In Today’s CleanSheet:

• Headlines 📌

• What 2 Look 4 👀 

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- Joe Cool

• Off Island 🏝️ - It’s The Best Sports Watching Week Charlie Brown!

• Best Bets 💰

Thankful for all the CleanSheet Subscribers"!

Headlines 📌

• Pencil This One In. City v Liverpool Saturday 630 am cst on USA. Big one right out of the break! Battle for top of the table. Both sides had most players traveling around the world for International Break. Who will handle the jump back into the PL best? This is typically when City makes a statement at home. Liverpool is not afraid of any venue. Expect a close one.

• 7. 2. 1. Weekend. 7 Saturday, 2 Sunday, 1 Monday.

• 10-point Deduction. As expected, Everton was given a point deduction. 10 points. They will appeal, but that currently drops them to 19th in the table, 2 points below the relegation zone.

  • Why 10 points? Not sure yet.

  • Why were Everton singled out when we are waiting on Man City and other reviews for point deductions? Not sure, but expect there to be a lot of focus on this precedence setting move by the PL.

  • What’s going to happen? It seems Everton will be taking an “Us Against the World” approach to the rest of the season.

  • 38,000 PL Corrupt signs (X) have been printed and will be handed out before Sunday’s match versus Man United.

  • There will be an in-match protest from the fans at the 10 min mark - TV partners are expected to manipulate the broadcast to minimize offensive language.

  • Statement from the Club. (X 1 min)

• January Transfer Window. A vote was held during the break by all 20 clubs to determine if Ownership Groups that own multiple clubs can “loan players” to “sister clubs”.

  • For example, Saudi Public Investment Fund owns Newcastle and also 4 of the big clubs in the Saudi league. Could SPIF cut a deal with Newcastle and not their competitors in the PL?

  • There are 11 clubs in the PL whose owners own other clubs around the world.

  • To gain agreement 14 clubs would need to agree to the proposal.

  • By a vote of 13 yes, 7 no, PL Clubs voted AGAINST a ban on loan deals between associated clubs. They fell 1 vote short of the 14 to ban loans. The 7 clubs who voted to keep loan deals in play: Newcastle, Sheffield United, Man United, Chelsea, Everton, Wolves, Forest.

  • Premier League clubs vote against ban on loan deals between associated clubs as January transfer window approaches | Football News | Sky Sports 

What 2 Look 4 👀- Match Week 13

• Man City v Liverpool (Sat) - See Above.

• Newcastle v Chelsea (Sat) - The rest is what the Magpies needed, and some home cooking. The Blues have momentum and are starting to figure things out. This could be a great wide-open match, especially if Chelsea flow like they did versus City.

• Tottenham v Villa (Sun) - Villa has been unstoppable at home but not as much on the road. Spurs break couldn't have come at a better time as they adjust to some key injuries. Spurs really need a win to right the ship. Villa would like to get points on the road.

• Sheffield United v Bournemouth (Sat) - If the Blades want to avoid relegation, they need all 3 points at home against a fellow relegation candidate.

• Burnley v West Ham (Sat) - It's been ugly for the Clarets, completely outmatched through the first 12 weeks. At some point they need to get 3 points at home. The Hammers have won 2 in a row after 1 point in their previous 5 matches. They are favored to win this, and the pressure will be on to get all 3 points.

• Luton Town v Palace (Sat) - The Hatters have had tight matches throughout, just not the wins. Palace has 5 CleanSheets and have allowed just 16 goals on the season, 10 of those in 3 matches. Expect a low scoring result.

• Fulham v Wolves (Mon) - A win by Wolves would jump them to the top 10 most likely. Fulham is struggling and a loss would bring relegation into play. Wolves are riding some momentum after the stunning home win to Spurs while Fulham needed the break to change things up after 1 point in 4 matches.

• Everton v Man United (Sun) - With planned fan protests of the 10 point deduction from the PL Man United may be walking into a hornets nest. This will be a highly charged environment. The Toffee’s have been playing well, while United has been getting good results. Expect a tight one down to the wire.

