Klopp II ?
You know we love a bit of speculation. I’ll never go with an absolute flier, but if I sniff a story and I can get somewhere near confirming it I’ll always let you know.
So here’s one. I got a tip over the weekend that both Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards could be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.
Hughes, I think, we know definitely is. There’s been a lot of press suggesting he’s got a job in Saudi. But when I was told Edwards could also be on his way again, I really sat up.
I’d have to say both should be on their way. What a mess they made of that massive transfer spend last summer. I’m not saying they got it all wrong, but signing Isak was one of their mistakes
Clearly they felt a loyalty to him, having encouraged him to make the fuss he did about leaving Newcastle, but by the time they got a resolution to the saga, they really didn’t need him. They should’ve walked away from the deal.
Ekitike has established himself as their first choice 9. He’s been terrific. Surely they knew they only needed one or the other? And did they really need Wirtz? He’s been a massive disappointment and was wildly over valued.
You could argue the case for Kerkez, who was terrific at Bournemouth, but Lost doesn’t use him properly. He’s a raiding full-back, not an inverted one. Who got that wrong? And missing out on Geuhi was poor. That deal should’ve been done a lot earlier.
Anyway. I digress. Here’s a couple of things that make what I’m about to say ‘possible’.
Liverpool have put on hold their multi-club project. Why I wonder?
Liverpool fans have been doing the unthinkable this season - leaving games early. Plans to develop the stadium further don’t work if supporters aren’t enjoying what they see and don’t go. I’ve said for a long time, Lost’s brand of football isn’t what they want. They want ‘rock and roll’ not tippy tappy. So……
Lost was smart leaving things well alone when he took over. It was Klopp’s team that won the title last season. This one is his and it’s been coming up short too often. It’s been an awful title defence.
Edwards recommended Lost. He’s his man. If one goes perhaps the other goes as well?
What we also know is Edwards and Klopp don’t get on. Klopp won the first power struggle between the two. I can’t imagine a scenario where they could be at the same club again, so…….
Here’s the rub. And I haven’t had this denied. Instead, what I get when I ask those close to these kind of things is ‘possibly’.
Possibly? Well if I’m a Liverpool fan reading this, I’m drawing the same conclusions as I did before writing. Is it ‘possible’ we’re on the cusp of Klopp II ?
Ironically, he’s back at Anfield this weekend for the legends game. Is it ‘possible’ he’ll feel as comfortable as he once did at the famous arena? I’ll tell you this - it’s inconceivable someone at Anfield hasn’t already asked the question. Watch this space.
When I was a lad and complained to my dad he wasn’t being ‘fair’ he would say ‘there’s no such thing. Fairness means getting your own way. That’s what it really means’. I’ve always thought he had a point.
How many times have any of us said ‘that’s not fair’, with a view to persuading someone to change their mind? Think about it.
So, we’ll go with my dad’s view but add that being ‘fair’ this weekend meant utter stupidity. What on earth was Arteta thinking starting Kepa? The man is an accident waiting to happen. And, of course, the accident happened.
Arteta said he thought it ‘fair’ to start him. Wrong. Kepa is No 2 for a reason. Lucky to be No 2 at Arsenal I’d add. No - Arteta dropped a bollock. It was a final for goodness sake, so play your best team.
I know Guardiola picked Trafford and that surprised me, but he got away with it. Trafford wasn’t ever threatened. Arsenal didn’t show up. What a pity. And all the more confusing because they know they can beat City - especially this City. This group are fragile and nowhere near as good as their predecessors.
So there we have it. Arsenal’s quad bid over a matter of days after City's ended in the CL. I’ll repeat what I’ve always said - it won’t ever be done. There’s a good reason it won’t be - because its impossible.
Another whisper I picked up recently - and I don’t think this will come as a surprise to anybody - I’m told the Saudi’s are looking to sell Newcastle.
Regulars know I’ve been saying for some time the project was over Apparently there are interested parties, but the Saud’s want £1b. £500m is nearer the mark.
Good luck to Andy Carroll in his new job at Dagenham. Enjoy it while you can Andy. I’ve got a feeling it won’t last long.
And Everton have got themselves an official sauce supplier - Heinz. I know. Nor me. 🤷♂️. But they certainly had the wind behind them as they smashed Chelsea. Perhaps if Carroll impresses with the Daggers he’ll be in line to replace Rosenior in May? Why not? Someone is going to have to.
Come on Masters - it’s time to talk about City.
It’s incredible isn’t it? Chelsea are handed the biggest ever PL fine and a one-year suspended transfer ban - and quite rightly so, but there’s still nothing - absolutely nothing on the 135 charges (that’s right 135) that City faced. How much longer can this farce be allowed to go on?
It’s been just over three years since City were charged. Three years ffs. In that time not once have the PL uttered a word about what’s coming down the line. Why not? It’s a joke.
It’s also an insult to all of us that watch or work on the product - but especially Everton, Forest and Leicester fans, three clubs who’ve also been punished for irregularities.
It’s time for Richard Masters to front up. He’s either got to tell us he’s impotent because City have got good lawyers and a bottomless pit of money, or nail them. It’s one or the other. And a decision is long overdue. The silence is a disgrace.
