Playing in a Premier League football team is like being part of a family, albeit one, like the Kardashians, awash with publicity, money, egos and the occasional massive arse.
And that makes the manager the ultimate father figure – by turns tough, caring and full of advice.
Here’s how the big daddies have dealt with the rise and rise of Michail Antonio and Wilfried Zaha’s potential, while Antonio Conte gets some love back from his charges and Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling discuss their roles under Pappa Pep.
There’s also Robert Snodgrass talking free-kicks and quotes from inside the Everton revolution.
Slaven’s Confidence Trick
With a 13-point Gameweek 4 under his belt, and a great run of fixtures – including Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Stoke at home and trips to West Brom and Palace – all the way into mid-November, it’s no surprise that 10% of all Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are now aboard the Michail Antonio bandwagon.
His manager, Slaven Bilic, is keen to keep his boy’s feet firmly on the ground, however.
“Make no mistake, he was confident before, he’s a very confident lad. All he has to do now is not to change – not to change the way he plays, the way he trains, everything, and we have to help him with that…Sometimes the player doesn’t change but their environment changes or their friends change. It is very dangerous for some of the players but that’s why I spoke to him. And now, knowing him, he’s going to put the pedal down and try to become (an England) regular. He’s going to do everything.”
The Benteke Buzz
Alan Pardew, meanwhile, isn’t thinking England for his lad Wilfried Zaha. Just a move away from Palace – if he can up the goals and assists, that is.
The 5.4-valued winger got one of each in the 2-1 win at Middlesbrough, prompting Pardew to say this:
“He needs to address his goals and assists. If a club came in with, say, £50-£60m – let’s say a Man City, Barcelona or Real Madrid, and he’s got ten goals and nine assists – as his manager at Crystal Palace I can’t really stand in his way.”
The man himself is ‘buzzing’ about Benteke. New man Christian getting on the end of a Zaha cross last time out clearly enthused the winger.
“Literally put any ball in the air and he’ll (Benteke) header it. I saw him peel off, so I thought ‘let me try and get it to him’ and I knew that he’d get on the end of it. I’m buzzing. I feel like we pass the ball more. It’s not just in the air constantly and that gives us wingers a chance to get on the ball and do what we do. I’m enjoying how we play more now.”
Assuming The Position
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is another feeling love for a new way of playing.
“My position is totally different from last year. It’s not too defensive, but I know I will be more of a creator but have to help my team-mates up front more to get them the ball. They will do more of the finishing this year but I really enjoy it so far.”
With a goal and three assists from his last three starts, the Belgian is back to his brilliant best of last season, during which he had a hand in 37.5% of all City’s goals.
The same can’t be said of Raheem Sterling, who started the season with a bang but was a peripheral figure in the Manchester derby, managing one attempt (off target), creating zero chances and trying precisely no dribbles.
The much-maligned winger claimed that ‘It raises any players’ game when there’s four or five players who can play your position’, but the spectre of Leroy Sané (who replaced Sterling for the last half an hour at Old Trafford) is looming large.
“Leroy’s come in and he’s a really good guy who I speak to a lot but obviously he plays the same position – hopefully we can both be on the pitch at the same time but we have to work hard and show why we deserve to be involved.”
Two goals and two assists in his first three matches prompted more than half a million FPL managers to sign up Sterling. Any more no-shows like GW4’s and Sané (owned by 8,815) could be the saner option.
Diamonds Aren’t Forever
Positional issues are also a massive part of Nathan Redmond’s life at the moment.
The 6.1-valued Southampton winger is enjoying 10.4% ownership figures on the back of him being a midfielder used as a striker in Claude Puel’s never-changing diamond formation.
Except that Claude Puel’s never-changing diamond formation became a 4-3-3 in the last minute loss at Arsenal, with another midfielder, Jay Rodriguez, up top and Redmond back on the wing.
That should set the alarm bells ringing for FPL managers, although two upcoming home matches, against Swansea and Burnley, and the player’s comfort in his own adaptability might calm a few nerves.
“I’ve played number 10 here and there, but on the left and right throughout my career, and I’m just learning to play up front and enjoy the task at the moment. It’s started well and hopefully I can keep learning and scoring goals.”
‘Started well’ equates to a goal in GW1 and three subsequent blanks. The alarms are going off again…
Everyone Loves Conte
Back on the paternal theme, parents learn to expect no praise from their little darlings and usually receive a lot less.
Not at Chelsea, however.
New man David Luiz will be used exclusively as a defender, boss Antonio Conte has confirmed.
“I know sometimes he’s played as a central midfielder but in my mind the idea is to utilise him in the right position which, for me, is centre back.”
Luiz was quick to respond…with love.
“The coach is an amazing coach, he understands a lot of tactical things and I know he chooses every match the best line up, so if he needs to play three, four or two, it doesn’t matter, I am there if he wants me to play. In different positions I am available.”
And it’s a feeling reciprocated by the revitalised Eden Hazard, with an added dig at wicked uncle Jose Mourinho thrown in.
“Conte puts trust in his players and now we are good after an ugly season last year. I’ve always been the same player but Conte knows how to treat players having played at the highest level himself.”
Not-So Cuddly Koeman
You’d have to be blind, or Roberto Martinez, not to have noticed Everton’s blistering start to the season.
Who to credit, though? How about the tough love of Ronald Koeman and the self-regard of Romelu ‘Back In Business’ Lukaku?
“I am back in business now. Physically I needed one more week (before the international break) but I’m happy, I’ve got the goals flowing now. I’m back in business and I want to help my team-mates as much as I can to achieve our objectives.”
Koeman won’t be dropping Lukaku any time soon, but Ross Barkley is another matter altogether. The England midfielder was unceremoniously hoicked off at half-time against Sunderland despite a fine start to the season during which he’d scored one and laid on another.
When asked why he ditched Barkley, a 17.7%-owned FPL asset, Koeman didn’t mince his words.
“Because he didn’t show the level I expect. I know it’s always difficult for the manager because he was not selected for the national team and you take the player off after 45 minutes. But I had to do something. He lost too many balls. But I will speak to Ross tomorrow and that’s no problem.”
Everton’s three matches before the next international break are of the mouth-watering variety – Middlesbrough and Palace at home and Bournemouth away.
Those 17.7% will be hoping that Barkley listened long and hard to what his boss had to say.
Bob’s Your Uncle
And finally, Robert Snodgrass’s last-kick-of-the-match set-piece equaliser against Burnley took him to 23 points as he continued his, and his club’s, great start to the season.
If it’s heaven in Hull for Snodgrass at the moment, he puts it all down to hard work.
“We stay behind after training every day to work on things like that. Sometimes it might be for 20 minutes, sometimes it might be 30 minutes and sometimes it might be longer. You work hard for moments like Saturday.”
Such dedication would make any parent proud.
