One of the most impressive things about Mauricio Pochettino this season has been his tactical flexibility. Proving he will not remain stubborn to a 4-2-3-1, as he was last season, the former Southampton manager has used a back three system to great effect. The defensive solidity has remained throughout, with the Lilywhites boasting the best defensive record in the league having conceded only 16 goals in their 24 matches.

Conceding two goals at the Etihad Stadium three matches ago saw Pochettino return to his favoured 4-2-3-1. Injuries to Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose will have contributed to his decision, with no natural left wing-back alternative in the squad and Spurs’ other central defenders being less comfortable bringing the ball out of defence.

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The ability to adapt your team to the players available and, perhaps most importantly, your opponents, is what defines managerial careers. Making decisions not simply on results, a managers’ greatest task is to solve a problem in their team before it becomes a significant issue or, ideally, begins to impact results.

The tactical switch most talked about this season has been Chelsea’s. As well as that has worked – and Antonio Conte deserves all the praise he has received – it was almost forced upon him. After two harrowing defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal, a change to Chelsea’s setup seemed an inevitability and Conte seized the moment. The impressiveness of Conte’s decision has only grown as other top level managers have failed to drag their teams out of similar ruts of late.

Jurgen Klopp, for instance, has watched his Liverpool team suffer a torrid start to 2017, yet he has not changed anything significantly to rectify their leaking defence and becalmed attack. However, Klopp should not shoulder all the blame, as many of Liverpool’s failings have been down to individual errors. Arsene Wenger continues to make mistakes in his selection or setup that has cost his team too.

Pochettino, on the other hand, arrested an ugly run of form through October and November, which saw Spurs win only one in 10 in all competitions. Aided by the returns of Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld, since then Pochettino has adapted the team when necessary, both in their style of play and formation. The best example of this, naturally, was the success Spurs enjoyed against Chelsea. Unfortunate not to take at least a point from their match at Stamford Bridge, Spurs dominated against the Blues at White Hart Lane.

A willingness to change is necessary for a manager to be successful. While philosophies can create some of the greatest football, even the most stubborn of football ideologists are forced to change their ways. Pochettino works around a general framework that defines his approach to management, just as many managers do, but it has been his openness to altering things within his team that has made Spurs a different animal this season.

In the shadow of Leicester last season and yet to really astonish the wider footballing world in this campaign, Pochettino’s excellence as a manager is not receiving the acclaim it deserves. Some indifferent signings had clouded the general judgement of his season, but Spurs, despite their Champions League exit, are enjoying a very good campaign. At this point they are the only non-Chelsea team in the top six who are where they would have hoped to be at the start of this campaign.

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It’s not been a brilliant campaign for Hull City in the Premier League and the same can be said for Aston Villa in the Championship, with the Villains having struggled to find stability following last season’s relegation.

Sat 15th in the table and 16 points behind the play-off positions with just 12 games to go, the chances of Steve Bruce’s side securing an immediate return to the Premier League are extremely slim- but that won’t stop the Midlands outfit fighting.

The Villains should be safe from relegation, as they sit nine points ahead of the drop-zone, but Bruce’s side must ensure they keep fighting all the way until the end of the season- as they did last night with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bristol City.

Conor Hourihane, a January signing from Barnsley, was a crucial goal on the night as he netted the secondgoal of the game and sealed his first goal for his new side- earning praise from Hull City’s David Meyler in the process.

Hourihane will be hoping to kick-on from here as Villa have some tough games on the horizon; with their next five fixtures seeing them clash with Rotherham, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan and Norwich.

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As reported by a journalist at French outlet SFR Sport, Chelsea have named their price should Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian want to sign their superstar striker Diego Costa this summer.

What’s the word?

Diego Costa continues to have a stellar season in a Chelsea shirt, most recently getting on the scoresheet against Swansea City on Saturday.

Again though rumours persist about a potential move to China and this time there are specific figures involve as this tweet shows.

Yes, you read that right, the figure Chelsea are looking for is an eye-watering £127m. Incredibly it could be a low enough figure to tempt the Chinese club into tabling an off this summer according to the journalist.

Is he worth it?

Costa’s contribution to the Chelsea cause has certainly been profound, especially this season. So far this term he’s scored a wonderful 17 goals already and is well on his way to breaking through the 20 barrier.

You can see why the club would put such a big valuation on him. His importance to Chelsea is massive and not only does such a large fee reflect his ability but also the Blues’ reluctance to be drawn into a constant battle with the Chinese Super League for their players. If the likes Tianjin want their players they are going to have to pay a premium.

