Leicester City 19/20 Review: The rise and the fall

<h1 class="entry_header__title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Leicester City 19/20 Review: The rise and the fall</span></h1> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700;">Now is a good time to assess the 2019/20 Premier League season so far, and here's Alex Keble's take on a campaign of two halves for Leicester City...</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Like so many clubs in this inconsistent and bizarre Premier League season, Leicester City's campaign can be <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">split into two halves</strong>: first the rise, then the fall.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Brendan Rodgers will have been hoping that their 4-0 win over Aston Villa just before the suspension was a turning point, because before that Leicester had <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">claimed just 12 points from their last 12 league games</strong>. That is in sharp contrast to the 38 won across their first 16 matches, a record that - in ordinary times - would make them title favourites.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But Leicester just couldn't sustain the good form. With no major injuries or European distraction, it is difficult to understand quite why that's the case. Perhaps opponents have worked out how to counteract the Foxes' tactics, or, more worryingly, perhaps they have simply regressed to the mean after dramatically <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">outperforming their xG</strong> stats in the first half of the season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Season so far</span></strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Leicester were unstoppable through Autumn. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jamie Vardy scored 16 goals in 16</strong>, excelling in a stripped-down role that - by staying higher and more central - meant he was ready for the sudden tempo changes that characterised Rodgers' tactics.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">He fused patient possession football with rapid shifts of gear via vertical passes through the middle, piercing the lines at speed to get Vardy in behind seemingly out of nowhere. James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, operating as <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tandem number tens</strong>, worked to shuttle unseen into space, ready to receive the pass on the half-turn and pounce.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The surprise element of this approach explains why Leicester so consistently beat their opponents, racing into second place and six clear of Manchester City by the start of December. Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira offered another threat on the overlap, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harvey Barnes</strong> blossomed on the left, and everything was rosy at the King Power.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">And then <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wilfried Ndidi got injured</strong>. His last game was on New Year's Day, a comfortable 3-0 win against Newcastle, and while he was out the Foxes won just once in the league - at home to West Ham.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Without his athleticism at the base of midfield Leicester lost their defensive steel and their metronome in possession. All of a sudden Tielemans and Maddison looked disconnected from the back four and those quick <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">vertical passes disappeared</strong>. Vardy slumped, as did both full-backs, and Rodgers just couldn't find a fix.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Then Ndidi returned to the starting line-up and Leicester <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">promptly thrashed Villa</strong>. Rodgers won't be comfortable relying quite so heavily on one key player.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Highlights</span></strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">There is only one place to start: the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9-0 win against Southampton</strong> in October, an extraordinary match in which both Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez scored hat-tricks. Having beaten Newcastle 5-0 just three weeks earlier, Leicester's players must have felt invincible.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Beating Spurs 2-1</strong> and Arsenal 2-0, both at the King Power, will also live long in the memory as matches that confirmed Leicester under Rodgers had broken up the Premier League 'Big Six'. Beating Mauricio Pochettino's side was particularly sweet given the visitors had a goal disallowed by VAR for a marginal handball, only for Maddison to score the winner from 25 yards in the 85th minute.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">In terms of individual performances, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Caglar Soyuncu</strong> has been a revelation in central defence and a more than adequate replacement for Harry Maguire, while Pereira has firmly established himself as one of the best right-backs in Europe.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Lowlights</span></strong></h2> </div> <div> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The whole of January and February was more or less a write-off, but since they had such a large buffer within the top four the biggest disappointment from this period was <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">losing the Carabao Cup semi-final</strong> to Aston Villa. They should have been able to beat Villa over 90 minutes, let alone 210, and Rodgers' side would have had a decent shot of causing an upset against Man City in the final.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2-1 defeat at home to Southampton</strong> was a disappointing symbol of the reversal of their fortunes since the 9-0, with Maddison, Barnes, and Hamzah Choudhury all particularly poor.</span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">What they can achieve in 19/20</span></strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Fortunately for Leicester the rest of the Premier League's top sides have faltered in the same period, and so the Foxes remain eight points clear in the top four. Should the campaign resume they will surely <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>qualify for next season's Champions League, currently priced at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/4">1.27</span> with Betfair Exchange.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">They also face Chelsea at home in the FA Cup quarter-final, and given Frank Lampard's side aren't particularly strong on the road this presents a very good chance to reach Wembley. Rodgers' team can go all the way, <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>available at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="11/1">12.00</span> with Betfair Exchange.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</span></strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The squad needs to be filled out, that's for sure, because the extra Champions League games are bound to take their toll. The club need a new striker to compete with 33-year-old Vardy, as well as an <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">upgrade on Choudhury</strong> should Ndidi get injured again.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Leicester are at a critical moment in their history; invest in a couple of rising stars and they can consolidate their position as one of the biggest clubs in England, particularly with Tottenham potentially falling away. After 12 successful months in the job, there is every reason to believe <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rodgers will get it right</strong>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Summary</span></strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Had the traditional 'Big Six' not been in collective meltdown in 2019/20 then Leicester City would already have fallen out of the top four, kicking themselves for a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">wasted opportunity</strong>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Then again, the league table doesn't lie, and it would hardly be fair to criticise Rodgers for taking a mid-table club to an eight-point cushion within the Champions League spots. When at their best, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leicester are a brilliant side</strong>. All they need is to find consistency.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwljBxINiPvM_7jsKmcveseETgO_0rEu6d05ylc86nmvxRtLHNXA3bzjKIkV7xO_myQkdVvJcxP0-xBHnasSof1yWoyUHx1LiA-mGKUn-AoxxgTWSadGUX1JVgEqeKc3nvjCgFDM9Jp0/s640/Rodgers.jpg" width="640" /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </strong></div>

