When it comes to the notion of booing on a matchday, it feels somewhat dangerous to attempt to pontificate to others, whether engaging in such a vocal act at matches is either right or wrong.

After all, football isn’t some tangible element that we can all sit back and view objectively. If we did, in all likeliness, we simply wouldn’t be sitting down here and having the discussion that we are at the moment. All the supporters who pay to get through the turnstiles, have the right to cast opinion upon what they’ve paid to see. That much is simply undeniable.

However, the clue in the above passage comes in the term ‘supporter’.

In some circles, the Premier League has often been denoted as a medium of entertainment. And the economic realities do, to some extent, give that notion a touch of gravitas. We are living in an environment in which for many teams in this league, the coffers are boosted more by television deals than they are by fans coming through the gates.

But as illogical as it may seem, going to support your club on a matchday is a form of entertainment in only the most superficial of terms. For when you visit the cinema, go to the theatre, buy a new computer game, you are expecting to be entertained.

You’re shelling out money for a product or a medium that doesn’t require your input for it to do its job properly. If it’s good, you applaud. If it’s bad, you show your disapproval or in some cases, kick off. If you slam a film with a bad review or tell a mate to steer away from a new release on the Xbox, there is no aftermath. It’s not your problem if the director or developer doesn’t agree with you. What would they care, anyway?

The key difference here though, is that your input does make a difference, when you’re immersed in the footballing world of entertainment. That’s perhaps something of an understatement.

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As Jock Stein once uttered, “Football without the fans, is nothing.” The fans are the lifeblood of the club and the home crowd is its beating heart. Paying for your ticket – an increasingly chastising payment at that – does of course represent financial support and no one is denying that the fee paid, entitles supporters to whatever opinion they choose. But financially contributing to the club does not supersede all other aspects. It’s part of the whole package.

Supporting a club doesn’t just cease as soon as you’ve had your ticket clipped. In some ways, it signals the start of the process, the beginning of the matchday journey. The fans catalyse the players. Cheering, chanting, shouting and doing everything you can to get behind your team isn’t some optional extra on a matchday. It’s not some bizarre urban myth. It’s part and parcel of being supporter.

This isn’t some blinkered, romanticised call to arms to the masses, either. The counter-argument is of course, that the players need to inspire the fans. Of course they do, but it is the role of supporters, first and foremost, to support. If you feel after a sustained period of effort, where you have given your absolute all and every ounce of unwavering support and faith in the stands, that the players are taking both you and the club for granted, then, maybe just then, you begin hitting booing criteria.

But how about when your team are sitting joint fourth in the Barclays Premier League after ten games played, yet lose 1-0 at home in the midst of what is a debilitating injury crisis? Are you allowed to boo then? Have the players and manager well and truly taken the mickey? Not in a month of Sundays. And at White Hart Lane last Saturday, we saw a world-class exhibition of fandom, as opposed to support. And there is a massive difference between the two.

No one who witnessed the performance dished up by Andre Villas-Boas’ side could possibly make a case to defend what we all saw. It was desperately poor. But had this came in mid-February after a half-season of ubiquitous support in which the players had stopped playing, stop trying and stopped giving a monkeys, then you’ve got a right to start kicking off.

But it hasn’t been ubiquitous at all. In fact, you can trace the boos and moans of disapproval all the way back to the West Bromwich Albion game; Spurs’ first home fixture of the season.

Things aren’t quite clicking in N17 at the moment. Spurs’ progress this season – one that is by all accounts a term of transition – has been dogged by injury and a flawed summer of player recruitment. Both the manager and the players have made mistakes. But we are ten games in. Tottenham are behind fourth placed Everton on goal difference only. If someone would like to suggest how breeding an atmosphere of booing, hissing and overwhelming negativity is in any way going to do anything but detriment this side’s progress, please drop me a line on Twitter or in the comment box.

