Former Australian international Zeljko Kalac branded Nestory Irankunda’s shock Socceroos ultimatum as “sickening” and felt the Bayern-bound teen was not ready for international football.
The 18-year-old, who is eligible to represent Australia, Burundi and Tanzania, stated he would “of course” consider representing either of the latter two countries if he continued to be overlooked by Socceroos boss Graham Arnold.
“I haven’t been called up for a few of the squads now,” Irankunda added in the post-match press conference after the A-League All Stars’ 8-0 thrashing of Newcastle.
“I’m still thinking on what I’m going to do in the future at national level so we’ll see.”
However, Irankunda’s comments left Kalac, who made 54 appearances for Australia, with a foul taste in his mouth and insisted the Socceroos shouldn’t be held ransom by a teenager.
“Sickening, sickening that a player actually thinks he’s got the rights to blackmail where he’s going to play,” Kalac told foxsports.com.au.
“These young players don’t realise that there’s a lot of good players that play for their national teams. To come out with comments like that and say if you don’t pick me I’m going to go somewhere else, I’d be saying, ‘On your bike’.
“Because we’re not going to be blackmailed on giving away national team jerseys.”
Kalac acknowledged Irankunda “is a good player”, but insisted the electric 18-year-old has “still got a lot of common sense to go through his head”.
“Because as we know now, football’s not just about your ability on the field,” Kalac said.
“It’s about what you do off the field with your comments. You’re in the public eye and need to lead by example and get these younger players to follow you.”
Kalac was also sceptical of whether Irankunda is at the level required to play for the Socceroos, but trusted Arnold and his Socceroos staff to know if he’ll be up to the task.
“Look, do I think he’s an international player just yet? No,” Kalac said.
“Is he worth having a look at? Yeah. I think all national team staff would be looking at all these players.
“If they don’t feel that he’s ready for international football yet, you don’t bring players into an international scenario if they’re not ready for it. There’s our U20s, there’s our U23s, there’s plenty of stepping stones before you get into the international team.”
Irankunda is in line to represent the Socceroos in upcoming World Cup qualifiers. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Kalac spoke to foxsports.com.au ahead of the bumper clash between Italian giants AC Milan and AS Roma at Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday.
Milan will be managed by one of Kalac’s former teammates, Daniele Bonera, after the club parted ways with Stefano Pioli at the end of the Serie A season as Lille’s Paulo Fonseca will reportedly be the Rossoneri’s next boss.
Fonseca will no doubt be casting his eye over the clash as several Milan players look to prove themselves to the incoming boss.
But Kalac believes it shouldn’t matter if there’s a new manager arriving or not, any chance to pull on the Milan jersey is “an opportunity” they must take with both hands.
“Last night I had two ex-teammates here, Serginho and Daniele Bonera, they were just saying these are all opportunities,” Kalac said.
“At big clubs, opportunities come few and far between. When you get that opportunity, you’ve got to take it.
“Every player who pulls on a Milan jersey, let me tell you, it’s not a friendly, it’s an opportunity.”
Bayern Munich-bound prodigy Nestory Irankunda is poised to make his Socceroos debut following confirmation of his selection in Australia’s squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine.
National coach Graham Arnold on Wednesday named a 25-man squad, and it included teenage sensation Irankunda, as well as former whiz-kid Daniel Arzani, who hasn’t played for the Socceroos since the 2018 World Cup.
Arzani, 25, has earnt his recall after helping Melbourne Victory reach the A-League grand final, while Irankunda – who will leave Adelaide United to join German giants Bayern Munich – was part of the A-League All-Stars squad that beat a severely weakened Newcastle United 8-0 last week.
As revealed by News Corp Australia last week, Socceroos captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan wasn’t chosen, with Arnold “resting” him.
Overall, there are 11 changes from the squad that beat Lebanon twice in March.
Out are Ryan, injured quartet Brandon Borrello, Craig Goodwin, Riley McGree and Tom Glover, as well as defenders Nathaniel Atkinson and Thomas Deng, midfielder Patrick Yazbek, and attackers Bruno Fornaroli, John Iredale and Sammy Silvera.
Apart from Irankunda and Arzani, coming into the squad are defenders Aziz Behich, Alessandro Circati and Ryan Strain, midfielder Cameron Devlin, uncapped striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, wingers Martin Boyle and Mathew Leckie, and goalkeepers Paul Izzo and Lawrence Thomas.
Uncapped pair Nestory Irankunda (left) and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos have been named in Australia’s 25-man squad for two World Cup qualifying matches next month. Picture: Martin Keep / AFPSource: AFP
“We’ve got several players who’ve had significant workloads in recent times, and it’s important we give them a proper break,” Arnold said.
“I want to ensure they’re physically and mentally prepared for another big 12 months of
qualification.
“This has also allowed us to provide opportunities to players who have been performing well at their clubs as we continue to build depth right across the pitch.
“Our leadership group of Jackson (Irvine), Aziz (Behich) Mat (Leckie), Harry (Souttar) and Adam (Taggart) will have an important role to play throughout this camp in welcoming those players, as they demonstrate the core values that are central to the Socceroos’ culture.”
Despite having already qualified for the third round of the Asian Football Confederation World Cup qualifiers, the Socceroos are desperate to beat Bangladesh in Dhaka next Thursday, and Palestine in Perth on June 11 to give them the best possible chance of being among the three nations in pot one for the round-three draw.
“I’ve spoken about how important these two games are when it comes to official FIFA rankings, and while we’ve qualified for round three it’s important that we take all six points,” Arnold said.
“It’s an expectation we set ourselves as a group and as always, getting our mentality right will be crucial to securing two wins and giving ourselves the highest possible ranking ahead of the draw for round three.”
Socceroos squad: Daniel Arzani (Melbourne Victory), Keanu Baccus (Mansfield Town), Aziz Behich (Al-Nassr), Jordy Bos (KVC Westerlo), Martin Boyle (Hibs), Cameron Burgess (Ipswich Town), Alessandro Circati (Parma), Cameron Devlin (Hearts), Mitchell Duke (Machida Zelvia), Joe Gauci (Aston Villa), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Nestory Irankunda (Adelaide United/Bayern Munich), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Paul Izzo (Melbourne Victory), Gethin Jones (Bolton Wanderers), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Connor Metcalfe (St. Pauli), Josh Nisbet (Central Coast Mariners), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Newcastle Jets), Ryan Strain (St Mirren), Adam Taggart (Perth Glory), Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers), Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth).
ANGE MAKES EARLY TRANSFER SPLASH AS $49M STAR LINKED WITH EXIT
Tottenham’s off-season has barely begun but it hasn’t stopped Ange Postecoglou from making his first signing for next season as Timo Werner will return to the club on loan from RB Leipzig.
Once again, Tottenham will have the option to make the deal permanent if the German international impresses.
However, the fee to sign Werner has dropped from $AUD28 million to $16 million.
Werner joined Tottenham in the January window until the end of the 2023/24 season, scoring twice and providing three assists in 14 appearances before thigh issues ruled him out of the final five games.
With Werner now retained for the season, Postecoglou may have to turn his attention to adding a defender amid reports Emerson Royal could be on the way out.
According to Sky in Italy, AC Milan have made Royal one of their main targets for the window as they look to bring in a right-sided defender.
The 25-year-old, who is a right back by trade, was forced to deputise at left back and even centre back amid an injury crisis that exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth in defence.
Royal moved to Tottenham from Barcelona for $49.9 million in September 2021, so the club will no doubt look to recoup as much of that figure as possible should Milan decide to swoop for the Brazilian.
Timo Werner has returned to Tottenham for next season. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
GERMAN GIANTS REFUSE TO RULE OUT SHOCK SWOOP FOR CONTROVERSIAL RED DEVIL
Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl refused to rule out a shock move for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
Per the Daily Mail, German reports claim Dortmund could sign Greenwood on loan for next season.
And Kehl, speaking to media prior to Dortmund’s Champions League final against Real Madrid, did little to quash any speculation.
“I don’t want to talk about any rumours at the moment because it doesn’t make sense,” Kehl said.
“Let’s play the final on Saturday first.
“Of course, we have plans for next season and we have discussed many scenarios but let’s focus on Saturday and then we’ll see how we move on.”
When asked if Greenwood is a player Dortmund may be keen on, Kehl responded: “I don’t want to talk about that now.”
Greenwood has not pulled on a shirt for the Red Devils since January 2022 after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
All charges against Greenwood were dropped in February 2023 but was immediately suspended from training and matches by the Red Devils until further notice.
There were plans to bring Greenwood back into the fold at United but severe public backlash forced the club to change their approach as the 20-year-old was loaned out to La Liga side Getafe for the season, scoring eight goals from 33 league appearances.
Greenwood is reportedly wanted by Borussia Dortmund. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LEEDS BRACE FOR $57M EXIT AS PL VULTURES PREPARE TO SWOOP
The vultures are preparing to pick apart Leeds after the club failed to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, with star forward Crysencio Summerville the likeliest to move on.
Summerville was pivotal to Leeds’ promotion tilt with 19 league goals but could not make the desired impact in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the playoff final.
Having missed out on the riches of the Premier League, Leeds will have little choice but to sell some of their star players.
Summerville was previously linked with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, but a switch to Chelsea would be somewhat surprising given their plethora of young forwards.
Summerville looks almost certain to leave Leeds in the summer. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEW UTD BOSS EYES TOFFEES GUN IN BOLD STATEMENT OF INTENT
Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to be wasting little time in improving Manchester United’s squad and is eyeing up an Everton defender to kickstart the club’s business.
According to The Sun, Ratcliffe is hoping to bring Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite to Old Trafford in a $76 million deal.
Branthwaite quickly cemented himself as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League, playing a key role in Everton conceding 51 goals, the fourth-fewest in the entire competition.
Unfortunately for the Toffees, uncertainty regarding 777 Partners’ takeover of the club could force cut-price exits of some of their key players, including Branthwaite.
The arrival of Branthwaite would be a major statement of intent from Ratcliffe after his INEOS group took control of the Red Devils’ football operations via his acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club.
SERIE A STAR CATCHES LIVERPOOL’S EYE
Liverpool scouts attended an Atalanta match with the intention of watching Teun Koopmeiners.
However, a report from Tuttosport claims Koopmeiners’ teammate Ederson wowed the Reds so much that they’re prepared to make a play for him.
