Trevor Steven: Don’t blame Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United’s slump is down to their average squad April 23, 2019 When the two teams met in the Premier League 12 months ago, Manchester United succeeded in disrupting Manchester City’s title charge with a 3-2 win over their neighbours. It’s hard to see that being repeated at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening. In fact, it’s hard to see anything but an emphatic win for the men [...]
Manchester United ready to roll with the times and hire a technical director as post-Ferguson transition nears completion April 9, 2019 It has taken nearly six years, but Manchester United's transition through the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era is almost complete. The decision to hand Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a three-year contract last week after an unexpectedly excellent trial period is the latest symptom of a change in approach from the United hierarchy. The appointment of a young, [...]
Trevor Steven: Transfer talk has hit Manchester United’s form ahead of Barcelona Champions League clash April 9, 2019 After an initial burst of adrenaline and positivity brought about by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replacing Jose Mourinho in the dugout, it feels as though Manchester United have gone backwards lately. A run of three defeats in four games since their heroics against Paris Saint-Germain, including losing twice to Wolves, has punctured the belief that Solskjaer [...]
A Norway Plus compromise is the worst of both Brexit worlds March 26, 2019 As the Brexit process descends ever deeper into chaos, a simple argument has started to gain ground. Remainers want to remain. Leavers want to leave. So isn’t the obvious way out of this impasse to go for the version of leaving that is closest to remaining? As I write, MPs are due to vote on [...]
Strike partnerships: Is the Premier League entering a new era of famous front twos? March 10, 2019 Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke; Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright; Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton – aka the SAS. Some of the Premier League’s best teams have been propelled by brilliant strike partnerships. As those names indicate, however, the heyday of the front two came in the mid to late 1990s. Recent years have instead [...]
Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leads youthful side to Champions League history March 7, 2019 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can do no wrong. The man with the golden touch has turned his gift to just about everything since taking over in December, but even by his standards this was special. When he said “it’s never mission impossible” before the game you’d be forgiven for thinking it was just bluster. But he [...]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given Manchester United a new-found resolve ahead of Paris Saint-Germain clash March 5, 2019 When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered his first – and so far only – defeat as Manchester United caretaker manager against Paris Saint-Germain last month, it prompted doubts as to whether the rich vein of form his side had discovered was about to unravel. A lacklustre performance in the first leg of the last-16 Champions League tie [...]
Jurgen Klopp blames windy conditions after Liverpool blow chance to regain Premier League lead March 3, 2019 A prickly Jurgen Klopp preferred to focus on the blustery conditions inside Goodison Park after his team drew 0-0 with Everton on Sunday but there is no escaping the conclusion that the Premier League title that Liverpool so crave is slipping from their grasp. Having fuelled hope of a first top-flight crown since 1990 by [...]
Has Liverpool’s new-found solidity turned Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football into pedestrian dad-rock? February 24, 2019 When Jurgen Klopp fine-tuned his Liverpool team in preparation for this season, he focused on making them more robust. Following the January 2018 signing of Virgil van Dijk, last summer saw the arrival at Anfield of an elite level goalkeeper in Alisson and an accomplished defensive midfielder in Fabinho. Until then devastating in attack but [...]
Premier League title-chasing Liverpool face moment of truth in Manchester United clash February 21, 2019 For a team locked in a battle for a first top-flight title for 29 years every league game has huge significance. But for Liverpool, Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United is a match which has ascended to even greater levels of importance: it’s a derby against a buoyant and bitter rival and [...]