Premiership Clubs Highlighted

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has cemented his managerial skills with a re-build in part. The signing of the Hungarian Szoboszlai, impacted significantly to increase the team’s skillset, to open play more for the Reds with angled passes to supplement the vision. Klopp has employed Trent Arnold in the hybrid role between a wide defensive position to move forward into the midfield area when in team possession of the ball. It becomes an extra tactic and formation to be implemented depending on the opposition to a degree. A knitted path on the road to become champions?

Aston Villa

The art of good management, instil into the players to play to their highest levels and beyond, consistently understand the system and tactics laid down and implement consistently, that’s the key word consistency. The elite managers invariably provide the key for continued evolvement, manager Unai Emery is an elite manager, Emery’s messenger on the pitch is the bulldog spirited John McGinn snapping away at the opposition, the driver on the pitch to instil the Emery will into the team. Up front Ollie Watkins has been a revelation with sublime movement and finishing, Villa to stay the course.

Newcastle United

Newcastle United were never going to repeat last season’s heroics and to dual twin the Champions League and Premiership matches was always going to provide an Achillies heel. Injuries take their toll and negative results follow. A rumoured 73 million pound deficit on the accounts has seen the Magpies being fearful of the FFP points reduction. The surprise package on the pitch has been Anthony Gordon nicknamed Maureen. Gordon has been employed wide right and left alongside being a false number nine, it’s all worked a treat for Gordon who must be one of the most improved players in the Premiership. Pace, balance, vision and how to conduct the stride pattern in full movement has seen the player mature. Humble pie swallowed, gulp! The Magpies to remain outside of the top four. Eddie Howe to remain in the hot seat for next season, the jury’s out.

Tottenham Hotspurs

The arrival of Ange Postecoglou has breathed new air into the Prem, a brand of expansive football with no fear factor, Kamikaze football, don’t forget to wear the helmet, Postecoglou is streamlining his tactics to counter the harshness of the Prem. To watch Tottenham gives a feeling more than emotion could ever explain. Spurs can leave themselves open to the opposition’s counter attacks but have adequate pace in defensive areas with Micky Van de Van arguably the quickest defender in the Premiership. Villa and Spurs to go head-to-head for the Prem’s fourth slot.

Brentford

Injuries and players not operating at maximum levels to the Thomas Frank systems set will impact on the Bee’s results and will become more visible, the recent struggles have surprised many. The loss of Mbeumo has impacted with the return of Ivan Toney could not have been more timely, the Bees to finish mid-table.

The remaining 15 Premiership clubs will feature in the Football Column’s April edition.

The ‘Blue Dog Fight’

It will be a dog fight and it will be blue, so do Everton have a road to survival, can they achieve ‘mission impossible’, psychologically they have the tools, that’s been proven, the clubs DNA the ‘dogs of war’. It’s time for Manero to set the markers out on the road to survival, the set marker has to be Everton’s thirty six points from last season.

This season’s rated relegation clubs of note Burnley and Luton Town are weaker than Leeds United and Leicester city from last season’s relegation fodder, Southampton who finished bottom of the Prem can be added to that list. Other clubs in the mix with Crystal Palace and the sanctioned Nottingham Forest will have to watch their tails.

The all consumption sets the Manero marker out at thirty three points for survival under the current ten point sanction. If a second ten points deduction comes the Merseysider’s way, is it time to jump in the Mersey? Can a second knockout punch be drawn back upon? Forty three points for the Toffees to cover all scenarios if an FFP no point returner sets the server. Inserted at the time of writing. News of a Premier League points returner since this article reduces the target on the Manero Toffees watch, the radar has been set.

Rectification

Rectification on the article The Eye of the Barrell (article 05 Jan 2024) the 5-2-2 and 5-2-1 tactic on reduced to ten and nine players respectively.

Frost Bite

The financial fair play regulation impacted the Frosties onto the Premiership Clubs termed ‘Frost Bite’ with limited and next to no movement during January’s transfer window with clubs fearful of repeating the Everton FC breach to be deducted points. A less net spend of 750 million pounds as opposed to the 2023 January window ratios out at 88%, startling figures, a worrying trend, no, to curb clubs spending will trend set clubs to adopt good financial practice.

Major players in the transfer windows the agents have been severed in part to stop their grubby hands palming the cash in, further down the track players wages could lessen in line with the curbing of transfer fees. The FFP rules need to be streamlined to show total transparency, changes will be made. The summer transfer window will reveal further the state of club’s finances with the regulation rules casting their beady eyes.