Manchester United at Swansea City, Sun Nov 6th
Sadly this game is more about struggling managers than it is about the football on the pitch. Both Jose Mourinho and Bob Bradley took over squads who underachieved last season, expecting to have an impact from the start. United already sit eight points off the top of the table and Swansea are occupying the second relegation spot with just five points in ten games.
To be fair to Bob Bradley, he has only been at the helm of the Welsh side for less than a month, but his results are already starting to look like more of the same. Bradley had a chance to make a statement at home in front of majority American owners, but only managed a 0-0 draw against Watford. Swansea’s problems have/had nothing to do with coaching, but rather a lack of depth beyond the starting eleven. It’s never a good sign when the manager is referencing a relegation battle less than a third of the way into the season.
As is tradition, the problems with any Mourinho managed football club start with the “Special One” himself. United followed up a goalless draw at home against Burnley, in which Mourinho was sent to the stands, with a 2-1 defeat to Fenerbache in the Europa League. Mourinho is blaming a lack of player commitment, injuries to defenders, attitude, Wayne Rooney, Obamacare for United’s recent results. I think the question moving for United fans and owners should be does Jose Mourinho have the attitude and style that they want to see?
While neither of these teams are playing particularly well, United has a better squad. The script is almost written on the wall for this game. A United victory would equate to Mourinho being a genius (again), the Red Devils being title contenders (again) and Wayne Rooney getting a four year extension (again). My in game prediction senses tell me Bob Bradley’s lack of European experience will shine through in this game.
Tottenham at Arsenal, Sun Nov 6th
The North London derby features two teams heading in opposite directions. Arsenal’s unbeaten streak is now at 15 games in all competitions; a streak that began in week two of the season. Tottenham are winless in their last six and as it stands would not advance from a mediocre Champions League group.
I wrote about the opportunity Arsenal had in October to re-establish themselves as a feared contender. In that time the Gunners have seized that opportunity and then some. Having watched most of these games, the biggest threat to opposition is form of each individual player. Arsenal has six players with two or more goals in just ten league games.
Tottenham’s woes are a validation of what every Spurs fan feared when Harry Kane went down against Sunderland: Where will the goals come from? Spurs allowed the least goals in the EPL last year and look poised to take that honor again this year. However, despite allowing five goal in ten league matches so far, they’ve only managed five wins. The positive takeaway so far is Pochettino’s men remain the only unbeaten side in the EPL.
Spurs need a rebound after a second straight home defeat in the Champions League. Arsenal need to show they can take care of tough competition just as ease as a Sunderland or Swansea. The North London Derby typically contains goals, making this the can’t miss game of the week