1) Ten Hag hopes to prevent City’s treble tilt
For many Wembley mins and till Solly March’s tears, the credibility of Erik ten Hag’s regime used to be on a knife-edge. In fresh weeks, a up to now vast acceptance that Manchester United had in the end discovered the appropriate supervisor has loosened. Both Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho delivered fleeting spells of good fortune. Both gained trophies, too. Even Ole Gunnar Solskjær introduced the grins again for some time. Heavy defeats by means of Liverpool and Sevilla had hastened darkish ideas of a false daybreak however now Ten Hag has the danger to enhance United’s soccer heritage. By 3 June and the FA Cup last, Manchester City might be set honest for a treble to equivalent United’s in 1999, the membership’s biggest ever success. To deny City and pull off the sort of heist, United will want some distance better attacking efficiency than towards Brighton, regardless that the grit proven by means of lesser-starred names like Victor Lindelöf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Diogo Dalot or even Antony can be welcome. John Brewin
2) Wembley semi draws woeful numbers
Manchester City towards Sheffield United did not really feel like an FA Cup semi-final. In truth it did not in point of fact really feel like anything else specifically, in spite of Riyad Mahrez’s well-taken hat-trick. It did not lend a hand that City’s all-engulfing dominance intended the result used to be kind of a foregone conclusion. It used to be rarely a ringing endorsement of the affair, both, that the Blades would have traded their presence at Wembley for the 3 issues that may ensure promotion towards West Brom on Wednesday. Neither set of lovers appeared particularly into the instance and the choice of empty seats amongst each allocations used to be noticeable. Which brings us to most likely probably the most devaluing issue of all: the concept that, in a price of residing disaster, tens of hundreds of supporters from those northern towns must be obliged to pay best buck for a night fixture a number of hours away. A venue nearer to house would had been pumping, however the sport’s most likely loss of jeopardy. Instead we had been subjected to an instance devoid of anything else comparable to the Cup spirit. Nick Ames
3) Was Conte proper about Spurs gamers?
He will have burned via a lot of his managerial cachet at Tottenham, however Antonio Conte’s tirade after closing month’s 3-3 draw with Southampton rings more true with every passing week. “I see selfish players, players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart [into it],” he stated after that specific cave in. “They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.” Even those that felt Conte used to be creating a cynical try to absolve himself of accountability must admit that, having fallen to items slightly a minute right into a the most important recreation towards Newcastle, the staff had none of the focal point, concord and starvation in their warring parties and confirmed little signal of combating for every different. While lovers are directing their anger against the membership’s hierarchy, the gamers must salvage some pleasure in tricky video games towards Manchester United and Liverpool or it can be a really excruciating finish to the season. Will Magee
4) Arteta should clear up Saliba downside
“If we want to be champions we have to go there and win the game, that is all.” Gabriel Jesus laid it at the line for Arsenal after what used to be, for all their rousing efforts overdue on, a vastly destructive draw towards Southampton. They must do that the arduous means now and that suggests taking 3 issues on Wednesday towards a Manchester City facet that presentations little signal of losing the varieties of defensive blooper that experience helped Arsenal’s warring parties on their far more than closing fortnight. Mikel Arteta will pray his gamers have were given the ones mistakes out in their machine however, past that, he’ll wish to devise one thing that knocks City off their stride. Without William Saliba, Arsenal lose one thing on the again but additionally of their buildup play: they’re slower in ownership and the problem spreads into their midfield. Perhaps the Frenchman will make a miracle restoration however, if he isn’t are compatible sufficient to be gambled on, Arteta should have the opportunity to get his staff transferring temporarily once more. Could a short lived go back to the center for Ben White be a possible resolution? NA
5) Consistency key to Liverpool push
“Hopefully it’s not too late,” mirrored Jürgen Klopp as he praised the counterpressing high quality and concord that introduced Liverpool a 2d successive victory over a relegation-threatened opponent. His staff have gained back-to-back league video games six instances this season however have prolonged the profitable streak additional best as soon as, when recording 4 consecutive league wins each side of the World Cup interruption. With Tottenham and Aston Villa amongst 4 closing house video games, and Klopp’s attacking choices enhanced by means of Diogo Jota rediscovering his completion and Luis Díaz’s availability, European qualification of a few shape stays Liverpool’s to decide. But, first, some late consistency. Let’s simply focal point on West Ham. [on Wednesday],” stated Virgil van Dijk, rightly refusing to get over excited. “After everything we’ve gone through this season, that’s the key. It’s been a very difficult season so far.” Andy Hunter
