The Amateurs’ 2020/21 Premier League Halfway Review
Who’s playing the best Premier League football right now? How about COVID-19 impact on the league? Our writers have their say…
Already halfway through, the Premier League offers a footballing entertainment we’ve been longing to accompany our days of self-quarantine and social distancing. We asked our editorial team to give their opinion on what’s going on in the league and predict what could happen in the second half of the season. Write your comments down below or hit us up on Twitter @TheAmateursID.
Who’s your candidate for the Premier League’s best player?
Ammarsha Rewindra: It’s either going to be Harry Kane or Son Heung-Min. Both have recorded a combined 22 goals and 16 assists, and they are not stopping any time soon. But when it comes down to one name, my pick would be Son Heung-Min. The South Korean international has been sensational in front of the goal and now tied second on the list with 11 to his tally, two behind Mohamed Salah’s 13.
Faiz Ramadhan: It should be Harry Kane. He is the centerpiece of Jose Mourinho’s strategy. The all-rounded English striker not only scores goals as he always does every year, but he also provides assists and creates openings for his teammates. He is also the most impactful player for his team in the whole Premier League. Take him out from Tottenham Hotspurs and they will suffer miserably.
Petrick Sinuraya: Harry Kane because who else? José Mourinho plays him as a striker-cum-attacking-midfielder in which he excels brilliantly. His versatility is even backed by the numbers, as Kane currently tops the creation board with 11 assists. It seems that almost everyone forgot he was the Golden Boot winner at the 2018 World Cup and scored 35 league goals in the previous two seasons.
Raul Adam: Harry Kane. There has not been a single season where people doubted him at the start but he always seems to fend off any form of unwarranted criticisms with ease, evident from him topping the assists chart by quite a margin.
How about the candidate for the worst player?
AR: Don’t get me wrong — I am an Ajax fan and I love Donny Van de Beek. But he has not been showing his worth so far. He’s in a positional misfit where he found Bruno Fernandes has been playing extraordinarily well in his favored position and Manchester United have yet to find the right strategy where the Dutch international can fit in.
FR: Nicholas Pepe is the worst considering how much Arsenal spent on him and how much he has played in the Premier League. The record signing barely played for his team. Pepe’s latest appearance was as a substitute against Chelsea on Dec. 27, 2020 and the last time he started the game was against Everton on Dec. 20, 2020. If your record signing player, a winger, played 11 times while only starting 4 of them, only scored 2 times, and got 1 red card then he is not worth the money. Remember, this is his second season in the Premier League, so taking time to adapt to the league should no longer be an excuse for him.
PS: Kepa Arrizabalaga. The most expensive goalkeeper on the planet’s last start was against Southampton on Oct. 17, 2020. Due to his endless comical displays, Frank Lampard has completely turned his eyes to Edouard Mendy. The Senegalese goalie has kept six clean sheets in just 12 matches compared to Arrizabalaga’s zero in three. Pack your bag, boy.
RA: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese has been firing blank rounds this season, contributing to the downfall of his Arsenal team as a whole.
Which manager deserves all the credit for what he has done halfway into the season?
AR: What Carlo Ancelotti has done in Everton is nothing short of a sensational transformation. He’s building The Toffees from the ground up, establishing a tactical identity, signing the right players, and bringing the best out of his current roster as we have seen in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s form.
FR: Ralph Hasenhüttl deserves his credit after making Southampton compete for European football. He lost his best striker in Danny Ings many times this season but they can find another source of goals. Southampton are able to create goals from many players like Che Adams, Theo Walcott, and James Ward-Prowse’s set-pieces. They are quite clinical with their scoring chances having scored 26 goals while only having an xG of 16.5 per fbref. They also have the joint-fourth best defense in the Premier League with only 19 goals conceded. Their performance against Tottenham Hotspurs was a tough pill to swallow but they have shown improvement afterwards.
PS: The one and only, José Mourinho. Tactical-wise, he converted Kane into a goal-creating machine while successfully making Son into a budget-version of 2011–14 Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s not just that, though. Mourinho’s decision to buy Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is also the reason why Spurs are very solid both on and off the ball.
