The defending champions started WPL 2025 with two wins, but five straight losses cost them a knockout spot

Vishal Dikshit12-Mar-2025Smriti Mandhana had a poor WPL 2025, both as captain of a team that didn’t make the knockouts and as a batter with mediocre returns. WPL winners in 2024, RCB finished second-last this time, just above UP Warriorz, and that too on net run-rate.Mandhana’s demeanour at her final press conference of this season after an 11-run win against against Mumbai Indians, however, gave us a wise and pragmatic captain who had ended on a high, and not a sullen leader after a disappointing season. She became slightly philosophical, too, almost summoning the cricketing gods as she rued her team’s failure to clinched some of the crucial moments.”Yeah, we were just having a joke post the match that we started the season on a high, ended it on a high and midway we just lost somewhere,” Mandhana said after the game on Tuesday. “Pretty much that sums up our season. But yeah, having lost a lot of players from last season post the auction, definitely we had our thinking shoes on in between the auction and the season. But the way we started, I really thought that we are in it.”Related

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The defending champions started with two wins before stuttering to five straight losses that cost them a knockout spot.Injuries to Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux, and Sophie Devine opting for a break didn’t help, and the big setback was that RCB didn’t win even one out of their four home games, in stark contrast to 2024 when they won three out of five in Bengaluru.What hurt them further was that at home, where local fans again filled the stands, RCB lost two matches by agonisingly close margins: by four wickets with one ball to spare to MI and then the Super Over loss to Warriorz.”I think in Bangalore, a lot of things didn’t go our way,” Mandhana said. “But I am really proud of the way the team showed the character. Losing a lot of close matches is not easy on a team and I think we lost first two to three matches, which were pretty close. But everyone was really positive, which is something I am really pleased [about] as a captain. You win or lose. Sometimes in franchise cricket, these things go your way, and you win it. But when it doesn’t go your way, and the team sticks together, that is a team for me.”5:25

Mel Jones: ‘Phenomenal’ Perry played a different sort of innings

What also didn’t work for RCB at home was the toss. Teams opted to chase as the league moved from Vadodara to Bengaluru to Lucknow to finally Mumbai, and with the lack of dew and big totals in the first innings, chasing teams won most matches.RCB, in their home leg, lost all four tosses and were inserted by oppositions. At their home stretch also came Mandhana’s own lean patch, which meant the team largely relied on No. 3 Ellyse Perry for the bulk of the runs. But their totals were never enough.Perry’s prolific run placed her second among the run-scorers this season and on top in the WPL overall.”Sometimes, there’s something called cricketing god, which I believe a lot in,” Mandhana said. “You do a lot of things right and in the last two or three overs, things don’t go your way. We won [the title] last year by winning those moments. And this year, in the first two matches in Bangalore, we couldn’t make those moments ours, which is, I feel, a turning point for us, especially the first two matches.”Looking back, I wouldn’t want to throw anyone under the bus saying that would have changed it. We all, together as a team, could have contributed a lot more. Me as a batter in the mid phase, I was not able to score a lot of runs.”I think especially the Bangalore leg, losing the toss, not many teams could actually put up more than 160, but we could do that only because the way she [Perry] batted out there. Just really good to have her around the team, around all the Indians as well, because [there’s] a lot to take from her, lot to learn from her. And I am sure a lot of people in the team watch her and try and take a lot of things from her. And I hope that it only goes well for Indian cricket because people like that make you work really hard.”Richa Ghosh struck at 175.57 in WPL 2025•BCCI

The other positive for RCB was the big hitting of Richa Ghosh, whose strike rate of 175.57 was the best in the team (minimum 30 balls faced). She smashed 13 sixes and 25 fours on her way to 230 runs off 131 balls. She ended the RCB campaign also in style, particularly when going after Shabnim Ismail. Ghosh scooped and reverse scooped Ismail and reverse swept Hayley Matthews for boundaries on her way to 36 off 22 on Tuesday.”She is just amazing to watch,” Mandhana said of Ghosh. “I have seen her grow throughout the last three seasons of WPL and with the Indian team. The way she can change the game single-handedly is a sight to watch. When she is out there, the other dugout can’t sit peacefully, and no equation is less or more for her.”I mean, for us to chase 223-odd runs [against Warriorz] and just losing by ten runs and the way she batted… For batters like us, we see the smaller side [of the boundary], but for batters like Richa, they just see the ball and hit with their power.”The variety of shots is something she has really worked on. People always just relate Richa with a lot of power, but the cuts, the reverse sweeps today, which she switch hit. A lot of things have gone in, a lot of work, and her work ethics have been really good for the past year. [I am] really happy for her, and I hope she keeps going because [Ghosh] batting like that is amazing signs for Indian cricket.”

