Tag: soccer

Turbulent times ahead for Maresca’s Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has made an impressive start at Chelsea since his appointment in the summer of 2024. He effortlessly navigated the main hurdle of squad size at the London club, making it clear which players were part of his plans and those that needed to move on or train with the Under 23s.

He then implemented a balanced, pragmatic approach that turned Chelsea into one of the league’s toughest sides to break down, conceding just 1.1 goals per game last season, the fourth-best defensive record in the division. It was a stark contrast to Mauricio Pochettino’s final campaign, when Chelsea shipped 19 more goals. Yet with a final points tally not far off his predecessor, Maresca’s real edge came from clinching Champions League qualification on the final day and lifting the European Conference League and fledgling Club World Cup in the summer.

However, despite this good start, questions over his future have already surfaced in the media after a sluggish start to this season. The criticism feels harsh, particularly given the absence of Chelsea’s main man, Cole Palmer. The midfielder delivered 25 league goal contributions last year and started 36 of 38 games but has already missed three league fixtures this campaign – a loss that has left Chelsea looking far less incisive.

Questions must also be asked of the clubs transfer policy. Allowing Nicolas Jackson to depart to Bayern after notching 10 league goals last season and replacing him with Joao Pedro who has never reached double figures for Brighton and Liam Delap who was relegated with Ipswich, seems questionable and is one of a number of changes that so far haven’t worked. 

This weekend will be another litmus test of Maresca’s progress, when Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Slot’s men arrive on the back of consecutive defeats. Whether that is a good or bad omen remains to be seen. In the days when Chelsea were genuine contenders they would have looked at this game as one they should win. By 7:30pm tonight we’ll have a far clearer idea of where this current Chelsea team stand.

Ruben Amorim’s failed tenure at Manchester United will haunt his managerial career

When Ruben Amorim arrived at Manchester United, he was seen as the one of the exciting new coaches in Europe having been showered with plaudits for his work in Portugal. Sporting had won their first 11 Primeira Liga matches and were unbeaten in the Champions League group stage having just completed a 4-1 demolition job of Manchester City. Amorim’s team possessed everything Ten Hag’s United seemed to lack: free-flowing football, organisation, and a clear identity. Yet his time at Old Trafford has since proven a disastrous experiment.

Amorim urged fans to be patient while the squad adapted to his system, as they endured a turbulent first season with him in charge. With the summer arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, it seemed that patience was about to be rewarded. Supporters were promised a fast, powerful frontline blending young talent with proven Premier League experience. Add that to Bruno Fernandes, one of the league’s top creators, and Kobbie Mainoo, one of England’s brightest prospects, and United looked well set. Then again you’d expect a squad to have talent like this when you spend the best part of £800M in five seasons.

Fast forward to this season, and that pre-season expectation is fading fast.  Last weekend’s defeat to Brentford sees United languishing in 14th. With just seven points from six games, Amorim appears to be carrying on where he left off. Since his appointment last November, he has overseen nearly a full Premier League season: 33 games, only 34 points, and a win rate of just 27%. That is relegation form!

Even more damning for Amorim, his system demands players take on roles they simply cannot execute. It’s round pegs in square holes: Bruno Fernandes stuck in central midfield, Matthijs de Ligt forced into a wide centre-back role with little ability to carry the ball forward, and Mason Mount thrown on against Brentford in the ten —only to end up at left wing-back five minutes later with United chasing goals.

It is time for Manchester United to cut their losses and move on before this season becomes null and void. There is enough quality in their squad to believe they can wrestle themselves back into contention for a European spot, but the clock is ticking.

Arsenal look to maintain flawless start to their UCL Campaign as they host Olympiacos

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Arsenal play hosts to Greek champions Olympiacos tonight after Gabriels dramatic 96th minute header secured all 3pts for the Gunners on Sunday. Mikel Arteta and his side had faced a heavy media backlash last week after tepid displays against title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, taking just one point from a possible six.

Arteta hit back hard in his defence of his team; describing David Raya as ‘a very attacking goalkeeper, his defenders as the most attacking in the league, and siting ‘midfielder Merino playing as a number 9, as something he’s never seen before’. 

Sunday’s win over Newcastle has eased some of the pressure, but the question remains: does Arteta have the courage required to deliver one of the big prizes, the Premier League or Champions League?

Right now, the Champions League looks a long shot. With the Spanish giants purring again and Bayern Munich starting in formidable fashion, English clubs have work to do to stay in the reckoning. However, with Liverpool’s defence looking disorganised and Salah starting slow, Slot’s side do not look to be the unstoppable force so many had predicted. Maybe this season the Premier League is Arsenal’s most realistic target.

Olympiacos look to be the perfect opponent for Arsenal this midweek. Although a regular feature of the competition, the Greek side have lost 67% of all away fixtures in the competition across 93 games. It is their form at home which will pose foreign sides a bigger challenge in the competition.

Our Prediction:

1u: Arsenal & Man City ML (-150)

The bookmakers have almost all angles covered off on this fixture, an easy win expected for the Gunners. 

With Man City facing a tougher test away to Monaco, it would be sensible to pair both English sides on the ML in a double.

Can Arsenal overcome a tough away trip up North

We turn our attention to a huge fixture on Sunday for multiple reasons. Mikel Arteta has been under fierce backlash during the week for his defensive approach to games that has seen Arsenal come unstuck against title rivals Liverpool & Manchester City.

In his response, ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie, Arteta described David Raya as ‘the most attacking stopper’ in the league. He also went on to describe his backline as the most offensive full backs in the league. This stout defence of his players isn’t surprising but also isn’t necessary. Everyone is fully aware of the quality within the Arsenal squad, however with one of the lowest xG’s in the league it is undoubtable that Arsenal are setup to protect first, attack second. 

Arsenal fans remain confident in the wake of the scrutiny of Mikel Arteta. The side sit 2nd in the league and have already navigated difficult away games against Manchester United (1-0 Win), and Liverpool (0-1 Loss). They also kicked off their Champions League campaign with a structured and at times uninspiring performance to overcome Bilbao 2-0.

Meanwhile Newcastle have many challenges of their own to handle, none less than losing leading goalscorer and talisman Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day. Newcastle have limped forward in the beginning of their campaign. With just one win in five and three goals to show for it. Eddie Howe’s side look void of confidence and quality in the attacking areas. 

However the raucous atmosphere at St.James Park is something to hang onto for fans. Newcastle averaged 2pts per game at home last season, winning twelve of their nineteen games. They also were the joint third top scorers at home. You have to extend back to the 7th May 2023 to the last time the gunners managed to take down Newcastle at St.James Park. Eddie Howe has proven to have the edge in this encounter.

Betting Prediction:

2u: Arsenal ML (+110)

1u: Total Goals over 2.5 (+100)

Despite recent history showing that 90% of competitive games between these two go under 2,5 goals in the last 10, we believe that changes on Sunday. 

The bookmakers have made no effort to reduce the odds and with Newcastle low on confidence, it will be an opportunity for Arsenal to strike and inject some momentum into their season.