7 May 2024
Premier League observations and headlines
Liverpool dropped more points, at the weekend, and only Chelsea took advantage. Can you see Liverpool dropping more points and having a blip to really open the race up over the course of the season?
If it was Man City at the top, you'd be worried, but Liverpool haven't been at the top and been chased down like this. Liverpool showed at the weekend, it's not easy to keep winning Premier League games. Different teams pose different problems and Fulham definitely did that.
Is it done for Man City?
I think it's done for City. I think they might have a big say on where it goes, though, after that. I mean, they've got to go on a hell of a run. To be anywhere near it, they've got to win every game, that’s the way I see it.
City aren’t in the mood to win every game at the moment, so they'll just have to cause confusion with whoever they play in the latter stages of the season and upset a few.
Have you been surprised at how quickly the wheels have fallen off City this season?
Unbelievable. It's just that you wouldn't be able to believe it, would you? One win in eleven, is it? I mean, you wouldn't put a penny on that, let alone your house on something like that happening at the start of the season.
Where does Pep Guardiola and his team go from here? How do they get things back on track?
They looked like they were back on track yesterday against United, didn't they? They were all but home and dry, and then a silly little back pass and a rash challenge gives them a penalty, which gives a little bit of oomph and excitement and optimism to Man United. Then a hopeful ball forward, and it’s an unbelievable winner from Amad. It was a fantastic goal from his point of view, but a terrible one from City's.
A couple of statement wins from United and Tottenham. Can either of your old clubs put a run together and get themselves into that top four reckoning?
I think Man United can definitely put a run of wins together and get amongst the Champions League places. I think you're going to get inconsistency from Tottenham. It's the way they play - you're going to get inconsistencies. I'm hopeful that inconsistency can warrant a cup this year. But as for getting further up the league, I think there's going to still be disappointments along the way and unbelievable results as well.
That's the beauty of cup competitions, isn't it? If you've got the potential of beating anyone in the country, then you've got a chance. Plus, they're in the Europa League, so they can do the same there as well.
What has been the biggest surprise for you in the Premier League this season?
It's got to be City's demise. That's a shock. That's not even a surprise. That is the shock of the season without a doubt.
You broke through at the top level at young age. I wondered who are the young players that you’re really excited about in the future in the Premier League?
Who have we got? At Man United there’s Mainoo and Amad, without a doubt, those two.
I still class Foden as a young player. I know he's broken through and he's part of the furniture now, but he's still a young lad and there's still better to come from him, more to come.
I like the little centre midfielder at Arsenal who has come on a couple of times, Ethan Nwaneri. He looks like a live wire.
Who do you think is the most influential or most important Premier League captain in the league?
The most influential I'd say is Van Dijk. He's a part of a back four that look really solid.
You couldn't see them losing a game 4-0 or 5-0 like some teams at the moment, because of his understanding of the game, and he's getting his centre-half alongside him with his two full-backs tucked in at most times.
I know they attack quite well as well, the full-backs, but you've got other people like Gravenberch. He comes back and helps there as well.
Who is the best striker in the Premier League?
I like Isak when he plays. He's had a couple of injuries as well. Blimey, it's a tough one. I've not been so impressed with Haaland this season. Salah’s not really a striker, he’s a right-winger who cuts in. Ollie Watkins, he's chopping and changing as the first man with Jhon Duran.
Is Unai Emery still the right man at Aston Villa?
He's still the right man. Two months ago, he was the best thing since sliced bread.
He ain't that bad now, just after a couple of games.
Can Alli get back to the top at Como?
I would still be very surprised if Dele Alli can come back to the top level. When players have been out for so long, I would be very, very surprised if there was a comeback there. He might play at a lower level. I hear he's been through a few troubles but it's tough when you haven't been playing for a few years.
He was an outstanding talent coming through. Everyone comes to fruition at different times. He probably just came to fruition at a young age rather than maturing and doing well at an old age. He came flying on the scene and everyone thought big things about him but wasn't to be.
Mid-week matches
The Carabao Cup returns this week, with the quarterfinals. Every club left in it will want to win it, but which club do you think really needs to win it?
Tottenham, without a doubt. It's been far too long. They need trophies in the cabinet.
I don't see any better season than to start now, with the way they play.
Newcastle take on Brentford. It feels like things aren’t brilliant up in Newcastle – does Eddie Howe need to win this for things to calm down and do you think he is the right man for the job full-term?
