Tag: League

1) Moreno at forefront of Emery revolution

People are no longer ignoring the massive turnaround Unai Emery has performed at Villa Park. There were not many personnel changes in January: the teenage striker Jhon Durán was signed from Chicago Fire, Bertrand Traoré was recalled from loan at Istanbul Basaksehir and, most important, Alex Moreno joined from Real Betis. Lucas Digne has been deposed from the defence and Villa have only lost twice in Moreno’s 15 appearances, with the Spaniard quickly becoming integral to the system. He is popular off the pitch, too, ingratiating himself with fans with a recent interview in English, smiling throughout despite not yet having a full mastery of the language. Moreno will enjoy the prospect of facing Antony, which will be a key battle with the Villa man keen to test the Brazilian’s defence as well as attack. Will Unwin

2) Smith v Dyche in game they cannot lose

It is hard to shake the feeling that if there is a loser in this match that team will be staring at the end of the road when it comes to their top-flight status. Time is running out to escape the drop. Bournemouth and Wolves provide shining examples of teams given a shot in the arm by a new manager and Dean Smith must hope he can mirror the impact of Gary O’Neil and Julen Lopetegui, respectively. Victory for Leicester would give Smith a hugely credible seven points from a possible nine since defeat at Manchester City in his opening game. Similarly, Sean Dyche badly needs to give Everton some hope to cling on to, with Thursday’s hammering at home to Newcastle the latest low. There is no denying the magnitude of the occasion at the King Power Stadium. Ben Fisher

3) Timid Leeds need to find fight

After their trip to the Vitality Stadium, Leeds face Manchester City at the Etihad, so they will be desperate to get a win at Bournemouth. Things are very tight at the bottom and two more wins for any side could provide their salvation. Leeds took the lead against Leicester in midweek but rarely looked comfortable with it. Having conceded 11 in their previous two home games, there is reason to be trepidatious. Javi Gracia needs superior game management from his players and a calming influence to keep everything together. They like to sit deep and that invites the opposition on. As West Ham showed last week, a pressing game can reap rewards against Bournemouth, who struggled to cope with the Hammers in midfield. Whether Leeds have the confidence to play that way is another question: two midfielders sitting deep and Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra pressing could be the best route towards safety. WU

4) A lament for Saturday 3pm games

Newcastle have not staged a 3pm Saturday kick-off at St James’ Park in 2023 and will not this season. In one sense that represents a positive – television executives are so enamoured with Eddie Howe’s side they scramble to book up their matches – but it is also an enormous shame. There remains something special about Saturday 3pm games – and they are a lot more fan-friendly, particularly if you are an away supporter, than 8pm on a Monday night or 4.30pm on a Sunday. Southampton fans can perhaps count themselves relatively lucky to have a 2pm Sunday start, offering realistic travel options. But for those who do not travel by the supporters’ coaches, which depart St Mary’s at 5am on Sunday, the return choices are: the 6.55pm flight from Newcastle airport (one hour to Southampton but the last seats were selling at £272 on Thursday), the 5pm train from Newcastle central station (six hours and two changes with off-peak single seats selling at £198.90, although those who bought in advance could have paid a “bargain” £94.30 single rate) or drive (332 miles to St Mary’s and a minimum of six hours). Louise Taylor

5) No let-up for Forest now

Nottingham Forest were spiralling towards the Championship until they caught Brighton, perhaps bruised by their Wembley near miss, on an off-night. Now fresh life has been breathed into their relegation battle but the result will need backing up when they visit a similarly revitalised Brentford. Thomas Frank’s side may have had to park any realistic thoughts of Europe but looked far from demotivated in winning at Chelsea: they have already surpassed last season’s points total and their model is one that Forest, should they stay up, might usefully pursue if they want a less hair-raising campaign next time around. “Where we are now is impressive and every point we get now will be more impressive,” said Frank, who sounded like a man intent on making sure the Bees have cemented a top-half place a month from now. Forest can expect to be matched for guts regardless of their greater need: Steve Cooper will need to see bundles of wit and guile from his players, as displayed on Wednesday night, if their getaway is to gather pace. Nick Ames