Somebody who is making a lot of noise is ‘Arry. You can’t shut him up at the moment. He’s been trying like a bear to get the Spurs job, even telling us that Daniel Levy called him to say he’d have given him the job until the end of the season had he still been at Spurs.
I wonder why I find that to believe? I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but why would Levy call ‘Arry now? Redknapp admitted, when he was claiming he’d taken the call last week, they hadn’t spoken since he left the club in 2012.
The time is fast coming now when I’m going to be able to tell a few tales. I’ve twice had a go at writing a book and been unhappy with the results, so third time lucky eh?
In the meantime I’ll share this one with you, because it’s current.
Not long after Andy and I left Sky we found ourselves sitting on Joe Lewis’s boat lunching. I say boat - it was a ship really. It was moored by Tower Bridge. Reidy and Mark Bowen were with us. It was a fine day and a lot got spoken about. I can’t share all of what that was or the reason we were on board - yet.
But as we were leaving I was asked if I’d go back and speak with Joe and Daniel Levy. ‘Why not?’ I thought. I had a feeling about what they wanted to discuss and it was too good an opportunity to spend time with the secretive Levy and a mythical guy I’d only ever read about.
It’s no secret that ‘Arry and his boy are not on my Christmas card list and I’m not getting into why that is now either. That's also for another day. But it had to be ‘Arry they wanted to talk about surely?
Anyway, I did go back. When I got on board I was escorted to a gorgeous lounge where Lewis and Levy were waiting. It was ‘Arry they wanted to talk about.
Not for a minute do I believe I told them anything they didn’t already know and I’ve thought about why I was there. As the years have passed I’ve become convinced it was more a case of me adding to - or confirming - what Levy had already told Lewis.
My belief is Levy wanted ‘Arry out of Spurs. Perhaps Lewis didn’t. I don’t know. What I do know is just a matter of weeks later ‘Arry was gone.
The reason I’m telling you this is because - as I’ve said - I find it hard to believe Levy would make a call now, knowing how he felt about his manager back then. Maybe I’m wrong. The whole ‘boat’ story is fascinating and I promise to share it with you one day.
Credit where it’s due - Michael Carrick is making a really good job of his chance at United. They’re not in the title race, but suggesting they might be would’ve been ridiculous before Amorim left.
What they are is in the race for a CL place. I’ve said this before - Carrick is making obvious, simple decisions and treating his players like men. They’ve responded. Good luck to him.
It’s not getting any better at Liverpool is it? I still think I’m on for a double come the end of the season. Both Liverpool and City will be looking for a new coach.
Chelsea could be as well. Liam Rosenior isn’t short of self-confidence but it looks to me as though he’s starting to feel the pressure of being Chelsea boss.
What sort of nonsense was that when he tried to explain how Paul Tierney ended up in the middle of their huddle? ‘My players made a decision they wanted to be around the ball’. He said. Why?
He went on ‘….to respect the ball’. What? ‘Nurse…..’. And Tierney was weak. He should’ve told them to fuck off and huddle somewhere else.
IFR. No teeth. No point.
This is going to be very interesting. I’m grateful to the excellent Martin Ziegler of The Times for his reporting today or I wouldn’t be aware of this story.
The toothless and pointless independent football regulator is about to get its first real test.
Why? Because Morcambe, who’ve been in almost terminal decline for the past 18 months or so, have just gone and dug themselves another huge hole.
They’ve appointed Steve Dewsnip as their new chief operating officer. Steve Who? Dewsnip, a one-time director of the Providence Investment Fund, which Ziegler reports collapsed in 2016, leaving investors £37m out of pocket.
As a result Dewsnip was banned by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission ‘from performing any function on behalf of a regulated entity’. I think we can draw our own conclusions about what they really wanted to say, but legally couldn’t.
So Dewsnip has to step away from the job at Morcambe then? Nope. Not yet - maybe not at all. So far the IFR has failed to open a formal investigation. Why not? Your guess is as good as mine
I was never an advocate of the IFR. What can it really achieve? Who would it stop - could it stop - from owning a football club? And on what basis? But it can stop Dewsnip from getting involved at Morcambe surely? Their fans have been put through the wringer these past few months.
As for the IFR - had it been in existence would it have stopped Dejphon Chansiri from buying Sheff Weds in 2015, when the Thai business turned up at Hillsboro with bucket loads of money, optimism and promise?
Who could’ve predicted how his time at Weds would end? But when it did - and Weds slipped into administration last year, there was uproar, with fans and journo’s alike all of the view if the IFR had been around to stop Chansiri the meltdown would never have happened. What nonsense. They wouldn’t have stopped him.
Crystal balls are in short supply. No-one can predict how these things will turn out. And there are so many sad endings to a lot of promise when new owners come in right across the game. Bury is another that comes instantly to mind.
The IFR can’t possibly predict where or when things will go wrong, but they’ve got one in front of them right now that looks an open and shut case. Let’s hope they do the right thing, but don’t hold your breath. As for the shambles at Weds - nothing. They’ve done absolutely nothing. Because they can’t.
