Chelsea’s performance against PSG in The Champions League on Tuesday provided a strong insight into the current trajectory of The Premier League.
Because while there is more money than ever available to top-tier English and Welsh teams, the standard seems to be dropping.
Chelsea may well sneak through at Stamford Bridge in the second leg. But it was clear which team was in the ascendancy in Paris – in a game which, it is claimed, Chelsea fans had tear gas sprayed at them.
Premier concerns about standards have been backed up by stats with The Guardian reporting that The Premier League may offer performance-based cash incentives to teams in The Europa League:
as part of an attempt to prevent England losing one of its four Champions League spots
Italian Serie A is closing in on England’s fourth Champions League spot which could really tip the balance of power.
Talking of misspent funds, Manchester United are said to be considering root and branch changes at the top after another hugely disappointing season on the pitch.
The Sun says:
As well as concern at Old Trafford over some of the players bought over the last three years, there have been raised eyebrows at a failure to push some deals through. United have tried to get the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Gareth Bale and Neymar.
The club are ready to change that, with both the manager and one or two new executives working in tandem.
Arsenal are keen on Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, according to The Daily Mirror who say that the 34-year-old has been a regular target for The Gunners down the years. This may be deemed something of an unusual move, should it have substance, considering Arsenal’s penchant for youth.
Other Manchester United rumours floating about today include those which suggest that Jose Mourinho wants the club to look again at teenage sensation Renato Sanches, ahead of his summer appointment at Old Trafford.
And if Jose does arrive then Ryan Giggs may not want to stick about.
CR7 has suggested that he didn’t have a close relationship with Giggs, Paul Scholes or Riop Ferdinand while at United.
Tottenham are reportedly close to agreeing a new deal for one of their best signings in recent years. Christian Eriksen will get around £50k a week if he signs, according to The London Evening Standard:
Christian Eriksen contract: Tottenham star closing in on new four-and-a-half year deal
And The Daily Mirror churns up a well-publicised story about Tottenham pursuing another brilliant youngster:
Tottenham are competing with West Ham to sign Marseille’s £25m-rated Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi, 22.
We at TFF have been saying for a while that Tottenham are our dark horses for the title. Based on recent performances we actually think that they might just do it now.
So, in honour of the new Pochettino inspired vintage, let’s have a look at the last time Tottenham were generating such a buzz, with a team which had almost as much talent as it had hair in the 1980s. Enjoy.