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has described reports that Wayne Rooney could move to the Chinese Super League as “madness”.

Widespread reports in the British media have suggested that the club captain is considering ending his 13-year association with United to take up a lucrative offer in the Far East.

According to the Daily Mail, Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford flew to China earlier this week to discuss potential deals with Beijing Guoan, Tianjian Quanjian and Jiangsu Suning ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

However, The Independent reports that Rooney would prefer to stay in England and would consider offers from other Premier League clubs.

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Keane made his opinion of the situation very clear when performing punditry duties on ITV.

The Irishman believes that Rooney still has plenty to offer at the top level, and a switch to China would not make any sense.

Keane told ITV:

“There is no way Wayne Rooney should be going to China, he can still play football at the top level in England, Germany, Spain, Italy – madness.

“Going to China is madness, he’s 31 years old and there’s plenty left for Wayne Rooney to do at the top level in Europe. I don’t think he’s short of money, is he?”

Whatever Rooney decides, it seems that it is becoming increasingly likely that he will leave United after falling down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho.

The forward has scored just five goals in all competitions and has only started eight Premier League games this season.

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Football can change very quickly. Only a few months ago, Sunderland were begging Dick Advocaat to stay on as manager after the sterling work he did in keeping the club in the Premier League. Now they’re bottom of the table again and even the club’s own sponsors make the Black Cats favourites for relegation.

Even with the poor start to the season it’s too early to be making calls like that. If things can change that quickly after two games, then surely they can change back after the next two games. Next up are Swansea and Aston Villa – two teams who have had decent starts, and two teams who I feel will do relatively well this season, but also two teams who are beatable. Win them and things turn very quickly.

The problem is, on the basis of the first two games, Sunderland’s worries are much greater than simply losing two games. It’s not the fact they’re bottom of the table with no points and seven goals conceded, it’s that they played seemingly without interest or desire. Sunderland legends are pointing fingers and calling the players out, and Match of the Day pundits weren’t kind to the Sunderland defence, pointing out the lack of pressing and the space afforded to Norwich’s players all over the pitch. Nathan Redmond’s goal – the Canaries’ third – was some of the worst defending I’ve seen in the Premier League, not one Sunderland player got close enough to put any sort of pressure on the attackers, let alone make a challenge. You’d have to say that it doesn’t look good.

But it’s not the lack of pressing from the Sunderland midfield and defence that’s the problem. I can see how not putting any pressure on the team attacking your goal would look like disinterest and apathy, but I don’t think that’s Sunderland’s immediate problem. It’s indiscipline and a lack of intelligence – or at least a lack of understanding of their roles – from the players themselves that’s the problem.

Pressing isn’t the be all and end all of defending. In the Premier League it’s seen as necessary and most teams do it, so it’s widely accepted that any team who doesn’t press the opposition is defending poorly. Teams playing any sort of containing system are constantly brought up on highlights shows and pointed out as being lazy or even suicidal. And they may be right, perhaps getting your defence to press the opposition when they’re in possession is possibly the best way to go about organising your defence, at least in the Premier League. But not every manager wants to set his team up to do that, and if they don’t you shouldn’t call the players lazy. Advocaat doesn’t seem to want to set his team up to press, and that’s just the system he wants to play.

Now the fact that Sunderland have conceded seven goals in two games probably says that the Dutch manager should set his team up to press. It’s probably a sign that he should do. Not because his system doesn’t work, but because it doesn’t work for his team. Not right now anyway.

The problems at the weekend didn’t arise when Sunderland stood off the opposition. Norwich were no threat when Sunderland had two lines of men between the ball and Costel Pantilimon in goal. The problems started when someone broke out of that line and left space for Norwich’s players slightly further up the pitch. The problem isn’t the system, the problem is the indiscipline. When the opposition has the ball in the middle of the pitch, the Sunderland men held their position, but when someone charges out of the ranks to try to make a tackle, he leaves space where he should be standing. When the opposition nip into that space, the chink in the armour, then someone else has to come and cover. And then the domino effect begins as players get dragged out of position to try to make tackles.

Advocaat’s system requires too much discipline of his players, especially players like Lee Cattermole – the last person you think of when you hear the word ‘discipline’. Sunderland’s problem isn’t lazy players, it’s having players who can’t cope with the system, and the fact that the manager is putting in place a system that he doesn’t have the players to implement properly.

In an age where every other club around Sunderland are using money from the new TV deal to invest in their squads and push ahead, Sunderland are fiddling with experimental systems and getting nowhere. And it’s only going to cost them in the end.

