The Sun Newspaper

PREMIER LEAGUE bosses are under increasing pressure to scrap pay-per-view football during the looming lockdown.
The £14.95 fee will be reviewed by clubs at a meeting this week.

Premier League fans have been outraged at the £14.95 fee charged for certain matches – and PPV could be scrapped during lockdownCredit: Reuters

Five matches are due to be screened on Sky Sports Box Office and BT Sport Box Office this weekend.
A four-week lockdown starting on Thursday means pubs and bars will be shut, so fans would have to pay the controversial fee to watch at home.
The Premier League resumes on November 21 after the international window, clubs must now decide whether to keep the fee, reduce the amount  — or scrap it altogether.
Tottenham v Brighton was on PPV on Sunday night, with Harry Kane and Gareth Bale giving Spurs a 2-1 win.

But many fan groups have come together to criticise the amount charged.
When the Government allowed Project Restart to go ahead after the first lockdown, one condition was that the matches were to be shown without added fees — plus the BBC and Amazon screened extra games.
Next weekend, the PPV matches start with Brighton against Burnley on Friday.
Followed by Crystal Palace against Leeds on Saturday and West Ham at home to Fulham in the evening. West Brom at home to Spurs is on Sunday lunchtime — plus Aston Villa’s trip to Arsenal in the evening.

Matches are set to go ahead without fans until 2021Credit: PA:Press Association

There will also be further talks on Monday with the EFL, over whether they will have to resume Covid testing to allow games to take place.
The FA are due for talks with the Government about whether ‘non-elite semi-professional’ clubs can continue.
Leisure centres, gyms, swimming pools and golf courses will be closed from Thursday. But England Golf  plan to challenge the latest Government measures.
Chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson signed a petition to make courses exempt.
It has already surpassed the 100,000 signatures required to be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Tomlinson wrote: “I would like to make clear England Golf’s intention to respectfully challenge the Government’s rationale for closing courses.”

Premier League WILL continue despite second lockdown but fans now unlikely to set foot in grounds until 2021 More

TANGUY NDOMBELE has revealed the impact Gareth Bale is having as Tottenham tap into his Champions League-winning mentality.
Bale has returned on loan to the club where he made his name before the £86million world transfer record move to Real Madrid in 2013.

Tanguy Ndombele reckons Gareth Bale’s return has had a positive impact on Tottenham Credit: EPA

On the pitch, Bale’s performances have not replicated the captivating form that saw him win several European honours, mainly because he is building up fitness after a knee injury.
Yet it is behind-the-scenes where he is having the most effect.
Ndombele said: “You can see he’s a really great guy and he’s certainly trying to speak with everybody.

Ndombele (left) believes Bale’s Real Madrid ‘experience’ is benefitting his new team-matesCredit: AP:Associated Press
“It has really helped for the team to have someone with his experience having played at Real Madrid and won four Champions Leagues like he has.”

Ndombele skipped the Europa League defeat to Royal Antwerp on Thursday as he was struggling with fatigue.
The Frenchman’s absence was keenly felt by boss Jose Mourinho who said the ex-Lyon midfielder “gives speed to the team” and can move the ball “quick and fast”.
No doubt he will be one of the first names on the teamsheet for today’s clash at home to Brighton.
It completes a remarkable turnaround in fortune for the 23-year-old, whose future looked bleak after a difficult season following a record £55m transfer.

Bale, 31, has become a popular figure in Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham squadCredit: Reuters

Ndombele said: “I’ve got a good relationship with the coach.
“And the more difficult moments last season we’ve left behind us. We’re now both trying our hardest to help the team.
“I’m working a bit differently now. I find myself working harder in training and in the matches.
“But above all I think I’ve just settled in better.

Tanguy Ndombele’s recent performances have led to an improvement in his relationship with boss Jose MourinhoCredit: AFP or licensors
“It’s true that the last season was difficult for me — to change championships like that, it isn’t easy.”
The incredible double act of hotshot Harry Kane and Son Heung-min combined to score the winner at Burnley on Monday — the South Korean headed home the partnership’s 29th Prem goal.

We’re Tottenham so we want to be in the top four. We want to be playing Champions League football.
Tanguy Ndombele

Ndombele said: “That understanding comes naturally. And  as long as it’s good for the team, then that’s great for us.”
Last month’s 6-1 battering of Manchester United was such an emphatic result that many have started quietly backing Tottenham for a Premier League title charge.
Of course, it is too early to say for sure — Spurs have a history of underachievement — but Ndombele has spelt out his lofty ambitions.

How Lingard and Bale have compared in the past two seasons
He said: “We’re Tottenham so we want to be in the top four. We want to be playing Champions League football.
“We seem to be on the right track and so everybody’s happy. Right now, things are going fine.”
  TOTTENHAM (likely): Lloris, Doherty, Dier, Alderweireld, Reguilon, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Hojbjerg, Moura, Kane, Son.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho admits Gareth Bale isn’t the star he once was but says neither are Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi More

CRYSTAL PALACE are heading for a king-sized change of the guard — with THIRTEEN players coming out of contract.
The Eagles have monumental decisions to make with so many of their squad in the last six months of their deals.