In that sense the valuation is justified, even if Chelsea would likely be able to replace those goals in the team for a lesser price.

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Leeds United’s Premier League dream remains very much alive, even at a stage of the campaign in which many expected them to falter, and Garry Monk is close to leading the Whites to a Play-Off finish for the first time in over a decade.

Though a draw against Fulham last time out was a reasonably disappointing result, after letting their lead slip in injury time, they can keep the pressure on Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield in third place with a win over Queens Park Rangers.

Saturday sees Ian Holloway bring his side to Elland Road in a state of mid-table mediocrity, though have acquitted themselves fairly well in bigger games this season. A win against the west London side would further cement their position within the top six, while serving the Rs some revenge following an opening day defeat at Loftus Road way back in August.

QPR are in a decent run of form themselves, having won four of their last five of late, so Leeds certainly should be wary this weekend. With that in mind, here are three battles they really must win to keep the dream alive.

Green vs Sylla/Smith

Robert Green will make his 600th league appearance this weekend if selected as expected and, while he’s had a successful career between the sticks, the former England international is known for having the odd mistake him.

With both Matt Smith and Idrissa Sylla able to offer ariel threats, Green needs to ensure he’s at his best if Leeds are going to have a solid platform from which to build.

Pedraza isolates Furlong

With QPR operating a three-man defence of late, it’ll be hard to truly isolate a defender, though Alfonso Pedraza certainly has the sort of quality to help find those pockets of space over 90 minutes.

If the on-loan Villarreal star is able to run at Darnell Furlong, he can twist and turn the 21-year-old and create space, giving Leeds United an excellent threat from either the byline or deeper areas.

Massimo Luongo vs Liam Bridcutt

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Massimo Luongo has been back in the QPR side of late, proving a threat from long range with either his passing or shooting. Having played a big role in the Rs’ wins over Cardiff and Barnsley, it’s vital Liam Bridcutt, Eunan O’Kane or Ronaldo Viera track the 24-year-old.

Plenty of Everton fans have called for the club to bring back Gerard Deulofeu in the summer after he scored his first ever senior goal for Spain on Tuesday night.

The 23-year-old was shipped out on loan to AC Milan in January for the second half of the season after falling down the pecking order under manager Ronald Koeman.

Since making the move to the San Siro, the winger has scored one goal and made three assists in nine Serie A appearances.

His performances in Italy earned him a call-up to the Spanish national side and it proved to be a good decision as he netted the second goal after coming off the bench against France in an international friendly.

The match will go down in history as the first international fixture to use video referees, who monitor major decisions on TV screens and have the power to overturn a call made by the man in the middle or his assistants.

In the clash, Antoine Griezmann’s opening goal for France was disallowed after the video referee ruled it offside, while the reverse happened for Deulofeu as his strike was granted after the linesman initially raised his flag.

Following the 2-0 win for Spain, the majority of Everton fans were more concerned with where Deulofeu’s future is heading.

Although it didn’t seal the title mathematically, Chelsea’s victory over Manchester City on Wednesday has widely been hailed as the win that will get the Blues over the line. The win maintained the Londoners’ seven-point buffer at the summit of the division with just eight games to play, and given the pace Antonio Conte’s men have been going at it’s hard to see Spurs reeling them in.

The next test up for them is Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth, who earned themselves a good draw at Liverpool on earlier in the week. The Cherries have little to play for given that their solid season has moved them clear of the relegation battle, so Chelsea will fancy themselves heading to Dorset.

Now it’s all about getting more points on the board for Conte’s side, who will be taking each game as it comes as they aim for their fifth Premier League title. With that in mind, here is the XI they should field to sweep Bournemouth aside…

GK – Thibaut Courtois

Barring a late injury problem, Courtois will make his 31st Premier League appearance of the season at Bournemouth. The Belgian has been as solid as ever of late and offers the Chelsea backline real stability.

CB – Cesar Azpilicueta

Dropped in as the right-sided wing-back against Manchester City as Antonio Conte went for a more solid approach, Azpilicueta should return to the central trio in place of Kurt Zouma, who was withdrawn at half-time. The Spaniard’s ball-playing qualities have been a key part of Chelsea’s play all season and he remains one of the most underrated players in the Premier League.

CB – David Luiz

Few predicted that Luiz would impress to the degree he has upon his shock Chelsea return last summer, but as part of Conte’s back three he has the protection he’s often lacked in the past, allowing him to demonstrate his ability on the ball.

