Football in Five

1. Champions League Disaster

Margaret Thatcher your boys took a hell of a beating. Just one week ago English teams were nailed on to dominate Europe now just one week later we face at best just three out of nine teams heading into the later rounds of European competition. Not one win in the Champions League out of six
games is horrendous. Three out of the six ties completely dead heading into the second leg (Man City, Chelsea and Spurs all three goals down), Liverpool & Newcastle facing an up hill battle and Arsenal delicately poised. Aston Villa are nailed on to go through having taken a lead into the second leg of their Europe League tie however Forest despite playing well are heading out as they struggle to find the back of the net again. Then finally Palace, who unacceptably have struggled in the Conference League despite having a playing budget a billion times bigger than everyone else. Going into the second leg they need to do something they have struggled all season and that is to win away in Europe to go through. This week has been an unmitigating disaster.

If we focus on the Champions League, bar Newcastle & Arsenal, English teams were outfought, out played and our scored in the four of the six games. All bar Spurs this was a big shock. Spurs and Chelsea both for some inexplicable reason decided to play reserve goalkeepers in the most important games of their seasons. Both keepers made terrible mistakes with Spurs tie over after 15  as they reached a new low. Who the Dickens substitutes their keeper after 17 mins?!?!?! Chelsea self imploded in the last 15 mins of their game having pulled back PSG to 2-2 & they conceded three goals to end the tie before the second leg even started. Liverpool were lucky to get out of Turkey with just one goal to overturn. Apart from an early chance in the game i felt Liverpool played poorly and they will need Anfield to create one of their unforgettable under the lights European nights to overturn that lead. I reckon  they will scrap through as Galatasaray are poor away from home in Europe. Arsenal as well were lucky to scrap a draw with Leverkusen with never a pen pen. They were poor and can’t be this poor again next week. A lot of Arsenals attackers are out of form at the important time of the season. Arsenal however will ease through next week. Man City were put to Valverdes sword on Wednesday as he had the game of his life and scored an incredible hat trick. I felt Man City played quite well for the first 25 mins then like Chelsea self imploded and over thought things. Doku was world class in the first 20 mins then absolutely disappeared. Real were there for the taking and City messed it up. Pep played four forwards away to Real – what was he playing at?!??! City will win next week but not by enough and will go out against Real again! Finally I was impressed by Newcastle as they were too strong and had too much pace for Barcelona however they need Gordon back fully fit to beat the highline of Barcelona next week at the Nou Camp. Wisse, Woltemade and Osula are not setting the world alight and if Gordon can get fit i reckon they might be able to scrap through however I think that is more wishful thinking.

In my opinion, Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa will be the only teams out of nine to go through next week.

2. Igor Tudor on Borrowed Time

What a poor choice of Manager Spurs have chosen to get them out of the mire and why is he still in post?! Tudor is a dead man walking and he, unless Spurs beat Liverpool this weekend will be out of a job by Monday morning. Tudor has simply failed to make Spurs hard to beat or have any kind of chance of beating absolutely anyone. Played four lost four conceded 14 goals, they are a shambles and it’s like watching a car crash. On Wednesday night Spurs and Tudor hit a new low, conceding four goals in 23 mins and having made the decision to play his young untired and untested reserve goalkeeper – Kinsky away in a European knockout competition he subbed him after a paltry 17 mins. Absolutely criminal to firstly pick him and then secondly sub him after such a short time, who subs a goalkeeper after less than 20 mins??!? A very sad indictment of Tudors poor decision making. Tudor in his first four games has favoured a 3-4-3 which Spurs simply don’t have the squad for. They should never be playing three at the back when they need to make themselves hard to beat. In addition, Tudor has made the decision to drop the key summer and winter signings from his starting eleven with Simons and Gallagher not starting the last two games. The front three of Tel, Solanke & Muani simply doesn’t work or will ever look like working. Tudors Spurs are in freefall and are getting worse. I believe the Spurs board havent replaced him yet because they know the weekends game against Liverpool is definitely going to be lost and not the first game to give a new manager.

I fully expect Tudor to be gone by Monday morning.

3. England’s Chances Diminishing

With less than 100 days till the start of the World Cup, a number of key English players are bang out of form or needing a rest or get upto speed.

