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Key Points of the Weekend

jonjoward1998

Is Justin Kluivert beginning to fulfil his potential?


A lot was expected of Justin Kluivert when he first emerged as a youngster at Ajax where he showed a lot of promise. Especially when you look at the career his dad Patrick had in the game.


Since leaving Ajax his career hasn't really taken off following a tough couple of seasons at Roma, followed by three mixed loan spells at RB Leipzig, Nice and Valencia.


But he's beginning to flourish at Bournemouth and especially this season as he's now got 10 goals to his name with three of them coming on Saturday against Newcastle.


Is he beginning to fulfil his potential?


Bournemouth are a smaller club than the others he has played for and moving to a small club can help a player reinvent themselves and kickstart their career. Kluivert appears to be making the most of this opportunity with the form he's been in this season.


He's also playing under a manager who plays a brand of football that suits his game and is good at getting the best out players. Andoni Iraola is the kind of manager he was probably lacking at his previous clubs and his form this season is showing it.


If he keeps up the current form he's in for the rest of the season, we'll finally say that he's fulfilling his potential.


Van Nistelrooy under pressure at Leicester


Ruud Van Nistelrooy was given the job at Leicester off the back of an impressive interim spell at Man United, where he won all but one of his four games in charge.


He made an encouraging start to life as Foxes boss after picking up four points from his first two games in charge, including an impressive 4-1 win over West Ham in his first game. But since then his side have lost all seven of their league games and when a team is in this kind of form, you have to say that the manager is under pressure.


The Foxes haven't kept a single clean sheet since Van Nistelrooy took over and have conceded 21 goals under his management - only Southampton have conceded more within that time frame.


They need to get players in before the transfer window closes and especially in defence because the rate they're conceding goals at is very worrying.


If they continue losing games and conceding more goals, Van Nistelrooy could be under more pressure than he already is. He could potentially lose his job unless he finds a way to stop them conceding goals.


Postecoglou on thin ice at Spurs which is beginning to crack


Ange Postecoglou has been under a lot of pressure at Spurs for the past month because of the poor form his side have been in. I asked a few weeks ago how long he had left at the club following their defeat to Newcastle, their fifth loss in seven games at the time.


With Spurs now 15th in the league and eight points above the relegation zone, I now think he is on thin ice which is beginning to crack.


His side do have a lot of injuries and especially in defensive areas, but they still have good enough players in their squad to help them win games. Those players however are not delivering for him.


Postecoglou has insisted many times this season that he won't change his style of football and his stubbornness is costing his team results.


His style of football may be brilliant to watch when it works, but when it doesn't it leaves them heavily exposed defensively. They leave too many gaps in behind their defence and those gaps get easily exploited by the opposition.


Spurs have won just one of their last ten games in the league and this kind of form is not good enough for a club of Spurs' size or stature. You can say the same about their league position because Spurs area club who should be at least be challenging for a top four finish, not battling relegation.


They are still in both cup competitions and Postecoglou said earlier in the season that he usually wins things in his second season. I reckon he'll still be in charge for those cup games because of that statement but if Spurs' league form doesn't improve over the next couple of weeks, the writing could be on the wall for him.


Is Phil Foden back to his best?


Phil Foden has had a poor season so far to his high standards and especially after the season he had last season. He is however beginning to replicate his form from last season after netting 5 times in his last three league games since the turn of the year.


Is he back to his best?


One of the reasons why he hasn't performed this season is because City as a team haven't performed at the level we're used to seeing them perform at. Now that City are beginning to find some form, we're beginning to see the Foden we saw last season in scoring goals and making a difference on the pitch.


He looks like a player who has his swagger and confidence back and when City play well, he often plays well and their last few results suggest that.


If he can keep on playing like he has done over the next few weeks, we'll say that he is back to his best for good.


Chelsea need a new goalkeeper


Chelsea may have returned to winning ways last night with their win over Wolves, but their goalkeeper Robert Sanchez again came under the spotlight as he gifted Wolves their equaliser when he failed to keep hold of the ball after receiving it from a Wolves corner.


Sanchez's mistake last night was his fourth error leading to a goal with only Ipswich's Ari Muric making more with five. This tells me that Chelsea need a new goalkeeper.


A lot of fans and ex-players have said this about Sanchez pretty much all season and they're both right as he hasn't looked at all convincing between the sticks this season.


If Chelsea are thinking about being serious title challengers in the future, they'll need a more reliable and top class keeper and Sanchez isn't that keeper. Having that top class keeper will be the difference between them challenging for title and not.


They had that top class keeper in the seasons they won the the title in Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois and since they left the club, Edouard Mendy has been the only decent keeper they've had. But he was sold of to the Saudi Pro League two summers ago after losing his place in the team.


Chelsea will of course look to strengthen in other areas this summer but if they're to be serious title contenders next season, they need to buy a top quality goalkeeper.

 
 
 

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