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How Man Utd and Chelsea struggles compare to previous Premier League seasons
How Man Utd and Chelsea struggles compare to previous Premier League seasons
Manchester United and Chelsea’s dreadful starts to the Premier League season continued as they dropped points again this weekend. United were well beaten 3-1 by Brighton on Saturday to leave them 13th in the table while Chelsea, held by Bournemouth on Sunday, are one place worse off – and only one ahead of their winless opponents. Here, the PA news agency looks at the two clubs’ records in their first five games. Points United have six points from their first five games this season and Chelsea just five, in both cases matching their second-worst record in the Premier League era. United had only five points at this stage in 2014-15 and six in 2004-05, eventually finishing those seasons in fourth and third place respectively. They had seven in both 2013-14 and 2020-21. Chelsea’s five points matches their total at this stage from all the way back in 1993-94, which was in keeping with the club’s record in the early days of the Premier League – they had six in both 1992-93 and 1995-96 as well as 2000-01. Since their initial big-money takeover by Roman Abramovich in 2003, the only comparable season is 2015-16 when they followed up their title win the previous season with just four points from their first five games. Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager that December as the Blues eventually finished 10th. Even last season under Thomas Tuchel, on their way to a 12th-placed finish with a revolving door of managers, Chelsea had seven points at this stage. Wins and losses United have lost three of their first five games for the first time in the Premier League era, with the Brighton result following defeats against Tottenham and Arsenal. Erik ten Hag’s side lost two of their first five last season, for the seventh time in the Premier League, but have now gone one worse. They have at least won the other two, beating Wolves 1-0 and Nottingham Forest 3-2, to avoid matching the 2004-05 and 2014-15 seasons when they won only one of their first five. Chelsea have only one win, against Luton, the sixth time in the Premier League and first since 2015-16 that they have won only one of their first five. Mauricio Pochettino’s men have two defeats, the same as last season and one fewer than their nightmare start in 2015-16. Goals Chelsea’s five goals scored are their fewest in the first five Premier League games since 1995-96, matching that campaign and 1993-94 for their lowest total. Raheem Sterling’s brace against Luton makes him their only player with more than one to his name. United have scored six – only five times have they scored fewer at this stage, including five goals last season and a record low three in 2007-08 – but their bigger problem may be at the other end. The 10 goals they have conceded, three each to Arsenal and Brighton and two each to Spurs and Forest, is their second-highest total after five games. The only worse start defensively came in 2020-21, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side scored nine in their first five but conceded 12 to leave them with seven points. That included losing 3-1 to Crystal Palace and 6-1 to Tottenham. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live England offer discarded opener Jason Roy chance to be World Cup injury reserve Martin Odegaard believes competition for places is healthy for Arsenal Lewis Ludlam urges booing fans to keep the faith after England’s win over Japan
2023-09-18 19:46
Ferrari finally find their chief strategist – and it’s Carlos Sainz
Ferrari finally find their chief strategist – and it’s Carlos Sainz
The twitchiness on the Ferrari pit wall was palpable. With five laps to go at the end of Sunday’s thrilling Singapore Grand Prix, less than two seconds separated race leader Carlos Sainz in first to Lewis Hamilton in fourth. McLaren’s Lando Norris in second was closing in, within the critical one-second DRS range. The warning from Sainz’s race engineer Riccardo Adami was quick: “Lando, 0.8 (seconds) behind with DRS.” But the Spaniard was a step ahead, deploying a meticulous balancing act which ultimately secured his second Formula 1 victory. “Yeah, it’s on purpose,” he replied. At which point it all made sense. For a team chasing its first victory in over a year, often maligned for their clangers in the strategy department, all it took was a clear sense of thought and direction from the driver in the cockpit. Sainz was not overly concerned with Norris’ pace behind him. On the