I’m glad the new extended C’ship play-offs got the nod last week. That league is pure class - a real treat to watch. We know one big reason why - we’ve discussed it before - no VAR.
The play-offs can be cruel, but what a way to go up if you make it - at Wembley, in front of a full house.
Extending the clubs involved keeps the season alive longer - reducing dead rubbers. It also increases valuable broadcasting rights. It also gives more clubs a genuine chance to have a crack at promotion to the PL.
Rick Parry, chairman of the FL, should be applauded again for getting this through. Parry, the first chairman of the PL, remains the games foremost modern day executive.
Quick question. When was the last time you saw a ref blow his whistle to signal a goal kick should be taken? No. Nor me. So why was Fulham’s goal disallowed? Here are the official words covering the incident that happened at The Cottage.
‘If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponents are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referee allows play to continue. If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken’.
Fulham made no attempt to play the ball. The ball wasn’t moving. I’ve checked time and again. I’m afraid Jarred Gillett covered for a goalkeeping error and once again Fulham were denied by poor officiating and technology.
Big congrats to Port Vale. Top work guys. And Nigel Clough’s Mansfield can feel proud of themselves.
Do you remember Guardiola whining about the late Saturday ko v Newcastle a couple of weeks ago? I said then it’ll be interesting to see how many of what might be regarded as his first choice XI would start.
This was his team - Trafford. Nunes Stones Husanov Ake. Gonzalez- Iglesias O’Reilly. Savinho Reijnders Doku. Marmoush. So - three. Maybe four. As I thought - so what was the problem? Stop moaning Guardiola. No other coach has the riches you’ve got. Get on with it.
Running players daft won’t change a thing Igor.
Brilliant Igor. I wonder what Spurs are paying their interim manager (in truth all managers at Tottenham are interim) to tell us what we’ve all known for some time now - Spurs aren’t very good.
After their defeat at Fulham Tudor announced ‘when we attack, we are lacking quality to score. We are lacking in the midfield to run. And we are lacking behind to stay there and suffer’. Genius. We know. I wonder how his players react when they see that? He’s supposed to be there to protect them, not expose them.
And It is, of course Tudors job to sort these things out. He had the squad out for dinner in his first few days in charge before proceeding to run the bollocks off them in training, suggesting his new charges ‘aren’t fit enough’.
This is the sanctuary every limited coach turns to when he/she takes over a new club. ‘They’re not fit enough’ you’ll hear them say. Really? A Thomas Frank team not fit enough ten games from the end of the season? I don’t think so.
Spurs are poor. I said last week I hadn’t really considered they could go down until that defeat at home to Arsenal. It’s 10 now since they won - their worst run since Ossie Ardiles was in charge. They stayed up that year by the skin of their teeth, but it was scary.
It’ll be the same if they stay this time round and there are no guarantees. They’re toe to toe now with Forest.
I just don’t get Tudor. I don’t know him but Slaven Bilic does and he gave him rave reviews when he was appointed. I love Bilic so I’ll believe him when he says Tudor knows what he’s doing. But have a word Slav - tell him to put his arm round people in his squad. Give them a few days off. Make friends of them.
Running them daft isn’t going to work. It never does. Erik ten Months found that out at United. So did Alan Shearer. He needed to make friends when he took over at Newcastle, but instead he went for the big stick and we all know what the outcome was.
I could go further back - Howard Wilkinson at Sunderland when he took over from Reidy. It never works. There are so many other examples.
I noticed Guardiola complaining about kick-off times again after City’s win at Leeds. Give it a rest.
Guardiola is unhappy his team next play at Newcastle in the FA Cup 8.00pm Saturday. He’s whining he won’t have time to prepare for the CL game v Madrid the Wednesday after that. That they’ll get home late. Ahhhhh.
Let’s wait and see how many of his squad play v Newcastle and then Madrid. My guess is it’ll be three - maybe four. No more. Tired my arse. Those who play at Newcastle will fly before mid-night and be in Manchester 40 mins later.
Leeds fans should be ashamed of themselves booing because of the break to allow Muslim players at Elland Road the right to break their Ramadan fast.
Sadly we live in such a divisive Trumpian world now these things happen too often. Can’t we be a little more understanding? Embracing?
Look where division has got us. I won’t dwell too long on this, but I’m sitting in the middle of a war zone right now as a consequence. And thanks to all of you who’ve messaged asking if we’re ok. The answer is ‘yes’. I trust my Qatari friends to help the world find a way out of this mess. Negotiation is one of the things they do best.
Who knows what the fall out will be though. All of a sudden I’ve got serious reservations about the upcoming WC. I hope and pray I’ll be wrong, but we could be heading for trouble in the tournament, the likes of which we haven’t seen at a major sports event since the Munich Olympics. Recent developments in Mexico haven’t helped either.
If you haven’t seen it, dig out a piece by Andy Dean in today’s (Monday) Mirror. It’s a fans eye view from Burnley entitled ‘Gone Too Var’. It’s a very good piece. What a shame the tech ruined what could’ve been one of the great comebacks in PL history. If you get to see this Andy let me say I agree totally with you. I haven’t forgotten the FA Cup semi-final we had stolen off us at Coventry.
