Thursday, 29 November 2018

Premier League 2018-19 - First Third Review

Arsenal
Good start to the season under Unai Emery. Currently lie fifth in the table, just a place and point adrift of the top four. Looks as though they’ll be in the mix for a Champions League place and they've been tough to beat, with just two defeats from thirteen matches.
Bournemouth
Impressive first thirteen matches from the Cherries which has seen six victories, two draws and just five defeats, three of which would have been expected against Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. Callum Wilson's six goals so far earned him an England call-up earlier in November, and a first international goal.
Brighton
No more than a decent start from Chris Hughton's side. At the time of writing The Seagulls lie twelfth in the table with fifteen points from a possible thirty-nine. Outstanding moment of the campaign so far has to be the 3-2 victory over Manchester United at the Amex in August.
Burnley
Lots more was expected of Burnley after last season's seventh-placed finish but they've managed just two wins from thirteen and sit in seventeenth position in the table, just one point above the bottom three. A usually solid defence has conceded twenty-seven goals so far, which is second-highest in the league.
Cardiff
Have struggled as many suspected they would. They have just eight points so far, the joint-fewest in the division. Both wins have come at home but Neil Warnock will know the away form needs to improve, with just a solitary point at Huddersfield in August to show for their travels.
Chelsea
Disciplined start to the season under new manager Maurizio Sarri. The Blues have lost just one league game, 3-1 last time out at top-four rivals Tottenham. Eden Hazard has been the talisman, with seven goals and four assists from twelve outings. Probably not consistent enough to challenge for the title.
Crystal Palace
Surprisingly slow start to the season from Roy Hodgson's team. Appears that The Eagles are far too reliant on Wilfried Zaha. Have just two victories so far, the last of which came in September. However, a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in their last match should give the players belief.
Everton
Marco Silva has got The Toffees playing again. Richarlison has been a hit at Goodison Park, scoring six goals so far, a total matched by Gylfi Sigurdsson. Got a solid 0-0 draw in their last away game at Chelsea which is promising ahead of their trip to Anfield on Sunday.
Fulham
Bottom of the pile after their first thirteen games. Slavisa Jokanovic became the first managerial casualty of the 2018-19 Premier League season, and was replaced by Claudio Ranieri.The Tinkerman won his first game in charge last weekend, 3-2 at home to Southampton. Aleksandar Mitrovic is crucial to any survival hopes.
Huddersfield
Have turned a corner after a relatively slow start to the season, claiming both of their league wins of the season in November at home to Fulham and away at Wolves respectively. A further four draws and seven defeats so far sees David Wagner's men sitting fifteenth in the table.
Leicester
I've been so impressed with the club and its staff since the tragic helicopter crash that killed club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others in October. They've managed to remain unbeaten since then, which is a huge credit to manager Claude Puel and his players. Currently sit in tenth position.
Liverpool
The main threat to Manchester City this season. Are the only unbeaten side other than City, and have conceded the joint-fewest goals alongside the league leaders (five). Have already faced Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal away and Manchester City at home. Still a long way to go, but a great start.
Manchester City
Have continued where they left off in their record-breaking title win last campaign. Top of the pile and unbeaten, but only two points ahead of Liverpool. Could have been five, but Riyad Mahrez missed an 85th-minute penalty in October's 0-0 draw at Anfield. Will take some stopping again this campaign.
Manchester United
Poor start to the season. Sit seventh and have already lost four games, meaning they're already fourteen points adrift of their Manchester rivals who lead the pack. Mourinho was rumoured to be facing the sack in October, but a 3-2 victory over Newcastle (from 2-0 down) may have saved him.
Newcastle
Rafa Benitez continues to impress as Magpies manager. Has guided Newcastle to thirteenth thus far with three wins, three draws and seven defeats. With the lack of investment made in the summer it's been a fairly decent start. Currently on a three-game winning streak after Monday's 2-1 triumph at Burnley.
Southampton
Among the favourites for relegation after just one win from their first thirteen games, which came back on 1st September at Crystal Palace. Unlucky not to beat Watford in early November after Charlie Austin's strike was wrongly disallowed at 1-0 (finished 1-1), prompting his outburst over the need for VAR.
Tottenham
Continue to do a good job as they wait for their new stadium to be ready. Had a great 3-1 victory over Chelsea at makeshift home Wembley last time out which could really kick-start their season. Now sit third, just three points off Liverpool and five adrift of Manchester City.
Watford
The Hornets have gone under the radar a little, but have actually enjoyed a really good start to the season. They are currently ninth and have won six of their first thirteen, drawing two and losing the other five. Javi Gracia has got his team playing some really entertaining stuff.
West Ham
Quite an average start for The Hammers. A new manager (Manuel Pellegrini) and a host of new faces haven't made much difference thus far. However, The London Stadium is starting to look more like home, showing in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea and 3-1 victory over Manchester United in September.
Wolves
Impressive start in what is their first season back in the Premier League since 2011-12. Have won four of their first thirteen games and are the only side other than Liverpool to take a point from Manchester City so far in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Molinuex back in August.