I think he could definitely do with winning something. It's been a long time for Newcastle. We all know that, and the fans up there know that. It's not been easy for him though, is it? He's dealing with PSR, with the money issues. You think when you get backing like that, you could go out and buy the world's top players, but he's had his hands tied, really. He's got a few in, but not as many as he would like.
Tottenham vs Manchester United
How should Ruben Amorim approach this match? Is it another chance to rotate and try players, is it a bit of a free hit?
I think he'll know that Manchester United are expected to win. I think he's done well, looking at what the history is and what Manchester United are all about.
I think he'll know that Manchester United need to win trophies every season. Ten Hag won a trophy each season that he was there, and he got the sack, so he knows he needs to improve on what that record was. That means winning and doing well in the league.
Manchester United
Would that result have turned any potential doubters in his squad into believers?
I think there's all those moments where you get a bit of belief in the manager, with your squad, and the way he's managing. I think it was a great result for him to go to City and win. He gets belief all around the club without a doubt.
One big call was dropping Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad and telling them by WhatsApp – does that push both players closer towards the United exit door?
It certainly lays the law down, doesn't it? Only he knows whether it's the players going towards the exit door or not. I think it's a fantastic statement. I think it should have been done a long time ago.
Rashford's body language and demeanour have not been great and that is one thing that Manchester United supporters don't suffer, and he seems to be the only manager that's come in and put his foot down about it. So well done.
Were you ever told you weren’t going to be playing via a text message and how do you think those players will have felt?
You'd have to think it was a wind-up. If it's the first time he's done that and you got a text like that, it'd be like, yeah, come on, who's got the manager's phone and mucking about? But if that's how he does it, that's how he does it.
Amorim has repeatedly said that the road back to the top will be hard, they’ll be some more pain along the way, how long do you think it is going to take Teddy?
I said as soon as he came in that he's got a really tough job, one of the hardest in the world, but it can be done.
If you approach it in the right way and you get the players onside, because there's no doubt they've got some very good players there. I don't think there's many top, top players there, but you've got some very good players there.
Without a doubt, you don't spend 50, 70, 90 million pounds on rubbish players. They're decent.
He knows it's a long road to the top, so hopefully he'll be able to get one or two in January and then rebuild again in the summer. And then, you know, if he's going to get one or two out to get one or two more in, or three or four, then that's well on the way to building his own team.
If you had to name three players that Ruben Amorim should be looking to build his team around, who would it be and why?
I think Harry Maguire has still got that stature at the football club. I think he's still captain material. Kobbie Mainoo, who has a lovely presence in midfield. Amad, who I talked about earlier, and Hojlund.
Amad and Hojlund, both young lads that have been showing good grit. I like Hojlund. He's been feeding off scraps for far too long, but he's still scoring goals.
I think he's got something about him. He's still only a very young boy to be leading the line at Man United.
When they had the choice to buy either Harry Kane or him one and a half years ago, I would have said, you've got to go and get Harry Kane to lead the line for the next two years, three years, and then get Hojlund in. But now Hojlund has had that 18-month experience. I think it's held him in good stead, and I think he's in a good place, that’s what I’m taking from the way that he plays.
The big story at the club last week was the departure of Sporting Director Dan Ashworth United had him in the building less than he was on gardening leave for – is he just a disposable piece of the hierarchy or does that departure point to bigger problems behind-the-scenes?
Yeah, Dan Ashworth probably is a disposable piece of the bigger jigsaw at United. I mean, they're good at wasting money, aren't they, Man United? To do that, have the prolonged chase with him while he was at Newcastle and then to get him out after, how long did you say, five months? It’s absolutely ridiculous. To chase a man down, pay compensation for them and then to get rid, probably having to pay him off as well. Ridiculous.
I can’t ask about Ashworth without asking about Jim Ratcliffe. Is there a danger that the grace he has been given by United fans is about to run out, because it seems to me that he is central to one PR bungle after another. First it was Fergie’s ambassadorial role, then he removed all concessions for kids tickets, Ashworth…the women’s team…
The fact that he's getting rid of a lot of people around the football club that are very important: Football clubs are very different to any other working business. You need the people behind the scenes to make it run along comfortably.
You know, you've seen that Kath, the lady that used to work on the front desk, passed away in the last couple of weeks and David Beckham, Gary Neville, saying you know, she's the type of person that you need at these football clubs.
Assistant kit men that you don't see about, you know, are getting the sack as well, and other people around the football club who make it tick over nice and easy. They give warmth around the football club. He's got rid of a lot of these people, so I wonder where it's all going.