VAR operators (not necessarily the tech) have ruined our game at the highest levels. I’ve said so many times the lack of tech is what makes the C’ship such a good watch.
But rather than choke back the law makers have gone again, adding to VAR’s influence. They want a say in second yellows and corners that are given mistakenly.
At the recent IFAB meeting it was also decided to give refs more say in time wasting. Haven’t they worked out yet the biggest time wasters (and waste of time) sit in VAR bunkers?
Finally, good luck to everybody taking part at the Women’s Asian Cup which kicks off in Australia Sunday. North Korea are there. That’s quite something.
Eze as you go Arsenal.
Not for one minute have I thought Arsenal won’t win the title this season. They were my tip before a ball was kicked and I still believe in them.
That’s not to say their bid to win the title won’t include scary moments - it will. And I stand by what I said when I made my prediction - that Mikel Arteta would be the sole reason if they didn’t - largely because he doesn’t like taking risks.
I do know how Arsenal fans feel when a result doesn’t go for you though - the draw at Wolves was frustrating but not terminal. I’ve been watching Coventry drop daft points recently as well, but neither team will achieve anything this season without some drama. And there’s more to come yet.
A few things struck me after Arsenal’s romp at Spurs. It was great to see Eze in the side. Who knows why he hasn’t been playing? Perhaps there’s a very good reason - or is it more likely Arteta feels he can’t trust him?
I think it’s the latter. But players like Eze are always a risk. They’re mavericks - something Arteta clearly doesn’t like. So that makes you wonder why he bought him?
Eze made Arsenal look a whole lot smoother at Spurs. And it was no co-incidence they scored four goals from open play as a result. That’s the difference he makes. All of a sudden Arsenal were more creative and didn’t have to rely on a set-piece to win it.
And it was no surprise to me to see Gyokeres have arguably his best game yet for Arsenal. I don’t care who you are - a striker (well - Haaland apart maybe) won’t score goals unless others are creating chances for him/her.
Gyokeres had his best season at Coventry playing with Gus Hamer - who is Eze like in many ways. Hamer is a terrific player and we’ve got to contend with him Weds night at Sheff U. Let’s hope he has an off night. Eze and Hamer see things ordinary players don’t.
Arsenal fans need to hope Arteta continues to free his team up a little and keeps playing the X-Palace man. They’re better with him.
Another player in the same mould as those two is Phil Foden. He was massive for City in their last title season, scoring 19 goals in 35 appearances. He was every bit as good in the treble season. Never mind Rodri, City aren’t the same for me without Foden.
Last season wasn’t a good one. He scored just seven goals in 28 appearances - and that word can be deceptive, because the three minute cameo he made against Newcastle at the weekend counts as an ‘appearance’.
What’s happened? Clearly he doesn’t have a physical injury because he’s always on the bench if he doesn’t start.
Do you remember Guardiola passing his problems off as ‘illness’ last season? What’s the illness I wonder? I’m told Foden struggles with the demands of being a top end footballer. If that’s true then we can only have a whole lot of sympathy for him and hope it’s something he can conquer.
A quick word on Spurs. How on earth has it gone so wrong? I agree now with those that believe they could be relegated. I hadn’t really seen it as a realistic prospect until now but you’ve got to. They’re awful.
I remember saying I thought they’d got it right with Thomas Frank. Wrong. They’re in big trouble.
If not Spurs - maybe Forest. Their fans jumped all over me when they came up and I predicted their future - one that saw them slide ignominiously back to the C’ship, just before the owner got bored and packed his bags. If they’re not careful it’s coming.
What on earth was Liam Rosenior talking about? Chelsea drew because ‘an assignment was missed’. Fuck off Liam. Stop trying to be so clever all the time. You mean Burnley equalised because ‘a player didn’t do his job at the corner’.
I’ve never walked into a pub and heard football fans talking about ‘missed assignments’. Nor will I. Ever.
Did I really see Alisson making changes on the pitch at Forest? There was one point where he ran to Lost and said something - I don’t know what, but very soon after Szoboszlai moved into midfield and Curtis Jones went to right-back.
I can only imagine that’s what the keeper said he wanted to happen - and it did. I’ve never seen that before. Amazing. And perhaps indicative of what’s happening at Liverpool right now?
I’ve said many times big money moves aren’t an exact science and that people can change their minds about what they want - right up to the moment a deal is signed.
It’s not long since I said an agreement to take Mo Salah to Saudi was done. And it was when I made that statement, only for the player to have a change of heart.
Liverpool also had a change of mind about letting him go and were happy to offer him a new deal - but only for one reason. I’ve said this before as well - so they could get money for him rather than see him walk away.
I think he’ll leave Liverpool at the end of this season, but I don’t think he’ll go to Saudi. The smart money is on a move to Italy.
It looks like Sunderland are finding a level, but I really do hope they stay up. And Leeds. The teams coming up this season need a reason to believe they can too. It gets very dull if the same three coming up go straight back.