Leicester City 19/20 Review: The rise and the fall

Leicester City 19/20 Review: The rise and the fall Now is a good time to assess the 2019/20 Premier League season so far, and here's ...

Read More

Everton 19/20 Review: Ancelotti restores optimism

<h1 class="entry_header__title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Everton 19/20 Review: Ancelotti restores optimism</span></h1> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">The Premier League is suspended until at least the end of April, and in the meantime we're reviewing every club's 2019/20 season so far. Next up, how Everton's Jekyll & Hyde season played out...</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Managerial hiring and firings tend to define a club's season, and yet Everton have been particularly influenced by changes in the dugout this year. The Toffees have had <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">three head coaches</strong> this year, two permanent and one temporary, each with wildly different approaches, so we must break down our analysis of their campaign into three parts. It's been a rollercoaster year at Goodison Park.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marco Silva</strong> just couldn't sort out his defence, either from open play or set-pieces, and what had begun so promisingly ended in relative chaos. His departure in early December was inevitable. What happened next was not.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">First, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Duncan Ferguson</strong> brought a frightening level of emotion to the role, re-energising Everton with a couple of manic performances, most notably a 3-1 victory over Chelsea in which they completed more tackles (37) than any other team in a single game in the 2010s.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Next <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carlo Ancelotti</strong> came in to calm things down a bit, piggybacking off Ferguson's morale boost to instil a clear tactical identity onto the team.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Season so far</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">When Silva was finally dismissed Everton were in the bottom three, on 14 points from 15 matches, and had just been <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">humiliated 5-2 by rivals Liverpool</strong>. Having spent another £100 million in the summer in an attempt to draw a line under the Koeman/Allardyce farce, one could argue it was the lowest the club had been in five years.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">And so Ferguson's instant revival deserves serious recognition in any season review. The <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">pandemonium</strong> of his short tenure won Everton five points from Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United, puncturing the malaise at a time when most expected a further slump before any recovery could begin.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">It was unlikely to last, and thankfully Ancelotti arrived just in time as Everton and Arsenal played out a 0-0 draw that looked completely bereft of quality or direction. The Italian has since <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">laid the foundations</strong> for a more ordered future at Goodison Park.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">His hybrid 4-4-2/4-3-3 involves sitting in a mid-block with limited pressing, before counter-attacking as a front three, with Theo Walcott advancing from the right to join <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin</strong>. These two have rightly grabbed the headlines so far, their burgeoning partnership the clearest example yet of Ancelotti's tactical coaching.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Results have been mixed, but at least the new manager is attempting to prioritise playing the most talented young players, and has a clearly identifiable style of play. That's more than could be said for Silva.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Highlights</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">victory over Chelsea</strong> is the high point of the season, and in fact Everton's 4-4-2 shape that day - compact off the ball, countering on it - has to some extent influenced Ancelotti's thinking. There haven't been many other standout performances, although beating Watford 3-2 with an injury-time winner, despite being down to ten men, was an impressive show of resolve.