Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED are no different under Erik ten Hag than they were with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Jose Mourinho in charge, according to Jamie Carragher.The Red Devils have had a poor start to the season, sitting eighth in the Premier League and flattering to deceive even in victory.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been unconvincing this seasonCredit: Getty
Jamie Carragher has been unimpressed by Man Utd so farCredit: Alamy
Ten Hag, 53, has struggled to replicate the sort of football that he had his Ajax team playing.
And many of his signings have failed to make a big impact, with previously discarded players like Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay instead returning to the fold.
In his Telegraph column, Liverpool legend Carragher has claimed that it is now time to start questioning the United boss.
He wrote: “Ten Hag has signed sixteen players at a cost of £400million since July, 2022. By any measure – and no matter how unpopular the club’s owners – that is enough for a manager to radically redesign a team.
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“If anything, Ten Hag has been given too much power and control over the club’s transfer policy because the recruitment has been so poor.
“Given so many of the additions were hand-picked by Ten Hag – he has coached a lot of them at his previous clubs – the most surprising aspect is how little impact they have had on revolutionising the team’s style.”
Carragher, 45, then added: “The idea must have been to impose the lauded Dutch model of possession football, otherwise what was the point of headhunting him? United’s board seemed to be recognising that the least their fans expect is to be front-footed and exciting.
“No-one was demanding Ten Hag create a title winning side in one or even two years, but it was reasonable to assume the United line-up would be clearly distinguishable from the tactical set-up of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho.
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“The most damning criticism is that they are not. Their game plan is virtually identical.”
Since losing to Galatasaray on October 3 – the Turkish side’s first ever win on English soil – United have strung together three unconvincing wins in a row.
First there was the 2-1 triumph over Brentford, in which McTominay saved the day with two stoppage time goals.
Then there was the 2-1 triumph at Sheffield United, who are winless and had lost 8-0 to Newcastle in their previous home game.
Most recently was a 1-0 home win over Copenhagen, who had a last-gasp penalty saved by Andre Onana.
Next up, the Red Devils host champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Should Pep Guardiola’s side win, they will already go nine points above Ten Hag’s men.
Man Utd scraped victory over FC Copenhagen last time outCredit: EPA More

GARY NEVILLE compared the Glazers to bad parents while discussing their 12-year tenure at Manchester United.The pundit has been a vocal critic of the Americans and was fearful they would not sell up despite placing the club on the market.
Gary Neville compared the Glazers to bad parentsCredit: PA
Neville is a frequent critic of Avram, left, and Joel GlazerCredit: AFP
Neville often slams the Glazers following negative performances on the pitch from Erik ten Hag’s men.
One fan questioned why he does so and asked Neville whether he feels embarrassed by constantly slamming the Glazers.
Neville quickly shut down the fan with a comparison that left fans chuckling.
The former United star said: “Would you blame the kids if they kept on misbehaving for 12 years straight or would you start to look at the parents?”
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One person reacted writing: “This is pure gold.”
Another added: “Hahahaha well played here Gary 👏”
A third simply said: “Savagery.”
And another commented: “What a comeback 🤣”
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The Glazers looked set to leave United after receiving two offers in excess of £5billion to sell their majority stake in the club.
Qatari Sheikh Jassim appeared to be in pole position to take over before the Glazers U-turned and decided to retain control.
However they are going to sell a 25 per cent stake to Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who will oversee football operations.
Cycling boss Sir Dave Brailsford is set to join and will decide transfer business alongside Joel Glazer. More

SHEFFIELD UNITED are reportedly set to sack Paul Heckingbottom this weekend if they lose at Arsenal.And the Blades already have a replacement lined up to take his place in the Bramall Lane dugout.
Paul Heckingbottom could be on the brink of the sack from Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty
Heckingbottom, 46, is fighting for his job with his newly-promoted side rock bottom of the Premier League.
United have picked up just one point from nine matches as they still search for their first win of the season.
The Yorkshire team have lost their last five matches, including that record-breaking 8-0 thumping at home to Newcastle on September 24.
And it doesn’t get any easier for the Blades as they head to unbeaten Arsenal on Saturday.
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But according to the Daily Mail, Heckingbottom faces the chop should he fail to take anything away from the Emirates.
Sheffield United CEO Stephen Bettis gave Heckingbottom the dreaded vote of confidence last month.
He said: “He’s done a great job. Everyone is really happy with what Paul has done. 
“He’s been excellent. He’s smart and thinks about the big picture.
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“He understands the needs and wants of a football club, not just the wants and needs of a manager.”
However, his patience appears to be down to its final thread as he prepares to sack Heckingbottom.
And the report adds that Chris Wilder would return as manager.
Wilder spent five years at Bramall Lane as the gaffer of the Blades, having enjoyed two spells at the club during his playing days.
He took them from League One to the Premier League in three seasons and the Blades finished ninth in their first season back in the top flight.
Ironically, he was replaced on an interim basis by Heckingbottom when he lost his job in March 2021.
Slavisa Jokanovic came in over the summer but only lasted until November – prompting Heckingbottom’s return.
The former Barnsley and Leeds boss led the Blades to promotion last season but now could be replaced by the man he replaced.
Wilder, 56, has been out of work since a short stint with Watford at the end of the 2022-23 campaign – but is keen to get back into management.
Chris Wilder is in line to come back to Bramall LaneCredit: Getty
Wilder led the Blades to promotion to the Championship and then the Premier LeagueCredit: – More

