United players support Amorim’s rotation tactics

The new Manchester United coach has made 25 substitutions out of a possible 25 allowed and used 20 different players since he began his career at Old Trafford. He explained that he wants to give everyone a chance to play. Under his guidance United have won two matches, drawn one and lost two. After those […]

The new Manchester United coach has made 25 substitutions out of a possible 25 allowed and used 20 different players since he began his career at Old Trafford. He explained that he wants to give everyone a chance to play. Under his guidance United have won two matches, drawn one and lost two. After those losses to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, United sit in 13th place in the Premier League.

If United lose on Sunday to Manchester City it will be the first time they have lost three successive games since 2015. Amorim explained that the rotations have been forced on him by players returning from injury. He said, “It’s not that I like change all the time but we have to have all the squad fit and game-time is crucial.”

The players have all agreed that they are happy with the coach’s methods and support him which is important in the strong dressing room with some outspoken characters but there will be new signings selected by Amorim either in the New Year or next summer.

He said that his team last weekend is the one he considers his strongest current line-up with a couple of exceptions because of injuries but what worries him is they still could not win.

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Alisson Becker still No1 at Liverpool

Caoimhin Kelleher has done a superb job standing in for Alisson between the posts for Liverpool. It could even be claimed that he has rescued points by making spectacular saves when a draw could easily have ended in a loss. However, this week coach Arne Slot confirmed he still regards the 32 year-old Brazilian Alisson as his No1 choice. Slot picked him to start in the midweek Champions League match against Girona and he gave an eye-catching performance. It was as though this great keeper, who Slot claims is the best in the world, had never been away. Keeping a clean sheet with some important saves meant that Liverpool have almost qualified for a place in the last 16. Following two muscle injuries this year the coach said he tested Alisson in the midweek match to see if he is fully fit and he came through with flying colours.

Kelleher has been superb during Alisson’s absence and he is far too good to be left on the substitutes bench. If he becomes available in the new year there will be many clubs after his signature and he has already said he could look to move if he cannot secure a permanent starting role but for Alisson retirement is not on his mind.

 

Lopetegui given four games to save his job

Following West Ham’s 2-1 midweek win against Wolves, pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui has eased slightly but no one at the club is fooled that this is a turnaround with Wolves sitting bottom of the league and being tailed off. Chairman and majority shareholder David Sullivan does not hire and fire managers without good reason and he believes in giving them a chance even if things are not going well. Having said that, my sources have informed me that Lopetegui was told last week that he has four games to save his Hammer’s career. He has won the first one against Wolves but next up is a difficult away fixture at Bournemouth followed by a home game against Brighton and finally away at Southampton on Boxing Day.

Word around the London Stadium is that if Lopetegui goes ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter is willing to step in until the end of the season. Potter has not worked since leaving Stamford Bridge in April 2023 and during the summer rejected offers from Dutch club Ajax and Leicester City.

 

Palmer is pure “class”

Following Cole Palmer’s Man of the Match performance against Tottenham, club legends Thiago Silva and John Terry heaped praise on the young midfielder. But it was Frank Lampard’s social media comment which captured the mood of Cole’s admirers…he said, “Class” followed by three Blue heart emojis. The young man must be bursting with pride.

 

Maresca brings out the best in Madueke

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said he was right to criticise Noni Madueke for his lack of commitment to training and effort during recent weeks. The winger was dropped to the bench for the match against Aston Villa but restored to his position on the wing for the victory over Southampton where he assisted Jadon Sancho’s goal and scored one himself. Against Tottenham in the sensational 4-3 win last weekend he netted again.

Maresca said he personally doesn’t make close friends with his players but they know he cares about them and to criticise Madueke was an attempt to make him respond and bring the best out of him and it worked. With five goals this season he is one of the most significant improvers in the division and Maresca has definitely helped him.

In other Blue’s news the coach has told Raheem Sterling, who is on a £6m loan at Arsenal and Ben Chilwell they do not feature in his plans and has voiced strong critical words about Reece James who he feels is not living up to his captain’s role. Chilwell will probably be on the move in January if the right offer comes along.

 

Maresca says Chelsea will take time to challenge for the title

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca believes Liverpool and Arsenal will not “slip up like Marc Cucurella’s boots” and he says his side are not ready to win the title yet. Cucurella slipped over twice which allowed Tottenham to go ahead by two goals in their epic 4-3 win last weekend. Chelsea are now two points clear of third-placed Arsenal and only four points behind Liverpool. Maresca said, “We are not ready, we are far from these teams. We focus on the day-to-day and trying to improve our team. We have inexperienced players who are getting more and more used to the Premier League with every match but it takes time. But the fans can be happy because I say to my players that they must focus every time they play and we are always improving.”

To support the coach’s remarks, Chelsea’s team against Tottenham included nine players under the age of 25 and none older than 27. No team has ever won the Premier League title with such a young player ratio.

 

Declan sends Michail a moving message

West Ham striker Michail Antonio has received a moving message from Declan Rice following his horrendous car crash on Saturday. Michail’s Ferrari hit a tree and a large part of the front of his Ferrari was destroyed and Michail is lucky to be alive. Suffering a broken leg, he is in a stable condition and expected to make a full recovery but he will be out of football for several months. Declan wrote on social media, “Thinking of you and your family brother. Prayers to all of you” – with a red heart emoji and folded hands. Declan and Antonio played 182 times together and spent 6 years as teammates in West Ham’s first team squad.