Archaeology TheFoxPosts.com

Mauricio Pochettino celebrated his 31st Game in charge of Chelsea with a humiliating 4-2 drubbing at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers. It may not sound it, but 31 games is actually a significant milestone for Pochettino as it also happens to be the number of matches afforded to his predecessor, Graham Potter. Potter's time at Chelsea is not remembered fondly and, after Frank Lampard's interim stint, the decision to hire Pochettino was seen as a smart move which just might send the Blues back towards the top of the table. 31 Game s in and things are not exactly going to plan. Mauricio Pochettino's Premier League record compared to Graham Potter Mauricio Pochettino Graham Potter Game s played 23 22 Wins 9 7 Draws 4 7 Losses 10 8 Goals scored 38 21 Goals conceded 39 21 Points 31 28 Position 11th 11th Statistically, Chelsea have improved from Potter to Pochettino. How about we just leave it at that? No? In one extra Game , Pochettino has accumulated three points more than ...

Manchester United are expected to keep Amad Diallo beyond the end of the January transfer window, rather than have the 21-year-old winger finish the season out on loan. Amad enjoyed a highly successful loan at Sunderland last season, contributing 16 goals and assists in 37 Championship appearances for the Black Cats. But a pre-season knee injury has limited the Ivory Coast international to just one outing since returning to his parent club. With fellow winger Facundo Pellistri on course to join Granada on loan, the Manchester Evening News has reported that United staff believe Amad can now play an important role. It is thought that Pellistri, who made 14 appearances during the first half of the season, ended up staying last summer rather than heading out on loan at that time to serve as cover for Amad. A pre-season knee injury sidelined Amad from July to December / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages Following his long-term layoff, Amad made his long-awaited return to action last mo...

Marcus Rashford is no stranger to celebrating goals at Old Trafford. At the start of 2023, Rashford equalled Dennis Viollet's 64-year record of scoring in nine consecutive home games. However, before his crisp strike in Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, Rashford's most recent goal at the Theatre of Dreams had been against a Chelsea side under the stewardship of Frank Lampard. Joao Felix even found the net for the Blues that day. After almost eight months stewing away, Rashford would certainly have been entitled to a cathartic outpouring of emotion. Rasmus Hojlund almost pulled a muscle roaring in delight when he ended his personal drought against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Yet, Rashford had the clarity of thought to delivering a celebration with a deeper meaning than unbridled joy. What celebration did Marcus Rashford do against Tottenham? Back on the scoresheet at Old Trafford 👌@MarcusRashford 🎯#MUFC — Manchester United (@ManUtd) Ja...

Everton and Nottingham Forest have been charged by the Premier League for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and both could now face points deductions. Under these rules, clubs are only allowed to record losses of £105m over a three-year period, or £35m-a-season in that time span. Investments in youth development, infrastructure, community and women's Football can be deducted from these costs. The two clubs reported losses exceeding these amounts and have now been referred to an independent commission to decide on the case and a potential punishment. Everton, who have already been deducted ten points this season for a previous breach of regulations, said in a statement: "Everton Football Club acknowledges the Premier League’s decision to refer a breach of Profit & Sustainability rules (PSR) for the assessment period ending with the 2022/23 season to an independent Premier League commission. "This relates to a period which covers seasons 2019/20, ...

Kevin De Bruyne drew level with Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney and surpassed Chelsea great Frank Lampard in the all -time Premier League assist s charts with his Game -winning cross in Manchester City's 3-2 victory at Newcastle United on Saturday night. The Belgium midfielder played his second game since returning from a four-month lay-off due to a hamstring injury as the Cityzens moved up to second in England's top flight, scoring the equaliser from distance in the 74th minute after first-half strikes from Bernardo Silva, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. De Bruyne then grabbed his 103rd Premier League assist by clipping the ball in for young Norwegian Oscar Bobb, who controlled and finished in stylish fashion to seal all three points. De Bruyne set up Bobb's late winner / Alex Livesey/GettyImages CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE 90MIN FOOTBALL SHOW It was 32-year-old De Bruyne's 101st league assist for Man City, having mustered two during hi...