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Alongside Manchester United, Liverpool are one of the most supported clubs in terms of global reach, with fans from Indonesia all the way to Canada cheering the Reds every weekend.

They might be constantly ridiculed for ‘living in the past’ and ‘only looking at their history’, but that’s because the more recently successful clubs were not as popular or as good as the Merseyside Reds were back in the day.

And it was their dominance when the world was on the brink of a technological revolution that has created so much support worldwide as well as the mountain of expectation thrown on them every season.

In a world where we can read and listen to social commentary of, well, anything, there is a growing list of Liverpool accounts being spawned all over Twitter as fans (and sometimes even players) look to be involved in the club they support.

Here are the Top 10 Liverpool Accounts you need to follow…

1. @Fresh_Liverpool

Followers: 9,576

Let’s start at an account by the fans, for the fans. Number of followers may be small, but this growing handler will keep you updated with the latest news and opinions on all Liverpool incidents.

2. @empireofthekop

Followers: 919K

The Official account for empireofthekop.com, get involved in the discussions alongside the other 919,000 followers and have your views heard as a Reds fan!

3. @LiverpoolFF

Followers: 28.2K

A place to find more of the latest news, gossip, statistics, and facts regarding Liverpool. Follow if you haven’t done so already.

4. @LFCmayhem

Followers: 12.1K

Although the Twitter handler says LFCMayhem, it is actually called ‘kop in full voice’ and they will definitely be heard on your Twitter homepage if anything Liverpool related is ongoing.

5. @LFCFansCorner

Followers: 62.6K

The official Twitter account of the award-winning Liverpool Fans Corner site, you can find podcasts, news, opinions, and even live match updates right here.

6. @anfieldonline

Followers: 141K

The official account for the Liverpool website www.anfield-online.co.uk, get the latest transfer rumours, injury news, and some editorial pieces for Liverpool fans to spend time on during commute to work or before bedtime!

7. @IndigoLFC

Followers: 28.8K

The official Twitter account for IndigoLFCNews.com, you can find transfer gossip, injury updates, discussions, and lots of other stuff by following this handler!

8. @live4Liverpool

Followers: 16.6K

If your life revolves around supporting the Reds, then it wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t also follow live4Liverpool, a blog that updates and gives their latest opinions on the ins and outs at Anfield.

9. @TheRedMenTV

Followers: 76.8K

If you are more of the couch potato Liverpool fan, then follow @TheRedMenTV to find out when to watch their latest videos discussing all that is Liverpool.

10. @Jay_78_

Followers: 59.6K

With all the news that you can get from other handlers, @Jay_78_ provides some comic relief with a parody of the current Liverpool issues. So show some character, and read the Tweets light-heartedly.

Jurgen Klopp has recently pointed out fans have been leaving Anfield before full-time. It was a cry for support to the final whistle and perhaps a subtle dig. Liverpool fans aren’t the only ones that head for the exits prematurely.

Manchester United fans can’t sit through the full 90 minutes if the result is going against them, especially if it’s a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of neighbours Manchester City. The Citizens themselves have been practising fire drills not long after the 80 minute mark recently. Those pictures of empty seats at the Etihad are often conveniently taken late on.

Here we take a look at games that seemed over or where fans had given up hope of a last minute goal. A few famous games have been omitted, like Nayim chipping David Seaman in the final minute of extra time in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final.

It was an unforgettable moment, clear proof how a game’s never over, but none of the fans that day were leaving the stadium. The world was poised for penalties until Nayim got his lob on and left Seaman trailing back to the gaping hole.

What follows is ten of the best football comebacks and late shocks…

Gillingham 2-2 Manchester City, 1999

When Robert Taylor put Gillingham 2-0 up in the 87th minute of the 1999 Division Two Play-Off final at Wembley stadium, even the most hardened City fans felt the world open up. The pain of disappointment when they suffered relegation to the third tier had been seen at the lowest point City could fall to. Facing another year there after a trip to Wembley picked away at the still open sore and invited in even more despair.

Citizens started to trickle out of the famous old stadium, deflated and seemingly defeated. Then “Super” Kevin Horlock pulled a goal back in the 90th minute and for those that remained a flicker of hope reappeared.

After five minutes of tense play, Paul Dickov grabbed an unlikely City equaliser. His sliding celebration epitomised the cries of all the fans of the Manchester club. Those that had left attempted to get back to seats, the ones that remained saw City clinch promotion thanks to Nicky Weaver’s heroics in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.

The last minute turnaround was the first, vital, step in Manchester City’s journey back to the Premier League. Had they lost to Gillingham that day they would have probably become Division Two’s version of Leeds, and there’d have been no Sheikh Mansour and all that followed.

Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal 4, 2011

The next match on the list shows how one incident can totally change a game. Arsenal, away from home playing Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United, found themselves three goals clear after just ten minutes. By the end of the first half they added another and no one would have been blamed for thinking the contest was over.

That was until Abou Diaby got sent off for losing his head and pushing Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan. Barton was criticised for inciting trouble but Diaby should have known better. Barton scored twice from the spot, with Leon Best getting one in between those strikes, and suddenly the game was on.

The confidence visibly drained away from Arsenal and Cheik Tiote put an end to their misery by removing any uncertainty and grabbed an 87th minute equaliser.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United, 2001

When Tottenham Hotspur walked in 3-0 up against Manchester United in their 2001 Premier League encounter at White Hart Lane, they were deserving of the lead. For 45 minutes they’d outplayed United and the wide margin was justified.

During half-time Alex Ferguson must have given one of his best team-talks while the Spurs dressing room switched off. The following half saw a complete role-reversal. United gave a master-class, starting with an Andy Cole goal within a minute of the restart.

When Ruud Van Nistelrooy equalised in the 72nd minute there was only going to be one winner. Veron and Beckham added the gloss to a remarkable turnaround.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-4 Manchester City, 2004

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice. At half-time during their FA Fourth Round replay against Manchester City, Tottenham once again found themselves 3-0 to the good against a side from Greater Manchester.

To ease any highly unlikely fears, City midfielder Joey Barton got himself sent off for dissent on 45 minutes. Spurs would have to be really unlucky to be pegged back at this point.

Well, twenty minutes after Sylvain Distin had scored what looked like a consolation goal, City received some good luck when a Paul Bosvelt shot took a nasty deflection. Then Shaun Wright-Philips scored a chipped goal over Casey Keller, with cries of offside.

The ground prepared for an unexpected period of extra time. It never came. Jon Macken got on the end of a deep cross as he made his way into the box, he headed to the far corner and scored a shock winner.

It was his most memorable moment for the club and gave the FA Cup another moment of magic.

Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United, 2006

The 2006 FA Cup showcase has been renamed ‘The Gerrard Final’ in honour of the protagonist that turned around his team’s fortunes. Within thirty minutes Liverpool found themselves 2-0 down. Djibril Cisse did pull one back within five minutes but the first half very much remained in West Ham’s hands.

Liverpool captain Gerrard managed to get an equaliser on the 54th minute but it lasted less than ten minutes before West Ham deservedly went ahead once again with a Paul Konchesky goal.

The Hammers seemed to have hung on, Gerrard even went down with cramp, but mustering up a moment of excellence, he half-volleyed a West Ham clearance from 35 yards out to take the game to extra time.

Liverpool won the game on penalties but the West Ham players were broken in their minds the minute Gerrard’s 87th minute equaliser hit the net.

England 2-2 Greece, 2001

The next one is a throwback to when the nation was fully invested in England internationals. The one in question was a World Cup qualifier against Greece at Old

Trafford.

For the Three Lions to progress they needed a draw and after 68 minutes Teddy Sheringham grabbed an equaliser and the country breathed a sigh of relief – for a whole minute. England fell behind again and there was twenty minutes of agony as it appeared Sven Goran Eriksson’s men would need to go through the play-off route and face Ukraine.

Cometh the hour, cometh Beckham. Deep into injury time, and having already wasted five long range free kicks, he stepped up for one final effort. What followed was one of the most iconic Beckham goals, perhaps his best ever in an England shirt.

Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan, 2005

Liverpool again and another 3-3. This time it wasn’t about exchanging goals toward a climax, by half-time they were 3-0 down against European royalty on the grandest stage of all. But Liverpool are no paupers on the continent and the second half saw a comeback fit for a king.

Gerrard’s role this time was to start the fightback, he scored in the 54th minute and by the 59th Smicer and Alonso had drawn the Merseysiders level. Momentum is like an avalanche and confidence can be crushed by it. When the Milan ‘keeper, Dida, made a mess of Smicer’s long range effort, allowing Liverpool to get their second, the tone of the tie changed.

By extra time Milan had lost their heads and some heroics from Jerzy Dudek ensured Liverpool won the European Cup for the fifth time, a feat they rarely mention.

Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal, 1989

Friday night matches and last minute title deciders may sound like a modern invention but the 26th May 1989 combined both of these elements in the old First Division.

It was between title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. The fixture had been rearranged after the original April meeting was cancelled due to the Hillsborough disaster. The only room for it was after the FA Cup final, which Liverpool won after beating Everton.

The Reds came into the last game, three points clear and looking for a league and cup double. For the Gunners to upset them they needed to win by two goals, this would give them the title on goals scored.

