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Manchester City’s title hopes were dealt an early blow on Sunday when Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated them 2-0 in their own backyard.

Indeed, with a makeshift defence consisting of Nicolas Otamendi, a player who made just 18 Premier League appearances last season, and midfield anchor Fernandinho, a crisis was inevitable.

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It was reported last month that the reigning Premier League champions might be tempted by a move for Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu, who has risen to prominence under Brendan Rodgers after initially joining in 2018 for £19m.

The 23-year-old would more than likely replace Otamendi in the starting lineup with veteran Fernandinho maintaining his place, and going off his performance against Wolves, which saw him sent for a hot dog by Raul Jimenez before the opposition’s first goal, we aren’t at all surprised.

ESPN pundits had their say on his performance that “killed his team…”

Having waited so long for him to get a run in the first team, those at Leeds might be forgiven for thinking their summer signing hasn’t been all that.

Whilst Helder Costa hasn’t exactly been producing at a high level for Leeds so far, with just one assist in the Championship, you can’t really place the blame for his lack of numbers squarely at his feet.

If you take a look at his record when he has started during the Carabao Cup games, he’s managed to produce even if it wasn’t against the highest calibre of teams in Salford City and a Stoke City side that were struggling.

The fact of the matter is that he just hasn’t been given the game time in the league to make anything happen.

Marcelo Bielsa seems to have put a lot of faith in the two men that did so much for him in the last campaign, most notably Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison, who have both been pretty prominent figures at the start of this campaign.

As a result Costa was reduced to a role on the bench in the early stages of the season.

Now with Hernandez’s recent injury, Helder Costa has been given the chance to show us what he can do, but he needs to be given time to make things happen.

Speaking of Hernandez, it has also been muted by others that the Spaniard, who is out of contract at the end of the season, could be on his way out of Elland Road in the summer as he seeks to end his career back in his homeland.

Seeing as Costa is only on loan for this season, with the transfer becoming permanent next summer, it could simply be a case that he was brought in as the long term replacement for Hernandez next summer, with the intention of being a ‘super-sub’ this campaign.

Why are Leeds fans the best in the country? Find out in the video below…

With the other winger in Harrison also struggling to put up numbers this campaign with just one goal, he might find himself replacing him instead when Hernandez comes back from injury, so he won’t be short of opportunities going forward.

That’s why we shouldn’t entirely judge Costa on what he has been able to produce so far for Leeds and instead, patience must be given.

At the same time, however,  he does need to start producing tangible results to show that he is worth keeping beyond next summer.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on talkSPORT, Trevor Sinclair has insisted Manchester United would be better off had they kept David Moyes as their manager.

What did he say?

Following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013, the Red Devils appointed former Everton manager Moyes to be their iconic boss’ successor.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

However, in a tumultuous reign, the Scot was sacked before his debut campaign in charge ended, and the Red Devils have since seen a plethora of managers come and go at Old Trafford.

Now, Sinclair has suggested that the club would be in a better position had they kept faith with the 56-year-old.

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He said: “Manchester United would be in a better position if they stuck with David Moyes. You look at his win percentage and the amount of money he had at his disposal, and the amount of time he was given, or lack of it – I think they would be in a better position.”

Hindsight

It’s easy to make such an outlandish claim now, but back then, nobody was really up in arms over Moyes’ sacking. The Premier League veteran had done virtually nothing to suggest he could be the long-term successor to Ferguson in his short time at Old Trafford, and the club were ultimately quick to recognise that.

Admittedly, it sparked a period of time where the Red Devils have been trigger happy with their firing of managers, and the lack of significant time given to their bosses has become a running theme. But there was very little evidence to suggest Moyes could have turned things around.

In his 51 matches in charge, Moyes had a record of 26 wins, ten draws and 15 losses. As well as averaging just 1.7 goals scored per game, the side conceded more than a goal a game too under his spell. So perhaps Sinclair should revisit his history before making such a baffling claim.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

The Premier League returns to action this weekend after embarking on the second international break of the season with Aston Villa welcoming Brighton & Hove Albion to Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.

Dean Smith’s side managed to pick up just their second win of this campaign last time out as they devoured an injury-stricken Norwich City at Carrow Road, days before some of their players signed off for national team duty.

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Villa were in rampant form as they stuck five past the Canaries, perhaps a surprise considering they had only managed eight goals in their previous seven matches.

One member of the squad has proved to be a key attacking outlet for the side since they have enjoyed a little upturn in form.

On the Chalkboard

The Villa boss has recently moved captain Jack Grealish further forward to play on the wing in order to accommodate Conor Hourihane in midfield, and it has started to pay dividends.

