1
A family lesson attracts Levy
Ange Postecoglou found enough blue sky in the Spurs team he inherited to make a pair of sailor pants out of the first 10 games of the season. The rest of the season since then feels like a return to the mean. Spurs would currently be eighth in the Premier League if their form outside of that supercharged start was implemented over the course of a season. Fifth place is probably above average for this diverse group of players and the coach's own first look at the league. And while defeat in the north London derby will hurt, as will the high probability now of Spurs finishing outside the Champions League places, it's also important to remember that the fast start was real too, a sign of how Postecoglou can make this team work with the ingredients suitable. The Spurs are in a good place financially. The lesson here is that Daniel Levy needs to back his man in the summer. Sound familiar? – and take advantage of the good times of Ange Year Zero before any judgment can begin to be made on the ceiling of this iteration of the Spurs. Barney Ronay
2
Haaland makes the libertine Forest pay
The City Ground has rarely been a home for Manchester City. This was his first victory at Nottingham Forest since February 2000, five months before Erling Haaland was born. Haaland started on the bench after a period of interruptions and injuries in which City's most fluid performances, such as Thursday's 4-0 rout of Brighton, came in his absence. That was not the case against Forest, who again proved to be a prickly opposition, denying Pep Guardiola the usual control of him and repeatedly posing problems for his weary defence. If Chris Wood had brought his shooting boots, the situation could have become critical. Instead, Haaland's introduction to the hour allowed him to showcase his skill set. The mere presence of the forward distracted a Forest defense that had taken Júlian Álvarez out of the game. That allowed City's midfield more space, with Haaland clinically finishing a sequence of 30 passes that felt like a counter-attack, dealing a fatal blow to weakened opponents. Forest paid the price for his profligacy and continued inability to defend the corners. Josko Gvardiol's first-half header was the 23rd goal conceded from set pieces this season, comfortably the worst record in the league. Niall McVeigh
3
Injuries affect Liverpool
On a cool east London afternoon, the heat settled firmly on Liverpool's title challenge, and as the Dispute on the wing between Jürgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah demonstrated, now is truly the time for recriminations and retaliation. There are a number of reasons why things have fallen apart for Klopp in his last season in charge and one of them, without a doubt, has been injuries. Every club has them, but Liverpool have been plagued by pain and strain among first-team players, with only five of them not missing at least one game this season due to fitness issues. Who knows why this has been the case, it could be bad luck, it could be how hard Klopp works with his players, it could have something to do with the medical staff, but whatever the case, the long list of absences is something that Arne Slot must analyze and direct when, as expected, he takes over in the summer. Sachin Nakrani
4
United were not completely wrong because of Ten Hag
After 34 games manchester united He has 54 points with Erik ten Hag. A decade ago last Monday (April 22), David Moyes had amassed 57 points after 34 games and was sacked. There is no call here to remove Ten Hag, the comparison is intended to illustrate how England's record 20-time champions have stood still since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013. If the prevailing opinion was that replacing a great of all times would be complicated. , 11 years of malaise is a damning indictment of the Glazers' ownership and shines a light on the club's internal disaster. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, surely, has to understand how this, added to the more than 60 different injuries and illnesses suffered this season, affects the ability of Ten Hag – or any coach – to send a consistent, winning team onto the football field. . Jaime Jackson
5
Dyche achieves great achievement
Sean Dyche as coach of the year? He has a strong case after leading Everton to safety with three games to spare despite everything that has come his way this season. Is, as he said after the victory over Brentford, the greatest achievement of his managerial career. The style of play, equaling an unwanted club record of 13 games without a win and a 6-0 capitulation to Chelsea, undermines his case. But no other Premier League manager had to turn a profit in last summer's transfer window due to the club's previous financial mismanagement, protecting his players from the impact of a ridiculous 10-point deduction (reduced to six on appeal) , and then two more. points deduction, keeping Everton's uncertain future in the background. Only Arsenal have kept more clean sheets this season than Everton, who would now be level on points with the widely admired Brighton if it weren't for deductions. “You wouldn't imagine half of what I've been handling,” Dyche said. “And why should you? Some of it is private, some of it is best kept alone. But if I wrote my fifth book since I've been here, it would be considered fiction.” andy hunter
6
De Zerbi regrets because the season is ending
Roberto De Zerbi can never be accused of not wearing his heart on his sleeve. The Brighton manager looked heartbroken when he spoke afterwards. His team's humiliating defeat against Bournemouth. He admitted there were “no excuses” for the way their season has faltered since they were knocked out of the Europa League by Roma in March. Having been widely criticized for admitting his future on the south coast is in doubt ahead of talks with owner Tony Bloom at the end of the season, the Italian seemed remorseful at the way things have developed since then. “You talked a lot about my press conference after the Roma game and it was part of me,” he said. “I will always be honest and I feel sorry for our fans, they don't deserve this. But I can give my word on the attitude of my players. “We want our fans to feel proud in every game.” Ed Aaron
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7
The wolves rage against the machines.