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Football is an emotive sport and at the moment, Tottenham Hotspur are evoking frustration as the side look to devise a formula to really get their home form up off the ground. Spurs fans have traditionally always demanded a high level of football from their side. But they’ve also traditionally offered a fertile habitat of unwavering support to offer their side the best possible chance to succeed.

Maybe it’s been that long since a change of manager at White Hart Lane, that they’ve simply forgot to roll out the welcome mat. But since day one at home under Villas-Boas, that backbone of vocal support just hasn’t been there. It’s time for that to change. They say you get out what you put in – it’s time to turn White Hart Lane back into the fortress that it once was and rally behind this side, however frustrating things may seem.

To boo or not to boo? Where do you stand on this argument? Join me on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tell me how you feel about things at White Hart Lane. 

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The surprise package so far this season has to be West Bromwich Albion. They are currently third, yes third, in the Premier League and enjoying a new lease of life under manager Steve Clarke.

We’ve also seen Everton enjoy an impressive start to the season, as well as newly promoted West Ham sitting comfortably in the top eight.

So are we finally beginning to witness a shift in power in the Premier League? I truly believe the surprise emergence of the above teams might be an early sign that the Premier League’s top four are coming under threat.

We’ve seen Tottenham breaking the top four mould over the past few years, while on the flip-side we have witnessed Liverpool fading into a team that has only really been capable of competing for a top-six finish.

But what about the other clubs who have had to settle for mid table obscurity or the odd relegation battle every other season? Well, a small handful or them are attempting to get themsleves their own little share of the pie and, so far, they appear to be succeeding.

After 13 games in the top-flight, we have already seen some shock results that have upset the balance of the Premier League’s elite. West Brom have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea, drawn at Tottenham and only lost to two late Edin Dzeko goals at home to Manchester City.

Everton have beaten Manchester United and have managed good draws against Newcastle and Liverpool, while even 13th placed Norwich have got themselves in on the act with home wins over Manchester United and Arsenal to go with their vital draws away at Tottenham and Everton.

And even West Ham, in their first season back in the Premier League, have beaten Newcastle away and battled out a goalless draw at home to champions Manchester City.

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Of course, there are people who will dismiss these as just freak results and will call West Brom’s current third place standing as just a run of good form that will surely come to an end. This may be right but, at this stage in the Premier League last season, there are some surprising differences in where each team people believe they should be, how they were doing at this stage last season and where they are now.

Starting with last season’s final top four, only Manchester United have the exact same points (30) now as they did after 13 games last season. The difference is that last season they were four points adrift of rivals Manchester City at the top of the division compared to now where they are a point clear of City, with Roberto Mancini’s side five points worse off this season with 29.

Arsenal are three points worse off this season but still occupy the same sixth place they did exactly a year ago, while Tottenham were a whopping eight points better off last year than they are today.

On the flip side, let’s look at how this season’s surprise packages in West Brom and Everton and fared against last season’s surprising performers Newcastle.

On the 26th November 2011, West Brom were 13th with 14 points and Everton were eighth with 16 points. Today, the Baggies are third with 26 points and David Moyes’ Toffees are fifth with 21 points. That is a huge improvement in just a single year, and one that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Meanwhile, Alan Pardew’s Newcastle are 12 points and 10 places worse off in the Premier League than this time last year.

Other clubs that are worse off this year are Swansea (-4 points), Liverpool (-6) Aston Villa (-5), QPR (-11) and Norwich (-1), while the improved teams are Wigan (+5), Fulham (+4), Stoke and Sunderland (both +1).

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With the teams expected to be running away with it ultimately doing worse at this stage than last season and the teams not expected to do much or to struggle exceeding expectations, it looks as if we’re seeing the early signs of a shift in Premier League power.

I am not suggesting the likes of United, City, Arsenal and Chelsea have their title and top four chances under immediate threat, but I do believe the Premier League is becoming a league where teams are more capable of beating anyone than ever before. Despite the amounts of money the elite are spending on players every transfer window, we are still seeing lesser clubs compete against them every week and occasionally getting results. In short, the Premier League seems to be more of a level playing field this season.