On that subject - good luck at Bramall Lane boys. I’ve got a lot of time for Chris Wilder and his team - but not this week.
There was no low block going on in my house
It’s devastating and certainly tests your pace. In some way I guess it’s the equivalent of a high press. There’s certainly no low block involved.
It hit me like a train last Tuesday. At one point I found myself on the floor with stomach cramps so bad I actually thought I’d need medical help, but I resisted that. I’ve seen enough of the insides of hospitals this past year to last me the rest of my life.
I’m talking about gastroenteritis. My goodness. You know when you’ve got it.
It’ll leave you alone for a few hours and foolishly you think you’ve got it beaten. Not a bit of it. I ended up in bed for three days, which explains my absence last Tuesday on BeINSPORTS - and the beard I grew during that time 😂.
So a couple of ‘thank you’s’ before we go any further. To Nicki Crosby for stepping in at such short notice to cover for me. Nicki is a real talent. She’s been doing more for us since we all agreed this would be my last season and she won’t have a problem finding work in the UK when she returns herself. Any broadcaster would be doing itself a favour by employing her.
And can I thank those amongst you who responded to my tweet Sunday asking the question ‘to beard or not to beard?’ More than 200,000 of you took the trouble to reply.
I quite liked the beard, but not everyone was of the same view. Some of the advice I got was quite creative, but the gastroenteritis ruled out a few suggestions - and predictably there were dozens of trolls.
I don’t have a problem with that. It’s part of the modern world I guess, but I often wonder what sort of sad life these people lead. Who on earth takes time out of their day to abuse others on social media? Publicity hunters I guess, which in itself is sad, but why use me to get people talking about you? If you’re good enough that should be enough. Perhaps that’s where the problem lies though?
Anyway, the beard has gone (for now) and we’re back in good order.
It took me a while to catch up with the weekend’s games today (Monday) I don’t think the 4th Rd was too bad was it? Well played Mansfield. What a run they’re having. It’s really good to see some proper old fashioned Cup ties being served up, but our inept officials did their best to ruin so many of them.
The games first - then I’ll get back to the officials. B’ham/Leeds looked like a genuine tie. It’s hard to judge some of the games because of the number of changes teams make, but it looks as though Daniel Farke wants to give it a real go with Leeds. Good luck to him.
I love the shoot-out drama. I always have. Do you remember the profits of doom predicting disaster for the competition if we dropped replays? I argued when it happened that we’d see an increase in drama if games had to finish at the first attempt - and we have. In no way has the competition suffered as a result. It’s better.
You’ve got to feel for Burton Albion. They gave West Ham a real scare. Newcastle’s win at Villa was probably the other stand-out result.
As for the officials - once again it was a weekend littered with high profile errors. I was really pleased to see former PL ref Mark Halsey
showing the courage to call Howard Webb out. I’ve been waiting for someone else to join me doing that. Regular readers know my thoughts on Webb. It’s high time others started asking questions of him. Too many in the inept group of so-called ‘elite’ officials he manages are not fit for purpose. And he’s to blame.
It’s taken a little longer than I thought it might, but the wheels seem to be coming off at Forest. It wasn’t a surprise to me that the erratic owner at the City Ground fired Sean Dyche last week - not because Dyche wasn’t doing his job, but because Evangelos Marinakis leans towards the eccentric - and I’m being kind using that phraseology.
Marinakis is now onto his fourth coach of the season. We’re in new territory here. Even for Forest and Watford that’s unheard of. I wonder what chance there is of Marinakis making it five?
I’ve nothing against Vitor Pereira - in fact he comes across as a really nice guy, but is this the same Pereira that struggled to amass five points at Wolves this season? Honestly, it’s another one from the ‘couldn’t make it up’ files.
And I guess it was inevitable Spurs would part company with Thomas Frank, but in what other business would an organisation be able to get away with such rank stupidity?
Spurs paid Brentford £6.7m only seven months ago to get him - then they pull the rug away. Now there’s the business of compensation for Frank. It’s scandalous. An absolute disgrace, but it goes on all the time in football.
For example, United have shelled out £100m in compensation to post-Fergie coaches now - the most recent, of course, Ruben Amorim, who they paid Sporting Club of Portugal £9.5m to hire.
That one was down to the genius of the Jim Reaper, who I’m delighted got his comeuppance after those staggering remarks on UK immigration. The fall out will last for a long time yet. And I hope it hurts him for as long as it does.
All that was missing at Anfield was the circus tent.
Well, we hit rock bottom this weekend. What on earth was John Brooks (VAR) thinking? What an absolute farce. And if you didn’t believe our refereeing was in crisis - as I suggested last week - you’ve got to now surely?
Why? Where was the common sense? What was Brooks saying to Pawson at that monitor? We need to know. This is why we should be able to listen to those conversations. Pawson should’ve told Brooks to fuck off and been strong enough to stand by his decision to give City that goal.
What if….? What if Liverpool had equalised in the time left? What if City miss out on tittle by a goal? A long shot I know, but possible. What if Pawson had just used his head and applied common sense?
