This weekend’s Premier League results constitute grim reading for fans of the claret and blue. Bournemouth’s hard-earned point against Chelsea, West Ham’s 3-1 triumph over Southampton and Watford’s stunning 3-0 domination of Liverpool leaves them stranded in 19th with just 11 games remaining. A morale-boosting day out at Wembley was a welcome distraction from the impending stresses that come with the culmination of a relegation battle. However, Premier League safety is the overriding priority if Villa want to avoid another lengthy stint in England’s second tier.

With a 2019 summer spend of £146 million, not many expected Villa to be languishing near the foot of the table come March. High-profile arrivals including Wesley, Tyrone Mings and Douglas Luiz joined up with the likes of John McGinn and Jack Grealish who were expected to hit the ground running on England’s biggest stage. Whilst the performances of Mings and Grealish have warranted high praise, those in other positions have been largely underwhelming.

As a result, Villa line up as an imbalanced starting XI who, perhaps most worryingly, have lacked quality and conviction at the top end of the pitch. Wesley has looked lethargic, clumsy and unrefined despite his obvious physical presence. Wingers Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet have shown flashes of quality without putting up the required numbers. Of course, football is not played on paper but when every point is gold-dust you rely on the front three to come up with the goods. Goals win points, and points win relegation battles.

Of course, the long-term injuries of Tom Heaton and John McGinn have hit Villa where it hurts. The former has been replaced by the ageing, inconsistent Pepe Reina whose disasterclass against Southampton has rid fans of confidence in their new number one. John McGinn was impressive in the early weeks of the season and brought a certain je ne sais quoi to the Villa midfield that nobody else could. Subsequent reinforcement Danny Drinkwater has looked well off the pace since arriving on loan, meaning Villa have had to rely on peripheral figures to influence games in recent weeks.

If there is to be one extremely obvious positive to take from the season so far it has been the performances of Jack Grealish. In midfield or on the wing, Grealish has been granted a Messi-esque role at Villa Park, getting on the ball as often as possible to progress up the pitch and make things happen. His return of 13 goal involvements is nothing to be scoffed at either. It seems certain that, survive or not, Grealish will get his big move this summer.

Murmurs of a figure around £50-£70m will do little to console fans for the loss of their star man. If they go down however, do not be surprised if they receive a figure well short of that valuation. This will only serve to compound the financial misery that comes with relegation. As a club that has emerged from financial difficulty after their big-spending gamble to get out of the Championship failed for a number of years, a cut-price deal for Grealish would be another firm kick in the teeth.

Without a doubt, Villa are up against it with 11 games to go. Relegation rivals West Ham should realistically have the quality to see them survive, Watford have hit an upturn in form since the arrival of Nigel Pearson, and Bournemouth have managed it in previous years with much lower-quality squads than they currently have at their disposal. Elsewhere, Norwich appear to be as good as gone and Brighton have not found their groove with any level of consistency. The title is already sewn up but matters at the bottom of the table are poised for a blockbuster finish.

EFL silverware might have been the morale boost that the squad needed going into the final weeks of the season. Despite their hard-fought 2-1 loss, front man Mbwana Samatta got himself a goal and Villa nearly forced extra time but for Bravo’s heroics. The loss will undoubtedly hurt, but the huddle at the final whistle showed that players and staff are ready for what is to come.

To put it bluntly, Villa’s final run of fixtures is not a favourable one. However, hope rests in the fact that the runs of their rivals are not much easier. Against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester, certain players will be required to step up to the plate in ways they have not done so far this campaign. Opting to let Dean Smith see out the season represents a bold strategy with so much at stake. By all accounts, Villa have played some attractive football this season under Smith’s tutelage. Whether he can push the right buttons to convert this into points in the nick of time remains to be seen. With ten games remaining, there is sure to be fireworks. A final-day game at West Ham could just be the stage for Villa’s finest hour.

In a career which can span up to 20 years, it is common sense that footballers will occasionally hit dips in form. Although it must be said, Christian Benteke’s dip in the past three years is perhaps more comparable to the Grand Canyon – vast and never-ending. With five goals in his past 68 outings for Palace, the once prolific scorer’s confidence appears shot to pieces. However, his recent performance at Goodison Park has got Palace fans talking. It appears the big man is not going down without a fight.

Where did it all go wrong?

When Benteke rocked up to a struggling Aston Villa as an overgrown 22-year-old, it did not take long for him to hit the ground running. With 23 goals in his debut season, the Belgian would go on to average a goal every other game during his three years in Birmingham. His 6’3 frame, lethal finishing and eye for the spectacular rendered him pretty much unplayable when he was on song. Meanwhile, he provided a stiff challenge to Romelu Lukaku’s starting spot as Belgium number 9.