But as a direct consequence, there has only been one other wide spot on offer between a trio of players – Jota, Trezeguet and Anwar El Ghazi.

The latter has been Smith’s choice on the right side of midfield and the Dutchman has shown why it could be his best position with one goal and two assists in successive matches.

Aston Villa’s summer signings’ performances so far this season are rated in the video below…

El Ghazi has played just 488 minutes of Premier League football this season, but he’s proving to be a key asset for Villa in the attack.

For teams outside the generic ‘big six,’ the 24-year-old is second behind Norwich striker Teemu Pukki for goal involvements per 90 minutes, via TheOther14’s table below.

While Experimental361’s attacking threat breakdown model reflects this even further as he sits behind four-goal striker Wesley.

As the winger is on the top side of the shaded area, it means he is converting chances at a more consistent rate than those lower or below the same threshold.

Therefore, Smith should continue to operate El Ghazi on the right with Grealish partnering him on the left as it should continue to bear fruit as the season goes on.

The chart above also suggests that the former Ajax man should continue to contribute at a similar rate going forward, so keeping him in the spot that has shown clear results would be the smartest of moves.

Manchester City fans have joined Trevor Sinclair in stating that there is a media agenda against the club after the John Stones incident with Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard was seen screaming at Stones to get ready as reports across the UK seem to suggest that there is friction between the two.

Guardiola was visibly angry with the centre-back, but Stones told BT Sport after the game (as quoted by The Mirror): “I had them [shin pads] on but I just needed to fix them up properly. Time is of the essence and that’s what he wanted.”

Fans have been quick to jump in on the story and state that there is a slight bend in the approach to their coverage. Certain fans believe that the media “does not like Pep and City”, whilst another supporter claimed it is a “worldwide agenda”.

Sinclair told talkSPORT: “Anything that Pep does or anything that Manchester City players do, the media are all over them,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a story. That’s why I’m saying there’s some kind of agenda.”

In truth, it was a nothing story, as Guardiola has shown many times down the years to be of the aggressive sorts.

Shouting at his players to get ready as an injured man leaves the pitch is an everyday occurrence for any manager. The boss will ultimately want his players stripped and ready to go as soon as possible.

Perhaps if this wasn’t City, it would not have been covered the way it has.

At least, that’s what some City fans believe…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

At least Phil Hay hasn’t lost faith.

Or perhaps he’s being deluded. It’s one of the two, but it’s hard to decide which.

What’s he said?

Speaking during a Q&A for The Athletic on Thursday, Hay was asked whether or not Leeds were actually performing as badly as some people perceive:

In response, he offered the following thoughts:

“I think it’s down to the fear that Leeds are going to get sucked into a very tight race again and ultimately be at the mercy of the tension which killed them last April/May. I hoped to see Bielsa elevate the team, to a level where they were truly dominating the league. It hasn’t happened yet.”

How much longer though?

The keyword in that last sentence is ‘yet’.

So whilst some might be led to believe that this is the best that Leeds have to offer this season in terms of their style of play, it looks as if Hay has faith in Bielsa and the team to kick things up another notch.

But whilst he talks about Leeds possibly going through the same sort of problems that cost them in the latter stages of last season, wouldn’t it be best if they started to build up a little bit of a cushion right now to give them some breathing space?

The latest table from Experimental361 shows that Leeds should be working with an eight-point lead in the league right now ahead of their closest rivals, a damning indictment of how they’ve actually fared.

Those points might prove hard to get back over the course of the season, particularly if Leeds are as wasteful as they have been so far this season. From a total of 16.9 shots per game, they’ve scored just 17 times over the course of the current term.

They may be a dominant side, but they’re not actually cashing in on that. Perhaps the demons of last season are playing a part and based on recent displays, it might take some time for that trail of thought to vanish.

The longer Leeds keep things the way they are, the more likely that they’re going to have to go through the stress that Hay talks about. No time like the present to get things into gear.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

The Guardian journalist Jamie Jackson has identified Taylor Harwood-Bellis as one to watch for Manchester City this week as they take on Southampton in the EFL Cup.

What did he say?

City will firstly face off with the Saints on Tuesday before they face them at the Etihad Stadium again in the Premier League on Saturday. Pep Guardiola can be expected to make the changes for the upcoming tie given the stature of the competition, and one man Jackson has picked out to step up is Harwood-Bellis.

The teenager made his City senior debut in the last round of the Carabao Cup, playing 90 minutes against Preston North End and keeping a clean sheet.

In an article published by The Guardian regarding young players to watch in the domestic cup this week, Jackson said: ‘When the 17-year-old centre-back made his debut in the 3-0 win at Preston in the previous round the City fan lived the dream of the boy who was at the Etihad to witness Sergio Agüero’s unforgettable late winner against Queens Park Rangers that clinched the 2011-12 title.

