Tottenham failed to create enough chances against Leicester and Pochettino will hope they are a great deal sharper against Bayer Leverkusen and ArsenalGone are the days when a manager could stride into his dressing room, say “Lads, it’s Tottenham” and leave the room satisfied that his message had been delivered. That was Sir Alex Ferguson’s way of motivating his players at Manchester United before games against the north London club, back when a streak of self-destructiveness threatened to undermine Spurs at every turn.Squander a 3-0 lead? Spursy. Score a comical own goal in the last minute? Spursy. Roll over in a daunting away game? That’s Spurs for you. They can’t be trusted. Related: Leicester’s Ahmed Musa strikes to frustrate blunt...
Most people’s ideal would be for a tight top-flight but part of football’s appeal is the drama – and that requires weakness as well as strengthWhat would you like a league table to look like at the end of the season? Forget who you support, forget who you dislike, forget personalities and tactics and prejudices, if you turned up in an alien land and were given a subscription to watch every game in their league season, what would be your ideal? Most people, I’m guessing, would want it to be tight, would want the season to go down to the wire to sustain the interest, maybe so that on the final day every team would have a chance of success....
Liverpool’s main contenders are embroiled in European competition, while Jürgen Klopp’s men can stay fresh in their quest for a first title since 1990Arsène Wenger must be a genius if he can come up with a points total that will be necessary to win the title. Between 82 and 86 points, since you ask. Either that or he was having a little joke, which has been known to happen. “He must have more experience of the English league than I thought,” the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said, making his own little joke. “Because I have no idea how many points it will take.”Leaving aside the matter of how Wenger expects a more competitive league to result in a higher...
The Spurs forward scored important goals and brought commercial clout to the Bundesliga side, but the manner of his exit may mean he is not treated as a homecoming heroSon Heung-min is remembered at Bayer Leverkusen as an authentic global star; a player who scored important goals and fired Champions League qualifications and one who brought additional clout on the commercial front. Unfortunately for Son, who returns to his former club with Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the manner of his departure remains fresh in the memory, too.Son began last season as a Leverkusen player, having started in the Bundesliga opener at home to Hoffenheim and the first leg of the Champions League play off away...
Theo Walcott flicks switch for Arsenal if not England, Pedro Obiang takes his chance for West Ham and Tony Pulis acquired a gem in Nacer ChadliOne of the curiosities of the last international break was the ineffectual performance of Theo Walcott for England against Malta and Slovenia. Put him back in an Arsenal shirt, however, and it was as if a switch had been flicked. The 27-year-old scored twice to set his team up for a 3-2 home win over Swansea City and it prolonged his eye-catching start to the club season. He is Arsenal’s top scorer, with seven goals in all competitions. “It’s always difficult when you go from your club to international, there’s a different transition at this...