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Our first match today is Aston Villa v Fulham. How do we feel about that one? Have the home side turned the corner, or are we ignoring a dicey home win against the 11th-best side in Italy. They\u2019ve still got plenty of good players, of course, but with Ollie Watkins out of form, they\u2019re struggling to threaten never mind score.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n What I would say on McT is that how well he\u2019s doing in Italy doesn\u2019t mean United were wrong to sell him. In Serie A, his physicality is a bigger advantage than in the Prem, and at Napoli he\u2019s not competing for a starting slot with Bruno Fernandes, who plays in the same position, The move suited both parties.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n But the undoubted game of the day comes in Italy, where Scott McTominay faces Milan.<\/p>\n Obviously that\u2019s a hilarious joke, but what a move it was for him to join Napoli. There\u2019s the football, of course \u2013 and in Antonio Conte, he has the perfect manager to platform his strengths and hide his weaknesses \u2013 but also culturally. By all accounts he\u2019s absolutely loving his new life, and there might not be a better place on the planet to be revered. I couldn\u2019t be happier for a very nice boy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In the meantime, though, Barcelona can make hay. They\u2019re the best attacking side in the world by a mile \u2013 I don\u2019t think anyone can argue with that, though this is football we\u2019re talking about so you can never be sure \u2013 and that\u2019s enough to win almost every week. If they see off Soceidad later today, they go above Madrid at the top of the table.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Julian Alvarez, man, what a player \u2013 and what a perfect fit for Atletico. On the other hand, I wonder how long it\u2019ll take Xabi Alonso to get Real where they want to be. I wouldn\u2019t necessarily call him a systems manager, but he is a proper coach, who needs buy-in and time to inculcate his ideas and principles \u2013 not easy when you\u2019ve a squad full of superstars and a famously impatient boardroom.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.50 EDT<\/p>\n I mentioned earlier that we\u2019ve some European fun this afternoon, but before we properly look forward to that, let\u2019s look back at last night.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On which point, what a start Sunderland have made to the season \u2013 I think they call that a segue. They spent a load of wedge, granted, but turning that into points isn\u2019t easy, though they were handed a friendly start, and if they could win their next two games \u2013 Man United away, Wolves at home \u2013 they\u2019ll be a long way towards staying up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On which point:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A brace of own goals, goodness me.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n On which point, who on earth is going down? I fear for Burnley, but you can make a decent case for every other team will stay up \u2013 including the current bottom three, Wolves, Villa and West Ham.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We should, though, note that Brentford played really well. A Sunderland-supporting mate of mine told me that Keith Andrews\u2019 side are the best his lot have met this season, and they looked very well organised and prepared yesterday. I thought they\u2019d struggle this season and maybe they still will, but so far, they\u2019re in decent shape.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Sunday Supplement, they\u2019re talking about Man United\u2019s midfield. It really is mind-boggling they didn\u2019t buy anyone for that position in the summer \u2013 and that was obvious at the time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We will, of course, be bringing you updates on all the WSL action and all the goals as they go in, in this very blog.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Also today, we\u2019ve Barcelona v Sociedad and Milan v Napoli; that second match, third v first, should be an absolute belter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019ve got some right tasty fixtures in the WSL this afternoon. Manchester City take on London City; Spurs travel to Leicester; Brighton meet Everton; and Liverpool face Manchester United. Those are our midday kick-offs, after which we\u2019ve West Ham v Chelsea. Not bad.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n How far can Glasner\u2019s Palace go?<\/p>\n I was at Selhurst a couple of seasons ago when they walloped Man United 4-0, and I was seriously impressed with Daniel Mu\u00f1oz. I know he\u2019s not the biggest name they\u2019ve had, but he\u2019s a very, very good player.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I actually think Newcastle were pretty fortunate to get a player as good as Isak so early in their PIF era \u2013 likewise Bruno Guimar\u00e3es. Obviously I understand why their fans were disappointed he wanted to leave, but he was crucial in winning them a trophy and his desire to leave should\u2019ve come as no surprise.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.57 EDT<\/p>\n Here\u2019s Jonathan Wilson\u2019s Sunday column:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our matches today:<\/p>\n Aston Villa v Fulham<\/p>\n Arsenal v Newcastle<\/p>\n I\u2019m looking forward to these. Villa badly need points and will have taken confidence from their win over Bologna in midweek, but they\u2019ll face a different challenge in Marco Silva\u2019s side.<\/p>\n Arsenal, meanwhile, will have taken heart from Liverpool\u2019s defeat, but Newcastle are perhaps the most physical team in the league with one of its best midfields.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Amorim was, though, right not to blame the ref for his side\u2019s abjectivity, but I\u2019ve not a clue how Nathan Collins escaped a red card for fouling Bryan Mbeumo. The rationale is that Mbeumo wasn\u2019t in control of the ball, but he was looking for a one-touch finish, so had no need to be, and had he not been deliberately impeded by a defender making no effort to make a legitimate challenge, he might have scored.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Another manager under pressure is Ruben Amorim. I\u2019m not sure United\u2019s performance yesterday was entirely his fault \u2013 the issue wasn\u2019t the system nor its principles, rather a lack of composure and intensity \u2013 but ultimately that too is his responsibility.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Incidentally, I absolutely loved Daniel Welbeck\u2019s finish for Brighton\u2019s third goal. His peak years were sadly hampered by injury, but his dotage has been brilliant. He\u2019s still got it physically, while his touch, imagination and intelligence are even better than before.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Across London, meantime, aggravation: Chelsea lost again, their performance in beating PSG to win the Club World Cup a distant memory. On the one hand, a dip after that was inevitable; on the other, it was one game, and there\u2019ve been precious few others of similar standard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I was out last evening \u2013 get me \u2013 so I\u2019m only just catching up with Spurs v Wolves and, in particular, Jose Palhinha\u2019s late equaliser.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I also enjoyed this comment from @Xhong_Zina30 under the above link:<\/p>\n As a Spurs fan I\u2019ve really enjoyed Frank\u2019s tactical flexibility, seeing the team drop points in different ways beats dropping points the same way like last season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And what a celebration from Oliver Glasner. That man knows something.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Imagine Crystal Palace had the resources to hang on to their best players \u2013 they\u2019re second in the table having lost Michael Oliseh and Eberechi Eze. Keep them, and you\u2019re talking about a title challenge.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019m glad Goals on Sunday is back on Sky. Real talk: I\u2019ve not a clue why it was binned to begin with. Someone with expertise chatting about their unique experience, while reviewing action, what\u2019s not to like?<\/p>\n