Ederson, a midfielder, scored six goals and assisted one in 35 Serie A games for Atalanta and even earned a call-up to the Brazil team for the upcoming Copa America.
Should Ederson end up moving to Liverpool, he would be new manager Arne Slot’s first signing since replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Paris Saint-Germain battled back to beat 10-man Barcelona 4-1 and book a place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 6-4 aggregate triumph in Spain.
Raphinha fired Barcelona ahead early on but Ronald Araujo’s 29th-minute red card turned the tide in PSG’s favour, despite the Spanish champions leading by two goals following a 3-2 quarter-final first-leg win.
Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha levelled the tie for PSG and the deadly Mbappe hit a brace to put them into the final four for the first time since 2021.
Five-time winners Barcelona were dreaming of a first semi-final return since 2019 but Araujo’s red card for pulling down the relentless Bradley Barcola undermined their grip on the tie.
The visitors started with determination and penned Barcelona back in their own territory, but it was the hosts who took the lead.
Explosive 16-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal ripped past Nuno Mendes and crossed to the near post where Raphinha turned home despite pressure from Achraf Hakimi.
It was the Brazilian winger’s third goal of the tie after his brace in Paris.
Robert Lewandowski fired another chance over the top for Barcelona before Barcola tilted the tie in PSG’s favour.
The winger was a nightmare for his French compatriot Jules Kounde to handle.
Barcola teed up Mbappe but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied him well, before Araujo was sent off for bringing him down.
The Uruguayan centre-back pulled Barcola back as he burst into the area, leaving Barca with 10 men.
Dembele whizzed the resulting free-kick narrowly over, but soon found the net, as he did in the first leg.
PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe scored twice against Barcelona. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP
The former Barcelona winger struck after 40 minutes from another Barcola cross, which raked across the area to the back post where Dembele was arriving to fire into the roof of the net.
Barcelona sacrificed Yamal for defender Inigo Martinez after Araujo’s red card and it left them with few outlets in attack.
With PSG controlling the game Barcelona soon paid the price for their inability to keep possession.
Vitinha was given far too much space on the edge of the box and he drilled into the bottom corner to put PSG ahead on the night.
Ilkay Gundogan hit the post at the other end for Barcelona before their coach Xavi was sent off for a show of dissent on the touchline.
The Catalans were losing their heads and Joao Cancelo clumsily fouled Dembele to hand PSG a penalty.
Mbappe, who had been kept quiet in the first leg, hammered it into the top corner for his 40th goal across all competitions.
Another member of Barcelona’s backroom staff was dismissed after Gundogan had a penalty appeal waved away and it became clear the hosts had no response.
Mbappe wrapped up the win in the 89th minute after a fine Ter Stegen double save, leaving Barcelona the victims of another bitterly disappointing night in Europe.
Barcelona boss Xavi was sent off. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
DORTMUND DELIGHT AS GERMAN GIANTS END 11-YEAR CL WAIT
Borussia Dortmund fought back to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 in their quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, securing a 5-4 aggregate victory and a first Champions League semi-final since 2013.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, goals from Julian Brandt and Ian Maatsen had Dortmund 2-0 up at half-time.
Visiting coach Diego Simeone made three changes at half-time including bringing on Angel Correa and his energy told immediately, Mats Hummels conceding a poor own goal before the Argentine netted to put Atletico back ahead in the tie.
But those goals brought a sluggish Dortmund back to life, with Niclas Fuellkrug and Marcel Sabitzer each scoring in a three-minute period to send the Bundesliga club through.
Former winners Dortmund, fifth in the German top flight and struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League, will next face Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the final at Wembley on June 1.
The home side should have been level in the tie after three minutes but Sabitzer took an extra touch with the goal beckoning, allowing Atletico to cover.
Just moments later, Atletico had a major chance of their own, as Alvaro Morata raced through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but chipped the ball well wide of the post.
Buoyed by an 80,000-strong home crowd trying to one-up last week’s atmosphere in the Spanish capital, Dortmund pushed and prodded, with Karim Adeyemi blasting straight at Jan Oblak.
Dortmund broke through after 34 minutes, Brandt collecting a Hummels chip and shooting on the turn, the ball bouncing through Oblak’s hands.
Dortmund celebrate after progressing to the semi finals for the first time since 2013. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)Source: AFP
The home side were ahead in the tie just five minutes later, Maatsen threading in from an acute angle after he was given space to run in the Atletico box.
With Simeone sensing his chances of qualifying for the semis for a fourth time as Atletico boss slipping away, he shuffled his deck at half-time, making three changes including hooking the ineffective Morata for Correa.
Dortmund’s wobbles suddenly returned, letting the visitors back into the tie. Hummels turned Mario Hermoso’s header into his own net from an Atletico corner under little pressure and with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel waiting to save.
Atletico smelt blood and could have levelled when Correa dragged the ball just wide.
The World Cup winner made up for his miss on 64 minutes when he cut through a penalty area crowded with yellow shirts and smacked the ball in, sending Atletico in front on aggregate.
The goal jolted Dortmund back into action and Edin Terzic’s men scored twice in three minutes to retake the overall lead.
Fuellkrug headed in a Sabitzer cross and the Austrian midfielder then got a goal of his own, shooting through the Atletico defence and into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, grabbing Dortmund a famous victory.
The report also claims discussions are already underway in regards to Hodgson’s replacement, with Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner the early frontrunner.
Palace reportedly held talks with Glasner last summer before deciding to stick with Hodgson for another season.
Other managerial candidates named included Steve Cooper, Julen Lopetegui and Kieran McKenna, but all three appear hesitant on taking over mid-season.
Cooper and Lopetegui are out of work having left Nottingham Forest and Wolves respectively, while McKenna is eyeing promotion with the high-flying Ipswich in the Championship.
It is unclear if Hodgson will remain in his post for Palace’s must-win clash against Everton on Tuesday (AEDT), but the club has deemed it necessary to move on from the former England boss amid increasing tension among supporters.
Hodgson is set to be axed as Palace manager. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Hodgson returned to Palace in March last year to save the club after his predecessor, Patrick Vieira, was sacked amid a worrying run of form that had the Eagles sleepwalking to relegation.
The 76-year-old snapped Palace’s 13-match winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in his first match back.
Hodgson oversaw five wins and three draws from his 10 games in charge at the back end of last season as he steered Palace to an 11th-place finish and was rewarded with a 12-month extension.
However, Hodgson has struggled to recapture the magic of the 10-game stint last season as Palace lie in 15th on 24 points, five clear of the relegation zone.
Prior to his return last season, Hodgson spent nearly four years as Palace’s manager before stepping down from his post at the end of the 20/21 Premier League season.
Ciro Immobile gave Lazio a slender lead in their Champions League last 16 tie with under-fire Bayern Munich after netting the only goal in a 1-0 win in Wednesday’s first leg.
Italy forward Immobile slotted home the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 69th minute at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to pile pressure on Bundesliga champions Bayern.
The spot-kick was won by Gustav Isaksen who was clattered by Dayot Upamecano with a rash tackle which earned the France defender a red card and left Bayern a man down for the final 20 minutes.
Immobile’s strike came days after he netted his 200th Serie A goal and allowed a raucous Lazio home crowd to dream of a first quarter-final in Europe’s top competition in 24 years.
Lazio won the Italian title in 2000, when they fell to Valencia in the last eight, and in order to emulate that star-studded team Maurizio Sarri’s side still need to hold out in Bavaria next month.
It would be an upset, given Lazio sit just seventh in Italy’s Serie A.
However Bayern are a club in a slump and a toothless display in the Italian capital will do nothing to help embattled coach Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel is under pressure as Wednesday’s defeat came after a 3-0 thumping at Bayer Leverkusen which left Bayern five points off the pace in the German title race.
The Champions League looked like Bayern’s last chance at a trophy this season but Immobile put those hopes in serious doubt.
The referee had no choice but to brandish a red card.Source: Getty ImagesBayern Munich’s French defender #02 Dayot Upamecano (R) reacts after he received a red card.Source: AFP
MBAPPE STRIKES AS PSG LOOK TO END CURSE
Kylian Mbappe scored the opener as Paris Saint-Germain took a big step towards reaching the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.
The mediocrity of PSG’s first-half performance at the Parc des Princes may have had their supporters fearing another in a long line of disappointing results down the years in the Champions League knockout stages.
But Mbappe, who is expected to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, broke the deadlock from close range just before the hour mark.
Bradley Barcola’s well-taken goal in the 70th minute then made it 2-0 to give the French champions a comfortable cushion to take to Spain for the return early next month.
“We were in great difficulty in the first half but we knew that would be the case,” PSG captain Marquinhos told broadcaster Canal Plus.
“The coach gave us an earbashing at halftime and I think that helped because the attitude was much better in the second half.
“The first part of the job is done. We know how important it is to win at home but it is not finished. We need to keep the same mindset between now and then, keep playing well in the league and then go there and play well to secure our qualification.”
Mbappe opened the scoring.Source: AFP
There was big pressure on PSG coming into this tie after they had gone out in the last 16 of the Champions League in five of the last seven seasons.
Another early exit from the competition this season would be a monumental setback for the Qatar-owned club, especially as Real Sociedad were appearing in their first Champions League knockout tie in two decades.
They also made the trip to Paris having failed to score a goal while failing to win any of their last four games in all competitions.
In addition to that, they were missing captain and top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal as he recovers from injury.
PSG, who gave a Champions League bow at left-back to 20-year-old Brazilian January signing Lucas Beraldo, were aiming to extend a run of 16 games unbeaten in all competitions stretching back to early November.
PSG’s Spanish head coach Luis Enrique gave his team a halftime spray.Source: AFP
PSG eventually broke the deadlock on 58 minutes as Ousmane Dembele’s corner from the right was helped on by Marquinhos towards the back post where Mbappe turned it in.
It was a 31st goal of the campaign in all competitions, and a fourth in the Champions League, for the France captain who is widely tipped to move to Real Madrid after this season.
Luis Enrique’s side did find the net again 20 minutes from the end when Barcola collected a ball on the left, skipped away from Hamari Traore on his way into box and then slotted the ball past Remiro for his first ever Champions League goal.
La Real could not find a way back into the game as their run without a goal stretched to five matches.