Wednesday, 30 May 2018

Premier League Review - End Of Season

Another entertaining Premier League season drew to a close in May. The obvious 'Winners' for the campaign were the likes of Manchester City and Mohamed Salah, who have featured heavily in my posts this season, so I've gone for some alternative picks below in this end of season review. It's also no surprise to see the three relegated sides in my 'Losers' section.


It's been a good season for...


The Promoted Sides

Newcastle enjoyed their return to the division, finishing 10th in a fine season under Rafa Benitez. The Magpies never looked in danger this season and will be hoping to improve and possibly challenge for a Europa League place next season under their established manager. Newcomers Brighton and Huddersfield both survived, the experienced Chris Hughton guiding the Seagulls to a 15th-placed finish and David Wagner managing 16th in his debut Premier League campaign. The priority for those two next season will be to survive the tricky second season and show the Premier League that they are there to stay.


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Burnley

Sean Dyche was a strong contender to win Manager of the Season and it's easy to see why. Burnley finished 7th and will play Europa League football which is a stunning achievement. Turf Moor is now one of the toughest places to visit in the league, with the Clarets so disciplined and organised both home and away. They finished nine places higher and fourteen points better off than in 2016/17, and should be able to attract some really good players this summer with European football to offer.


Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League : News Photo
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Roy Hodgson

Another Manager of the Season contender, for me. The former England manager took over at Palace after Frank de Boer was sacked after losing his first five games without scoring a single goal. Hodgson rejuvenated the likes of Wilfried Zaha and the Eagles ended up finishing 11th, eleven points clear of relegation. It's hard not to be pleased for Hodsgon, whose reputation took a knock after England's poor exit to Iceland at Euro 2016, his previous job in the game.


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But a bad one for...


The Relegated Sides

It was a surprise to the trio of West Brom, Stoke and Swansea relegated this season. West Brom finished bottom after a poor start under Tony Pulis and a dreadful run under Alan Pardew, before Darren Moore's appointment. He did well, but it was always too little too late to keep the Baggies up and their eight-year stay in the top flight is over. Stoke struggled under Mark Hughes and never really improved under Paul Lambert, finishing 19th and returning to the Championship after ten straight Premier League season. Finally, Swansea left the Premier League after seven seasons after Paul Clement and Carlos Carvahal both failed to pick up consistent results.


Swansea City v Stoke City - Premier League : News Photo
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Chelsea

The Blues started the season as Champions, but a 3-2 opening day defeat at home to Burnley set the tempo for the season. There was rumoured unrest between Antonio Conte and both the owners and players at Chelsea which resulted in a 5th-placed finish and a failure to qualify for the Champions League. It could be another tough season for the Stamford Bridge club with a long Europa League campaign likely, and it looks as though they will have to find themselves another manager this summer.


Newcastle United v Chelsea - Premier League : News Photo
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Experienced British Managers

The reputation of some of Britain's journeymen managers has been tarnished this season. Sam Allardyce took over at Everton but was dismissed at the end of the season and it was the same story for David Moyes at West Ham. Alan Pardew had a shocking spell at West Brom and Paul Lambert was appointed at Stoke but failed to keep them up and subsequently lost his job. It means that more clubs are going to be looking at foreign managers, with Everton reportedly keen on Marco Silva and West Ham already appointing former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini. Some of those mentioned above may have to look at jobs in the Championship next season if they want to remain in the game, like Tony Pulis has done at Middlesbrough.


Everton v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League : News Photo
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Tuesday, 8 May 2018

Premier League Review - April

As the end of the 2017/18 Premier League season draws to a close find out my 'winners' and 'losers' for April.

It's been a good month for...