Alan Smith grabbed a goal for the London side after 52 minutes and a sense of foreboding came over Anfield. What followed was an exercise in hanging on until Arsenal manager George Graham made attacking substitutions and opened his team up to the counter attack.

Liverpool ran the clock down and all seemed lost for Arsenal. Lee Dixon played a long ball to Smith who found Michael Thomas. He charged toward Bruce Grobbelaar’s net and slotted in Arsenal’s second, with 25 seconds left on the clock.

Man United 2-1 Bayern Munich, 1999

The 1999 Champions League final is remembered as the most famous comeback in European finals history and the peak of Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United team.

Mario Basler gave the German side a lead after 6 minutes with a swerving free kick. It didn’t allow them to take control of the tie, though. Manchester United had most of the possession but couldn’t carve out any decent chances. The pre-match fear they’d miss the suspended duo of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes began to grow.

The second half saw a lively Bayern side and they even hit the woodwork. There was a feeling the game was starting to slip from United’s grasp.

Then, as the game entered three minutes of injury time, the Red Devils won a corner that even Peter Schmeichel went up for. It was only cleared as far as Ryan Giggs whose poor attempt at goal found Teddy Sheringham, he promptly scored. United were back in the game and heading to extra time.

But Ferguson’s men smelt blood and within 30 seconds forced another corner. With extra time assured Schmeichel stayed in his own area this time. He wasn’t needed, the ball found Sheringham again, this time he headed across goal. The baby-faced assassin Ole Gunnar Solskjaer smashed the ball into the top of the net.

The Bayern players were rocked so hard some couldn’t even stand to see out the remaining seconds and United completed an historic treble.

Manchester City 3-2 QPR, 2012

Heading into the final 90 minutes of the season all Manchester City needed to do was win at home to QPR to ensure their first top flight title in 44 years. This would be enough to to pip Manchester United on goal difference unless the Red Devils produced a cricket score at the Stadium of Light. If United failed to pick up the expected victory, City only had to match the result.

Despite Wayne Rooney scoring after 20 mins against Sunderland, placing United top of the live table by two points, there was still no need to worry at the Etihad. This was highlighted almost 20 minutes later when Pablo Zabaleta scored, starting scenes of premature celebration.

But it wouldn’t be City if they did things the easy way. A few minutes into the second half and Djibril Cisse grabbed the battling QPR a leveller. Joey Barton added to the heightened sense of occasion by getting sent off, not content clashing with just Carlos Tevez, the former City man kicked out at Sergio Aguero before eyeing up Vincent Kompany. It took Micah Richards to calm the situation.

The extra man only served to galvanise The Hoops and Jamie Mackie compounded the misery by putting them ahead.

At the 90 minute mark Manchester United were all smiles in Sunderland. They had done their bit and just had to sit out whatever injury time was left in Manchester before celebrating an unlikely title win.

Enter Edin Dzeko. From a feeling of despair came hope and inevitability. He scored two minutes into added time and those City fans that had remained dared to believe again. Moments later Mario Balotelli made the most important assist of his career, from a grounded position he scrambled the ball to Sergio Aguero.

Amid the mayhem, with 93:20 on the clock, the Argentine found the net. He moved forwards as if inspired and created the Premier League’s defining moment. The Etihad erupted and the term ‘Typical City’ changed its meaning forever.

It seems like the bubble of optimism around St James’ Park from the summer’s transfer business has somewhat burst already.

Owner Mike Ashley cast off the financial shackles that have characterised his North East reign during the last window to snap up some genuinely promising players and bring in a talented manager in the shape of Steve McClaren, but after eight games the Tynesiders sit at the foot of the table without a win to their name.

The rather embarrassing 6-1 loss at Manchester City last time out really did sum up where the issues are at St James Park: defence.

Only fellow North East outfit Sunderland have conceded more goals than Newcastle’s 17, but their greater proficiency at the other end means that McClaren’s men have the worst goal difference in the division, a worrying -11. A lack of pace, nous and desire at the back are apparent, making additions in January appealing.

But, how can Newcastle sort this problem out? Well, here are FIVE options…

Andrea Ranocchia

A mooted target for the Magpies is giant Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia. A full Italy international who has been lauded for his reading of the game in the past, the 27-year-old looks likely to be an option open to Newcastle in January, with the Nerazzurri having frozen him out of their first-team plans.

Despite Ranocchia being a former captain of the club, manager Roberto Mancini stripped him of the armband earlier this year, he’s been limited to just a handful of minutes in Serie A action this term, suggesting that his San Siro career is coming to a close, and even though the pace of the Premier League is far greater than that of Italy’s top tier, he could be worth a go.