They now have something of a mountain to climb when they entertain PSG in San Sebastian on March 5, although supporters of the French side will remain wary given the way they have collapsed at this stage of the competition in recent years against Barcelona and Madrid, among others.
After mounting a surprise title tilt last season, with Granit Xhaka enjoying one of his finest campaigns for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta still believed he could find an upgrade in the centre of the park – and he splashed a Premier League-record £105m for Declan Rice.
Now, Rice is becoming an integral cog in the engine room as the Gunners remain firmly in the mix for the title.
What impresses Arteta most about Rice? “The way he dominates key aspects of the game,” replied the manager.
“First of all, it’s the way he reads the game, his intelligence, his decision-making on and off the ball, when to pass the ball, how to pass it, where to look, how to execute, and the timing of that, which is very, very relevant, especially in his position.”
He’s only growing more and more connected with his teammates. He could be the key to going one better than last season and finishing with the coveted trophy.
Although the Gunners rounded out the first half of the season with a disappointing defeat at the Emirates to West Ham, it doesn’t take away from what’s been yet another dazzling run for Arteta’s side.
Declan Rice has looked worth every bit of Arsenal’s major investment. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA (3rd, +15 GD, 39 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Douglas Luiz
Plenty of expert predictions for this season had Villa finishing well out of the title race. Manchester United great Gary Neville predicted a sixth-place finish, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had them out of the top six. It’s fair to say precious few predicted a genuine title challenge, but that’s what Unai Emery’s men have served up. A staggering 15-game win streak on home soil came to an end just before Christmas, though they salvaged a draw with a 97th-minute equaliser against Sheffield United.
Villa’s inability to beat a number of lower-table teams this season — see Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Bournemouth and now Sheffield United — is their biggest blemish this season.
Three of those four games also came away from home, so if Villa are serious about a top four finish they must find a way to take maximum points when expected, especially against those who are struggling.
Ollie Watkins continues to turn in several all-action displays up front, contributing nine goals and six assists to date this season.
But the player most vital to Villa’s transformed fortunes is Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz who orchestrates every deadly move from midfield.
Luiz’s box-to-box displays have been something to behold as he breaks up opposition attacks only to drive the team up the field and thread the needle with aplomb.
Douglas Luiz is the midfield lynchpin driving Aston Villa forward. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
BOURNEMOUTH (12th, -5 GD, 25 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dominic Solanke
Last season was a shemozzle, a mess, a rollercoaster (but not the fun kind). Remember the 9-0 thumping from Liverpool that saw Scott Parker sacked in August? Then came an ownership takeover, a slump to last place in March, before a late-season resurgence to finish 15th under Gary O’Neil, who probably deserved to win manager of the season.
They embarked on a stunning spending spree in the off-season, with a whopping net spend of €126.19m – sixth in the Premier League and in front of Liverpool and Newcastle United. Then they sacked manager O’Neil before the season began. The new owners had high expectations – but while there’s been some promising signs, things haven’t been smooth sailing. They were 19th and winless after nine games (three points), but have since turned things around impressively to rack up 22 points from the next nine games (W7 D1 L1).
After a 6-1 defeat to Man City they could have fallen apart, but instead they’ve been one of the form teams in the league to soar out of the relegation battle.
The big difference from last season has been Solanke’s form, with the ex-Liverpool striker hitting 12 league goals in 18 games – more than last campaign’s top scorer Philip Billing (7) managed in a full season. If he stays at Bournemouth (amid interest from Tottenham and West Ham), the Cherries could even threaten a top-half finish.
Dominic Solanke is enjoying an absurd goalscoring run. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRENTFORD (14th, -3 GD, 19 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Bryan Mbuemo
It was always going to be a tall task spending half a season without star striker Ivan Toney, but Brentford have managed to survive.
Toney was banned from playing until early January after breaching the FA’s gambling rules, meaning the Bees had to rely on other sources for goals.
Cameroonian winger Bryan Mbuemo has largely shouldered the burden and has a club-leading seven Premier League goals to his name.
However, Brentford — and this will be a constant theme for a lot of these teams, so bear with us — have been crippled by serious injuries throughout the season.
Kevin Schade, who turned his loan move to Brentford into a permanent one in the summer, was meant to help share the goalscoring duties but has been out of action since late September with no return date set in.
Star defender Rico Henry is out for the season while right back Aaron Hickey has also been sidelined for several months among others.
The Bees’ form this season has also been quite patchy, winning just one of their first eight games before four victories in their next six. But they’ve now lost four in a row and six of their last seven, seeing them slide towards the relegation zone.
With Toney due to return in mid-January, it could be the boost Brentford need to kickstart their season once again.
Brentford have struggled without their star striker Ivan Toney this season. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON (8th, +5 GD, 30 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Pascal Groß
After the lofty heights of a sixth-place finish last season, high expectations had been set for the Seagulls in the 2023/24 campaign.
But a bright start in which Brighton won five of their opening six games is in the distant past, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side have tasted victory just three times in the following 12.
Although De Zerbi’s great entertainers have been kept scoreless just once this season, they have scored two or more goals just five times since a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in late September.
What is most alarming about Brighton this season is the number of goals they’ve shipped, which stands at 33.
For reference, 16th-placed Nottingham Forest and 18th-placed Luton Town have conceded 34.
Part of this is no doubt down to a backline crippled by injuries.
Star left back Pervis Estupinan had been out for some time before marking his return to action with a screamer against Tottenham, while Tariq Lamptey and Adam Webster have also spent time on the sidelines.
De Zerbi has also switched between Jason Steele and summer signing Bart Verbruggen in the goalkeeper position, offering little consistency in a crucial part of the field after Roberto Sanchez’s exit to Chelsea.
One shining light of consistency this season has been German stalwart Pascal Groß, who continues to be a vital cog in De Zerbi’s Brighton machine.
Another bright spot for Brighton is the goalscoring prowess of Joao Pedro, who joined from Watford for a club-record fee of £30 million.
And despite all of the things that have gone awry for the Seagulls this season, they’re still just three points away from the Europa League spots.
Joao Pedro (centre) leads the goalscoring charts for Brighton. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BURNLEY (19th, -20 GD, 11 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Josh Brownhill
Burnley won the Championship last season at a canter but life in the Premier League has most certainly not been kind.
There was plenty of intrigue as to whether Vincent Kompany’s brand of football at Turf Moor would hold up against the best England has to offer and so far, the answer has been a resounding no.
Kompany took a significant risk going into the season with the youngest squad in the Premier League with an average age of 24 years and 170 days.
So far, it is a risk that has not paid off as Burnley sit 19th and have conceded the second-most goals in the league.
Burnley lost 11 of their first 13 games, achieving a win and a draw over fellow relegation candidates Luton Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.
But apart from that, there hasn’t been much to sing about on the terraces of Turf Moor although a much-needed 2-0 victory away at Fulham will give Kompany’s troops a needed lift going into the second half of the season.
Skipper Josh Brownhill has been one of the few shining lights in this Burnley team, providing a wiser head in a team brimming with young and eager minds.
Staying up this season will be a mammoth task but with Kompany’s remarkable leadership skills, don’t count out the Clarets just yet in the fight for survival.
Vincent Kompany has a massive job on his hands to keep Burnley in the Premier League. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHELSEA (10th, +2 GD, 25 pts): F
Mid-season MVP: Cole Palmer
If Chelsea fans thought last year would be the worst of it, well, can only provide our condolences.
A fresh start under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as well as several of the players becoming more familiar with the Premier League had Blues fans hoping for the world.
Instead, they’ve been delivered an atlas.
Chelsea managed to ship off $AUD435 million worth of talent (per Transfermarkt) elsewhere including Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) and Mason Mount (Manchester United) to name just four.
But the players brought in — at an estimated total expense of $756 million — have simply not lived up to the billing.
Defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo was the most expensive of the lot, joining Chelsea from Brighton for an eye-watering $187 million.
Yet the Ecuadorean continues to struggle to live up to his price tag and doesn’t look at home in Pochettino’s system.
Sure, Pochettino has been dealt a somewhat rough hand with injuries as skipper Reece James continues to spend more time off the pitch than on it while the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are sidelined for some time.
Yet for a team that has been so expensively assembled and one of Chelsea’s grand stature, just six wins from 17 league games is simply not good enough.
One summer signing who has looked sharp since arriving is Cole Palmer, who looked to be a seriously risky piece of business at $76 million.
But the Manchester City youth product has delivered several crucial performances for Pochettino’s side and is cold as ice when stepping up to take penalties.
Despite Palmer’s emergence, it cannot be ignored that Chelsea are a serious risk of failing to qualify for European football for a second-straight season.
And if that happens, it’s safe to say Chelsea’s answer will be to throw more money at it and hope it fixes itself.
Despite heavy investment in the summer, Chelsea are still struggling badly. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE (15th, -9 GD, 18 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Eberechi Eze
After Roy Hodgson steered the club away from relegation at the end of last season, Crystal Palace rewarded him with a one-year extension.
It’s taken just 19 games for Hodgson, a boyhood Palace fan, to have the Eagles once again nervously looking over their shoulder at the drop to the Championship.
After just two defeats in the first eight games, Hodgson’s troops have suffered a massive nosedive in form.
Palace have lost seven of their last 11 fixtures, with only one win — against 19th-place Burnley — in that run.
The main issue crippling Palace is their inability to find the back of the net, with their tally of 19 goals the third-lowest in the league: only Burnley (18) and Sheffield United (15) are worse.
Talk is heating up about the Palace top brass eyeing up a move for Steve Cooper, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest, as a mid-season replacement for Hodgson.
It could be what the team needs if it is to surge up the table and unlock the attacking talent it possesses.
The dynamic duo of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze is one of the league’s most exciting on paper, but largely due to injuries they have not been able to share the field.
If those two can start to fire, Palace theoretically should pull away from the danger zone.
Roy Hodgson has overseen a worrying run of form at Crystal Palace lately. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EVERTON (17th, -1 GD, 16 pts): B+
Mid-season MVP: Dwight McNeil
It’s worth starting with the obvious: Everton copped a Premier League-record ten-point penalty for financial breaches last month that dropped them to 19th and level on points with the bottom-placed team. Without it, they’d be in the top half of the table right now. But the players have responded brilliantly to that hefty blow, beating Newcastle and Chelsea comfortably in recent weeks to climb out of the relegation zone. They are doing so even after recording a €42.30m transfer profit in the off-season – one of only four teams to receive more than they spent. After narrowly avoiding relegation in recent seasons, the points penalty has ignited a fire in their collective belly and they look set to push well clear of danger.
