Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend, featuring Andoni Iraola, toxicity at Tottenham, and Villa’s need for signings.

Andoni Iraola admirers growing with each week

Bournemouth’s belief is growing rapidly. The Cherries cut apart Nottingham Forest this weekend in a statement performance, thrashing their high-flying visitors to move within a point of the Champions League places. It’s 11 unbeaten for Bournemouth, who have assembled a superb side bursting with young talent.

Andoni Iraola has been the mastermind and such has been the Spaniard’s success, it has been overlooked the Cherries are in the midst of an injury crisis. Iraola has just 13 senior players fit and available, two of which are goalkeepers.

Against Forest, Lewis Cook again impressed out of position at right-back. Auxiliary striker Dango Ouattara helped himself to a hat-trick. Clubs are already circling for Bournemouth’s top talent and there would be no surprise should suitors emerge for Iraola.

Attractive football, faith in young talent, coping in crisis and, crucially, results.

700 not out for Moyes

David Moyes celebrated a milestone game this weekend as he took charge of his 700th Premier League fixture as manager. The 61-year-old is just the third coach to have achieved the feat, after Arsene Wenger (828) and Alex Ferguson (810).

It’s an incredible display of longevity from Moyes, who recently returned to Everton for a second spell. His early impact has shown there is still life in the old dog, with Everton earning an important 1-0 win at Brighton to move seven points clear of the relegation places.

Moyes has led Everton to back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season. The Toffees had won just three times in the Premier League before Moyes’s appointment.

Different debuts from City signings

Manchester City fans got their first look at the club’s January signings this week and it’s fair to say there were contrasting fortunes for the additions.

Abdukodir Khusanov endured arguably the most difficult opening six minutes to a debut in memory, as he gifted Chelsea an opener with a poor header and was cautioned for a poorly timed tackle on Cole Palmer. Khusanov looked nervy before his 54th-minute substitution in what was a baptism of fire for a 20-year-old with just 24 previous appearances in a top European league and little grasp of English.

Omar Marmoush certainly enjoyed a more positive debut in blue. The offside flag denied the Egyptian a goal but it was a performance full of excitement. Marmoush injected a spark into the City side and made threatening runs all evening.

Erling Haaland was certainly impressed by the display of a forward who could form a devastating understanding with City’s resident goal machine.

“You can see he has something special,” Haaland said.

“I’m looking forward to playing with him, it’s going to be a really good time.”

Defences have been warned.

Villa face crucial period as transfer deadline nears

Aston Villa face a crucial few days in the transfer market with injuries threatening to derail their top-four bid. Tyrone Mings was substituted in tears during the draw with West Ham, having only recently returned from an ACL injury. With Pau Torres still sidelined, Villa lack options at centre-back after Diego Carlos was sold to Fenerbahce this month.

Lucas Digne looked uncomfortable in an unfamiliar central role after Mings was withdrawn and reinforcements are needed quickly. A deal for Sevilla centre-back Loic Balde has fallen through, though loan links to Villarreal’s Juan Foyth and Chelsea’s Axel Disasi persist.

Villa’s season could hinge on the ability to bring in reinforcements before the February 3rd deadline.

Tottenham’s season reaches new low

It’s been a tough season at Spurs and Ange Postecoglou admitted candidly that he was unsure of his future this week.

Defeat to Leicester was the lowest ebb of a campaign of lowlights, as Spurs lost on home soil to a team beaten in seven straight games heading into the contest. The loss leaves Spurs 15th and just seven points above the relegation zone.

The feelings inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were of anger, as the supporters voiced their frustration at Postecoglou and – more venomously – at chairman Daniel Levy. Alongside the calls for Levy to leave was a banner that read “24 years, 16 managers, one trophy – time for change”.

Spurs have thrived off the pitch with the development of world-class infrastructure, but a succession of managers have tried and failed to win silverware. Postecoglou must shoulder a large section of the blame but are those in the positions of power good enough? The evidence suggests not.

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