RA: Ralph Hasenhüttl has shown what he is really capable of with this Southampton team. After that nine-goal humiliation in the hands of Leicester City last year, Southampton has made the right call by retaining the Austrian gaffer who has been producing a series of steady performances this season.
Who has been the worst manager this season?
AR : As a fan, I am quite disappointed with Chris Wilder and his track record this season. His funky scheme that involves an overlapping center back has yet to snatch a win to date and fans, both club and neutral, would want to see a change.
FR: I have a trust issue with Steve Bruce. His teams more often than not were in the bottom half of the table and were relegated to the Championship several times. There’s a lack of invention in his strategy and his signings more often than not were misses. Newcastle may need to look for another manager if they aim to reach a new height in the future.
PS: Nuno Espírito Santo. This is a hot take as he was the media darling in the last couple seasons. Yet, he was brought back to earth after a disappointing four months. Nuno’s problem lies in his incapability to set up the offense creatively. Even worse, the new wing-backs haven’t fit in his tactics after the departure of Matt Doherty and Jonny Otto’s long-term injury. They might be in a bit of a revival after positive results against multiple London outfits in the last 40 days, but I think he still needs to work extra hard this winter to keep his job. He can do so by getting Diego Costa, perhaps?
RA: With roughly 200 million pounds spent in less than a year, club legend Frank Lampard has not been able to replicate the sort of impression that he has put in back then as a player in blue. The 42 year-old gaffer is subject to a mutiny at Stamford Bridge, a consequence for being tactically inept and failing to get the best out of his star-studded team.
What is your biggest shock during the first half of the season?
AR: The North West Annihilation, where both Manchester United and Liverpool lost by a five-goal margin in the same week. Spurs snatching a win is somewhat predictable, but not by five goals. Liverpool, on the other hand, got humbled in a match where no one predicted the outcome.
FR: Arsenal surprised me by being in the wrong half of the table. They have decent players and I count Mikel Arteta as not a bad manager. They showed their capacity by beating Manchester United and Chelsea. They were able to snatch a 3-game winning streak but they were consistently bad before that. Backed with good morale after the winning streak, I will be more surprised if they are not able to continue the streak and finish in the top ten.
PS: Apart from the obvious mentioned by Ammar above, I would like to remind us that Leicester City won 5–2 at Etihad Stadium. Three goals came from the penalty spot. Oh, don’t forget that Leicester had to play with Nampalys Mendy and Daniel Amartey due to the absence of their first-team players.
RA: I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Aston Villa managed to nest seven goals into Liverpool’s net. Dean Smith is a genius for this.
If there is one VAR-backed decision you’d like to overturn, what would it be?
AR: The offside call on Thiago Alcântara’s beautiful through pass to set up Sadio Mané’s cross to Jordan Henderson in the latest Merseyside derby was a dubious one. Fans and experts who watched the game from home could barely see the offside, so a transparent explanation on the call should be presented in order for us to understand why the call stands until today.
FR: Every penalty called where the ball touched a player’s passive hand.
PS: Patrick Bamford’s disallowed goal. Let me quote Arsène Wenger from an interview with The Guardian back in October: “I am 100% in favor because I conceded goals when the goal scorer was five meters offside. People forget that. In the Premier League, the right decisions went from 84% to 95% last year with VAR, 11%. That is 10,000 decisions because referees make about 100,000 decisions a season. It’s not perfect. If a striker is offside because he has his nose in front, that’s a bit ridiculous.”
RA: The decision against Patrick Bamford’s goal against Crystal Palace is on the basis of the newly introduced rule that allows you to score a goal with your armpit, as his upper left limb is slightly protruding from the last defender’s position. The goal would have been given last season. Absolute nonsense.
Which signing makes the most impact for their new team?
AR: Leicester City have found themselves a gem in Timothy Castagne. The Belgian international has been exceptional by scoring a goal and notching two assists for the Foxes in eight matches, and it comes from his aggressiveness in creating chances with 0.26 xA and 3.25 progressive passes per 90 minutes. Castagne’s versatility and him being an ambidextrous player offers Leicester flexibility for their setup and that makes him valuable for them.
FR: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has been a revelation this season. He is the typical Mourinho player who can read the game and dictate the tempo. He has a strong physicality and good passing as his attributes. He is the extension of Mourinho’s voice on the field. With the 15 million pounds plus bonuses, Daniel Levy did wonders by signing him with a bargain price to White Hart Lane.