Jamie Carragher suggested that Manchester United should consider selling Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes and rebuild the squad with the funds generated. Is that the kind of bold decision-making the club needs to sanction to get back on track?
No, I think Fernandes has reacted very well to the new manager coming in. I wouldn’t sell him as Carragher has suggested. Obviously, being a fellow Portuguese, I think it does help, so Bruno can understand exactly what he wants, and he probably knows by watching his old club Sporting Lisbon, what the manager is all about.
He will know more about him than the average player at Manchester United, so I wouldn't get rid of Fernandes. I think he's stepped up to the plate and I think he's one to build a team around as well.
One player that is going to be a man in demand in January and is available on a free transfer is Paul Pogba. Do you think a Premier League club would be willing to take a punt on him and would he be a good signing?
I wouldn’t look at Paul Pogba as a good option for Manchester United or any other team in the Premier League. He's been out of the game too long, and when he was in the game his attitude wasn’t great then. I thought his body language and demeanour were shocking.
I wouldn't be surprised if a Premier League club snapped him up, because you can't be surprised by anything in football, but, in my mind, I wouldn't go near him if I was a Premier League manager.
We know money is going to be tight in January, and it’s always a tough time to sign players, but where do you think Amorim should be looking to strengthen his squad and is there a player out there that you would love your old club to sign?
I said a couple of years ago, Manchester United should have got Declan Rice. If they went out and bought Declan Rice off of Arsenal, that'd make me laugh, because that'd obviously make Arsenal weaker and make Man United even stronger.
He's a proper player that leads by example. That's the type of player that you need in your football club. When you're making a statement about a new manager coming in and buying new players, that is the type of player you buy. Declan Rice all day.
Viktor Gyökeres is obviously a player that Amorim knows well. He’s been strongly linked with a move to United – would you like to see him come into the club?
I don't think it's imperative for United to move for Viktor Gyökeres at the moment when you've got Hojlund. I think there's other areas he would prefer to nail down.
I think the club need a left back. Shaw's struggling with his injuries. He seems to get one after another, and you can’t pin your hopes on someone like that.
Another really good midfield player would be great, so I think there are other players and other areas to strengthen that are more important to him than buying another centre forward. As I say, Hojlund is showing good stuff.
Sack Race
Why do stalwarts like Allardyce not get mentioned anymore?
You wouldn't see Sam's team passing the ball around at the back, and then putting it into the centre half that's on the edge of the box and with his back to goal, and letting people come and nick it off so they get the shot from 14 yards.
Wolves and Southampton could do a lot worse with getting someone in like Harry Redknapp. He would come in and steady the ship and get them playing in the right manner.
Without being a dinosaur as such, if you were to turn the opposition round and get them on the back foot, it's not the worst way to go. Football doesn't change that much.
Would Graham Potter be considered for Wolves and Southampton?
He's been on the fringes of a lot of jobs, hasn't he? He's a little bit like Alan Curbishley years ago. Every job that came up, he was mentioned about, but he decided not to get back into football in the end. Graham Potter's one of them. He's got a very good reputation for a lot of people. I can see him getting back in, but I'm not sure where. I think either one of those would be very good clubs.
Millwall
Were you surprised by Harris’ exit?
Yeah, big shock. Big shock. Very, very surprised. I didn't know what happened there.
I thought something had happened behind the scenes. I thought he was there, not for life, but as good as.
Chopper Harris and Millwall, they're made for each other. I think he understands the fans, the fans understand him. They're punching above their weight when you look at the wage bill, I thought they were doing very, very well. They had a couple of bad results recently, but they’re in the frame of getting promoted from the Championship. So, yeah, I’m very surprised.
Tottenham
With the pressure seeming to mount on Ange, how big was that victory over Southampton?
Unbelievable. I didn’t actually watch it. When I was told the half time score, I was waiting for the downside. And, expecting the worst, saying, ‘please don’t tell me it was 6-5.’ That’s the mindset we’re in about Tottenham. They went, ‘Tottenham were winning 5-0.’ And I was like, expecting the worst. Don't tell me it was 6-5. Please don't tell me it was 6-5. And they went, no, it finished 5-0. But you know, that's the mindset that we're all in at the moment with Tottenham.
James Maddison said that the players need to deliver a performance like that to silence some of the noise around the club – how do the players now build on that victory?
By trying to get some consistency in the football club. That's what gets you further up the Premier League. That's what holds you in good stead for your cup competitions.
