Issue 63 - Unlocking The Window

A break in Premier League action. No break when it comes to insight and opinion. Magic of the FA Cup they say, to be honest I’m not too sure. I’m not too sure if West Ham are going to stay up, it’s not looking good for the Hammers. Issue 63. Go.

The Perfect Script

If you were writing a movie on a Premier League player, one that was set to collect a large amount of riches after joining Manchester City, you would need to create a vehicle for the perfect send off.

Say for example, scoring a late winner to secure a 3-2 home win in front of their support that have seen you grow exponentially over the past couple of seasons. A goal that earns your club their first win in 12 and allows you to be subbed off to huge adulation.

That is how you would set the scene, Antoine Semenyo went and carried out after his display on Tuesday night. He leaves Bournemouth a legend, he joins the already esteemed talents that ply their trade at the Etihad.

The biggest move of the January transfer window to date, maybe the biggest we will see all month. A large fish at the Vitality Stadium’s small pond, now he must prove he can swim in a far bigger lake

But Why Him

Why Semenyo? Well the reasoning is not only steeped in scoring a league goal every other game for Bournemouth this season, it is also the versatility that the Ghana international can offer.

Comfortable across the front three, comfortable in central midfield. Comfortable in making opposition defenders feel rather uncomfortable - the kind of player that Pep Guardiola loves to work with.

Also the kind of player that will fast-forward City’s evolution, Bernardo Silva is not getting any younger. It may be the Portuguese international is the most direct casualty from Semenyo’s arrival.

Now Or Later

While the capture of Bournemouth’s key man also adds fuel to this season’s title race. Can Semenyo’s impact be quick enough to hunt down Arsenal’s six-point gap? Will he need the rest of the campaign to learn the ways of Guardiola.

We have seen it before under the Spaniard’s tutelage, you almost need a whole campaign to learn how to play the Pep way. Jack Grealish being a perfect example of coming to life in his second season at the club.

At the same time, there is also that inherent risk of being the big fish in the small pond and then looking like a minnow yourself when given an Etihad opportunity - the likes of Kalvin Phillips spring to mind.

In fairness to the 26-year-old, all the tools are there for him to succeed. The price point suggests his arrival is not going to be bit part but after being centre stage at Bournemouth, that is almost amateur dramatics to the Broadway equivalent which is Manchester City.

Premier League Managers Under Pressure

Who is feeling the heat?

For those long-term subscribers, you will be aware of the concept of Premier League Managers Under Pressure or #PLMUP for you more social media savvy users.

A concept that highlights which managers are feeling the heat, even if they are not necessarily being ushered out of the door.

For example, Rob Edwards could have been considered under pressure after not delivering a win at Wolves since taking over, that has now lessened after the Molineux men have picked up five points from the last nine on offer.

Eddie Howe was another man under supposed pressure but look at Newcastle now has they win three league games in a row, this is how volatile the measure can be - maybe a measure of how fickle fans can be as all seems well again on Tyneside.

• Is Pep Guardiola under pressure after three straight draws in the Premier League?

• Is Arne Slot under pressure as Liverpool’s defence of the title is non-existent.

• We all know Nuno Espirito Santo is

Managers can feel pressure for many different reasons but if I had to rank my current top five, it would be as follows:

1. Nuno Espirito Santo - Tuesday’s defeat at home to Nottingham Forest leaves him teetering very close to the brink.

2. Oliver Glasner - Crystal Palace seem rudderless at present, it seems like his tenure is going to end with a whimper at this rate.

3. Thomas Frank - What do Tottenham do? They are in a better league position then last season’s finish but that is only because they were so bad under Ange.

4. Scott Parker - No win in 12 for the Clarets. Do the Burnley board give themselves enough time to roll the dice in a bid to gain survival.

5. Arne Slot - For the reasons above

Bar number 1 in the list, the next four do not necessarily scream sacking in the next seven days or so but it does also show how quickly things can worsen - certainly worth keeping an eye on the men ranked two to five as we go deeper into January.

What managers do you think are really feeling the heat right now? Let me know.

Friday Afternoon Scorecard

A look back at the midweek Premier League madness

West Ham vs Nottingham Forest

All was well when West Ham took an early lead thanks to Murillo’s own goal. All was not well by the time Nottingham Forest had completed a late turnaround on Tuesday night. The Hammers have had an abject week, it could get even worse if they lose to QPR in the FA Cup on Sunday.

As for Forest, the win at the London Stadium not only gives Sean Dyche some breathing space between him and club owner Evangelos Marinakis but it also means his players have seven point gap over the hapless Hammers. How important could this win be come the end of the season?

Bournemouth vs Tottenham

Bournemouth had not won any of their last 11 games before meeting Tottenham on Tuesday. Then they met Tottenham on Tuesday and we all know what happens from here. The romanticism of their win will live long in the memory but the club’s regenerative powers will now be tested once again.

As for Tottenham, not a good optic to see Thomas Frank drinking out of an Arsenal coffee cup before the game. Not a good optic to see players having frank conversations with supporters after the game. Add Cristian Romero’s comments on social media a day later and something nasty is brewing in the white half of North London.

Brentford vs Sunderland

Brentford in Europe next season? If Igor Thiago can stay fit and healthy, there is every chance that the Bees may at least be playing some additonal games on Thursday nights. The Bees have crept into fifth place without anyone really noticing, Keith Andrews’ legion of previous doubters now turning into an army of supporters.

As for Sunderland, a fifth successive draw would not have been the worst result had they earned it. Enzo Le Fee’s panenka effort from 12 yards, likely to be the worst you will see all season (saving Danny Welbeck’s recent blushes in the process). The Black Cats are all but safe already, will be interesting to see how they fare once they AFCON stars return.