This could, of course, be a blip and normal service may well be resumed sooner than we think, but as things stand we can’t turn a blind eye at what we’ve seen so far this season.

So, do you think we are beginning to witness what could be a shift in power in the Premier League? Or are West Brom, Everton and West Ham merely over performing? Leave your thoughts below.

On loan West Bromwich Albion forward Romelu Lukaku insists that he is only thinking about playing for the Baggies at the moment and has not considered returning to Chelsea.

Lukaku is confident he will remain in the West Midlands till the end of the season, despite rumours surfacing that Chelsea may activate the clause within his loan deal to recall the Belgian in January.

The 19-year-old believes that the recent appointment of Rafael Benitez at Stamford Bridge does not alter his position and he expects to extend his stay at the Hawthorns until May.

“I don’t think about the option. I am very happy to be here for one year,” Lukaku, told the Wolverhampton Express and Star.

“Hopefully, this season will end very well and we will see what happens in the future.

“After January, I am sure I will be at West Brom. I am very happy to know that in my head. Hopefully, I will do well for the rest of the season.”

Lukaku, who has starred in the Baggies side that is currently third   “I don’t think things will change (after Benitez’s appointment). I think he has his plans and I am happy with the team here.

“If I focus too much on Chelsea it wouldn’t be good for me, so I will focus on being here.

“In my head, I am here for a year and it has to be clear I am here for a year and not for six months.”

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The Belgian international is expected to feature in tonight’s Premier League fixture against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.

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At their effortless best, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were the principal puppet masters of any football match. Blessed with a textbook technique and the foresight to predict the events unfolding around them, the dynamic duo could manufacture passes that I would struggle to recreate in my dreams. They are the last two shining lights of the golden generation, but is their influence beginning to deteriorate at Old Trafford?

In the three Premier League fixtures in which Manchester United have suffered defeat this season, either messrs Giggs or Scholes have started from the first whistle. A significant number of fans voiced their concern when Giggs and Michael Carrick were named at the heart of a 4-4-2 formation at Carrow Road. Sensing an upset was on the cards, their fears were confirmed as Norwich controlled the midfield battle and secured a vital 1-0 win thanks to an Anthony Pilkington header.

With a combined age of 77, few can expect the veteran Red Devils to drive from box-to-box or repeatedly get stuck into those meaty tackles. The onus is therefore on other members of the squad to provide the steel and grit needed to compliment the pair and while Carrick is incredibly gifted at dictating tempo or maintaining possession, the club have lacked such a talisman since the departure of Roy Keane.

Speaking of ITV’s plain-speaking pundit, perhaps the reason Scholes and Giggs have remained at Old Trafford for so long is down to their unwavering devotion to Sir Alex Ferguson. Their reliability and authority on the pitch undoubtedly extends into the dressing room, where they command respect among the young starlets of the squad and are unlikely to court controversy by challenging their manager.

Chelsea would do well to emulate Ferguson’s persistent praise and contractual rewards for the pair. With Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard drifting ever closer to the end of their deals at Stamford Bridge, the fallout from their departure could be catastrophic. Not only do the talismanic twosome still have plenty to offer on a Saturday afternoon, but they are clearly two of the most respected members of the squad. The club is crying out for stability, so why not start by gratifying those who have been crucial in the success story of the past decade?

To claim that Scholes and Giggs have now been cast in a cameo role this season would be an unfair justice to their potential impact. They may have been used sparingly in recent weeks but their experience and sense of leadership can still prove pivotal in situations where youthful exuberance is ineffective.

Cast your mind back to early September when Manchester United staged a classic comeback to defeat Southampton 3-2 at Saint Mary’s. Robin van Persie attracted all the plaudits with an inspired hat-trick but it was the introduction of Scholes – when the team were trailing 2-1 – that sparked the revival. Likewise, Giggs has been a prominent feature in United’s cup campaigns, helping shepherd the inexperienced by demonstrating the high standards expected at the pinnacle of football.