Having jumped ship one year before Villa’s inevitable relegation, Benteke got his dream opportunity in a £32.5m move to Liverpool. Things got off to a good start, netting a sumptuous overhead kick at Old Trafford just one-month in. However, it became quickly apparent that Benteke was not particularly well-suited to Jurgen Klopp’s pacey, ‘rock n roll’ style of play. After finishing the season with nine league goals, Benteke was quietly ushered out of the door returning to the relative ‘small-time’ of Crystal Palace.

A respectable return of 15 league goals in 2016-17 put him above the likes of Sadio Mane, Jamie Vardy and Heung-Min Son in the scoring charts. For £27m, many praised the acquisition given the perception of ‘guaranteed goals’ that he was thought to bring. Having survived comfortably, most expected the following season to bring more of the same as he sought retribution for his shortcomings at Anfield. Nobody expected the sustained drop in form that followed.

Stuck in a rut

In a team which relies so heavily on the pace and trickery of direct, attacking wingers who are more likely to cut in than go for the by-line, Benteke has found reliable service into the box hard to come by. In a rigid 4-5-1 purpose-built not to concede, the likes of Zaha, Townsend and Milivojevic have brought in sufficient goals to maintain a steady flow of points. Indeed, there has been no incentive to change the system. As a result, Benteke has had to transition from a player who relies on service, towards a player who himself provides service to midfield support.

Obviously, this transition has not been easy – his lack of goals speaks for itself. The likes of Connor Wickham, Bakary Sakho and Michy Batshuayi were all half-heartedly drafted in to boost attacking options but to limited effect.

In Palace’s 3-1 loss to Everton on Saturday, Benteke may have been surprised to see his name on the team sheet. Flanked by Wilfred Zaha and the impressive Jordan Ayew either side, Benteke displayed some fantastic hold up play before getting on the scoresheet himself. Granted, it took a Pickford howler for it to happen, but his first goal of the season will bring him much needed confidence at a time when loan arrival Cenk Tosun puts his position under significant threat. Yes, Palace lost the game, but the promising signs displayed by the big Belgian have not gone unnoticed.

Moving Forwards

If Benteke is to gain the trust of Roy Hodgson again, more performances of that nature are required. During the course of the 90 minutes he made long balls stick, he turned to knock balls over the top for willing runners, and his goal represented an added bonus.

With Cenk Tosun returning to fitness after a minor knock, Hodgson’s next move will be revealing. Even from his short, and largely unsuccessful time at Everton Tosun’s goal threat was obvious, even if he did offer little else. Benteke appears more adept at bringing in the guile and quality of Jordan Ayew and Wilfred Zaha, if his most recent performance is anything to go by. It may ultimately be a matter of personal preference.

Let us not forget that Benteke is a striker who we have seen perform to an elite level in the top-flight for a number of seasons [albeit several years ago]. 71 Premier League goals in his first five years is testament to what he is capable of. These days, perhaps he has learned how to add something totally new to his game. Whether he can use this weekend as a platform remains to be seen but cast your minds back and the quality that lies within is a known fact.

In tournaments gone by, a general concern has built-up around England’s lack of top-class creative midfield options. Although Ross Barkley, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli have acquitted themselves well in recent years, an emerging crop of youngsters are hitting top gear as we approach Euro 2020. In the midst of excellent domestic campaigns, the likes of James Maddison, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount will all be vying for a starting spot, leaving Gareth Southgate with a welcome dilemma as he decides on his main man.

The Anchor

New entrants to the England midfield will certainly not be made at the expense of Jordan Henderson. The 29-year-old Liverpool captain is at the peak of his powers as captain of the most rampant English club side in recent memory. Having visibly matured in recent years, Henderson’s winning mentality, big-game pedigree and calming presence in the middle of the park serves to make him England’s undisputed midfield general in games to come.  

Those chosen to flank Henderson will largely depend on the calibre of opponent. Declan Rice or Eric Dier, both centre-backs by trade, would bring defensive solidity against those with the capacity to hurt England offensively. However, their respective lack of ability to venture forward and carve teams open render this approach slightly pessimistic.

In light of this, 24-year-old Harry Winks may be a more desirable compromise. Into his fourth season as a Spurs regular, Winks’ progressive passing from a deep midfield role has increasingly caught the eye of those in the top-flight. Rarely one to stray too far upfield, Winks provides an attractive middle ground through which England can remain defensively stable but provide adequate service for star players further forward. Whether Southgate fancies this midfield dynamic is another question, however Winks provides a unique balance which earns him my recommendation.  

The Vacancy

Henderson and Winks’ defensive capabilities leave room for a third, more attacking option to complete the midfield trio. By my estimation, six young Englishman have a shot at cementing their spot in time for summer.

Jose Mourinho’s shock appointment as Spurs manager has coincided with Dele Alli’s resurrection as a Premier League force. 23-year-old Alli has finally remembered where the net is, and his current form undoubtedly thrusts him straight back into Southgate’s thoughts. Alli’s lack of effectiveness in a midfield-three does, however, create cause for concern. Having earned his stripes as a distinct number-10 at Spurs, I believe Southgate would be well-advised to look elsewhere.

