Match Week 29 Recap

EPL Match Week 29 - CleanSheet Recap

In Today’s CleanSheet:

• Headlines 📌

• Current Situation📈📉

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- FA Cup Final Four

• Off Island 🏝️ - International Break

• Best Bets 💰

Headlines 📌

• Best Result of Match Week 28. Fulham 3-0 Tottenham. FFC became the first team to shut out Spurs this season and that’s 4 wins for FFC in their last 6. It’s also another dominant performance where Fulham outworked their opponent similarly to their United and BHA wins. For Spurs, they placed the blame on themselves. Captain Son said, “This was not close to what we have been doing this season. It is very sad to watch this. The fans don't deserve this." Manager Postecoglou said, "Our final third play wasn't great. But it's more the overall play that was disappointing. There are things we've done all year we've prided ourselves on, our intensity and tempo, but that wasn't there in the second half."

  • Just before the break. FFC take the lead, it’s Muniz.

  • FFC Lead by 2. 48’ Sasa Lukic with the flick. (X)

  • Three. 61’ Muniz for the brace. (X)

  • Ange. Good stuff from Spurs manager. (X 90s)

• Financial Fair Play Impact. Forest was deducted 4 points for breaking Financial Fair Play rules moving them to 18^th and into the relegation zone. 3-point deduction for breaking rules, 3 for the extent they broke the rules and 2 added back for cooperation. Who won on this news? Luton Town, Everton, Brentford and maybe even Burnley.

  • Interestingly, Everton had overspent by $25M and were deducted 10 points, later to be adjusted to 6. Forest reportedly overspent by $40M.

  • The difference in point deduction may be because Everton did not cooperate with the league willingly and Forest did.

  • @skysportsnews has a 2min video on the topic.

  • Forest is happy the ruling came down when it did, and gives them the stretch run to recover but they are very disappointed with the ruling. Here is a 3 min deep dive. They have 7 days to appeal.

  • Many are asking why Forest decision moved so quickly and Man City’s has not. Forest was a pretty straight forward case of overspending and agreeing they did. City face a FFP ruling for 115 charges or 12 seasons, a very complex case and City deny doing anything wrong.

  • Chelsea face potential FFP violations from the sale of their club 2 years ago. It is unclear if charges will be filed and if they did anything wrong.

  • Everton face a new charge. The Toffee’s claim it is a duplicate charge to what they have already been deducted for. Will this be decided this season and influence the table? It is not clear.

  • FFP Basics. All you need to know. (3 min read)

  • FFP Impact. CleanSheet Week 10 and CleanSheet Week 2.

• Burnley Win. The Clarets got their second home win of the season against a giving Bee’s side who gifted a penalty and goal in the first 10’. Burnley took advantage and held on for a 2-1 win although it wasn’t without drama at the end.

  • Great 2 Min of Highlights. YouTube here.

• Relegation Impact. Prior to the point deduction, Forest was looking to take a 6-point lead on Luton Town in the relegation battle. This 90’ goal reduced that lead to 3 points and with the 4-point deduction to Forest moved Luton Town out of relegation. Luton Town 1-1 Forest.

• West Ham. David Moyes can’t do anything right for Hammer fans. This week it’s a 1-1 draw with Villa that could’ve been a 2-1 win if VAR went the other way. But let’s summarize the situation.

  • Moyes as Manager. Took over on an interim basis in 2017 with the team in the relegation zone and helped keep them up. Then returned 6 months later to become full time manager where he has a 101W 42D 77L record.

  • Recently. Moyes won the European Conference Title last year and has the Hammers in the Europa League quarterfinals this year. Tom Rennie (host of SiriusXM The Football Show) is a big WH fan and often comments, so CS recently asked WH fans the following on X…..

• The responses are a great demonstration of passionate fans. In summary the message is, West Ham’s success is despite Moyes and his tactics are boring and at times head scratching.

• Crystal Ball. 4 of the past 5 seasons the team facing Wolves on the last day finished second in the PL. This year Wolves travel to Liverpool. 🤔

Current Situation 📈📉

Clean Sheets Counter

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

FA CUP Final Four

The FA Cup Elite 8 matches did not disappoint this weekend. 4 Great matches, 1 big upset, 1 small upset and 4 teams looking for glory at Wembley Stadium.

City will be favorites over Chelsea and United over Coventry resulting in a Manchester Derbey for the Cup.

Many people believe the FA Cup title is as good or better than the PL title. Here is an example from a Man City X post…..Interesting they assume they will win a Cup no matter what this year.

• Man United 4-3 Liverpool. Extra Time. High energy and drama. United took a 1-0 lead early only to see the Reds steal the lead back before HT. It took a 87’ Anthony goal to tied it 2-2. In extra time Liverpool took a 3-2 lead on an Elliot goal at 105’ but the Red’s defense let them down when Rashford evened it at 112’ and Diallo won it just before the whistle was to send it to Pens at 120’. The best United has looked this season (imho) and the biggest win for ten Hag’s at United.

  • The Winner. Diallo, who then took a red card for taking his shirt off. (X)

• Wolves 2-3 Coventry City. The Championship side scored the first goal at 53’ and it took to the 83’ to even it up. Wolves then scored at 88’ in what looked like the winning goal but in extra time Coventry shocked the fans at the Molineaux with a 97’ goal to tie and a 100’ goal to win it in regulation. The magic of the FA Cup.

  • Coventry tie it up (X) at 97’ thinking it was heading to Extra Time.

  • USMNT striker Haji Wright with the game winner. (X)

• Man City 2-0 Newcastle. 2 1H goals and pretty much in control the whole way at the Etihad. It’s the first time a team has reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup six consecutive times.

• Chelsea 4-2 Leicester City. Great match with both sides pushing for goals. The Blues took a 2-0 HT lead only to see the Foxes tie it up mid-way through the 2H. Enter refereeing at 70’.

  • Turning point of the match, on a Shite call when Jackson trips himself and it’s called a red card in LCFC.

If you’re looking for a good search on X, just type in “Raheem Sterling Free Kick”. This is one of the best footballers in the world, except at this moment. (X 15s)

Off Island 🏝️

International Break - What 2 Look 4 Int’l Version

League’s all around the world (but not including MLS) head on International Break, returning March 30. Here are some of the key National Team competitions in play.

CONACAF (North & Central America) Semifinals and finals. Click here for more.

The USMNT take on Jamaica Thursday, March 21 6pm cst. Mexico take on Panama Thursday, March 21. Winners and losers play each other in the final Monday, March 25 at 8pm cst.

EURO 2024. Click here for more.

12 teams are battling for the final 3 spots for the summer competition in Germany.

FIFA Series. Click here for more.

This is a chance for Nations from different Confederations to meet in a Host Country to play teams they may not otherwise get a chance to play in a Friendly Competition. Host countries this break include Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

Friendlies

Teams who have already qualified or been eliminated from their competitions will be tuning up for their summer events. For example, England play Brazil and Belgium. Argentina plays Costa Rica. Germany plays Japan and France.

Best Bets 💰

Season Starting Balance: $1000 Current: $1254

What started as a great week turned down after Liverpool gave up their extra time lead in the FA Cup.

Season Standings