Part 1
We have reached the halfway point of the Premier League season. When we made our preseason predictions I don’t think many would have said that Liverpool would be 13 points clear of second place Leicester City, that Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur would be in sixth place, that Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton would be in 10th place and that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal would be 12th. It’s a crazy time we’re living in.
Hello and welcome to the final Total Football podcast of 2019. I am your host Declan Harte, and joining me is Andrew Conway.
Andrew, this all makes sense though, right?
Part 2
Arteta’s start as Arsenal manager hasn’t exactly gone to plan, picking up 1 point from 6, but have the performances been promising?
Manuel Pellegrini was sacked as West Ham manager, with David Moyes returning to the club on an 18 month deal.
VAR had a busy Christmas, with everything really coming to a head during the Liverpool-Wolves game, but this week saw numerous goals chalked off over very fine margins. IFAB have stepped in to suggest the Premier League are using VAR wrong, but it seems like it’s not very clear how else they can be using it.
Part 3
Over the last week every Premier League club has played two times, most playing their games within 48 hours of each other. Wolves in particular drew the short-end of the stick having to play the champions Man City and the champions-elect Liverpool within 40 hours. This saw sides stretching their squad limits, with Brendan Rodgers even making as many as nine changes between fixtures. Now, only two days later, they all must play again on Wednesday. Many managers across the division have been very outspoken in their desire for this fixture congestion to change. What are the solutions to this annual problem, and what effect has this had on this season’s topsy turvy table?
Part 4
The fixture congestion continues as 18 teams take to the field on Wednesday, with the final 2 competing on Thursday. On Wednesday we have the two big games of the matchday. Old foes renew their rivalry in Pep Guardiola versus Carlo Ancelotti. And later that evening Arsenal host Manchester United, can Mikel Arteta pick up his first win as Arsenal manager?
Closing
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