Pep Guardiola

Manchester City might have lost the Manchester Derby in April but that defeat merely delayed City's inevitable Premier League triumph by another week. 3-1 away victories at both Everton and Tottenham were enough to secure Guardiola his first Premier League trophy and City rounded off the month with a 5-0 demolition of Swansea at the Etihad and an equally comfortable 4-1 success at West Ham. City have blown the rest of the league away this season and as good as the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and co. have been the credit largely has to go to Pep. He got his style, system and signings spot on and it will take something very special to prevent his side making it back-to-back titles in 2018/19.

Manchester City v Swansea City - Premier League : News Photo
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Chelsea

It has been a largely disappointing season for the Blues but a strong April showing means they go into the final month of the campaign with a slim chance of qualifying for the top four, despite it being out of their own hands. It was two wins and a draw out of four for Antonio Conte's team but it should have really been three out of four, Javier Hernandez scoring a late goal for West Ham in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge at the start of the month. Chelsea had previously lost 3-1 at home to Tottenham before making amends with an Olivier Giroud-inspired 3-2 win at Southampton and a 1-0 victory at Swansea. It will be interesting to see if Conte is still in charge at the start of 2018/19, but if they do manage to make the Champions League and win the FA Cup you wouldn't bet against it.

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Darren Moore

West Brom's caretaker manager had an unbelievable month! Filling in following Alan Pardew's departure, Moore is unbeaten and has even lifted the Baggies off the foot of the table at the time of writing. He oversaw a 1-1 home draw with Swansea, an incredible 1-0 win at Manchester United, a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Hawthorns and a 1-0 win at Newcastle in April. Unfortunately for him and his players, those results weren't enough to prevent relegation to the Championship, but he has already collected more points than Pardew managed and looks to have the players on side. If he gets the job permanently we could see West Brom bouncing straight back up to the Premier League next year.

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But a bad one for...


Alan Pardew

As mentioned above, Pardew's sacking has led to a huge upsurge in form at West Brom. The journeyed manager had an awful few months at the Hawthorns, taking just eight points from a possible 54 and effectively leading the Baggiest towards their relegation fate. Pardew was brought in to keep WBA up, and his record will surely put other struggling teams off appointing him in future. Maybe a Championship side will come calling for Pardew but it's been a disaster of a year for him.

West Bromwich Albion v Burnley - Premier League : News Photo
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Arsenal

It may be a little harsh to put the Gunners in here this month but they are still the only side in the entire football league without an away point in 2018 after 2-1 defeats at Newcastle and Manchester United. They did win their other three matches in April, at home to Stoke (3-0), Southampton (3-2) and West Ham (4-1), but it wasn't enough to see the club announce the fact that Arsene Wenger will be leaving Arsenal at the end of the season after a 22-year spell. Lots of Arsenal fans were happy with the news but I can now see there being a transitional period at the Emirates and wouldn't be surprised if they endured another tough season in 2018/19. As for Arsene Wenger; he will be greatly missed by the Premier League.

Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League : News Photo
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West Ham

The Hammers are still not mathematically safe after failing to win a single match in April. The month started promisingly in that 1-1 draw at Chelsea, but a 1-1 home draw at Stoke in their next match was then followed by 4-1 drubbings at Arsenal and at home to Manchester City. Admittedly they have played three of the big boys but it was far too easy for Arsenal and City and that is what worries me with West Ham. The new stadium shouldn't be an excuse anymore but it just doesn't intimidate the opposition like Upton Park used to. The Hammers should be fine but it has still been a frustrating campaign for them.

West Ham United v Manchester City - Premier League : News Photo
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Monday, 2 April 2018

Premier League Review - March

Here are my 'winners' and 'losers' for March after another eventful Premier League month.

It's been a good month for...


Manchester City

Pep Guardiola's table-topping Citizens won all three of their league games in March and could wrap up the title in their next game against bitter rivals Manchester United. If they were to win that game it would be the earliest the Premier League has ever been won which would be an amazing achievement by what has been an amazing City team this season. They were at their usual brilliant best as they enjoyed a 1-0 home victory over Chelsea and away wins over Stoke (0-2) and Everton (1-3) in March and it is only a matter of time until they become Premier League champions for the third time. 

Everton v Manchester City - Premier League : News Photo
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Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's Egyptian King put himself firmly in the Golden Boot driving seat in March alongside Harry Kane's absence through injury. He started the month with a goal in the Reds' 2-0 home win over Newcastle and was at his scintillating best in their 5-0 hammering of Watford at Anfield, scoring four and creating the other. Salah now tops the scoring chart with 29 goals from 31 games, five ahead of Tottenham's Kane. He is Liverpool's talisman and his goals have given Jurgen Klopp's side a very strong chance of finishing in the top four this campaign.

