Gary Lemke looks forward to a blockbuster weekend in England as the Premier League returns, which coaches are in hot water, Luton Town’s tough life in the league and more!
Banana skin for Lunch
There’s something about the early Saturday (lunchtime) kickoffs that so often throws a spanner in the works. I’m not sure whether it’s because the fans haven’t had hours to fuel themselves in the bars beforehand, or that the players themselves aren’t used to kicking off just after midday. Saturday sees the second such early start – the first one was a 2-2 draw between strugglers Sheffield United and Everton – and this time Liverpool travel to Wolves. Routine away win for Liverpool, I hear you say? Not so fast. Take last season for instance. Liverpool were involved in six Saturday lunchtime kick-offs. They drew with Fulham, Everton and Chelsea and lost to Forest, Bournemouth and Man City. Wolves weren’t much better, losing both their games at home, and failing to score against Man City and United.
Virgil van Dijk has been suspended for an extra game for using 'abusive and insulting' language towards the referee after his red card vs. Newcastle
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 8, 2023
He'll miss Liverpool's next match vs. Wolves on September 16 pic.twitter.com/pQasLrH55p
Rage after ratings revealed
EASportsFC has taken over as the must-have online game from the end of this month and this week the 2024 player ratings were revealed. It’s always a giant ego-fest for the players themselves as they see what rating they’ve been given. Cristiano Ronaldo will be sulking in Saudi after his rating slumped to his lowest in 16 years (an 86). The rankings are topped by Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne (all 91), while the EPL’s next big hitters are Casemiro, Virgil van Dijk, Ruben Dias, Alisson, Rodri and Mo Salah (all 89). New Real Madrid sensation Jude Bellingham is said to be devastated he was only given a 76. Chelsea’s Thiago Silva moaned that the developers were “watching football with their eyes closed”, after receiving an 84 rating.
The Premier League's finest 💫
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 12, 2023
Are you happy with your favourite player's #FC24 rating? 👀
Pre-order the @EASPORTSFC Ultimate Edition to play 7 days early 👇
Are Luton out of their League?
Former Tottenham player turned pundit, Garth Crooks has been contacted by management at Luton Town after he penned for the BBC: “It’s good to see the tangerine colours of Luton back in the big league once more, but I can’t take them seriously, and see them down by Christmas.” In their response, Luton’s manager Rob Edwards said, “After three games it is disrespectful. It hurts when you hear comments like that. We have reached out to Mr Crooks so he can come in and we can show him what we do with our plan and that we’re not a team to be laughed at.” The thing is: It’s hard to not see Luton being relegated, although they will hope to get something from their trip to Fulham on Saturday.
📉 Sheffield United
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 7, 2023
📉 Luton Town
📉 Everton@DougieCritchley and @ZacDjellab predict the bottom three in the Premier League this season pic.twitter.com/on9xKWcfzl
Ten Hag lays down the law
You have to admire the space that Manchester United have given their manager Erik ten Hag, and also the Dutchman himself for the no-nonsense approach he has applied to his reign. While he will ultimately be judged for their on-field results and trophy activity, he has left the players themselves in no doubt as to who is in charge. Ten Hag won his battle with Cristiano Ronaldo, he took the captain’s armband away from Harry Maguire and he has banished Jadon Sancho to train outside of the first-team squad, for now. We wonder how much he’s also had to do with the club getting rid of Mason Greenwood and suspending Antony over their alleged abuse of women. Those were all brave decisions and the manager has to be applauded for being prepared to be his own person.
Jadon Sancho is training away from Manchester United's first team because he refused to apologize to Erik ten Hag over his comments made on social media, per @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/keIPadNjo9
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 14, 2023
Dyche favourite in sack race
We’re still waiting for the first manager to be sacked this EPL season, and we’re already into the fourth round of games! If the betting market is to be believed, Sean Dyche may as well start the car. The Everton manager is 2/1 to be the first to get the boot, while Paul Heckingbottom (Sheffield United) is next in line and Rob Edwards (Luton) and Marco Silva Fulham) are fourth favourites. The most secure in their jobs are Pep Guardiola (Man City), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) and Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton). Should you fancy a bet on no manager leaving this season, the odds are 250/1. Which is ridiculously skinny. Even 25000/1 wouldn’t be worth a bet.
. Which Premier League manager is under most pressure?
— masta sports (@Cabdiqa26033176) September 14, 2023
With eight votes, Sean Dyche was the go-to answer here, followed by Erik ten Hag and Eddie Howe.
One agent covered all bases in that respect and threw in the name of another who lives with almost constant speculation, pic.twitter.com/UJSJlUhaE2