He gave the goal as we know. And this is significant - he didn’t see an offence in real time. How do I know? Because he didn’t wave play on. He didn’t apply the advantage law. If he had done Szoboszlai stays on and he can allow the goal.
Read this -
Law12 fouls and misconduct Advantage -
If a referee plays the advantage for an offence for which a caution/send off would have been issued had play been stopped, this caution/send off must be issued when the ball is next out of play. However if the offence was denying the opposing team an obvious goal-scoring opportunity the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour
There you go. But Pawson wasn’t doing his job properly so none of the above applied.
Just give the goal and blow the final whistle. Then VAR don’t need to get involved.
As that circus was unfolding at Anfield I wonder where Howard Webb was? Packing his pj’s for another night away is probably the answer. Look at this. I couldn’t believe this when a friend sent it to me this weekend. He found it on Google.
To get in touch with Howard Webb for professional, commercial, or speaking engagements, contact booking agents such as Champions Speakers (0207 1010 553 or
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), NMP Live (020 3822 0003 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), or
MN2S. He is not accessible for fan mail or autographs. ®
I don’t know how old this is, but it appears Mr Showbiz has got himself new agents. He’s looking for corporate work/after dinner dates. Why? Isn’t his £250,000/year salary enough? And what about the line that reads ‘he is not accessible for fan mail or autographs’. You couldn’t make it up.
It’s incredible. How is this allowed? If Webb spent more time doing his job properly and less on his showbiz career we might just get out of the mess our refereeing is in.
As for the game - well played City. We desperately need a title race this season and let’s hope whoever wins it makes a better fist of defending it than Liverpool.
Has any coach ever been given more than Lost on the back of a title win? £400m to make a title team better.
I’ve always said they were poor champions. They crawled over the line last season and won it largely because there wasn’t a challenge. How many times have I said that?
When Liverpool finally sack Lost I wonder who will take the blame? Michael Edwards? Richard Hughes? Of course not - they’ll both run for the hills.
Have you seen the bottom of the C’ship? 22. Blackburn. 21. Leicester. How sad. The only two teams to have shaken up the usual order of things in the PL and taken the title off the big boys. Both are now in serious trouble.
And did I read this story correctly? West Ham are currently paying salaries to three managers? Lopetegui until his deal ends in June 2926, Graham Potter until June 2027 and of course. Nuno. The cost is reported to be £10.5m/year. Scandalous. Remind me - who is in charge of football affairs at West Ham?
Before I go this week I’d like to wish my friend and former colleague Dr Tareq Hamad Al-Jalahma all the very best in his new life as a Minister of State for Youth and Sports in Kuwait.
It was a pleasure getting to know Tareq these past 13 years. Like me he’s decided it’s time to move on. Good luck my friend.
There has been no fall out between myself and beINSPORTS. I’ve loved every minute of my time in Qatar - a country that means the world to me. I have a deep affection for it, but it’s time for me to move on. I’m not retiring - simply changing course. There’s a whole lot more to come yet. 👍🏼.
Come on - it’s time to get some top refs into our league.
Week after week after week. Match after match after match. Now do you believe me? I’ve been a lone voice in the wilderness for years, bit maybe not anymore.
You know what I’m referring to of course? Exactly. Refereeing standards in the PL. And VAR operators. They’re simply not good enough either. Nowhere near good enough.
This is a subject I’ve tried to steer clear of in recent weeks because I was starting to bore myself with it. But then Guardiola, for the second week running, Emery and Silva were all very public after a series of awful decisions this weekend. It was Moyes a week or so back. And even Sean Dyche, who’s a huge fan of the technology. Park that - I’ll get back to the tech.
You’ve got to feel for Silva and Fulham. There isn’t a team in the league that’s had more bad decisions go against them.
Let’s not get into the minutia of what upset Guardiola, Emery and Silva this Sunday, but look at the issue in the round. Surely when football people (who’re always encouraged to keep their mouths shut by the authorities) start rearing up it’s time for something to be done?
This is so frustrating for me because it’s something I’ve been banging on about for too long. It’s triggering me as I write.
On the field our guys are poor. Off it they’re just as bad. I’m not a fan of the tech - never have been - but it’s not the machinery as such - it’s the operators.
More time is wasted by the guys in the bunker than by any player winding up for a long throw or a keeper delaying a goal kick, yet we’re looking to alter the laws again to stop them time-wasting. It’s VAR delays we should be concentrating on fixing.
Try putting a limit on the time VAR can waste. Ok, we got to the correct decision at The Bridge, when it was decided West Ham’s Todibo had to go following the melee, but it took five minutes to make that decision. Five minutes ffs. We all saw him lose the plot in real time. It’s not good enough.
Our refereeing is a shambles but no-one else is prepared to call it out. More than once I’ve referred back to my initial thoughts on Howard Webb’s appointment as refs chief. I was delighted when he got the job, but he’s been a massive disappointment. He still marks his own homework and he’s still more interested in the media (less so) the he should be.
When is Richard Masters going to accept something had got to be done?
Here are my solutions. Go and get the best refs we can from Europe. I’ve said this before as well - our league operates with the best on-field talent and the best coaches the world has to offer. So let’s get the best refs involved.