The key marker of improvement behind Everton’s resurgence is their defensive record, a hallmark of Toffees boss Sean Dyche.
Everton have conceded just 25 goals this season, a figure equal with heavyweights like Newcastle and Manchester United.
Although Everton have improved as a collective, one star who looks especially rejuvenated under Dyche is winger Dwight McNeil.
The winger burst onto the scene at Burnley during Dyche’s tenure and the two are once again getting the best out of each other, with McNeil constantly whipping in dangerous crosses that have opposition backlines scrambling.
Despite a 10-point deduction, Everton have not been feeling sorry for themselves. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
FULHAM (13th, -8 GD, 21 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: João Palhinha
After losing talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi club Al-Hilal in the summer, serious questions were going to be asked about Fulham and Marco Silva this season.
Would they have the same goalscoring credentials? Will Silva tweak his team’s style of play to mitigate the loss of Mitrovic?
Could they actually replace Mitrovic and achieve the same results?
In short, no.
Summer signing Raul Jimenez and Willian lead the club’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League with just four to their names, followed by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Alex Iwobi who have three each.
However, Fulham somehow managed to score 16 goals in the space of four games, including back-to-back 5-0 wins at home over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
Throw in a recent 2-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Burnley and you start to see why Fulham are just a very, very odd team this season.
One man crucial to Fulham’s hopes of a comfortable mid-table finish this season is defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who almost joined Mitrovic out the exit door but to German giants Bayern Munich instead.
Palhinha could have easily downed tools given the move of a lifetime didn’t come off, but the opposite is true.
The Portuguese start leads the league in tackles by a massive margin and will be crucial to Fulham’s efforts in the second half of the 23/24 campaign.
Fulham are all but certain for a comfortable midtable finish. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL (1st, +23 GD, 42 pts): A+
Mid-season MVP: Mohamed Salah
They’re scoring goals for fun, have the best defensive record in the league and if it weren’t for an egregious officiating error, would be undefeated.
Oh, and they’re sitting in first place too.
It’s been some start to the season for Liverpool who have won 12 of their 19 league games so far.
Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah has been pivotal to Liverpool’s success this season thanks to his 12 goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
The new-look Reds midfield has also impressed, especially summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai.
Despite all of the Reds’ success this season, they have not been without their flaws.
Liverpool have had to come from behind to either win or draw on eight occasions this season and of those eight games, a goal has arrived in second-half stoppage time.
One side of that argument plays into Jurgen Klopp’s previous comments about his players being “mentality monsters”.
On the other hand, it is an unsustainable trend that could come back to bite Liverpool dearly.
Of course, the biggest question that faces Klopp’s side is how they will cope without Salah when he takes off for the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Given he has been involved in 19 of Liverpool’s 39 league goals this season, his absence takes away the team’s best goalscoring threat.
But Klopp is one of the best managers in the world for a reason and will have devised a plan to make up for Salah’s absence.
Just how well that plan works will likely prove the difference between winning the Premier League and falling agonisingly short yet again.
Mohamed Salah is vital to Liverpool’s title hopes. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
LUTON TOWN (18th, -13 GD, 15 pts): C-
Mid-season MVP: Ross Barkley
They’ve got no money, the smallest ground in the league, and it’s fair to say they were given no chance of survival. From the start of the season, they showed they were up for the fight. But the big question was always around whether they had enough quality.
In their first 12 games, they had six points and had scored just 10 goals. It felt like they probably deserved more – they gave Man Utd a huge scare and came within inches of beating Liverpool.
But they turned things around after that. Since then, they’ve scored 10 goals in six games and racked up nine points!
After being all-but-written-off in pre-season, they’re mounting a genuine run at avoiding relegation.
The Hatters have now won both games since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, including a genuine ‘six-pointer’ over Sheffield United.
Ex-PL defender Stephen Kelly told BBC Radio: “Sometimes it can be a horrendous moment like that that galvanises you as a group of players.
“Quality-wise I don’t think Luton are there when it comes to the Premier League and they can’t compete with the finances. But they compete with hard work, energy and desire.”
Maybe the magic touch of quality comes from Barkley, who has slotted in perfectly after joining from French first-tier team Nice in the off-season.
The former Everton and Chelsea midfield star is shining in a deeper role, picking up the ball deep and driving forward. His long balls and ability to draw in defenders has been crucial for Luton’s attack. The 30-year-old is undergoing a career resurgence – and it might just carry the Hatters to survival.
Ross Barkley is enjoying a career resurgence at Luton Town. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER CITY (4th, +22 GD, 37 pts): A-
Mid-season MVP: Rodri
The status that comes with winning four Premier League titles in a row explains why this season so far feels a little below par for Manchester City.
It’s been a rather bizarre season for Pep Guardiola’s side, who found themselves in fourth at the halfway mark of the 23/24 season.
Some things remain relatively normal: Erling Haaland leads the golden boot race with 14, City are the league’s highest scorers with 43 and have conceded the third-fewest goals (21).
But there’s a feeling City, for the first time in a long while, might be a little vulnerable.
The absence of star Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has no doubt played a major role in that sentiment, while Haaland’s recent injury has lightened the load on opposition backlines.
Yet there’s one alarming stat which suggests those two aren’t the vital pieces to City’s title charge.
Instead, it’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.
Granted he’s not going to provide the mind-boggling assist and goal numbers De Bruyne and Haaland provide.
But from the three games City have not had Rodri available, they have lost all three: a 2-1 loss to Wolves as well as 1-0 defeats to Arsenal and Aston Villa.
City also could and perhaps should have a better defensive record, if not for the 4-4 and 3-3 goalfests against Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.
In fact, City have conceded goals in the 90th minute and beyond for three of their four draws this season, pointing to a serious concentration issue that has crept in for Guardiola’s side.
However, there’s always a sense of inevitability with City given they know exactly when to peak during the final run-in and simply cannot be counted out until it’s mathematically impossible.
Manchester City have not won when Rodri has been absent. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
MANCHESTER UNITED (7th, -4 GD, 31 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Bruno Fernandes
Let’s start with the positives. They’re seventh on the ladder and still in top-four contention. Bruno Fernandes is putting together a season for the ages when it comes to playmaking (more on that below). But it’s fair to say there are still big problems.
Ten times this season, Manchester United have conceded more than one goal in the space of 10 minutes or less. This month alone that has included two in five minutes (Villa), two in six (West Ham), two in five (Bournemouth).
Then there’s the attack. United have scored just 21 goals this season, which is the equal-third fewest of any team in the Premier League.
Before their impressive comeback win over Aston Villa, United’s forwards had scored a combined four league goals from open play in 18 games. The team had gone over 420 minutes without scoring before Garnacho’s opening goal against Villa. Big-money signing Rasmus Hojlund’s goal in the game was his first in the league … in his 15th appearance!
“Too many people talk about the strikers at Man Utd,” Garnacho said after the game.
United fans will be hoping their forwards can finally find some form and shut up the critics.
Thankfully, they’re getting plenty of service from Fernandes, who keeps creating chances at a remarkable rate. His expected assists this season stands at 6.47 per understat, while his actual assists is just three. If his teammates can stop missing so many chances, United can still make something of this season.
Bruno Fernandes is providing chances but his United teammates are struggling to finish them. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
NEWCASTLE (9th, +12 GD, 29 pts): B-
Mid-season MVP: Anthony Gordon
It was always going to be a difficult ask for Newcastle to build on the wild ride all the way to the Champions League they enjoyed last season.
And so far, that’s exactly what it’s proving to be.
A 5-1 win over Aston Villa and an 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United are distant memories as Eddie Howe’s side limped its way to the halfway mark, losing four of their last five games.
The depth of Eddie Howe’s squad has been tested beyond belief as the addition of a European schedule has placed plenty of strain on a playing group desperately short on depth.
Couple that with lengthy injury spells to key players like Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman to name three and it’s easy to understand why the Magpies are suffering this season.
There’s also been the unwanted distraction of marquee summer recruit Sandro Tonali’s suspension for gambling, robbing Newcastle of a player deemed pivotal to their domestic and European hopes.
But amid all the doom and gloom in the Toon, winger Anthony Gordon has been a shining light.
Gordon wears his heart on his sleeve and it’s his relentless energy that has resulted in vital goals for Newcastle.
The 22-year-old has six league goals to his name but, most crucially, has started 17 of 19 games.
Having guided Newcastle back to the Champions League last season, Howe’s job is extremely likely to be safe despite the team’s struggles this season.
But given it is the first sustained period of on-field woes, it will be extremely intriguing to see how patient Newcastle’s Saudi ownership are.
Newcastle are struggling to emulate the highs of last season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (16th, -12 GD, 17 pts): D
Mid-season MVP: Morgan Gibbs-White
It wasn’t anything close to the transfer extravaganza prior to their Premier League return last year, but Nottingham Forest still decided to loosen the pursestrings and bring a raft of stars to the City Ground, including star wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
Despite the high-profile additions, Forest boss Steve Cooper couldn’t quite get them firing when he needed to and as a result the cult hero was sacked.
Looking at Forest’s results this season and it’s hard not to see why club owner Evangelos Marinakis lost patience with Cooper.
Things appeared reasonably bright for the Reds at the start of the season having lost just four of their opening 11 games and even then, those defeats were to Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
But after a surprise 2-0 win at home against Aston Villa, the wheels fell off for Cooper and his team.
Four straight losses — including a 5-0 humiliation away to Fulham which resulted in Marinakis hurling his matchday accreditation into the front garden of a home near Craven Cottage — cranked up the pressure on Cooper.
A 1-1 draw against Wolves only proved to be a brief stay of execution, as a 2-0 loss to Tottenham the following week brought an end to Cooper’s time at the club.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo has now arrived and although he tasted defeat amid controversial circumstances in his first match in charge, Forest looked a brighter side in a 3-1 win away to Newcastle.
Although Forest may privately harbour aspirations bigger than just survival, Nuno’s remit will no doubt be to avoid the drop.
