Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: Premier League and International Break

Lewis-Skelly Compared to Current and Past Academy Prospects

Lewis-Skelly has had more game time than Nwaneri. Nwaneri, he had bits and bobs, didn’t he? He’s a better player than Maitland-Niles, most definitely. So it’s funny football – you think you’re leaving a football club and then you get a chance, you do well, and you played in the Champions League final, and then all of a sudden the manager looks at you differently. So I’m pleased about him.

Nwaneri is at Dortmund at the moment, and he’s not playing regularly, but that stint will do him good, I think. And he’s such a talented boy. I’d be very surprised if they did let him go. There was talk about attitude and all the rest of it. But hopefully he’ll come back a better player.

Eddie Howe and the Man United Job

You never know if he is ready for it until he gets there. Newcastle’s one thing, Man United’s quite another, with the scrutiny and the pressure. But I think Howes got the tools to do a job there. He’s a very good coach. I think he’s a good manager. So he’s going to hover over any club where the manager’s struggling now, isn’t he? It’s a nightmare for managers who are under a little bit of pressure.

But Carrick – it’s been a tough month: that inability to make the extra man count against City, and then the game against Fulham the other day. It looks like you can’t get them to work hard enough, and you wonder at the moment whether tactically he’s as switched on as some managers are out there.

The Best Run Club in the League

It’s amazing, isn’t it, what Brighton do. They can sell, and they can still maintain their path, improve it, even. The way they’ve handled Kostoulas – 19 years of age – he only got a few games last season, but he’s looking more ready now. As for the best-run club, I think Brentford obviously run them close. Both are brilliantly run in terms of recruitment. But look at Yalcouye, the boy who’s come into midfield. He’s been at Brighton for a few years, but he’s been out on loan, and he’s come back, and he’s been sensational, the midfielder. So yeah, another example of handling the players well.

Muharemovic Adapting to the League

You never know how these players are going to adapt. He’s got 17 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina, so Muharemovic is experienced from that point of view. Kind of learnt his trade in Italy with Sassuolo, and he’s a left-footer, so he fits well on the left side of the three there. So that’s been a really big bonus for Farke, I think. And the fans have taken to him. So yeah, that looks like a really good sign.