Jose Mourinho is entitled to play it safe while Manchester United rebuild after rocky patch, and why Pep Guardiola should send Manchester City out to attack Barcelona October 18, 2016 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has had several more months working with his team than Jose Mourinho has had at Manchester United, and I think the way that Monday’s 0-0 draw played out illustrated that. Eight Premier League games into his reign at United, Mourinho does not feel he has an attacking style that he can [...]
Jury is out on Gareth Southgate’s England management credentials and only a win in Scotland can keep him in the frame October 12, 2016 On the evidence of his first two matches as interim England manager, the jury is very much out on Gareth Southgate. He got the points as expected against Malta on Saturday, but the quality of the performance in Tuesday’s goalless draw in Slovenia was so disappointing. England needed composure; instead they were panicky. An international [...]
I’m not sure Gareth Southgate is ready for the England job but seven points from three games will probably be enough to get it October 4, 2016 It was a decision effectively forced on both parties but it is not difficult to see why Football Association chiefs were happy to put Gareth Southgate in temporary charge of the England team. Southgate is an easy and sensible choice, having grown accustomed to the England set-up in three years as coach of the Under-21s, [...]
Naive Sam Allardyce’s axing was a self-inflicted wound September 27, 2016 He may not have broken any rules himself, but footage apparently showing Sam Allardyce talking about how to bend Football Association regulations was virtually an act of treachery against his employers. Although the role only involves managing around 10 games per season, it requires the individual to be an ambassador for the FA and the [...]
Jose Mourinho is in a crisis at Manchester United and he has brought it on himself September 20, 2016 Let’s be brutally honest: three defeats in a row mean that Jose Mourinho is already in crisis just a few weeks into his reign as manager of Manchester United. I know what it’s like at a team where you’re expected to win every game. When I played at Rangers one defeat was a crisis; two was a [...]
Why Tottenham and West Ham’s stadium experiments could count against them – and what decided the Manchester derby September 13, 2016 It would be a very different mood at Tottenham going into their opening Champions League game against Monaco on Wednesday if they had not beaten Stoke so soundly on Saturday. A draw or defeat would have compounded concerns about a hangover from last season’s failed Premier League title challenge and a slow start this term, [...]
Jose Mourinho and Manchester United have the edge in derby with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City; and why I think Sam Allardyce was misunderstood about Wayne Rooney’s England role September 6, 2016 Manchester City might have a few factors against them heading into Saturday’s eagerly anticipated derby with Manchester United, but they have a couple of less obvious points in their favour. City are five competitive games into their season, owing to them having to navigate the Champions League play-off round, and they have won them all. [...]
Recalling John Terry for England should be a non-starter – for lots of reason August 23, 2016 It's understandable that Sam Allardyce doesn’t want to rule anybody out as he settles into life as England’s new manager but he ought to think twice before talking up the possibility of recalling John Terry. I’m surprised that it is even being discussed. Bringing back former captain Terry after four years in the international wilderness [...]
Liverpool steal big three’s thunder on opening weekend as worrying signs emerge for Leicester August 16, 2016 Some managers insist you shouldn’t read anything into results until 8-10 games into the season, but while you can’t draw sweeping conclusions from the Premier League’s first weekend, there are signs of what could be to come – and it’s distinctly more promising for some than others. Rampant Reds Liverpool produced the most impressive display in [...]
Premier League preview part one: Pep Guardiola factor gives Manchester City the edge over Manchester United and Chelsea in fascinating battle of top bosses August 9, 2016 Only six clubs can win the Premier League title this season – and there are three obvious choices in Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City – but there is no runaway favourite in my eyes. United may have signed four players who will walk straight into their first XI, yet they still need a pattern [...]
