Has the Premier League hype machine blown up? Not quite but it seems to be running on fumes over the past week. Where are the stars these days? Systems, tactics, robots run into the ground. All this and an absolute maddening end to AFCON 2026. Issue 66. Go.

The Premier League’s marketing team will have been hard at work on Monday morning. A tepid bore draw between Wolves and Newcastle on Sunday in soddening conditions, the same lack of entries on the scoresheet at the City Ground the night before.

Nottingham Forest and Arsenal having to make do with a share of the points on Saturday evening, Everton squeezing past Aston Villa by the single goal just under 24 hours later - all three of these games chosen as UK-based TV picks.

One goal in 270 minutes of televised football. Apologies to anyone who sat through this trio of ‘blockbusters’, it does make you think that sometimes there are better ways to spend your time on Saturday’s and Sunday’s.

Admittedly, we are all guilty of falling for the hype. ‘Another exharilating weekend of Premier League football awaits’ they say, it is something that I say, I do so with absolutely no guarantee of it happening.

At the moment, it feels like there is more of a guarantee of it not happening and this is a statement I will try to back up with numbers:

Compared to the ‘goal rush’ of the 2023/24 season, the average goals per game count is down by more than half a goal. 3.28 goals per game just two seasons ago, now operating at 2.74 at this present moment in time.

Even if you compare it to the 2.93 figure of last season, this current offering of 20 Premier League teams are still averaging 0.19 goals per game less on average. A sign of times, a sign that the cycle of defensive football is coming back round again.

A cycle that is almost 20 years in its completion, days of packing the midfield in the almost sacrilegious shape of 4-5-1. None of this 4-4-2 anymore, we are going continential now ladies and gentlemen.

However this new style came at a price. The price being entertainment, the price being an average of 2.57 goals per game in the 2004/05 season - a figure that would drop as low as 2.48 for its 2005/06 counterpart.

Compare 20 years ago to this current campaign and the Premier League football we watch as of late is operating at 0.26 goals more per game. A miniscule difference it must be said.

Compare 20 years ago to the 2023/24 season and it is 0.80 goals per game worse off on average. For all intents and purposes, a whole goal per game with a slight amount of artistic license added for good measure.

The numbers tell one part of the story - admittedly a rather big part of it but the players tell another and although the league is littered with superstars across the division - something that was not necessarily the case 20 years ago, they are not top billing.

At the moment, the narrative is dominated by managers. Who will go where, who will go next, the discourse bouncing from one troubled candidate to the next with much more fludity than what is currently offered on the pitch.

Managers looking for the marginal gain that comes from finding another 1%, process driven automation when it comes to creativity. We are in the era of AI, the intelligence on the pitch seems artificial right now.

As always it will always swing back, so no need to panic just yet but as the edge that teams strive to find becomes blunter, it is defence that currently seems to be the best form of attack.

More of the same this weekend? Probably
Will I be tuning is as normal? Definitely

There are dramatic endings to major finals:

That list is not exhaustive but at the same time, the new entry at the top of that list can never, ever be beaten.

Sitting at the top of the list when it comes to dramatic finals - a position it will now have in perpetuity is AFCON 2025: Morocco vs Sengal - The Riot In Rabat (unoffical title)

A game that looked like it was petering out towards Extra time. That was before the blue touch paper was lit. There were constant accusations of favouritism towards Morocco throughout the tournament, fuel added to the fire during Sunday’s final.

Senegal furious to have a goal disallowed in injury time
Senegal seething to see Morocco awarded a penalty just moments later.

So irate, that their coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players off the field.

Unprecented, unsportmanlike, unbelievable.

Carnage in the crowd, refusal to return. El Hadji Diouf of all people having to play peacemaker.

Tempers finally cool for Brahim Diaz has to keep his cool from 12 yards.

A Panenka effort you say? Diaz looked a right plonker as his effort was easily saved.

Extra-time finally beckons. Pape Gueye scores for Senegal four minutes into the first half.

Hosts Morocco stunned, their homecoming party ruined.

Senegal lift the trophy, nobody can believe what has just unfolded.

Strange this is, the tournament was one of the better if not best editions in its history up until that point. Outsiders taking it rather seriously.

A month’s worth of hard work blown to pieces in the space of two hours.

AFCON never change.

A look at the main stories from last weekend’s Premier League action. Get yourself some Tuesday night takeaway.

Give it Carrick on a permo? I’m sure some people have already asked that question after United’s scintilating derby display on Saturday. If Ruben Amorim was watching, he would probably be thinking where that performance from the Red Devils had been hiding. The answer is that its been hiding in a different formation to his preferred offering.

United no match for City, the assistant referee arguably Pep Guardiola’s best player on Saturday lunchtime as the gap between Arsenal and themselves extends to seven points. The irony is that if this now comatose title race is to beat back into life this weekend, the blue half of Manchester will need a favour from the red. Oh well, at least they’ve got Marc Guehi over the line.

The first bit of league business for Liam Rosenior to officially deal with after watching the defeat at Fulham in the stands. If this the blueprint for the Blues going forward, then things don’t look bad at all. A comfortable win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. An important one within the context of the top five places in the table.

As for Brentford, they have to do make do with handing over local bragging rights to their more cosmopolitan neighbours. It never really clicked for them at the weekend but considering this defeat only leaves them seventh in the table is a marker of how well they are performing under manager Keith Andrews.