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Richarlison's and Calvert-Lewin's blossoming are the real highlights, and a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">welcome distraction</strong> from a litany of embarrassing results in the first half of the season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lowlights</strong></h2> </div> <div> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Losing 5-2 to Liverpool is bad enough, but to then lose 1-0 in the FA Cup to their youth team is embarrassing. Ancelotti will want to forget that one, as well as the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2-2 draw with Newcastle</strong> in which Steve Bruce's side scored in the 93rd and 94th minutes. For lowlights under Silva, see the abject 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa in August, 3-1 loss at Bournemouth, and Norwich's 2-0 at Goodison Park.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">In terms of individual performances <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moise Kean</strong> has sadly endured a difficult debut year in English football and will hope to be given more chances by Ancelotti if the season resumes. Tom Davies has also struggled, adding to the club's midfield problems that developed after serious injuries to Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.</span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they can achieve in 19/20</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Everton are only six points off Sheffield United in seventh, meaning they are among a handful of clubs still chasing European football despite a mixed campaign. Given the dramatic upturn in form under Ancelotti, they have a fighting chance, although their odds to finish in the <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>top six are understandably</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="10/1">11.00</span> with Betfair Exchange.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">In truth, this is just a transitional year for Everton and Ancelotti. The last nine matches, should they take place, are <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a free hit</strong> for the new manager.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Everton badly need to address the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">brittleness of their midfield</strong>. Davies' progress has stalled while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Morgan Schneiderlin have both shown they aren't good enough, meaning Ancelotti must prioritise buying at least two all-action midfielders. Playing a 4-4-2 makes athleticism in this role particularly important.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">An <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">upgrade on Walcott</strong> is also needed, while Jordan Pickford's frequent errors suggest he may not be trusted long-term in goal. With a few new additions Everton can definitely push for Europe.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Summary</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">No club in English football has had a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jekyll and Hyde</strong> season quite like Everton, whose fans have gone from complete despair under Silva in December to renewed optimism under Ancelotti little more than a month later. This is not fickleness. The new manager has given the club a clear tactical direction, instantly lifting them back towards their natural level, seventh.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Consequently, Everton are once again faced with the problem that has plagued them for several years: how to bridge the gap between themselves, in a financial league of their own in the Premier League's middle-class, and the 'big six'. With Ancelotti, they at least <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">have the elite-level manager</strong> needed to tackle the dilemma.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD46Qaq5d2c4CxLm4WbXjBk99NlJBWeKS4Mqc5__WsEBXf9eQHveaHq4bG9QHNFL_tGQnwHt7lnbDIkxe0qwwNZgtBGIbA36kWHm4vBLGp8OedehZTGiar5oYmZpGH15KQItNBQ8Tev0/s640/ance3.jpg" width="640" /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </strong></div>

Everton 19/20 Review: Ancelotti restores optimism

Everton 19/20 Review: Ancelotti restores optimism The Premier League is suspended until at least the end of April, and in the meantime we...

