Postecoglou's Impact: A Remarkable Transformation in Tottenham's Premier League Journey
Ange Postecoglou ignites a fiery transformation at Tottenham, while Man Utd's midfield woes resurface Liverpool's Luis Diaz shines brightly, Brighton thrashes Wolves post-Moises Caicedo, and Fulham embarks on a quest for an Aleksandar Mitrovic replacement Aurier's width propels Forest to victory
Postecoglou transforms the Tottenham mood
The massive mosaic proudly displayed by the Tottenham supporters prior to the start of the match conveyed a warm "Welcome to N17" greeting. It served as a heartfelt message directed towards Ange Postecoglou, as well as the recently acquired players who were introduced to the enthusiastic crowd before their inaugural Premier League home game.
The Spurs supporters, after witnessing the 2-0 victory over Man Utd, are now reluctant to see the Australian leave. Talk about attacking intent and positive signs in the season opener at Brentford was heard before. However, it was on Saturday that 'Angeball' truly made its mark in Tottenham. After being subjected to a diet of cautious football under the reigns of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, the Spurs fans were delighted with the change and craved for more.
It was an exhilarating experience, although not perfect in any sense - Man Utd will reflect on numerous missed opportunities that could have turned the game in their favor - it was still highly entertaining. For a fan group that protested against rising prices outside the stadium before the match, this was football that was truly worth the cost of admission.
The sounds of excitement and admiration that followed Yves Bissouma's backheel in the second half have rarely been heard recently in this area of north London. However, the bold, confident, and enjoyable style of football displayed by Postecoglou and his team was the perfect remedy for the pain caused by Harry Kane's departure.
Do Man Utd still have time to overhaul their midfield?
Manchester United's start to the new Premier League season has been anything but smooth. Despite a stroke of luck in their match against Wolves on Monday Night Football, their fortunes took a turn for the worse in their first away game against Tottenham.The midfield was a major problem on the pitch, particularly in the match against Tottenham. Despite having talented players like Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Mason Mount, they were convincingly outperformed by the opposing team in every aspect.
Casemiro appeared to lack creativity and ideas. Fernandes, who was supposed to be the team's leader, often displayed frustration and petulance, and was even booked for dissent towards the end of the first half. Among the starters, Mount had the second-lowest number of touches and passes. He looked visibly surprised and disappointed when he was substituted and sat on the bench.
Gary Neville and Roy Keane, both former Manchester United players and pundits, strongly criticized the midfielders for their lack of effectiveness. Neville emphasized the urgent need for bolstering Manchester United's midfield, expressing that Ten Hag desires a defensive midfielder capable of partnering with Casemiro. However, due to financial constraints, the club is currently unable to offload players to generate funds for this acquisition.
Keane stated that when observing Mount and Fernandes without the ball, they appear to be like schoolboys and lack the physicality needed to regain possession. He expressed his belief that excuses are constantly made for them. With the transfer window set to close in less than two weeks, Manchester United does have an opportunity to enhance their choices. However, whether all the necessary components align remains uncertain, but it is evident that a change needs to occur promptly.
Dynamic Diaz feels like a new signing
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Luis Diaz celebrates after equalising for Liverpool against Bournemouth
Liverpool's transfer discussions have predominantly focused on their midfielders, specifically Alexis Mac Allister, Dominic Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo. These players are crucial in the team's rebuilding efforts in the Jurgen Klopp engine room, which has received mixed reviews in the first two weekends. However, the most significant addition to Liverpool's squad is the return of a fully fit, fully functional, and fully energetic Luis Diaz. The Colombian winger suffered an injury during the 3-2 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last October, but managed to participate in four of the last six Premier League matches. It seems that his recovery period served as a pre-season, as he has showcased exceptional form in the beginning of this campaign. Diaz has been running powerfully and purposefully, evident in both of Liverpool's opening games. His goal against Chelsea was executed clinically, a trait often associated with his finishing ability in front of the net.
