Jamie O’Hara has urged Antonio Conte to start using a 4-2-3-1 formation instead of his favoured back three at Tottenham Hotspur when Cristian Romero is unavailable.

The Lowdown: Spurs struggle for consistency

Spurs suffered a huge dent to top-four hopes last weekend as they were destroyed by Leicester City while teams around them picked up points, which now puts them two points off the Champions League places.

That has been the story of Tottenham’s season, though, as they have dropped points against the likes of Leicester, Aston Villa and Brentford, which is why they are currently part of the chasing pack.

Conte has been very set in his ways since coming to Tottenham as he has very rarely strayed from his trusted three-at-the-back formation, and O’Hara believes that the Italian needs to freshen it up when certain players are not available, as Spurs’ depth is evidently not good enough.

The Latest: Conte could soon freshen things up

With how poor Spurs were at the weekend, O’Hara ranted on TalkSport about how sticking by his 3-4-3 system is hindering Tottenham’s displays. The ex-Spurs midfielder had previously criticised the performances of Japhet Tanganga in that setup used against Leicester at the weekend.

He said: “If Romero’s not fit or he’s injured or he’s [suspended], you can’t play three at the back. Just change it.

“Play four at the back, 4-2-3-1, play Kulusevski as a 10. You’ve brought in Danjuma, play him on the right; Son on the left; Kane up front.

“4-2-3-1, you’ve got a top team, there. I don’t understand why he perseveres with this 3-4-3 formation, constantly having to play it and everyone can see that it doesn’t work.”

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The Verdict: Something needs to change

As things stand, Spurs appear to have a huge uphill battle on their hands to finish in the top four, as Manchester United are seemingly only getting better and Newcastle are constantly finding ways to earn points.

Therefore, it could well be worth Conte unleashing a new formation that many wouldn’t expect him to use and bringing in a new face like Danjuma, as despite his top-flight experience, he is still a rather unknown quantity having not started a league game for the club.

It would be rather surprising if Conte was to field his Spurs side in anything that wasn’t a three-at-the-back formation, as that’s not happened even once this campaign, but if they fail to find consistency, he surely has to reconsider his tactics before their season ends prematurely.

Manchester United have been in contact with the agent of Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: Thuram speculation

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the France international in recent months, with reports even claiming the forward has been dreaming of a move to Old Trafford.

A pre-contract move for Thuram was thought to be a possibility, with his contract situation at Monchengladbach unchanged. He has been in fine form this season, contributing to 17 goals in 21 games, and it seems as if contact has been made from those at Old Trafford.

The Latest: United contact

FC Inter News shared an update on Thuram on Thursday, claiming that Inter Milan are interested in the forward.

However, the report says that United are one of four Premier League sides to have spoken with the player’s agent, with no offer yet to materialise.

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The Verdict: Smart idea

Thuram is 25 years of age and appears to be at the peak of his powers in front of goal, so securing his services for nothing could be a shrewd piece of business.

Erik ten Hag is short of centre-forward options, with Wout Weghorst only on loan and Anthony Martial suffering various injuries in recent months.

Therefore, Thuram, hailed a ‘beast’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and valued at €32m by Transfermarkt, could be an excellent signing for free, making this one to keep an eye on.

Chelsea are showing signs that they will remain to back their manager Graham Potter despite the poor run of form the Londoners find themselves on.

Are Chelsea going to sack Graham Potter?

The Blues have certainly had a shocking 2022/23 campaign so far which sees them slumped down bang in the middle of the Premier League table.

And the worrying takeaway from the table now is that they are as close to the relegation zone as they are Tottenham Hotspur who occupy fourth spot.

Since Potter’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, the Englishman has only been able to provide a win rate of just 35% with as many defeats as victories to his name.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Chelsea board are still expected to provide the manager with their backing:

“What I can say is that internally at Chelsea, they knew that another factor to make things complicated is that all the players they signed in January didn’t have the pre-season, because usually when we have this kind of number of players joining the new club, this happens in the summer, not in January. In January, you don’t have pre-season, you immediately go and play, and so this is a factor.

“The pressure is growing, but the reality is that they’re still backing the manager. They’re still protecting the manager. So let’s see how next week will be for Chelsea, how the internal discussions will go. But at the moment, the feeling is that they’re not changing their position, they’re still protecting Graham Potter.”

Who could Chelsea appoint to replace Potter?

For an owner whose strategy in the January transfer window appeared to be scattergun at best, it is perhaps a surprise to hear he may be willing to give Potter more time at the helm.

A club like Chelsea who have spent the money they have this season should be nowhere near the middle of the table, yet the results are failing to improve.

As we near the completion of the second month of 2023, Potter has only been able to register one win across all competitions this year.