• Forest v BHA (Sat) - The Seagulls limped into the break looking tired. They’ve been getting points but the scoring is way down from the start of the season. Forest has also been collecting points and seem to be getting better. This feels closer than an 8-14 matchup.

• Brentford v Arsenal (Sat) - Thomas Frank finds ways to get the most out of the Bee’s and while 11 players were called up for International Team duty, most were in Europe. Arsenal had 18 players called up, many with long trips to South America and East Asia. Will be interesting to see if this impacts either team.

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

• Sergio Dest. USMNT, is vying for the dumb shit of the year award for losing his cool for no apparent reason.

  • The USMNT played Trinidad & Tobago in a home and away aggregate goal Quarterfinal during the international break. The US won 3-0 in uninspiring fashion in Austin last Thursday. Then went to T&T and scored the first goal to go up 4-0.

  • Then THIS HAPPENED (2min X).

  • WTF was he thinking. You can see his teammates were not happy. The US went on to lose the match 1-2 but advancing on aggregate 4-2.

  • The USMNT have a lot of work to do between now and the WC in 2026.

• Happy 19th year anniversary “Malice in the Palace” (2min X) - November 19, 2004.

• Zinedine Zidane - World Cup Final - Head butt in the World Cup final (1min YT). Down to 10 men, France would go on to lose.

• Roger Clemens - World Series. Throws a broken bat at Mike Piazza.

• Draymond Green - Too many to choose from so let’s look at the latest. (15s X)

• Tommy Lasorda - After being called “….That fat little Italian” by Kurt Bevacqua. Here was Lasorda’s response, (90s YT) ⚠️Language⚠️ it started slow and then started to grow…..

• Lee Elia - After a slow start to the season (3min YT). ⚠️Language⚠️.

• John McEnroe - so many to choose from. Why not just concede the match.

• Bobby knight - chair throwing (1min YT).

• Dennis Rodman - Kicks Cameraman, where it hurts (30s YT).

• Jim Everett - It doesn’t have to be on the field. On the Jim Rome show, maybe Rome had it coming?

• Juwan Howard - “I’ll Remember That”, but I will continue pressing down 20.

Off Island 🏝️

Let’s take a moment and recognize one of the best sports weeks of the year!

Vote HERE. (X)

• For the outdoorsman, it’s hunting season in the upper Midwest.

• NCAA Basketball has tipped off, and early season tournaments are in full swing.

• NFL goes Thanksgiving Day AND Black Friday this year as well as the usual Sunday and Monday.

• NCAA Football kicks things off for Rivalry week Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

• Premier League is back Saturday, Sunday & Monday.

• NHL, MLS, International Soccer & Leagues, NBA, etc.

Quick Hits on the International Break…..

• USMNT looked very unimpressive. The talent is better than it’s been, but something is off. Coaching? Also, not many people noticed. Just over 305K people tuned in on TNT. That’s a pretty low number.

• USWNT hired Emma Hayes from England, she will be the highest paid women's coach at $1.6M.

• Mexico advances against Honduras but not without controversy in dramatic fashion. (X 1 min)

• Luis Diaz scores twice for Colombia and they beat Brazil, and his father celebrates, (NBCSports) after being returned post kidnapping.

• March 2024 - The next International Break.

Best Bets 💰

Guest Picker

CleanSheet Picker Standings

CleanSheet Season Gains/Losses: Starting Balance $1000. Current Standing $870.

Newcastle to WIN v Chelsea +155. $20.

Newcastle Chelsea O3.5+190. $20.

Forest to WIN v BHA +210. $20.

West Ham to WIN at Burnley -105. $21.

Luton Town Palace to DRAW +230. $20.

Sheffield United Bournemouth O2.5 -120. $24.

Brentford to WIN or DRAW v Arsenal +110. $20

Fulham Wolves to DRAW +230. $20.

Man City to SCORE FIRST in 1H v Liverpool -108. $20.