As mentioned, his lack of speed and agility could be a problem, but alongside the more mobile Chancel Mbemba, he could provide a calming influence.

Ron Vlaar

A real gamble of a signing, but Newcastle may be in a position where gambles are necessary come the New Year.

Vlaar’s stock was so high that Manchester United were thought to be chasing him after last year’s World Cup, but since then he’s spent another season in a relegation-threatened Aston Villa side and has slipped into free agent status with a serious knee injury coinciding with the expiration of his contract.

‘Concrete Ron’ has undergone surgery on the troublesome joint and could be back in action by early 2016 if he can find a club. Premier League experience, physicality and genuine leadership skills make him appealing, but the effect his knee injury has had on his mobility is unknown.

Joel Matip

Perhaps ambitious given that Schalke are in the Europa League and playing well in the Bundesliga, but Matip is understood to be a Newcastle target.

The Cameroon international is pacey and strong, which are key traits Premier League defenders need, while his ability to fill in as a defensive midfielder could also be useful for McClaren (or whoever is in charge by January!)

It may take a big fee and sizable wages to lure Matip to Tyneside, but Newcastle have the cash, as they proved by snapping up Georginio Wijnaldum from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven over the summer.

Nicolas Nkoulou

Newcastle have had a great deal of luck with imports from Ligue 1 in recent memory, so Nkoulou could be worth a go.

The Cameroonian defender is set to be a free agent next summer, so Marseille are not in the strongest position in terms of negotiating a decent fee for their commanding centre-back.

Having been a regular for l’OM for some time, the 25-year-old’s stock is pretty high and Newcastle may face serious opposition – Chelsea are believed to be interested – but for the right salary and the prospect of being in the shop window at St James’ Park, the ‘Toon’ could land an immediate upgrade on their current options.

Jonathan De Guzman

Centre-backs are not the only players that improve a team defensively, with holding midfielders also key. De Guzman is currently in the Napoli wilderness after his proposed move to Sunderland collapsed over the summer, so there’s every chance that the Naples club will do all they can to sell or loan out the Dutchman in January.

Not a traditional destroyer of a midfielder, the 28-year-old relies upon his mobility, positioning and passing ability from a deeper role in the centre of the pitch, and has been known to weigh in with some impressive goals through the years. A brief spell at Swansea also gives him vital Premier League experience.

Defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend put the cap on a miserable week for Louis van Gaal.

Though he’s not the one most people feel sorry for. Strangely enough, it’s the Manchester United fans we feel sorry for. Odd, isn’t it? There are many football fans around the country whose football allegiances stretch only as far as whoever is playing Manchester United on a given day.

Now that they’re so boring to watch, they don’t seem to elicit the same level of hatred. Perhaps those same fans still want to see them beaten – I can’t deny that there’s a certain comedic feeling from United losing to Bournemouth – but lots of those fans do feel a little bit sorry for United fans at least.

Because the one thing you could never reproach United fans for was their desire to be entertained. That goes for the hardcore support of the Stretford end just as much as it goes for the ‘Prawn Sandwich Brigade’, plastic fans who come from far and wide not to support United because of any love of the team or the institution, but to support United because they’re likely to win.

It’s that hardcore support I feel sorry for, though. Because their reaction to Louis van Gaal initially was to give him time to sort the team out. He took almost a year, but brought them to fourth place, and that was deemed a decent start. So credit where it’s due, they gave him a chance early doors.

And about two weeks ago, United were only a couple of points off top spot, still in with a very good chance of progression in the Champions League and yet the fans weren’t happy. That’s not because they’re all of the glory-hunting sort, but because they’re all of the entertainment-junky sort. And I can get behind that.

Manchester United are boring. But they’re boring in a way that a thick book is boring. Because they’re so slow and considered, because they’re so risk-free, it’s quite easy to see how they’re going about the game. For the average spectator, it’s much easier to see Manchester United’s tactical approach than it is, for example, to see Manchester City’s.

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Because United are always at the same, slow level, it’s easy to see the off-the-ball runs and to see how they try to pull defenders out of position. So after watching United, I always feel like I’ve learned something.

United are boring in the same sort of way that Dostoevsky is boring.

You wade through the boredom, but by the end you feel like you’ve accomplished something, and in a way that’s worthwhile.

Except, if I wanted to do that, I’d go read Crime and Punishment. Only a select few tune into Premier League football to actually learn something….

But that isn’t United’s big problem. You can be boring and win the league, there’s nothing stopping you. Just look at PSG in France.

No, United’s problem is their manager.

I’m not suggesting that van Gaal should go. But when you look at the amount of money that he has spent and the team fielded at the weekend, you have to ask why that’s the case.

