4 Points: Newcastle need investment, Bailly a big miss, City’s revolution and Tottenham’s “new signing”

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Here are four points on some current footballing issues. Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur feature.

1. Erik Lamela truly is “like a new signing”

Everyone always says that a player returning from a long injury is “like a new signing” but in Tottenham’s case, it’s actually true. Erik Lamela barely played last season, missing over a year of time (and 57 games) with a hip injury.

Now he’s about to add his spectacular skill-set to the Tottenham attack. Lamela can press, he can shoot, he can pass; he can do everything and now suddenly Tottenham have a credible alternative to Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen behind Harry Kane.

2. Manchester City are a revolution

15 wins in a row for Manchester City is a new record in the Premier League (a brand new record, as the previous streak of 14 was set at the weekend when they won the Manchester Derby). This by itself, taken apart from anything else, is incredible.

But the manner in which Manchester City have won those games? The swagger with which they’ve so effortlessly dispatched opponent after opponent? Even games where they struggle, when they do score they do so with style (e.g. Raheem Sterling’s winner against West Ham). When they score scrappily, it’s after playing beautifully.

Manchester City are a many-headed hydra in a way we haven’t really seen before in football. If Raheem Sterling doesn’t get you, Kevin De Bruyne will. If he fails, Leroy Sané or Gabriel Jesus is around. Then David Silva the veteran is ready to step up, as is towering centre-back Nico Otamendi with set-piece goals.

So far, there’s nothing Manchester City can’t do. The last remaining hurdle is to hold heir nerve in the critical Spring months of the season. Can they do that? Let’s wait and find out!

3. Newcastle need January investment

Newcastle United are spiralling out of control. Their current form of 1 win in their last 12 games is shocking, particularly when it’s revealed that they’ve lost 8 of those 12 games, including 7 of their last 8.

The Magpies are circling the drain right now, and while they may be tempted to sack Rafa Benitez; that’s not the answer. What they really need is investment; a goalkeeper, a solid midfielder, and a genuine goalscorer.

Rafa Benitez is a top quality coach, he just needs to be supported.

4. Eric Bailly is a big miss

Manchester United haven’t seen Eric Bailly in the Premier League since losing to Chelsea over a month ago. He’s been injured since then and José Mourinho has spoken about his concerns here; hinting that Bailly may need surgery which would keep him out even longer.

This is terrible news as Bailly is by far and away Manchester United’s best defender. The others are solid workers, but none of them possess the combination of excellent technique, awesome athleticism and wonderful instincts the Ivorian does.

For José Mourinho to set his team up as he would like, he needs a lynchpin like Bailly at the back. Until he gets him he will always have to commit too many men at the back (or rely on the genius of David De Gea) to keep clean sheets.