contrary, the double threat posed by Mercedes’ George Russell and Hamilton, lapping over a second-a-lap quicker on fresh tyres in third and fourth, was the main focus of his thinking. What a fine balancing act it was. Keep Norris close enough behind him – one-second – to give him a crucial speed boost on the straights to defend from Russell, but not so close that Norris himself could make a move for the top spot. In the end, it was a masterstroke which worked to perfection. “I knew more or less my pace versus Lando and how difficult it is to overtake here,” Sainz explained afterwards. “I knew he was on a hard and if George and Lewis were going to overtake, I would be dead meat also. So I needed him to hold on for as long as possible. “A couple of laps I was 1.2 or 1.3 seconds ahead of Lando so I slowed down a bit to give him DRS into turn seven, which was just enough for him to hold onto them and keep my race under control. Not easy, because you are putting yourself under risk and you cannot do any mistakes, but it was my strategy and it worked.” Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, beaming after securing his first win at the helm of the Scuderia, confirmed the ploy was Sainz’s idea. “He knew he was more at risk with Mercedes than with Norris,” the Frenchman said. “With Norris we had the same tyres and almost the same pace from the lap one. We were not really at risk with Norris except if we lost the tyres, so it was a clever move from Carlos to keep Norris into the DRS.” It was fitting that Norris was the beneficiary, too. Sainz and the Brit were team-mates at McLaren for two years and are still close friends. Norris admitted that the DRS-boost was “very generous” and despite finishing 0.812 seconds behind first place, was delighted with a ninth career podium. Still, that first win continues to elude him. As for Russell? The desire, bordering on desperation, to win in the end was his undoing. A light tip with the wall derailed his Mercedes on the final lap, slamming into the wall. It was a harsh, dramatic conclusion to the 62-lap, high-humidity race for the Brit, with Hamilton instead taking the final podium spot. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insisted post-race that it would be an “arm round the shoulder” approach rather than any in-depth post-mortem. Quite right too, given Russell’s bold approach almost gave him a brilliant come-from-behind victory. But more so than Russell’s mistake and Sainz’s mastery, what Sunday really showed us – quite depressingly in a way – is what this season could have looked like. With Red Bull startlingly out of the picture – impacted by a lack of tyre grip and car balance on a notorious outlier of a circuit on the F1 calendar – the ensuing battle between Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes was enthralling to watch. The battle behind the No 1 team has been tight all year. Only this time, it was for first place. The Marina Bay Street Circuit spelled the end of Max Verstappen’s win streak and talk of an unprecedented perfect season for Red Bull. The flying Dutchman, who finished fifth after starting in 11th, can now not clinch his third world title in Japan this weekend, with his crowning moment likely to come a fortnight later in Qatar. Yet a return to a typical circuit at Suzuka will likely see Christian Horner’s team return to the top. Ferrari’s pace uptake in the last two races, having taken pole in Monza two weeks ago too, has undoubtedly created a sense of intrigue, a spark of something different in a season of Red Bull domination. Moving forward, though, there is plenty to learn and maintain for Ferrari after Sainz’s supreme Sunday drive. No more should chaos reign in the strategy department. No more should “Plans A-F” be bawled out over team radio, confusing drivers and spectators alike. No more should Sainz and Charles Leclerc sit idly by while choices on the pit wall dampen their aspirations. Sometimes it’s best to keep things simple – and leave the in-race decisions to the men behind the wheel. The team’s hunt for chief strategists was easier than they thought. Read More Carlos Sainz holds on for thrilling victory in Singapore as Red Bull winning run ends George Russell despondent after last-lap crash in Singapore Max Verstappen makes prediction for Japan after his winning run ends F1 Singapore Grand Prix LIVE: Race updates and times at Marina Bay Lance Stroll cleared to race in Singapore after high-speed qualifying crash F1 Juniors broadcast an admirable idea – but all kids want to be is grown up
2023-09-18 19:46
Martin Odegaard believes competition for places is healthy for Arsenal
