Premier League

ERIK TEN HAG has defended Andre Onana amid his recent errors by claiming he is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League.The Manchester United manager pointed to a key statistic to back up his claim – goals prevented.
Erik ten Hag made a public show of support for Andre OnanaCredit: Alamy

Opta stats show Onana has prevented 3.6 goals this season, which ranks as the second-best in the Premier League behind Luton’s Thomas Kaminski who has prevented 6.3 goals.
That led Ten Hag to claim he is amongst the best goalkeepers in the division – the Dutchman said: “If you analyse it well then you see he is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League based on stats.”
Onana, 27, also ranks second in the Prem for save percentage – stopping 76.1 per cent of shots he has faced this season.
Only Liverpool star Alisson boasts a better percentage while Onana has also kept five clean sheets, a feat not bettered by any other goalkeeper.
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Onana’s 51 saves means he averages a save every 22.9 minutes – only Wes Foderingham and Neto have made a save more frequently.
But while stats show Onana has performed well, the United No1 has made several blunders this campaign which have often resulted in goals being conceded.
That was the case in mid-week against Galatasaray when the Cameroon international palmed Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick into his own net.
Onana also made howlers against Bayern Munich and Brentford and was fortunate not to concede a penalty on his Red Devils debut against Wolves.
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Onana also put in a questionable performance in the Old Trafford meeting with Galatasaray and has conceded more goals than any other keeper in the Champions League.
He has now made the most errors leading to opposition goals in the Champions League since 2018-19 with seven.
Jamie Carragher branded his performance in Istanbul as “unacceptable” and has accused the keeper of costing his side cheap goals.
He said: “Onana cost the team home and away against Galatasaray and was poor against Bayern Munich in the opening group game.
“Yes, he made a last-minute penalty save against Copenhagen at Old Trafford, but the numerous minuses far outweigh that one positive.
“The performance in Turkey was unacceptable for a Manchester United goalkeeper. You would not expect an Under-18 keeper to make the basic handling error for Galatasaray’s second goal.
“If a youth keeper was promoted and played like Onana on Wednesday evening, he would probably never feature for the first team again.
“Onana has cost United too many cheap goals. The hope that the worst was behind him after a poor start to his Old Trafford career has been blown out of the water and Wednesday was a huge step backwards.” More

FORMER Manchester United defender Steve Bruce is eyeing up a return to management.The 62-year-old has been unemployed since he left West Brom in October 2022.
Steve Bruce is ready to return to managementCredit: PA
Bruce claims he would suit the Republic of Ireland jobCredit: PA
But he is now excited by the prospect of returning to the dugout.
Bruce exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “This is the longest I’ve been out of the game. I was unbroken for something like 46 years, and unfortunately, I’ve had a year out, now.
“I’ve been busy building a house over the last couple of years, so I’ve got myself involved with that. But, look, it’s time that I go back to work again.
“I’m itching to go back in, not necessarily as a manager. I wouldn’t mind helping a young manager, helping a club in any way; I’d like to think that after 46 years, if someone asked me a question about football, I’d be able to answer it.
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“I’d like to get back involved in some capacity. If it’s management, great. If it’s not, that’s also fine.
“Maybe consultancy… something along those lines. That sporting director role rings a nice bell for me; I think that would be a nice gig.
“I’ve had a break from it, but I’ve missed it. Especially those Saturday afternoons. These days, Saturday afternoon is a difficult place for me.
“I’ve forced myself to have this break, because I’ve never had one before, so we’ll see what happens now.”
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The ex-Newcastle manager also admitted that he is open to taking the vacant Republic of Ireland job following the departure of Stephen Kenny.
He said: “I’m led to believe I’m there or thereabout in the betting for the Ireland job. It’s a job that would interest me, that’s for sure.
“You know, as I’ve said, I’ve had a bit of time out and I’m itching to get back into the game, and something like that would suit me.
“Let’s see if the phone rings… it’s one of those; are they going to make an approach? At this moment in time, I really don’t know. But I’ve seen the betting sites and read the rumours, like everybody else. 
“At the moment I can’t really comment on it because there’s been no connection.”
Following Bruce’s retirement from professional football he pursued a career in management.
The ex-defender has so far taken charge of Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Wigan, Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Sunderland, Hull, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle.
He was sacked by the Magpies in October 2021 following their £305million Saudi takeover and replaced by Eddie Howe.
Bruce was linked with the interim manager position at his old club Man Utd the following month after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked.
But he recently revealed that he was not invited for talks with the Red Devils.
Speaking to Ladbrokes, he said: “”It was very kind of Peter [Schmeichel] to namecheck me as a potential interim boss for the Man United job.
“Look, if I could have helped out in any way, shape or form, then I would have done… that goes without saying.