Read More

Crystal Palace 19/20 Review: Mid-table safety under Hodgson

<h1 class="entry_header__title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Crystal Palace 19/20 Review: Mid-table safety under Hodgson</span></h1> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">We are reviewing each club's 2019/20 season so far while waiting for the Premier League to get back underway. Here, we look at how Crystal Palace have gone up a gear under Hodgson...</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">With Crystal Palace currently just six points behind Manchester United in fifth it is tempting to lavish Roy Hodgson with praise for an almighty overachievement in the Premier League. But football's hiatus just happened to come on the back of a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">three-match winning run</strong> for Palace, propelling them into a slightly exaggerated position.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Nevertheless 2019/20 has been a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">strong campaign</strong> for a club seeking little more than to avoid a relegation battle. The Eagles have certainly achieved that, and were on course to stay away from danger even before those recent wins boosted Hodgson's side to within a point of Arsenal and two of Spurs.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Season so far</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">It has been a year of <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">steady efficiency</strong> at Selhurst Park, of the right manager in the right place at the right time to maximise the squad's talents. Crystal Palace have won five league games 1-0, have won by more than one goal on just two occasions (against Norwich and Burnley), and haven't scored more than twice in a single game.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Hodgson has alternated a 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 throughout the campaign but the tactics are more or less the same. Palace sit deep in rigid lines of four, wait patiently for the ball, and then break down the flanks. It is simple stuff carried out effectively, the product of Hodgson's <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">vast experience</strong> and expertise in the game.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The margins, when playing this way, are wafer thin, and in the first part of the season there were a few question marks about the manager's long-term viability. A remarkable <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">smash-and-grab win at Old Trafford</strong> in September would have gone the other way nine times out of ten, while a 1-0 win against Aston Villa - assisted by bizarre VAR controversy - was among the season's oddest results.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Without those two wins Palace would have been nought for six at the start of the campaign and in <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">deep trouble</strong>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But Palace recovered from the wobbly start, stabilising thanks to some strong performances from Patrick van Aanholt, Jordan Ayew, and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gary Cahill</strong>. Between them, these three have a knack for putting in match-winning performances at just the right time.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">A seven-game winless run through the beginning of 2019 was ended by those three wins just before the break, and herein lies the overarching theme of the year: strings of defeats followed by strings of victories that, depending on which period Palace are in, makes their season look either <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">par for the course</strong> or a big success.</span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Highlights</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The 2-1 win at Man Utd was an <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">extraordinary game</strong>. The hosts had 22 shots to the visitors' five, were awarded one penalty and had another clear one denied, but Palace somehow won. Ayew gave them the lead with a neat finish in the first half and after relentless pressure Daniel James equalised in the 89th minute.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">United pushed for the winner only to be caught on the break by <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Van Aanholt</strong>. The away fans went wild, kick-starting their season after a winless and goalless beginning.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Signing Cahill on a free transfer has proved to be a brilliant piece of business, adding assurance and leadership to the Palace back four, and he looks certain to win the club player of the year award. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ayew</strong> might have something to say about that, mind, his eight goals having been priceless throughout the season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lowlights</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wilfried Zaha</strong> hasn't looked right since a summer move away from Selhurst Park fell through, and his dramatic drop in form has been the most disappointing aspect of the year so far. The Ivory Coast international has just three goals and three assists to his name, down from ten goals and five assists last year.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Christian Benteke</strong> is another one who continues to frustrate, and alarmingly continued to look bereft even after ending his goal drought in February. The Belgian I still missing sitters, and yet his all-round game isn't that bad. He perhaps needs a change of environment.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The 4-0 loss at Mauricio Pochettino's dying Tottenham in September was Crystal Palace's worst performance of the season. A series of shambolic errors and own goals gave Spurs a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">four-goal lead</strong> within 42 minutes, raising fears of a relegation scrap that would prove premature.</span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they can achieve in 19/20</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">In their nine remaining league games Palace have to play five of the current top eight, and aside from the win at Old Trafford Hodgson's record against bigger teams is poor. Consequently, should 2019/20 get back underway they will fall back into the bottom half, making a <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>top ten finish, priced at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="3/1">3.90</span> with Betfair Exchange, unlikely.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">They're out of the FA Cup and already one point shy of the magic 40, meaning anything from here is a bonus. A couple more wins would complete a wholly satisfying year for Hodgson's team.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Almost by accident, Palace have already worked out how to reorganise their attacks to rely on Zaha less, which should mean his inevitable departure in the summer doesn't hit them too hard. What's more, having spent just £5 million on some astute signings last summer and having sold <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aaron Wan-Bissaka</strong> for big money, Hodgson should have some cash.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">On the other hand, The Eagles are already <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">close to their ceiling</strong>. A top-ten finish is probably all they can hope for with their current resources, and so 2020/21 isn't likely to bring any big surprises.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Summary</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Crystal Palace need 11 points from their remaining nine games to <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">better their Premier League points record</strong> of 49, set last year, and cap off a good second full campaign under Croydon-born Hodgson. To stay still even while Zaha falters is no mean feat.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The football is hardly spectacular to watch, but under the guidance of their former player Crystal Palace fans are enjoying a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">stress-free time</strong> of late. That, in the financially-perilous modern game, should not be taken for granted.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="960" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5Mgw224cfS-v-LcTHdsiIDPbmHDmlb-sWBXCyzyNbUflvDnuWKSeWLBA4yvMMyvNsutbbFx2cD18rUu24jcWNKrT-2SeZ5tUBNz5LeWeiC9bKhABnLn7V1O3h5_DBxBZtkTP06BCE5s/s640/royhogson.jpg" width="640" /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> </div>