Fan-favourite Jack Grealish has been putting up impressive numbers whilst dragging Aston Villa through games this season. After contributing to 12 goals in 23 league games, talk has intensified about his long-awaited England call up. His raw talent is clear to see, but he remains a gamble. His recent Villa heroics have come largely from the wing, and his inexperience on the global stage suggests that the tournament may just come to soon for him.  

Phil Foden, still just 19-year-old, is tipped for international greatness in years to come. However, his lack of game time for Manchester City means he is almost certain to miss out this time round. Elsewhere, Mason Mount has already impressed just six-months into his top-flight career. Southgate has been an outspoken admirer of Mount’s, although his recent plateau in form leaves the door ajar for more exciting prospects to step in. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has spent a significant period of time side-lined by injury. Despite this, when he has featured under Klopp he has been sublime. As an exciting, industrious midfielder with bags of ability going forward, ‘The Ox’ stands a real chance of muscling his way in if he can build up a run of games during the back end of the season.

The Chosen One

James Maddison’s sole senior appearance as a 56^th minute substitute in November is a discredit to his form and ability. On face value it appears that Maddison is unfancied by Southgate, but when you look at the facts there is no player more deserved of a step up in international responsibility.

Maddison has been a staggeringly consistent performer since his Premier League bow 18-months ago. His ability to dribble, drive forward, exhibit a wide range of passing and find the top corner from long range gives him the ideal skillset to give England’s midfield trio an attacking edge.

Having broadly matched Grealish for goals and assists this campaign, Maddison is ahead of all names mentioned in terms of Premier League chances created. The 23-year-old’s talent has allowed him to dazzle for an electric Leicester team competing valiantly at the business end of the table. Furthermore, his advanced midfield position alongside Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemens is similar to what would be demanded of him in Southgate’s preferred 4-3-3.

In the past, England managers have tended to stick with the tried and tested in major tournaments. In attacking midfield, England’s tried and tested contingent are simply not the best we have to offer. England’s stockpile of emerging talent in this regard gives Southgate plenty of choice. Ultimately, such varied options represent an effective weapon – it remains to be seen whether they can be used effectively.

2019/20 will mark the end of Manchester City’s ten-year love affair with the one they call ‘El Mago’. David Silva has racked up more than 400 games for the blues, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s heaviest hitters in the process. Unfortunately for City, the silky Spaniard has decided that this season will be his last in Manchester. Fortunately, they won’t have to look far for his long-term replacement. Or at least, they shouldn’t…

Born in Stockport in the year 2000, Phil Foden was welcomed into Manchester City’s youth ranks at the tender age of nine. In an academy buoyed by newfound riches, Foden’s talent quickly became apparent even in a stellar youth side involving Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz, who have since moved on to the bright lights of Dortmund and Real Madrid.

Word about Foden truly began to spread, however, when he was awarded the Golden Ball at the 2017 Under-17 World Cup. Previously won by the likes of Toni Kroos and Cesc Fabregas, Foden’s individual triumph raised plenty of eyebrows in the football world. Meanwhile, Foden’s opportunities in City’s first team proved to be scarce until last season, finally making his mark with an impressive seven goals in 26 appearances, many of them from the bench. This season has continued in much the same way, grasping limited opportunities for game time and impressing in the process, particularly in cup fixtures where he has started with greater regularity.

Unfortunately for Foden, gaining a lasting foothold in a City midfield headlined by Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva has been nigh on impossible. Talent aside, unseating one of the Premier League greats as a teenager is simply unrealistic. Patiently waiting for the nod, the local lad has taken the opportunity to hone his craft among the finest midfielders in the world whilst under Pep Guardiola’s expert tutelage.

With Silva’s departure imminent, many suspect Foden’s watershed moment is on the horizon. An energetic midfielder with a propensity to drive forward, an eye for goal and a defence splitting pass, Pep Guardiola stated recently that “Phil is the most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager”. As a teenager who has already been branded ‘the Stockport Iniesta’, such high praise should come as no surprise. His introductions from the bench have produced excitement at the Etihad, but as the one they call “Pep’s boy” approaches 20, his increase in responsibility should go hand in hand with Silva’s exit.

City’s tentative links with the likes of Isco and Jack Grealish this January will most likely come to nothing. Indeed, any Silva replacement would be ill-advised given the ability of Foden, Bernardo or Gundogan to step up to the plate. As Liverpool have effectively wrapped up the league with four months to spare, the remainder of City’s season is reduced to a formality so long as Champions League football is assured for the next campaign. With this in mind, why not phase Foden into the starting line-up now? If this was already the plan for next season, which it would seemingly have to have been if City were to keep hold of such a precocious talent, then it seems logical that they should seek to integrate Silva’s replacement as soon as possible in preparation for a fresh title charge.