Striker Michy Batshuayi is set to return to Chelsea in May after his loan from Crystal PalaceCredit: Rex Features

Ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa frontman Christian Benteke could be exiting the Eagles when he is contract ends next summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

It could lead to the biggest turn-around seen at Selhurst Park in years, with several new players also needed to replace them.
Palace have keepers Vicente Guaita, Wayne Hennessey, both 33, and Stephen Henderson, 32, out of contract.
They have a one-year option to keep Guaita but Wales international Hennessey could be on his way.
PREM RIVALS EYE DANN
Midfielder James McCarthy, 29, could also have his deal extended by a year.But the rest will have to haggle over fresh contracts.

Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt, 30, is looking for new terms but that might be an issue as Tyrick Mitchell, 21, has done so well in the position since stepping up.
Centre-halves Gary Cahill, 34, and Mamadou Sakho, 30, are two that Palace want to keep.
But defender Scott Dann, 33, could be off, with some Prem clubs even looking at him as a capture in the next window.
Strikers Christian Benteke, 29, and Connor Wickham, 27, were given deals for this season but could then move on.

Winger Andros Townsend, 28, was wanted by West Brom but they were rebuffed last summer.
He will want his deal sorted soon or could leave in the January window.

Out-of-favour midfielder Max Meyer, 25, sees his contract up next summer. He could go back to Germany.
Striker Michy Batshuayi, 27, returns to Chelsea at the end of his loan in May.Palace would save around £1MILLION a week if they left.
Boss Roy Hodgson, 73, will be watching the situation anxiously — but his own deal is up and it may be that a new-look squad could coincide with the arrival of a new manager.

Crystal Palace star Andros Townsend wants the Premier League to scrap VAR now More

YOU know I like a flutter now and then but even I would have thought twice if you’d given me odds on this a year ago.
The suggestion that Ralph Hasenhuttl would still be manager of Southampton, never mind the fact they could be in the top five at the end of this weekend.

Harry Redknapp has praised Southampton for sticking with Ralph Hasenhuttl after a 9-0 defeat last year

Hasenhuttl’s Saints side currently sit in tenth spot in the Premier League table

I don’t think anyone would have stuck a penny on the first part, let alone anything else. I know I wouldn’t.
A year ago, Southampton had just been whacked 9-0 at home by Leicester and dropped into the bottom three.
The board could have taken the easy option and sacked Hasenhuttl, so give them credit for sticking with him.
And you’ve certainly got to give plenty to the manager for how he’s steadied the ship ever since. That faith has definitely been rewarded.

I must be honest, I didn’t know a lot about him when he arrived — but you can’t knock the fact he’s done a good job.
They beat Everton last week and fully deserved it, too.
No one gets an easy game against Southampton and you’d have to fancy them for a top-half finish at least. Probably more, the way they’re going.
It’d be nice to think a few other clubs would show the same sort of patience Saints did when they hit a rocky patch — because not too many do.

Southampton beat Everton 2-0 last week at St Mary’s thanks to goals from James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams

You have all these billionaire owners who are massively successful in what they do, and don’t understand why it isn’t the same in football.
If a manager is good enough to get the job in the first place, he doesn’t become a bad one on the back of a bad result or two.
They should be asking things like: What has he to work with? What’s he been given?
Would it make a difference if Pep Guardiola came in, if you were a Burnley, Fulham or whoever?
Unfortunately not too many are keen to do that, any more than they are to stick with the manager if things are going badly.
Imagine if Manchester United had thought like that 30 years ago.
Sir Alex Ferguson is maybe the greatest manager ever but he was anything but a  success in those early years.

Southampton fought back against Chelsea to draw 3-3 at Stamford Bridge a fortnight agoCredit: Simon Dael – The Times
I remember we played them in the FA Cup at Bournemouth and should have had a penalty in the last minute when Steve Bruce went through Luther Blissett when it was 1-1.
There was the goal Mark Robins scored at Nottingham Forest which everyone says kept Fergie in a job. He didn’t do too badly in the end, did he?
I’m not saying Southampton will do the same by any stretch but you see what I mean.
Then again, maybe we should not be that surprised about how well Hasenhuttl and his team are doing, because it really is turning into a strange season — and not all in a good way.
Of course you love the fact there have been loads of goals, it’s great the league is so open and fantastic to see different sides up there.
But I have to say we’re watching a totally different game now. One which lacks the real intensity of a normal year.
A lot of them have been like practice matches, like the first team versus reserve games I’ve stood and watched all my life.

Players are not closing down or getting tight, they’re standing a yard off and I’m seeing more and more rolling it out from the back and passing it about, going nowhere.
From one centre-back to another, to the full-back, to the keeper, to the other full-back… you just couldn’t do that if there was a crowd.
I’m not against playing out of defence — but if there were punters in, they’d be on to them and demanding a  forward pass.
Instead you’ve got goalkeepers thinking they can do Cruyff Turns and centre-backs thinking they’re Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer.
I do like the fact we are  getting some odd results though — and we probably should have had a few more, to be honest.
Sheffield United were excellent at Liverpool and probably deserved a point, while Burnley were unlucky not to get anything against Tottenham.

Then I look at Brighton and think they’re really good but they can’t win a game at the minute.
It’s going to be tight at both ends this time.
So when they say it’s a strange old season, they’re not kidding — although surreal would probably be a better description.

Premier League WILL continue despite second lockdown but fans now unlikely to set foot in grounds until 2021 More