Martin Odegaard believes competition for places is healthy for Arsenal
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard welcomes the increased competition within the squad – highlighted by manager Mikel Arteta now choosing to rotate his two goalkeepers – as he believes it will make them stronger. David Raya, who signed on loan from Brentford and on whom the Gunners have a £27million option to buy, made his debut in the 1-0 victory at Goodison Park, which extended their unbeaten start to five matches. It means England international Aaron Ramsdale’s position as established number one is likely to be challenged over the coming weeks, but Odegaard said that principle should apply to the whole squad. That was evident as Leandro Trossard came off the bench for the injured Gabriel Martinelli to score the only goal in the second half, but it is the position of goalkeeper which is set to remain the major talking point. “I think it showed the depth in the squad now. We have so many quality players, the players on the bench can come on and change the game if we need it,” said the Norway international. “The competition for places is huge and I think that is a great thing for us and helps a lot. “You see in training every day the quality we have so everyone has to be on their best every day in training and that’s a good thing and will help us improve as a team as well.” On Ramsdale’s response to being dropped at Goodison Park, having started England’s friendly victory over Scotland just a few days previously, Odegaard added: “I think he will just keep working hard, like he is always doing. “He was there supporting us, cheering for us, helping us. He is a great character and he showed a very good response today by backing his team-mates, being there and giving us energy. “Excellent from him. We have two good goalkeepers there and it’s big competition. “Two top goalkeepers, different qualities, and both so good on the ball and in the goal as well. “We are lucky to have two such good goalkeepers and we will see who will play, but both of them are excellent.” Victory at Goodison Park, where they had not won in their previous five visits, was psychologically important to keep pace with the rest of their top-four rivals and the manner of the performance, having to grind out three points despite not being at their best, was pleasing for the Gunners captain. “It was a tough one. We knew it was a tough place to come, it’s been a tough place for Arsenal for a long time, but I think we did really well and deserved the win as well so very happy,” he added. “It’s a tough team and they play a bit different, and we had to deal with a lot of different things. “But we knew it would be a tough game, but were ready for it and I think we did really well on the pitch to fight and get the goal in the end so credit to the team and happy for the win.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lewis Ludlam urges booing fans to keep the faith after England’s win over Japan Leon Smith believes Great Britain have a chance of Davis Cup glory in Malaga Big-spending Chelsea rarely threaten in drab goalless draw at Bournemouth
2023-09-18 19:25
How tall is Kyler Murray? Arizona Cardinals QB called himself 'smallest' yet 'most impactful guy' on the field
How tall is Kyler Murray? Arizona Cardinals QB called himself 'smallest' yet 'most impactful guy' on the field
Kyler Murray might not be as tall as some of his peers but he believes he is 'the best player on the field at all times'
2023-09-18 19:23
Roundup: Sydney Sweeney's Birthday Party; 'Winning Time' Cancelled; Saquon Barkley Injured
Roundup: Sydney Sweeney's Birthday Party; 'Winning Time' Cancelled; Saquon Barkley Injured
Sydney Sweeney had a star-studded birthday party, "Winning Time" canceled at HBO, Saquon Barkley suffered a leg injury and more in the Roundup.
2023-09-18 19:16
West Ham working hard on Jarrod Bowen contract extension
West Ham working hard on Jarrod Bowen contract extension
West Ham are hopeful of committing Jarrod Bowen to a new and improved contract as talks continue. Liverpool remain interested in the 26-year-old and may act if the Hammers are unable to extend his current deal, which expires in the summer of 2025.
2023-09-18 18:59
Chelsea continue goalkeeper scouting despite Sanchez & Petrovic signings
Chelsea continue goalkeeper scouting despite Sanchez & Petrovic signings
Chelsea will continue their goalkeeper scouting despite signing both Robert Sanchez & Djordje Petrovic during the summer transfer window. Porto's Diogo Costa is a long-term target while Giorgi Mamardashvili is understood to be high on the wish list.