6) Leeds are stuck in post-Bielsa slump
Javi Gracia was not targeted by Leeds fans as their team slumped to a damaging defeat at Fulham. Neither were his players. There was no lack of effort on show. Leeds played hard and came up against a Fulham team nothing like the soft touch of their previous promoted teams. Instead, Victor Orta was the name ringing out. Orta is the sporting director who tempted Marcelo Bielsa to West Yorkshire but he also dismissed the sainted former manager, whose name was sung amid calls to “sack the board”. Even if Bielsa’s alchemy had stopped working by February last year, it is the failure of the succession plan from Orta and owner Andrea Radrizzani that enrages Leeds fans. Jesse Marsch was a bust; Gracia is left to pick up the pieces of a squad short on quality and confidence. Illan Meslier’s goalkeeping mistakes took the headlines but his loss of nerve speaks to a club unhappy within itself. J
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7) Soyuncu reborn as Smith steels Foxes
Who is this ponytailed centre-back at the heart of Leicester’s defence? Caglar Soyuncu was frozen out by Brendan Rodgers but has started both Leicester games since Dean Smith took the reins until the end of the season. Soyuncu was excellent in Saturday’s vital win over Wolves, making a couple of key blocks as Leicester tasted victory for the first time since February. Rodgers felt Soyuncu’s performances in training often did not merit inclusion in his squads, let alone his starting lineups, but the Turkey defender has been reinstated by Smith and has helped breathe new life into Leicester’s flagging season. “I don’t know what’s gone on before I got here,” Smith said. “I’ve seen a player who is committed to the club, trains really well and I think his performances have shown that.” Ben Fisher
8) Moyes deserves to go out with a bang
West Ham’s rampant win at Bournemouth made it 10 goals in a week for David Moyes, who started the month a game away from the sack. Whether recent displays will be enough to persuade West Ham’s hierarchy to stick with the Scot appears unlikely but he could yet bow out with a trip to Prague for the Europa Conference League final if AZ Alkmaar are seen off next month. Few would begrudge a proud exit for the manager who guided West Ham to sixth place and a record points total after an unheralded return in 2019 that was described – with reason – in these pages as “not an appointment likely to inspire disillusioned fans”. Moyes has always been known as a man of decency but his second stint in east London has helped restore his reputation as a canny training-ground manager who instils his teams with grit, wit and tenacity. Almost all managerial stints end in rancour; this one might just finish on a hard-earned high. Alex Hess
9) Villa shows grit as purple patch ends
Aston Villa’s surge for the Champions League is probably at its end, but the determined qualities that have revived the club were on show in the fightback at Brentford. Ollie Watkins failed to score for a first away game since 21 January, losing out to Ivan Toney in the Battle of England hopefuls. It was left to Douglas Luiz to stab in a late equaliser, redeeming a performance Unai Emery described as being “very, very unhealthy” in spells. An unbeaten run of over two months was eventually extended despite losing Emiliano Martínez to a stomach bug at half-time. His replacement, Robin Olsen, was left exposed at his back post for Tony’s goal and clearly suffers from a lack of confidence from his defenders. It is hoped Martínez can return for the visit of Fulham on Tuesday but despite his exit, and Watkins’ blank, Villa still managed to get a result from a match that previously might have gotten away from them. JB
10) Calvert-Lewin back for Toffees’ run-in
Sean Dyche has insisted Everton are not pinning their hopes of survival on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fitness after the 26-year-old came through his latest return from injury against Crystal Palace. Calvert-Lewin has scored only one of his side’s paltry 24 goals so far this season – the lowest in the Premier League – but showed signs of his old self at Selhurst Park. Dyche is hoping the striker can find some more sharpness in time for Newcastle’s trip to Goodison Park on Thursday before next Monday’s big showdown at Leicester, although he admitted coaxing more goals from the rest of his goal-starved squad remains a work in progress. “I don’t have any magic mud,” said the Everton manager. “We have a way of working that can help change that but it’s up to the players to take ownership. It’s not just about one player. It’s about the rest of the players stepping up as well.” Ed Aarons