Dynamic forward Morgan Gibbs-White will be vital to achieving this aim, as will the goalscoring prowess of Kiwi striker Chris Wood.
Morgan Gibbs-White (left) is one star who is set to play a big role in keeping Forest up. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
SHEFFIELD UNITED (20th, -32 GD, 9 pts): E
Mid-season MVP: Gustavo Hamer
The Blades have lacked a cutting edge (sorry) up front, but they’ve also been sliced apart defensively. They’ve got the worst offensive and defensive record in the league by some distance. In fact, after 19 games, they hold the second-worst defensive record in Premier League history. Their 47 goals conceded is second only to Barnsley 1997-98 (50 conceded).
But to be fair, expectations were low this season, especially when they sold two key players in Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and Sander Berge to rivals Burnley. At times they have been a shambles that feels more like a bunch of individuals than any sort of united team. They’ve lost two games 5-0 and another 8-0, sacked a manager and need a miracle to avoid relegation. It’s been a sorry season.
Hamer, a 15 million pound signing, has been a rare shining light. He struck an absolute screamer on his Premier League debut and has impressed with his workrate on and off the ball. He is creative and courageous – which sometimes results in gifting possession to the opposition too frequently – but he has the kind of intensity and drive to win that is infectious. At least, Sheffield fans will hope so, otherwise it will be straight back to the Championship for the Blades.
Sheffield United are favourites to be relegated. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TOTTENHAM (5th, +11 GD, 36 pts): A
Mid-season MVP: Ange Postecoglou (we had to!)
From leading the league in October, to managing to find a way to score goals after losing arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker Harry Kane, and most importantly playing an attractive style of football, it’s been one hell of a start to the season for Spurs. They’ve faced a major injury crisis that’s about as bad as any team in the league, and took out two of their star signings (and most important players overall) James Maddison and Micky van de Ven.
At the same time, they’ve been struck down by suspensions – like Cristian Romero, who sums up their season with his two red cards followed by a big injury.
Sure, they had a poor November, but overall the first half of the season has been more than impressive.
They lost 14 games last season. At the mid-point of this season, they’ve lost five.
And if Postecoglou thought he had already undergone a brutal test with a casualty ward at capacity as well as constant suspensions, he’s got a nightmare scenario in the very near future.
He’s about to lose star midfield duo Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr to the African Cup of Nations as well as club captain Heung-Min Son to the Asian Cup.
But the Australian boss has never shied away from a challenge and he won’t be about to do so now.
Perspective is also needed when viewing Postecoglou’s achievements amid the brutal hand he has been dealt when it comes to the unavailability of several of his first team stars.
When he’s had everyone free to play, we’ve seen just how good this Tottenham team can be.
Postecoglou has enjoyed a true rollercoaster of a Premier League season and we’re only at the halfway mark. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WEST HAM (6th, +3 GD, 33 pts): B
Mid-season MVP: Jarrod Bowen
Prior to the season, the big question surrounding West Ham was about how they would navigate life without talismanic midfielder and captain Declan Rice after his £105 million move to Arsenal.
Granted, a direct replacement of Rice’s quality was just about impossible.
But thanks to the summer additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, Rice’s absence is not as keenly felt as first feared.
Hammers boss David Moyes also began the season as one manager tipped as a likely chance of getting sacked and, for a brief period this season, it looked like that could have eventuated.
A run of five defeats in seven games heaped pressure on the Scot, but in typical Moyes fashion, he managed to turn the ship around.
Since that run, West Ham have lost just once — a rogue 5-0 hammering at the hands of Fulham — and have won six of their last eight to rocket up from 12th place all the way to sixth.
Pivotal to this uptick in form is the dynamic trio of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
Paqueta leads the league in the most through balls with 19, ahead of the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard, and has five assists to his name.
After a slow start, Kudus has found his feet in the Premier League and has four goals in his last six league games.
But it is Bowen who has been the real shining light of West Ham, with his 11 goals to date proving vital.
His pace and ability to stretch opposition backlines is crucial to the Hammers hitting teams in transition and, as it stands, should be considered a lock for England’s squad at EURO 2024.
Jarrod Bowen is in sensational form for West Ham this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOLVES (11th, -4 GD, 25 pts): C
Mid-season MVP: Matheus Cunha
When Julen Lopetegui resigned on August 8, many Wolves fans would have been forgiven if they feared the worst going into this season.
The relatively underwhelming appointment of Gary O’Neil — who was sacked by Bournemouth not long after the end of the 2022/23 season — did little to allay those fears.
Despite the initial fears, Wolves fans backed O’Neil to the hilt and that bond has strengthened over the course of this season.
The highs have been very high for Wolves so far, with home wins against the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City giving the Molineux faithful plenty to sing about.
But the one thing that has tightened the bond between Wolves fans and O’Neil is the fact the club has been on the wrong side of an alarming number of VAR calls.
It began in the first match of the season when Wolves were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana clattered into Sasa Kalajdzic.
Wolves also had two penalty calls go against them in the 3-2 defeat to Fulham, with O’Neil even claiming referee Michael Salisbury told him he made a mistake in awarding one of the penalties.
It led O’Neil to state his team had lost seven points as a result of VAR’s ineptitude, but it also helped create a siege mentality amongst the entire club.
To an extent it’s paid off, with Wolves sitting 10 points clear of the relegation zone and only six points off seventh, the position which qualifies a team for the Europa Conference League.
Matheus Cunha, who joined on a permanent deal in the summer, is a big reason for Wolves’ improvement this season as are the goals from Hwang Hee-Chan.
Cunha’s four goals and five assists goes some way to explaining the attacking threat he provides for O’Neil’s team and will look to continue to be a nuisance for the opposition.
Ange Postecoglou has enjoyed a sensational first six months at Tottenham Hotspur, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
Injuries and suspensions have had devastating impact on Spurs in recent weeks, seeing the Australian’s side slide from the top of the Premier League after a five-game winless streak.
Spurs have since turned it around with back-to-back victories and are currently fifth, just one point off fourth spot. But to finish in the top four and secure Champions League qualification for next season, there’s no doubt that Ange Postecoglou will be desperately eyeing reinforcements in the January transfer window.
“I wrote my letter to Santa. Like my kids, now I’ve just got to see whether I’ve been naughty or nice and see what I get mate,” Postecoglou joked before the weekend.
A major transfer ‘risk’ taken at the start of the season has come back to bite Spurs, while a looming pair of major international tournaments will further weaken Postecoglou’s squad.
And with other teams also looking to poach some Spurs players, it could prove a very busy January for the Australian.
After taking over at White Hart Lane in June, Postecoglou made nine signings in his first transfer window (though two of those were turning two loan deals permanent). That reshaping of the squad was funded in large part by the sale of superstar striker Harry Kane to German giants Bayern Munich.
That included a new goalkeeper in Guglielmo Vicario, a proven playmaker in Leicester City’s James Maddison, and a host of young talents including midfielder Pape Matar Sarr (21), attacker Brennan Johnson (22), centre-back Micky van de Ven (22), and winger Manor Solomon (23).
Besides 26-year-old pair Vicario and Maddison, all of Spurs’ signings were aged 23 or younger – part of a clear long-term strategy to sign promising talents (that often come at a more affordable price point).
But while van de Ven slotted into the first-team immediately, the only other centre-back arrival was 18-year-old Ashley Phillips – viewed as one for the future, rather than being capable of taking on a regular starting role.
Davinson Sanchez left Tottenham for Galatasaray after the English transfer window ended – a ‘risk’ that backfired on Spurs.Source: AFP
And Spurs lost plenty of depth at the heart of defence. Clement Lenglet finished his loan deal and returned to Barcelona before being loaned to Aston Villa. Fringe player Joe Rodon, who had spent the last season on loan with French side Rennes, was sent out to Leeds United on another loan deal. Japhet Tanganga was loaned to FC Augsburg on deadline day (with a conditional purchase obligation next season) before Davinson Sanchez was allowed to leave to Turkish club Galatasaray after the English transfer window had closed.
That meant that Spurs did not have the ability to sign a replacement for the 207-appearance veteran, who had played twice under Postecoglou early in the season before his late departure.
Postecoglou had tried to sign another centre-back before the window closed. According to football.london, Perr Schuurs, Gleison Bremer and Tosin Adarabioyo were all centre-backs identified by Postecoglou – but a deal couldn’t be done.
So while Postecoglou needed to trim the bloated Spurs squad he inherited, selling Sanchez was a risk.
And when Spurs were cut down by a horrid smattering of injuries in the last couple of months, that risk backfired. Van de Ven was ruled out until January, Eric Dier and Ashley Phillips were also injured, and vice-captain Cristian Romero copped a three-game suspension.
Spurs were so short of centre-backs that they have been routinely forced to name a backline with four fullbacks.
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“When you think about it,” Postecoglou told Sky Sports this weekend, “we let Davinson Sanchez go after the window closed. We kind of knew we were taking a bit of a risk; we couldn’t get the extra centre-back that we were trying to get in, and for the early part of the year that was fine.
“But once we lost Micky [van de Ven], and Eric Dier’s had some issues as well, we don’t have another centre-back.
“Young Ash Phillips had just joined the club, so it’s fair to say that we can’t run the risk of that happening again, so that’s obviously a priority for us in January.
“But again, we’ve got to get the right person. It’s not just about bringing another body in, it’s about getting the right one in and hopefully that’ll happen.”
Van de Ven started the season in sensational fashion, making him an early contender for the league’s defensive signing of the season, before suffering an unfortunate hamstring injury. He is set to return in mid-January, but there’s no doubt that Spurs need more depth at the position.
“Ultimately, we still need to sign another centre-back because at the moment we are a little bit on tenterhooks because if something happens again we are short and we are already short,” Postecoglou said in a recent press conference.
As Postecoglou says, signing a centre-back is the ‘priority’ for Spurs this window.
The club could even look to land two centre-halves if Eric Dier is sold. Dier is entering the final six months of his contract and reportedly plans to depart at the end of the season. But The Mirror claims Tottenham boss Daniel Levy intends to sell him in January rather than lose him on a free transfer in six months’ time.
Micky van de Ven’s injury was a major blow to Spurs.Source: Getty Images
Football Insider claims that Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba are on the Tottenham shortlist, after Spurs were linked to all three in the off-season transfer window.
