Archive for the ‘Manchester City’ Category

managers

Yesterday we took a look at the three games involving Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur and gave you all a rare insight into the power that is gifted only to the rare few; that of foresight.

Using this foresight coupled with our uncanny ability to have a guess at absolutely anything, we are able to accurately state the outcome of Premier League games in which the top six, (or big six, if you prefer), are involved.

West Brom v Chelsea

Anyway, to the games. the final one of the three o’clock kick-offs in which we are interested is the game between West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea. (more…)

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Finally, again, (Ed – so not finally really, as it can’t be finally more than once), the dreaded international injury window is over and England fans can return to their caves until next March when the team will be able to continue proving that they can prevent teams like Germany and Brazil from scoring.

Their inability to put the ball in the net themselves, however, will still see them returning from the World Cup on the first available flight, as they will draw all their games 0-0 and, yet again, everybody will be able to lament how unlucky they were at a major tournament. (more…)

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On the back of his undoubted success at Porto, José Mourinho was appointed by Chelsea owner Román Abramóvich to take the team to the next level which, in their case at that time, was to win the Premier League.

This is where the Mourinho success story really begins. In his first season with Chelsea he won the Premier League and League Cup spending £81.2 million in the process. The following year he retained the Premier League and won the FA and the League Cups whilst spending a paltry £58.4 million. He then had a barren year but still managed to spend £63 million and this was followed by a further £17.2 million the season he left. (more…)

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Never say never. There is a chance that José Mourinho actually does want to manage PSG at some stage of his career, just not yet, it would only make sense if United were to sack him.

What would he achieve? A Champion’s League title in another country? Probably, but is that really the kind of achievement he wants on his CV? Winning trophies at a club who will forever be accused of doing so because of their wealth rather than any managerial ability.

No, Mourinho is far better off at United for the time being. Yes, he has money to spend but, in the Premier League unlike in Ligue 1, that is no guarantee that he will win the title. (more…)

Light Red

As promised yesterday, here is the continuation and conclusion of our look at the central defenders who feature the most for the top six Premier League clubs.

We haven’t looked at all the different permutations which are available at the big clubs where they will usually have four centre backs competing for the two places in the team, we have just looked at the two who have started the most games this season for whatever reason.

It should also be remembered that many good centre-backs nowadays can play in more than one position which greatly enhances their value to the team and gives them a better chance of playing. (more…)

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Following on from articles we wrote back in October in which we compared the strikers, then the goalkeepers and then the midfield pairings at the Premier League’s top six, we now take a look at the central defenders.

These partnerships are crucial to their team having a successful, (or otherwise), season and large amounts of money are now being spent on a position which was, in the past, second only to goalkeeper in unpopularity when children were organising a game of football. (more…)

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As the majority of football fans prepare to enter a time of mini-hibernation due to yet another international injury window, we look at the number of players that the top clubs have had to release for this “break”.

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Arsenal

The Gunners have eight players involved in senior internationals during this break and they are:

 

sui  Granit Xhaka – Switzerland 
fra  Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Alexandre Lacazette – France 
wal  Aaron Ramsey – Wales 
nga  Alex Iwobi – Nigeria 
ger  Mesut Özil – Germany 
egy  Mohamed Elneny – Egypt  (more…)

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According to some press reports, José Mourinho will leave Manchester United in the summer. He will take his travelling roadshow to Paris where he will challenge for the Champion’s League.

It’s as simple as that.

The problem is that the reasons given for his wanting to leave United are that he can’t compete with Manchester City and doesn’t get enough backing from the board. That simply is not true.

So, if that is the case José, then au revoir et bonne chance. (more…)

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With two more meaningless friendlies on the horizon for a very average England team, the Premier League has, once again and for the third time already this season, ground to a shuddering halt.

These two games are against Germany and Brazil and withdrawals through injury mean that England go into the games with an even greater paucity of talent than usual.

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Mauricio Pochettino has decided that Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Dele Alli are not fit enough to even travel with the squad, never mind take part in the games. He has, as a token gesture, left Kieran Trippier who he thinks could benefit from the game time. (more…)

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There is no big secret as to why Manchester City are top of the Premier League. There is also no big secret as to why they are unbeaten and have scored, by far, the most goals.

They may have some of the best players but, in general, their squad is no better than that of United or Chelsea.

So what is the difference?

The simple answer, as some may have already concluded, is Pep Guardiola. Yes, he is leading City to inevitable success in at least one competition this season, and maybe more. But is the way he is going about achieving that success really so revolutionary? (more…)