CB – Gary Cahill

The organiser of the Chelsea backline, Cahill may lack pace, but his reading of the game remains strong. He will have to ensure Josh King and Benik Afobe don’t isolate him one-on-one, as they boast the speed to highlight his flaws.

RWB – Victor Moses

Moses has been out of action in recent weeks through injury, but there is a chance the Nigerian could return in time for Bournemouth away, and Chelsea desperately need him. Pedro and Azpilicueta have filled in in his absence, but neither offer the same outlet he does.

CM – N’Golo Kante

His energy and work rate remain as key as ever to Chelsea and will be vital in a three game week for the Blues. The Frenchman covers so much ground and has been the bedrock for Conte’s XI all season.

CM – Nemanja Matic

Conte will need to freshen up his side a little after a draining midweek game and with Matic having only played the second 45 minutes against Man City he appears a logical choice. The Serbian lacks the guile of Cesc Fabregas in the middle of the pitch, but the Londoners are likely to have to battle hard on the south coast.

LWB – Marcos Alonso

Another impressive summer recruit, Alonso has silenced the critics he has upon his arrival with energetic displays on the left-flank, where his deliver and attacking intent have been vital for Conte. Getting the ball wide may be vital against

RF – Willian

As we mentioned before, Conte will need to freshen things up and with Willian only coming on as a late sub against Man City, the Brazilian should be able to inject some energy.

LF – Eden Hazard

Even though the games have been coming thick and fast, Conte will keep Hazard on the pitch, with the Belgian often injecting the creative edge that makes this Chelsea team what it is.

ST – Diego Costa

Costa is on a barren run by his standards with four goalless games on the spin to his name, but with little in the way of other options, Conte will lean on him once again. Costa game is not just about putting the ball in the net, though, with his combative approach one that tests opposition defences.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s status in world football hardly needed improving. The Swede’s iconic position has not necessarily changed with his time at Manchester United, despite a period of brilliance at Old Trafford.

As Jose Mourinho’s good friend and favoured centre forward, the former Barcelona man has scored a hefty percentage of their Premier League goals and been an undoubtedly rejuvenating presence in a faltering Manchester United team.

Few players transcend the sport quite like Ibrahimovic. His demeanour reflects his unerring self-belief that frequently borders on brutal arrogance, while his on-pitch dramatics have seen him collect medals across Europe’s top leagues with an almost unrivalled ruthlessness. He will go down in the history of the sport as one of the all-time greats.

At United, however, he has occasionally limited them. Forcing the starlet Marcus Rashford to play on the flank and leaving the team without any pace to run behind the opposition’s centre-backs, Mourinho has been forced to build his side around Ibrahimovic. His goal scoring returns in raw numbers look good – great for a player of his age – but they are not truly representative of his season.

Ultimately, chances have been missed all too frequently. In Manchester United’s almost typical home draws against weaker opposition, it has often been Ibrahimovic that has blown the biggest chance to break a deadlock. For all the positivity about his impact on the club and the league, Ibrahimovic has – only to the perception of some – been a detriment to Manchester United.

This is not to undermine his quality, far from it. This is a response to how United’s season has gone and where Ibrahimovic’s standards have really been. He has not cured all for the club, he has, rather, created his own issues in the team.

Now, with United set to face Chelsea in a Sunday showdown, the prospect of Ibrahimovic not starting the match would be baffling. It would be seen as mind games from Mourinho rather than a tactical manoeuvre.

There could be some mileage in it, though. With Rashford and Anthony Martial offering a different angle of attack, Mourinho could opt to field his golden boys and spring a tactical surprise on a Chelsea defence that has not kept a league clean sheet since January.

The trouble with this, however, is that Chelsea’s Achilles Heel has been their ability to defend balls to the right-side of their defence. Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta have been exposed to back post crosses on multiple occasions. Peter Crouch and Dele Alli both had great joy aerially against Chelsea and this has to be where United attack.

So, if there is to be a tactical surprise, it should be based around Ibrahimovic, not at his expense. Marouane Fellaini may be the villain of Old Trafford, but a partnership with Ibrahimovic could reap real rewards.

According to reports in The Independent, Newcastle United are targeting a summer move for Stoke City centre-back Ryan Shawcross if they secure promotion back to the Premier League.

Currently 10 points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town with the Terriers having just six Championship matches of the season remaining to overturn that deficit, Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is already starting to make plans for next term in the top flight.

While Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark have formed a strong partnership at the heart of the United defence during the current campaign, the Spanish boss is keen to bring in a more experienced centre-back at the end of the season and has made Shawcross one of his priority signings.

