EPL 2022/2023 - Game Week 10

Messi is still strutting his stuff at 35 while Ronaldo is sulking on the bench at 37. Still both of them are the most remarkable footballers on planet earth for the longest time. You are just so fortunate to have the opportunity to watch them play. World football is now dominated by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland. Both are very fast with Mbappe just slightly faster and both score bucket loads of goals with Haaland just edging it slightly for goals per game.

Haaland scored a hattrick and also provided two assists against Manchester United. Before this match, he registered back to back home game hattricks. His goal scoring is epic! In eight games, he has fourteen goals! He does not need many touches, just give him the ball and he scores. He is unstoppable and unplayable. The only way is to stop him is to cut off his supply but City's supply chain is strong, no disruption like the global one. Just picture this - City have 29 goals to date, Arsenal -20, Spurs - 19, Liverpool - 18, Brentford -15 and Haaland -14! (more than the rest of the teams). He is going to break all goal-scoring records. Unfortunately, Norway will not be at the World Cup. At the time of writing, he has scored another two against FC Koberhavn in the UCL. He is not human and treating every team's defenders like kindergarten children. City is going to win everything. 

England

This leaves Gareth Southgate wondering how nice it would be if Haaland were to choose England instead as his father Alfie  once played for Leeds and City and was living in the UK for a long time. Southgate is a proper leader, he has the decorum and is always calm, measured and mostly says the right things but that is all. His England team overperformed at the WC18 and Euro20. He could have won at least one especially the Euro had he been bolder. That is the difference. You must be bolder to try and win it and not try not to lose it. England has ample attacking talents at his disposal. Use it or loose it. Well, so he may be right after all on Trent Alexander-Arnold most recently. Take note that none could match TAA on the offensive. There was that TAA v Brighton and that TAA v Rangers. It is also incredulous to note that he knew and any manager worth his salt should know that you should be picking and playing the players on form not their past performances. Just look a this goal. They say form is temporary and class is permanent. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e98vY6GYSWM (TAA goal v Rangers)

So why is Harry Maguire in the England XI let alone being named in the squad when he is not even selected for his club? Southgate in trying to be loyal has made things worse for Maguire and his team. Why are more in form players not given a chance like Jadon Sancho or James Maddison? Maddison has been the best English midfielder last season and this. If you are lacking goals, assists and creativity and a dead ball specialist, Maddison is the medicine for you. Even Ben White could be a better addition as he has been good with Arsenal, able to play the ball from the back and is versatile as centre back to right back. With so much time to explore and yet learn nothing was opportunities wasted. Certainly not playing Bukayo Saka as left wing back when he has been extremely good with Arsenal on the right wing. Please use a proper left back as left back. Decide if Ben Chiwell or Luke Shaw is better and play him. Do not play right back Kieran Trippier as left back just so that you could use him for set pieces. The position and role must be the best candidate first and foremost. To do this is like playing badminton and tennis without being able to use a backhand. That was why he thought it proper to send in Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford in the Euro just for the penalty kicks and it backfired? No warm up needed? Duh.

To win, one has to be bold. It is not in Southgate's DNA. Even when England leads he sits his team back. The inevitable shall happen when faced with the really good teams because you have already shown you are afraid. This Qatar World Cup from November to December provides two advantages to England like never before - (1) The Premier League plays through winter and when it is concluded and where the UCL ends also by May, a June World Cup has destroyed all England teams. This time Nov-Dec is a much better timing. (2) The English press will build up and the fans expectations will be raised and the pressure kills the team. This time England are going to the World Cup without a win in many games. So bad that there would be no expectations. I think this is Southgate's last chance to be bold. Losing in the semi and a final is the best you could have been. The difference or whatever you are short of is ..... to be bold.

Alright, back to the weekend league soccer. Let's hope all teams are bold. I am always bold. You can find some of my golf balls in the water but then even if I do not attack, a conservative shot does not guarantee me any better result. But when I pull off an very good one, there is inspiration. Confidence is an amazing thing. Once a team scores, you can see them charging for more. Who will be the most confident teams this weekend? I think City and Arsenal are the two best teams I have seen this season. 

Bournemouth v Leicester - Bournemouth have not lost a single match since the Liverpool drubbing and Scott Parker was sacked. One win and three draws may not be enough at the end but this is not the end yet. The fact that they held Brentford 0-0 was a good sign. Is Brendan Rodgers still around? Pity that his Leicester was so good but now in the doldrums and the only team without a win now just had one, an impressive one as James Maddison ran the show with two goals and an assist against Forest in a 4-0 win but the Foxes should not be over-elated. They can win this one and pull themselves up a bit more and will James Maddison make England's WC squad? 2-3.

Chelsea v Wolves - Wolves lost to West Ham and Bruno Lage was sacked, just like that. After 8 games, Wolves have scored only 3 goals. Graham Potter got his first league win with Conor Gallagher scoring a late beauty last week. Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjmu3bITCgw

We have to expect Chelsea to have full advantage for this game at Stamford Bridge. Potter further enhance his credentials when Chelsea trounced AC Milan 3-0 with Reece James starring with a goal and an assist to ensure England have two foraging right full backs or more. It shall be a difficult visit for Wolves due to their own circumstances and Chelsea's improvement. 2-0.