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has insisted the Blues do not need to sell players before they buy new ones in the January transfer window. The Blues have spent incredibly heavily since the arrival of the BlueCo ownership group but have not seen that investment translate to success on the pitch, with their failure to qualify for this season's Champions League handing an enormous blow to Chelsea's bank balance. With Chelsea in the market for a new striker this month - Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney are both expensive targets - many have speculated the Blues could be forced to sell players before spending in order to appease Financial Fair Play regulations, but Pochettino does not believe that to be the case. "No, it is not like this," Pochettino said. "Like you know, too many rumours going around the clubs. It is not what [the owners] translate to me. It is not necessary to sell to buy some players. "We keep a good relation...

Fantasy Football Hub is purpose-built to turn FPL managers into FPL winners. From their industry-leading AI to the experts who reveal their teams every Game week, it's no surprise tens of thousands of managers gain the edge with the Hub every season. Join the Hub  today and, if you don't win your mini-league, you'll get your money back.  Terms and Conditions apply . The second half of the Premier League season gives FPL players the opportunity to play a second wildcard of the season - freshening up teams who have gone a little stale with players who may not have been squeezed into the side without a load of transfers and lost points. With the help of Fantasy Football Hub's powerful AI Points Predictions tool , here are three essential wildcard transfers that could kickstart your points haul for Game week 20. Trent Alexander-Arnold Trent Alexander-Arnold is excelling in a slightly varied role / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages Fixture : Newcastle (H);  Predicted...

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal simply have to play better than Liverpool if they're to end their 12-year winless streak at Anfield. The Gunners head into the game top of the Premier League table, a point ahead of Liverpool, and will hold their position at the summit should they earn all three points on Merseyside. But recent history in not on the side of Arteta and Arsenal, who have found it increasingly difficult to pick up positive results at Anfield. Last season saw Liverpool fight back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw - Roberto Firmino's 87th minute equaliser one of many daggers that eventually downed Arsenal's Premier League title challenge. Probed in his latest press conference about how Arsenal can earn a first win at Liverpool since 2011, Arteta stated: "You have to play better than them. You will silence the crowd if you are dominant and better than them, just like in any other ground. There is no difference. "We have done it at Old Trafford, we have done it a...

The 2023/24 season has been one of major anguish for Manchester United, both on the pitch and off it. The Red Devils have underwhelmed in Erik ten Hag's second season in charge, sitting well outside the top four while also exiting all European competition and the Carabao Cup. The FA Cup is their final chance of a trophy, but they will have to improve a lot for success in that tournament to materialise. However, news of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS' investment has perked fans up approaching the end of 2023. January will mark their first transfer window as part of Man Utd and it could well be a fascinating few weeks in the market. Here are the areas Man Utd need to strengthen and the players they have been interested in. Central defence Guehi has impressed so far this season / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages Issues with Man Utd's squad can be more clearly attributed to injuries this season rather than a clear lack of individuals. There might be clamour for a new left-bac...

Manchester United's long list of defensive absentees was added to this Saturday, with centre-back Raphael Varane the latest to miss out for the Red Devils. The Frenchman has been on the fringes of the first team this season but injuries to Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez saw him make an increasingly rare start against Liverpool last weekend. The former Real Madrid man performed well, marshalling Man Utd's backline to a clean sheet at Anfield. It was expected, therefore, that Varane would retain his place when Erik ten Hag's side Travel led to West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday, but that wasn't the case. Varane missed out on the squad entirely but, fortunately for Man Utd, it's illness and not injury that kept him out of action. Ten Hag confirmed prior to kick-off against the Hammers on Saturday lunchtime that the 30-year-old was absent due to sickness. Willy Kambwala will get a surprise debut against West Ham / Lewis Storey/Gett...