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25/26 Match Week 16 Recap
Own Goal, Hoosier & The Big Six
nick lochner
December 16, 2025
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Congrats to Fernando Mendoza on his Heisman Trophy win.
L to R: Love (ND), Mendoza (Indiana), Pavia (Vandy) Sayin (Ohio)
And - sure seems like Diego Pavia left Millions on the table after finishing second. Why you ask:
Pavia is a QB from Vanderbilt, look at how much shorter he is standing next to the other Heisman finalists (in turtleneck). Jeremiyah Love (guy on the far left) is listed at 6 feet tall, so is Pavia, no way Pavia is 6 feet tall.
After not winning, his statement - “F*** all the voters…but family for life”.
Pavia looking drunk at an after party event, highlighting a F*** Indiana sign while flipping the bird - all caught on video.
Maybe this entrance to the ceremony with his brothers will help him with some Vegas endorsements.
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In Today’s CleanSheet:
Results 🏟️
Current Situation📈📉
Quick Kicks ⚽
Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- World Cup Draw Table Hot Takes
Off Island 🏝️ - European Leagues
Best Bets 💰
Results 🏟️
Sorted Top to Bottom of Table 🎩↗️↘️🫏
 📽️ See CS Video Links Below 🧨 | Just Win Baby. Maybe the Gunners worst effort on the season and another hard luck outcome for struggling Wolves. Both goals for Arsenal were scored by a guy named Own Goal who rescued the Gunners from dropping points to last place Wolves. Check out the video center below to see the results of a game of inches. |
 | A Reminder. Palace played better than the scoreboard shows. Palace outshot City 16-7 with the majority of those in the box. But this game is decided by goals, not shots. Both City and Palace sit in the top 5 of the table, but it was City reminding Palace what it takes to stay there. At Selhurst Park this one was all City as Haaland put them up 1-0 at HT. Foden doubled the lead at 69’ and Haaland got his brace with a penalty kick at 89’ to put it away. |
 | TEN of ELEVEN. Looked like West Ham came to play taking the lead right out of the gate at 1’ but an Own Goal brought Villa back into the match. The Hammer’s went back up on a Bowen goal at 24’ and West Ham took a 2-1 to HT. Villa owned the 2H scoring at 50’ and again at 79’ for the comeback, overcoming 1 goal deficits twice to take all three points. |
 📽️ See CS Video Links Below 🧨 | Cruise Control. Cole Palmer was back in the lineup and got things going for the Blues scoring at 21’. A late 1H goal by Gusto gave Chelsea a 2-0 HT lead they sat on in the 2H for all 3 points. Everton had some great chances throughout the 2H but nothing to show for it. Everton has not won at Stamford Bridge since 1994. |
 | Much Needed. Another multi-goal game by Ekitike, who put the Red’s up at 1’. BHA did have their chances throughout the match but really the talking point of the match was Mo Salah who may have played his last match for Liverpool. Mo heads out to the African Cup of Nations for a couple weeks and it’s possible he is moved during the upcoming transfer window. See Quick Kicks⚽ for more. |
 📽️ See CS Video Links Below 🧨 | Atmosphere. Just sit back and enjoy the match. A major rivalry, good soccer and a goal by the home side to beat their rival for the first time in the top league since 2016. Another winner for Own Goal, this time to start the 2H and Sunderland held on for all three points. See Quick Kicks⚽ for more. |
 | EIGHT. 8 goals from 8 different players and Man United gave more points away at Old Trafford. Yes, Bournemouth deserved to get a point but United had a 1-0 lead, 2-1 lead and a 4-3 lead but couldn’t hold it. Kroupi’s goal at 84’ tied it at 4. This one could’ve finished 5-5 or 6-6. Fun wide-open match to watch, but both sides need to figure out what is going on with their defending. |
 | To Be Frank. This one was all Tree’s, and after a nice Europe Win for Spurs mid-week, this one puts Thomas Frank right back on the hot seat at Spurs. This was just a pounding. Hudson-Odoi scored at 28’ and again at 50’ to put Tree’s up comfortably and Sangare added another at 79’ to put it away. |
 | Undeserved. This match was dominated by Leeds. Was probably the worst home effort from Bee’s in a long time. Somehow the Bee’s found themselves up a goal when Jordan Henderson scored at 70’ but Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the net for The Whites at 82’ and continued to pepper the net but couldn’t find the back of it. Leeds outshot Brentford 18-7 and looked like the better side. |
 | No D in Burnley. Last season Burnley gave up 16 goals THE ENTIRE 38 match season in the Championship. Through 16 matches this season the Clarets have allowed 33 goals which highlights the difference between the top league and the league below. For FFC, Harry Wilson continued his hot streak scoring and assisting another and it was a much needed 3 points for the Cottagers who went up 3-1 and held on late. |
CS TOP 3 VIDEO LINKS on X - 📽️📽️📽️
Own Goal for the WIN in the Tyne-Wear Derby. WATCH (30s)
Own GoalS for the Gunners to escape a hard-fought Wolves effort at Emirates. Gunners take the lead on an OG at 69’. Watch (15s). Wolves tied it late and Arsenal won it later. WATCH (60s X).