Van Gaal has spent over a quarter of a billions pounds as Manchester United manager, and fielded a back four of Varela, McNair, Blind and Borthwick-Jackson. When McNair got injured, a not-fit-enough-to-start Phil Jones took his place. For two minutes. With United trailing 2-1. Surely a manager who has spent that much money would at least have an attacking option to bring on in a situation like that. What does it matter if you only have three defenders? The worst that happens is you lose 3-1 instead of 2-1.

Injuries are clearly a problem, and an unfortunate one. But when you’ve spent so much money over the course of a year, you can’t hide behind that. Bournemouth had the heart ripped out of their squad with injuries, but they only spent about £20m in the summer. United paid that for Bastian Schweinsteiger, a 31-year-old whose leg speed no longer matches his mind speed. Yet Bournemouth still managed to beat Chelsea and Manchester United in successive weeks. Van Gaal has no excuses on that front.

What is van Gaal’s great strength is also his great weakness: his ego. He’s a confident guy, and his record speaks for itself – so he deserves to be confident. But his ego tells him that he has to bring young players through. At Barcelona, he gave chances to Xavi, Iniesta and Victor Valdes, among others. At Ajax, his young team of Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids and Edwin van der Sar, amongst other youngsters, won the Champions League in 1995 and lost on penalties in the final of 1996.

His ego is what brings him to the top, but it’s his ego that has left Manchester United lacking squad depth. United’s defence has been their strength all season, yet over the last two games they simply haven’t been good enough at the back: Wolfsburg cut them open too easily, and Bournemouth spurned at least two clear cut opportunities on top of the two goals they scored. And that’s because they’re relying on players who aren’t yet ready.

You don’t simply throw all of your youngsters in at once. Look at Van Gaal’s 1995 Ajax team. Even if they did have youngsters at the back, like Michael Reiziger and Winston Bogarde, they still had old heads in Danny Blind and Frank Rijkaard to hold it together.

But when you’re trusting teenagers at the back, it’s only natural to favour a risk-free policy when you’re in attack. If you don’t have confidence in your defenders, then you won’t want to lose the ball. If you’re confident in their ability, then you won’t worry about that before you play that risky pass.

Louis van Gaal thinks he can win everything with kids. He believes in his coaching ability to much that he’s convinced that he can spot the youngsters who can make it and mould them into a winning team. He’s done it in the past, but this one looks like it’s a bridge too far.

The style of play isn’t what’s killing United this season, it’s just a consequence of a bigger problem: Van Gaal’s stubborn faith in his ability to turn teenagers into world beaters is why United aren’t top of the table and part of the last 16 draw in the Champions League. And that’s the reason for the boring football, too.

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Last summer West Brom striker Saido Berahino was the subject of summer transfer talk when Tottenham offered £23million for the youngster.

As a promising frontman, he looked to be on the verge of becoming one of the few good English strikers in the Premier League.

But once West Brom blocked the transfer, the striker’s head had already been turned. Since then, he has only gone on to score four goals, and has looked like a player not wanting to play for the club.

Last season was West Brom’s best player, scoring 14 goals in 38 games. It was that form that led to an England call up, and looked to show Berahino as England’s next rising star.

Yet as soon as the Tottenham interest came in, his form started to dip. Why shouldn’t a young player want to earn that bigger move? At Tottenham he had the opportunity to be a first team striker playing alongside England U21 team mate Harry Kane.

Rather than getting his move, Berahino was instead kept at West Brom, with no agreement being put in place for his move. What followed was a player being punished for wanting to dream big, and has led to a good youngster rotting on the bench.

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Considering West Brom are 14th and struggling for consistency, it can only be down to the form of Berahino. With Berahino in the side last season, West Brom finished 13th and pulled off a few shocks on the way: beating top teams like Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea. It looked like this new Tony Pulis side was going to start climbing the Premier League table.

But it’s yet to happen, and this season West Brom are just seven points off the relegation zone. Whether or not Berahino is worth the fuss can only really be seen once he moves to a top club, though.

He certainly isn’t lacking confidence in his ability, and it will be interesting to see just how much he can step up to the mark should he earn a move away from the Hawthorns in the summer. Rather than keeping a player who evidently does not want to play for the team, West Brom should take the money, make profit and let him go.

Only then, once Berahino is making his name at a club, can we judge whether the youngster is truly worth the fuss.

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Southampton have developed a habit in the last few years of coming from nowhere to finish high up the table. And, based on their recent form, this season looks to be no different, with the South Coast side a point off fifth place Manchester United, and seven adrift of Manchester City in fourth.