Foden’s lack of game time is likely to exclude him from Gareth Southgate’s plans for the upcoming Euros. With this in mind, Foden has shown remarkable patience to await his chance under Guardiola. Former teammate Jadon Sancho has reached superstardom since his move to the Bundesliga, and his 14 goal haul this season stands him in good stead to be one of England’s key men at the tournament. Undoubtedly the progress of Foden’s similarly revered peers will be weighing on his mind. The waiting game for Phil Foden must come to an end. As one City legend departs, a prodigious talent must be thrown into the deep end to take his place.

Watford were as good as gone this time last month. As fans wallowed in their team’s position at the foot of the table, Nigel Pearson was plotting yet another great escape – thus far his arrival has prompted a remarkable turnaround.  The Nottingham-born maverick has got the Midas touch when it comes to rescuing lost causes, and his latest assignment has seen him get Watford back on track in double-quick time.

A look back to the start of the season makes for grim reading for hornets fans. The man who started the season at the helm, Javi Gracia, had been the first Watford boss to last more than a full season since 2013. His achievement, which says as much about the board’s itchy trigger finger as it does about Gracia’s managerial expertise, was consigned to the history books just four games into the new campaign after he was shown the door with just 1 point from their opening 4 matches. A hasty sacking by many accounts given Gracia had led Watford to a 13^th place finish and an FA cup final just 4 months prior.

The curious re-appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores was announced just half an hour later, and an 8-0 humbling at the Etihad the following week was an ominous sign of things to come. In truth, things never really got off the ground for Flores whose solitary win saw him last just 3 months in the dugout before the board decided to jump ship once more. To the surprise of many, the Pozzo family turned to Nigel Pearson – the straight-talking Englishman who had been stuck out in Belgium leading second division minnows OH Leuven since 2017.

Taken at face value Pearson’s appointment appeared to be a strange one, however his no-nonsense approach to management has noticeably galvanized a squad that was brimming with talent but lacking direction. Flying 21-year-old winger Ismaila Sarr, a club record signing at £30m, had become something of a forgotten man under Gracia and Flores before his hornets career had even begun. Dressing room leader and club legend Troy Deeney was misfiring, and mercurial talent Gerard Deulofeu, electric on his day, was simply not consistent enough to turn his team’s fortunes around.

The ‘Pearson Effect’ was to change the tide for all three of them. The trio have bagged eight goals between them since his arrival in December, with Sarr and Deulofeu running full-backs ragged whilst Deeney looks back to his marauding best. His first game saw Flores’ negative 5-3-2 formation dropped, instead setting out his preferred 4-2-3-1 – he has not flinched since. The tactical switch, infinitely better suited to harness Watford’s most talented players, has translated to 15 points from Pearson’s first 8 games in charge, launching them out of the relegation zone just 4 weeks after occupying the fateful bottom spot at Christmas.

Tricky games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Leicester will put Pearson’s new-look side to the test in February and March. With Bournemouth and Norwich in desperate trouble and Aston Villa in dire need of striking reinforcements, Watford’s prospects of survival are looking better than even the most ambitious hornets fan could have dreamed of this time last month. Pearson, who was Bryan Robson’s right-hand-man for West Brom’s 2005 great escape, and who himself was the main man when he repeated the feat with Leicester in 2015, is perhaps better placed than anybody to lead Watford to Premier League survival.

Long gone are the days when Chelsea and Manchester United were pillars of the English top 4, and early signs this season point to a gradual loosening of their grip on the top 6 also. Their tepid starts have left the door ajar for a select group of candidates to make the step-up from mid-table mediocrity to the dizzying heights of 6^th place and beyond. Here, we take a detailed look at the candidates in question.

Leicester City

As Wes Morgan lifted the Premier League trophy above his head in 2016, the same year Donald Trump took office, many of us began to wonder whether we were living in a simulation after all. Several faces remain from that legendary title win, however 9^th place is the highest Leicester have managed since.

There is cause for optimism at the King Power however, as a stagnant period under quiet Frenchman Claude Puel has made way for the more exciting and expansive Brendan Rodgers. After their 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle this weekend Leicester sit 3^rd in the table after losing just one of their opening seven matches.

A steady but effective rebuild has taken place after Leicester cashed in on title-winning protagonists N’golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater and Riyad Mahrez. These days they boast a young and exciting squad that Puel had got functioning, but it appears that Rodgers has the knowhow to really make them sing.

As crucial a player as he was, the departure of Kante has been partially offset by the emergence of the industrious Wilfred Ndidi (and that is some compliment). In Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira they have a menacing set of attacking full-backs, with the latter bagging as many goals in his brief Leicester career as Christian Benteke has managed over the past three seasons. Youri Tielemans is a statement signing at £40m and represents a player who all European heavyweights have known about since he burst onto the scene with Anderlecht as a 16-year-old, and by all accounts Caglar Soyuncu is well equipped to fill Harry Maguire’s rather large boots in defence.