Liverpool v Watford - Premier League : News Photo
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Manchester United

Jose Mourinho's Red Devils picked up maximum points (9) in March to all but secure a Champions League place next season. At the time of writing United are twelve points clear of 5th-placed Chelsea with seven games remaining and are also favourites to finish runners-up this season thanks to their March performances, which included a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace in a game that they were trailing 2-0, a fine 2-1 win over rivals Liverpool in which the outstanding Marcus Rashford scored twice and a routine 2-0 triumph at home to Swansea. Although it will be devastating to see neighbours City lift the title it is clear to see that Guardiola's men have been in a league of their own this season and United have been by far and away the 'best of the rest.'

Crystal Palace v Manchester United - Premier League : News Photo
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But a bad one for...


Mauricio Pellegrino

Southampton sacked the Argentine on March 12th with the club just a place and a point above the relegation zone at the time of his sacking. Pellegrino won just five of his thirty league games as manager and was dismissed after a run of just one win in seventeen matches. It makes Southampton's decision to sack now-Leicester City manager Claude Puel last season crazy, after an 8th-placed finish and an appearance in the EFL Cup final. They have now replaced Pellegrino with Mark Hughes but sit in the bottom three at the time of writing with a very real chance of playing Championship football next season for the first time since 2012.

Newcastle United v Southampton - Premier League : News Photo
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Stoke

The Potters failed to win a league game in March and are slipping ever close to the Championship. A 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City can be forgiven, but Paul Lambert's side are struggling to beat the kind of teams they should be beating if they want to stay in the top flight, and that was clear last month as they drew 0-0 at fellow strugglers Southampton and lost 2-1 at home to Everton. Everton are a decent side but that was just their second away success of the season and really sums up Stoke's miserable campaign - usually so good at home, they have struggled to pick up vital points at the Bet365 Stadium this season and could have no complaints if they were relegated this year.

Stoke City v Everton - Premier League : News Photo
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 Huddersfield

Another side hoping to avoid the drop, Huddersfield failed to record a league victory in March and are in real trouble of an immediate return to the second-tier. A 2-0 defeat at Wembley against Tottenham was no real surprise, but failure to beat any of Swansea (0-0), Crystal Palace (0-2) and Newcastle (0-1) will be massively frustrating for David Wagner. They are three points above the relegation zone at present but have played a game more than some of their survival rivals and in my opinion are in big trouble. 

2018 EPL Premier League Football Newcastle United v Huddersfield Town Mar 31st : News Photo
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Friday, 9 March 2018

Premier League Review - February

Read on to find out my Premier League 'winners' and 'losers' for February... 

It's been a good month for...

 

Brighton

The Seagulls picked up seven points from a possible nine in February, scoring eight goals in the process. They started the month with a 3-1 win over West Ham at the Amex Stadium and ended it by beating Swansea 4-1 at home, with a 1-1 draw at Stoke sandwiched in between. Jose Izquierdo and Glenn Murray were both in fine goal scoring form and by ending the month unbeaten Chris Hughton picked up a well deserved Manager of the Month award. If they can keep beating the teams around them they are almost guaranteed to be playing top flight football again next season.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Swansea City - Premier League : News Photo
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Roberto Firmino

In my opinion Firmino is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League. He is crucial to Liverpool's pressing style and is almost certainly the first name on Jurgen Klopp's team sheet despite the incredible form of Mohamed Salah. The Brazilian had another great month in the league, scoring one and assisting the other in a 2-0 win at Southampton and also scoring in a 4-1 home victory over West Ham. His goal against the Hammers was his 13th in the Premier League this season, already bettering last season's total tally of 11. His manager will hope that he can continue to link up with both Salah and Sadio Mane to ensure another top four finish for the Reds.

Liverpool v West Ham United - Premier League : News Photo
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Huddersfield

The Terriers picked up six important points over February as their battle for survival continues. The month started with an unsurprising 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, but David Wagner's side bounced back with a 4-1 home victory over Bournemouth and a 2-1 win at lowly West Brom. Steve Mounie's return to fitness has been a blessing for Wagner; the Beninese striker scored once and assisted twice against Bournemouth and also bagged at the Hawthorns. He will be vital for Huddersfield during the last few months of the campaign.

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But a bad one for...