“But it never materialised, no. No conversations took place with the club, no.”
Bruce was also in the running for the England job in 2016 but missed out to Sam Allardyce.
Bruce has revealed he was not invited for talks with Man Utd in 2021Credit: PA More

MANCHESTER UNITED have unearthed a gem in Kobbie Mainoo.Being anointed as the saviour of one of the biggest football teams on the planet would be a daunting prospect for even the most experienced of players.
Kobbie Mainoo made his first Premier League start of the season against Everton last weekCredit: Getty
He was one of Man Utd’s standout players on the day
The midfielder completed 38 passes in the 72 minutes he was on the pitch
The fact that this is being said regarding 18-year-old central midfielder Mainoo says a lot about the current state of United’s midfield.
But it also speaks volumes about the potential of the young academy graduate.
The Stockport-born star has developed through Man Utd’s youth system without even leaving on a loan spell.
There was a genuine buzz building around his performances in pre-season and there was a real sense that he would start the campaign in rotation for United in the centre of the park.
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That was until an unfortunate ankle injury sustained during the club’s pre-season tour pushed the timetable for his integration back.
His injury prompted the Red Devils to act in the summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag signing Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat on loan from Serie A side Fiorentina.
That move, it would be fair to say, has not worked out as the pace and intensity of the game in the Premier League has proven a step too far at this stage for Amrabat.
Indeed, only last week reports emerged suggesting that United were considering the possibility of bringing in another central midfielder in January.
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Mainoo covered several different positions
That was until Mainoo made his comeback.
He came into the starting lineup for Sunday’s Premier League match against Everton and immediately looked like he belonged at this level.
His composure and game intelligence was evident from the start as he received the ball under pressure and moved it smoothly through the thirds.
In this sense he has already shown up all of the other midfielders that United have used so far this season.
But what aspects of his game make him the answer to United’s problems in the midfield?
Composure when building out from the back
This past summer we saw United spend a reported £50million to bring in goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan.
Onana’s transfer coincided with the end of David De Gea’s 12-year spell at Old Trafford.
On the surface it made a lot of sense as Onana’s ability with his feet would help United to transition to playing the ball out from the back more regularly, something that Ten Hag had often referenced.
The problem, which quickly became evident, though, was that the midfielders for United were not comfortable enough receiving the ball facing their own goal to allow them to build out from the back in the way that they wanted to.
The likes of Amrabat and Casemiro, who has regressed hugely from a strong 2022/23 season, are too static when they receive the ball and they tend to play it back to the centre-backs or goalkeeper.
Mainoo, on the other hand, has already shown the ability to receive in these positions before turning and playing progressively.
Mainoo receives possession in a position where United midfielders would normally look to quickly play back. Instead, Mainoo turns to drive forward in possession
Having midfielders who are comfortable receiving back-to-goal on the half-turn and getting turned to drive forward in possession is an essential element for a team looking to build from the back.
If the opposition knows that your midfielders are not comfortable in these positions then they simply move players up behind them to force the ball backwards.
Having a player, like Mainoo, who is comfortable and confident in these positions opens the game up for a team like United as all of a sudden they can play through pressure and then start attacking through the thirds in a more controlled manner.
Mainoo is excellent in terms of taking possession and either finding a creative passing option to play through the press or turning and stepping out in possession.
Here United have a 4v2 advantage over Everton as they are building the attack. Onana has the option to go out to either of the central defenders but instead he knows he can fire a central pass to Mainoo who can take possession and step out with the ball
Now, with Mainoo coming into the midfield picture we see United with a player who can play beside one of Casemiro or Amrabat and add mobility to their experience.
Mainoo is fast and he reads the game well, meaning he will move quickly to get into position to receive the ball before making fast decisions in possession.
In short, this is exactly what United have been missing in their midfield.
Positional intelligence
Although we have seen Ten Hag resort to using Amrabat at left-back at times this season, due to a severe injury outbreak, United haven’t really had a central midfielder who is mobile enough to cover large areas of the field on their own.
That was until, however, Mainoo came back into the picture.
When teams want to utilise a possession-based style of play the structure they use and the flexibility that they show is key in being successful.
Having a central midfielder who is mobile and proactive in terms of how they position themselves in build-up can be crucial.
This can allow other players to move forward into advanced positions quickly as the ball comes out from the back.
Against Everton, we saw Mainoo drop into the full-back positions periodically to offer balance as the United fullbacks moved high to give their team width further up the pitch.
Mainoo drops out of the centre of the pitch to the right-back slot as United are in more established possession. By dropping out to this possession Mainoo can allow the RB to go forward and he can receive and draw opposition players out of position towards him
The fact that Mainoo has the ability to rotate into the fullback position in this manner offers an extra layer of protection for United.
Not only can he receive the ball cleanly in the wide positions to keep the attacking momentum moving and draw opposition players out of position, but he can also protect the wide spaces from opposition counterattacks.
This mobility from the central areas makes it easier for Ten Hag to push his players into more advanced areas.
Previously, United would have been vulnerable in the wide areas in transition as their central defenders struggle to cover space when they are pulled wide.
With Mainoo in the midfield, we see a United side that are more secure.
Once again Mainoo has dropped out to the wide areas although this time in the build-up phase. This allows the RB to move higher and it pulls opposition players out of position as they move out to cover his movement. Mainoo then has the composure and ability to find a quick incisive pass to play through the press.
With the addition of Mainoo we suddenly see a team that looks like a modern team who are capable of playing, tactically, in the way that their manager wants.
Ball carrying in the opposition half
You can make the argument that United have not had a true ball carrier in their midfield since Paul Pogba, but given Pogba’s issues with injury and form, even this is potentially a stretch.
Mainoo is a young player who seems to be able to slow the game down in his head.
When he receives the ball, even under intense pressure, he never appears to be rushed and he is not easily pressed and dispossessed.
That means when United are in more established possession of the ball, in the opposition half, they have the option to move it to Mainoo and have them drive forward to disrupt and break down the opposition defensive block.
Mainoo moves to take a  pass behind the midfield line of Everton and is quick and aggressive in terms of moving towards the opposition area. He pulls opposition players towards him and this creates space for teammates in and around the penalty area
While United have passers in the midfield, in Mason Mount or Christian Eriksen, and a runner in Scott McTominay they did not have a player who was comfortable in possession in all thirds of the pitch.
That was until Mainoo came back into the team.
Now, with the young English midfielder looking like he will firmly establish himself as a regular for United, we see that they have an option centrally who is press-resistant and capable of carrying the ball forward and through pressure.
Mainoo moves off the back of the opposition defender to receive the ball. As he does so he steps forward again to attack space and to create threat for his side in the final third
The fact that he can also carry the ball and be effective in the final third makes him an extremely interesting player who can play in all phases of the game.
Conclusion
The fact that Mainoo has come into the Man Utd first team and looked like a vastly experienced midfielder says a lot about his qualities.
He has already looked more comfortable in terms of building the play and progressively moving forward than some of his more experienced, and expensive, teammates.

