Huddersfield boss David Wagner has been rewarded for loyalty to stars and Stoke need to add steel
SunSport analyst has been hugely impressed with newly promoted Terriers
ONLY WAY IS UP FOR PREM NEW BOYS
The three newly-promoted teams have been fantastic this season and are being rewarded for standing by the players that got them into the Premier League.
On Saturday, Huddersfield boss David Wagner fielded six players on show who featured for them in the Championship.
Brighton had seven and Newcastle had eight.
OK, all three teams have been a bit defensive but it is hard to be critical after the start they have made.
STOKE NEED STEEL
It has been a tough start to the season for Stoke in terms of fixtures.
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They have very good technical players but now they need to battle.
Boss Mark Hughes was a wonderful footballer but he also had that fighting spirit. And he needs to instil that into his players.
The old saying is: “Can you do it on a cold, wet Tuesday night at Stoke?”
Well, Stoke players need to prove they can do it on a cold, wet Tuesday night at Stoke now.
TOON’S TEMPLATE FOR THE DEFENCE
Only the top three have conceded fewer goals than Newcastle this season.
And it is in large part thanks to Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden, their two holding midfielders who screen the back four brilliantly. It is a good template for success.
RUNNING MEN
Of Manchester City’s 32 goals this season, 23 have come in the second half.
It is a sign of how they grind teams down with their constant pressing and how well they keep the ball.
When you get tired the first thing that goes is your concentration.
And there can be nothing more tiring than trying to keep track of City’s runners.
BRAVE REFS REQUIRED
There has been a lot of debate about Bernardo Silva’s penalty. Was it a dive or not?
The problem we have is that unless a player goes to ground, penalties aren’t given. Until that changes, players will always make the most of any contact.
I’m not condoning diving but until refs are brave enough to play the advantage, allowing an attacker to stay on his feet and then bring it back and give a spot-kick if the attack comes to nothing, it won’t change.