PS: Højbjerg. The perfect midfielder for Mourinho’s Spurs. When building attacks, he likes to drop between the center back pairing to provide a numerical superiority. His distribution ability is nothing short of brilliant with 87.7% accuracy, the best in his team. A safety-first player? Don’t think so. Højbjerg has completed 4,864 yards in progressive passes (third highest in Spurs), as well as managing 1,638 yards in carries (the second-highest in Spurs). He also leads his team in interceptions (17) and tackles won (41). Signed for a fee of around 15 million pounds plus bonuses, Højbjerg is a true definition of a bargain.
RA: Amidst the uncertainty upon the issue that Declan Rice was about to set his foot elsewhere, David Moyes secured the loan for Slavia Prague’s Tomáš Souček in January 2020, who was ultimately signed permanently at the start of the season. The towering defensive midfielder has yet to miss a single minute for The Hammers in their domestic campaign, showing how important he has been for West Ham’s upper mid-table resurgence.
Who’s your candidate for the most improved player?
AR: The development of Dominic Calvert-Lewin under Carlo Ancelotti has been exciting to say the least. He’s tied for second in the race for Premier League’s top scorer with 11 goals under his tally, and many have compared him to the likes of Robert Lewandowski and even Filippo Inzaghi due to him being a cunning fox inside the box and clinical with his finishing touch.
FR: Fred improved a lot under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, especially this season. He seemed to fully understand his role in the team as a screener before the opponent penetrated Manchester United defense. He also wins the ball back quite often and his energy brings more balance in Manchester United’s setup. At times this season he looked to be able to keep the ball and help to build attacks from the back. I expect his passing and decision making will improve further throughout the season.
PS: Curtis Jones. I’m a Manchester United fan but credits must be given to Jones. Liverpool’s prolonged injury problems might have been a blessing in disguise for Jones, but he has proven that he’s more than an emergency backup. He is Liverpool’s third best in terms of passing accuracy (91.3%), fourth in passes into the final third (69), and fourth in tackles won (12). Everyone needs to keep their eyes on him this year.
RA: Although Son Heung-Min was far from being horrible during the 2019–20 campaign, there were rumors of him leaving Spurs upon the arrival of José Mourinho after Mauricio Pochettino was sacked midseason. However, the South Korean is now integral to the Portuguese’s scheme, and as 2020 draws to a close, he sits at the throne of the Premier League’s top goalscorer. On top of that, Son is also a recipient of the annual Puskas Award, a recognition on his wondrous 80-yard run from the edge of his team’s own box, in which he strode past the entire Burnley team to slot one away at Turf Moor.
Will Liverpool run away with the title or can any other team keep up with them?
AR: It has been a tough season for the reigning champion, having their key players injured and even some still haven’t found their tune this season (I’m talking about you, Firmino). With the right tactical adjustment to administer the absence of core players and the right signings come January, the race to the top should be still very much alive for Liverpool.
FR: I would say Liverpool may not run away with the title like last year. Liverpool is the title favorite but injuries hurt them badly. Liverpool surely want to go far in the Champions League so they will rotate their team in some games. Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspurs, Chelsea, and Manchester United may fancy their chances to be in the conversation for the title during the final third of the season, especially with only seven points separating Liverpool with Chelsea in ninth place and West Ham in tenth place. The race is far from over.
PS: I would like to say no because of their never-ending injuries. But, Liverpool is still a monster. Without two of their best deep area players (Virgil van Dijk and Thiago), the Reds have managed to be the leader of the pack as of today. Imagine what will happen when the duo returns. I’m just hoping for Mourinho’s Spurs, Guardiola’s City, and Solskjær’s United to be more consistent so Liverpool can’t walk their way to their second straight Premier League title.
RA: This season will not be another walk in the park for Jürgen Klopp and his men. With Ole’s undermined United keeping up with the incumbent champion, as well as Spurs demonstrating they are capable of challenging for the title, the world might have to wait and see until Matchday 38 to know who the winner is.
If you are your club’s Sporting Director/CEO, who will you sign in the winter transfer window and why?
