MFF November Team of the Month 2023/24
The November team of the month is here from MFF. There were only three league games played by each club, but as usual we have our monthly alternative XI for you. This month’s team takes on a 3-5-2 formation. Remember, all the players are in the positions they occupy in the Premier League’s official ‘Fantasy Premier League’.
Goalkeeper
Andre Onana (Manchester United)
Onana, has been maligned since arriving in the Premier League, but he kept clean sheets in all the three November matches, and you cannot ask for more than that. After the mass of criticism, he now has five clean sheets in all this campaign, putting him joint-1st with Sam Johnstone and Nick Pope. Onana’s 51 saves have him joint-2nd overall and 12 of them came in November, as United continue to concede too many chances. Onana’s best performance in the month came in the last game away at Everton, where he made six saves. He made a double save from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dwight McNeil in the first half. In the second half he did well to tip over a volley from Idrissa Gueye.
(Andre Onana makes a save against Fulham, as he kept three November clean sheets. Image from ‘Getty Images/Daily Mail.’)
Defenders
Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
With the way injuries have piled up for Manchester United, Dalot has helped massively. The Portuguese has played left back as well as his natural right back role and done well. We knew of how good he can be going forward but his defensive work has improved. He helped United to keep clean sheets in all three of their November games, and now with Luke Shaw fit again, he has given Erik ten Hag a selection headache. Now him and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will battle it out at right back. Dalot, started at right back in United’s last November game at Everton, where Shaw made his return from injury, and Dalot assisted. Dalot’s cross was met by a spectacular overhead kick by Alejandro Garnacho.
Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton)
Mykolenko, made it back-to-back appearances in the team of the month. The Toffees drew 1-1 with Brighton to begin the month, and Mykolenko scored after 7 minutes as he followed up after his first shot was saved. Mykolenko was to open the scoring again in the away trip to Crystal Palace as he headed in after just 52 seconds, as Sean Dyche’s men went on to win 3-2. He almost made it 3 goals in 3 November fixtures as he hit the post in the 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United. His 34 tackles this campaign is third amongst defenders. He will be vital if Everton are to stay up after their 10-point deduction.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)
Zinchenko, still plays in his natural central midfield berth for Ukraine, but much like at his former club Manchester City he operates at left back for Arsenal. Some of his defensive work has been called out, and he gets more praise for his forward work in an inverted role joining the midfield. However, he was solid defensively for the most part in November. The Gunners bounced back after losing to Newcastle, with a 3-1 home win against Burnley. Zinchenko volleyed in the third goal after William Saliba’s header hit the bar. In Mikel Arteta’s men’s trip to Brentford, they were thankful Zinchenko made a massive clearance off the line as they concluded the month with a late 1-0 win.
Midfielders
Tomas Soucek (West Ham)
Soucek, initially came in on loan back in 2019 and impressed so much he was bought permanently the following year. In that season he came permanently (2020/21), he scored 10 league goals, and he looks set to beat that amount in 2023/24. The Hammers lost at Brentford but replied with a 3-2 home win against Nottingham Forest. Soucek hit the bar, before later scoring the winner as he met James Ward-Prowse’s corner with a good header. Soucek was to be the hero again as David Moyes’ men won 2-1 at Burnley. Mohammed Kudus’ dangerous ball in was thumped home by Soucek in the 91st minute. The Czech has won the most aerial battles of any midfielder in the league this season with 32.
(Tomas Soucek wheels away after scoring the winner at Burnley. Image from ‘bbc.co.uk’.)
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle splashed £50m on Gordon last January, however, he has silenced the doubters with some very good displays. His versatility and ability to dribble in tight spaces have made him effective and he works hard off the ball too. Eddie Howe’s side got a big home win against Arsenal, and Gordon got the winning goal. He tapped in the easiest of chances after a header was won by Joelinton. The Magpies concluded the month with a 4-1 thumping of Chelsea. Gordon assisted Jamaal Lascelles’ header with a super ball in to put them 2-1 up. He then added the 4th goal as they hit 10-man Chelsea on the break, as he fired into the bottom corner.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
The Ghanaian was eased into West Ham’s team, now he is in the XI he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. David Moyes’ men lost 3-2 away at Brentford but at a stage they led 2-1. Kudus, made it 1-1 with a sumptuous volley. He then hit the post and the rebound was put in by Jarrod Bowen to put them ahead. The Hammers responded with two wins to end the month. And it was in the second of those wins that Kudus came up trumps in the clutch to get them the three points, as they beat Burnley away 2-1. Firstly, his teasing cross was put into his own net by Dara O’Shea for 1-1. In injury time, Kudus’ delicious ball in was met by an emphatic volley by Tomas Soucek.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah, has had better performances than he did in November, but he still was vital to Liverpool’s month. The Egyptian’s game has altered throughout the last few years, and he has become even more efficient and is creating more chances than ever. He fluffed his lines in the away draw with Luton but it almost assisted Darwin Nunez, who put over from three yards. At home, however, Salah has been relentless, and he was at the double against in a 3-0 victory over Brentford. The first was a cool finish with his favoured left foot and then his second was a header. Liverpool got a point at Manchester City and Salah’s pass setup the late equaliser for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City)
Doku’s impact since joining in the summer window was compounded by a blistering November. His can play on both sides, but he has done his best work on the left and this poses a major threat to Jack Grealish’s place in the main XI. In the 6-1 hammering of Bournemouth, the Belgian scored the first goal after playing a one-two with Rodri. He then went on to get no less than four assists. The pick of the assists was a fine pass to Bernardo Silva for the fifth goal. In City’s game at home to Liverpool he was their best player, causing constant problems with his directness down the left-hand side however, he could not prevent a draw.
Forwards
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
City scored 6 in their first game of the month at home to Bournemouth, and Haaland surprisingly did not feature amongst the scorers as he came off at half-time as a precaution. He was fit to start the last two games of the month and normal service in front of goal was restored. In an enthralling 4-4 draw with Chelsea, he scored a dubious penalty to give Pep Guardiola’s men the lead. The Norwegian than bagged a brace to put them 3-2 ahead as he slid in on a ball across the goalmouth by Julian Alvarez. Liverpool travelled to the Etihad next up, and Haaland opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw as he controlled a pass from Nathan Ake before beating Alisson Becker.
Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)
Jackson has hugely divided opinion since arriving from Villarreal. With fellow new signing Christopher Nkunku getting injured, he was looked at to be the talisman to fill a huge void the Blues had up front. Jackson has missed several chances to start life at Stamford Bridge, but things clicked for him in November. In a pulsating London Derby, Chelsea won away at Tottenham 4-1, after the home side went down to 9 men. Jackson helped himself to a hat-trick as Spurs persisted with a high line. To be honest the Senegalese international could have had more. Mauricio Pochettino’s men put up another instant classic as they drew 4-4 with Manchester City and Jackson finished well in the penalty box to make it 3-3, to make it 6 for the season.
(Nicolas Jackson rounds Guglielmo Vicario to complete his hat-trick at Tottenham. Image from ‘edition.cnn.com’.)
Daniel Dwamena
(@DubulDee)