
Adnan Janazuj must be restored, Fulham hope on Kostas Mitroglou, and which is worse – kit change or name change?
1) If not now for Jovetic, when?
Steven Jovetic has had a injury-plagued first season at Manchester City following his £22m summer arrival but after scoring against Chelsea last weekend, and after being rested against Barcelona on Tuesday, this is surely an ideal moment for Manuel Pellegrini to pick him against Stoke on Saturday – that is, assuming that the Argentine manager reverts to playing two strikers. However, if he is left on the bench ahead of Álvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko, it would represent a bitter blow for the Montenegrin, with his chances to start not likely to improve once Sergio Agüero fully recovers from a hamstring problem. Jovetic is a prodigious, if not prolific talent, and it would be disappointing to see the 24-year-old’s alignment of confidence, fitness and freshness go unused against Stoke. Michael Butler
• Video: Hughes optimistic ahead of Man City test
2) Moyes must turn to Januzaj again
On not one single, solitary occasion have Manchester United played really well in the league this season. They finished brilliantly against Swansea on the opening day, put in 20 decent minutes at Fulham, Villa and Hull, and fought hard at home to Arsenal – but that is pretty much it. Therefore, it’s fairly odd that Adnan Januzaj, their only consistent performer through this sorry debacle, has not started for a month. So often his team’s only source of creativity, as soon as Juan Mata arrived to help, sole burden passed to him. David Moyes may kvell in his astuteness at resting a young player – after all, isn’t that what Alex Ferguson did? – but the circumstances, method and alternatives were of an entirely different nature. And this cautiousness has caused him trouble before, first with Wayne Rooney and then Ross Barkley, penalising player, team and supporters. For United, this season has already gone, and with the defence and midfield likely to be remodelled in the summer, its remainder should be devoted to establishing attacking balance and cohesion. Januzaj is a crucial part of that, and while his missing the odd game is understandable, likewise his early substitution, such extended absence is to the benefit of no one but United’s opponents, both this season and next. Daniel Harris
• Moyes needs time at United, says Queiroz
3) Remember, remember, the wins of November
In selling Yohan Cabaye, there was no doubt that Newcastle would lose their chief creative influence, but after no goals in over six hours of football since his departure to PSG, the 28-year-old’s absence is being felt even more than expected. After losing his mercurial No10 (who had been operating in a free role behind a lone striker), Alan Pardew has recently changed to a 4-3-3 with disastrous consequences, becoming outnumbered in midfield and shipping 11 goals in the last three games. Newcastle enjoyed their best run of form in November winning four on the bounce in a 4-4-2 formation, leaving Hatem Ben Arfa on the bench and deploying Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran as industrious wingers around the focal point of Shola Ameobi’s forehead. In poor form, and with limited resources, Alan Pardew could do a lot worse than that system at the moment. MB
• Video: Lambert expecting tough game at Newcastle
4) It’s not all doom and gloom at the Emirates
Arsenal might feel that they’ve not had a good week, but the reality is somewhat different. Following the embarrassment of their Anfield thrashing and the humiliation of failing to beat Manchester United – a fate to have befallen no other top ten side this season – they have gathered themselves well. Arsène Wenger has been brave in his selections, and was rewarded with a suitable FA Cup effort followed by ten minutes of vicious intensity that disturbed Bayern Munich more thoroughly than anything they’ve faced since last season’s final. So, though things didn’t work out in the end, it should be no big deal; even if they’d won the game, the Champions League would likely remain out of reach. Instead, it is up to Wenger to isolate the momentum of performance, and use it to sustain bids for the two trophies still available to him. Arsenal have been very unArsenal-like this season, scrounging results rather than dazzling only to succumb – they have not played well in the league since early December – but, if they can merge the best of these two aspects, they will be a hard night for anyone. DH
• Wenger accuses referee of killing Bayern game
5) Mitroglou must find his feet straight away
