Are Man United's top four hopes over?
Man United's top four hopes are hanging by a thread after their defeat to Arsenal on Saturday which left them six points behind the Gunners who currently hold that position. They do have a game in hand against Chelsea on Thursday but given their record against the top sides this season and their recent performances, getting a win from that game looks unlikely. So are their top four hopes over for good?
Their hopes of reaching the top four will rest on the result they get against Chelsea on Thursday with it being a game in hand and an opportunity to get themselves right back in the race. A win will certainly get themselves back right back into it as they'll move to within three points of 4th placed Arsenal. Anything less than that will pretty much end their hopes. Spurs and Arsenal have games in hand where they can strengthen their credentials further and are also in stronger positions than United to finish there.
Can Newcastle finish in the top 10?
Newcastle looked good as relegated at Christmas where they were joint bottom and low on confidence. Four months later they find themselves sitting in the top half of the table in 9th place and well clear of the relegation zone. Can they finish in the top 10?
Their January signings have helped massively as they've all improved the team by some distance. Eddie Howe obviously deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done but without the signings he made in January he might not have got his side this far up the league. The team are playing better football as a result of those new signings and have been playing with a confidence that they didn't have earlier in the season. If they can keep up the current run they've been on, a top 10 finish could be a possibility.
Will Mike Jackson get the Burnley job full time if he keeps them up?
I fought Burnley would really struggle when they sacked Sean Dyche as he was seen as the best man to get them out of trouble. But since Mike Jackson has been in charge they haven't lost a game with their record being two wins and a draw from his three games in charge. These results have lead Burnley out of the relegation zone and have given them belief that they can stay up. Could Mike Jackson get the managers' job full time if he keeps them up?
The Burnley board are obviously looking at more proven managers to take over but with the start Jackson has made as caretaker boss, he's beginning to make a case for himself. He's got the Clarets back to basics by being difficult to beat and well drilled and they've got results from that which have given them confidence. The players of course deserve credit for the way they've responded but Mike Jackson will deserve a bit more as he's the one who has got them performing and given them the confidence to perform. If Burnley carry on the way they are between now and the end of the season, Jackson has a very strong chance of getting the job on a permanent basis.
Can Southampton keep hold of James Ward Prowse this summer?
James Ward Prowse is having the season of his life this season and he kept it up with a double in the Saints' 2-2 draw with Brighton on Sunday. With the player himself in the prime of his career and a full time England international; Can Southampton keep hold of him in the summer?
Southampton have been known as a selling club in recent years as they've seen a number of their best players leave the club like Virgil Van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana. With the season he's having it would not surprise me one bit if Ward Prowse finds himself on that list this summer.
He's always been a talented player with the potential to play for one of the top teams and over the last few seasons has grown into a compete midfielder. As well as being a set piece specialist, Ward Prowse is also a player who is deadly on the ball and works hard out of possession which is the kind of player that the top sides would like to have. Particularly Man City and Liverpool.
He's scored 9 goals his season which is his best total in a single season and he's also dragged the Saints out of trouble several times over the course of the season. With the player himself now 27 and playing the best football of his career, a move to a big club could be on the cards this summer because he's definitely got the potential to play at the highest level. Especially with the way he's been playing this season.
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