Trevor Steven: Everton had to sack manager Frank Lampard – the worst thing the board could have done was nothing Opinion Former Everton star Trevor Steven on why the club had little choice but to replace Frank Lampard with a new manager – and why Sean Dyche would be a good choice to step in. It has been nothing short of crushing to witness Everton’s decline in recent years. They are an iconic club who have [...]
Trevor Steven: VAR, handballs and concussion breaks – seven rules that English referees must resolve in football in 2023 Opinion While some readers will have New Year’s resolutions and supporters may have January wish lists for their clubs, I have my own hopes for football in 2023 and they revolve around rules and refereeing. Recent times have seen a conveyor belt of tweaks to officiating that I believe has only muddied the waters. The thinking [...]
Trevor Steven: England lacked belief of winners France – but we’re 95 per cent there Opinion England’s World Cup quarter-final with France was always going to be touch and go. There isn’t much above it for quality, pressure and match-ups. This was football at the highest level. But in games like that it is important to get into it as quickly as you can, and England were poor in the first [...]
Trevor Steven: With Jude Bellingham unleashed, England can beat France December 5, 2022 There were so many good things to take out of England’s World Cup win over Senegal on Sunday, but none more impressive than the starring role played by Jude Bellingham. We are truly blessed to have a 19-year-old who shows such maturity, aggression and leadership. He is setting a new standard and showing what is [...]
Trevor Steven: Senegal will be England’s toughest test yet at this World Cup November 30, 2022 England’s progress from Group B to a World Cup last-16 tie with Senegal on Sunday has ticked a lot of boxes. They finished top, had six different goalscorers, avoided injuries and were able to give minutes to players who needed them, like Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips. It has put Gareth Southgate’s team up there [...]
Trevor Steven: England must ring the changes for Wales World Cup game November 27, 2022 England’s 0-0 draw with the USA at the World Cup on Friday was a wake-up call which raised several issues that Gareth Southgate can’t ignore ahead of their final Group B game with Wales on Tuesday. I was surprised that Southgate named exactly the same team that had beaten Iran four days earlier. The USA [...]
Trevor Steven: Iran showed why England will need back three later in this World Cup November 22, 2022 While England have made an almost perfect start to the World Cup, Argentina put in the sort of performance in their defeat to Saudi Arabia that we had dreaded from the Three Lions. Herve Renard and the Saudis got their tactics absolutely right, using a high line to suffocate Argentina and expose them as one-dimensional [...]
Trevor Steven: Why England are among my four contenders for Qatar 2022 World Cup November 17, 2022 This World Cup is unique in its location and winter scheduling so I do wonder how real it felt for the England players arriving at their Al Wakrah camp this week, but the Qatar 2022 wallchart now blu-tacked to my fridge tells me it is definitely happening. I’m a little less excited for the tournament [...]
Trevor Steven: Leaving Maddison out of England World Cup squad would be mistake November 9, 2022 I’m hoping that James Maddison is among the 26 names when Gareth Southgate announces his England squad for the World Cup on Thursday. Maddison is at the peak of his powers and is, in my view, the country’s most in-form midfielder at the moment. The Leicester man has a rare ability to find pockets of [...]
Trevor Steven: Eddie Howe can lead Newcastle back into Champions League November 1, 2022 Next week marks a year since Eddie Howe took over as Newcastle United manager and what has happened since is bordering on the miraculous. When he arrived the Magpies were second bottom of the Premier League. Now they are fourth and have given themselves a chance of Champions League qualification. The only way you could [...]