Brighton's post-Caicedo era starts with a bang in the Midlands
With just a single touch, he effortlessly lifts the ball up into the air and with another swift touch, he propels it powerfully past Neto. This remarkable feat brings his total goal involvements in the Premier League to 15, achieved in just 32 appearances. With 10 goals and five assists, his impressive contribution is set to increase even further this season, as the unstoppable force of Klopp's attacking strategy continues to electrify the field. Lewis Jones
Having sold Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister, two key midfielders, during the summer transfer window, there were concerns about how Brighton would perform this season. However, Roberto De Zerbi's exhilarating Seagulls team has started the new campaign in a similar fashion to how they ended the previous one, playing with a fluid style and attacking relentlessly, as demonstrated by their commanding 4-1 victory at Molineux.
The visitors may have been fortunate to take a 1-0 lead at halftime thanks to Kaoru Mitoma's incredible individual effort, but there is no denying the brilliance of Brighton under De Zerbi's leadership. Their counter-attacks were devastating and caused significant damage to the opposition.
Following the match, De Zerbi mentioned that Brighton will be searching for a replacement for Caicedo, who recently transferred to Chelsea. However, with Brighton currently leading the Premier League with an impressive aggregate score of 8-2, one may question if they actually require any further reinforcements in the transfer market.
Fulham search begins for Mitro replacement
Aleksandar Mitrovic's departure couldn't have been timed worse after Fulham failed to score again.
Raul Jimenez's arrival three weeks ago signaled his imminent departure, but early indications suggest that he won't be able to effectively fill the void left behind.
Wolves' Mexico international had an impressive record of 44 goals in his initial two seasons before enduring a fractured skull in November 2020. Since his injury, he has only managed to score 15 goals, highlighting the significant challenge of living up to his past performance.
"It's utterly unjust, but we must prepare ourselves for it. From now on, with Mitro's departure from the club, every single day will be subjected to comparisons with the achievements of Raul, Rodrigo Muniz, Carlos Vinicius, or our future signing," stated manager Marco Silva following their devastating 3-0 loss to Brentford at their home ground.
"In the season prior to our arrival, Mitro managed to score only four goals in the Premier League. Notably, he spent a significant portion of that season on Fulham's bench. However, in the subsequent season, he impressively netted 46 goals, and in the last season, he accumulated 14 goals in just 24 games."
We have benefited greatly from his contributions. He has been instrumental in our match victories, showcasing his skills as a top striker, and personally, I hold a deep admiration and affection for him. He grasped the essence of my playing style, but unfortunately, he struggled with his morale upon joining our club. The approach we employed with him will now be extended to the players in our squad.
Silva emphasizes that the club will seek to acquire multiple players, not limited to just a striker, within the final two weeks of the transfer window. The outcome of this endeavor could ultimately determine the success of their season.
Forest win comes from Aurier's width
Nottingham Forest often depend on Brennan Johnson's lightning-quick counter-attacks or Morgan Gibbs-White's clever interplay in tight spaces. Although these qualities were evident on Friday night, their victory was ultimately secured through two pinpoint crosses to their strikers.
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Both of Nottingham Forest's goals against Sheffield United came from the right flank thanks to the crosses of Serge Aurier
Both goals were supplied by Serge Aurier. The 30-year-old wing-back had complete freedom on the right flank, producing numerous tantalizing crosses into the box. He could have racked up three assists if Awoniyi had capitalized on a great opportunity for his second goal of the evening.
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Serge Aurier was given far too much to space to send in the cross for Nottingham Forest's winner against Sheffield United
Chris Wood has been one of the top scorers in the Premier League when it comes to headers since the summer of 2017, with only Harry Kane scoring more. With such a strong ability in the air, Sheffield United needed to improve their defense against crosses during the match at the City Ground. Enjoy live Premier League matches on We with NOW for just £26 a month for 12 months. You can cancel anytime.