Tapsoba has recently signed a new long-term contract until June 2028 and would therefore be an expensive acquisition, but both Kelly and Adarabioyo are out of contract at the end of this season. That should make signing them easier, with those clubs likely open to selling rather than losing them for free at the end of the season.
Liverpool and Newcastle are both in the race for Kelly (rated at around 25 million pounds), but Bournemouth have reportedly handed the 25-year-old a club-record contract offer in an attempt to convince him to stay.
Spurs sent a scout to watch Benfica’s 3-1 Champions League win over RB Salzburg last week, reportedly to watch Brazilian centre-back Morato.
The Sun claims Spurs scouts have watched the Benfica star four times in a month and will be Spurs’ top target, though the North London club will be unwilling to pay the 22-year-old’s release clause of £68m (A$127m).
Galatasaray’s Victor Nelsson has also been linked to the club, as well as Genoa centre-back Ragu Dragsusin. Ben Godfrey of Everton is also reportedly on their shortlist.
Sky Sports claims that Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo are also defensive targets for Spurs.
All three are 23 or younger, meaning they fit into Spurs’ long-term squad-building approach.
Postecoglou told Sky Sports his focus is on signing and hungry players: “Yeah, because that’s what we’re trying to build at the moment.
“Even Vic [Guglielmo Vicario], he’s only 26 [which is young] for a goalkeeper, and the only one we’ve kind of signed who isn’t in that bracket but I still think he’s got the best in front of him is Madders [James Maddison], but all the rest are all young.
“Guys like Pape Sarr, Destiny [Udogie], Pedro [Porro] and [Dejan] Kulusevski – who both [Porro and Kulusevski] became permanent – they’re all in their early 20s, so we’re in the first phase of building something.
“I think when you’ve got young guys and you start building something and they grow together, I think it gives you more chance of having sustained success down the road.”
Ange Postecoglou speaks to young midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who has become a regular contributor for Spurs this season.Source: AFP
THE KEY ISSUE THAT WILL FORCE SPURS TO ACT
While a centre-back is a clear priority, Postecoglou is also facing a significant hurdle in January that will almost certainly push him into the market for other signings.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Asian Cup both take place in January – meaning three Spurs stars will be missing for lengthy periods. Midfielders Yves Bissouma (Mali) and Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal) will be at AFCON which starts January 13, while captain Son Heung-Min (South Korea) will be in Qatar for the Asia Cup from January 12. Both tournaments last just under a month and players will likely depart a few days before the tournaments begin. If those three teams make a deep run in their respective competitions, Spurs could be significantly weakened. Senegal, as the reigning champions, are expected to again contend for the title.
Postecoglou said recently: “All of those three players will be a big loss to us but that’s kind of been the story of our season – we’ve had to cope without significant players so far and as I said that’s kind of what we’ve been dealt and we have to deal with it as we have.”
Bissouma on the weekend received his second red card of the season and will serve a four-game ban, which means he likely won’t be available to play until after AFCON and could miss up to ten fixtures!
Yves Bissouma was shown his second red card of the season. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP
The absences of Bissouma and Sarr mean that Postecoglou could look to bolster his midfield stocks. Spurs came close to signing Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher in the off-season, and The Daily Mail reports that the Blues are now willing to sell the England international.
Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino appeared to hint that the club wouldn’t sell Gallagher, saying on the weekend: “At the moment, Conor should be an important player who is still with us so that is the feeling now between the club and the player.”
But Chelsea need to balance their books after a year of big spending, while Pochettino is desperate to clear funds to sign a striker.
Spurs star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has also been linked with an exit – Manchester United and Atletico Madrid were interested in the off-season – and the Telegraph claims that Manchester City’s virtually-in-exile star Kalvin Phillips will be on Spurs’ radar if Hojbjerg does depart. Meanwhile, reports out of Turkey in October said that Postecoglou personally recommended the signing of Fenerbahce defensive midfielder Ismail Yuksek.
A little further forward in the midfield, James Maddison’s injury has revived the Tottenham career of Giovani Lo Celso in recent weeks, with his creativity and playmaking filling a crucial gap in Postecoglou’s team. But Spurs will have to fend off offers for the technically-gifted Argentine, with recent reports that Barcelona are interested in bringing him to the Camp Nou.
But Spurs could look to Barcelona’s biggest rival for reinforcements. El Nacional in Spain claimed that Spurs are interested in signing Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid, with the former Arsenal loanee having tumbled down the pecking order and hardly being spotted in the team this season.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be sold.Source: Getty Images
Son’s absence could be the most damaging of the lot, given the South Korean is very much a talisman in the Tottenham attacking line. Spurs’ forward stocks have been savaged by injuries this campaign. According to multiple reports, Spurs are still looking for another number nine to replace Harry Kane, while a winger has also been touted.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano added weight to claims that Feyenoord’s 22-year-old Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez is Spurs’ number one target up front.
Romano told The Debrief: “For January a really interesting proposal is needed. I think it could be around €45m guaranteed package to Feyenoord, I’m not sure it will be easy at the moment.
“He is for sure a player monitored by Tottenham because they are following the Dutch League with big interest after they wanted Arne Slot last summer.
“The relationship with Tottenham and Feyenoord after what happened with Arne Slot last summer has some problems, some small issues, nothing big and serious, but that is also a point to consider.”
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have also been linked to the player, but TodoFichajes reports that Spurs are in advanced negotiations for his signature.
Postecoglou with Son.Source: AFP
And Sky Sports also claims that Juventus’s Samuel Iling-Junior is Tottenham’s primary target when it comes to a winger.
It could be a busy transfer window for Spurs – but it is always a tricky one, too, with clubs unwilling to lose important players midway through the season.
Postecoglou said it is a ‘challenge’, but he is hoping to bring players through the door as quickly as possible.
He said: “Obviously with where we’re at injury-wise, the players we’re going to miss, we’ve got some significant games in January and signing somebody late in January could mean they haven’t been able to make an impact in those other games.
“We’re pushing hard but you need all parties to agree to that … It is a challenge, I get that, but everyone at the club is working hard to get the best outcomes for us and we’ll see how it goes.”
Given Spurs still have eight players injured plus another two suspended, and with AFCON and the Asian Cup on the horizon, the transfer window can’t come soon enough.
The real question will be just how much Spurs’ thrifty hierarchy backs the Australian manager. After missing out on some key targets in the last transfer window, the Tottenham bigwigs have the chance to make amends – and it could make or break their top-four hopes in the second half of the season.
All I want for Christmas is: Declan Rice to stay healthy
We saw how fragile Arsenal looked towards the end of last season when defensive midfielder Thomas Partey got injured.
Since moving to Arsenal for the measly sum of $AUD200 million, Declan Rice has been indispensable in the Gunners’ midfield and has started all 16 of their league fixtures.
Should anything happen to Rice, how big will the drop-off be?
Partey himself has missed a large chunk of action this season due to a groin and hamstring injury but when he did play at the start of the season, he lined up in the unusual position of right back.
Essentially, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta needs both Rice and Partey fit if they are to go one better than they did last season.
Declan Rice has been one of Arsenal’s best since moving from West Ham United. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ASTON VILLA
All I want for Christmas is: To make away trips fun again
Aston Villa’s home form is superb.
In fact, it’s perfect with 15 consecutive league wins at Villa Park stretching back into last season.
But away from home, it’s a different story.
From the eight away games Villa have played this season, they have won three (Chelsea, Tottenham and Burnley).
A 2-0 loss at Nottingham Forest coupled with draws against Wolves and Bournemouth could prove costly at the end of the season in Villa’s quest for a spot in the Champions League.
Even just the slightest improvement on their travels this season could be enough for Villa.
BOURNEMOUTH
All I want for Christmas is: Dominic Solanke’s purple patch to continue
Many felt Liverpool had completed a highway robbery when they sold Dominic Solanke to Bournemouth in January 2019 for $AUD34 million.
After all, Solanke had just one Premier League goal and assist to his name at Liverpool.
But the 26-year-old has finally proving his worth as Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth revolution continues to pick up momentum.
Solanke scored six Premier League goals in 33 games last season, but it’s taken just 16 matches to eclipse that figure as he has eight goals to his name already this campaign.
Additionally, Solanke has never gone longer than two games without a goal, which puts him on pace for 15 goals or more.
If the Chelsea academy product can maintain that rate for the rest of the season, Iraola and the Cherries will be safe from relegation well before the season’s end.
BRENTFORD
All I want for Christmas is: Ivan Toney’s ban to hurry up and finish
Many feared what would become of Brentford this season with Ivan Toney suspended until January 17 next year for several breaches of the FA’s betting rules.
In Toney’s absence, winger Bryan Mbuemo has largely shouldered the goalscoring burden with seven, three fewer than Toney had at this stage last season – but suffered a bad ankle injury that will see him out ‘for weeks’.
But it’s not just goals that Toney brings to this team.
It’s his ability to hold the ball up and bring others into play, his defensive work and his cool-as-you-like penalties.
Rival clubs are already weighing up bids for Toney in January but if Brentford can hold onto him for the rest of the season at the very least, the Bees could make a push for the Europa Conference League.
Ivan Toney’s suspension for breaching betting rules will expire in January. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRIGHTON
All I want for Christmas is: A new young gun to come out of nowhere and blitz the Premier League
Brighton have lapped up a first-ever venture into European football and are just one win away from sealing a spot in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
But the extra games on the continent coupled with the demands of the Premier League have taken a toll on the squad.
The Brighton physios have been forced to work overtime with the amount of injuries to key players in the squad.
But every time the Seagulls are forced to dip into their reserves, it always seems as if they can spawn some youngster from nowhere.
Last season it was teenage duo Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson who shot to prominence, with the former scoring wondergoals from all ranges while Ferguson continues to dazzle up top.
So if Brighton are going to find some form and compete in the Premier League and Europa League, they’ll need a young gun to burst onto the scene.
BURNLEY
All I want for Christmas is: No more schoolboy errors at the back
It’s been a baptism of fire for Burnley boss Vincent Kompany in his first season as a Premier League manager.
After decimating the Championship with the Clarets last season, Burnley have failed to replicate their dominance in the top flight and have won just two of their 16 games.
They’ve also conceded an alarming 34 goals, the worst figure in the league.
What’s most concerning is the relative ease with which opposition teams have scored against Burnley as an alarming stat proves they constantly shoot themselves in the foot.
