Morning all.
It’s solely Tuesday, however waiting for subsequent weekend we’ve two groups to consider: Brighton, who we play, and Everton, who tackle Man Metropolis. The 2 of them met yesterday on the Amex, and given current kind you’d have put your cash on the house facet.
As an alternative, Everton ended up successful 5-1. Brighton had 23 photographs and 78% possession, whereas Everton made 53 clearances and had Jordan Pickford and the woodwork to thank a number of instances. Which simply tells you that soccer is totally psychological generally. I’ve seen individuals say it will have been good for each of them to avoid wasting these performances for the weekend, however I disagree. Outcomes, positive – performances not a lot.
I believe if Everton enable Man Metropolis 23 photographs, they gained’t be successful 5-1, and we’ve clearly acquired to be very cautious of a Brighton response. Their supervisor, Roberto de Zerbi, stated afterwards:
I feel on Sunday we are going to present our high quality, we are going to get again to our type and you will note the true Brighton.
Cheers pal. Simply what we want. That is a type of the place you may concern a Brighton facet decided to place proper what was an embarrassing end result, however hope that such a defeat has shaken their confidence a bit bit. They’ve had a unbelievable season, and their push for Europe continues, however perhaps they’re feeling the strain of that on high of the variety of video games they’re having to play as a result of they’ve fixtures in hand.
It was a considerably extraordinary day within the Premier League, not least as a result of there have been three Monday matches due to the financial institution vacation. Fulham beat Leicester 5-3, a scoreline which actually flattered the Foxes, and one which makes you surprise what was the purpose of them sacking Brendan Rodgers as a result of that’s the form of factor his Leicester facet did on a regular basis.
In case you herald anyone new that can assist you combat in opposition to relegation, certainly you’d be on the lookout for elevated defensive stability, however they had been rubbish in that regard. I suppose if you’ve acquired a David Luiz knock-off on the centre of your defence it’s not straightforward, however nonetheless. Their subsequent two fixtures are Liverpool at house, after which Newcastle away. Barring some form of miracle, I reckon they’re toast.
It appears to be like bleak for Southampton who misplaced 4-3 to Nottingham Forest in an entertaining sport final night time. Forest are nonetheless within the relegation combine, however perhaps simply have that little bit extra high quality than others down there – Morgan Gibbs-White appears to be like a really promising participant, and one I believe will transfer on sooner reasonably than later. It wasn’t a very good night time for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who conceded a penalty at hand Forest a two aim lead, however we all know already his future lies elsewhere. Maybe in serving to Southampton again up. It’s Fulham, Brighton then Liverpool for the Saints, and it appears to be like like they’re marching in the direction of the Championship. With a younger facet they may very well be properly outfitted to return straight again up, but it surely relies upon who they will dangle on to. I reckon there’ll be loads of groups Romeo Lavia this summer season, for instance, whether or not we’re certainly one of them stays to be seen.
Talking of central midfield, Sky Sports report that West Ham will let Declan Rice go away for £120m this summer season, or £100m plus a participant. Arsenal’s curiosity is well-known, and for me the one issue with getting this deal accomplished is the value/construction, greater than having to persuade him to return to North London. I feel the participant would fortunately signal for us, however with West Ham’s possession prone to be a problem over the approaching months, and a charge of that dimension, there’s the potential for issues to get a bit difficult.
Which participant may West Ham need from Arsenal in a swap deal? For me, given what else I would really like us to do that summer season, I’m wondering if Eddie Nketiah is perhaps an choice. It feels to me like the subsequent step we have to make in our growth is to have a unique form of choice up entrance, somebody with a bit extra bodily presence, and in addition to Eddie has accomplished, he’s positively not that man. Let’s additionally not overlook a few of our returning mortgage gamers like Nuno Tavares, Nicolas Pepe, and Albert Sambi Lokonga for whom West Ham appears an affordable match. Take your decide, lads. I suppose it’ll rely who’s cost there subsequent season, as a result of it appears an affordable assumption to make that it gained’t be David Moyes.
Anyway, for extra on the Premier League, join us over on Patreon a bit later this morning after we’ll have an episode of The 30, the world’s most inaccurately named podcast through which we have a look again in any respect the motion in half-hour, roughly (at all times extra. Considerably extra).
For some additional studying this morning, Lewis has a new tactics column – with some ideas on Newcastle, Mikel Arteta, and extra.
Let’s go away it there now, have a very good one people.