Crystal Palace 19/20 Review: Mid-table safety under Hodgson

Crystal Palace 19/20 Review: Mid-table safety under Hodgson We are reviewing each club's 2019/20 season so far while waiting for the ...

Read More

Burnley 19/20 Review: Impressive top-half finish awaits

<h1 class="entry_header__title" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Burnley 19/20 Review: Impressive top-half finish awaits</span></h1> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">As the Premier League suspension continues, we are reviewing every Premier League club's 2019/20 season so far, and next up is Burnley's quietly impressive campaign...</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div> <div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">There have been moments during the 2019/20 Premier League season when the mainstream analysis argued that Burnley were reaching the end of their time in the top flight. The theory suggested they were <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">going stale</strong> under Sean Dyche, his eight-year project having been slowly undermined by a lack of investment.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But the real reason for that interpretation is the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">fickleness</strong> of the football industry, which runs on the sort of short-termism that makes Burnley's erratic results vulnerable to alarmist thinking. On three separate occasions this season the Clarets have lost three league games in a row.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Some have responded by assuming the worst, and yet when the league was suspended earlier this month Burnley were on course for a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">51-point season</strong> - just three fewer than in 2017/18, when they finished seventh.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Though flying under the radar, it has been a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">quietly successful</strong> year for Dyche's team.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Season so far</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Burnley's style of football is well documented, or at least the parody of it is. Dyche's 4-4-2 does include a lot of long balls forward for the knock down, a lot of battling for the second balls, and a lot of crosses from out wide, but there is <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">more nuance than many people think</strong>. They have needed all of the manager's nous to battle through the rough patches this season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">From detailed analysis of opposition weaknesses to engaging a high press when playing non-'big six' sides, Burnley's approach is <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">progressive and proactive</strong>. They, like so many unfashionable Premier League clubs, are largely only seen by the public in televised games against the elite clubs when a more defensive attitude is taken, hence the perception of negative, out-dated football.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">This year has been defined by <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dwight McNeil's rise</strong> to the fore, with his diagonal runs infield making Burnley's formation even narrower. The idea is to win the ball in central areas - either from a long ball or pressing the opposition - and then work it patiently out wide for a cross into the forwards.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">At times in 2018/19, the strikers have badly struggled in front of goal, but if they were more clinical then McNeil would have shot Burnley into European contention. The winger ranks among the Premier League's <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">top five players for xG chances created</strong>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Aside from this tweak, it has been business as usual for the most part, securing narrow wins against bottom-half opponents and getting thumped by the big boys. However, when the hiatus struck Burnley were on a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">seven-game unbeaten</strong> run that included an impressive win at Old Trafford.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UM4ZqGYIKG6jZWa8ZB7tVE0dLGvxu7vcNFVsgcJnC7GWZG5bxoHVGIPxTyT7rTJH5es5ukUz__RObYMWSkhwvfEB-v3S4glcspdQA5r_iydoCT9O-HACF3sTlK_Fvmve8ZdsvTJAaYM/s640/seandyche1.jpg" width="640" /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Highlights</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">It's worth returning to McNeil, whose influence was only just getting the attention it deserved when play stopped. The 20-year-old, who started every league game, tops the Burnley charts for <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">key passes (1.5 per game)</strong>, dribbles completed (2.1 per game), crosses completed (1.8 per game), and assists (five).