‘Pep Guardiola admires Harwood-Bellis’s ball skills and a relish for tackling that the 6ft 2in defender says has only ‘developed in the last four or five years’. Harwood-Bellis, who was composed at Deepdale, is yet to complete his physical development.’

Another chance for him to shine

The Stockport-born defender registered a 7.1 rating in the fixture against Preston – only four outfield players scored higher ratings. In the same game, the youth product looked controlled and confident throughout the entire game, playing 84 passes out from the back at a 93% success rate.

Furthermore, he made 96 touches – only Eric Garcia alongside him had more. This time around, against the Saints, Harwood-Bellis will have the addition of the home crowd on his side, which could add to his confidence.

A positive performance from the youngster may force him into Guardiola’s side a little more often in the future. Injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Rodri have left the defensive spots wide open and, with a good performance on Tuesday, the Spaniard may have be compelled to think about where Harwood-Bellis fits into his long term vision.

This is his chance to show the Etihad faithful what he can do.

Everton fans have expressed their frustration at Marco Silva for failing to give Anthony Gordon some minutes against Watford in the League Cup.

The Toffees may have won the game but it does seem as if many fans left Goodison Park slightly irritated that Silva did not use the chance to field some youngsters.

Gordon has been in great form for the U23s this season, scoring six times in eight games for David Unsworth’s young stars.

Some fans have said it was a “wasted opportunity” not to play the academy goal machine, whilst one fan has warned the club to “tread carefully” on his future. Indeed, should he not find many minutes this season, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to suggest the 18-year-old may consider leaving to find game time elsewhere.

Gordon himself did take to Twitter after the game, which suggests he imagined he would have been handed a start against the Hornets.

His message read “patience is not about waiting, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting”.

Certainly, with Everton’s poor form this season, it would have been a great time to field the youngster. The Blues have only bagged 10 times in the Premier League and Silva is clearly desperate for goals this season.

This was a chance to allow Gordon some valuable first-team action, and he may not get many more chances to do so.

Here’s what some fans have had to say…

Leeds United will be looking to get one more win before the international break as they take on Blackburn Rovers in the Sky Bet Championship this weekend.

The Whites have started this season well and certainly look one of the sides to beat once again in the second tier with the way they have been playing their football.

Marcelo Bielsa and his side have bounced back from losing out in the play-offs to Derby County last season and, along with West Brom, seem the most capable of winning the title right now.

Excitement off of the pitch continues to grow, too, with continued chat about QSI potentially investing in the club – with them the current owners of French side PSG.

Indeed, Phil Hay has provided this update that should excite Whites fans further:

Nothing is concrete right now, but it is clear that the Whites are potentially in line for a cash windfall at some point.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

After all the drama in the summer, Manchester United still have Paul Pogba on their books. The France World Cup winner made a whole song and dance about wanting to experience a “new challenge”, and it looked like it was the beginning of the end for his career at Old Trafford. But deadline day passed, and the midfielder remained put.

Fast forward a couple of months, and the 26-year-old has been out of action for large parts of this current campaign with an injury. The cynics may believe his delayed return has something to do with potentially forcing through an exit in the January transfer window – certainly some United fans felt he was “mentally out of Manchester”.

But, ESPN now report that Pogba is closing in on his comeback from injury, and “could now be back in time for the Manchester derby against City at the Etihad Stadium on December 7”. To fans of the Frenchman – and supporters of United too – their arch-rivals’ ground was the home of one of the midfielder’s greatest performances in a Red Devils shirt.

After a truly terrible first-half performance from United saw them go 2-0 down at the break, the Red Devils bounced back courtesy of what many would have expected Pogba would be doing on regular occasions – leading the team. The former Juventus star scored a quick-fire brace – his second being a header after a barn-storming run from midfield – and it eventually led to Chris Smalling hitting the winner.

Speaking after the game, Ander Herrera exclaimed the £290k-a-week man could become one of the best players in the world on the basis of his midfield masterclass.

“Paul can be the best in the world. I’ve already told him that he can be the best in the world. This can be the first step to achieve that because he’s fantastic and I think he needed a day like this. As well as the two goals, I thought he played fantastic. He always wants the ball and he never hides, so that’s fantastic.”

Well, with his injury, Pogba has been hiding. But if he can make his return against City at the Etihad – the home of what is still his greatest display in United colours – he could yet inspire another great Red Devils triumph. Whilst his long-term future may still be in question, it could reinvigorate the midfielder to produce more consistent displays for his side until he does make his long-awaited departure.