Arsene Wenger

The pressure on Arsene Wenger seems to be mounting every single day. They began the month with a comfortable home victory over out-of-sorts Everton but then lost the North London Derby at Wembley and rolled over for Manchester City in a 3-0 home defeat at the Emirates. Many think Wenger has come to the end at Arsenal and the performances just haven't been good enough. The defeat at home to City came days after the Carabao Cup final, which they lost by the same scoreline to the same opponents. With the criticism the Frenchman is receiving on a daily basis I would be surprised to see him in charge of the Gunners at the start of the 2018/19 season.

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West Brom

The Baggies lost all three Premier League games in February and were also in the news for the wrong reasons as four senior players were alleged to have stolen a taxi in Barcelona. Alan Pardew will be feeling very let down by experienced professionals Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill and they haven't been able to make up for it on the pitch. Pardew's men lost 3-2 at home to Southampton, 3-0 at Chelsea and 2-1 at home to Huddersfield in February and look destined to finish rock bottom this season.

West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town - Premier League : News Photo
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Everton

Everton are in no danger of going down this season and it's for that reason that I've been so disappointed in them under Sam Allardyce. The ex-England boss certainly steadied the ship upon his arrival but the football has been of a surprisingly low standard and their away form has been awful. The Toffees lost 5-1 at Arsenal at the start of February and lost 1-0 at Watford at the end of the month. That defeat at Vicarage Road was Everton's fourth straight away defeat in the league and meant that they had won just one of their last 22 away games. Everton are a lot better than that and in my honest opinion I think that they should be looking to bring in a manager with a more positive style of play in the summer.

Watford v Everton - Premier League : News Photo
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Thursday, 8 February 2018

Premier League Review - January

After another eventful month in the Premier League, here are my 'Winners' and 'Losers' for January.

 

It's been a good month for...


Carlos Carvalhal

Carlos Carvalhal has had a great start to life as Swansea City manager. At the time of writing he has guided the Welsh club out of the relegation zone after a great run of form; they had been rock bottom of the Premier League at the time of his appointment. Carvalhal has already won the same number of league games as predecessor Paul Clement managed in the first half of the campaign (3) and picked up two of those in January, against Liverpool and Arsenal no less. Both of those victories came at the Liberty Stadium, 1-0 against the Reds and 3-1 against the Gunners, and if the Swans can keep up that sort of form at home and pick up the occasional away result they should be playing top-flight football again next season.

Swansea City v Liverpool - Premier League : News Photo
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Jordon Ibe

The Bournemouth winger may finally be proving why Eddie Howe spent £15 million on him in 2016. Ibe had a cracking January, finally registering his first Cherries goal with the winner in a 2-1 home victory over Arsenal. Ibe also supplied an assist in a 2-2 draw at Brighton earlier in the month, and more recently in an astonishing 3-0 victory at Chelsea. Ibe will be hoping to continue in this vein for the remainder of the season in order to finally fulfill his undoubted potential.

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 Manchester United

Jose Mourinho's men have been quietly going about their business, and also did fantastically well to bring in Alexis Sanchez in January under the noses of rivals City. United took nine points from a possible twelve and were disappointing only in a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham. That aside, they've been playing some decent football and picked up good wins away at both Everton and Burnley, which are traditionally tough places to go and play. In any other season United would be right up there, but it looks as though they are still on course for a second-placed finish. 


Manchester United Unveil New Signing Alexis Sanchez : News Photo
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But a bad one for...


Mark Hughes

The Welshman was dismissed as manager of Stoke City on the 6th January, following a run of five defeats in seven Premier League games. It marked the end of four-and-a-half years in charge of the Potters, with Paul Lambert the man chosen to take over at the helm. Hughes left with Stoke sitting inside the drop zone, which is unfamiliar territory for them. An ageing squad and a lack of goals were problems for Hughes, but the clincher was that they had the worst defensive record at the time of his sacking. Hughes had a decent spell at the Bet365 Stadium, however, and I'm sure it won't be long until he's back in management.

Stoke City v Newcastle United - Premier League : News Photo
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Huddersfield

The Terriers lost all four league games in January, by a combined score of 12-1. A 3-0 home loss to Liverpool is understandable, but if you want to stay in the Premier League you need to be winning matches against the likes of Leicester, West Ham and Stoke and David Wagner's men just didn't turn up. They don't look as solid as they have done in previous months and have also found goals hard to come by. They bought in Alex Pritchard from Norwich during the transfer window, and Wagner will be hoping that he can provide some much needed creativity.