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa

Crystal Palace’s run of defeats may have ended after grinding out a 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa, but it is still six without a win for the Eagles. Do they cash in on Marc Guehi before end of the month? One way or another, it just feels another distraction that the club could avoid. All this unanswered future in South London, cannot be good for progress.

As for Aston Villa, it would have felt like two points dropped at the time, the damage lessened by the time Arsenal were held by Liverpool an evening later. Truth be told, if Unai Emery’s men are to win the title, it is exactly these kind of games that they need to be winning.

Everton vs Wolves

What a night for Michael Keane. Scores the opener, hits the post soon after and then gets sent off for violent conduct. His appeal for the red card being rejected, you can’t go around pulling players’ hair (unless you are Cristian Romero at Stamford Bridge a few seasons ago). Add Jack Grealish’s red card late on and the Toffees were lucky to stick with a point.

While they also thought that the days of Mane tormenting them where long since behind them. Unfortunately, Wolves’ Mateus had other ideas. The 17-year-old adding to his strike against West Ham with a goal that delivered another point to their tally. It is three unbeaten for Rob Edwards’ side, all feels a case of too little too late though.

Fulham vs Chelsea

Harry Wilson is having quite the season. One of the main catalysts of Fulham’s surge up the table, the Cottagers are now six unbeaten in the Premier League. Their midweek win over Chelsea will surely feel the sweetest of that half dozen, the Welsh international’s sweet finish late on proving to be the difference.

While Fulham also had numerical difference in terms of players for a large portion of the game. Marc Cucurella sent off for a professional foul, Liam Rosenior watching from the stands. Calum McFarlane watching from the technical area for the final time. A lot of work to be done at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City vs Brighton

Manchester City like Aston Villa will have felt they had fluffed it for good after dropping two more in midweek. An Erling Haaland penalty before the break looked like the motion of going up through the gears, instead he and his teammates find themselves stuck in neutral thereafter.

A good point for Brighton after Karou Mitoma’s neat finish on the hour, truth be told Fabian Hurzeler’s men had plenty of other chances either side of the break. Had they been more ruthless in attack, they would have made the long journey back to East Sussex with all three points in their pocket.

Burnley vs Manchester United

Burnley foiled Darren Fletcher’s debut as Manchester United interim manager, a mixture of gritty defending and taking their chances proving to be the necessary blueprint for the Clarets to pick up a point. With that said, it is still 12 without a win - the longest in the division at present, they are eight points from safety with a lesser goal difference.

As for Manchester United, not sure why Benjamin Sesko got such pre-match vitriol from Tim Sherwood. The former Blackburn and Tottenham midfielder can easily make himself look rather stupid. He must have felt an idiot at the final whistle when the Slovenian international scored a brace - and Sky wonder why everyone is using firesticks these days.

Newcastle vs Leeds

On a night where Kevin Keegan was announced to be undergoing treatment for Cancer, there was almost something quite poetic in the manner in which Newcastle got the better of Leeds. 3-2 down with eight minutes of the game to go, 3-3 with 10 minutes of injury time played. Still time for Harvey Barnes to register 6.3 on the Richter Scale when Toon fans celebrated their winner.

A cruel way for Leeds to lose, their lengthy unbeaten run now up in smoke. Daniel Farke made a raft of late chances when 3-2 in a bid to shut up shop. He obvoiusly left the key in the door. Truth be told, not many would have envisaged a comeback win in this manner, there was a 97.5% chance of Leeds earning at least a point once Brendon Aaronson scored the fifth goal of the night. Never say never and all that.

Arsenal vs Liverpool

It was always going to be a free hit for Arsenal because of the six-point gap they had before Wednesday night. However, there may be the slightest feeling of missed opportunity as they failed to punish both Aston Villa and Manchester City’s missteps from the night before. Then again, the weather was abysmal at the Emirates.

Liverpool rattled the bar in the first half, they were rattled after Gabriel Martinelli tried to usher Conor Bradley off the pitch in the dying seconds. The only real flashpoint of a game that felt anti-climactic after the events of the night before. The Reds now two points clear of Brentford, I never thought I would be writing that at this stage of the season.

The Filter Five

Time for the filter to return, it has been a while.

Third Round Time

The FA Cup Third Round returns this weekend, but the same level of hype is not there. tHE BBC offering more of a token effort now that TNT Sports are the main paymasters.

It seems as if nearly every game of the 32 scheduled is on TV at some stage across this extended weekend. I get that broadcasters want to extract every last ounce of value but it used to be a privilege to get your cup game screened, now its just another game. Shame.

Terry and Martin

Rest in peace both Terry Yorath and Martin Chivers who passed away this week. Two titans of the game in generations gone by. The former also having the honour to manage Wales in the 1990s.

Not only respect to both but also huge respect to Mark Chapman who filled in on Match of the Day during the show with no notice at all. It’s not about him this week, but his professionalism this week should not be overlooked.

Predicting A Riot

Leeds have submitted plans to extend their Elland Road capacity from 37,645 to 53,000. WIth it being a one-club city, then there is an element of logic to that expansion. Even if they were to drop to the Championship, you would imagine the ground still selling out.

Is This Overkill

One for the SEO editors here. What do you notice about this image. Yes the word Chelsea has been linked four times (it all points to the same BBC Sport page for….Chelsea). Either someone at the BBC Sport office is very keen or its another task that automation has claimed for itself.

Fantasy Stuff

No need to do your FPL team this weekend. Plenty of time to reflect and maybe consider playing your wildcard.

Admin

Right, that’s the end of issue 63 as word continues to spread around the football world.

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Issue 64 drops Tuesday, and I’ll be back with another round of insight, analysis and trends that matter. Any feedback or comments on this issue, contact me below:

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