It’s been another topsy-turvy weekend of football, and as usual, I am going to take you through the six funniest things to happen from the last round of games in this week’s instalment of super six.
- Sinking Stoke City
Stoke City were, for what seems like a long time, revered as one of the toughest away games in the Premier League. Since their relegation a couple of seasons ago, teams seem to have found it much simpler to claim the three points at the Bet 365 stadium, even if it is in fact cold and windy and on a Tuesday. Stoke’s nightmare start to the season was compounded when supposedly International standard goalkeeper Jack Butland conceded two Sunday-league goals in their midweek game at Preston North End, and was duly replaced by Adam Federici for their Saturday game with Premier League hopefuls Leeds United.
The change in goalkeeper did Stoke no good, as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat, and a change in goalkeeper might not be the only change on the mind of Stoke supporters if current form continues, with the Potters rock bottom of the Championship.
- Confused Ceballos
This one is less of me taking the piss out of a footballer and more me wanting to celebrate an absolutely sensational piece of skill. Dani Ceballos, on loan from Real Madrid, impressed in last week’s win over Arsenal, but was completely shown up in the Gunners visit to Anfield late on Saturday. Roberto Firmino completely bamboozled the young Spaniard, flicking the ball up and over his opponent before firing a volley at goal. I feel for Ceballos, having to be on the end of such a wonderful piece of skill, but it has to be him who gets the super six vote this week.
- Liability Luiz
Ceballos wasn’t the only Arsenal player left embarrassed on Saturday, with David Luiz continuing to be David Luiz since his switch from Chelsea earlier this month. Luiz has already been labelled a liability just two games into his Gunners career and proved his worth by producing a needless foul on Mohammed Salah early in the second half, allowing the Egyptian to double the lead from the penalty spot. Good news for my fantasy team, but not good news for Luiz in his hopes of impressing his new fanbase. Time to bring back Mustafi?
- Norwood’s rock-solid celebration
In case you haven’t heard of James Norwood, he is a prolific lower-league striker, who recently moved from Tranmere Rovers to Ipswich Town. Norwood has made a stellar start to his Ipswich career, and netted twice against Bolton Wanderers this weekend. (Cue the well done he’s 13 gif). It wasn’t Norwood’s goals that stole the headline however, it was his goal gif, which showed him pulling off WWE legend the Rock’s ‘People’s Elbow’ move as celebration. I don’t know what’s funnier, Norwood’s goal gif, or the idea that grown men still watch WWE.
Joint 1st. Manchester United Football Club
Manchester United were so embarrassingly bad at the weekend, that I had two include two separate events (it could’ve been three) following their 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace. The first thing to mention is the social media team who, ahead of the game, tweeted that they wished they were playing Chelsea again instead. Well, after the abject performance they produced against Palace, I’m sure they were quick to recall their opening day win against Chelsea.
Finally, we must laugh at the Manchester United squad themselves, as them and only them could equalise so late on against a team such as Palace, celebrate as if they’ve won the league, and then gift the away side all three points just minutes later. David De Gea, once and perhaps still labelled the best goalkeeper in the world, let a shot from Patrick Van Aanholt slip through his grasp to grant Roy Hodgson’s men their first win of the season. I joked about Palace winning this game in my terrible tips article earlier last week, but even I thought that it was beyond the realms of possibility.