Manchester United are certainly on the brink of significant upheaveal. Ferguson is seemingly preparing for his belated retirement by orchestrating modifications across every area of the pitch. In midfield, the likes of Tom Cleverley and Anderson are gradually starting to fulfil their potential alongside new signing Shinji Kagawa. However, a spate of injuries or a dip in form has hampered their development and each of the aforementioned trio has been guilty of going missing in big games this season.

I refuse to be the one that casts Scholes or Giggs onto football’s scrapheap; they’ve been written off too many times only to re-emerge like a phoenix from the flames. Their replacements may already lie in wait, chomping at the bit to obtain their own legendary status, but there is no substitute for the drastic shift in mood at Old Trafford when either man surfaces from the bench.

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They may not find their names at the top of the credits if United regain their Premier League crown, but until Ferguson deems otherwise, we simply cannot deny their importance in a title race that is likely to be decided by the smallest of margins.

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Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra has revealed his gambling problems have left him with insufficient funds to afford the £50,000 legal fees required to defend himself against allegations of fixing a horserace.

The Ipswich Town forward has said he would not be attending the hearing, brought forward by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), due to start on Monday.

Chopra is among three footballers facing charges for exploiting inside information concerning horse races ridden by former UK-based flat jockey Andrew Heffernan.

Doncaster midfielder James Coppinger, who previously played for Newcastle and Darlington, and England under-21 international Mark Wilson were also charged by the BHA.

In a statement released on Ipswich Town’s website, Chopra, 29, said: “I have extensive debts and loans and simply cannot afford the amount of money necessary to clear my name.”

The former England Under-21 international said he had been advised that even if found innocent, his legal costs would not be refunded by racing’s governing body.

Chopra said that not being licensed by the BHA, he was not subject to its rules, and that the only punishment that could be imposed on him would be a ban from racecourses and premises it licenses, a penalty he accepts would help him resist further gambling.

He said: “It is well publicised that I have a gambling addiction problem and I see any such sanctions as being a useful mechanism in helping me to address these problems.

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“As of this year, I’ve voluntarily excluded myself from all betting institutions from where I live in Ipswich in order to help me fight this illness.”

Meanwhile Coppinger has already said he would fight the allegations to clear his name.

Gabriel Obertan looks set to be leaving Newcastle when the transfer window opens in the summer, according to reports from TalkSport.

The French winger has spent the majority of 2013 on the bench, after Alan Pardew’s January signings left Obertan out of favour at St James’ Park.

Both Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran have impressed Newcastle’s faithful, scoring 4 goals between them since their winter moves across the English Channel. The instant impact of the two Frenchmen have helped their side win their last three Premier League matches at home, pushing them further away from the relegation zone.

Obertan will be desperate for game time, as the winger hasn’t played a league game since January, coming on in the 80th minute in Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at home to Reading. Since then, Obertan’s appearances have been limited to Europa League matches only.

With star man Hatem Ben Arfa returning from injury, Obertan seems to have fallen further down in Pardew’s pecking order, with the Englishman reportedly ready to sell the 24-year-old in the summer. And with clubs in Ligue 1 rumoured to be interested in the winger, Pardew may not struggle to find a new club for the Frenchman.

Obertan has scored just once in his 35 appearances for the Magpies since his move from Manchester United in 2011, where he also struggled to impress in his short spell there.  With just nine games left in the season, Obertan will be looking to string a run of form together to ensure he’s a Newcastle player next season.

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How big of a distraction will Wigan’s FA Cup run be to their bid for Premier League survival? The Latics reached the semi final with a stunning victory at Everton last week but fell back into the bottom three as a consequence of the positive results gained by the teams around them. With a month until their Wembley date with Millwall there is a big chance for Roberto Martinez to guide is side to safety with time to spare and bypass a final day usually fraught with nerves. To do that they must improve on the Premier League’s worst home record. 10 points from 14 games is poor by anyones standards and with the DW Stadium hosting Newcastle this week and Norwich in a fortnight the opportunity is there to start putting it right. After all its at this point in the season that Wigan come alive!

