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Fernandes agitated seems cursed
Has the curse of manchester united Is the contract signed for the second consecutive year? After Marcus Rashford agreed to a bumper deal a year ago, he quickly endured a miserable 2023-24 season. This summer, it was Bruno Fernandes' turn to sign a lucrative extension, something few could complain about at the time. However, the Portuguese, who are usually a model of consistency for United through all their ups and downs, started the campaign scruffy and slow. He is yet to score this season, only providing one assist in six Premier League games, and is becoming increasingly frustrated. That frustration manifested itself in his inexperienced kick to James Maddison, which left United (who were suffering quite a bit when it was 11 v 11) down and out with 10 men. Fernandes deserves credit for coming forward after the game, but that interview was his most significant contribution of the afternoon. sunday stand
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Arteta did not come to bury Guardiola but to praise him
Mikel Arteta left himself open to interpretation last Tuesday. Several Manchester City players had criticized the Arsenal manager for his negative tactics in the draw between the two clubs two days earlier. “I was there for four years (on the City coaching staff),” Arteta said. “I have all the information. So I know. Believe me.” There were many interpretations. Arteta seemed to suggest that City tend to react badly after games they don't win. Perhaps it was a choreographed ploy to create a climate that could help them in the future? Or was he saying that he knows exactly how the City uses the dark arts? Fools us. Arteta clarified on Saturdayhis true intention was to praise Pep Guardiola and City to the core. Having been there himself, Arteta knows very well their work ethic and will to win. “This is exactly what I've learned and what I want to say, so it can't be clearer than that.” Arteta's desire to make peace is commendable; This means more than just scratching your head. David Hytner
Pre-season training in Newcastle this summer was somewhat less intense than in previous years. With the club's new performance director and injury prevention specialist, James Bunce, working alongside Eddie Howe every day, sessions were modified to lighten the physical load on the players. Howe didn't disagree that he left his team a little underprepared at the start of the campaign, but the intention is to minimize soft tissue injuries while ensuring a strong finish to the season. The problem was that Howe's team seemed to have lost their ability to press opponents high and hard, and performances (though not always results) suffered accordingly. However, on Saturday, in their intriguing 1-1 home draw with city of manchesterthe press in full ferocity returned as St James' Park went into overdrive with the kind of heavy metal football that earned Newcastle a fourth-place finish in 2022-23. Given that Howe's players have no European commitments this season, the draw with City will surely have set off alarm bells among their rivals for Champions League qualification. When Pep Guardiola speaks of his admiration for Howe, it is clear that such sentiments are anything but condescending. Louise Taylor
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Ipswich's new signings are beginning to gel
Writing his program notes for his team's match against Aston Villa, Kieran McKenna saluted the many Ipswich players who are still acclimatising to new surroundings. With the previous fortnight providing the first opportunity for the whole team to train together after some hectic late transfer business, McKenna noted that while he and his staff had seen “the relationships and understanding between the players”, shaping his newcomers into a coherent team. “It is a process that will take time.” Judging by his performance in the 2-2 draw against Villa, McKenna may be pleasantly surprised by how quickly his new arrivals feel at home. Three August signings (Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke and Chiedozie Ogbene) entered the starting line-up and there was no shortage of highlights, with Clarke in particular causing Villa serious problems. Liam Delap, another summer recruit, scored his second and third goals for the club, helping to give Ipswich the air of a team recovering quickly. Will Magee
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Chelsea forces Hürzeler to rethink the high line
Fabian Hürzeler has hinted he may be forced to rethink Brighton's defensive tactics after his team was left shattered during a devastating 20-minute spell at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer scored a record four goals in the first half and could even have scored more as Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster were brutally exposed by Chelsea's pace. While Hürzeler refused to admit that the decision to stick with a high line was wrong, the Brighton coach acknowledged that his players must feel comfortable with the system. “I think before saying anything in public I should talk to the players first to see if they have confidence,” he said. “We try to improve the players and help them. If you want to play with a high line, then you need this connection, but it was missing. It's easy to say after the game that you could have defended yourself with a low block, but with a low block we could have lost this game.” Ed Aaron
