Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
United fans
United fans: eyeing a trophy. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
United fans: eyeing a trophy. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Premier League fans’ verdicts – the run-in, part 2: Manchester Utd to West Ham

This article is more than 7 years old

With eight weeks to go, fans assess the season so far, and what lies ahead
Click here for part 1: Arsenal to Manchester City

Manchester United

What’s the mood among fans? The games are coming thick and fast – you expect that when you end up in the Europa League but belong in the Champions League. Most fans would take winning in Stockholm over fourth place but both are attainable. Then for some big work in the summer: we’re still in transition, so José Mourinho will have to add to the squad again and ship out the dead wood, regardless of their previous status.

Happy with the manager? We love him: this is the real deal. He lavishes the support with praise because he knows that we need him as much as he needs us. He’s as cold as a fish but a savage genius. The football has vastly improved: he has us playing with a speed and intensity that hasn’t been there since Fergie went. He has also been very astute in the transfer market – all his signings have made a solid impact. The complete opposite to Van Gaal’s.

Key players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been superb and Eric Bailly has shored up a fragile defence. Marcos Rojo has been decent, and Antonio Valencia has been outstanding again. Always gives 100%.

Weak links Chris Smalling looks like an accident waiting to happen. He peaked under LVG. And Phil Jones is too fragile. I’m starting to think it’s all in his mind as he can’t seem to stay fit.

We will finish … Fourth. The fixtures look a bit daunting but we are proving difficult to beat.

Predictions: Top four (in order) – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United; Relegated – Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland.

Shaun O’Donnell

Middlesbrough

What’s the mood among fans? The shockwaves from Aitor Karanka’s exit are only just receding, but people are getting behind the caretaker, Steve Agnew. It’s been a traumatic ride since our last league victory back in mid-December and we look to be on a crash course for the Championship, on a run of three successive defeats. It will take a Sunderland-style miracle to rescue us now.

Happy with the manager? Agnew has had only one game as yet, and a very difficult one against Manchester United. He has support among fans because he made subtle changes to style and personnel, but he faces three crunch games in a row after the international break – at Swansea, at Hull and at home to Burnley. We probably need to win them all. Having won only four games all season that is a very tall order indeed.

Key players Víctor Valdés has shown his vast experience in goal, Ben Gibson has been a rock at centre-back and Adam Clayton is full of sterling effort in midfield.

Weak links We need far more goals from the attack. Negredo has not delivered, but is that due to him being isolated under Karanka’s tactics? Gastón Ramírez has been a real let down in his attitude, but we need him now as never before.

We will finish … I really, really hope we can somehow finish fourth bottom. I’ll let my heart rule my head on this one.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool; Relegated – Swansea, Hull, Sunderland.

Robert Nichols fmttm.com @rob_fmttm

Aitor Karanka: shockwaves. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images

Southampton

What’s the mood among fans? While we’ve seen our team play in the San Siro and at Wembley, there’s a nagging sense of having slightly underachieved – particularly on the biggest stages. And with Europe now pretty much unobtainable, the season seems to be plodding to a dull conclusion.

Happy with the manager? Claude Puel’s stock has risen recently when we’ve not been forced to play three games a week and he’s been able to name a settled team. But many fans felt that the rotation to cope with the workload in the first half of the season was counterproductive. With games in hand to come in April and May, those grumbles will probably return.

Key players Manolo Gabbiadini has been the star of 2017 – you can only wonder what we might have achieved in Europe had we been able to call on him in the first half of the season. Virgil van Dijk was at his imperious best before Jamie Vardy’s disgraceful late challenge forced a long spell on the sidelines.

Weak links Nobody’s stood out from a negative perspective, but considering the fee, where he was signed from and the excellent start he made, ex-Bayern midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hasn’t really kicked on.

We will finish … Ninth. Everton are too far ahead and I suspect West Brom will pick up enough points. Slightly disappointing, but improving on last season was always going to be near-impossible.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United; Relegated – Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland.

Steve Grant SaintsWeb.co.uk @SteveGrant1983

Stoke

What’s the mood among fans? There’s a percentage who think we’ve under-achieved this season, and that we’ll need a thrilling final few games to rescue a stale campaign. But there’s a larger percentage who are quite content with our position and who think we should be careful what we wish for – continually referencing the current plight of Coventry, Charlton and the rest. Both sides make valid points, but in truth it’s been dull, with very little in the way of standout moments or progress.