Per the Premier League’s stats section, Kompany’s side have made four errors which directly lead to a goal, the second-most in the league.
It happened once again in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves when Burnley coughed the ball up close to their 18-yard box and quickly led to a Hwang Hee-Chan goal.
Strangely enough, the team with the most errors directly leading to a goal is league leaders Arsenal with five.
The frailties at the back will undoubtedly irk Kompany, one of the most dominant defenders to have played in the Premier League.
But he must find a way to get his players to remain focused for the entire 90 minutes because they will continue to get punished time and time again.
CHELSEA
All I want for Christmas is: Nicolas Jackson to stop missing sitters
Every football fan knows the feeling of watching a player miss an opportunity when it seemed easier to score.
So our thoughts go out to Chelsea fans who have watched Nicolas Jackson spurn chance after chance since moving from Villarreal in the summer for $57 million.
Per the Premier League’s stats site Jackson is fourth in the charts for most big chances missed, behind only Erling Haaland, Darwin Nunez and Ollie Watkins.
Jackson has become a focal point for derision from rival fans given he has more yellow cards (seven) than he has goals (six).
Even then, three of those goals came against a nine-man Tottenham side in the wild 4-1 win.
If Jackson can finally put away his chances, Chelsea fans can start to dream about Europe again.
Well, maybe just the Europa Conference League.
Nicolas Jackson has more yellow cards than goals since moving to Chelsea. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CRYSTAL PALACE
All I want for Christmas is: To break up with Roy Hodgson … for good
Roy Hodgson is the ex Crystal Palace just can’t quit.
A boyhood Palace fan, Hodgson was on the club’s books as a youth player but never quite made it into the first team.
But he would get a crack at managing the club he supported in 2017 and led the Eagles to their highest points tally in a single Premier League season in the 2018/19 campaign with 49 points.
However, the style of football Palace played wasn’t exactly endearing as Hodgson left on his own accord at the end of the 2020/21 season.
Patrick Vieira came but eventually left with Palace hurtling towards relegation.
Like a knight in shining armour, Hodgson returned to save the day with five wins and three draws in the 10 games he had in charge and keep Palace up while earning a one-year deal in the process.
Yet things are slowly starting to turn toxic once again at Selhurst Park as Palace struggle to find rhythm, although constant injuries to star duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have not helped.
If Hodgson is to leave his job earlier than anticipated, the Palace top brass must find a replacement that represents a departure from the 76-year-old’s footballing ethos.
And if things turn sour once again, Hodgson cannot be called upon to save the day once more.
Let the man enjoy games from the Selhurst Park terraces rather than the dugout.
EVERTON
All I want for Christmas is: Survival
After 12 games, Everton were sitting reasonably comfortable on the table and looked destined for a season of mediocrity which, after two years of near-misses with relegation, was not the worst.
But then everything changed when the Premier League deducted 10 points from the Toffees for one breach of its profit and sustainability rules.
The deduction also dropped Everton right back into the relegation fight, although there’s still plenty of time for Sean Dyche’s side to claw themselves away from danger – and a chance that the deduction will be reduced or completely overturned.
In fact, most bookies are confident Everton can preserve their record of being in every Premier League season since its inception as the three promoted clubs still remain favourites for the drop.
Although the Everton faithful will forever be flipping off those who made the decision to give them the 10-point penalty, survival this season would be the ultimate middle finger.
FULHAM
All I want for Christmas is: A sword to fend off clubs interested in Joao Palhinha
Without star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham have simply not looked the same threat they did last season.
Now, imagine if they had lost both Mitrovic and defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha in the summer?
Bayern Munich were on the verge of signing the Portuguese star on deadline day but the move collapsed at the final hour and Palhinha ended up signing a new deal with Fulham in September.
Reports say the German giants will try their luck again in January while other Premier League clubs are rumoured to be interested in Palhinha.
Either way, Palhinha’s departure would leave a gaping void in Fulham’s midfield that will be extremely costly to replace, if even possible.
Joao Palhinha will be the subject of intense speculation during the January transfer window. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LIVERPOOL
All I want for Christmas is: A new pair of shooting boots for Darwin Nunez
Manchester City signed Erling Haaland last year for €60 million and got 50 league goals in 50 games. Liverpool signed Nunez for €75 million (plus €25m in add-ons) and got 13 goals in 43.
Sure, he’s progressed plenty in his second season, with better pressing, more calmness in attack and a selfless approach that has earned him a handful of assists.
But he’s the number nine for a team supposedly in the title hunt – and he just can’t score consistently.
He’s got four goals in 15 appearances this campaign, but that’s come from 45 shots. He’s missed 15 ‘big chances’ and has hit the woodwork five times already, three ahead of the next player.
And his expected goals (xG) is 8.95 – meaning he’s scored around five goals fewer than he statistically should, by far the worst differential of any striker (Chelsea’s maligned Nicolas Jackson has a margin of 3.31, with six goals from 9.31 xG).
Nunez changed his hairstyle, but what he really needs is some new shooting boots.
LUTON TOWN
All I want for Christmas is: Their ‘Maradona’ to save them from relegation
The first priority of any team in the Premier League is to stay there – but we thought it’d be too simple to just say that Luton want survival for Christmas. How can they make it happen?
They need a touch of class to go with their hard work.
So often in recent weeks they’ve played exceptionally and challenged top teams but failed to get real rewards for their efforts. They led both Arsenal and Manchester City before falling to defeats – not even draws. In fact, six of their eight defeats since September have come by a single goal, showing they are competing well but just not quite getting over the finish line.
But if someone is going to stand up and become a hero, it’s probably going to be Ross Barkley.
Teammate Andros Townsend recently told talkSPORT of Barkley’s form: “Honestly, they’ve been some of the best midfield performances I’ve seen in my career.
“It’s just unbelievable – the calmness, the ability to get the ball off the back four and knock it past some of the world’s best midfielders without a care in the world.
“We saw yesterday against Man City, Maradona was in the midfield to set up our goal – honestly, it’s been a joy to watch…He’s been absolutely incredible and he’s been an absolute joy to play with, but a joy to watch as well.”
Sometimes promoted teams feel like they need a miracle to avoid relegation. For Luton, they might just need Barkley to play like Maradona.
MANCHESTER CITY
All I want for Christmas is: A proper left-back
They want Rodri to play every game, since they lose without him. They want Erling Haaland to get fit and get back to the ridiculous scoring ways of last season. But perhaps the most obvious weakness in the City side this season has been the lack of a genuine left-back. In the last 18 months they’ve lost Oleksandar Zinchenko, João Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy, as well as Aymeric Laporte – a left-sided centre-back who deputised at fullback. Nathan Ake and recent signing Josko Gvardiol have been deployed at the position this season, but both are better in the centre of defence. While Gvardiol is an extremely talented defender and a good signing, City probably would have been better off spending his £77 million transfer fee on a genuine left back.
Gvardiol is a centre back by trade but has often been forced to line up at left back for City. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
MANCHESTER UNITED
All I want for Christmas is: The old Marcus Rashford back
After Marcus Rashford hit a career-best 30 goals in all competitions last season, manager Erik ten Hag claimed that the local hero was capable of hitting 40.
He was handed a whopping new contract and became one of the club’s highest paid players – but he’s repaid the faith by scoring just two league goals so far this season.
Ten Hag made one of the boldest calls of his United career by dropping him – then winning – against Chelsea, after Rashford had a stroppy reaction to being substituted after a dismal showing at Newcastle.
United are last in their Champions League group, out of the Carabao Cup already, and in sixth in the Premier League – but with just 18 goals from 16 matches, which is just one more than 18th-placed Luton Town, for example.
What they wouldn’t give for Rashford to be the player he was last year – or the player they are paying over 300,000 pounds (A$575k) a week.
Until then, they’ll just have to hope that midfielder Scott McTominay continues his shock scoring streak. He bagged two against Chelsea and should have made it three, but his six goals make him United’s top scorer (all comps).
All that from a player Ten Hag was ready and willing to sell in the off-season.
NEWCASTLE
All I want for Christmas is: Some fit players
The doctors and physios at Newcastle probably need a holiday. They might just be the busiest people in the Premier League given how many injuries the club has been hit with this season. In fact, you could probably field a strong XI of injured players most weeks!
It’s forced Eddie Howe to name fielded the same 10 outfield players for five-straight matches, and a 4-1 hammering from Spurs exposed their tired, worn-out team.
The Magpies been struggling at almost every position. Goalkeeper Nick Pope will be out for at least four months, which will likely push them into the transfer market for reinforcements with Aaron Ramsdale a possibility.
Blows to Sven Botman and Dan Burn have left them short at centre-back, while Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have hardly played a game together up front. And injuries in the midfield have combined with a long-term betting ban for Sandro Tonali to leave them short in the centre of the park. A move for Man City’s Kalvin Phillips has been mooted. When they’ve got the manpower, Newcastle are well in the top-four hunt. But right now, they just need a fit player or two.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side have been crippled by injuries this season. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
All I want for Christmas is: To rebound from ‘rock bottom’
When Forest slumped to a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Fulham last week, manager Steve Cooper looked like he would be axed. So far, it hasn’t happened – and when given the chance to prove he deserves to stay in the job, his team rebounded with a 1-1 draw against Wolves. Cooper made seven changes to his line-up and reverted to a back five, and his players responded with a gritty, united effort.
Scorer Harry Toffolo said after the game: “We love the gaffer … I love working for him as do all the players and I think it showed today.”
It’s unclear whether the Wolves game was just a stay of execution for Cooper. But after four straight losses, they’ll be wishing that they’ve seen the worst of it, and that they can now turn the corner.
As Martin Keown said on BBC: “I think sometimes when you reach rock bottom, it looks like they have, then you start to climb out. Let’s hope their performances improve.”
SHEFFIELD UNITED
All I want for Christmas is: A couple of dollars (or a new owner)
The Blades have been hamstrung this season by a lack of cash, plain and simple. Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been looking to sell the club for months but despite interest from American Henry Mauriss and Nigerian Dozy Mmobuosi, he hasn’t been able to get a deal done. Prince Abdullah has also sold his French club and is attempting to sell his stake in a Belgian club as well.