Alan Pardew’s side head to the North West with a major score to settle after they were trounced 4-0 by Martinez’s men last term. The Magpies were in the midst of a Champions League chase when they last visited the DW and ultimately ended up with a spot in the Europa League. A late, late victory over Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday took them into the last eight of the competition and epitomised their recent upturn in form. Four wins from the last six in the league has given Newcastle reason to look up rather than down and Papiss Cisse’s injury time winner at home to Stoke last week put them nine points above the relegation zone. With the top-half now within their sights Pardew will be pushing his troops to right the wrongs of last season’s defeat at Wigan.

Team News

Callum McManaman (ankle) is a doubt for Wigan, while Ryo Miyaichi looks set to miss the rest of the season after damaging his ankle ligaments against Everton in the FA Cup last week.

Newcastle could travel without stand-in captain Yohan Cabaye after he tweaked his groin in the Europa League win against Anzhi on Thursday. Hatem Ben Arfa won’t play again this season as he awaits hamstring surgery but Shola Ameobi is fit.

What the managers said…

“Year after year that fight becomes harder because teams are more prepared and stronger to cope with the demands in that final push. I do see it as the strongest fight out of the last four I’ve been involved in. There is a very tight group in the middle of the table and until you get the points you need it is a difficult position to be in. Clearly 40 points will give you safety but from that point down you are relying on very small margins like goal difference. It is impossible to tell now because the games left are between teams involved in the bottom eight and they will have a massive bearing on the final points tally needed.” Roberto Martinez hinted Wigan may have to rely on goal difference if they want to stay up (The Sun)

“The question was asked to me yesterday, and of course I think we can win it. But we can’t get carried away. I do honestly believe that we have put one of the best teams out of this competition. If you ask me from the side of the pitch technically where do I pitch them, I would pitch them as a top-five team in the Premier League. They caused us a lot of problems. They have outstanding individual players in every area, really. We have beaten them, albeit with a slight bit of good fortune in this tie, so we can go on and win it. The one thing we do know is that the home tie here, whoever gets us is going to be in for another electric night. The fans played their part tonight, they really did.” Alan Pardew is adamant Newcastle can go all the way in the Europa League (Evening Chronicle)

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Pre-Match Statistic: Wigan have never suffered a home defeat at the hands of Newcastle in the Premier League, winning five of their six meetings

Prediction: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Newcastle United

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It has been another week to forget off the field at Coventry. With Administration now officially confirmed and the inevitable ten point deduction being applied City are left with all but no hope of reaching the playoffs

City fans also remain in the dark over the future of the club with very little information coming out of the club and the administrator. An administrator’s job is to cut costs significantly and get the club into a position where a potential buyer can come in on a relatively level footing. This would suggest that player sales are on the cards with them being the only real assets left at the club.

Player sales are far from certain though with any potential new owners possibly wanting the current squad to still be intact. There is no doubting it would be a real shame to break this squad up after showing so much promise throughout this season.

The players responded to adversity in the only way good players know how as they proved their worth again on Saturday where despite everything going on at the club and the 10 point deduction went out and gave it all they had against top of the table Doncaster. City matched them in every aspect of the game and Cyrus Christie’s goal won it for City. Every player in that team played a pivotal role in the game and all of them deserve massive praise but not just for that game but for the whole season.

This in spite of Monday’s game which came and ended in huge disappointment. This was the sort of game I have been waiting for if I’m being honest. There was always going to be a hangover from the goings on and a 4-0 loss at Walsall was definitely that. Although we came up against a team challenging for playoffs who before the game were 11 unbeaten and 11 unbeaten at home. Taking in all the circumstances and I find it hard to criticise the players too much and instead look forward and hope they don’t let this season go out with a whimper.