Leeds were recently heartbroken at St James Park, they managed to dish out the same anguish to Fulham on Saturday with an injury time winner of their own. A win that was certainly needed what with West Ham picking up a massively important win at Spurs - more on that in a minute. Daniel Farke’s men still eight points clear of the drop.

As for Fulham, their unbeaten run comes to an end in a week where had they managed to pick up all three points, they would have been thrusted into the European paying positions. A slight mis-step for the Cottagers, they are arguably in that awkward space where they do too well, Marco Silva may get snared by someone else - a difficult balancing act.

Is the presnce of Xabi Alonso hovering over Anfield right now, it feels like after Liverpool’s failure to get the better of Burnley on Saturday. If someone told you there are unbeaten in 11 league matches, you would say that statistic is made up. This must be the worst 11-game unbeaten run of stretch of all time, absolutely no joy on Merseyside right now.

As for Burnley, it is two league draws in succession. Points that have come at the expense of both Manchester United and Liverpool. Two points more than what most pundits or purveyors of the game would have anticipated. Does not really help Scott Parker’s men in the grand scheme of things, but it is not a result that should be diminished either.

The Sunderland AFCON band are back together, the Black Cats are back to winning ways in the Premier League. Regis Le Bris’ men coming from behind at the expense of Crystal Palace on Saturday, victory now returns them to the top half with only goal difference keeping them outside of the bottom half right now.

As for Crystal Palace, it seems as if Oliver Glasner may be the latest manager to try and talk himself out of a job. His comments regarding abandonment by the board were certainly eyeraising at the Stadium of the Light and if this tone is to continue in the next couple of weeks, it may be easier for the Austrian to depart Selhurst Park early.

Especially if the Tottenham job becomes available in the next couple of weeks. Thomas Frank hanging on for dear life after his Spurs side succumbed to another home defeat. The optics even worse when you consider they slipped up at home to what has to be considered as a rather poor West Ham side.

Rather poor or not, Nuno Espirito Santo would have been ecstatic at the sight of Callum Wilson’s late winner. A player who was meant to have his contract paid up just a week ago. His goal now securing his future at the club until the end of the season. Funny how football works isn’t it.

A win for West Ham, just a point for Nottingham Forest just two hours later. A good point in the context of it being at home to Arsenal. A bad point in the context of their margin of error between themselves and the relegation zone has now been cut to five points. But if we know Sean Dyche as we do, he will likely look at this as the glass half full.

Something that Arsenal supporters could eventually do after Sunday’s result at Villa Park went their way. They may have had grounds for a penalty in the second half. Mats Sels was called upon to make an excellent save from Bukayo Saka’s effort. You cannot win them all and if you cannot, at least get more points than your rivals. Job done.

Wolves unbeaten run extends to four league matches. Six points from the last 12 on offer. Triple the amount that they had earned in their previous 18 games. Is Rob Edwards trying to smoulder Wolves to safety? It’s probably their best chance of completing the greatest escape of all.

Far from a great game at Molineux. Far from a great performance by Newcastle. A share of the points certainly feels better for Wolves than it does the Magpies. A win would have put Eddie Howe’s men in the top six. Better form on the road in general, would have them in the mix for the top four. Fine but frustrating margins right now.

Not a lot better at Villa Park straight after. It felt like we were all just watching a personal duel between Morgan Rogers and Jordan Pickford - one that was won by the Everton stopper. Villa’s penchant for strikes outside the box foiled this time. Ironically, they could have done with somebody like Donyall Malen to open the game up.

As for Everton, four points from their last six, collected in a back to front fashion. You would have expected them to get the better of Wolves before maybe collecting a point at an in-form Aston Villa. Thierno Barry now starting to find his own form as the Toffee’s focal point in attack, he like his teammates just need a little more consistency.

Brighton leave it late to share the point, a point that deserved not only for chances created but also the rather controversial penalty call that went against them in the first half. If the Cherries’ spot kick was deemed to have too much contact attached to it, we may as well all pack up and watch the NBA instead.

Bournemouth’s bid to make it back-to-back league wins foiled by their local rivals. On the eye, Andoni Iraola’s men are not the 15th best team in the league but as we all know the table does not lie. Has the Spaniard run out of steam at the Vitality? Perhaps a bit too early to make that call but do not be surprised if his name is linked to a vacancy or two in the near future.

Scottish Premiership league leaders Hearts were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Falkirk on Saturday. The bigger blow is injury to talisman Lawrence Shankland. Will this derail their title bid?

A handful of new laws are being discussed this week, one of them is not Arsene Wenger’s offside plan. One that would give a huge advantage to the attacking team, perhaps too much. IFAB and FIFA prefer a ‘torso’ based margin. There will be controversy wherever the line is drawn.

Oscar Bobb could be set for a move to Fulham. A slightly different approach by the Cottagers, as they usually purchase Arsenal’s fringe players.

Liam Manning has been appointed as Huddersfield boss. The former Bristol City and Norwich boss takes over with the Terriers in the League One playoffs. Could a Championship charge be on the cards?

Right, that’s the end of issue 66 as word continues to spread around the football world.

This isn’t a newsletter that follows the crowd. It sets the lens through which you see the game and more than 160 subscribers are now viewing it through that lens.

If you’re serious about understanding football, staying ahead of the stories, and cutting through the noise, keep this in your inbox.

Issue 67 drops Friday 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:

[email protected]

Follow me on Twitter (x) - https://x.com/dantracey1983

Follow me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dantracey/