But that being said, the options are limited for the Blues if they are to part ways with Potter which was apparent when the brought in the 47-year-old earlier in the season.

One name which was mentioned then and has been mentioned over the weekend is Mauricio Pochettino who has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

However, there is a feeling he is biding his time for the opportunity in north London to potentially come available in the summer if Antonio Conte is to leave Tottenham.

So there could well be the view there is currently no manager out there that could provide Chelsea with a long-term replacement for the Englishman.

But if the results do fail to improve over the coming weeks, it is difficult to imagine Todd Boehly being willing to sit back and watch their season fade away.

West Bromwich Albion were back in Championship action last night and had the opportunity to move into fifth place with a win on the road at Birmingham City.

With a mild geographic rivalry, there was sure to be a few intangibles for Carlos Corberan’s men to contend with, but upon viewing the league standings and form table it looked like the Baggies would cruise to victory. Alas, the very opposite happened.

The hosts had a number of standout performers at St Andrew’s and bullied the visitors despite Albion’s stranglehold on the ball. Corberan’s side boasted 68% possession, but it was the Blues who recorded more than double their tally of shots and managed four on target to the visitors’ one, duly winning the game 2-0.

West Brom’s lack of creativity gave them no platform with which to build, and while plenty of their players were disappointing, Jed Wallace stood out as particularly poor given how he had impressed of late.

How did Wallace play against Birmingham City?

It was a tough game for the natural wide man, who continued in a central role just behind the striker. Having earned a 7.8 Sofascore rating in his last match, and 7.0 or better in three of his last four games, there was every reason to believe that he could continue excelling in the number 10 role.

However, last night he was handed the worst Sofascore rating of any outfielder on the pitch, with a score of 5.8 exacerbating just how poor he was against Birmingham.

The £25k-per-week dynamo was expected to shoulder most of the creative burden, as he has done on occasion throughout a campaign in which he boasts four goals and six assists already. However, not managing one key pass or even attempting a single shot would suggest that he failed in this task last night.

This was furthered by his relentless attempts to find Daryl Dike with crosses, with only one of six finding its target. That he was so incessant to continue this practice despite numerous failures could be a sign of frustration, which he unfortunately did not channel into any fine defensive work either.

Competing in ten duels, he only managed to win one, losing 90%. He also did not manage a single tackle, interception or clearance and was dribbled past three times (via Sofascore).

Fans can often overlook poor performances if the player puts in a shift, but it seems that Wallace could not even manage that at St Andrew’s. Corberan’s side were carrying a passenger last night, and it showed as they were overrun in midfield.

Whilst this may be just a minor blip amid a recent positive run, it could cost the 28-year-old his place in the starting XI, as John Swift may have been patiently awaiting his team-mate’s failure of Corberan’s attacking midfield test.

Manchester City could look to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer agreement this summer, according to a report.

The Lowdown: City eyeing midfielder

It is clear that Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen in midfield, with Man City recently being linked with Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, who is also available on a free at the end of the season.

Ilkay Gundogan’s contract is set to expire this summer, and while the German was said to be in talks about extending his stay back in January, he is yet to reach an agreement with the club, and so signing a new midfielder may be a necessity.

The Latest: Rabiot linked

According to a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), Rabiot has no intention of signing a new deal with Juventus as the club cannot offer him the salary that he wants, so he will look to move on in the summer.

With the Frenchman’s contract expiring this summer he is available to leave on a free transfer, and will have no shortage of offers – City are apparently just one of several Premier League teams eyeing a move.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The 27-year-old has been in good form in the Serie A this season, contributing four goals and two assists in 18 appearances from central midfield, already matching his highest-ever goal tally across a league campaign with Juventus.

Hailed as ‘sensational’ by the media, the maestro has been one of the Italian side’s key performers, weighing in with a 7.08 average rating from Sofascore, a higher figure than both Gundogan and Kalvin Phillips have attained in the English top flight.

Rabiot would be an improvement on Gundogan defensively, given that he has averaged more tackles, interceptions and aerials won per 90 than the 32-year-old in the past year, and signing him on a free transfer would be a very astute piece of business.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Kemar Roofe ahead of the club’s League Cup final clash on Sunday…

What’s the latest on Kemar Roofe’s fitness?

Light Blues manager Michael Beale has revealed that the striker suffered a blow after the win over Livingston, which comes after Malik Tillman was missing from the squad due to injury – leaving the midfielder as a doubt for the weekend.

Speaking about the current state of his options, the head coach told the Scotsman: “This season our squad has been pulled apart by injuries.