</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">His partnership on with left-back Charlie Taylor has been a joy to watch, as has the growing influence of Jay Rodriguez. On the pitch, a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2-0 win at Manchester United</strong> ended Burnley's abysmal run against the big teams (more on that later) and consolidated an upturn in form that has changed the narrative of their season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Goals from Chris Wood and Rodriguez either side of half-time earned Burnley a well-deserved three points, their first at Old Trafford <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">since 1962</strong>. The fans won't forget it anytime soon.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Buoyed by such good form, a month later the Clarets were unlucky to only draw 1-1 with Spurs in a performance that could mark a turning point. Burnley were aggressive, pressing high up the pitch and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">keeping Spurs under the cosh</strong> for long periods, amassing 21 shots.</span></div> </div> <div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lowlights</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Prior to these couple of games, Burnley's record against 'Big Six' opponents read: played eight lost eight, with an aggregate score of <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">25-5</strong>. All of these contests were lowlights, but special mention goes to a 5-0 loss at Tottenham in a game that actually made Jose Mourinho's team look coherent.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">But it wasn't the worst performance of the season. They lost <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3-0 at Sheffield United</strong> in November with 54% possession and failed to register a single shot on target. It was the third defeat in a row, plunging the club into a relegation battle and, after a lifeless performance, leading to the first tentative suggestions Dyche's powers were waning.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they can achieve in 19/20</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Such is the bizarre nature of the Premier League table this year Burnley are only five points behind Manchester United in fifth, which could yet be a Champions League place for next season. But it would be naïve to assume they can overhaul the large number of clubs ahead of them. Instead Burnley's realistic target is a <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>top ten finish, priced at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="9/5">2.80</span> with Betfair Exchange.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">A top six finish, <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/2">3.55</span>, is unlikely to be achieved, and yet to finish seventh would equal the 2017/18 record nobody thought would happen again. It is within their grasp.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Dyche hasn't been able to implement the club's big-money signings in recent years - <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Josh Brownhill</strong>, signed for around £8 million from Bristol City, has barely featured - and that surely has to change soon. Burnley could do with a new central midfielder, yet the most pressing concern is how to replace McNeil.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The young winger will be in high demand and a club of Burnley's size won't be able to turn down a big offer. Get a new dribbler on the left, and complimenting him with a better goalscorer, would give Burnley a fighting chance of <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">holding ground in the top ten</strong>.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div> <h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Summary</strong></h2> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Dyche's Burnley remain a unique club, one continually punching above their weight with a brand of football that is wrongly labelled old-fashioned - and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">wrongly perceived as dull</strong>. Direct football, when organised as well as theirs, can be great fun to watch; towering headers and aggressive tackling are entertaining when done right.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white;">Their 2019/20 campaign has been a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">big success so far</strong>, in terms of points won, and, in the midst of a purple patch when the football was suspended, Burnley can look forward to a strong end to the campaign if things get back underway.</span></div> </div>

Burnley 19/20 Review: Impressive top-half finish awaits

Burnley 19/20 Review: Impressive top-half finish awaits As the Premier League suspension continues, we are reviewing every Premier League...

Read More