Summary

Media caption,

Erik ten Hag: 'We need some time.'

  1. get involved

    Phil McNulty Q&A: 'I had sympathy for Fernandes'published at 12:02 British Summer Time 30 September

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    Ricky: Hi Phil, sorry but to dismiss the idea that the red card had no impact is laughable. How many times do you see teams come out after a poor first half and turn a game around especially when they are only 1-0 down. Also the red card is arguably one of the worst sending off in recent years, at worst a yellow if that; VAR yet again proving not fit for purpose and overall highlights again the poor level of officiating in this country. All that said I have no words of defence for the overall United performance especially that first half. ETH probably needs to go as I’m not sure the players want to play for him let alone the shirt and the fans.

    Phil: Hi, Ricky. You are more than welcome to disagree and thank you for doing it in a constructive way. It’s what the Q&A is here for.

    I took the strongest issue with Ten Hag’s suggestion it “changed the game”. It made United’s task even harder but it did not “change the game”. United were being outclassed well before Fernandes was sent off. In fact they were outclassed from the first whistle.

    I actually agreed with the red card but certainly had sympathy for Fernandes, who acted in a bit of desperation having slipped he was a bit unlucky.

    As for United, this was as bad as I’ve seen under Ten Hag. No discernible strategy or game plan and a complete lack of discipline.

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    Phil McNulty Q&A: 'A good week and a cause for guarded optimism'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 30 September

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    @meolscop1978 on "X": Am I delusional to be optimistic about Everton right now. New owners, first Premier League win etc?

    Phil: Steady!

    What is beyond doubt is that last week was a long overdue better week for Everton, with news of Dan Friedkin's agreement to buy the club and that vital first league win.

    Of all the options open to Everton, on the surface Friedkin's appears to be by far the best with the family's vast wealth and his track record of owning a club at AS Roma.

    There are no guarantees but 777 always looked a very bad fit for so many reasons while John Textor had the not inconsiderable problem of his involvement at Crystal Palace.

    A good week and a cause for guarded optimism. Now Everton need more like it.

  3. Everton beat Palace to secure first winpublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 30 September

    Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

    Dwight McNeilImage source, Getty Images

    While some teams are still searching for their first win of the campaign, Everton are finally off the mark.

    Dwight McNeil's second-half double eased the tension around Sean Dyche and lifted the Toffees out of the bottom three for the first time this season.

    Marc Guehi put Crystal Palace ahead on 10 minutes, reacting quickest to poke in from close range following Maxence Lacroix's knock down from a corner.

    But the Goodison Park crowd came to life thanks to McNeil's two goals - plus a bit of tactical tinkering by Dyche, replacing Jesper Lindstrom with Jack Harrison after the break.

    Oliver Glasner's Palace have collected just three points from their six games so far and in need of a spark to haul themselves out of danger and away from the relegation zone.

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    Phil McNulty Q&A: 'Aston Villa are still my top four pick'published at 11:46 British Summer Time 30 September

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    St Augustine: Do you see Chelsea finishing in the top 4 by the end of the season?

    Phil: Early days yet, but the signs are very promising for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca.

    I was not sure about this appointment but one thing no-one could question was that they had some quality players who, if shaped into a structure and system, could be a force.

    Maresca appears to be doing that. He has a clear style and in Cole Palmer a real game-changer. Niclas Jackson also looks to be maturing.

    I do think the top three will be Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool but there is a clear opening in fourth. My pick is still Aston Villa but if Chelsea continue as they are they can certainly be part of that conversation.

  5. No sign of De Bruynepublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 30 September

    Manchester City

    Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden are having shot practice as the camera pans to Jack Grealish who stretches before joining his teammates.

    The whistle blows and the players gather but our eagle eyes can't spy Kevin de Bruyne.

  6. Players wrapped uppublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 30 September

    Manchester City

    It is a typical day of weather in Manchester, it is absolutely tipping it down! A lot of players are wrapped up as they start training.

    There is no sign of Kevin de Bruyne as of yet but Phil Foden and Erling Haaland have just joined the group.

    It is quite a relaxed atmosphere as the players do passing drills.

  7. Man City in trainingpublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 30 September

    Manchester City

    You can watch Manchester City on training at the top of the page as they prepare to take on Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday. Eyes will be on Kevin de Bruyne with his injury issues early on this season.