Even though the 29-year-old is the Potters’ captain and has made 29 Premier League appearances this term, his contract is due to run out next summer and he has yet to be offered a new one.

This news has given the north-east outfit encouragement that they could lure him to St James’ Park.

Here are three reasons Benitez is right to be targeting a move for Shawcross…

He is a leader

If Newcastle are promoted back to the Premier League, then Benitez will be keen to have some stronger personalities on the pitch than the last time were in the top flight.

One of the reasons they were relegated was because of a lack of leaders on the pitch and players going missing during the difficult times, and Shawcross would certainly solve that issue if he did move to St James’ Park.

The 29-year-old is currently the captain of Stoke which shows how highly thought of he is at the Britannia Stadium, and he doesn’t let any of his teammates hide.

Premier League experience

Shawcross has been a regular in the Stoke City backline for 10 Premier League seasons now and has racked up 284 appearances in that time.

He knows the English top flight inside out and how to deal with the best strikers, and would be able to pass that knowledge on to the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Chancel Mbemba if he made the move to St James’ Park.

His experience in defence could easily be the difference between the club staying up or going down.

His defensive qualities

While he is a great leader and has plenty of Premier League experience, there is also a reason why he has been a regular at this level for so many years.

The 29-year-old is brilliant from a defensive point of view, as he has once again shown that during the current season with the Potters.

Shawcross has made 193 clearances and 44 interceptions in 29 top flight appearances this term, while he has shown just strong he is in the air by winning 102 aerial duels.

Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Aston Villa are interested in the services of Celtic goalkeeper Logan Bailly this summer.

What’s the story?

Bailly has failed to win a regular spot in the starting line-up at Celtic since joining in 2015 and it appears his time at the club may be coming to an end.

The Scottish Sun reckon Villa boss Steve Bruce is an admirer of the former Belgian international and wants to take him to Birmingham to help their bid for promotion from the Championship next season.

The paper say he would be competing for first team places at the Villans and with little prospect of that happening anytime soon at the Hoops, could this be a good move for all parties?

What does he offer?

Despite not being able to oust Craig Gordon at the Bhoys, Bailly is still a goalkeeper with plenty of experience and pedigree under his belt. A former number one at Genk and Borussia Monchengladbach, the goalkeeper also won 8 caps for the Belgian national team.

31 year is still young for a goalkeeper and he has plenty action left in him at first team level in the Championship. With just three appearances for the Celtic, there is no future for him in Glasgow, especially after rejecting the chance to go out on loan in January.

A move to Villa would be a fresh start for the Belgian and give him the opportunity to turn around his forgotten status in the Celtic development squad.

The FA wouldn’t like to admit it, but refereeing decisions – whether made rightly or wrongly – decide games, a factor that seems to double or even triple in weight during high-profile Premier League clashes.

With that in mind, official Jon Moss could well be the determining factor in Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane curtain call against Manchester United this weekend, for which Spurs are favourites with 17/24 odds.

Regardless of whether their Premier League title bid will come to an end on Friday night when Chelsea face West Bromwich Albion, knowing one more win will get the Blues over the finishing line, Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be determined to leave their stadium on a high, imprinting positive memories into the minds of the White Hart Lane faithful, as they prepare for a year at Wembley before moving into a new arena.

In some senses, Moss’ presence should work in the Lilywhites’ favour. He ranks eighth throughout the Premier League for fouls per game and third for yellow cards per game from the 19 men to have officiated in the top flight this term, whilst United have racked up the second-most fouls throughout the campaign after Watford – Spurs, in comparison, have committed the eighth most. He’s already issued 30 fouls and seven yellow cards against the Red Devils in three games this season.

Moss has also overseen four Spurs victories this season, a perfect record for the Lilywhites with the 46-year-old in the middle. But that’s pretty much where the good news ends for Tottenham Hotspur, with Moss’ home-and-away bias pointing towards a disappointing end to the White Hart Lane era.

Indeed, he ranks the second-lowest for home wins and second-highest for away wins, only trumped on both fronts by Chris Kavanagh, who has refereed just the one match – a 0-1 win for Southampton at the Hawthorns.

It seems even a ferociously passionate crowd celebrating their final trip to White Hart Lane won’t be enough to sway Moss’ decision-making in Tottenham’s favour.

Spurs’ best hope is that United’s penchant for felling gets one of their players sent off, but even that would be a little uncharacteristic from Moss, who has issued just 0.11 per match so far this season.