For me, they ain't winning the league. You'd be very lucky to get in the top four now.
It still can be done, but the main aim now would be to put everything into the cup runs.
They need to go far in every cup. They need to win a trophy.
Have the last few weeks put any doubts in your mind that Ange is the right man to take the club forward or have you always been a believer?
I’ve always been a believer. I am and I do believe in Ange. I'm excited by him. I'm excited about watching his football teams play. I've been to Tottenham more times this season than I have in the last seven seasons. And he gets bums off seats. He gets this crowd excited.
Yes, there's downfalls to it, but I think the Tottenham fans in general love to see attacking football and excitement.
In previous seasons, under previous managers in the last four years, fans have been lucky to get one chance in a game and you've got to take it. Now you're getting 10 chances, and they might even come in the first 15 minutes. It's that exciting.
When everything clicks, Tottenham looks irresistible. On their day, do you think Spurs play the best football in the Premier League under Ange?
I do think Tottenham play the best football in the Premier League when everything clicks. They're exciting to watch. Some of the football they've played this year has just been phenomenal. But there's also some that's been horrendous. So, sort it out, Ange.
After waiting 3 years, Djed Spence made his premier league debut for Spurs and played very well. Why do you think it’s taken this long?
Yeah, he's had a tough time, hasn't he, since he's come in there. I really don't know.
Do you think Romero should have made those comments about the Spurs hierarchy and their transfer decisions?
I understand that and the comments that Romero made. Obviously, he wants to play with the best players in the world at Tottenham and I hope he gets the chance to do that.
They're close. They're close because they've got some outstanding players, but he obviously wants them to be better to compete. So, let's hope that happens.
West Ham
Has the pressure eased on Lopetegui following the sackings of Gary O’Neil at Wolves and Russell Martin at Southampton, or do you think their exits expose him even more?
Some of the goals they've been giving away, you know, it's just like watching kiddies football. It's absolutely ridiculous. Conceding goals through stupid mistakes, for me that was inevitable.
West Ham are playing Bournemouth tonight, a much smaller club who are performing better than them at the moment. Does that highlight a lot of the frustration that West Ham fans have?
Yes, I suppose West Ham fans can look at clubs like Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton, clubs that they would consider to be small than their own and feel frustrated with what’s happening at the football club.
They've been chasing David Moyes out of the football club for the last couple of years. He’s gone, and I don't think things have really changed in terms of the style of play. It was quite a fitting game that West Ham had against Wolves the other day. They're playing against another struggling team, to keep Lopetegui in a job.
He needs a consistent run of results as well. Otherwise, he could be struggling as well.
Do you have any concerns about West Ham’s options up front after Mikhail Antonio’s car accident?
It's not something you need, is it, for Lopetegui I mean. Definitely not for Antonio. My heart goes out to him. I hope he recovers well. He's, you know, he's been a fantastic servant for West Ham, but just for his own health now, he needs to get back walking and then go from there.
Would Mohammed Kudus suit a big side?
I think he looks outstanding. Very, very good player, exciting. He's been playing in a really poor West Ham team, playing against the big teams and still being up there with the best players on the football pitch.
Chelsea
Have you been surprised by how well Chelsea are performing this season under Enzo Maresca?
I am a little bit surprised at Chelsea’s form this season. I thought they would be up and down, in and out. They were last year under Pochettino, but I've been very, very surprised with their consistency. They deserve to be where they are. They're playing some consistent football and maybe even have one of the top performers in the Premier League playing in their team in Cole Palmer. He's a joy to watch and, you know, just how he manoeuvres the ball at his own pace.
Enzo Maresca is refusing to say that his team are in the title race publicly, do you think he’s saying the same thing to his players privately?
I'm not sure. I think he's just trying to keep their feet on the ground, because they’ve got a long way to go to be better. But they're definitely in the title race without a shadow of a doubt. Two points behind the leaders, then you're in it, aren't you?
What’s the difference this season under Enzo Maresca – what’s he bringing where other managers failed?
Probably consistency. Pochettino, I was very surprised that he got the sack. It's just the consistency of getting results again. The consistency gets you up the table, doesn't it, in the Premier League? It's not performing one week and not performing the next. It's a tough game at the top of the Premier League.
It's a gruelling, long nine and a half months when you play the Premier League, so you've got to hang in there at times and he's doing it.
I'm very surprised at how well Jadon Sancho has been doing at Chelsea since he joined from Man United. We all know he's got the potential. He's got that little turn of pace and dribbling ability and that little acceleration.