Happy with the manager? So-so … Mark Hughes looks on course for a fourth consecutive top-10 finish and we shouldn’t grumble, but I feel a top-10 position in the league is down to the sub-standard quality of the other teams more than anything else. Early exits in both cup competitions and a string of uninspiring performances, odd team selections and the exclusion of a couple of potential game-changing players has left me considering my support for the manager.

Key players The two stars have been two new players: Lee Grant and Bruno Martins Indi. Both have shown excellent levels of consistency.

Weak links The biggest let down is Wilfried Bony. I just don’t understand what has happened – and I certainly don’t blame Hughes for excluding him. Elsewhere, Xherdan Shaqiri’s injury record is close to laughable. I predict Chinese clubs will be the destination for both next season.

We will finish … ninth. Our regular spot.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United; Relegated – Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland.

Rob Holloway

Mark Hughes: so-so. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Sunderland

What’s the mood among fans? One of resigned apathy, unfortunately. We can’t even be bothered to be angry, and that is worrying. We have seen this coming all season and now that it’s almost upon us, we just want it over and done with.

Happy with the manager? David Moyes has looked a lost man for most of the season. There appears to be a cloud over his head with the question “What on earth am I doing here?” written on it. A large proportion of the support are beginning to wonder the same. As there appears to be no alternative option, though, most fans are just about sticking with him.

Key players Jordan Pickford has again enhanced his reputation as a goalkeeper, Jermain Defoe has enhanced his reputation as a goalscorer and as a man due to his connection with young Bradley Lowery. And John O’Shea has been hardworking in the defence, and dignified throughout.

Weak links The less said about the rest the better.

We will finish … It’s pretty clear to me and to thousands of others that we will finish 20th.

Predictions: Top four - Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool; Relegated – Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland.

Pete Sixsmith SalutSunderland.com

Swansea

What’s the mood among fans? Things were looking up after winning three in four games recently – but the relegation worry has set in again after losing our last two matches. March was the pivotal month for us, featuring games against three teams near us in the table and Burnley, but we lost two of them, which adds a lot of pressure going into the next crucial game, at home to Middlesbrough.

Happy with the manager? Paul Clement won more points in his first six games than we did in the 19 before he joined. He’s got us organised and brought some much-needed consistency, but he’s desperate to get us winning again after recent results. Injuries haven’t helped.

Key players The majority of players have stepped up under Clement. Leroy Fer and Jack Cork are probably our most improved players, while Alfie Mawson is doing well at the back and both Tom Carroll and Martin Olsson have made a big difference since joining us in January.

Weak links New signing Jordan Ayew hasn’t excited us yet, and Federico Fernández needs to do better.

We will finish … 17th. That’ll do, and that’s the aim, as Clement said. Anything higher is a bonus. I’d have predicted 15th had we not lost our last two games.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United; Relegated – Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hull.

Kevin Elphick Swansea.VitalFootball.co.uk

Swansea: stepping up under Clement. Photograph: Mercury Press/REX/Shutterstock

Tottenham

What’s the mood among fans? Buoyant. We’re second with a superior goal difference to those below us and an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to. And our run-in isn’t the most arduous. Our movement and invention has overwhelmed teams recently.

Happy with the manager? Mauricio Pochettino continues to foster a strong team ethic and there have been several fantastic performances since Christmas. My main quibble with him would be some puzzling selections for cup matches; he needs a trophy as much as the fans want one. But overall he is providing the fans with our best football for 30 years.

Key players Victor Wanyama and Jan Vertonghen impress with their strength and game intelligence. Danny Rose and Kyle Walker have become potent threats down the wings. Harry Kane is (was) in red-hot scoring mode. Mousa Dembélé’s skill and muscularity is exceptional as a midfield shield, Christian Eriksen has been at his creative best, and Harry Winks shows excellent promise.

Weak links Of the summer signings, only Wanyama has improved us. £30m Moussa Sissoko has been the biggest let-down. Vincent Janssen tries hard but Pochettino doesn’t have enough faith in him to start when Kane is out.

