TOTW 12 PREDICTIONS

With the incredible TOTW 10 feeling like a distant memory, we try to move on from the fairly lackluster TOTW 11, with hopes of finding yet another stacked team this week. Sadly this isn’t the case, but while the bench may look extremely bleak, the starting eleven certainly has some superstar names that can begin to generate some excitement.
 

Starting Eleven
 

Douglas

Let’s kick start these predictions in the usual way, with a fantastic performance from a goalkeeper. Vitoria de Guimaraes were on the road this weekend, as they travelled to Chaves for their Liga Nos fixture. Now despite the hosts taking the points in a 1-0 win, it was far from smooth sailing, with the hosts racking up a total of 14 shots, with 8 on target. Douglas however was in fine form, saving shot after shot, ensuring the clean sheet, and working his way into our starting eleven this week.

Chiellini

The TOTW may not be super stacked, but at least we have a handful of elite names making the list. First up we have the legendary defender himself, Chiellini. Juventus took 3 points again this weekend, with a 3-0 win away to Fiorentina. With a clean sheet, a solid defensive performance and a goal to his name, surely Chiellini has done enough to earn his first inform of the year here.

Pique

From the league leaders in Italy to the league leaders in Spain now, where we find ourselves with another huge defensive name. Barcelona were comfortable 2-0 winners over Villarreal on the weekend, as they once again pushed further ahead atop the table. Pique was magnificent in defence, and when we then add a goal into the equation, surely he has earned his spot here.

Antunes

For our final defensive selection in this starting eleven we remain in Spain, where Getafe pulled off a fantastic 3-0 win over Espanyol. Antunes was brilliant at the back, running the wing, helping maintain the clean sheet, and with a goal to his name as well, surely we have the perfect combination for an inform on Wednesday.

Valeri

With the MLS coming to a close, it would be foolish to not include at least one player from the play off matches, and luckily for us, one man stood up and took this role. Portland picked up a 3-2 win away to Kansas in the second leg this week, and with Valeri scoring twice, he instantly becomes the obvious selection for these predictions.

Neres

One of the toughest decisions to make where writing these predictions isn’t who should be included, it’s who should be left out. Now the Eredivisie had a handful of incredible performances this week, but as we all know, not everyone can make the final cut. Ajax continued their fine form this season with a 5-1 win over ADO Den Haag, and with Neres being a bigger name, scoring once, assisting once, and dominating the match, leaving him out simply wasn’t an option.

Gnabry

Over to Germany now, where despite Bayern’s rocky start to the season, they managed to find their form and take the points in a 2-1 win away to Werder Bremen. Gnabry was sensational on the day, scoring both of Bayern’s goals, terrorising the oppositions defence, and most likely making his way into the team of the week too.

Hernandez

Over to the Premier League now, where we could be having flashbacks to an SBC released just a few weeks back. West Ham were 3-0 winners away to Newcastle in their weekend fixture, and despite a fantastic team effort, only one man could be taking this spot. Hernandez scored twice on the day, and put in a solid shift across the match, giving himself every chance of an inform this week.

Jonas

Portugal is our next stop here, where we find a veteran in world football once again doing what he does best. Benfica were 4-0 winners over Feirense in their match this week, and with a goal, an assist and a brilliant performance across the 90 minutes, is it finally time to see Jonas taking his first inform of the campaign?

Aspas

Back across to Spain next, where we find a name that has featured within our predictions a couple of times already this year, but has always fallen at that final hurdle. Celta Vigo took the points in a comfortable 2-0 win at home to SD Huesca this week, where Aspas was in fine form. Scoring both the goals and running rampant throughout, excluding him this week, especially with a potential striker card, would be foolish at best.

Aubameyang

We move onto the final selection in our starting eleven this week, and with it we feature the game of the week. Sunday was a day of derbies in England, with the North London derby taking the spotlight. Arsenal picked up a 4-2 win over Tottenham, in a game that brought fans drama, goals, cards and just about everything else you could imagine. With 2 goals and an assist to his name, including one from the spot, Aubameyang has to be a nailed on winner for his first inform of the year.