Under Rodgers, Leicester attack with pace and potency in a team laced with creators and goalscorers. James Maddison is showing remarkable consistency in how he influences games, and 32-year-old Jamie Vardy continues to go about his business effectively by averaging an impressive 19 Premier League goals over the past four seasons.

Leicester’s only loss so far came as a result of a Marcus Rashford penalty at Old Trafford, a game many expected them to win which shows the strength of their hand, or perhaps the relative weakness of United’s. Since then they have claimed a big-six scalp in beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, and look poised to push the Premier League’s big-guns all the way over the next eight months.

West Ham United

The Hammers are a prime example of a club on the up. Their stadium now boasts a capacity of 60,000, this summer saw them smash their transfer record to bring in £45m Sebastian Haller, and a Premier League winning manager sits in their dugout. Let’s not forget that 66-year-old Manuel Pellegrini has serious pedigree, including bringing a certain Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid back in 2008.

Last season’s 10^th place finish was hampered by poor home form, likely due to the unfamiliarity of their new stadium. With such a talented squad however, you always got the sense that if this problem was solved, West Ham could kick on and cause some serious problems to teams higher up the table. Fans will be optimistic at this early stage as the Hammers sit in 4^th place after 7 games, above Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and United.

If West Ham are to make the step up to the top 6 it is not going to be for the want of talent. Diminutive trickster Manuel Lanzini, man mountain Issa Diop and every fantasy football manager’s right-hand man Lukasz Fabianski delight fans every weekend. Andriy Yarmolenko looks to be the surprise package of the season, netting three times in his last four games after spending almost all of last season side-lined by injury. 20-year-old Declan Rice has racked up 75 appearances patrolling the base of the West Ham midfield and looks as though he has been doing it for a decade. Fans can take further optimism in the fact that Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson has shown flashes of brilliance whilst not yet displaying his talent on a consistent basis.

It is clear that all the ingredients are there for Pellegrini and his men to make the step up. Two wins from their opening three home games show a marked improvement on last campaign, with their only loss coming at the hands of champions Manchester City on the opening day. It is an unusually good start in East London, and the levels must continue if they are to throw a spanner in the works higher up the table.

Bournemouth

For a small south coast club who plied their trade in League 2 as recently as 2009 with Eddie Howe himself at the helm, what an unbelievable achievement it is for the club to not only be in the top flight but scaring the top 6.

This weekend’s 2-2 draw with fellow top 6 hopefuls West Ham leaves the Cherries in 7^th place after 7 games, with impressive 3-1 victories this season coming at home against an expensively assembled Everton side and away at rivals Southampton.

In building this current squad, Howe has trawled through the subs benches of those higher up the table, as well as recruiting top talent from England’s lower leagues. Striker Callum Wilson, already with 4 goals to his name this season, was recruited back in 2014 from League 1 Coventry City – he is now a regular in Southgate’s England squad and has been heavily linked with Chelsea in the last two seasons. Nathan Ake made 7 league appearances in 5 years at Chelsea, these days he is among the league’s best centre-backs as Bournemouth slapped a £75m price tag on his head amid interest from Leicester this summer. There is no shortage of promising youngsters either with England International Lewis Cook returning from injury, whilst Welsh wizards David Brooks and Harry Wilson continue to light up the touchline, for the latter this looks like being his breakout season in the Premier League.

There is no doubt that these are dizzying heights for Bournemouth and that any top flight finish is commendable given the club’s recent history. However, given the standard of Chelsea, United and Arsenal at times, you have to give the Cherries an outside chance of toppling one of these sides based on the start they have made. Where do you want your statue, Eddie?  

To the surprise of many, summer 2019 saw the Premier League return of serial troublemaker and contract-terminator Ravel Morrison. Still just 26-years-old, the enigmatic Mancunian has already tested the waters of no less than nine different clubs across England, Italy, Mexico and Sweden. Infamous among football fans as one of the foremost unfulfilled talents of his time, Morrison has been given perhaps his final shot in the top flight with Sheffield United. His 12-month-contract is testament to the trouble-laden spells that have shaped the past five years of his career away from the Premier League, but could this finally be the time he gets it right?

A Look Back

Having been brought up by his grandparents in the Manchester United stronghold of Wythenshawe, it seemed fitting that Morrison was snapped up by the Red Devils as a youngster. He enjoyed a stellar youth career, as Rio Ferdinand recounts Sir Alex Ferguson calling himself and Wayne Rooney over to watch the then 14-year-old play. “This is the best kid you will ever see” said Ferguson, a gauntlet laid down by the legendary Scotsman that would haunt Morrison for the rest of his young, troubled career.

In the 2011 FA Youth Cup Final he lined up alongside Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Michael Keane. Alongside these now distinguished internationals it was Morrison who lit up the pitch, scoring twice to help United to a 6-3 aggregate victory. After notching three league cup appearances for the senior team however, Morrison and United parted ways in 2012 amid a wealth of off the field problems including domestic violence allegations and social media mishaps.