    If you can't watch, don't worry we will summarise the main points for you.

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    Phil McNuty Q&A: 'I thought it was a red card'published at 11:30 British Summer Time 30 September

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    Oden: Hi Phil, All I hear/read everywhere is ”harsh sending off” of Fernandes because the studs didn’t hit Maddison. Well, Fernandes had such (1) bad control of his body that he slipped, and he still (2) fulfills his tackle (3) knee high (4) without any chance at all reaching the ball. Sheer luck, I say, that Maddison’s knee was higher than knee-high so he got hit on the leg. Is it really good for football that we almost need a severe injury for a red card to be considered? Don’t like it myself.

    Phil: Hello, Oden, I thought it was a red card but Fernandes was slightly unlucky in that he did slip as he went in to make the tackle. Not sure that was bad control of his body, simply a treacherous surface. It was desperation that forced him to raise his foot like that and I have no problem with the referee’s decision.

    Happily no harm was done to James Maddison and Erik ten Hag’s claim that the red card “changed the game” was nonsensical. Spurs were running riot even before that incident.

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    Get Involved - 'common denominator is not the coaches'published at 11:26 British Summer Time 30 September

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    Good coaches don’t turn into bad coaches over night. Manchester United have had some proven coaches but none of them have been able to make it work in the last 10 years. The common denominator is not the coaches.

    Simon

  10. Defining week ahead for Man Utdpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 30 September

    Sean Kearns
    BBC Sport

    Not for the first time since his appointment, Ten Hag faces a defining week in charge at Old Trafford.

    United travel to Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, having drawn against FC Twente in their opening group stage fixture last week.

    The Red Devils then visit Villa Park on Sunday to take on Unai Emery's in-form Aston Villa in the Premier League.

    That fixture will be United's last game for 13 days as the Premier League season pauses for the October international break.

  11. get involved

    Phil McNulty Q&A: 'I think Ten Hag is in big trouble'published at 11:19 British Summer Time 30 September

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    Will: Hi Phil, Do you think the writing is on the wall for Ten Hag and Utd should just get it over with and move on?

    Phil: Morning, Will. I think Ten Hag is in big trouble, purely because of results and performances. Manchester United have been thoroughly bashed up by Liverpool and Spurs in their last two homes league games. They have not been in the same class as either of those opponents.

    He has got a huge week ahead of him with the visit to Porto in the Europa League on Thursday then Aston Villa away on Sunday. He needs a result in at least one of those games or the patience of Manchester United’s hierarchy might be stretched beyond breaking point.

    When any manager is given the sort of reprieve Ten Hag was in the summer, when the FA Cup win effectively saved his job, it invariably always leaves them one loss away from a crisis. Yesterday’s result, and the manner of the defeat, means it is crisis time again for Erik ten Hag.

  12. Man Utd to stick with under-pressure Ten Hagpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 30 September

    Manchester United

    Erik ten HagImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester United are set to stick with manager Erik ten Hag for matches against Porto and Aston Villa this week, despite their demoralising defeat against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

    Ten Hag has endured a poor start to the season, which has left United 12th in the Premier League.

    Speaking after the 3-0 loss against Spurs Ten Hag said he was "not thinking" about losing his job, adding he and the owners are "on the same page".

    Ten Hag signed a new contract in the summer and last month club chief executive Omar Berrada said he had the club's full backing.

    While the pressure on Ten Hag is clearly mounting, on Monday morning BBC Sport was told the club's hierarchy will always consider such situations carefully, rather than making a decision immediately after a bad result.

    Nevertheless, Ten Hag faces a potentially pivotal week with trips to Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League before the October international break.

    Read Simon Stone and Dan Roan's full story here

  13. 'Palmer has freedom at Chelsea'published at 11:12 British Summer Time 30 September

    Chelsea 4-2 Brighton

    Nigel Reo-Coker
    Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

    If Cole Palmer didn't leave and he did stay at City under Pep, would he still be having the same freedom as he has had now at Chelsea? There comes that bit about character and personality. I think for me we wouldn't be seeing the same Cole Palmer at City.

    Since he has gone to Chelsea he has been given a lot more freedom. We all know what Pep is like with his system and his style of play.