2023-09-18 18:48
Josh Allen heads list of QBs who rebounded from poor performances in Week 1
Josh Allen heads list of QBs who rebounded from poor performances in Week 1
Josh Allen was back to himself after a terrible opener
2023-09-18 18:29
From ‘unpromotable’ to the Champions League: Union Berlin fairytale is perfect antidote to modern football
From ‘unpromotable’ to the Champions League: Union Berlin fairytale is perfect antidote to modern football
“Ja so eisern wie Granit, so wie einst Real Madrid und so zogen wir in die Bundesliga ein und wir werden auch mal deutscher Meister sein (Irgendwann).” “Yeah, so iron, like granite, just like Real Madrid, so we’ll move into the Bundesliga, and we’ll also become German champions.” They could sing that at Union Berlin, safe in the knowledge they would never actually play Real Madrid. It was a fanciful chant, from a different footballing universe. In 2005-06, when Sergio Ramos was making his Real debut, Union were playing in the Oberliga-Nord, a regional league of clubs in the old East Germany. Less than two decades later, Union’s players and staff and their families gathered to watch the Champions League draw. Eventually, there were two possible pools for them: B and C. They were placed in the latter. And then it became clear: they would meet Real as peers. “Surreal and overwhelming,” said Christian Arbeit, the matchday announcer at Union’s Alte Forsterei ground and a lifelong fan. “For the very first time we are playing the biggest competition in club football and meet the biggest club in the world and it is the very first game.” For Union, life as a Champions League club starts at the Bernabeu. It caps the rise of Union, the underdog club from East Berlin. They haven’t become German champions yet, though they led the table after two games of this campaign and finished fourth last season. They have gatecrashed the European elite with an old-fashioned formula, an almost defiant anti-commercialism that has given them an authenticity that, paradoxically, some corporations find attractive and with a ground that was rebuilt by the fans. Arbeit is one of them, a supporter for almost four decades who took a few days’ leave from his job at a cinema company. “I knew I could never come back if I wouldn’t have helped,” he recalled. Without Arbeit, without the 2,333 supporters who provided 140,000 hours of voluntary work in 2008 and 2009, it is safe to say Union would not have reached the Bundesliga, let alone the Champions League. There was nothing inevitable about this, about the organic, improbable surge of the people’s club from the DDR. The people saved Union when the city of Berlin and the district of Kopenick, each having done nothing to maintain the Alte Forsterei, handed it over to the club, but at a point when the German Football Federation denied it a licence to host matches; unless it was refurbished, anyway. “A very heartwarming 13 months of a building site,” Arbeit remembered. “There was around about 100 people each day – you couldn’t employ more – and 80 of them had never built something before. They were like me – cinema people, teachers, sales people – and you had 20 guys, proper building people, and they had to guide us through this building site. It is kind of a miracle. We have told this story a million times but still when I do talk about it, it gives me goosebumps because it is such a crazy story.” The miracle had its roots in a different country and a different time. Union were not the dominant club in the East German capital; that mantle resided with Dynamo, who were in a run of 10 consecutive titles when a 12-year-old Arbeit first went to a game in 1986 with his father, an engineer who tended to spend his spare time playing the trombone in a Dixieland jazz band. “Until that day I was not interested in football and we came to the stadium and it was a strange world I had never experienced before,” Arbeit said. “There were grown-up men singing and chanting and shouting and swearing and using words I was not allowed to use at home so it was a huge impression of a strange way of freedom.” That freedom brought a contrast with Dynamo Berlin, the club of the notorious Stasi chief Erich Mielke and who benefitted from his patronage. “You don’t go to the secret police unless you have to,” Arbeit rationalised. And so Union attracted a different crowd. “It was more what we nowadays would call alternative culture: the young guys with longer hair, with parka jackets. The club was not an opposition club or a rebel movement because that would not have been possible. But I remember when my classmates noticed I go to Union. It was: ‘They are so-called rowdies and hooligans.’ They were considered a wild bunch, the Union fans. But I experienced them mostly like they are today, very engaged in supporting the team. In funny ways, of course.” Relegation was an occupational hazard for Union back then. German reunification brought other problems. “We played in the third division and it was very regional, it was more or less a Berlin-based league,” Arbeit said. “You had to play on Sunday at 11 in the morning in the drizzling rain and it was about 700 people turning up; it was really depressing. The people had so many more existential problems: How can I find a job? How can I feed my children?” And Union disappeared off the radar of many people, re-emerging with a first indication of their 21st-century propensity to upset more fancied teams. They had spent the 1990s acquiring the nickname of Unpromotables as, stuck in the third division, they found a range of ways not to go up. They were “Unaufstiegbar”. Twice even winning their league was not enough; financial issues meant they were not granted the licence needed to play in a higher division. And then, in 2001, they got promoted and reached the German Cup final, knocking out Borussia Monchengladbach and Bochum on their way. “It was like, wow, how did we do that?” Arbeit recalled. “After many years of being ignored, everyone noticed us.” The route to the Bernabeu nonetheless involved going backwards. Union were relegated twice in four years after the German Cup final. Short of funds, they needed the unpaid labour of their supporters to ensure they could keeping playing at the Alte Forsterei. But it helped they had a loyal fanbase: their status as outsiders may have benefited them whereas Dynamo, the former secret-police club, are now found in the Regionalliga-Nordost. Along the way, Union have acquired different rivals within the same city. They went up to the Bundesliga in 2019, a year after the appointment of the catalytic manager Urs Fischer. And then Hertha BSC got in touch. “I remember when we first got promoted to the Bundesliga, even in the congratulations was included, ‘congratulations, Union, we are happy and we are looking forward to six points,’” said Arbeit. Last season, as Hertha propped up the Bundesliga, Union took six points at their neighbours’ expense. There was long the sense that Berlin, one of Europe’s great capitals, ought to have a Champions League club. Hertha thought it should be them. No one thought it would be Union. The investor Lars Windhorst put €374m into Hertha and got just €15m back. Hertha spent more than €100m on signings in 2019-20, a season of four managers and a bottom-half finish. The most expensive of those buys, Lucas Tousart, joined Union for a cut-price fee this summer. “They manoeuvred themselves into financial and organisational instability,” Arbeit said. “We had not that much money but we had a very stable organisation.” Hertha’s grandiose dreams extended to Union territory. Dirk Zingler, Union’s president since 2004 and another lifelong fan, has described them as an East Berlin club; in a city that was divided for almost three decades, the distinction matters. “We would never go out with the approach to say we are the one club for Berlin,” Arbeit said. “The funny thing is Hertha did that for a very long time. They tried a lot of public campaigns to say that: ‘one city, one club, we are the club for the whole city’.” Instead, Hertha’s members are largely in the west, Union’s generally in the east. Now Champions League football will come to Hertha: or their ground, anyway. When Union first qualified for Europe, Uefa did not allow them to play their 2021-22 Conference League games at the Alte Forsterei. Now they had a choice: a ground with a capacity of 22,000, with fewer than 4,000 seats, but a home of symbolic importance, or a massive venue. Real Madrid, Napoli and Braga will go to West Berlin, to the Olympiastadion. So will thousands of fans, with cheap tickets. “The Champions League is for all Unioners,” said Zingler at the time. “It was one of the most difficult decisions we had to make,” said Arbeit. “We always say it is the people we are doing it for. It is something extraordinary, it is possible it is the only time in our history we reach that competition and that is why we decided to show it to as many people as possible. Still we are a bit sad.” Even Union have to compromise sometimes. But not often. Their matchday is a different experience. “We want to keep the dignity of the football match itself,” Arbeit said. “We don’t want any advertising Zeppelins flying around at the half-time break and no kiss-cam and no T-shirt gun. We don’t make any noise or any announcements in a commercial way and just a little bit, this is already something special in German football. We