Zlatan Ibrahimovic was Manchester United’s match-winner again, Burnley were tormented by Lincoln and themselves, and Arsenal need to pitch in at SuttonZlatan Ibrahimovic was the match-winner again for Manchester United and his late goal against Blackburn Rovers was another fine and composed finish to add to his season’s collection. That made it 24 goals in all competitions and the Swede has now scored in the FA Cup, Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey and Coupe de France. For United, he has been a stellar signing and there is a reason why the prolific forward can get away with statements such as the one after his midweek hat-trick against St Etienne when he declared: “Wherever I went I won, so I am...
Sacking managers is the traditional response for teams in trouble but there are no easy ways to beat the drop and time is running out for the top flight’s bottom sixSack the manager? Keep the manager? Sell your best player and import seven new ones, five on loan? Go warm‑weather training in Dubai? Cancel the Gulf trip?Switch to a sweeper system? Revert to a flat back four? Play two up front? Keep the faith with a lone striker? Go cold‑weather training in New York? Go lukewarm‑weather training in Benidorm? Abolish days off? Start regretting Champions League progress? Related: Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action Continue reading...
Defeat at Swansea made it 610 minutes since Leicester’s feted forwards last found the net in the league – and the riddle is at the heart of Leicester’s worriesIt may have been defensive lapses that cost Leicester City defeat at Swansea, inflating their relegation worries, but at least as significant is the fact that they haven’t scored a league goal this year, a run that now stretches to 610 minutes. It is a problem with many sources, but the bare fact is that Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, the two forwards whose brilliance was instrumental in them winning the title, simply are not firing.Claudio Ranieri made clear last week he had spoken to both players, trying to coax out of...
Leicester have lost a lot more than just a defensive midfielder. The champions have lost drive, appetite and identity and are woefully short on confidence and conviction, exactly the qualities that teams below them are beginning to showMany people thought N’Golo Kanté was unlucky to miss out on the individual awards at the end of last season. His contribution to Leicester’s overall efficiency was immense, even if it was not as eye-catching as some of Jamie Vardy’s goals or as silkily impressive as Riyad Mahrez’s support play.The French midfielder has much more chance of recognition this time around. Not just because Chelsea winning the league would bring him a second champions medal in successive seasons, or make his £32m transfer...
The Premier League triumph of Claudio Ranieri’s side is the greatest sporting story ever told. Going down would put the finishing touches on a three-season act of narrative purity, unlikely ever to be repeatedJust ask the Atlanta Falcons: once the prospect of career-defining ignominy heaves into view, it can be pretty damn difficult to stop the old noggin from whirling lickety-split, find a moment to compose yourself, take a breath, and snap out of the death spiral.So what should head-addled Leicester City do to avoid spinning out of this season’s Premier League? Make a tactical switch or two? Possibly. Hold full and frank clear-the-air talks at the training ground? Perhaps. Change the manager? It’s an option, sure, but let’s show...