When Ralf Rangnick arrived in the Premier League back in November he was little known in the English game, but his fellow countrymen Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel hailed the former Red Bull coach as a tactical guru who inspired them both.
High praise indeed, but you have to wonder how much Rangnick really knew about the Premier League before he arrived. He has played an unusual 4-2-2-2 formation at Old Trafford and picked up some good results, but some not so good, and the problems seem to be mounting not least in the dressing room.
On Monday night, the Red Devils scraped through their third round FA Cup tie at home to Aston Villa thanks to an eighth-minute header from Scott McTominay but it was another lacklustre performance following the Red Devils 1-0 defeat to Wolves last week.
The Villains were rightly frustrated to go out of the cup in the third round for the sixth season running after they bossed the game and a Danny Ings equaliser was ruled out after a lengthy VAR delay.
There has been talk of dressing room schisms at Manchester United and the emergence of some cliques, and that could be a huge problem at a club with such big names as Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba.
A number of players are reported to be ready to leave if an opportunity arises. Rangnick has told the unhappy players to be professional but I’m not sure that will help.
The boss has admitted that he doesn’t know what is wrong with striker Marcus Rashford who has scored just three times this season. And it seems the club is yet to offer a new contract to Pogba, the chief agitator during Jose Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford.
But United fans may be pleased to hear the striker Edinson Cavani is happy to stay at the club as he’s the one player who has looked top class in recent weeks.
Geordies’ set to splash the cash
Up in the North East, the moneybags Magpies have already flexed their financial muscle by bringing Kieran Trippier to the club. To attract the La Liga winner from Atletico is some coup for a side entrenched in the relegation zone, but Trippier is no mercenary. He worked with Eddie Howe at Burnley and has arrived on Tyneside to help his old mate.
The takeover of Newcastle United by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is a game changer and without doubt the biggest Premier League 2022 news story which is set to run and run. I expect the previously doomed club to survive this season and then challenge for Europe next year. And then in 2023/24, who knows?
The signing of Trippier didn’t inspire the Magpies in their FA Cup exit to League 1 Cambridge when they put in another dire performance. But unlike his teammates, he applauded the fans at the end of the game and is just the sort of character Howe needs for a relegation scrap.
The club has opened talks with Ligue 1 club Reims for 19-year-old striker Hugo Ekitike who has scored eight times in 17 games this season, and has also registered interest in Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke, Burnley’s Chris Wood, and Czech Republic scoring sensation Patrick Schick.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa are an entirely different proposition since the arrival of Steven Gerrard as head coach and Villa fans have the right to be excited by the progress of the club in such a short space of time.
The name of Gerrard and Villa’s more comfortable position allows them to attract a better quality of player, and the boss’s old Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho has passed a medical and is now seeking a work permit to join Gerrard at Villa Park.
And Villa are in discussions to bring sign Everton’s excellent wing-back Lucas Digne in a move which wouldn’t help the Toffees’ current struggles.
Big games to come
The Premier League is back in action this week and the pick of the fixtures is Manchester City vs Chelsea next Saturday. The Premier League 2022 betting odds have, for a few weeks now, shifted rapidly in favour of Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions. The Sky Blues are priced at 1.08 with chasers Liverpool at 11.00 and Chelsea now out at 26.00.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool put on a fine show in 2-2 draw to kick off the New Year. But with a 10-point lead, the Sky Blues will take some catching.
On Sunday, the North London Derby sees Spurs host Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the race for fourth place, while Aston Villa have a chance to exact some revenge on Manchester United.
But before all those games on Wednesday, West Ham host Norwich City and that gives the Hammers a great chance, at SBOTOP odds of 1.27, to win the game and make their own move on a Champions League spot.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
