Posts Tagged ‘Claude Puel’

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So, according to Claude Puel, the Leicester City manager, Manchester United’s interest in Harry Maguire may have been fabricated in order to unsettle the player.

As conspiracy theories go it isn’t a very good one, nor is it very original. Firstly, Maguire does not look the type who would be bothered too much about interest from a bigger and better club. Yes, he would like to play for Manchester United but he is also realistic enough to be aware that he has just signed a five-year contract with Leicester, so a move for anything less than totally silly money would be out of the question. (more…)

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Following on from our article yesterday where we began our look at which managers will stay with their clubs for next season, today we continue through the alphabet with the next five.

Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson

Mr Roy has pulled several rabbits out of the hat this season and has actually had Palace reasonably safe from relegation for quite a while. He is now at an age where he won’t want to be moving around the country too much although, in fairness, he has been at that age for about ten years! (more…)

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The headline assumes, rather arrogantly from the point of view of the clubs concerned, that only Chelsea, United and Tottenham Hotspur have a chance of winning it.

It is safe to say that Brighton, Leicester City, Southampton, Swansea City and Wigan will all have fancied their chances before the quarter finals kicked off.

Here we take a brief look at the ties, both played and unplayed, in reverse chronological order. (more…)

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Three of the Premier League’s top six remain in this year’s competition as we reach the quarter final stage.

In what can only be described as a crazily premature draw, as it was made before the fifth round was complete, the big three were kept apart with Manchester United given a home draw whilst the two London clubs received away ties, although Spurs are yet to overcome Rochdale to officially book their place.

Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale will still feel as though they have a chance of progressing but that chance is now very remote. Having both managed to draw their home games they are now favourites to exit the competition in the replays away from home. (more…)

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Readers of our article from Friday will notice that the title of this piece isn’t; “If only hindsight were foresight”. In fact, we were only ever 50% of the way there as we were correct in half of the top six team’s results.

How, you may wonder, could we be half right about five games? Actually, it wasn’t so much about the games as the teams. We were let down, as the North-West usually is, by London, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all failing to provide the desired results, whereas Manchester City, United and Liverpool were true to OUR word. (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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As far as cup finals go it isn’t the most prestigious. It isn’t up there with the Champion’s League final or Europa League final. It isn’t even up there with the FA Cup final.

Through all it’s various guises which have included the Milk Cup, the Worthington Cup and the Capital One Cup it has been used as a vehicle for giving fringe players a run of games, certainly by the bigger clubs, who have the squads deep enough to render the exercise unnecessary.

The effect this has on the competition is to take away the giant-killing days. No longer is it a major surprise, or even much of an achievement, when a Championship club at full strength beats a Premier League club fielding it’s reserve team. At least it could be argued that the playing field is level for once. (more…)

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Ronald Koeman must resign himself to the fact that a challenge to break into the top six will probably have to wait until next season. Some wise spending in the Summer transfer window and his astute management should see a more concerted effort from Everton next time out.

He will certainly be expected to improve upon the finishes of Roberto Martinez and David Moyes as he has a sizeable amount of cash available thanks to the new owner, Farhad Moshiri. (more…)

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As regular readers of these chronicles will be aware, there are several amongst the football fraternity who are, to put it mildly, an irritation. We are not just referring to current players in the previous statement, as there are far more irritating people who have never played the game, who have retired from the game or who have dabbled at it and been no better than average.

There are reporters, presenters and referees. There are “celebrity” fans, another horrible expression suggesting that some people are “celebrated” whilst others are completely ignored throughout their life despite the good they may do. (more…)