Huddersfield Town v Liverpool - Premier League : News Photo
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 Marco Silva

The Portuguese manager lost his job at Vicarage Road, having won just one of eleven Premier League matches. Watford's chiefs blamed Everton for the demise of the gaffer, with the Toffees declaring public interest in Silva following Ronald Koeman's dismissal in October. Silva appeared to have made his interest in the job known, having refused to declare his long-term future to the Hornets, and they have struggled ever since. In the long run I think that Watford will suffer more than Silva, and maybe he will get his chance at Goodison Park in the summer.

Manchester City v Watford - Premier League : News Photo
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Saturday, 6 January 2018

Premier League Review - December

The hectic Premier League festive period has come to an end! Read on to find out my 'Winners' and Losers' for December.
  

It's been a good month for...


Sam Allardyce

Big Sam is back in the Premier League and is doing what he does best. Having taken over an Everton team struggling for form and confidence, the former England manager has steered them into the top half of the table. As he is so good at doing, Allardyce instantly tightened up the defence, seeing the Toffees collect 12 points from a possible 21, with four clean sheets from their seven games. He has also made Everton challenge the 'Big Six' again, picking up draws in the Merseyside Derby at Anfield and at home to Chelsea. If he can get a couple of players in during the January transfer window, Everton could be in for a positive 2018.

Everton v Swansea City - Premier League : News Photo
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Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson has totally transformed Crystal Palace, who now sit 14th in the table and two points above the relegation zone, which is remarkable when you consider how badly the Eagles were performing when the experienced manager took over. Hodgson has got Palace attacking at speed again, and Andros Townsend and particularly Wilfried Zaha look dangerous every time they bring the ball forward. Indeed, Palace ended Manchester City's amazing eighteen-game winning run in a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park on New Year's Eve, and could have actually won the game had Ederson not saved Luca Milivojevic's late penalty. If Palace continue in their current vein of form, they will definitely be playing Premier League football again next season.

2017 EPL Premier League Football Crystal Palace v Arsenal Dec 28th : News Photo
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Heung-Min Son

Tottenham's South Korean attacker had an outstanding month, registering four goals and four assists in his six Premier League appearances in December. His first goal of the month was the equaliser in Tottenham's 1-1 draw at Watford which earned Spurs a valuable point. He then scored in a 5-1 win over Stoke and a 2-0 win over Brighton, both at Wembley, and ended the month with another strike at home to Southampton on boxing day in a 5-2 victory. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be thrilled with Son, who is really helping out Harry Kane in the goalscoring department.

Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton - Premier League : News Photo
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But a bad one for...


Paul Clement

After less than a year in charge, Clement was dismissed by Swansea City on the 20th of December after winning just three league games and with the club rock bottom of the Premier League. I feel a bit sorry for Clement, as his appointment last season kept Swansea in the division, but as we all know football is a results business and there's no doubt Swansea were in dreadful form. Clement's last outing as manager was in a 3-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park. Swansea actually led 1-0 in that game, but failure to hold onto a lead is what has cost the Swans time and time again this season. Clement was swiftly replaced by former Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvahal, and it will be interesting now to see what he can do with the same group of players.

Everton v Swansea City - Premier League : News Photo
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West Bromwich Albion

West Brom's appointment of Alan Pardew hasn't had the immediate impact that Baggies' fans will have been hoping for. They are yet to win under Pardew, and currently sit 19th in the table, four points adrift of safety. WBA were involved in three 0-0 draws in December and also drew 1-1 against Arsenal, as well as narrowly losing 2-1 at home to Manchester United. The evidence shows that they are a solid, battling side, but they are light at the top of the pitch and struggle for goals. Pardew will be desperate for funds in January to bring in somebody who knows where the back of the net is, and they have also been linked with a loan move for Liverpool's Danny Ings.

Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League : News Photo
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Watford

The Hornets had a poor month, collecting just 4 points from a possible 21. What makes that stat even more worrying is that on paper, Marco Silva's side had some really nice fixtures. The month started well enough, with a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham, but then went swiftly downhill with defeats to Burnley, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield and Brighton. They ended that run of four successive defeats with a 2-1 victory over Leicester on Boxing Day, but lost again at the end of the month, 2-1 to struggling Swansea. When you look at those fixtures, they actually performed best against the highest-ranked teams, so Silva may need to knock his players down a peg or too and get them back into the habit of winning those games against the sides they 'should' be beating!

Watford v Swansea City - Premier League : News Photo
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