Extra security were called in for West Ham’s game with Southampton after recent crowd trouble but a more positive performance on the pitch helped lift the atmosphereThe London Stadium was a sea of colour as the teams came out for this match. Those colours were fluorescent orange and yellow, representing the uniforms worn by the dozens of extra security and stewarding staff who had been drafted in for the day.Joe Hart’s goalkeeping kit was in the same bright tones as the tabards, perhaps in a gesture of solidarity. This was a big match for West Ham and everyone knew it. Not only did the nature of the fixture against Southampton make it a relegation six-pointer but after the debacle of...
José Mourinho could have Portuguese problem, Nathaniel Clyne might make return and will Arsenal rest their best?Poor José Mourinho! Once he was king but now he cannot even claim to be the Premier’s League best Portuguese manager. Carlos Carvalhal certainly has a stronger case for that accolade at the moment. It is hard to imagine that any other manager could have turned Swansea around as impressively as he has done since taking over in late December, when the Welsh club seemed doomed. Now they are out of the relegation zone and within reach of survival. Even Mourinho must admire the solidity that Carvalhal has introduced to Swansea, who will not give up chances easily at Old Trafford. Paul Pogba performed...
Álvaro Morata needs to play regularly, rusty Manolo Gabbiadini can solve Southampton’s problems, and Stoke are in big trouble Related: Chelsea’s Morata tries to run his way into Antonio Conte’s good books | Barney Ronay Related: Mohamed Salah will get even better before the season is out, says Jürgen Klopp Continue reading...
Mark Hughes’s spell at Stoke ultimately ended in failure but a Southampton survival mission over eight games could provide just the fresh start both manager and team needThe month of March is never a great time to be changing managers but when Southampton became the ninth Premier League club this season to decide a new man may do the trick they probably fell just on the right side of the line between bold decision-making and blind panic.There are eight games remaining. Not much time for a complete turnaround but with enough potential points on offer for the club to climb away from trouble. Southampton are one point above the bottom three, barely keeping their heads above water, and there appeared...
Mauricio Pellegrino’s sacking is no surprise after he struggled to identify his best team or lift the excitement but the club have been sleepwalking into relegation danger for some timePerhaps the biggest question is not who Southampton turn to next but whether they have left it too late. The manner in which Saints have sleepwalked to the point where they are teetering above the relegation zone has been alarming but inevitable for a while. Little has changed over the past nine months, when Mauricio Pellegrino was appointed, and the team, with one win from 17 league matches, have sat stagnant for too long.After Claude Puel failed to woo fans with a style deemed too safe, Pellegrino was sold to supporters...