It is almost easier to start with who is actually ready to start – Pickford in goal,  James as Right back, Guehl Centre Back, Rice Centre Midfield & Kane Centre Forward. The rest of the team are unfit, out of form or undecided. In defence, Stones is just coming back from a long term injury otherwise Konsa will start. Left Back is undecided but hedging bets i would suggest O’Reilly or Shaw.

In midfield thinks start to get interesting Rice is a definite starter but Anderson has been out of form, Mainoo has began to play but isnt at top form either and then Bellingham has been with his standards woefully out of form and now injured. Henderson is showing his age and Gallagher can’t get a game for the one of the worse teams in the Premier League. Our options are limited in Midfield. If anything was to happen to Rice we would be in big trouble.

In attack, Saka has been injured or struggling to find form, the same can be said for Gordon. Rashford has struggled to replicate his early season form for Barcelona and is a squad player. Eze has been very inconsistent as has Madueke for Arsenal. And I havent even mentioned Foden or Palmer yet neither of which have done anywhere near enough to cement a place in the squad. Rogers is arguably having his best ever season but his numbers are decreasing as the week’s progress. Which leaves the back up Centre forward to Kane and yes you have guessed it, Watkins is out of form.

In short, for me England can not simply be classed as one of the favourites this summer, especially with players struggling for form and nations like Spain and France bang in form. I wouldn’t be surprised if England go out early in this summer’s tournament.

4. Premier League Returns

A welcome return for me for the Premier league and this weekends fixtures have many sub plots as we enter the final 9 games of the season. For me there is just one game with nothing riding on it this weekend as Sunderland face fellow mid tables Brighton. Every other game matters which is super exciting.

Starting at the top of the league, I fully expect Arsenal and Man City to win and win easily as they face Everton and West Ham respectfully. Both teams need a better performance after midweek and points to prove. I don’t believe fatigue will play a factor as the depth in both squads is high. Furthermore, Everton and West Ham are both missing key players such as Summerville and Grealish out, expect big scores!

In the fight for Champions League the game of the weekend Man Utd play Villa at Old Trafford. Villa will be leggy after a trip to France. Villa have been struggling in the league recently as fixtures and injuries have taken their toil,  and their midfield has been decimated. I believe Man Utd will have fresher legs and win the battle of midfield and cement their Champions League place. Next up Liverpool will put Spurs to the sword, not because they are necessarily good but because Spurs are so poor. Chelsea versus Newcastle is a very intriguing clash and I expect Chelsea to edge it as Newcastle with a limited squad and tough tough midweek game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Newcastle actually rested players so chalk me down for a Chelsea win.

Then we enter the relegation battle and the fight for survival.
If we start slap bang at the bottom Wolves visit Brentford and im.calling it another win it for Edwards boys as they aim to make it three wins on the spin. I’ve been impressed with Wolves over the past four league games and I fancy them to continue their good form. Brentford have been inconsistent in recent weeks and I wouldn’t be surprised if they started to drop off now and head towards solid mid table. Burnley desperately need wins on the board now as they face midtable Bournemouth but they are struggling to score goals – i fancy a low scoring Bournemouth win. West Ham.will lose as previously mentioned which gives Forest a chance to pull away as they face Fulham at home. Fulham are potentially already dialling it in however with Forest struggling to score i fancy this to end in a draw which leaves Palace versus Leeds in the final game. Palace will be resting players ahead of Thursday second leg and I want to see Leeds regain the form from last month. I fancy a Leeds win here which will further put pressure on Spurs!

Exciting times ahead.

5. Bodo/Glimt Riches

Just over 10 years ago Bodo/Glimt had a  total budget of a whoopingly low £4m. Bodo/Glimt have hit the jackpot and if they hold onto their two nil lead against Sporting stand a chance of earning £65m from their Champions League adventure alone this season.

Fast forward ten years and Bodo/Glimt have a total weekly wage of £140k and a squad valued at £57m . They are setting themselves up for future long term success and are in plans to build a new all year round stadium. Over the last few seasons they have generated over £70m in player sales whilst only spending just over £30m.

This is great planning and if Bodo/Glimt dare to dream and get to the Champions League final they will earn over £100m. Im here for the ride and let’s hope Bodo/Glmit continue their journey and upset the big boys!!!