Palmer. Cole Palmer. Back from injury, he makes a difference for Chelsea. Watch (30s).
Current Situation 📈📉
Standings
Current Table (Arrows represent a team that moved up or down 2+ spots or into/out of Europe/Relegation) 
| Season Clean Sheets by Team  |
Goals & Clean Sheets
How does the current 25/26 season compare to EPL averages for goals and clean sheets.
Goals 34 Match Week 16 28.6 25/26 Season Average (G/MW)
| Clean Sheets 5 Match Week 16 5.2 25/26 Season Average (G/MW)
|
Scorers & More Stats
Multi Goal Scorers 2 Goals
3 Goals
4+ Goals
| Season Goal Leaders 19 Own Goals (See Below)* 17 Erling Haaland - City 11 Igor Thiago - Brentford 7 Hugo Ekitike - Liverpool 7 Denny Welbeck - BHA 7 Jean-Philippe Mateta - Palace 7 Phil Foden - Man City 7 Antoine Semenyo - B’mouth 6 Bryan Mbeumo - Man U 6 Richarlison - Spurs | Tackles 65 Joao Palhinha - Spurs 52 Nico Williams - Forest 49 Tyrick Mitchell - Palace 47 Florentino - Burnley 45 Kenny Tete - FFC 44 Mats Wieffer - BHA 43 Elliot Anderson - Forest 40 Jurrien Timber - Arsenal 40 Daichi Kamada - Palace |
4 Own Goals Allowed
3 Own Goals Allowed
| 2 Own Goals Allowed
| 1 Own Goal Allowed
|
Quick Kicks ⚽
Mo Salah. Salah was in the squad but on the bench for Liverpool after the drama the past couple weeks. An injury early saw Salah come on, and he made a difference Watch (15s). It felt like a good-bye match as Mo stayed on the pitch well after others had left Watch (30s) thanking the fans and throughout the match he was serenaded by the fans. Watch (60s) of post-match comments.
Fastest of the Season. Mateus Fernandes of West Ham scores the fastest goal of the season in the EPL, 29 seconds. Watch (15s).
Goals. Most goals in a Match Week this season, 34. Quite a large number for a week seeing 5 clean sheets.
Sneaky Blues. Chelsea with another clean sheet on the season, number 8, tied for most with Arsenal.
30% More. Last year through MW16 there were 64 clean sheets on the season, this year we are 30% higher at 83.
5% Fewer. Last year through MW16 there were 481 goals on the season, this year we are 5% lower at 457.
Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥
Tyne-Wear Derby
Sunderland did NOT put Newcastle’s logo on their scoreboard- just “Visitor”.
GREAT SCENES from Stadium of Light pre-match today. Watch (20s)
Tyne-Wear Derby. 12 miles separate Newcastle and Sunderland. The rivalry goes beyond just locale.
North East England consists of 9 regions, one of which is Tyne and Wear. Newcastle sits on the Northern bank of the River Tyne while Sunderland sits at the mouth of the River Wear where it enters into the North Sea.
History Lesson. History Lesson. (shout out to Everybody’s got a cousin in Miami, iykyk).