There is no doubt that we didn’t start the season well but I don’t blame the squad for that I blame Thorn, Shaw and Sisu who took far too long in their managerial appointment. When Robins finally took over and got the team organised and looking like a decent football side the players began to flourish.

For us to have been in a position where the playoffs were in reach after the start we made was an achievement to be proud of and these players deserve our praise. They have given everything for this club in the past couple of seasons and have had to put up with so much off the field. From the best players constantly leaving the club to youngsters who were not ready to be thrown in at the deep end.

People say off the field problems shouldn’t affect the players but when they are on the scale they are at Coventry then they have to. The perfect example is that of the Portsmouth game where it has been revealed that the players met with the owners before the match to be told about the off the field situation. This can’t be good for the players and defeat was almost inevitable despite a half decent performance from the Skyblues.

The squad as whole is pretty well balanced at the moment. There are players in every position who can do a job and do it well but I do fear it may be difficult to keep this squad together for next season. Not just because we might be forced to sell for financial reasons but there are players who are good enough to step up a level.

The first obvious one to go will be Richard Wood whose contract is up and is a truly outstanding centre half. His only down falls are that he is quite quiet for a centre half and sometimes struggles to take charge of the back four which he should be doing with his quality. His injury record is something that also stands out as being far from good and this may put off potential suitors but his quality does shine through and will be the overwhelming factor in any potential move for the player.

Another we may struggle to keep hold of is our captain Carl Baker who has been a bit of a revelation this season. The only saving grace with him is that he seems very loyal and the fact he is the captain of this side may be a significant factor in his decision to stay or go. I also think he is at his level, he struggled at times in the championship with defenders often finding it easy against him. In league one though we have seen him terrorise opposition defences with mazy runs and often clinical finishing.

The only others that I reckon will leave are the players on loan. The likes of Bailey and Martin I’m sure will go elsewhere if not back to their parent clubs. I do feel we can keep at least the majority of this squad together though and promotion next season could be a possibility.

In the end though it is once again going to all come down to what happens off the field. We as fans have no control over what is going to happen so for now at least we need to try and forget about it and concentrate on the squad of players that has done us so proud this season and deserve so much more from the club.

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The players are the individuals who represent the club that we love and anyone looking from the outside who knew nothing of what is going on at the club would say that’s a good squad of players. We should be proud of this as City fans and the players have responded to the brilliant support we have given them this year especially away from the Ricoh.

Undoubtedly this season will be remembered for all of the wrong reasons but I for one won’t forget what this squad so nearly achieved and whatever happens to this club in the coming weeks the majority of our players can hold their heads up and be proud of what they achieved this year.

PUSB!!

Follow @benleach2

Summary: Billy Jones denied Newcastle a morale boosting victory with a second half equaliser to earn West Brom a point at the Hawthorns.

The Magpies came into the game licking some deep wounds after their Tyne-Wear derby humiliation at the hands of arch rivals Sunderland last week and started well in the Midlands.

With making amends high on the agenda for Alan Pardew’s side attacked with intent and Yoan Gouffran nudged them into the lead in the eighth minute when he headed in a cross from Papiss Cisse.

Albion had no answer to their opponents and Cisse should have made it 2-0 after he raced onto a poor pass by Jonas Olsson but sent the ball way over Ben Foster and the bar.

Steve Clarke’s men finally came to life and could have had a penalty on the stroke of half time when James Perch brought Jones down on the edge of the penalty area with referee Mike Jones consulting his assistant to correctly determine if the contact took place in or out of the box.

They carried that late pressure over into the second period and sent numerous warning shots across the Newcastle bow prior to Jones’s leveller in the 64th minute. Good work from  James Morrison and Romelu Lukaku created the opportunity for the full back to slide the ball first-time beyond Rob Elliot.

