This is the final weekend of matches before a long break for the World Cup. The season so far has been an intriguing mixture of the familiar and the unfamiliar
HIS WEEKEND England’s Premier League stages its final series of matches before a long break for the World Cup in Qatar. Games will not resume until Boxing Day, December 26th. The season so far has been an intriguing mixture of the familiar and the unfamiliar.
First, the familiar. On November 7th Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhüttl became the league’s fifth manager to be sacked this season, with the Saints languishing at 18th in the table, exactly where they were when the Austrian joined four years ago. In all, three of the teams in the bottom four have changed their bosses. Bournemouth and Wolves are also under new leadership.
Changing the manager is a club’s traditional response to a slump in fortunes; last season, ten Premier League bosses were replaced. A good managerBut it is worth reflecting that, even if all 20 clubs were being managed by someone as charismatic as Sir Alex Ferguson , only one team could win the title and three would still be relegated.
An exception to the rule, so far, can be found at Nottingham Forest. Although Forest are bottom of the table they have kept faith with their manager, Steve Cooper. This may reflect fans’ goodwill towards Mr Cooper, who took over last year when Forest were bottom of the Championship and guided the club to promotion. Preparations for this season were complicated by the departure of many leading players, who were on loan from other clubs, so Mr Cooper has had to weld together a new team .
The other end of the table is also a combination of the expected and the unexpected. Few would have picked Arsenal to be leading the race at this stage of the season; last year, the north London club finished only fifth, missing out on qualification for theChampions League. But the manager, Mikel Arteta , has put together a side that is both solid at the back and potent upfront.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Arsenal 1-3 Brighton: Premier League leaders dumped out of Carabao Cup by SeagullsDanny Welbeck was on target against his former club as Brighton dumped Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win at the Emirates.
Lire la suite »
'Nervous' Wright 'worried' for Arsenal star over 'horrible' actions of other Premier League starsIan Wright says he is 'worried' about Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka every time he 'goes down' with the Gunners star 'getting kicked to bits'.
Lire la suite »
Neville predicts Man City title-winning margin this season as Arsenal 'doubt' surfaces - Football365Football365 - Gary Neville thinks Manchester City will romp away with the title with Arsenal still needing to prove that they can end the season well.
Lire la suite »
Four Arsenal players in Premier League team of the season so far; Haal or nothing for Man City? - Football365Football365 - Talk of Arsenal continues to dominate the Mailbox, but a Premier League team of the season is always fun.
Lire la suite »
Premier League form table updated - A must see for Newcastle United fansPremier League form table updated - A must see for Newcastle United fans nufc epl
Lire la suite »
Firmino stats compared to Brazil's Premier League forwards this seasonThe stats this season suggest Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino was very unlucky not to make Brazil’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar. The 31-year-old was omitted from the Selecao’s 26…
Lire la suite »