The mind still boggles over how Fulham managed to sign Kostas Mitroglou last month. £11m appears to have been too much money for Olympiakos to turn down from the club’s point of view, but from the player himself, who had netted at a goal-a-game rate for his club this season, swapping a near-certain domestic title and a Champions League knockout tie against Manchester United next week for a club in complete overhaul at the bottom of a foreign league, seems a strange decision. After regaining match fitness – scoring a wonder-strike in a training match last week – the 25-year-old looks set to make his debut this weekend at West Brom, who themselves sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference. Fulham have rolled the dice in signing Mitroglou and neither the Greek or his new manager, Felix Magath, cannot afford an acclimatisation period. MB
• Magath sets struggling Fulham a six-win target
• James Riach: five things Magath must do to save Fulham
6) Only a compact Swansea can win at Liverpool
It is hard to see a way for Swansea to win at Anfield, but to have a chance, they must deny Liverpool the space that they exploit so well. By sitting deep and narrow, not only will they limit the threat of Daniel Sturridge roaming behind them, but prevent Philippe Coutinho from picking the passes that have dissected better backlines than theirs. This will force Liverpool wide, at which point they will have to trust their ability to head and hump clear – to as many fast players as Gary Monk has available, because to defend effectively they must also attack, and Liverpool still lack quality and pace in front of Simon Mignolet. DH
7) Short-changed in the most impressive of seasons
Only a win against West Ham this weekend will go in any way in excusing the baffling decision for Mauricio Pochettino to field such a weak Southampton team against Sunderland in their 1-0 defeat last weekend in the FA Cup. The Argentine manager made six changes at the Stadium of Light, with his assistant, Jesús Pérez afterwards even admitting that “we’re not disappointed to be out.” Why was the FA Cup tie such low priority for Southampton? They will not be relegated this season and are unlikely to mount any challenge for a Europa League place, and so surrendering a real chance of silverware, particularly when so many of the big-hitters are already out, seems madness. Even if Southampton’s rested players contribute to a league victory at Upton Park on Saturday, some Saints supporters may still come away feeling short-changed. MB
8) Everton are one of Chelsea’s toughest remaining challenges
After Chelsea won at Manchester City, suddenly they were the best side in the country, impregnable and infallible – an impression that lasted the few days it took for them to concede a late equaliser at West Brom. Though they performed superbly at the Etihad and executed a smart tactical plan to perfection, they remain at least one striker light, and are reliant on Eden Hazard not solely in the way that any team would be on a player so good, that being the point of having him, but because for now, Oscar and Willian are more deluxe jobdoers than reliable matchwinners. However, though their lead in the title race is contingent on City failing to win their game in hand, they retain an advantage, because of the competing teams, theirs is the friendliest fixture list. But with City, Arsenal and Liverpool all at home to struggling sides this weekend, it is important that they find a way to win one of their trickier remaining games when Everton visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday. DH
9) McNally displays his nallies
Earlier this week, David McNally – Norwich’s chief executive – publicly informed Chris Hughton of the need for results to improve. Quite why he felt so compelled is a secret to all but his ego; it’s not as though Hughton could be ignorant of neither his team’s horrendous form, nor the notion that the very same places his job in jeopardy, and it’s absolutely certain that the malaise in no way reflects a lack of care and attention. Which is not to say that changing the manager would necessarily be wrong, as such a move has often succeeded, but this in no way justifies his statement. DH
10) Which is worse: changing the kit or changing the name?
Cardiff City host Hull City on Saturday, with some supporters of both sides currently aggrieved at their respective owners’ decision to try and re-brand their clubs as part of a global marketing strategy. For Cardiff, the change in kit from blue to red is one has already been completed but is one that still smarts among some fans, while the debate over altering Hull City’s name to Hull Tigers has never been hotter; particularly with the news that season-ticket holders may face a hefty rise in prices, if the name change does not go through. Which of the re-branding strategies would you least like to see at your club? MB
• Hull owner threatens 50% rise in season-ticket prices
- Premier League
Daniel Harris
Michael Butler
theguardian.com