I wouldn't say they haven't taken advantage. They're in a good position in the league.
I'm glad it's not them on top and Liverpool and Chelsea chasing them because I could see them playing with a lot of confidence if they got to the top. So, keep them away from there please, and that'll hopefully keep them where they are, second or third.
Arsenal
The huge debate at Arsenal is, if they had a “proper number nine” they would be further ahead now. Where do you stand on that?
If they had a goal scorer there, I know Havertz is doing a decent job, but he's not your 25 goals a season man, who also makes a lot of chances. For me, Arsenal need someone that is going to convert those chances on a regular occurrence.
What about Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces? Can you become too reliant on them, are they turning into the cosmopolitan Stoke?
No, I think it's a great thing to have in your armoury, to be able to revert back to set pieces. I think they're doing a great job on that. They're not as exciting to watch, but they're quietly efficient, the way they play.
Arsenal must be very pleased with where they're at and how they're playing at the moment. Especially now Odegaard's back, I like him as a player. He's a little bit like Cole Palmer. He just moves around at his own pace, but he manoeuvres the ball perfectly.
Manchester City
After another defeat do you think Pep is now regretting his decision to extend his contract?
No, I think he'll enjoy the challenge. He's had a lot of players out through injury. I'm sure he's been in this sort of position before and struggling in teams, but he'll have faith in his own ability and the way he manages and gets his team playing. For sure he'll be hurting, but he'll be back.
Why do you think Phil Foden is struggling?
During long seasons, when you're going to World Cups and Euros, you're going to have down times, and it just seems like the whole Man City team have had a down time collectively.
Normally you can suffer if two or three are struggling when you’re a proper team; when you're a top team like City. I think he's one of several players that are having that little dip simultaneously. That's affecting Foden and his City team.
Does Guardiola/City deserve criticism for selling players like Lavia, Palmer and Sancho?
I mean you've got to make these decisions as a manager though. There's so many good players that come through that you've got to make decisions, you can't keep them all.
He hasn't done bad over the years, Guardiola, with the players that he's kept. You can't keep them all.
Liverpool
Do you think there is any danger that off the field distractions, like Mo Salah’s, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract’s expiring could have a negative effect on Liverpool’s title bid?
If there's nothing announced by January, then questions will still be asked, won't they, about what Mo Salah’s going to be doing.
I would think van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will probably be the ones that stay, and I probably think that Salah will be leaving.
Mo Salah has proven that he’s more than capable of operating at the top table of the Premier League. Could you see a domestic rival make an audacious move to bring him in on a free transfer?
No, I don't think he'd want to go somewhere else, and I don't think Liverpool would sell him to somewhere else. And I think Saudi Arabia is going to be the place that he goes to.
England
What do you think of Thomas Tuchel becoming England boss, and what will be his biggest challenges, the things he need to do to get them over the line and win a tournament, something they couldn't quite do before?
Tuchel’s appointment wouldn't have been ideal for me. The fact that he's only there for 18 months as well doesn't [sit well]. The continuity side of what Gareth's done over the last eight years or nine years, I think he's been phenomenal, and he's laid down the foundations for other players coming through.
I think when a manager comes in for only 18 months, all he’s going to worry about is his job and the here and now, not the under-21s and the players being lined up to come through. He won’t have the same love for the country as what Gareth or another English person would have had, and what's been going on for the last few years.
England are attempting to qualify for a World Cup in the USA like in 1994, what memories stand out for you personally from that qualifying campaign under Graham Taylor, and why it didn't quite happen for the team at the time?
I actually made my debut in that campaign. We played Poland away and drew 1-1 and then lost to Norway. That was my debut and my second game. I just remember it being all over the place. There were calls for his head already, Graham Taylor.
I remember he changed the formation from a 4-4-2 to a five at the back for the Norway game. We didn't do any work on it. It was just changed on the day of the game it was thrown in.
Might have done a bit of work on the Friday or the day before the game, but I don't think we even did that. It just threw a lot of the players, and it just showed it was a last gasp of trying to make things work.
England are in a World Cup qualifying group with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra this time around, do you think they should qualify easily, and it will be a pretty comfortable start to Thomas Tuchel's tenure?
I don't think these games mean anything. I think he'll have experimental games to start, but then once he gets into these games, he's got to find a winning formula with style, and make sure we get through the stage. Then, it's the big boys that we can't beat, isn't it? When you come up against the big boys in quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, you've got to find a way of having the mentality to beat the big boys.
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