The Hammers: What could have been

Generally perceived as a rough diamond in the football world, Morrison was not short of potential suitors as he eventually put pen to paper with West Ham. At 19-years-old he was sent on a season-long-loan to Championship side Birmingham City where, despite Blues boss Lee Clarke almost terminating the loan deal early due to friction between the pair, Morrison went on to notch 30 appearances in what was his first taste of regular first-team football.

The following season however was when he really began to make his mark. In 2013/14 he managed 13 goals in 33 appearances from centre midfield across a 6-month loan spell  with QPR and a run of games with his parent club West Ham. Despite this impressive showing, including a playground-style goal having run past everyone from the halfway line against Tottenham, Morrison was again sent back to the Championship on loan the following season with Cardiff. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce claimed it was not Morrison’s ability that needed to be proven, but rather his temperament. 

The loan spell in South Wales began with a man of the match performance in what was to be his only start for Cardiff. Though sure enough, at 22-years-old the agreement was to be terminated early with manager Russell Slade claiming Morrison had “no future at the club”. Just one year after he had endeared himself to English fans by dazzling for West Ham, his contract there was terminated early too. Big Sam went on to say that Ravel was “the biggest waste of talent I have ever worked with”.

Lazio: From bad to worse

In showing his raw ability for a brief period in East London, Morrison had done enough to tempt Italian giants Lazio into offering him a whopping four-year-deal.  It was no secret that offering such a lengthy contract to such a volatile figure was a huge gamble. Those behind the scenes were not oblivious to the fact, as Lazio director Igli Tare cited in 2015 Morrison’s “undoubted world class quality, as well as being a little mad”. 2 goals and 2 assists in a pre-season match served as validation for Tare’s claim, though ultimately Morrison would go on to register a dismal 4 Serie A appearances in a 4 year spell at Lazio that crashed before it had got out of first gear.

Lazio manager Stefano Pioli criticised Morrison at the end of the 2015/16 season for his lack of effort and inability to speak Italian. Subsequently, the final two years of his Lazio contract were spent out on loan as his career began to enter into a self-destructing tailspin, firstly back at QPR making five goalless appearances, and then out in Mexico with Atlas. Mercifully, the dramatic change of scenery perhaps helped the tricky midfielder find his feet in Liga MX as he racked up a steady 25 appearances, netting 4 times.

Morrison’s permanent move to Mexico never materialised however due to numerous manager ins and outs during the course of the season. His failure to land a permanent deal left him out of contract with Lazio and out in the big, wide footballing world to search for a club who were willing to gamble with a bet that was, up to that point, a proven loser. Morrison’s subsequent six-month -deal with Swedish minnows Ostersund told the whole story, and 9 games later they opted not to extend his contract due to recurring injury problems and his high salary. As he lay in reflection that night I’m sure he thought to himself, ‘where do we go from here?’.

The Blades: A glimmer of hope

On 16th July 2019, Chris Wilder threw Morrison a lifeline with the offer of a one-year-deal at newly promoted Sheffield United. Now at 26-years-old and with a diverse range of experience under his belt, perhaps this is the season that Morrison buckles down, hones his ‘team player’ mentality and begins to consistently show his talent on the Premier League stage.

For a player who may have thought he was all out of chances in the top flight, a return to the familiarity of England and the majesty of the Premier League could be something of a homecoming, and an ideal opportunity for a coming of age. “It is great to be back in England, now I can get my career kick-started again” said Morrison, who began life as a blade with a man of the match performance in a Carabao Cup win against Blackburn. Indeed, fast starts are a common theme of his career, but let’s hope all other common themes make themselves scarce this time.

At his best his ball control, effortless passing and precise dribbling ability are a joy to watch, at his worst he is a headache. Now coming into the theoretical prime of his career, Morrison will be backed this season by a fiercely loyal set of fans that will show him love and admiration so long as he puts in the performances himself. Whether we will finally see the Ravel that lies within remains to be seen.

Wipe the tears from your eyes football fans, the first international break of the season is upon us whether we like it or not. Mercifully, the entertainment value of the men’s national team has taken a turn for the better since the likes of Danny Welbeck and (dare I say it) Adam Johnson were doing their best to inject some excitement into dull Wembley evenings. Fresh faces have brightened up the squad in recent years, and here we take a look at how we could line up against Bulgaria on Saturday.

Goalkeeper – Jordan Pickford

This one needs no debating. Although capable deputies are at the ready in the form of Tom Heaton and Nick Pope, the hot-headed Geordie has cemented the number one jersey as his own since his heroics in Russia. Still fairly young for a ‘keeper at 25-years-old, his game is not without flaws but Southgate clearly sees him as one for now and the future. I wonder where he wants his statue?

