Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend, featuring Nottingham Forest’s Signing of the Season and cruel luck for Manchester United’s new boy.

Milenkovic might be the signing of the season

Nottingham Forest’s scattergun recruitment after promotion was criticised but the club have settled when it comes to signings since. Now, largely, their business has been calculated. Last season, The Tricky Trees lacked a commanding presence in their own box. No side conceded more set-piece goals than Forest (22), who finished 17th in a season of struggle.

Nikola Milenkovic’s arrival has been what Forest needed – and more. The Serbian centre-back is a monstrous aerial presence and has turned a previous weakness into an area of strength.

Only four players have won a higher percentage of their aerial duels (71.6%), while Milenkovic showed another string to his bow with an instinctive finish and assist during the weekend win at Ipswich. Signed for just £12m, he’s brought the best from Murillo alongside him and has helped turn Forest from strugglers to overachievers. There’s not been a better piece of business in the Premier League this season.

Marmoush can play big role in City rebuild

For all the talk of signings needing time to settle, sometimes the very best hit the ground running. Sergio Aguero, for example, scored twice on debut for Manchester City and barely stopped bulging the net from there on.

Omar Marmoush’s mid-season arrival meant the Egyptian would be granted patience, but it’s a luxury the City forward has not required. Four goals in six league starts is an impressive return from the 26-year-old, who struck a superb effort during this weekend’s draw with Brighton.

Full of energy, nimble footwork and threat, his link-up with Erling Haaland has already offered encouraging signs. Changes are expected at the Etihad in the summer but Marmoush can be a central part of the rebuild.

Wolves surely safe now

Vitor Pereira won’t admit it, but Wolves look tough to catch now. A drought-breaking double from Jorgen Strand Larsen handed Wolves a precious 2-1 win at Southampton this weekend, a result that lifts the side nine points clear of the drop zone.

With Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton combining for just two wins in 30 games since the turn of the new year, it would take an unforeseen turnaround for any of those sides to make up the required ground.

Pereira deserves credit for his impact at Wolves, overseeing steady improvement after a mixed start. Wolves are ninth in the form table across the last six games, despite the current suspension of leading scorer Matheus Cunha. With no previous experience of English football, Wolves took a punt on Pereira after sacking Gary O’Neil in December. It looks to have paid off. Now, surely, the Old Gold can prepare for another Premier League campaign.

Wheels falling off in Bournemouth’s push for Europe

Bournemouth have taken plenty of plaudits this season but the Cherries are faltering at the wrong time. Four games without a win has dented hopes of European qualification, with Bournemouth dropping to 10th in the table.

Andoni Iraloa was rightly praised for his work with an injury-hit squad earlier in the campaign, but are Bournemouth now feeling the effects of that period with a threadbare squad? The South Coast side looked below their usual high-intensity best in defeat to Brentford, despite taking an early lead at the Vitality Stadium. It’s the second straight game the club has dropped points from a winning position.

Football can be a cruel sport

Football can be a cruel game.

Ayden Heaven must have thought Sunday evening was his breakout performance, as the teenager thrived in Manchester United’s win at Leicester.

At just 18, Heaven performed with a maturity not often seen in a player so young, with confidence on the ball and sensible decision-making. He won 6/7 ground duels, blocked two shots, and made a superb last-man challenge before disaster struck early in the second half.

An innocuous collision saw the 18-year-old writhe in pain before being stretchered from the pitch at the King Power Stadium. Here’s hoping Heaven’s injury is not as bad as first feared, with the defender having made a big impression early in his Manchester United career. Signed for just £1m from Arsenal in January, he looks a snip.

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