If this season has proven anything, it is that the football in the Premier League is very unpredictable. Leicester are title contenders, Chelsea are fighting to avoid relegation – it is all happening this season. This means that Southampton could do what they’ve threatened to do a while now.

After a good run of form, the Saints have pushed themselves in contention and got some good results. A 4-0 win against Arsenal kicked off the streak, but it wasn’t until mid January that the points started coming in regularly.

With a run of six matches seeing no losses, should they continue this there is no reason why they cannot compete for the top four. The January acquisition of Charlie Austin from QPR looks to be a real stroke of genius, as, for a long time, the Saints have struggled with just Shane Long and Graziano Pelle to lead their line. Now Austin, who is Premier League proven, can help fire them up the table.

Their next few games will give everyone a good idea on where the Hampshire outfit can finish this season. They play Chelsea at home next, and should they win that and then go on and get points again Bournemouth and Sunderland, then the table could read nicely for them.

With no FA Cup or European football to distract them, Southampton could have an advantage that Liverpool and Manchester United do not. Saints can focus solely on the league, and, injury permitting, could really challenge for the top four. However, they still have to face a few top teams. Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester City and Tottenham will not be easy to beat – especially Tottenham and Leicester whom are looking to be the shock league title contenders. Between now and the end of the season, the Saints have a lot of ‘cup finals’ ahead of them.

Although they are performing now, when they have faced the big teams this season, Southampton have floundered. Other than against Leicester, they have been beaten by Liverpool, Man City and Spurs, and not by just one goal. In the League Cup quarter final, they got hammered 6-1 by Liverpool. When you consider how inconsistent Liverpool have been this season, it will ring alarm bells for the coastal club.

If league results go their way, there is no reason why Southampton cannot fight for the top four, though you would have to feel that the teams around them will be more likely to fill those spots.

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Amid the Leicester excitement, Newcastle’s potential great escape has been overlooked.

The Magpies were truly in the mire just four games ago, but Rafa Benitez has worked his magic to turn it all around. Sunderland still have it all in their hands – they know that if they win their remaining three they will stay up – however, three wins in a row for this Black Cats side is rather unlikely… and Newcastle face the comically bad Aston Villa next.

Benitez taking the Newcastle job was odd at the time, but now, having shown that he can get this highly talented squad to play, it is starting to make more and more sense. The Magpies have really struggled to live up to their expectations for the majority of this season, yet Benitez has rejuvenated the players and given the Geordie faithful some belief. It could yet be their year – it could be the black and white of Newcastle that are the next Premier League surprise package. The talent is there, the manager is there and they definitely have the home atmosphere to make St James’ Park a fortress. What is there to say that Newcastle can’t replicate the success of West Ham this season?

In Georginio Wijnaldum, Moussa Sissoko, Chancel Mbemba and Ayoze Perez, Newcastle have a spine of players who should be competing in the top half of the Premier League. Wijnaldum, for instance, moved to Newcastle last summer and it was a surprise to many that the star of PSV Eindhoven’s title winning side in 2014/15 was not moving to a team in a stronger position. The Dutchman has been patchy in his form throughout this campaign, but a couple of outstanding performances have shown the Tynesiders just how good he could become. Wijnaldum’s up and down season is symbolic of Newcastle in this campaign and equally representative of what they could be next season.

I’ll spare you the tedious – and meaningless – comparisons with ‘doing a Leicester’, as that is a freak that will seldom, if ever, be repeated. Newcastle need to be realistic in what they can achieve and, if they stay up, there is no reason they can’t make it into a battle in the top eight. The squad is there to really challenge the biggest sides, and St James’ Park should quickly return to the fortress it was when they were at their best. Aleksandar Mitrovic will quickly become the most popular man in the city with a few goals whilst Mbemba and Jamaal Lascelles have proven themselves as a trustworthy Premier League partnership.

Investment is unlikely to be flowing in the summer with Mike Ashley still at the helm, but Benitez can work around that. The Spaniard does not need to go signing Toni Kroos, as shrewd additions will comfortably be enough. West Ham’s squad is not light years ahead of Newcastle, nor is Southampton’s, there is simply no reason that the Magpies shouldn’t be competing in the top half of the table. All of the renowned ‘big sides’ will be fighting harder than ever next year, but Benitez can surely build a Newcastle team that has the mettle to match the talent, and only a couple of signings are needed to make a team that is good enough for a top six finish.

Assuming they manage to avoid the drop, Newcastle fans can reasonably expect their team to secure a top half finish next season. Their fan base, a world class manager and a squad rich in talent has all the makings of a team to shock a few people next season. St James’ Park can become one of the trickiest away trips once more and Benitez can become a Kevin Keegan-esque Geordie icon.

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