Alan Smith’s Premier League GW35 Predictions and Tips

Isak Ranking Among Premier League Strikers

It’s easy to forget how good he was for Newcastle when he was fit. Silky smooth, really hard to play against. Made the game look easy, good finisher. So, there’s a reason why Liverpool badly wanted him and why they were prepared to pay so much money. So, he is one of the top strikers when he’s fit in the Premier League.

Letting Andy Robertson Go

It’s a strange one in a way. Obviously, they see him day in, day out, and whether physically he’s not quite the same. God, he’s got some miles on the clock because he covers so much ground in a game. But he’s only 32. And you’re always reluctant to lose a character in the dressing room like that, somebody with that kind of experience and that kind of desire still.

Kerkez has been on the bench the last few games. So, I don’t know whether that will change my mind, but I think he’s still got plenty to offer Robertson.

Mika Godts Preferred Destination

There’s an opening for someone on the left, particularly for Liverpool. Amad Diallo has played there for United. He can play on the right. So if they’re both in for him, both Champions League football, both huge clubs, you’ll be living in a similar area, probably Cheshire, whatever, and all these things come into the equation. Probably comes down to money in the end. So we’ll see.

Rafa Leão and Lautaro Martínez to Arsenal

I wouldn’t say a front three of Leao, Martinez and Saka is better than City’s, no. You never know how they’re going to adjust to the Premier League, but it takes some doing to beat City’s at the moment. Martínez has been linked with a move to the Premier League for a good while, it seems. What, is he 28 now? Whether he’d want to come at this stage, I don’t know.

So, for Arsenal, that left side is something that needs bolstering, and Rafa Leão could perhaps do that. Recruitment-wise, they’re good, Arsenal, these days. But they’ll definitely be looking at that forward line because it’s not as good as City’s, pure and simple. And on Gyökeres, it was either Gyökeres or Sesko, wasn’t it, at the start, and probably Sesko looks a better bet now. So perhaps they went for the wrong one.

Arsenal’s Win vs Newcastle

It’s a vital, vital win. The result for them. It’s so nervous in the Emirates as it has been. You just wonder whether they can go on like this, but I think they probably will now. It’s not going to become free-flowing football as we get close to the finishing line. But a win is a win. It’s all about the points now.

PSG Interest in Saliba

I just don’t think they would want to sell a player like Saliba because it sends out the wrong message. He’s signed a new contract, so they don’t have to sell him. Would Saliba want to go? Obviously, PSG are a big club, big in Europe and all the rest of it. Ligue 1 is nowhere near the standard of the Premier League, so that’s something to consider for any player. But I think Arsenal would knock back those offers of £100mil for him.

Grealish to Everton for £25m

I don’t know if they would sign him. I’m sure City would be fairly keen to get him off the books. He’s not wanted there. Is he David Moyes’ type of player? Certainly would be his type of player on the pitch.

Obviously, we’ve had this latest incident, falling asleep in a rooftop bar after a session in the afternoon. It’s happened so often with him. He’s really got to sort out his life off the pitch. He’s rehabilitating now, and getting drunk is not going to help. And that might work against him in terms of a club like Everton buying him permanently.

Steven Gerrard to Burnley Rumours

You’d have to say the jury’s still out with Gerrard in terms of managing English clubs. Villa, it didn’t go well, and Unai Emery engineered a very quick improvement; obviously did well at Rangers. But that’s a different kettle of fish.

So a bit of a gamble, I’d say. A bit of a gamble. We all want to see Steven Gerrard do well. A lot of people are pleased Frank Lampard’s done well at Coventry. But I’m sure he’s keen to get back in. But it would be a gamble.

Harvey Elliott to Leeds

Elliot must be desperate to get going again. It was a bit of a disastrous spell at Villa, who decided they didn’t want to buy him permanently. So he didn’t play. He didn’t play well when he was picked.

But we saw at Liverpool, he’s a talented boy. So get him fit. I think he could add to the Leeds team, lend a bit of craft that maybe they’re missing at the moment.

Van de Ven to Liverpool/United

It’s been a difficult season all around for all the players at Spurs, but I think it’d be a good signing. There aren’t many like him. We talk about his speed, and that’s amazing. He hasn’t missed many games at all this season either.

There aren’t many left-sided centre-halves like him, naturally left-footed, so there’s no doubt really that other clubs would be after him. As to whether Spurs would sell is another matter, but it would be a good signing.

Claudio Braga to Brighton

Braga has had an undistinguished career so far, if you look at his history. But he is enjoying a good season at Hearts. Listen, Brighton, don’t make too many mistakes in the recruitment department. And they’ve got the same analytics company, haven’t they, Hearts?

So that would be a bit left field. But we all know Brighton, the players that they’ve brought in over the years, Caicedo, MacAllister and Trossard. So that would be a fascinating one to see if he could do well, if he came down.

Carlos Baleba to Man United

It would certainly help if he raised his game a bit. Got back in the team against Chelsea, still only 22, he’s had a dip. Younger players can do that, but there’s clearly a very good player in there. But you’d want to see a good, strong end to the season. And if the price is right, I would imagine Brighton would sell, but the price would have to be pretty high.

Nicholas Jackson to Reginite Newcastle Rumours?

Can Newcastle afford to sign him? They’ve got Woltemade and Wissa. There’s more to come from Wissa, maybe Woltemadeas well. But Wissa hasn’t been fit long enough, and didn’t have a pre-season.

So whether they’ll have room or the purchasing power to get somebody else is another matter, but Jackson’s done well at Bayern, and I think Chelsea could probably use him again, really.

Eddie Howe’s Management of Woltemade

Woltemade has played a lot of football, started the season well, but Eddie Howe’s been quite forthright about it, not been doing well enough when picked, not been scoring goals, so he’s just asking more of the lad.

He’s an unusual player; there aren’t many like him. Quite often, he’ll drop into the number 10 position. So it’d be interesting to see what happens with him, but I don’t see them bringing in another forward unless they can get one of them out.

Régis Le Bris Sack Rumours

I’d be amazed from the outside looking in if they fired him. He’s done an amazing job. And if you’d offered the owners Premier League safety at the start, they’d have snatched your hands off. So, what’s going on behind the scenes, I don’t know. But he’s done a fine job. And it’s been some exciting football he’s provided as well. So, I would be shocked.

What Went Wrong

Several things, I suppose. It may have started with the owners, his tragic passing, then his son took over, and maybe it wasn’t quite the same leadership, but they’ve overspent, players on big money who have underperformed. It’s just been a downward spiral. Sad to see. But there’s been mismanagement there, really. Players haven’t been able to fight for the cause. And as I say, it’s sad to see.

Bournemouth vs Palace

Palace still with Europe on the mind. But they still give it a go. But I think Bournemouth will win it 3-1.

Brentford vs West Ham

Brentford had some moments at Old Trafford, should have scored two at least, and I think they’ll win 2-1 against West Ham.

Chelsea vs Forest

An upturn for Chelsea with Maresca gone. A few goals in this one as Forest trying to get more points, but a Chelsea win 3-2.