Now Guardiola goes all Big Sam.
Here’s a quote that will blow your mind.
‘Maybe we can learn to win these type of games, to bring the balls quicker to the box. These are not tactics, strategies, it’s just put the ball in there for the chaos and you score. Pep Lijnders is now with me (as my assistant) and how many times did Liverpool [where Lijnders came from] win these games?
No. Not Big Sam. Nor Tony Pulis. Not even Sean Dyche, but Pep Guardiola. Amazing eh?
Something is changing at City and for the first time in his coaching career Guardiola is being led by football evolution. Thank goodness.
I wondered when I saw the quote if he was being facetious, but then I remembered how City kicked-off v Leeds. Did you see it? The ball was rolled back to Donnarumma, who planted it into opposition territory - just like every other team is doing now. Perhaps we really are through the ‘tippy tappy’ (yes, I did give Big Sam the name of his Podcast) years?
I don’t think City are entirely comfortable with getting the ball from back to front more quickly just yet, which is why Guardiola had Donnarumma feign injury in the second-half so he could get his team together on the side-lines for instructions.
Daniel Farke was right to call Guardiola out on that little bit of gamesmanship. It’s wrong. Agreed - it’s allowed and very difficult to stop, but this from a man who’s spent more time complaining about time-wasting by other teams than anything else since coming to the PL.
Why did Antony Taylor need VAR for to send Caicedo off? That was a shocking challenge. Everybody in the stadium saw it - except one of our supposed top refs, who was 5 metres away. Is it a lack of confidence with these guys now? They don’t make big calls because the tech is there to save them? If that’s the case it’s another erosion.
What on earth was Paqueta doing at West Ham? Surely he’s been through enough not invite more suspicion about his behaviour on a football pitch? Madness utter madness. And he’ll have to live with the consequences and questions that are bound to follow.
You’ve got to hand it to Sunderland and their fans. Both were fantastic again at the weekend. They had a real problem when Bournemouth swept into a 2-goal lead, but they didn’t panic, they drew breath and set about their job with real gusto. It was a terrific game to watch.
I was desperately sad to read about the problems at Exeter in The Times today. They’re the club owned by fans and run by volunteers.
Older readers will remember them going out of business in 2003, but reforming under a Supporters Trust. I won’t go into all the details, but the once ‘utopic model’ (as The Times refers to them as) has stalled. Badly stalled. And they’re on the brink again. If you can find a copy of The Times have a read. I’d post a link but they operate behind a paywall.
According to Martin Zeigler in the same paper (Saturday) the BBC aren’t sending commentators or co-comms to the early stages of the WC. They’ll be based in Salford doing the games ‘off-tube’ - off a tv set.
I don’t know why the fuss. Most CL games are done the that way. I don’t know why they send studio teams to cover the games on-site either I’ve never understood that. There really is no need. They’ve spent fortunes on studios so why not use those - generating backgrounds?
What about that stadium B’ham have got plans for? Think again guys - it’s awful.
On the subject of the WC I can’t wait to see who wins FIFA’s inaugural ‘Peace Award’ at the draw this week. I wonder who it’ll be? Well - we all know who it will be. This is an another pathetic stunt by Infantino.
Mike Ashley to Sheffield Weds? I’d be delighted if I were a Weds fan.
And finally - a word on Billy Bonds. What a legend. A proper player and lovely, lovely man. As honest as the day is long. He was one of the first real enforcers on the pitch and you couldn’t help but admire his approach to the game. He was West Ham to the core.
Sadly his time as manager at the club was brought to an abrupt end and he never spoke of why. He didn’t have to. We all knew. I’ll bet his family don’t invite ‘Arry to the funeral. RIP Bill.
They thought it was all over. It is now Liverpool.
We might as well start where we left off a fortnight ago when I said Liverpool were out of the title race. They’d lost five games when we took the international break. I said in my last blog they’d need to be close to perfection if they were going to prove me wrong. They haven’t. They won’t. Six defeats is too many. It is definitely all over now.
Everybody is looking for reasons why. Regular readers of this blog know why. I’ve been talking about the reasons all season so I’m not going into them again. Incidentally, that’s six defeats from their last seven home games as well. This is a genuine crisis. Arne Lost has got deep problems to sort out.