In the 1600s the Royalists of Newcastle, aka Cavaliers, were wealthy supporters of King Charles I and then King Charles II during the English Civil War. The Parliamentarians of Sunderland, aka Roundheads, fought against King Charles I and his supporters. Basically, those who supported a Monarchy v those who supported a Parliamentary Monarchy government.
Later those from Newcastle associated with the House of Hanover, which elevated in political power until it was dissolved in the early 1900s.
Those from Sunderland, on the other hand, associated with the House of Stuart. Stuarts originated in Scotland in the 1300s and were associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Over time the Jacobites looked to restore the house of Stuart.
Point is - this Derby started before Soccer rivalries.
1887. Sunderland won the first competitive match 2-0.
1901 GOOD FRIDAY Encounter. In 1901 St James’ Park, home to Newcastle, held 30,000 people. However, on the day of the home match with Sunderland 120,000 fans showed up and the match had to be abandoned after fans were injured.
Geordie - is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area who uses a distinctive dialect, also known as Tyneside English. Not everyone in the NE is a Geordie, but most all Geordie’s are in the NE. While there are different definitions of what it means to be a Geordie, Newcastle United supporters are called Geordie’s and when you order a Newcastle Brown Ale, you get it served in a Geordie Schooner.
Mackem - is a nickname for a person from Sunderland who uses a distinctive dialect, not to be confused with a Geordie. Locals insist there are significant differences between the Mackem and Geordie dialect.
This one has been CLOSE - in 159 matches Sunderland now have 55W 54L 50D.
Off Island 🏝️
The Big SIX
You may hear about some EPL teams being part of the Big 6. Those teams are the largest in terms of financials and fan bases globally in the EPL. It’s clear they have an advantage over other EPL clubs, so when one of these clubs sit outside the top 6 in the table the pressure really ratchets up. It’s part of why Man United fans have been so frustrated the last couple years, why Liverpool breaking through a couple years ago was such a big deal after a long dry spell and why Spurs near bottom of the table finish last season was such a highly covered topic. It’s also why it’s such a big deal when a NON big six club finishes high in the table. Some say Leicester City’s title run in 2016 is the biggest upset in sports history. |  |
These 6 clubs are measured on WINNING title’s and WINNING in Europe. Since the current Premier League format has been in play since 1992, 32 of the 24 PL winners have been from these 6 (actually 5) clubs.
EPL Winners since 1992
13 Titles - Manchester United - last one in 2013
9 - Manchester City - 2024
5 - Chelsea - 2017
3 - Arsenal - 2004
2 - Liverpool - 2025
0 - Tottenham - the highest Spurs have ever finished is 2nd in 2017 with 86 points.
Non-Big Six Titles
Blackburn Rovers - 1995
Leicester City Foxes - 2016
FA CUP Winners since 1992
29 of the 34 FA Cup winners were part of the big six (actually 5).
8 - Arsenal - 2020
7 - Chelsea - 2018
5 - Manchester United - last one in 2024
3 - Manchester City - 2023
3 - Liverpool - 2022
0 - Tottenham
5 Non-Big Six Titles
Everton - 1995
Portsmouth - 2008
Wigan - 2013
Leicester City - 2021
Palace - 2025
For Comparison Sake
Here are the valuations across multiple sports. How ‘bout them Cowboys…..
Best Bets 💰
Season - UP $111
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Match Week 16 Results
UP $67
W $20 - Chelsea v Everton Under 2.5 -111. $22
W $20 - Arsenal to Win v Wolves and Over 2.5 goals -200. $40
L ($20) - Burnley to Win v Fulham +288. $20
L ($20) - Palace to Win v City +304. $20
W $45 - Sunderland to win v Newcastle +224. $20
W $47 - Villa to Win at West Ham over 2.5 goals +187. $25
L ($5) - Sunderland, Burnley to Win +1124. $5
L ($5) - Sunderland, Palace to Win +1124. $5
L ($5) - Palace, Burnley to Win +1382. $5
L ($5) - Palace, Burnley, Sunderland to Win +4614. $5
L ($5) - Sunderland, Burnley, Brentford to Win +2263. $5
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