Trevor Steven: Why my time at Marseille gives me hope for Roy Hodgson’s return to Crystal Palace March 21, 2023 It’s easy to dismiss the sacking of Patrick Vieira and re-hiring of their 75-year-old former manager Roy Hodgson as a case of Crystal Palace clutching at straws in their desperation to avoid relegation from the Premier League. My own first reaction to the firing of Vieira was that it was a bad decision, especially without [...]
Harry Kane to Manchester United? Striker upgrade could turn Erik ten Hag’s improving team into title contenders – Trevor Steven February 27, 2023 Erik ten Hag has brought the good times back to Manchester United but the signing of Harry Kane would make them serious Premier League title contenders, says Trevor Steven. If the hallmark of a good manager is improving your players then I have to take my hat off to what Erik ten Hag has accomplished [...]
Trevor Steven: Why Arsenal’s title race cannot sustain defeat to Manchester City tonight February 15, 2023 The Premier League’s top two finally meet in north London tonight and if Manchester City beat Arsenal I think it’s “here we go again” time. For the first time this season I feel that the trophy will be staying with champions City, who look like they’re ready to make a big push in the title [...]
Trevor Steven: The method in Chelsea’s transfer madness – and why Todd Boehly is still taking a massive gamble January 31, 2023 Chelsea’s transfer strategy has been fascinating to watch since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club from Roman Abramovich last year. From the outside, the signing of more than a dozen new players for an outlay of around half a billion pounds in transfer fees looks like a scattergun approach. But I can’t imagine for one [...]
Trevor Steven: Everton had to sack manager Frank Lampard – the worst thing the board could have done was nothing January 23, 2023 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 January 10, 2023 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 December 11, 2022 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 [...]