don’t do a half-time show with sponsored games or quiz shows. You can’t win some products. You have no entertainment before the game. “The people come here and meet their friends and they can have their beer and sausage. Just 20 minutes before kick-off, I just come on the pitch and say hello and introduce the guest team and then our team.” Union nevertheless have a corporate shirt sponsor, Paramount, and JD Sports on their sleeves, but on their own terms. “We develop in sponsorship terms from regional and local companies to international,” Arbeit said. If Union may be Germany’s least commercial club, their opposites are the other East German representatives in the Champions League: RB Leipzig, propelled by the Red Bull group. “From the view of our fans, it was about establishing a monumental marketing piece in football for a product which is Red Bull,” Arbeit said. “We are the last protesting audience: whenever we play against Leipzig our fans spend the first 15 minutes in silence.” If Leipzig – parachuted into a city with two established clubs, Chemie and Lokomotive – are the break from the past and Union a link with it, that still did not bring Ostalgie, the nostalgia for East Germany; DDR flags have been seen at other grounds behind the old Iron Curtain, but not Union’s. But they were born in the DDR. About three-quarters of off-field staff are supporters, some converts after they start working for the club. For most, it is not a stepping stone. A community club nevertheless display their ambition. As a newly-promoted club, they signed the former double Bundesliga winners Neven Subotic and Christian Gentner. A year later, Max Kruse, once the enfant terrible of German football, joined: he ended his first season with an injury-time goal on the final day to take Union into Europe. “Since then, everyone in our surroundings believes we can sign whoever we want. We are not afraid of calling someone up and asking,” Arbeit said. That policy reaped a reward this summer. Enter Robin Gosens, whose final contribution in an Internazionale shirt was to almost equalise in last year’s Champions League final, and, most remarkably, Leonardo Bonucci. The Euro 2020 winner and Italy captain left Juventus to play Champions League football with Union, a sentence that would long have sounded ludicrous. “He was perfectly prepared,” Arbeit explained. “When we had talks with him, he knew almost everything about our club; that was for us kind of a surprise because we didn’t expect this guy to know we have three sides of standing terraces. That meant to us that this person might perfectly fit because he could have gone to America or Saudi Arabia to take the next 20 million or anything but it looked like that he wanted for himself something special as well. When I was a boy, I always thought, why don’t players in the late years of their career, when they made their money already, why don’t they do something nice? And now I experienced that.” Union’s unique sales pitch is to offer less money. After all, they have no billionaire backer, a small stadium, low ticket prices and eschew some commercial deals. They have got players to buy into them, into the dream. Their wage bill last season, before bonuses for Champions League qualification, was in the bottom half of the Bundesliga’s, perhaps the bottom third. The chances are that striker Kevin Behrens can afford a car but, after he scored an opening-day hat-trick against Mainz this season, he was spotted cycling home. Only at Union, perhaps. But then the Unpromotables have done it their way as they have kept on going up and up. Union are the antidote to the worst excesses of 21st-century football. And for the fans who gravitated towards them 40 or 50 years ago, the long-haired and the parka-jacketed who sought some freedom and some wildness in communist East Germany, they don’t need to sing about playing Real Madrid anymore. It’s really happening. Read More Harry Kane is Bundesliga’s greatest weapon in battle for eyeballs Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hails ‘consistent’ Jude Bellingham Jude Bellingham’s captaincy credentials are in evidence with England on and off the pitch Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hails ‘consistent’ Jude Bellingham Mohamed Salah, Sven Botman and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 6 Big-spending Chelsea rarely threaten in drab goalless draw at Bournemouth
2023-09-18 18:26
Mohamed Salah, Sven Botman and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 6
Mohamed Salah, Sven Botman and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 6
