Man Utd problems still evident despite Fulham win and are Tottenham boring? – Premier League of Hits and Misses | Football news
A winning feeling – but United’s problems are still plain to see
Ruben Amorim stressed the importance of the result during the performance before Man Utd’s 1-0 win at Fulham and his hope will be the momentum to pick up three points on the road, can boost his side.
They certainly looked like they needed him for most of this match. United’s caution was typical to see them defend in numbers and look for a safe option in possession. Before the game, it was noticeable that Fulham were listed as favorites – and the visitors played to their underdog mark.
This result will not mask the problems that Amorim must solve. Sam noted the lack of thrust in the final third and questions over both Rasmus Hojlund and his replacement Joshua Zirkzee. Alejandro Garnacho, a player they could well sell before the deadline, looked the most likely to provide a spark to an otherwise uninspiring attack. Fulham, despite their poor attacking record, almost exposed that well-documented United weakness.
Still, with a Europa League trip to Bucharest on Thursday, followed by home games against Crystal Palace and then Leicester in the FA Cup, there may be an opportunity for United to build some positive momentum to improve their short-term prospects. The bigger picture remains a major work in progress.
Pete Smith
‘Boring, boring Tottenham Hotspur? “
Ange Postecoglou is known for his attack, attack, attack style. You got two, we’ll get three, my friend.
It was why he reached the top table of football management. But signs are starting to emerge that his football is very easy to stop. Even Leicester, who have conceded an average of 2.5 goals per game in their last nine games, managed to limit Spurs to shreds in terms of creating serendipity in their 2-1 win.
Yes, fatigue is a big issue for Postecoglou and his injury-hit squad, but to produce an expected goals worth of 1.1 against a side who are likely to be playing Championship football next season isn’t good enough when you consider the top performers in this squad they hit under the big Aussie.
As the clock ticked down on Spurs chasing an equaliser, even a boost seven minutes into added time failed to spark any momentum in their favour. That figure could have been 70 minutes and they still wouldn’t have found the equaliser. Their attacks were predictable and lacked quality. Over the last 13 games, Spurs are averaging just 1.3 expected goals per 90 and have struggled to break the likes of Wolves, Ipswich and now Leicester.
Aren’t you having fun? No, I wasn’t today.
Lewis Jones
West Ham show improvement under Potter
Four games into West Ham are starting to show signs of life under Graham Potter. After the performance of Crystal Palace last weekend, something was needed to prove that things were heading in the right direction.
And Hammers fans may have feared the worst in the opening 10 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa – but when their team found their footing, they didn’t let go.
They may have been helped by Villa’s disarray after Tyrone Mings was substituted, but taking advantage of those situations must not be carried over.
Max Kilman should be credited for keeping West Ham in the game when they were under pressure, and Lucas Paquet for leading the Hammers’ comeback.
Since Potter came in, West Ham’s numbers have steadily increased. Their performance, especially in the second half, is more like what Potter does and what the Hammers want to see.
Now it’s a case of consistency. Can I give up the slow start? Can a draw turn into a win? We hope these questions will be answered in the coming weeks.
Charlotte Marsh
Quirky Brentford penalty trick sums them up as a club
Brentford is a football club that is constantly looking for marginal gains, and in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, we saw another one.
With Bryan Mbeumo stepping up for his second penalty, both Yoane Wissa and Keane Lewis-Potter were seen celebrating even as the Brentford Talisman strolled to make contact with the ball.
“It’s like a distraction that might throw the keeper off,” Jamie Redknapp said. “I’ve never seen that in my life, it’s crazy!”
Asked if it was a tactic or just confidence, Thomas Frank added: “They are very good friends, they know each other very well and so probably a bit of both.”
So it’s no wonder Brentford have a penalty kick success rate of 95 per cent in the Premier League, the joint-best ratio in the competition’s history.
In addition to the reputation of scoring in the first minute, they have delighted the fans with this season, it is another in a long list of strange tactics up the bees’ sleeve.
Blitz himself
Debit
For two seasons, Romain Esse broke him in the Championship as one of Millwall’s most promising players, and by the time he left the club on January 18, he had played 66 times for the Lions. It doesn’t turn 20 until May.
So it was no surprise when Crystal Palace snapped him up for a fee that could reportedly rise to £14.5m.
Esse was immediately integrated into the Eagles squad, making his debut as a late substitute against Brentford, with Oliver Glasner’s side trailing 2-0. Its impact was almost immediate, with the first goal coming just 119 seconds after its introduction.
He became the first teenager to make his Premier League debut (19y 258d) since Rayan Ait-Nouri for Wolves in October 2020 (19y 146d).
It didn’t spark the returning Palace, but it immediately gave the Selhurst Park faithful an Esse and as a new player, you can’t ask for much more than that.
Dan Long