The emergence of Mainoo is sure to prevent United from moving back into the market for a midfielder, and perhaps from making another costly mistake.
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EVERTON have appealed their Premier League 10-point deduction.The Toffees were hit with the sanction after breaching financial fair play rules.
Everton fans protested the Premier League’s decision last weekCredit: PA
The club breached profit and sustainability rules after recording financial losses of £44.7million for the 2021-22 season – bringing their three-year total to £124.5m.
Everton became the first Premier League team to be hit with a points deduction for breaching FFP rules.
The sparked protests from fans at last week’s home match against Manchester United.
The club has now taken action by appealing the Premier League’s decision.
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They wrote in a statement: “Everton Football Club has today lodged with the Chair of the Premier League’s Judicial Panel its appeal of the decision by a Premier League Commission to impose a 10-point deduction on the Club.
“An Appeal Board will now be appointed to hear the case.”
The 10-point deduction plunged Everton into the relegation zone and they now sit on just four points from 13 games.
The club could even be hit with a further points deduction this season if found to have broken rules for the 2022/23 campaign.
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That’s because new regulations say that a charge for “standard” breaches of the regulations must be laid within 14 days of the club financial accounts being provided.
A commission hearing must then be held within 84 days, with the verdict and – if applicable – sentence delivered within a further seven days.
That means any Everton breach would bring a charge by January 15 with a final decision by April 15.
Everton could also be hit with a nine-point deduction if they enter administration as a result of the potential lawsuits being brought against them.

Leeds, Leicester and Burnley understood to be preparing claims to sue Everton for £100m each after being relegated from the Premier League in recent seasons.
And if successful with their lawsuit the Toffees could have to cough up £300m in compensation, which new owners 777Partners would be unable to pay. More