AR: As mentioned before, Liverpool should make the right transfer moves to keep their title race alive. Signing a center back to replace Virgil van Dijk and serve as his long-term partner should be considered as a top priority. Dayot Upamecano, Ozan Kabak, or even fellow Dutchman Perr Schuurs should be within the radar.
FR: I doubt Manchester United would make a big transfer in the winter transfer window, considering they only have 51 million pounds left as stated on their annual report 2020 while the previous year they had 307 million pounds. To improve the team, Manchester United needs huge signings in a center back, right winger, and a backup right back for Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The current financial crisis may delay the expensive signings to the summer transfer window. Manchester United also has limitations in selling their players due to lack of interest from other clubs and the players’ salaries being too high. For the winter transfer window, Manchester United can loan a decent backup player like Alvaro Odriozola who rarely plays in Real Madrid.
PS: Manchester United is in a dire need for a right winger as Mason Greenwood shows that he’s still developing. If they can’t get Jadon Sancho nor wait for Amadou Diallo and Facundo Pellistri’s growth, United can probably look at Lucas Moura or Erik Lamela. Both supposedly unhappy players would be an upgrade to their squad even though only in the short term.
RA: Ever since Ander Herrera left Manchester United, the Red Devils have been missing the presence of a tenacious figure in midfield. The player that suits the bill is none other than Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozović. For certain, Antonio Conte will not let his Croatian workhorse go away to another team, but if I were in the position to fix Manchester United’s lethargic midfield, Brozović is the man for the job.
Which team played well but have been let down by their results?
AR: Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United has been one of the most entertaining sides to watch this season. The Madman’s intense man-marking assignments of using one man free to overload the final third while sacrificing one man behind serves as one of the most exciting tactical endeavors after Chris Wilder’s overlapping center backs last season, albeit the same cannot be said about the results. Leeds are playing exhausting football and it started to take a toll on them as they are not within the top-10 of the league.
FR: Leeds United plays magnificently at times and gives a new tactical perspective with their man-to-man marking. However, their decision making and finishing in the final third quite often let them down. They also often concede goals due to their clumsy mistakes. They need a few more quality players before no gases are left in their tank in the last third of the season.
PS: Guardiola’s Manchester City always plays well up until the 6-yard area. What let them down is their finishing ability. City has managed to get a total of 29.33 in terms of expected goals (fourth best in the league), yet they only netted 24 times so far (10th worst among all teams) in which two came from the spot. In short, the stats show that City should have scored around 30–31 goals, six more than what they have currently
RA: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City is best friends with the statistics l, whether it is expected goals, expected possession value, you name it. But, what do those numbers mean if they are being outscored by the likes of Southampton, Aston Villa, and Leeds United?
Considering the packed schedule and COVID-19 situation, will injuries/absences play a big role towards the end of the season?
AR: Most definitely. With a cramped schedule on both domestic and regional competitions, it all comes down to how teams manage their fitness in order to win it all. We have seen the rise and fall of Liverpool as the injury bugs bite them hard in the first half of the season, and it forced them to adjust accordingly to compete. There are intriguing initiatives like the five substitutions rule, but it draws mixed opinions and I found Tifo Football’s take on it being unfair to teams with limited resources to be interesting.
FR: I lost count with the number of injuries and absence this season. Team depth and endurance may be the key for the last ten games of the season. If Liverpool did not buy a new center back, the injuries in that position may prove costly in one or two games for them in the latter stage of the season. Tottenham Hotspurs may be on the different side of the table should they lose Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane for some time this season. Manchester United will be a different devil should Bruno Fernandes end up injured. The injuries and absences may take a big part in defining the league position this season.
PS: We have seen Liverpool get demolished by Aston Villa due to the absence of Alisson, Sadio Mané, Thiago, and Joël Matip in that game. We also saw Leicester running riot at the Etihad with Rúben Dias and Aymeric Laporte missing for the home side. So, yes, it will play a huge role.
RA: Without a shadow of a doubt, yes. With the increasingly uncertain circumstances that revolve around the virus, not to mention the new COVID-19 strain originating from the United Kingdom, more and more Premier League players are subject to rigorous testing. Team sheets with the notable absences should be highly expected.
Name your best starting XI for the first half of the season (max 2 per team).
