It may be a Nations League week, and a break from the day-to-day grind of the Premier League, but plenty has happened.
But first, there was some awful news that broke last night concerning a popular former Premier League player.
Tragic Loss of George Baldock
The football world mourns the loss of George Baldock, a former Sheffield United defender and Greek international, who tragically passed away at the age of 31. He was found dead in his swimming pool in Greece.
Baldock is believed to have drowned in the pool of his rented accommodation.
This unexpected event has left a significant impact on the football community. England will pay tribute to Baldock ahead of their Nations League game against Greece tonight. Statements were released by the Greek FA and National Team, Sheffield United, Brighton, where his brother Sam is an academy coach, and Oxford United, where another brother, James, is a club doctor.
Manchester City’s Legal Battle
Manchester City recently faced a landmark ruling regarding their legal challenge against the Premier League’s Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules. These rules govern commercial deals involving club owners to ensure sponsorships reflect fair-market value.
The case is separate from another ongoing hearing concerning Man City’s alleged breach of 115 Premier League regulations. An arbitration panel concluded that while APT rules are vital, some aspects are unlawful and need redrawing.
Both Man City and the Premier League claim victory following the verdict. The panel found no discrimination against clubs with Gulf region ownership under APT rules.
However, some elements of the regulations were deemed unlawful due to the exclusion of shareholder loans, which should be considered within APT assessments.
Implications of the APT Ruling
The Premier League will now include shareholder loans in APT calculations, assessing if clubs gain financial advantages from non-commercial interest rates. Legal experts describe the outcome as a “score-draw,” indicating neither side achieved a clear-cut victory.
Changes to Premier League rules require consent from a majority of member clubs, making amendments challenging. This case does not affect the separate hearing involving Man City’s alleged breaches of other financial regulations.
The significance of the verdict primarily involves technical changes to comply with competition law rather than substantial impacts on clubs benefiting from shareholder loans.
Manchester United’s Struggles
Manchester United is struggling in the Premier League, sitting in 14th place after seven matches with only two victories and eight points.
The team has scored just five goals so far, which is the second-worst in the English top-flight, tied with Crystal Palace and ahead of Southampton. Erik ten Hag’s side managed a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, highlighting their inability to score goals as a fundamental problem.
Since Ten Hag’s appointment in July 2022, Marcus Rashford is the top scorer for Manchester United with 25 goals in 75 games (0.33 goals per game). Bruno Fernandes follows with 18 goals in 79 games, indicating a lack of prolific goal scorers at the club.
Only four players have reached double figures for league goals under Ten Hag’s management over 83 league games. In comparison, Erling Haaland has scored 73 league goals for Manchester City during the same period.
Rasmus Højlund is currently Manchester United’s most potent goal scorer in 2024 despite missing nine games due to injury and making only one start this season. Other key players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are ranked low on the goal-scoring charts for this calendar year.
Alejandro Garnacho ranks even lower, suggesting that key players are either not up to task or not given enough opportunities to score within Ten Hag’s system.
New Premier League Handball Rule
Howard Webb, a top-flight referee, explained the new Premier League handball rule changes on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show. No penalties for handball have been awarded this season in the Premier League. The 2023/2024 season saw 108 penalties, leading to complaints from clubs about decisions involving players with arms in ‘natural positions.’
Adjustments to the handball rule mean fewer penalties if the offense is unintentional or if a player’s arm is close to their body. Players who inadvertently deny a goal-scoring opportunity due to handball will receive a yellow card instead of a red.
Impact of Handball Rule Changes
Webb emphasized that officials should only penalize deliberate handballs or when an arm is clearly away from the body. There has been a reduction in VAR interventions unless the referee’s decision is blatantly incorrect. Communication improvements include displaying disallowed goals on big screens in stadiums.
Controversy around VAR persists, highlighted by Bruno Fernandes receiving a red card against Tottenham despite slipping before contact with James Maddison. A vote by stakeholders in June resulted in Premier League clubs retaining VAR, with Wolves being the only team opposing it.
Brazil’s National Team Concerns
Brazil’s national team faces concerns over form as they trail behind Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Ecuador in World Cup qualifying. Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes is set to be benched for their game against Chile.
The team’s performance has been under scrutiny, and the upcoming matches against Chile and Peru are crucial for their qualification hopes.
The pressure is mounting on the players and head coach Dorival Jr. to deliver results and secure a spot in the World Cup.
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Argentina’s Injury Woes
Lionel Scaloni has not ruled out Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister playing for Argentina despite injury concerns. The Argentineans play games against Bolivia and Venezuela in the coming week in the next batch of World Cup qualifiers.
They are two points clear of Colombia at the top of the qualification table after eight games
Scaloni remains optimistic about the team’s chances of qualifying top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table and is working on strategies to ensure they wrap up qualification quickly.
Chelsea and England’s Rising Star: Cole Palmer
Noni Madueke praised Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer after he was named England’s men’s player of the year. Palmer’s impressive performances have caught the attention of fans and pundits alike.
His development as a player over the past 12 months has been astonishing and he has continued his superb form of last season into this. So much so that Real Madrid have been linked with a £150m move for the player next summer
Steven Gerrard’s Touchline Altercation
Steven Gerrard was involved in a touchline altercation during Al-Ettifaq’s 1-0 defeat to Al-Raed in the Saudi Pro League. The former Rangers and Aston Villa manager had to be separated from his counterpart Odair Hellmann during the first half of the game.
The result leaves Al-Ettifaq in eighth place in the Saudi Pro League after five games of the new season.
Aaron Ramsey’s Injury Recovery
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey is recovering from injury and could return for Cardiff within a month. The midfielder’s return will be a significant boost for the team as they aim to improve their performance in the league. Ramsey’s experience and skill will be invaluable in the upcoming matches especially with Cardiff still rooted to the foot of the Championship.
Martin Zubimendi’s Commitment to Real Sociedad
Martin Zubimendi addressed transfer rumors linking him with moves away from Real Sociedad, emphasising his commitment to the club. The talented midfielder is focused on helping his team achieve success and is not distracted by external speculation.
Manchester City are believed to have expressed an interest in the player following confirmation that Rodri would miss the remainder of the season.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s Potential Premier League Return
Ruben Loftus-Cheek might return to the Premier League in January after being linked with West Ham following limited playtime at AC Milan. The ex-Chelsea midfielder’s potential return to England has generated interest among fans and clubs.
Loftus-Cheek’s versatility and skill make him a valuable asset for any team. However, his injury problems especially when he was with Chelsea, may make clubs wary.
Newcastle United’s Owners Investment in Atletico Madrid
Newcastle United‘s Saudi owners are investing heavily in Atletico Madrid, including taking naming rights for their stadium through Riyadh Air sponsorships. This investment highlights the growing influence of Saudi ownership in European football.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Stance on Manchester United Managerial Position
Ruud van Nistelrooy reportedly would not undermine Erik ten Hag for the Manchester United managerial position despite ongoing pressure on Ten Hag. Van Nistelrooy’s respect for his fellow Dutchman and commitment to his current role are commendable. The situation at Manchester United remains fluid, and the club’s management is considering all options to improve the team’s performance.
In conclusion, the Premier League continues to be a dynamic and exciting competition with numerous developments both on and off the pitch. From legal battles and managerial changes to player performances and rule adjustments, the league remains at the forefront of global football. Fans and stakeholders alike are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this thrilling saga.