Right Back – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Imagine a 25-man England squad where last season’s domestic treble winner Kyle Walker is not selected. That is the scale of the dilemma that Gareth Southgate faces in the right back position. There are worse problems to have I suppose, and 20-year-old Champions League winner Trent Alexander-Arnold is, in my book, England’s hottest prospect. With fellow youngster Aaron Wan-Bissaka pulling out of the squad due to a back injury, the way is paved for Trent to really lay claim to the right back position and I expect to see him line up there on Saturday.

Centre Back – Harry Maguire

True to the song, his head really is very, very large. The one Jamie Vardy has branded ‘slab head’ really has become a fan favourite not only for his performances at the World Cup, but for how he has kicked on since. He is the perfect blend of the old-school and new-school centre back, physical and commanding yet a ballerina on the ball. I expect him to be in this England line-up for years to come and his solid start to the season should mean that Saturday is no different.

Centre Back – Michael Keane

 Granted, if John Stones was not out injured and Joe Gomez had played more football in the past 12 months then this selection may have been different. By contrast, Michael Keane has appeared in every game for Everton so far this season and is beginning to warm the hearts of the fans, therefore the United academy product is likely to line up alongside Maguire to win his 8th England cap. Having said this, Tyrone Mings has been formidable at the back for Aston Villa since he joined so the pressure will be on for Keane to perform.

Left Back – Ben Chilwell

If we are talking about England’s best XI then Chilwell makes it in there without a doubt. The Leicester youngster has looked a class act in his 7 caps so far and many have tipped him to go right to the top of the game. However, Chilwell started the season with an injury and is only just coming back to full fitness, whereas Danny Rose has been involved in all of Tottenham’s fixtures including the high pressure North London derby last weekend. You would imagine the pair would each get a run out over the two forthcoming qualifiers, but my bets would be on Chilwell starting against Bulgaria as the more dangerous of the two fixtures.

Centre Defensive Midfield – Declan Rice

With Eric Dier out injured you would imagine that Rice is a safe bet to anchor the England midfield. His haircut is an apt visual metaphor for himself as a player; solid, sturdy and does the job with no messing about. His passes safely get to the intended player, he’s not shy of a tackle, and having snubbed the Republic of Ireland after making two friendly appearances he has made the perfect start to becoming an England fan favourite.

Centre Midfield – Jordan Henderson

Not many would have called it back in 2011 when he joined Liverpool, but more than 300 reds appearances and 50 caps later he is one of the leaders of the England dressing room. The simple fact is that Henderson’s top level pedigree makes him very difficult for Gareth Southgate to leave out. Indeed, if the gaffer decides to take a more positive approach against a team like Bulgaria then there is a plethora of silkier alternatives. Harry Winks has made a cracking start to the season at Tottenham so may count himself unlucky not to get the nod, but ultimately my money is on Hendo.

Centre Midfield – James Maddison

There is plenty of competition for centre midfield spots in the England setup, particularly those of a more attacking persuasion which makes this prediction perhaps the most speculative. With the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley and Mason Mount all competing with Maddison to be the creator of the midfield three, Southgate has a tough job on his hands deciding which one gets the nod. Mount is in with a real chance after his flying start under Frank Lampard which has seen him bag two goals in his first four games. However, owing to his long-term Premier League consistency and lengthy apprenticeship served in the U21s, 22-year-old James Maddison may just get his long-awaited chance.

Left Wing – Raheem Sterling

As we transition to the front three, Southgate’s decisions start to get easier. Raheem Sterling, still just 24-years-old has begun to truly fulfil his potential in the past two years. With his poor England form seemingly consigned to history (or so fans hope) after his hat-trick against Czech Republic, Sterling is cementing himself as one of England’s heavy hitters. With 54 goals in 102 games for Manchester City since the start of 2017/18, including 6 in his first 5 this term, he is one of only two real world class presences in the England XI. Can you guess who the other is?

Striker – Harry Kane

26-year-old Kane is entering the prime of his career, and due to his game relying on everything but pace we could see him flying high for many years to come. The Spurs star is already off to a flyer this season with 3 in his first 4 games, and he will surely fancy adding to his tally of 22 England goals against the likes of Bulgaria and Kosovo as he chases down Wayne Rooney’s record total. Callum Wilson has started the season well for Bournemouth but the England captain is a dead cert up top.

Right Wing – Jadon Sancho

For 19-year-old Jadon Sancho to go abroad and establish himself as a regular starter for a club like Borussia Dortmund is phenomenal. As a player that many Brits would love to return to the Premier League, the only time many of us get to watch him is on the England stage. His performances in the Bundesliga demand a starting spot in Southgate’s front three, and with 3 goals in his first 5 games this season he will be keen to capitalise on that goalscoring form to notch his first goal for the three lions.

STARTING XI

GK: Pickford
RB: Alexander-Arnold
CB: Keane
CB: Maguire
LB: Chilwell
CM: Henderson
CDM: Rice
CM: Maddison
RW: Sancho
ST: Kane
LW: Sterling

Arsenal produced a stunning comeback to come away with a 2-2 draw in what was a whirlwind North London derby at the Emirates. A calamitous start for the gunners had fans fearing the worst, but Emery’s men showed admirable character to steady the ship as the 199th meeting of the sides ended with honours even.