Fantasy Premier League managers get one free transfer a week to make and with the competition in full flow some players may have saved up for two free switches to their teams while others will be considering a four-point hit or more to maximise their chances of success. With prices and form fluctuating on a daily basis over these opening weeks to the season here are five players who we think are worthwhile considering as the Premier League heads into the new gameweek, judging by upcoming fixtures and individual player form. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool - Midfielder (12.5) Possibly the most consistent midfielder in the Fantasy Premier League though still going under the radar. Liverpool’s Mo Salah has scored points in every gameweek so far with his best return (10) coming in the recent victory over Wolves. He’s sliding under the radar due to the lack of goals scored (for his own ridiculous standards) with just two in five games but it is the assists where Salah is cleaning up. He’s got four already this year and looks to be settling into a new role as a supplier for the rest of the forward line. At £12.5m he’s a pricey option but will almost guarantee points and could be a fine choice of captain if you want to move away from Erling Haaland. Odsonne Edouard, Crystal Palace - Forward (5.5) Speaking of, do you need someone to partner Haaland up top that isn’t too costly? Odsonne Edouard is that man. The Crystal Palace forward is coming up trumps this season thanks to more regular gametime for Eagles. In FPL terms he’s only blanked on two occasions and has four goals in five matches. Palace have only failed to score in one of their games (against Arsenal) and will be targeting Fulham, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest and upcoming fixtures they can win. If they do so Edouard will no doubt play a big role and put a couple in the back of the net. Sven Botman, Newcastle - Defender (4.5) The Newcastle centre-back is a slight risk as you are banking on the Magpies to keep clean sheets in order to profit from his skills. He’s a threat in the air from set pieces but doesn’t score many goals and any he does net should be seen as bonuses. It must be noted that Eddie Howe’s team have been poor in defence, shipping seven goals in five games and keeping just one cleansheet. However, their performance against Bournemouth at the weekend was encouraging and it is likely they will earn repeat shutouts against Sheffield United and Burnley over the next two weeks. A relatively cheap option for a defender, Botman may be worth selecting for short term gain. Pedro Neto, Wolves - Midfielder (5.5) A bargain option in midfield, Neto is a pick you make to try and maximise your differentials. He is in form returning 22 points from matches against Everton, Crystal Palace and Liverpool despite Wolves losing two of those games. A quick winger who loves taking players on, whipping in crosses and pinging shots at goal Neto has the basis covered for the goals and assists required from a midfield choice. Wolves should dominate against Luton next up before a clash with Manchester City should play into Neto’s counter-attacking strengths. Robert Sanchez, Chelsea - Goalkeeper (4.5) Chelsea’s results have been eye-catching for all the wrong reasons this year but their main problems have come in the forward line and, for the most part, they’ve been defensively solid across their five matches with the exception being a 3-1 loss to West Ham. Robert Sanchez is Mauricio Pochettino’s No. 1 pick, is guaranteed gametime and recently earned a 10 point with a cleansheet and three bonus points against Bournemouth. The Blues’ next three fixtures are all favourable with Aston Villa, Fulham and Burnley to come so Sanchez could be a canny choice if you’re looking to replace you goalkeeper. Read More Fantasy Premier League: 30 players you must consider for 2023/24 season James Maddison, Julian Alvarez and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 5 James Ward-Prowse, Raheem Sterling and 5 players to buy ahead of FPL Gameweek 4 Football rumours: Joao Palhinha in the sights of Bayern Munich for January swoop Messi favourite for men’s Ballon d’Or with four Lionesses on women’s list Football rumours: Al-Ittihad set to make record £215m bid for Mohamed Salah
2023-09-18 18:26
Barcelona handed huge fitness boost ahead of Royal Antwerp clash
Barcelona handed huge fitness boost ahead of Royal Antwerp clash
Barcelona could have key defender Ronald Araujo back for their opening Champions League group game against Royal Antwerp.
2023-09-18 18:25
NFL Week 2: Who is Playing on Monday Night Football?
NFL Week 2: Who is Playing on Monday Night Football?
A look at who is playing on Monday Night Football in Week 2.
2023-09-18 18:18
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