Premier League

Roy Keane’s inane commentary on Alejandro Garnacho is the epitome of the problem
Features, Premier League

Roy Keane’s inane commentary on Alejandro Garnacho is the epitome of the problem

Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho is one of the gems of the squad and someone whom incoming manager Ruben Amorim should undoubtedly want to build his team around. In Garnacho, Amad Diallo, and Rasmus Hojlund, there is a great deal of hope in the future at Old Trafford, and despite the fact that Man United are in the bottom half of the Premier League table after more disastrous coaching from Erik ten Hag, the witch is gone. Moreover, Garnacho and friends have given Manchester United fans plenty to be happy about this season, with the 20-year-old already providing seven goals and four assists in all competitions in just his second season as a regular starter at the club. Yet Garnacho hasn't felt welcomed by all sections of the fanbase, and while captain Bruno Fernandes d...
There’s only one thing Tottenham need to do with Cristian Romero after latest injury news
Features, Premier League

There’s only one thing Tottenham need to do with Cristian Romero after latest injury news

Tottenham star center back Cristian Romero has been hampered by injuries recently. The Argentinian international suffered a right foot injury at the beginning of the month about an hour into a 4-1 blowout win over Aston Villa. Romero was able to return against Ipswich Town, so his second injury in the calendar year 2024 was even briefer than the first - a hamstring ailment that cost the 26-year-old three matches. Nobody would call Romero an injury prone player, as his most extensive absences have been due to the usual soft issue stuff in this era of overplaying, specifically hamstring injuries that take him out of action for a couple of games here and there. So while Tottenham clearly don't have to treat Romero with the kid gloves, they should approach his latest injury with cauti...
The top Omar Marmoush alternative for Liverpool may not be so logical
Features, Premier League

The top Omar Marmoush alternative for Liverpool may not be so logical

Liverpool have the best winger duo in world football right now between Mohamed Salah, the best player in the Premier League, and left winger Luis Diaz, who has returned his world-class form under new manager Arne Slot. And even when Diaz isn't starting, Liverpool still arguably have the best partnership on the wings in European football because 1) Salah is that good and 2) Cody Gakpo is also having an outstanding breakout 2024, further improved by the appointment of Slot as manager. Yet in the middle of the wingers, Liverpool have a question mark in their front three, as neither Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez have been able to force the issue of who is the true heir to Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino. Both players have their strengths, as Jota is highly intelligent off the ball and ...
Two Manchester United stars who need Ruben Amorim to save their careers
Features, Premier League

Two Manchester United stars who need Ruben Amorim to save their careers

Manchester United have a new sheriff in town, and it's a good thing Ruben Amorim relishes the challenge of rebuilding this team because he sure has his work cut out for him after another disastrous run of games under Erik ten Hag. The only surprise regarding Ten Hag's dismissal as Manchester United manager is that it didn't come several months sooner, but, now, INEOS have a promising new manager to lead their new era. Amorim will have to wait several months in order to get an influx of talent in his image, as the feeling is that the former Sporting CP manager will want to transition into a highly attacking side with a back three, which will necessitate some new personnel. However, he does have some quality pieces to work with at the start and can make use of them immediately in a ...
The 3 biggest tasks for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager
Features, Premier League

The 3 biggest tasks for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim takes over for Erik ten Hag with a great deal of optimism, as he established himself as one of the best young coaches in world football during his time at Sporting CP. But expectations are higher at Old Trafford than in Lisbon and the competition is stiffer in the Premier League, with Amorim already behind the eight ball, having inherited a listless Manchester United side that sits in the bottom half of the league table. However, United's struggles can be construed as a blessing for the Portuguese manager, because Amorim has lower expectations and a clean slate to turn the Red Devils into true killers with whatever system he desires. It won't be easy, but Amorim has all the tools to be the guy to finally turn Manchester United back into a...
Tottenham are making a play for their ideal backup CB
Features, Premier League

Tottenham are making a play for their ideal backup CB

Tottenham have one of the best center back groups on paper in all of world football. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are two athletic monsters who win possession, progress play, and even contribute to goals. Almost every team in Europe envies the duo of Romero and Van de Ven, because they are young, consistent, and energetic with only potentially injury risk as significant negatives to their name. Behind them, Tottenham have another young star in central defense, Radu Dragusin. The former Juventus prospect has stepped up big time in recent matches amidst injury, and he would be a starter for the majority of teams in Europe's top five leagues. Despite not even having enough minutes to go around for Dragusin, Tottenham are still evidently in the market for another significant c...
Manchester United could lose one of their most important players for Ruben Amorim’s debut
Premier League

Manchester United could lose one of their most important players for Ruben Amorim’s debut

Manchester United are the talk of the town in the Premier League after finally giving Erik ten Hag the boot - months late, mind you - and hiring one of the world's most promising managers in Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP. Amorim has already officially taken over for club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has left the club gracefully after serving as the caretaker manager in Ten Hag's stead. Now, it is Amorim's show, and his first game will come after the November international fixtures on Nov. 24 against Ipswich Town, the newly promoted underdogs fresh off a 2-1 upset win over Champions League hopefuls Tottenham. Manchester United themselves are in a fight to get back to the European places, as they are currently in 13th after 11 matches played, and they will expect nothing less than ...
The 5 best possible Julen Lopetegui replacements for West Ham
Features, Premier League

The 5 best possible Julen Lopetegui replacements for West Ham

It's not a stretch to say that West Ham have been the most disappointing team in the Premier League this season after Manchester United, who already took the big step of firing Erik ten Hag (though they really shouldn't have gone into the season with him as their manager). West Ham are a different case, because even though, like Manchester United, they made significant offseason additions after a poor 2023/24 campaign, they already changed their manager in the summer. The Hammers hoped Julen Lopetegui - formerly of Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Wolves - would be able to turn things around after an uneven second half of the season from David Moyes. Their decision to move on from Moyes, who was wildly successful earlier in his West Ham tenure, wasn't a universal one but largely seemed t...
Another star Manchester United never should have signed in the first place
Features, Premier League

Another star Manchester United never should have signed in the first place

When you look across the list of players in the Manchester United squad, you can't help but sort players into four distinct categories 1) Future building blocks, 2) Players who could potentially be useful, 3) Players who should have been sold years ago, and 4) Players who should have never been signed in the first place. Distinguishing these players is often not difficult at all. Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, for example, are very obviously building blocks for the future, and you'd be hard pressed to find many reasonable Manchester United fans who think Harry Maguire and Antony were remotely worth their price tags. It's an unfortunate reality, though, that Manchester United have far too many players in the third and fourth categories, but that's typical for a fallen giant tha...
The best possible Manchester United starting XI under Ruben Amorim
Features, Premier League

The best possible Manchester United starting XI under Ruben Amorim

On Nov. 24, Manchester United will officially kick off the Ruben Amorim era when they face Ipswich Town, and nothing less than a win will be expected for the Portuguese manager, even in his debut game with the club. Manchester United finally grew sick of the Erik ten Hag ruse, firing a manager they should have tossed aside before the season even started. But Man United may not have too many regrets if Amorim immediately proves to be the answer, since they may not have ended up with him if they fired Ten Hag earlier. Without a full transfer window of his own yet, Amorim will have to make do with a host of talented pieces who couldn't quite be put together as a cohesive unit under his predecessor, and this will be the kind of challenge a manager who truly aspires to be great, like Amor...