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Premier League HOT or NOT

What’s sexy - and what’s not sexy - in football this week…

HOT

Claudio Ranieri
The Tinkerman is dead. Claudio Ranieri killed off his former alter-ego at some point before the start of this season, possibly by enlisting Robert Huth to headbutt the fidgety tactician until it stopped breathing. The new and improved Ranieri has repaid Huth by selecting him whenever possible, along with nine or 10 other mainstays in his title-chasing line-up. No Premier League manager has made less changes to his team this season than Ranieri and - just like Chelsea’s championship winners last year - the top flight’s most settled side has also been its best. The 11 players that started the Foxes’ stunning 3-1 win at Manchester City on Saturday can all share in the credit for that, but it’s the Italian who has moulded them. Ranieri is a changing man, not a Tinkerman.

The Dabberman
It’s unknown when Jesse Lingard decided to undertake a one-man mission to educate the British football-watching public about hip-hop dancing. But to do it, he first needed to score goals - and now he is. The Manchester United winger celebrated his third strike in six games - a sensational swivel and finish against Chelsea - by performing what cool people will recognise as the Dab, and what uncool people will interpret as a man sniffing his armpits. The Dab is a dance enjoyed by rappers from America, recently copied by Paul Pogba and now by Lingard, who has begun referring to himself as the “Dabberman”. Given that he only unleashes the Dab when he scores, it’s a nickname that will last as long as the player’s current purple patch.

Fraser Forster
It looked set to be a lost season for the Southampton goalkeeper, whose severe knee injury suffered last March was expected to keep him out for a year. But since returning ahead of schedule last month, Forster has already had a profound influence on the Saints’ campaign. The keeper’s incredible run of five successive clean sheets has propelled Ronald Koeman’s side from 13th to 7th in the table, their latest shutout coming as Forster helped 10-man Saints hold on for a 1-0 win against West Ham. The last person to score past Forster was Diego Costa 11 months ago. His “lost season” now looks certain to end in the England squad at Euro 2016.

NOT

Zeljko Buvac
It was a big day for Liverpool’s assistant manager, thrust into the Anfield limelight because Jurgen Klopp had appendicitis. And the luxuriously mulleted Bosnian Serb looked set for a 100 per cent win ratio as stand-in Reds boss when his side eased into a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes’ remaining. But a series of mishaps denied Buvac his moment of glory. First, the home fans left early in protest at ticket prices, dampening the mood somewhat. Then Simon Mignolet conceded feebly at his near post, dampening it further. Finally, Jermain Defoe smacked in a last-minute leveller that left Buvac’s one-game managerial career in tatters. He even got passed up for the post-match media interviews in favour of Pepijn Linders. Who’s he? Exactly.

Declan Rudd
Gabriel Agbonlahor has spent almost a year huffing and puffing around Villa Park (either on the pitch or the treatment table) without scoring a goal, so it was more in hope than expectation that he raced onto a through ball 51 minutes into the Saturday’s match against Norwich City. He was therefore delighted to see Canaries’ goalkeeper Rudd falling out of his way and offering a clear path towards an empty net. Rudd has been similarly helpful to various opposition attackers in recent weeks, conceding 16 goals in five matches with his side losing all of them. Rudd’s near-namesake John Ruddy may feel it’s about ruddy time for a recall.

Martin Demichelis
When Vincent Kompany is playing for Manchester City, whichever centre-back partners him in defence starts to look worth the millions City paid for them. But whenever Kompany is absent, those same centre-backs appear to be indulging in a private competition to see who can look like the biggest waste of money. Demichelis was this week’s winner - which is particularly impressive given that he only cost £4.2m. The Argentine was culpable in all three of Leicester’s goals at the Etihad - twice when he lost Robert Huth at set pieces and once when he was effortlessly sidestepped by Riyad Mahrez. The challenge has been set for Otamendi next week, while City fans will hope Kompany returns to fitness quicker than Mangala.

@darlingkevin