Stop the VAR interventions. There’s too many. On-field refs don’t make big calls anymore because they know VAR is there to cover their arses if they make a bad one. They’ve all decided it’s better to wait. They’ve made themselves poorer as a result.
Get in full-time specialist VAR operators. Not the guys who ref on-field.
Stop lying and covering up. Stop making things up on a match by match basis. Admit mistakes. We can live with mistakes. And stop treating us all like fools. It’s our game - all of us - not just the referees.
Isn’t it good to see Kobbie Mainoo back doing what he does best? As regular readers know, I’m a huge fan. It was ridiculous that Amorim ignored him as he did. Or was l right all along - ignoring Mainoo was just another ploy to get the sack and bank £10m?
Mainoo is a fantastic young English talent who should be at the heart of United’s midfield for the next decade. I’d congratulate Michael Carrick on realising that if it wasn’t so bleeding obvious. What I will say is everything Carrick is doing is based on common sense. Fair play to him.
On a weekend when David Moyes was booked for celebrating a goal I have to say I couldn’t agree with The Sunday Times Alyson Rudd any more. She wrote a great piece this weekend highlighting how much we miss Mourinho in our league. He was pure class after Benfica’s dramatic CL win v Real.
I know what you’re thinking - the ‘celebration police’ don’t usually condone that sort of behaviour, but there’s a time and a place. In added time at the Stadium of Light v Madrid, with the stakes as high as they were, was both the time and the place. Brilliant Mourinho. Pure entertainment.
What on earth is going on at Leicester? Marti Cifuentes has gone - the seventh permanent manger to lose his job in just over two and a half years. Director of Football Jon Rudkin remains at the club.
Meanwhile at Watford Javi Gracia has ended his second spell at the club - becoming the 23rd different coach hired and let go by the Pozzo family. Director of Football Scott Duxbury remains at the club.
Careful Arsenal - but it’s still yours to lose.
This week we can say Arsenal dropped points. It wasn’t a good weekend for them at all with both City and Villa winning. Arteta is going to have to make some tough choices about what he wants to win pretty soon.
I’ll come back to that because I don’t want to undermine what United did. Michael Carrick couldn’t have had a tougher start - games against the top two teams in the country - but United have been brilliant. He’s certainly giving the brains trust something to think about. It’s too soon to get carried away though.
The squad United have should be qualifying for a European place on auto-pilot so that’s a minimum requirement for Carrick.
The decision on whether he gets the job has got to be based on what’s achievable beyond this season. I hope he does get it. Regulars know my feelings about backing British coaches, but I’m not sure.
I still believe Tuchel or Alonso would be a better idea, but Carrick has got the chance to prove he’s the man - and he hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.
As for the Gunners - don’t panic. They’re still clear. They’re still favourites. The should still win it, but I understand the anxiety.
I keep saying - any title challenge will be made up of all sorts of drama. I write before Coventry play at Norwich. If we lose, what was a 10-point lead will be down to three and if that happens the nay-sayers will be predicting doom for a team most were saying were nailed onfor promotion just a few weeks ago.
But it doesn’t work like that. No team has ever won anything in January. There’s still a long way to go. Arsenal (and Coventry) need to be careful, but they should still win it.
I’ll say it again though - I do think Arteta needs to be careful about what he’s asking of his players. Arsenal can’t win four trophies. That’s impossible - which is why it’s never been done.
In Coventry’s case - we have just 17 games left after tonight’s (Monday) at Carrow Road. That should help a relatively small squad cope with heavy C’ship demands.
I fancied Bournemouth for their win. I’m not at all convinced by Liverpool. Arne remains Lost despite the recent deceptive string of results. Take a look for yourselves into the run they were on. It was nothing to get excited about.
I might start doing the Pools again because I said Forest could win at Brentford as well. Unlike Arteta it looks as though Dyche has worked out his target - survival. Europe is a distraction he doesn’t need or want.
I thought Brentford was an ideal game for Forest - sit in and go toe to toe with them. Dyche had a game plan and his team pulled it off perfectly.
I can’t see any real harm coming to Palace, but I think they’re in for a really uncomfortable second half of the season.
I said this last week - when Glasner announced he’d be leaving in May, if I had been Steve Parrish I’d have asked him to go straight away. It might have cost a few quid and Parrish wants to avoid any compensation payment, but it would’ve been the right thing.
Parrish knows Glasner has been tapped up. The Austrian reckons he’s top of United’s wish-list and he might have been a couple of weeks ago. But that’s a long time in football as we know. Carrick is doing a fine job, whilst Palace’s results are starting to make Glasner look silly. That’s his problem - if it gets worse he’ll be damaging his own reputation still further.
I know Parrish has told him he can leave now, but it would be without compensation. That’s the issue for Glasner. He should get out though. He won’t be short of a few bob going forward and his stock is good at the moment.
Anyone else think the project at Newcastle is over? I keep saying it. I think it’s fairly obvious now isn’t it?
Why aren’t the Saudi’s spending money? And don’t tell me it’s FFP. It’s not. That excuse doesn’t wash whilst City are still spunking money unchecked.