We will finish … I’m optimistic for second. We need to learn from last year’s wretched finish. The players should be able to find the right level of urgency with that memory still fresh.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool; Relegated – Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland.

Dave Mason

Watford

What’s the mood among fans? Edgy. No group of supporters ever agree entirely about anything, of course, but if there’s a prevailing mood here it’s one of anxiously looking over our shoulders. The knowledge that we’ll probably be OK in the end is tempered by discomfort in that the games most likely to yield the required couple of wins come up sooner rather than later, at a time when we’re not looking at all convincing. It would be good to have those wins in the bag by the end of the Easter weekend.

Happy with the manager? After an encouraging start to the season Walter Mazzarri still has plenty of convincing to do. Grotesquely systematic injuries wiped out our central defence earlier in the season and took out all of our creative weapons around Christmas. They’ve not helped, but we’re indisputably less than the sum of our parts and Mazzarri’s inability or unwillingness to communicate in English hasn’t done him any favours.

Key players Troy Deeney and Heurelho Gomes are iconic – their form hasn’t been flawless but their attitude is beyond criticism. Nordin Amrabat and Sebastian Prödl have had good spells and Tom Cleverley has been terrific since his January arrival.

Weak links Étienne Capoue has tailed off badly after a good start to the season and M’baye Niang has followed the same trajectory over a narrower time frame.

We will finish … 16th.

Predictions: Top four - Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool; Relegated – Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland.

Matt Rowswon BHappy.wordpress.com @mattrowson

Walter Mazzarri: communication problems. Photograph: BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

West Brom

What’s the mood among fans? Contented. We’re comfortable in eighth, which is beyond even the most optimistic expectations. It’s important that we finish the season well, though, and take this positivity into the summer this time. We were in a similar position last year and had an awful end to the season.

Happy with the manager? For the first time since Tony Pulis arrived here he has a large majority of the crowd behind him. This squad is pretty thin and yet the players have really overachieved – credit must go to the manager for that. He’s been able to add creativity to the organisation skills and the spirit is superb. All that said, though, you still sense it’s a fragile respect. I doubt Pulis will ever get adulation from everyone but he has done well to earn a lot of credit among those who used to be firmly against him.

Key players There have been a lot of really consistent performers, such as stalwarts Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley. Ben Foster has been outstanding – there is no better English keeper at the moment. And Jonny Evans has been quite brilliant: the best centre‑half at the Albion in my memory. And that’s over 40 years’ worth of centre-halves.

Weak links We’ve not really been badly let down by anyone. Salomón Rondón has struggled for the last three months but he gives his all.

We will finish … 8th.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United; Relegated – Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland.

Richard Jefferson WBAunofficial.org.uk/forum @richbaggie

West Ham

What’s the mood among fans? Let’s just get this season over with. We need another couple of wins to stay up and then let’s start again. It’s been traumatic with the move to the London Stadium but we’re slowly getting used to our new home and there have been signs of an atmosphere developing, helped by a spirit of post-Payet togetherness. And Andy Carroll’s amazing overhead goal has given the stadium a bit of history. With a lot of the initial crowd problems sorted out, hopefully next season the new ground won’t just inspire the opposition. A win at home against a top-four club like Spurs or Liverpool would be a great end to the season.

Happy with the manager? The chants of ‘Super Slaven Bilic’ when Payet went on strike proved the crowd are still behind him. He’s a decent man who’s had a lot thrown at him, but for an ex-defender it’s odd how weak his team have been at the back. He urgently needs to improve his buying in the summer, starting with a right-back.

Key players The star has been Michail Antonio. He’s played all over the place, scored plenty and always given it everything. Andy Carroll has done really well since returning and Pedro Obiang has been quietly efficient.

Weak links Dimitri Payet – the biggest letdown since Humphrey Bogart was left waiting at a Paris railway station in Casablanca. We could accept his desire to play at a higher level, but going on strike was shameful.

We will finish … 12th.

Predictions: Top four – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool; Relegated – Middlesbrough, Hull, Sunderland.

Pete May Author of Goodbye to Boleyn, HammersInTheHeart.blogspot.co.uk

Dimitri Payet: the love affair is over. Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

Comments (…)

Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion

Most viewed

Most viewed