“If I go through it, at the moment there’s still no Robby McCrorie, no [Filip] Helander, no [John] Souttar, no Ridvan [Yilmaz], no Arfield, no Lundstram, no Jack. Kemar Roofe has only just come back. Tom Lawrence is out. Like most things, a couple of days before the game I’ll get a take.

“Kemar Roofe had a slight issue as well after the weekend unfortunately so we won’t be too far away from the team that played last weekend. It wasn’t a dress rehearsal but there could be one or two more that declare themselves fit. I need to make sure they are because it’s important there’s not a bravado around it, that they genuinely are fit.”

Big blow

Roofe being unavailable for selection for the clash with Celtic on Sunday, after this injury worry, would be a big blow for Beale as the attacker is a proven goalscorer who has stood up in huge moments before.

He scored an extra-time winner against Braga in the quarter-final of the Europa League and assisted a goal in the 2-1 win over the Hoops in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup last season. The Jamaica international also struck an extra-time winner in the semi-final of the League Cup against Aberdeen just last month.

These recent examples show that the dynamo is the man for the big occasion and has been able to deliver in crucial game-deciding moments, to help the team reach finals.

The 30-year-old, who has scored 36 goals in 78 appearances for Rangers in all competitions throughout his career at Ibrox, could now be a deciding factor in whether or not the Light Blues lift the trophy on Sunday because of his experience of being a difference-maker in these huge games.

Roofe is an excellent option for Beale to call on off the bench in matches, as he has proven himself to be a match-winner as a substitute, and that is why this latest injury concern could result in a big blow for the head coach if the striker is ruled out for Sunday.

The manager will, surely, be hoping that this ‘slight’ issue is nothing more than that and the ex-Leeds marksman will be available to face the Hoops in the final.

Sean Dyche has suggested that Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin won’t be fit for the Toffees’ trip to the Emirates in midweek.

As such, it is time the striker was ditched for good.

Should Everton sell Dominic Calvert-Lewin?

After some impressive performances under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2020/21 Premier League season, which saw the England striker hit 16 goals in just 33 top-flight appearances, it was hoped that he could push on and establish himself as one of the best number nines in the division.

However, he has managed just six Premier League goals since then, including just one in 11 games this season, in what has been another injury-hit campaign for the former Sheffield United man.

Calvert-Lewin spent much of last term on the sidelines when the Toffees were under threat of relegation and history looks to be repeating itself, as he looks set to be absent when Dyche’s side face Arsenal on Wednesday, with the manager suggesting that he doubted he would be fit enough to feature.

The 25-year-old picked up his injury in the 1-0 win over the Gunners in Dyche’s first game and hasn’t featured since, with his prolonged absence clearly impacting the Toffees’ fortunes in front of goal, as they are now the joint-lowest scorers in the division.

Unfortunately, in his rare appearances in the first team, he has done little to suggest that he could be Everton’s saviour this season as they try to fight off relegation to the Championship.

In 11 appearances this campaign, the forward has just one goal and no assists, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.41 rating for his performances.

Alan Shearer didn’t hold back in his criticism of Calvert-Lewin and fellow striker Neal Maupay, who also has just one goal, when discussing Everton’s attacking woes on Match of the Day recently.

He said (via Football 365): “They’re so poor in forward positions. Just look at their centre forwards there, Maupay and Calvert-Lewin in particular. It’s a bit harsh on [Ellis] Simms, but the other two, pretty embarrassing stats those.”

Calvert-Lewin is contracted at Goodison Park until 2025 and regardless of the division Everton find themselves in next season, Dyche should get rid of the striker while he still retains some value, as he clearly cannot be relied upon due to his injury and goalscoring issues.

If Everton do go down this season, fans will rightly look towards their ‘star’ striker for his lack of impact in what has been another hugely disappointing campaign.

West Ham United find themselves in dire straits of late, but today they have the perfect chance to revive their miserable season as they face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

With the two teams in vastly contrasting bouts of form, a win for David Moyes could help to drag his side closer to safety and potentially draw Steve Cooper’s outfit back into the relegation dogfight. However, the hosts are winless in over a month of league action, whilst the Tricky Trees have lost just twice in the league since domestic football recommenced two months ago.

However, considering the talent at Moyes’ disposal which yielded a Europa League semi-final appearance only last year, they may be capable of throwing together an impressive run of form. A win today could see them climb out of the relegation zone and close to within two points of Forest, whilst defeat would see them slump closer to the drop.

With injuries and poor form to contend with, how could West Ham could line up for today’s clash?

How will West Ham line up against Nottingham Forest?

Moyes is expected to make just two changes from the side which laboured to defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.

The formation will remain largely the same, as Łukasz Fabiański will sit behind an unchanged back three of Angelo Ogbonna, Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd. The central defensive trio will likely be flanked by Vladimir Coufal and Emerson.