No. It’s because the Saudi’s have found another way to play on the world sports stage. They don’t need Newcastle to make an impact with. They’re buying big events and taking them in-house - tennis, F1, golf, UFC, football. The list is endless. Why do they need Newcastle?
I feel for Eddie Howe and the Geordie faithful. I’d like to be wrong and see The Toon splash some cash before the window shuts. It’s pretty clear where they need re-enforcements but it’s not going to happen. It’s a shame.
I loved AFCON. I hope ignorant critics embrace it now as well.
Stunning. The whole thing. And to think the competition is often derided - by people who should know better as well.
I’m talking AFCON of course. I thought it was brilliant from start to finish. We won’t forget the final in a hurry either. It was good, but the real drama was saved until the end. In some ways it reminded me of the 5-minute final all the way back in 1979 between Arsenal and United.
You can’t condone what happened in and around the 90th minute, but Sadio Mane emerged from the chaos with real class after bringing his team back onto the pitch for extra-time. And this following on from his mature reaction to his team’s semi-final win over Egypt.
He wanted calm on the whistle. He knew nothing had been achieved at that stage. He was right. Save it. The Celebration Police were proud of him. Wait until there really is something to get excited about.
It’s a bit like players celebrating the award of a pen. Celebrate the goal if it’s converted, but the award means nothing. Ask Brahmin Diaz. What was he thinking ffs? He got what he deserved.
For what it’s worth I thought it was a pen. You can’t do what El Hadji Malik Diouf did - haul a player down in the box. What made it a pen for me is the ball is dropping for Diaz. We see these wrestling matches every week in the PL and it would stop if officials penalised it.
Anyway - well done everybody associated with AFCON and hang your head in shame if you still don’t get it.
Once again, after all the hysteria about ‘dropped points’ by Arsenal after the Forest match, it turned out to be a very good weekend for them. That point stretched their lead. I keep saying it - there are so many twists and turns in a title chase we have to wait for a completed match week before judging results.
It was a pen mind you. I’m with Arteta. Aina controls the ball with his arm. He clearly moves it to the ball, and he later admitted he’d got away with one with that tweet - now deleted of course.
As good as United were - and they were - City were dreadful. To borrow a chant from Southampton fans ‘sideways and backwards wherever we go’. City were toothless.
Guardiola’s body language fascinated me at the end. He wasn’t coaching as he usually does. There were no words for the opposition nor battles with cameramen - just a mournful walk to City fans.
I mentioned this on air at beINSPORTS and immediately got a few messages from people who know him. People well connected in the NW.
I floated some of the well sourced info I was getting, suggesting Guardiola could leave City this week - phrasing what I said like this ‘probable? Yea. Possible? Definitely. Likely? Less so now, but 💯 he’s gone at the end of the season’.
In my view Guardiola has been checked out all season. He’s not the same. Of course he’s going to be disappointed about a defeat, but it all feels odd to me. I think his players know more than we do as well. I’m told the Manchester press corp do as well, but they won’t break ranks.
I’m more than a little surprised Palace have allowed Glasner to turn himself into a temporary manager. I’m sorry, but he’s got to go. Was he trying to get sacked when he blasted Steve Parrish over allowing Guehi and probably Mateta to leave?
If I’m Glasner I want out now. I’m told he’s top of United’s wish list, so why stay at Palace and run the risk of reputational damage if the second half of the season falls apart? Go - and wait. If it’s not United he’ll get a good one.
There is, of course, the chance United make the same mistake as they did with Solajkaer and make Carrick’s role permanent. I wouldn’t. I said it before - it’s time to break the obsession with all things Fergie. Carrick did well Saturday though, getting a performance out of United with a combination of common sense team selection and formation.
For me, there’s two men United’s brains trust should be hunting down - Tuchel and Xavi Alonso. And don’t tell me it can’t be Alonso because he played for Liverpool - so did Busby. And he also played for City.
All the drama in Manchester has taken the spotlight off Arne Lost. It shouldn’t. Liverpool are bang ordinary right now whatever Lost does.
The Toffees did a job on Villa didn’t they? I fancied them to as well. I know Emery was very flat after, but his team ARE top 5 material. They’re just not title contenders.
It’s good to see the subject of concussion subs on the agenda at IFAB’s meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). There is no good reason not to adopt Rugby’s protocol and allow 10-15 minute temporary subs while players are assessed off the pitch. Get on with it.
I really enjoyed Rory Smith’s piece in The Observer on the formation of Oceania’s first professional football league - the OFC Pro League. Why? Well read the piece for yourselves if you can, but briefly, it’s important because Oceania is a FIFA region - made up of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and a whole lot of Pacific Island nations - in other words it’s going to be a cross-border competition.
Up until now FIFA have frowned upon cross border leagues, but not anymore. I’m sure movers and shakers in Holland and Belgium will have noticed the change and as Smith points out, Mexican sides who want to play MLS.
But more significantly Smith makes the point the A22 group, the people behind a proposed Euro Super League, will also be aware of this massive change. That project hasn’t gone away.