Substitutes and Reserves
 

Zentner

Onto the bench now, and as usual, we kick start these 12 players with our second and final goalkeeper of the day. Mainz were away to Dusseldorf for their Bundesliga clash this week, where despite a very narrow 1-0 win, they really had to fight for the points. Zentner was a man possessed, pulling off save after save, keeping out a total of 21 shots across the 90 minutes. This should be more than enough to earn him a spot, especially with the lack of competition this week.

Torunarigha

We aren’t travelling far for our next selection here, as we remain in the Bundesliga with a game between Hannover and Hertha Berlin. The game provided fans with 2 goals, both of which went in favour of the visitors, Hertha. Now usually when predicting silver players to make the cut, unless they bagged themselves a hat-trick, it can be fairly difficult to have any real confidence in EA matching your selections. Torunarigha however has broken this mould, after putting in a sensational defensive performance, keeping a clean sheet, scoring a goal and providing the assist for the second. Leaving this man out is a crime.

Martin

We move over to France for our next selection here, and once again, we come across a fairly controversial selection. Strasbourg were away to Rennes for their Ligue 1 fixture this week, and in a game that provided fans with 5 goals, it was the visitors who took the points in a 4-1 win. Now Martin did score twice, which from a CM is usually more than enough, however both goals came from the spot, leaving this nomination as fairly risky.

Bouanga

We remain in France for our next selection here, where Nimes and Amiens went head to head in their Ligue one match on the weekend. The game itself provided 3 goals, however they were far from evenly spread. It was the hosts, Nimes, who took all 3 goals, and along with it all 3 points, while Bouanga was the man of the hour, scoring once, assisting another and putting in an incredible performance across the match.

Skov

Kobenhavn absolutely destroyed Horsens on the weekend, picking up the points in a 6-1 thrashing. Skov was in sensational form, scoring not once, not twice, but three times to not only secure his hat-trick, but our first one of the predictions too.

Hasani

Al-Raed were 3-1 winners over Al Batin this week, and with such a sensational performance from Hasani, he was the only man who could be taking this spot amongst the elite. With 2 goals and an assist for the third, it instantly becomes extremely difficult to imagine a TOTW without this man making the final cut.

Mahi

FC Groningen took all three points this week, with an emphatic 5-2 win over NAC Breda. Mahi was in sensational form on the day, scoring twice for himself and assisting a third. The only worry is the large supply of strikers pulling off a similar feat, not everyone can make the final cut sadly.

Angulo

Over to Poland next, where Gornik Zabrze took all the points with a dominating 4-0 win away to Wisla Plock. Angulo was a man in form, leading from the front and terrorising the opposition from the very first minute. With 2 goals and an assist to his name, hopefully he has done enough to make the lineup on Wednesday.

Townsend

Back across to England now, where we find our third and final Premier League player to feature this week. Crystal Palace picked up a much needed win at home to Burnley on the weekend, moving them away from the relegation spots and further towards safety. Townsend was in fine form, playing at striker he scored once and assisted the other to carry his side on the day.

Quagliarella

Sampdoria were hosts to Bologna for their Serie A fixture this week, and in a game that provided fans with 5 goals, it was the hosts who secured 4 of them. Quagliarella led from the front, scoring twice, taking the man of the match award and along with it, a possible inform this week too.

Terodde

We move across to the second tier of German football now, where Cologne continue to dominate, while working their way back towards the Bundesliga. This week they picked up a 6-1 win away to Horsens, and with 2 goals and 2 assists to his name, Terodde has to be a lock for an inform here too.

Abraham

Our final selection this week sees us heading back to England, where we find a midweek Championship game that provided fans with absolutely everything. Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest provided fans and spectators with a 10 goal thriller on Wednesday, and while neither side could edge out the win, we found plenty of candidates for this weeks TOTW. Our nomination however could only really go to one man. Abraham scored a massive 4 goals on the night, which despite the result, has to be enough for an inform, right?