6) Wolves have time to plan ahead

Under Julen Lopetegui, Wolves have transformed into a functional and confident team, two traits lacking before the World Cup break. The former Spain and Real Madrid coach has an impressive CV but the Wolves job looked a tough one. Lopetegui has, however, proved himself an adaptable coach. There were some smart additions in January that allowed him to play the formation and style he preferred but he has also got the best out of those struggling under his predecessor. Wolves are almost certainly safe and Lopetegui can plan for next season in the Premier League in the final five matches. One fringe player who is yet to find consistency since his arrival is Pablo Sarabia. The Spain international started the season alongside Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, so has great pedigree. Now the pressure is somewhat alleviated, Sarabia may feel free at Wolves and prove to the fans what he can offer them from the wing going forth. WU

7) Any way for Fulham to stop Haaland?

Arsenal could do with a favour from a former Manchester City player. If Tosin Adarabioyo starts in central defence for Fulham on Sunday he will have the unenviable honour of trying to get in Erling Haaland’s way. Adarabioyo is an elegant, improving defender and he has been a good signing since joining from City in 2020. But, assuming he gets the nod over Issa Diop, the 25-year-old will need the performance of his life against his old side. Haaland was in devastating form against Arsenal on Wednesday, bullying Rob Holding, and his goals look like powering City to the title. He could be just too quick and strong for Fulham’s defence. Jacob Steinberg

8) Richards eyes chance to prove worth

Chris Richards made his first appearance under Roy Hodgson at Wolves in midweek. He started the match at full-back and finished it in central defence. The American has made only nine league appearances since his summer move from Hoffenheim because of the form of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi, coupled with injury problems. He suffered the disappointment of missing the World Cup but has recovered physically from the leg issue that ruled him out. Before Molineux, he was last seen for eight minutes away to Brentford in mid-February, before five matches as an unused substitute. Despite his lack of minutes in recent months, he was able to complete the 90 against Wolves. Aged 23 and shown to be adaptable, Richards looks as if he could be an important member of the Palace defence for years to come and this could finally be the time to take his chance with a run of games at the end of the season. WU

9) Where Spurs go from here

There is a way for Tottenham to demonstrate they do possess some substance and it is not with the token gesture of reimbursing those fans who endured last weekend’s gutless humiliation at Newcastle. Nor is it via an improvement in front of a home crowd against Manchester United in Ryan Mason’s first game of his second spell as caretaker manager. That was the minimum requirement for a team that were seemingly equipped to improve on last season’s fourth-placed finish when the campaign began. It is by going back on the road again, to another hostile environment and in-form opponent with European qualification on its mind, and delivering a performance as far removed as possible from St James’ Park. That will serve as a more genuine apology from Spurs’ players to their travelling support. Few might expect victory at Anfield, a ground where Spurs have won once in the league in 30 years, but a show of commitment, organisation and desire would be a start. Andy Hunter

10) Eyes beyond the prize

With Manchester City likely to claim a fifth title in six years, now seems a sensible time to wonder where English football is going. The deployment of clubs to further the geopolitical ends of human rights-abusing nation-states is a miserable situation, because no supporter should ever have to wonder whether their lifelong affiliation has become morally unjustifiable; what the point of it all is. The game should have been protected against this by the FA, the Premier League and the UK government, but dazzled by mammon, they did nothing, and we now seem to have a proxy for the Qatari royal family trying to buy Manchester United. This should bother everyone, for two reasons: first, the prospect of the country’s richest club backed by an unlimited exchequer could ruin whatever vestige of competitiveness remains, and second, if Qatar are allowed to own two clubs – United and PSG – who might contest the same competition – the Champions League – what’s to stop them owning everything? Daniel Harris