Published: Monday, 26 January 2026
This week we can say Arsenal dropped points. It wasn’t a good weekend for them at all with both City and Villa winning. Arteta is going to have to make some tough choices about what he wants to win pretty soon.
I’ll come back to that because I don’t want to undermine what United did. Michael Carrick couldn’t have had a tougher start - games against the top two teams in the country - but United have been brilliant. He’s certainly giving the brains trust something to think about. It’s too soon to get carried away though.
The squad United have should be qualifying for a European place on auto-pilot so that’s a minimum requirement for Carrick.
The decision on whether he gets the job has got to be based on what’s achievable beyond this season. I hope he does get it. Regulars know my feelings about backing British coaches, but I’m not sure.
I still believe Tuchel or Alonso would be a better idea, but Carrick has got the chance to prove he’s the man - and he hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.
As for the Gunners - don’t panic. They’re still clear. They’re still favourites. The should still win it, but I understand the anxiety.
I keep saying - any title challenge will be made up of all sorts of drama. I write before Coventry play at Norwich. If we lose, what was a 10-point lead will be down to three and if that happens the nay-sayers will be predicting doom for a team most were saying were nailed onfor promotion just a few weeks ago.
But it doesn’t work like that. No team has ever won anything in January. There’s still a long way to go. Arsenal (and Coventry) need to be careful, but they should still win it.
I’ll say it again though - I do think Arteta needs to be careful about what he’s asking of his players. Arsenal can’t win four trophies. That’s impossible - which is why it’s never been done.
In Coventry’s case - we have just 17 games left after tonight’s (Monday) at Carrow Road. That should help a relatively small squad cope with heavy C’ship demands.
I fancied Bournemouth for their win. I’m not at all convinced by Liverpool. Arne remains Lost despite the recent deceptive string of results. Take a look for yourselves into the run they were on. It was nothing to get excited about.
I might start doing the Pools again because I said Forest could win at Brentford as well. Unlike Arteta it looks as though Dyche has worked out his target - survival. Europe is a distraction he doesn’t need or want.
I thought Brentford was an ideal game for Forest - sit in and go toe to toe with them. Dyche had a game plan and his team pulled it off perfectly.
I can’t see any real harm coming to Palace, but I think they’re in for a really uncomfortable second half of the season.
I said this last week - when Glasner announced he’d be leaving in May, if I had been Steve Parrish I’d have asked him to go straight away. It might have cost a few quid and Parrish wants to avoid any compensation payment, but it would’ve been the right thing.
Parrish knows Glasner has been tapped up. The Austrian reckons he’s top of United’s wish-list and he might have been a couple of weeks ago. But that’s a long time in football as we know. Carrick is doing a fine job, whilst Palace’s results are starting to make Glasner look silly. That’s his problem - if it gets worse he’ll be damaging his own reputation still further.
I know Parrish has told him he can leave now, but it would be without compensation. That’s the issue for Glasner. He should get out though. He won’t be short of a few bob going forward and his stock is good at the moment.
Anyone else think the project at Newcastle is over? I keep saying it. I think it’s fairly obvious now isn’t it?
Why aren’t the Saudi’s spending money? And don’t tell me it’s FFP. It’s not. That excuse doesn’t wash whilst City are still spunking money unchecked.
No. It’s because the Saudi’s have found another way to play on the world sports stage. They don’t need Newcastle to make an impact with. They’re buying big events and taking them in-house - tennis, F1, golf, UFC, football. The list is endless. Why do they need Newcastle?
I feel for Eddie Howe and the Geordie faithful. I’d like to be wrong and see The Toon splash some cash before the window shuts. It’s pretty clear where they need re-enforcements but it’s not going to happen. It’s a shame.