Last year, Sheffield United failed to pay some suppliers for months and also copped a transfer embargo, while in the off-season they sold two of their best players – Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye. As other promoted clubs spent big to reinforce their squads, Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom instead ended up with a side that was worse than the year before. Heckingbottom has since been sacked and relegation looks all-but certain. Chris Wilder might pull off a miracle – but the real change needs to happen at the ownership level.
TOTTENHAM
All I want for Christmas is: A magical health potion.
We could wax lyrical about the magic that Ange Postecoglou has wrought at Spurs this season (and we have!).
But a raft of injuries proved devastating and led to a November slump. With no fit centre-backs, Spurs were forced to field a defensive line with four full-backs in two consecutive matches. In fact, they were without 11 first-team players for the match against Manchester City.
The biggest blows were serious injuries to new signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, both of whom were in contention for early signing-of-the-season honours after hot starts to the campaign. Manor Solomon and keeper Guglielmo Vicario are other big Postecoglou signings to have suffered injuries this year.
Spurs are desperate for Van de Ven and Maddison to come back (likely January), but will also dive into the January transfer window for reinforcements.
What they really need is their new signings – whoever they are – to stay fit.
How Postecoglou could do with a magical health potion to get the likes of James Maddison and Micky Van de Ven back on the park. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WEST HAM UNITED
All I want for Christmas is: The next Michail Antonio
West Ham have infamously struggled for years to sign a decent striker, with their list of number nines over the years a revolving door of failures. Most recently it was Gianluca Scamacca, who left after just one season – and wasn’t replaced in the off-season.
There’s currently a real lack of proven centre-forward talent around, which is causing problems for plenty of Premier League sides. Chelsea are still desperate for a scorer, Spurs didn’t replace Harry Kane, and Man Utd spent big on the gifted but unproven Rasmus Hojlund.
33-year-old Antonio has just two goals in 12 appearances this season.
Jarrod Bowen, normally a winger, has been pushed into the striker position to fill the void left by Antonio’s slumping form.
26-year-old Bowen has bagged nine goals in 15 league games, but West Ham are still in the hunt for a striker so they can shift Bowen back to his natural position on the flank.
Moyes said last month: “There’s not really been a good market (of strikers) out there to buy and probably people have written that we need a new striker. Dead easy to say, dead hard to find to get someone who will work for you immediately …
“It’s hard to get exactly what you want, centre-forwards especially. That’s why I hope if we can’t find it, Jarrod (Bowen) might help fill the gap going forward.”
Manchester United won’t extend French striker Anthony Martial’s contract, which concludes at the end of this season. West Ham have subsequently been linked to a January transfer offer – but will he be the one to end the Hammers’ striker signings curse?
WOLVES
All I want for Christmas is: A new contract for Hwang Hee-Chan…and more goals
Go back to the start of the season. Who predicted that a Wolves player would be top five in the scoring charts at this point of the campaign?
Hwang Hee-Chan has got eight goals already, putting him behind only Jarrod Bowen (nine), countryman Son Heung-min (10), Mohamed Salah (11) and Erling Haaland (14). That’s as many goals as he scored in his first two Premier League campaigns combined.
And in the last three Premier League seasons, no Wolves player has scored more than six goals in a campaign.
Credit to Wolves manager Gary O’Neill for giving the striker plenty more minutes, while his teammates deserve credit for improved supply of balls into the area for ‘The Bull’ to pounce on.
“His numbers are really impressive,” O’Neill said. “Will he continue to score at this rate for the rest of the season? It would be an incredible effort to do so.
“When the ball falls to Channy in the penalty area, I have a really good feeling that the ball is going to end in the back of the net. It is no fluke.”
His contract runs until 2026, but Wolves already are in talks over an extension and a pay upgrade for the 27-year-old.
After a loan move from RB Leipzig was made permanent in January 2022 for just £14m, Wolves have well and truly nabbed a Christmas bargain.
Manchester United has won eight games this season and sit seventh in the Premier League. But there’s one big problem: all of them have come against teams in the bottom half of the ladder.
When it comes to facing the top teams, United has struggled time and again – and that was exactly the case against Newcastle this weekend.
Newcastle was lacking 11 first team players after a couple of suspensions added to a horrid spate of injuries.
If ever there was a time for United to beat a top-half league rival, it was now.
But they were thoroughly outclassed and the 1-0 score doesn’t reflect just how comfortable Newcastle’s win was on home soil.
United has now lost all six meetings with top-half teams this season. They’re the only team in the Premier League not to have picked up a draw this season, which indicates a tendency to collapse under pressure from heavyweight opponents.
The Red Devils are five points off the top four and Champions League qualification for next season, while they sit last in this year’s Champions League group with one game to play.
After a promising first season under Erik Ten Hag, things are unravelling – and reports suggest the Dutch manager has now lost ‘50 per cent of the dressing room’.
Local boy Marcus Rashford has looked a shadow of his former self this season, and he plumbed new depths in a miserable performance that saw him hooked after an hour – and had him looking extremely frustrated as he sat on the bench.
Rashford hit a career-best 30 goals in 56 appearances last season in all competitions, the first United player to reach 30 strikes since Robin van Persie in 2012-13.
That earned him a new contract worth a reported £300,000 per week ($A570k) – but this season, he’s scored just two goals in 18 appearances in all comps, one of those a penalty last week that was given to him by regular penalty taker Bruno Fernandes.
He offered hardly anything in attack, while his workrate was particularly criticised by pundits – giving Newcastle fullback Tino Livramento a field day and often walking back rather than showing any urgency in defence, even after he himself had been guilty of gifting possession to Newcastle.
“I will talk to him and not the media,” manager Erik Ten Hag responded in strained fashion when asked about the struggling 26-year-old.
“I don’t go into individual performances. I knew this issue was coming up and Marcus is investing a lot, we support him and he will return to his form.
“He works hard and he’s investing a lot. He will get back, he will recover and he gets all our support.”
But it’s not just Rashford. Anthony Martial was similarly invisible in attack, touching the ball just 17 times (the fewest of any starter) before being taken off after an hour. He did not complete a dribble or have a shot on goal – in fact, United didn’t have a shot on target in the match while Newcastle had 22 attempts in total.
In the first half, Ten Hag blew up deluxe on the sideline at Martial for his lack of effort in defence, with the Frenchman waving his arms at the manager in a heated argument.
“It’s not about Anthony Martial, it’s about the team,” Ten Hag said afterwards. “I try to energise the team and try to get a reaction from the team in this moment. We had a tough period and when you’re coaching you are a little more aggressive, so that’s normal.”
‘Belief in ourselves’ Spurs bounce back | 00:58
Former England international Jermaine Jenas said on TNT at halftime: “This seems to be the culture at the moment. A lot of arms raising, a lot of blaming one another and no cohesiveness.”
But amid reports that Ten Hag has fallen out with some of his players, it was another damning moment.
Chief Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solkehol said: “My information is that some of the players are confused with what is happening. He has lost elements of the dressing room. One source tells me that he’s lost about 50 per cent of the dressing room.
“Quite a few players are unhappy with the style of play, they also feel that they’re training too hard and that they’re running too much during training. I was told that the players don’t know what they’re running for.
“Also, some senior players have spoken to Erik ten Hag about where they feel the club is going wrong. They’ve spoken to him about their other experiences of playing for big clubs, and they feel that the manager should be a little bit more touchy-feely… I’ve also been told that a few of the players believe that he is too set in his ways and he’s too robotic.”
Ten Hag had a very public spat with Cristiano Ronaldo last season, has fallen out with defender Raphael Varane, and has exiled Jadon Sancho from the first team since August when he posted on social media he has “been a scapegoat for a long time.”
A number of United players are close with Sancho, and Solkehol said: “He’s training with the kids and he’s eating on his own. Quite a few of the players feel like that has gone too far.”
It’s clear that Rashford and Martial in particular are far from happy – and experts say their body language hints that they’re “sending a message” to Ten Hag.
Jenas said: “I personally thought that tonight, there were signs that, there were a couple of players who weren’t happy with the tactics or their positions on the pitch, but the body language of the team tells you a lot … and there was a few who were sending a message to the manager, I thought.
“Marcus Rashford in particular, on the right, the way that he just walked around, you know throwing his arms around. For me that said: ‘look, I don’t want to be playing on this right-hand side.
“Things like that is criminal – it really is, putting your team under that type of pressure by not doing your duties as a wide man to be tracking back.
“You had Martial getting ran past by Fabian Schar, going into midfield, doing what he wants. There were too many of those moments.”
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Manchester United legend Steve Bruce spoke to Stadium Astro on a similar theme: “The body language of some of the players doesn’t look right.
“We’ve been talking now and the first one you look at is why all of a sudden Marcus Rashford, after how good he was, how good he played for England a few weeks ago, [has gone] to what you see now.
“Is he not happy playing on the right, what is wrong? We aren’t going to know what has happened behind the scenes if anything has happened. When he comes off, he shows that petulance, he is not happy. I think he needs to have a look at himself, to start with.
“It’s not just him, you look through the nucleus of the side and they have been blown away by Newcastle. That is the worry.”
Diogo Dalot also fumed at the manager.Source: Getty Images
And Liverpool great Jamie Carragher also took aim at Rashford and Martial for their lack of effort.
“It looks like big problems [at Man United]. I can’t actually believe where Man United are in the table,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“Watching Marcus Rashford last night that was an unacceptable performance for a few reasons.
“That lad didn’t play midweek in the Champions League, but I have been a local player and it’s not easy especially when the team is not doing well.
“For Rashford and myself and (Steven) Gerrard at Liverpool it’s your job to fix it and drag others up with you,” he continued.
“Watching Rashford he reminds me of Martial and that is worst possible thing you can say about him. Foreign player comes in and doesn’t really care. Rashford is now looing like Martial.
“As a local player your job to drag others up. You do not stop running for that badge and your supporters as you are supposedly one of them,” said Carragher.
Erik Ten Hag might be losing the dressing room at Old Trafford.Source: Getty Images
United now face fellow underperforming heavyweights Chelsea on Thursday morning (AEDT) before hosting Bournemouth on the weekend.
Then comes their final Champions League group stage game, where they must beat German giants Bayern Munich and have other results go their way to sneak into the knockout stages.
With league matches against Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham and Tottenham in the month ahead, United must end their top-half hoodoo quickly – or they’ll be sliding out of the race for Champions League, and Ten Hag might just find himself out of a job.