Manchester City v Southampton - Two hattricks! When was the last time you witnessed such a feat? Phil Foden is now the youngest Pep Guardiola player at 22+ to have scored 50 goals by this age. The gulf in class was there for all to see but the perfectionist in Guardiola would not be happy for conceding three goals later. Southampton dominated Everton and yet lost 1-2 at home so its a tough visit to the Etihad and they sure hope they not be ending up like Red-faced Devils and rather be the Saints but Southampton are no strangers to huge walloping in the past. Ralph Hassenhutl's manager is in danger especially with City and Haaland lurking. Last season, their head to head ties were suprisingly good for the visitors as they drew 1-1 and 0-0 and the season before last was City winning 5-2 at the Etihad and 1-0 away. Haaland will score twice, Foden once and De Bruyne once and then James Ward-Prowse will get one from a free-kick for Southampton. 4-1.

Newcastle v Brentford - The Magpies finally won again since early August, won away and won big! Not many expect Newcastle to not only win but had Fulham beaten 4-1 at Craven Cottage.  The Bees own form has not been as brilliant since that 5-2 thrashing of Leeds. Ivan Toney has been so good and while named for England he should have been given a chance to show what he can do. Newcastle should be just good enough to wi this at St. James Park by a goal. 2-1.

Brighton v Spurs - Brighton have always been a good team n plays good football since Graham Potter was there and now even after Potter left they are still very good. Granted Liverpool were poorer than usual but credit must be given to the Seagulls. While Liverpool did not play well, Brighton were actually brilliant. Meanwhile, what I saw of Spurs was Spurs well, being Spursy again. Conte teams are hard to break and beat but they allowed Arsenal to made it much easier. Maybe Arsenal has become really that good. Brighton are good in every position and as a team and Spurs will find it tough unless they play their very best. I can say that the home side is even good enough for a win. Trossard has been outstanding and his combination with Welbeck and cause problem for Spurs. 2-2.

Crystal Palace v Leeds - The Eagles were unlucky to concede a late 90th minute goal by Conor Callagher who was on loan to Palace from Chelsea. Leeds playing with ten men after a red card were lucky to survive at Elland Road. Palace are good for a home win at Selhurst Park. 2-1.

West Ham v Fulham - David Moyes has a huge sigh of relief after the Hammers won which led to the sacking of Wolves' manager Bruno Lage. When Fulham played so well to hold Liverpool in the season opener at Craven Cottage, I was thinking they could really have a good season. They have not really been too bad but a 1-4 home trouncing by Newcastle must surely have sent some Bat signals. West Ham started winning again and Scamacca scored both in the league and in the Europa Conference. The Hammers are coming back albeit slowly and should register a home win here while Fulham must hope that Mitrovic is fit. 2-1.

Arsenal v Liverpool - Arsenal are really going great guns. Brimming with confidence and their belief seems unshakeable. It is not easy to beat a Conte side with the way he sets up his team. The Gunners not only dominated, they won 3-1. Martinelli and Saka tormented Spurs. Even Granit Xhaka has been scoring and enjoying himself. They will have Liverpool for breakfast if Klopp still could not figure out what to do to improve or play like they did against Brighton. Arsenal are brimming with confidence and now have a solid backline where Ben White and especially Saliba have been outstanding. Even Partey and Xhaka have been their defensive lynchpin so that Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli could thrive and Gabriel Jesus completes their puzzle. 

Liverpool have been shockingly bad. Forget the title, they must surely try for the top four but if they keep on the type of performance so far, even that is a tall task. It is just strange that so many are playing poorly at the same time. Was it the physical and mental exhaustion of last season fighting for so long and so hard. Barring injuries, Klopp needs to drop some players who are out of sync. TAA needs to be rested or used on the right of midfield or the freedom to roam. Van Dijk has not been himself. Even Mo Salah. Play Diaz, play Nunez. The midfield is not defending well. If you don't play well, at least defend well for a start. Stop conceding early goals or let your opponents lead and left chasing a game. Once, Liverpool was a team nobody wants to play, now they are a team everybody loves to play against. In past articles I have advocated for change from 4-3-3. They finally did with a 4-2-1-3 against Rangers and were impressive. Which one will turn up at the Emirates? If they go one better by beating the league leaders, it will be massive. Unless Liverpool are at their supreme best, Martinelli will murder Trent one on one. How fortunes have changed. Now pundits are saying Xhaka and Partey would tear Henderson and Thiago to shreds and many are expecting a home win where Chris Sutton even predicted 4-1 to the Gunners. This will be an epic game. 2-2.

Everton v Manchester United - You have to give credit to Frank Lampard and Everton. They may not be easy on the eyes but hack they fought hard in every match they have played. The Red Devils euphoria was over as City gave them the reality check. By now, Ronaldo may already have bought his own designer bench. When I read how United went a goal down before Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial rescued them to finally win 3-2 versus Omonia Nicosia (yes, a team from Cyprus lying 4th in their league), with no disrespect to Omonia Nicosia and the Europa League, this is the necessary struggle they have to go through. Last season, Everton won 1-0 at Goodison Park and drew 1-1 at Old Trafford. The Toffees may get something here. 1-1.

Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa - Forest just got burned by the team (Leicester) below them last week by a serious 0-4 despites spending much and adding 22 new players. Steve Cooper is a good manager but Forest are finding results hard to come by. Villa should be playing a lot better and achieving more but some how have not been that convincing but should have enough quality to overcome Forest. 1-2.