As it happened

Before kick-off Arsenal fans were salivating at the thought of Aubameyang, Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe finally lining up together in a flat 4-3-3. Indeed, early signs were positive as the gunners enjoyed plenty of the ball, with Aubameyang giving makeshift right-back Davinson Sanchez the runaround on the left wing. Christian Eriksen’s goal however, coming after 10 minutes, would be a damning illustration of how the first half would play out.

It was a story of schoolboy positioning; a long ball into the middle drew in the Arsenal defence before the ball broke to Heung Min Son who could not believe his luck as he charged towards the gunners back line. A simple run ahead of him by Erik Lamela lead to a somewhat tame shot on goal, Leno could only parry straight into the path of Christian Eriksen who made no mistake in giving Spurs the lead. As easy as that, Sokratis and David Luiz in no man’s land as Unai Emery was left pulling the first of many tortured facial expressions during a torrid first 45 minutes.

The home fans inside the Emirates feared the worst as, like clockwork, one line-breaking pass or one successful dribble would simply bypass Arsenal’s midfield three and leave Eriksen, Lamela, Son and Kane driving at Arsenal’s wayward back four. Arsenal’s possession counted for very little with Leno the much busier keeper, making an unbelievable save from Son as he cut in from the left, the kind of shot Premier League fans have been accustomed to seeing fly into the top corner.

It was not long before the threat materialised into Spurs’ second goal as a characteristically clumsy tackle from Granit Xhaka left Martin Atkinson with no choice but to point to the spot. You’d be a brave man to bet against Kane from 12 yards, and true enough he was typically deadly in dispatching the spot kick low and left into the side netting for his 10th goal in 10 North London derbies. Leno no chance, 0-2 Spurs.

Tottenham’s threat on the counter-attack persisted but Arsenal finally got their crucial goal just before half-time. Winger Nicolas Pepe saw a gap from out wide to pass it into the feet of Lacazette before the Frenchman showed impeccable close control in the box, creating the space to lash the ball past Hugo Lloris on his left foot. He stopped and stared at the crowd behind the goal as he knew he had just delivered a dagger to the stomach of Pocchetino’s men.

The momentum shift was evident going into the second half, but the game remained end to end as both sides had notable chances early on. The sublime Matteo Guendouzi forced a low save from Lloris, whilst at the other end Kane unleashed a fierce strike against the post after a neat one-two with Christian Eriksen.

Arsenal were beginning to enjoy their best spell of the game as they reverted back to their more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation with crowd pleaser Dani Ceballos entering the fray and Aubameyang as the new spearhead. Finally, after 71 minutes the Emirates descended into euphoria as Aubameyang latched onto Guendouzi’s ball in to poke home. It was a goal of pure striking instinct from a player who’s goalscoring rate ranks right up there amongst the Premier League’s best.

The raucous crowd were right behind Arsenal as a winner seemed inevitable, however Spurs rode the storm until the final whistle. Moussa Sissoko had a golden opportunity to snatch the three points right at the death, but his poor form in front of goal continued as he blazed his chance well over the bar.

What did we learn?

It was the starting line-up that Gooners around the country had been crying out for, but defensively Arsenal were simply getting torn apart in the first half. What would normally be considered a stable midfield three of Torreira, Xhaka and Guendouzi were being bypassed far, far too easily by slick Spurs counter-attacks. Couple this with a central defensive pairing of David Luiz and Sokratis, two similarly physical but reckless ball winners, and Arsenal were essentially left in a state of defensive anarchy. It became evident rather quickly that against teams capable of slick passing, Arsenal’s central defence is going to need a more solid, calming influence to maintain positioning and break down attacks. In Luiz they have signed a very capable defender, but perhaps not of the kind they needed.

Elsewhere, the signing of Matteo Guendouzi seems to look more and more ingenious with each passing game.  The midfielder, still just 20 years of age, truly began to stamp his authority on the centre of the park the more the game wore on. In a rollercoaster game where the tension was palpable, the youngster who signed in 2018 from the French second division was courageous throughout whilst his manager was visibly struggling to hold his nerve. Guendouzi showed once again what a fantastic signing he is for £7m, putting on a man of the match performance.

Spurs meanwhile should not feel too disheartened at the result. Pocchetino’s side were set up with a clear and obvious game plan, to counter-attack at pace and isolate the gunners’ back four, and for large spells of the game it worked perfectly. A large part of this was Heung Min Son, now into his fifth season in North London the South Korean is a notorious goal threat and his accurate shots from in and around the box could have been the difference barring Leno heroics. In the end Tottenham had to settle for a point, but with the momentum shift in the second half many of them may have been glad to see the game out.

Both teams now have two weeks to recover from a breathless encounter, with Spurs next hosting Crystal Palace, and Arsenal travelling to face Watford.