More: Man Utd’s midfield issues exposed again in Tottenham defeat, Luis Diaz shines for Liverpool as they beat Bournemouth, Brighton hit four at Wolves after Moises Caicedo left for Chelsea and Fulham must sign a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic
22:52, UK, Saturday 19 August 2023
Postecoglou changed the mood at Tottenham
‘Welcome to N17’ reads the large mosaic held by Tottenham fans before kick-off, a message to Ange Postecoglou and the club’s new signings presented to the crowd before their first Premier League home game.
After what Spurs supporters saw during their 2-0 consecutive win against Man Utd, they don’t want the Australian to leave.
There was talk of attacking intent in pre-season and encouraging signs at the start of the season at Brentford last week. But on Saturday the ‘Angeball’ really arrived at Tottenham. And Spurs fans, who have long been fed an unwanted diet of caution-first football by the likes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho in recent seasons, can’t get enough of it.
This is exciting. Not bad by any means – Man Utd will look back at the series of chances they should have taken to change the game – but entertaining. For a group of fans who protested against the rise in prices outside the ground before the match, this was football worth paying to see.
The ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ that went up after Yves Bissouma’s backheel in the second half are rarely heard of late in this part of north London. But the cavalier, confident and entertaining football served up by Postecoglou and his players was the perfect tonic for the pain of Harry Kane’s departure.
Their star striker is gone but Spurs have a team they can follow again.
Peter Smith
Is there still time for Man Utd to overhaul their midfield?
It’s been a revealing six days into the new Premier League season for Manchester United. Luck was on their side against Wolves on Monday Night Football, but not much traveled with them on their first trip to Tottenham.
While there are issues all over the pitch, a glaring issue area is the midfield. Consisting of captain Bruno Fernandes, multi-trophy winner Casemiro and shiny new signing Mason Mount, they were out-fought, out-played and out-maneuvered by Tottenham in every way.
Casemiro seems clueless. Fernandes, despite leading the team, cut an often frustrated and angry figure, booked late in the first half for dissent. Among players who started, Mount had the second-fewest number of touchdowns and passes. He seemed to be shocked by the bench after being replaced.
Sky Sports pundits and former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Roy Keane have both criticized the midfielders for their inefficiency.
Neville said: “What is clear is that Manchester United’s midfield needs to be strengthened. The Ten Hags want a number six to play alongside Casemiro and at the moment the club cannot get the players to fund that. “
Keane added: “I was watching Mount, Fernandes out of possession, they looked like schoolboys.
With less than two weeks until the transfer window closes, Man Utd have time to improve their options. Whether the other pieces fall into place is another matter, but clearly something needs to change sooner rather than later.
Charlotte Marsh
The dynamic Diaz feels like a new signing
All transfer talk for Liverpool has centered around their centre. Midfielders, especially. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominic Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo are all part of the crucial rebuilding of the Jurgen Klopp engine room with mixed reviews in the first two weekends. However, Liverpool’s most important new spark is the return of a fully fit, fully functional and full throttle Luis Diaz.
The Colombian winger limped off in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in October and has only returned for four of the last six Premier League games. It may have proved to be the start of his pre-season as he started this campaign at the top of his game, running strong and scoring in Liverpool’s opening two games. His goal at Chelsea was taken clinically – something that is a common theme when he has chances in front of goal, as seen with his finish here.
One touch to flick the ball up and one touch to get it past Neto. That took him to 15 goals in 32 Premier League appearances (10 goals/five assists) – a number that will rise this season in an electric Klopp attack.
Lewis Jones
Foden thrived in De Bruyne’s absence
With Kevin De Bruyne out for up to four months with a hamstring injury, Phil Foden proved in the 1-0 win over Newcastle that he can thrive without the Belgian.
Foden’s impressive performance saw him cleverly set up City’s first-half winner as he followed up Julian Alvarez’s special strike.
The England international then created several chances for Erling Haaland with the pair combining well throughout.
Foden was unlucky to only register one assist, as he ended up scoring late on which was denied by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
The 23-year-old’s influence saw him create seven chances from open play for City in the win – his most in a single Premier League game, in what was his 131st appearance in competition.
City boss Pep Guardiola would have been delighted with Foden’s player-of-the-match performance as he drove the defending champions forward at every turn in a De Bruyne-esque display.
Declan Olley
Brighton’s post-Caicedo era started with a bang in the Midlands
Offloading key midfield duo Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister this summer, many are wondering how Brighton will cope this season.
Well, even though it’s a small sample size, Roberto De Zerbi’s exciting Seagulls side have started this season as they ended the last campaign, in a free-flowing mood and up front. foot as evidenced by their 4-1 win at Molineux.
Yes, the final scoreline may have slightly flattered the visitors, who were fortunate to go 1-0 up at the break thanks to Kaoru Mitoma’s inspiring individual effort, but there was no denying the brilliance of this Brighton team. under the management of De Zerbi, especially in the counter-attack where they sometimes destroyed their hosts.
After the game, the Italian said the south coast club would look to go into the transfer market to fill the void left by Caicedo’s departure to Chelsea, but with Brighton leading the Premier League behind an aggregate score of 8-2 , one wonders if they should.
Richard Morgan
Fulham’s search for Mitro’s replacement has begun
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s departure could not have been worse on the hour after Fulham failed to score again.
Raul Jimenez’s arrival three weeks ago preceded his exit, but early signs suggest he may not be able to replace him.
The Mexico international scored 44 goals in his first two seasons with Wolves before suffering a fractured skull in November 2020. He has scored just 15 since then and has big shoes to fill. to be filled.
“It’s completely unfair but we have to be ready for that because from this moment that Mitro left the club, every day compared to what Mitro did with Raul, Rodrigo. [Muniz], [Carlos] Vinicius or the next signing,” boss Marco Silva said after their 3-0 home defeat to Brentford.
“The season before we arrived, Mitro scored four goals in the Premier League. Half of that season he was on the bench for Fulham. The next season he scored 46 goals, last season in 24 games scored 14 goals.
Fulham head coach Marco Silva has confirmed that Aleksandar Mitrovic will leave the club after the Serbian was left out of the squad for their match against Brentford.
“We get the best from him. He helps us win matches, he is a top striker and someone I really like and love. He understands everything about my idea of the way I want to play but lost “He was really good when we came to this club. What we did to him, now we have to do to the players in our squad.
Silva said the club will look to sign not only one striker but several others in the remaining two weeks of the transfer window. Their success in doing so may determine their season.
David Richardson
Forest’s victory came from Aurier’s width
Nottingham Forest often rely on the counter-attacking speed of Brennan Johnson or the cute play between the lines from Morgan Gibbs-White. While there were glimpses of both on Friday night, they won the game thanks to two crosses by their strikers.
Both were given by Serge Aurier. The 30-year-old wing-back enjoyed freedom on the right flank and delivered a series of teasing balls into the box and could have turned it into a trio of assists if Awoniyi had converted a good chance for on his second night.
Since the summer of 2017, the only player to have scored more Premier League goals than Chris Wood is Harry Kane. With an aerial threat like that on the pitch, Sheffield United will need to cut in crosses better than they can at the City Ground.
Adam Bate
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