percentage of 26% of results, so if you’re having a bet, have a look at two 2-0s and throw in a sneaky 0-0 somewhere.
