How Tinkerman Carrick is getting results at United

One of the main reasons that Michael Carrick has started so well as the interim coach at Manchester United is showing that the way to get results is to be flexible in approach to every game. Previously Ruben Amorim was determined not to change his back three system resulting in team performances which were uninspiring […]

One of the main reasons that Michael Carrick has started so well as the interim coach at Manchester United is showing that the way to get results is to be flexible in approach to every game. Previously Ruben Amorim was determined not to change his back three system resulting in team performances which were uninspiring and players such as Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes were almost shackled, much to their frustration.

Carrick’s United is fast, attacking and moves with a sense of urgency and are never static and boring. United supporters believe their team can achieve great things again. It was this tinkering approach that gave Leicester City a shock title win in 2016 under Italian coach Claudio Ranieri who regularly moved players in and out of the team.

Beating Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in your first three matches was not luck but well worked out, researched and practised in training with players moving positions, a constant tinkering with positional play which has allowed the likes of Kobbie Mainoo to play to the best of their abilities. Amorim never came close to achieving that.

 

It’s a managerial revolving door at Forest

When any manager takes over at Nottingham Forest they can never be certain how long the job will last. Owner Evangelos Marinakis hasn’t shown much patience when it comes to the people who run his football team and on Wednesday evening he waved goodbye to Sean Dyche who had been in the job for only 114 days. Ange Postecoglou lasted only 39 days at the City Ground after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo who was sacked with only three matches played this season.

You might say losing one manager was unfortunate, losing two might be a coincidence but three is amazing and Forest are about to become the first club to have four managers in one season…and who knows how long the next person will last!

 

Cole proves the transfer rumours wrong

Cole Palmer has been rumoured to be unhappy at Chelsea and wanted a move. As if he intended to put his point of view to everyone in the football world that his heart remains at Stamford Bridge he duly took a 25 minute spell to score a hat-trick for the Blues. He celebrated as he often does in a “cold” way and then covered his ears with his hands and ran towards the 3,000 Chelsea fans who had travelled 200 miles up to the midlands to watch their team beat Wolves 3-1.

The 23-year-old took his chance to address the rumours and prove them wrong. It was clear what he was trying to say…I’m not listening to the rumours and neither should you. Palmer is worshipped at Stamford Bridge and he is known as one of the “untouchables” by the senior management of the club. 

 

Liverpool suffering from more injuries

When it comes to signing big name players who then suffer injury Liverpool have had more than their fair share of bad luck.

With striker Alexander Isak out for the season after breaking a leg following his goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham, manager Arne Slot now has a headache at the centre of his defence.

£60million centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who is due to arrive at Anfield this summer, is due to have surgery on shoulder damage he suffered during his French club Rennes’ defeat to Lens 3-1 in a French Ligue 1 match at the weekend. Arne Slot was contacted by Rennes and he approved the operation.

Currently Liverpool have Jeremie Frimpong out with a muscle injury and his medical team say he will be out for a few weeks although Arne Slot told us that his injury is not as bad as they first feared. Joe Gomez was expected back for the midweek game against Sunderland but he could not train properly and did not make his appearance until the 69th minute. It is hoped he will also make the game against Nottingham Forest on the 22nd February.

Conor Bradley, Liverpool’s Northern Irish international will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury but I am told he has not sustained a full ACL rupture. He had surgery to repair damaged ligaments. His ongoing treatment will be at the AXA Training Centre where Liverpool’s medical team have worked out a programme to get him fit as soon as possible.

The result of those injuries means that Arne Slot has only Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate as his only two fit centre-backs in the senior squad.

 

Poker face Gyrokeres scoring again

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Viktor Gyokeres has a poker face which does not give away the fact that he is suffering and has to learn to live with periods of not scoring. He needs two more goals to reach double figures this season after scoring 17 or more goals for his previous clubs Sporting Lisbon and Coventry City.

Viktor admits he has struggled to find the back of the net but last weekend he scored from inside the penalty box. That was pinpointed by Arteta in the Gunners post-match analysis and he told Gyrokeres that he needs to take more risks by moving nearer to goal when Arsenal are attacking. He has tended to wait outside the box hoping to be played in rather than going hunting for the ball inside the area.

 

6 players available for free right now

The winter transfer window is closed but there are several high profile players who are available on free transfers. Players who are not currently attached to any club are free to sign at any time.

Top profile is probably Raheem Sterling and although his experience at Premier League and international level is considerable he has been out of favour at Chelsea, loaned to Arsenal and had his £325k a week contract terminated. His wages could be a problem but he is still only 31 years-of-age and he will be of interest to Premier League clubs. Raheem says he still wants to play in the elite league.

Jesse Lingard is another Premier League player looking for a club after playing for Man Utd, West Ham and Nottingham Forest. He has just finished a loan at South Korean club FC Seoul where he scored 19 goals in 67 matches.

Diego Costa used to delight and anger fans every week in the Premier League playing for Chelsea and Wolves. Now 37 years-of-age he was released by Brazilian side Gremio in January where he scored eight goals in 26 games. He has expressed a desire to return to the Premier League and he could prove a useful back up.

Divock Origi played for AC Milan and the ex-Liverpool winger is available at 30 years-of-age.

His last wages were £86k a week but he might struggle to demand that again.

Tiemoue Bakayoko was a failure at Chelsea and played for PAOK in the Greek Super League last season. He is still only 31 and his salary expectations are low at £7k a week. He could move to a medium sized club in either the Premier League or the Championship.

** Antonio Rudiger is open to a return this summer and he will be free if Real Madrid do not sell him first. Chelsea, his former club, have a policy of not buying older players and Rudiger will be 33 in March. The Saudi Pro League is a possible destination for one last big pay day but he likes England and he could answer problems at Tottenham. His agent has been in touch with Spurs, Crystal Palace and West Ham.