What will surely please West Ham fans is the potential return of Lucas Paqueta, whose reintegration would not only mark the return of a quality asset who has been the Irons’ second-best performer according to WhoScored, but also provide an opportunity to ditch Tomas Soucek from midfield following some recent poor performances.

The Brazilian missed the defeat to Spurs having suffered a shoulder injury in their draw against Chelsea two weeks ago, but ExWHUEmployee offered some positive news earlier this week that “he could make it” for this game. To see Paqueta return beside Declan Rice in this all-important clash would make for perfect timing.

That just leaves one change among the front three from last weekend, as Flynn Downes drops out in favour of Said Benrahma. The 24-year-old, who had been poised to form a “strong” partnership with the club captain according to journalist Euan Rourke, has struggled to cement his place in the team of late.

Also, according to WhoScored, no West Ham player to start more than once in the league this season has a lower rating, so the £12m man could be jettisoned today in favour of the Algerian.

Whilst Benrahma has also disappointed in recent weeks, the £55k-per-week gem could show signs of being the “magician” that West Ham ambassador Bobby Seagull dubbed him. His influence in the final third is highlighted by him ranking among the Irons’ top three players for dribbles, shots and key passes per game.

That leaves Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio to take up the other two attacking berths, with their exploits sure to be integral towards any potentially positive result today.

Predicted West Ham XI (3-4-3) – Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Aguerd; Coufal, Rice, Paqueta, Emerson; Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio.

Journalist Charles Watts has been left excited by the latest injury update for Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus as he nears a return.

What’s the latest on Gabriel Jesus’s injury at Arsenal? The Brazilian picked up a bad knee injury while away with his country at the 2022 winter World Cup and subsequently had to undergo surgery to solve the problem.As a result, the striker has yet to feature for Arsenal since the return of Premier League football with his last appearance coming way back in mid-November.However, in a positive update, manager Mikel Arteta recently told the press that Jesus is “doing really well”. He added: “He’s on the pitch, he’s been doing quite a lot of work on the ball already and so far his rehab is going well.”While speaking about it all on his YouTube channel on Wednesday morning, Watts was delighted with the update and added that it won’t be “too much longer until” the Brazilian returns.He said: “Brilliant news about Jesus from Mikel Arteta yesterday.Watts then quoted the manager before adding: “It’s a really positive update from Arteta there on Gabriel Jesus.”The fact he’s doing a lot of work with the ball already, that is very, very good. Fingers crossed, it’s not going to be too much longer until we see him.”What does this Jesus update mean for the Gunners?

Before his injury, Jesus was in fine form helping Arsenal go into the break for the World Cup sitting at the top of the Premier League table.

Indeed, in his first 14 league games for the north London club, he had contributed directly to 11 goals – scoring five while also setting up a further six.

With that in mind, it was a big blow for the Gunners when they learned they would be without him for such a long section of the season and the sooner he can get back, the better.

It remains to be seen as to when exactly he’ll be fit to play again for Arteta but it sounds as though an end to his injury woes is finally in sight.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca is happy at the club and his change in agents has nothing to do with a transfer exit.

What’s the latest on West Ham, Scamacca and his agent?

Earlier this week, World Soccer Agency announced they will no longer represent the Italian forward who currently plays for the Hammers.

Indeed, his now former agents noted that “the trust necessary for a healthy professional relationship” had been broken and so they would be parting ways with Scamacca.

Consequently, rumours in the Italian media have suggested that the player could be on the move this summer, suggesting that the latest development could mean he wants a return to Serie A.

However, in a written update shared to The West Ham Way Patreon, Ex revealed: “We have had it confirmed to us that Scamacca is happy at the club and that the change of agency has nothing to do with his future he just wanted to be represented by someone else and players change agents all the time without publicity.”

What does the Scamacca news mean for West Ham?

The former Sassuolo man ended up in the Premier League at the start of the season on a five-year contract plus the option of a further 12 months after agreeing to a £35.5m transfer.

Since then, you could argue he’s not had the most fantastic debut season. After all, he has as many yellow cards (three) as he does have goals in the league this term for David Moyes.

However, injury issues have recently prevented him from truly building up a run of momentum and he does still have seven goals in all competitions which makes him West Ham’s joint second-highest goalscorer.

All in all, it sounds as though his change of agent has little to do with the Irons and so fans can probably relax if they were fearing a possible summer exit already.

What’s more, he’s already being linked with a new agency as The Sun report he could join CAA Stellar, who represent other Premier League players such as Jack Grealish, Jordan Pickford and Ben Chilwell – which may hint at a likelihood to remain in England.