  14. 'I think it is a dangerous thing'published at 11:07 British Summer Time 30 September

    Arsenal v PSG (Tue, 20:00 BST)

    Arsenal

    Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was asked about the packed schedule: "I think it is a big topic at the moment in dressing rooms. Not only at Mancheter City and Liverpool but our dressing room. For me I didn't play last season so I am just enjoying playing now, you won't hear me complain. But I totally understand what they are saying [in reference to Rodri and other players comments]."

    And finally he was asked if players are asked to play more games if serious injuries will increase; "Definitely. I think it is a dangerous thing, even last week we played City and I think City played two days later I think that is too much. I understand why these players are complaining."

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    Phil McNulty Q&A: 'Palmer looks a class act'published at 11:03 British Summer Time 30 September

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    Mick, Hampshire: Do you think Cole Palmer can improve as it’s hard to see how considering how good he is. Also does this mean he is now a must start for England?

    Phil: The great thing for Chelsea and England is that he is only 22 so there is plenty of room and time for improvement.

    Palmer looks a class act, just oozing quality and a snip at £40m from Manchester City. Just imagine what he would command now?

    England is an interesting one because Lee Carsley has so many options open to him and Palmer was injured for the last international break. We will see when they play Greece and Finland but he can do no more to state his case than what he is doing currently and he proved at Euro 2024 that he is a natural fit at international level.

  16. Palmer shines again for Chelseapublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 30 September

    Chelsea 4-2 Brighton

    Cole PalmerImage source, Getty Images

    Cole Palmer. He's just a normal lad who loves chippy chips and scoring four goals in the first half of a Premier League match against Brighton.

    At Stamford Bridge on Saturday, the 22-year-old managed to do what no other player had done before in the top flight, his magnificent display drawing comparisons to the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie from former England and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.

    However, you forget sometimes how young these players are, so a nod to Gunners' legend and Hall of Famer Bergkamp was met with a polite: "He is a legend of the Premier League but I didn't really watch him. He is a top player but thank you Theo," by Palmer.

    The former Manchester City midfielder has six goals and four assists in the league so far this season, and has become the first Chelsea player to score 20 top-flight goals in a calendar year since Diego Costa scored 21 in 2016.

    Is he the best player in the league right now?

  17. 'Calafiori is a fantastic player'published at 10:56 British Summer Time 30 September

    Arsenal v PSG (Tue, 20:00 BST)

    Arsenal

    Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber also spoke on faith: "My faith is everything. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it and it is where I get my confidence from. I like to share with the football group but just with other people "

    And he added on Riccardo Calafiori: "Everyone can see how good he is. A fantastic player and a good character. You guys are enjoying watching him but we are enjoying playing with him.

  18. 'Mentally it is also really tough'published at 10:49 British Summer Time 30 September

    Arsenal v PSG (Tue, 20:00 BST)

    Arsenal

    Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber added on PSG: "I think they are still a really good team. They are really well coached and they have so many good players, world class players. I don't think we will approach it differently, we just have to be prepared for tomorrow."

    And on the amount of fixtures in Arsenal's schedule: "We played two days ago, we all know how many games we have to play. It is the physical stuff but mentally it is also really tough. Me, I am just enjoying it right now because I couldn't play last year and now I am playing."

  19. 'We need to play with a lot of courage'published at 10:46 British Summer Time 30 September

    Arsenal v PSG (Tue, 20:00 BST)

    Arsenal

    Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has also faced the press. He was first asked about the messages he has given players who haven't played in the Champions League before: "I think a lot of players have played in big games, of course the Champions League is a bit different. I think it is a bit different but it is not really different to the big games we have in the Premier League. I don't need to tell how they need to play tomorrow or how they need to play in these big games.

    "Obviously we need to play with a lot of courage and be who we are."

  20. 'The only one thing that worries me still is the killer instinct'published at 10:41 British Summer Time 30 September

    Man Utd 0-3 Tottenham

    Nigel Reo-Coker
    Former West Ham midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

    They [Spurs] were great, a performance that was definitely needed and followed up the European mid-week performance. The only one thing that worries me still is the killer instinct. For Tottenham for where they want to go and where they want to be as a football club they need to improve on that.

    If you wanted to take one negative aspect it is really not putting five or six past Manchester United. They got comfortable, sometimes they should have seen the game out in a more ruthless manner. I think that is something they need to add into that to be a lot more ruthless with the players and the quality that they have.