Sitting near Wolves vice-chairman Robert Plant, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters was able to enjoy this season's Molineux routines. After the Led Zeppelin medley that usually precedes kickoff, fans in the Jack Hayward booth launched into the latest terrace hit. “Fuck VAR” played throughout the 90 minutes, and as Stockley Park deliberated on Wolves’ two goals, the same fans roared the ironic “woaahhhhhh” that was once traditional for a goalkeeper upon the restart. “We want our football back” was also repeated. On Friday, Masters had granted The application of the VAR process needed to improve “the situation of the fans.” The next day he heard how a VAR referendum in Wolverhampton would overwhelmingly favor full abolition, adopting Swedish football's refusal. Gary O'Neil faces an FA hearing this week after reacting to Wolves being denied a draw against West Ham. His continued agitations against the failures of the video bureaucracy only increase his popularity among Wolves fans. John Brewin
8
Villa is getting closer to its objectives
Aston Villa's draw at home to Chelsea secured a place in the Europa League next season, a place Mauricio Pochettino can only dream of at the moment, but given how Villa's season has turned out, the explicit aim is to improve and return to the first European competition. Villa will finish above Manchester United for the first time in the first division was, although it is true that that may say more about United's problems. With three league games left to play, Villa are in pole position to claim fourth place, but Tottenham's fixtures mean the race to qualify for the Champions League could go down to the wire. Unai Emery was at pains to express his joy at getting at least some form of European football. “We achieved a great goal that we had: to win the Europa League and even now with Tottenham we are candidates for fourth place,” said Emery. ben fisherman
9
Glasner wants the Eagles to fly higher
With Fulham and crystal Palace Both with survival assured, a fourth draw in their last five games was not a big surprise. Jeffrey Schlupp's spectacular late equalizer at least provided some fireworks, helping Oliver Glasner's side avoid a defeat that would have been undeserved. Palace played with greater purpose than their hosts and are clearly not content with securing their 12th consecutive top-flight season. In that run, the Eagles finished each campaign between 10th and 15th, with total points in the 40s. Glasner, who brought the Europa League title to Eintracht Frankfurt, will have greater ambitions and, given his impressive start, reach the vulnerable part of the top half next year seems a realistic goal. Much may depend on the future of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, and whether Glasner has the funds to replace them if they are lured away in the summer. Niall McVeigh
10
'Free Salma' protest in Newcastle
Before the start of the match, in a 5-1 home victory that confirms Sheffield United's relegation, Newcastle fans unfurled a giant banner proclaiming their love for the team's two Brazilian midfielders, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton. Meanwhile, NUFC fans against sportswashing had urged supporters of both sides to hold up smaller signs reading “Free Salma” in the 27th minute. They were referring to Leeds University student Salam al-Shebab and mother of two, whose PhD in Dental Medicine was cut short by the 27-year prison sentence she received after returning to Saudi Arabia on vacation and being arrested for social media posts promoting women's rights. rights. Although the resulting quiet protest against her imprisonment was largely overshadowed by two more goals from Alexander Isak and another stellar performance from Guimarães, it is possible that such unwanted publicity was noticed in the Kingdom. Louise Taylor