Steve Clarke post match…”On another day they could have got the second goal, which would have made it much more difficult for us. But they didn’t and that gave us the avenue back into the game, which we grabbed with both hands, because in the second half we were much, much better.”

Alan Pardew post match…”I don’t think so (in terms of us being safe) because we have to keep working. Hopefully, we can get a couple more wins which will be the ideal thing.”

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Good day for…Yoan Gouffran: This was more like it from the French attacker as he buzzed around the Baggies back four and was a constant irritant. Not to mention his header, that gave Newcastle the lead, was sublime.

Bad day for…Goran Popov: A weak link all afternoon at the back for West Brom. In fact Steve Clarke must question himself after deciding to reintroduce Popov to the starting XI. Hopeless in possession and was even worse without it.

It will be a busy transfer window for Liverpool this summer. After a positive first season with Brendan Rodgers, the platform is set for the club to push towards a top four finish next season. But that can’t be achieved without some important deals this summer. The retiring Jamie Carragher will need to be replaced, while Rodgers looks to complete his squad ahead of a big next season.

After the club were so heavily linked with Blackpool’s Tom Ince for the last two transfer windows, it is expected that the Reds will once again bid for the young star. The 21-year-old has played a vital role in Blackpool’s season in the Championship, scoring 18 goals in the campaign. His trickery and speed have impressed both Championship and Premier League teams, as he was named in the league’s Team of the Year.

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However, with his father Paul Ince now managing Blackpool, Tom may not be sold on the cheap. Speaking back in April, Paul revealed that his son had a big price tag on him: “If you’re talking £15m for Zaha, Thomas has got to be £25m. If you compare the two, Thomas should cost more,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

He may have been being a protective father, or possibly trying so scare off interested clubs, but Paul must know himself that the club won’t get £25million for his son. But with Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, having limited funds, Rodgers won’t be able to spend a big fee on a Championship player.

This is where Wigan’s relegation from the Premier League might be in Liverpool’s favour. Callum McManaman got off to a poor start in his Premier League career. His horror tackle on Newcastle’s Massadio Haidara, which was unpunished, left the player almost as a hate figure amongst some fans. Known as “that guy who nearly broke Haidara’s leg”, McManaman suddenly had a lot to prove, in order to win over the general public. Goals against Tottenham and West Brom set the boyhood Everton supporter up for his biggest challenge.

Wigan faced Manchester City in the FA Cup final, where despite being massive underdogs, Wigan went on to lift the trophy, after Ben Watson’s 92nd minute winner. But it was Callum McManaman who took the headlines, with his stunning performance earning him the Man of the Match award. The 22-year-old repeatedly skipped past Pablo Zabaleta like the Argentine defender wasn’t there, before eventually he actually wasn’t there, because he had been sent off. His performance in the final was one of many top displays in the last few months, which earned him a call up to the England Under-21s.

But after Wigan were relegated from the Premier League following their 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, McManaman is certain to leave the club in the summer. One of a handful of Wigan players who are set to be signed by Premier League clubs next season, Liverpool may have just found a cheaper alternative to Tom Ince. But there still comes a decision of who to buy.

McManaman has proved himself on the biggest of stages now, scoring goals against top Premier League sides, and terrorising possibly the best right-back in the league. Although his Premier League experience is limited, it is still more than Tom Ince’s. The Blackpool star has been incredible in the Championship, but it’s a big step up to the Premier League. Also, Ince’s dream to play in the Premier League may be delayed, by his own dad. If Paul continues to slap a huge price tag on his son, then Liverpool will almost certainly turn to McManaman instead.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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For now, expect the Anfield side to enquire about both players, and buy whoever is cheaper. Both have proven themselves to be top dribblers, and capable of scoring goals.

While Rodgers may not have much of a preference as to which one he signs, FSG may tell the Northern Irishman that he can only buy whoever is cheaper, meaning Paul Ince’s extreme valuation of his son may have to be reconsidered if he wants his son to be playing in England’s top flight league.

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