For me, there are some managers in the Premier League that I just do not want to ever get sacked. I know, I know, that kinda goes against the premise of this whole website but that is how I feel. I am just being honest. I dread the day that Bournemouth decide that they might be better off without Eddie Howe or that the Poch sees his loyalty to Spurs rewarded with the heave-ho having not got out of a Champions League group (again).
And life would just not be the same without the gravelly tones of Sean Dyche at Burnley.
The problem is, Burnley are very much in a relegation scrap now and it is not looking good. Known for their defensive solidity at set-pieces and making Turf Moor a horrible place to go and play at, losing 2-1 at home to Newcastle and both goals coming from set-pieces has alarm bells ringing all over the place. Even the various betting sites are struggling to see how Burnley can stay up this season.
Who or what is to blame at Burnley right now? Some suggest the Europa League which didn’t even end up with the reward of the group stages and some big matches against the likes of PAOK or Vorslka. Others suggest teams have worked out how to play Burnley home and away. Personally, I think the blame is far more obvious. I said it at the time, but buying Joe Hart was a crazy decision given he had spent the two previous seasons being utterly useless for clubs playing in the same colours as Burnley. Madness.
And it is transfer signings like that which can cost managers their jobs, sadly.
Rafa has to be careful too. If his side keep winning matches and move away from the relegation zone then Mike Ashley will not feel the need to give Benitez any spare change for January signings. So take it easy, boys.
For someone who always seems to be in trouble at Barcelona and, as a direct result, linked to all the top Premier League clubs, Ousmane Dembele is not having that bad a season. He has scored five goals this term which have directly influenced the result, the most recent being the last minute equaliser at Atletico over the weekend. There is no doubting the talent but he is developing a bit of a rep for missing training, phoning in sick, being addicted to computer games and not respecting his trade. With all that in mind, Liverpool are still believed to be keen on the Frenchman because if there is one man who turn Dembele into a world beater then it is the grinning German Kloppo.
If I just say Paul Pogba and David de Gea to you it might be quicker for you to fill in the blanks around the latest rumours at Old Trafford. Manchester United are yet to tie the goalkeeper down to a new deal and, as it is Tuesday, there’s the usual chat around Pogba leaving. Luke Shaw has gone on record stating the blindingly obvious by saying that ‘you need a thick skin’ to play for Jose Mourinho. Thanks, Luke. We hadn’t noticed.
Andreas Perreira may not have skin thick enough, in which case. The talented Brazilian midfielder is bored of kicking around with Fred and Scott McTominay when everyone else is allowed to play matches and wants to leave. Chelsea and Arsenal are both interested which suggests that the kid might actually be a bit of a player.
Chelsea would make room for Perreira by letting Cesc Fabregas head off to AC Milan where he might be followed by Gary Cahill. I say make room, this isn’t the way Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Mason Mount would see it.
That said, with Eden Hazard again hinting at the fact he might have to leave Chelsea at the end of his contract. Mind you, he also said that he might end up spending the rest of his career at Chelsea. So that cleared that up, then. Hazard did say there is no chance of him ever playing for PSG. You say that now, Eden.
Manchester City will be seen as failures if they do not win the Champions League, claims Peppy G. Well, that would be an improvement to a lot of people who see City as potential financial doping cheats, I suppose.
Apparently, it is all kicking off in Ukraine in a way that makes Buenos Aires look like a children’s playground. Normally, this would sound irrelevant but given the fact that Arsenal are playing there on Thursday night I thought I would drop it in.