6
Forbes offers hope to wolves
One point from six games reflects harshly on Wolves. They have played five of last season's best seven, which is a very difficult start. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has become a regular for Gary O'Neil this season, but appears unable to replace Pedro Neto, who left for Chelsea during the summer. Bellegarde found it difficult to test Andy Robertson and was taken off in the 52nd minute against Liverpool. Carlos Forbs replaced him on the right and immediately looked more dangerous, with his extra pace and skill helping to create the tie. Like Neto, Forbs is a native of Portugal and already has Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City and Ajax on his resume, an indication of his natural talent. With a streak of more winnable games for the Wolves, Forbs could be the man to help them score points. “I thought he threatened us,” O'Neil said. “It obviously helped give us a little bit of momentum.” won't win
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Spurs should have scored more
When your biggest complaint after winning 3-0 at Old Trafford is that you should have scored two or three more, you can be quite satisfied with your work. Ange Postecoglou declared himself “frustrated” by some of his team's shots, but, especially in the first half, Tottenham were everything their coach wants: pressing like a dream and outplaying Erik ten Hag's team to the point of humiliation . The only problem was the score, which was still only 1-0. The Spurs also had moments of wastefulness and complacency in the second half. Timo Werner failed to convert a number of one-on-one chances and Dominic Solanke will feel he should have scored more than one. It showed that Postecoglou's team is by no means perfect, but their fierce pressing, quick passing and strong running mean they have something Manchester United lack: an identity. D.B.
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Branthwaite strengthens Everton rearguard
Managing “a stadium full of nerves”, as well as Crystal Palace, increased Sean Dyche's satisfaction as he savored his first first division victory of the season and his first comeback victory as Everton manager. Everton's nerves were legitimate after seeing their team unable to hold the lead in their previous four games, but Dyche's players were relatively comfortable after Dwight McNeil's excellent double. Jarrad Branthwaite's return to the heart of a defense that kept 13 clean sheets last season greatly contributed to the improvement (as did the performance of the much-maligned Ashley Young). Branthwaite's first appearance of the campaign following groin surgery was enough to underline his value, along with a rating that Manchester United did not come close to matching in the summer. For Dyche, increased scrutiny on the 22-year-old this season should not hamper his development. “There will be no scrutiny from us,” the Everton manager said. “It will be the same messages: 'Go and enjoy what is, go and mature as a player enjoying the challenge.' “He is a very good player, a talented player and I think he will mature more.” andy hunter
One benefit of the slowdown in the Premier League transfer business is that almost every team has a star. For BrentfordBryan Mbeumo fulfills that role. He also has a heavy burden to bear: with Yoane Wissa out for two months, Mbuemo's team must rely heavily on him. His volley, in the 37th second, his team's now trademark early goal, was as dangerous as Brentford looked against a muscular West Ham team who added even more volume in Julen Lopetegui's half-time changes. “For me, he's a top-class player,” said Thomas Frank, Brentford's head coach. “I am convinced that one day he will play for a bigger club; “I would definitely buy it if I was in a bigger club.” That neither Mbeumo nor Frank have left the Community Stadium is a situation that may not last long. But as Frank explained: “A lot of the players here are very happy because we have a great environment with good people, staff and players.” John Brewin
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Jiménez and Traoré celebrate as if it were 2019
So who got Raúl Jiménez and Adama Traoré back to their form from five years ago on their Premier League predictions card? Many will have forgotten that the pair were the league's deadliest combination in the pre-Covid years, when they led Wolves to consecutive seventh-place finishes in 2018-19 and 2019-20. While Jiménez's decision to take Fulham's penalty at Nottingham Forest on Andreas Pereira provoked Marco Silva's anger: “It is clearly Raúl's fault. It will not happen again,” said Silva, who revealed that the Mexican had apologized: the coach will be silently happy for bringing together such a powerful attacking pair. “We have a very good relationship off the field,” Jiménez said of Traoré last week. After both players suffered injuries and loss of form for so long, it's encouraging to see that relationship paying dividends on the field again. D.B.
Match report: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham