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has joked that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has turned into a “nightclub” – thanks in part to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.Spurs are the undefeated Premier League leaders and fans have been rocking for weeks as they have won seven of their opening nine matches.
Ange Postecoglou and his team are unbeaten in the Premier League this seasonCredit: AFP
Tottenham currently sit top of the tableCredit: Getty
Should they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday night, they will go five point clear of Manchester City and Arsenal.
The 1983 classic ‘Islands in the Stream’ – sung by American county music duo Parton and Rogers – is a favourite of the players on their dressing-room jukebox.
It was heard playing after Tottenham beat Luton Town 1-0 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday October 7.
And the iconic song, which was written by the Bee Gees, was aired over the tannoy for the supporters as the North Londoners beat Fulham 2-0 on Monday.
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But asked who exactly was the squad DJ, Postecoglou said: “Ah mate, I’ve got no idea.
“I stay out of the dressing room partly because of the music choices of the players.
“Most clubs want to turn their grounds into a fortress – ours is becoming a nightclub!
“But I’m all for it, whatever makes people happy, that’s my thing.”
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Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton released ‘Islands in the Stream’ in 1983Credit: Rex
No manager in British football over the past two years has spent more time on top of the table than Postecoglou.
Not Manchester City’s Treble-winning coach Pep Guardiola. And not even Mikel Arteta, who has transformed Arsenal’s fortunes and had them leading the Premier League for many months last term.
Since the summer of 2021, the Australian has had a decent head for heights, winning back-to-back Scottish Premierships with dominant Celtic, and then continuing that heady form in the Premier League.
But there is no point discussing a possible league charge with wily old Postecoglou just yet – even as Spurs fans dream of a first championship since 1961
It was put to him direct on Thursday ahead of their trip to the Eagles: When exactly will you be comfortable saying Spurs are in a title race?
Tongue-in-cheek, he replied: “Look if we’re in this position around (round) 36, 37…you know, I might look at the subject…”
Postecoglou added: “It’s not all jokes or giggles or me coming in and throwing my significant weight around.
“I’m the same, it doesn’t matter. I’m hoping that when people see me they don’t know where we are, what position we are.
“At Celtic we were on top for a very long time but at the beginning, I don’t think people saw anything different in my demeanour.
“It’s just that my role in that context to be the one thing that people can rely upon to be consistent.
“I’ve one objective all the time: how can we be better?
“It’s not about making a short-term impact, it’s about building something which hopefully brings sustained opportunities of success for the club.
“I get so much satisfaction from what I do. I really enjoy what I do, on a daily basis. I’m very, very happy. I’m buzzing about what I am doing.
“But there’s a real good reason no manager will talk about winning a title in October or November because we know there’s a long way to go.
“We don’t sort of talk in those terms with the players. My main information flow is about how can we keep improving.
“I didn’t come here to not be successful. This cub has all the fundamentals to be successful. The expectations should be there.
“Part of the reason why there’s been this real desperation for a trophy is because they feel that’s the space they should be in. That IS the expectation. That is the reality.”
Postecoglou has huge “admiration” for Palace boss Roy Hodgson, 76, who he first encountered as Australia boss for a friendly with England in Sunderland in May 2016.
But don’t expect the Athens-born coach, 58, to be managing as a septuagenarian.
He said: “That’s not the plan – at the age of 76. Maybe somewhere on a Greek island, lying back watching football from around the world, doing some punditry and becoming an expert overnight.
“That’s the plan but you never know in life, mate.
“Look, Roy is an outstanding manager, an absolute gentleman.
“I just think he’s had the richest of careers. He’s coached here, coached abroad, coached big clubs, small clubs, fought for honours, fought against relegation.
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“He probably speaks five or six languages. He can probably go to multiple clubs and be welcomed with open arms. Just massive admiration.
“Hopefully my career, when I get to the end of it, I can have a fraction of the experiences he’s had.”
Postecoglou claims the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is turning into a nightclubCredit: Reuters More

FORMER Manchester United striker Louis Saha believes Kieran Trippier is the best right-back in the Premier League.The Newcastle defender, 33, has been in scintillating form so far this season, racking up seven assists in 12 games.
Kieran Trippier has been sensational since joining Newcastle in January 2022Credit: Getty
Louis Saha has compared Kieran Trippier’s delivery to that of David BeckhamCredit: Getty
He has a lot of competition when it comes to being considered the best right-back in the division.
Fellow England team-mates Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold could also be seen as the Premier League’s finest.
But Saha, 45, who spent more than a decade in England playing for Newcastle, Man Utd, Everton, Tottenham and Sunderland, believes Trippier has proven himself to be the very best.
And he also compared the ex-Spurs man to legendary Red Devils midfielder David Beckham.
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Speaking to Paddy Power, he said: “On current form, Kieran Trippier is the best right back in the league; there’s no one quite like him.
“He’s very committed and he leads this team. I like his style of play, and he learned a lot when he went to Spain.  
“He always plays with a smile on his face, but a lot of sweat on his forehead because he works so hard for the team.
“His crossing is like David Beckham; he’s a dream for any attacking player.  
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Saha hailed Trippier’s ability and impact on the Newcastle teamCredit: 2019 Getty Images
“He reminds me a bit of Leighton Baines sometimes as he’s so accurate with his crossing. I love his style and how balanced he is.
“He’s so reliable and he’s exactly what Newcastle need in the squad. He’s experienced but he feels very young.”
Trippier joined Newcastle from Atletico Madrid for £12million in January 2022 – the first signing of the new Saudi Arabian ownership.
And he became an instant fan-favourite at St James’ Park as the Toon went on a superb run of form under Eddie Howe.
He has scored three goals and provided 17 assists in 65 matches for the Magpies. More