Liverpool’s is turning into the worst title defence of all time. After 12 games they’ve now got a record to rival the worst ever - Blackburn’s in 95/96, Chelsea’s in 2015/16 and Leicester’s in 2016/17.
Someone else in trouble is Daniel Farke. I wonder if any of the decision makers at Leeds are thinking back to the start of the campaign when they considered firing Farke, despite the fact he’d won promotion? They should’ve done. And I’m not being smart now. I said so then.
Farke has got a terrific record getting teams out of the C’ship. He’s done it three times, but he can’t keep a team in the PL.
His record in the big league is awful - just six wins from 49 games at Norwich. And he lost 35 of the 49. You can add three more now from the 12 Leeds have played, but it’s still shocking. It really is. I don’t see how he survives.
Before a ball was kicked I said they’d need to be really good at home to stand a chance of staying up. That’s still the case and Farke might be the man to do it if Leeds decide to stick not twist, but it’s a big call.
It’s not as though they didn’t back the coach last summer - 10 new faces at a cost of £100m plus was a big investment.
Wolves look dead in the water - despite changing coaches, which is why it’s always a tricky decision to make. I think they’re too far back. They needed to beat Palace to have a sniff of a chance and capitalise on the ‘feel good’ factor Rob Edwards arrived with.
A year ago Saints were bottom with four points and never looked like getting out of trouble. I like Edwards and I wish him well but he’s got a job and a half on at Molineux.
Would you pay £100m plus for Elliott Anderson? I’m not sure. Clearly he’s a good player and Forest did a terrific piece of business when they nicked him from Newcastle for £35m. But £100m plus now?
Consider some of the players that have cost that sort of money. Would Liverpool spend like that again on Isak or Wirtz? Ok - there’s time yet for both signings to work out and I’m a fan of Isak, but right now it looks like a lot of money for not very much on both players.
What about Declan Rice? Would Arsenal spend the same money again? Definitely. Now he’s Rice and not Nice - damaging teams higher up the pitch. He’s not the same impactful player when he sits doing ‘Nice’ things.
What about Caicedo and Fernandez at Chelsea? Do you remember Jurgen Klopp stating he thought Liverpool had dodged bullets when they signed for Chelsea? At that time he was probably right - but not now. Well - in Caicedo’s case at least. He’s been fantastic for Chelsea this season. Andy reckons he’s the best in his position now. It’s hard to disagree, but Fernandez is not much more than ordinary.
What about Jack Grealish? Was he ever worth £100m? Not for me. Only 12 goals and 12 assists make that an expensive £100m. And it doesn’t look as though City are getting much back on the deal.
Let’s be honest, there are never guarantees when a club signs a player, but when you’re investing as somebody is going to in Elliott Anderson you’ve got to be careful. Isak and Wirtz prove that.
The title is already Lost Arne
I’m reading Arne Lost fears Liverpool have already blown their title chances. I’ve got news for you Arne. You have. You can’t win it now. Not after losing five games already.
It’s been a pathetic defence, but we shouldn’t be surprised really. I said all last season Liverpool weren’t great champions. Of course they take credit for having won it, but there wasn’t really a challenge.
They stumbled over the line, almost like a tired marathon runner. Changes had to be made, but they didn’t do surgery where it was really needed. Van Dijk is fading fast. His powers aren’t what they once were. He’s past his sell-by date and should really have been moved on, but Liverpool didn’t sign a replacement. They spent all their money on forwards, some of whom look as lost as their coach.
Those signings only really confused Lost. He still doesn’t know his best team and Arsene Wenger was right when he told us on BeINSPORTS last week Lost blew his own midfield up by bringing in Wirtz.
Wirtz wants to play as a 10. Apparently Lost told him he could. That meant a complete change in system and it hasn’t worked. In recent games Lost has gone back to a more familiar system and line-up - squeezing Wirtz in on the left-side, but that hasn’t worked either. Wirtz shouldn’t have played at City. But Lost has got to play him. He’s got to back him. But that decision is costing Liverpool.
United, City and Chelsea have all won the title at different times losing six games. Blackburn won it after losing seven, but that was in a different era. Six is the maximum now, which means Liverpool would have to be nearly perfect for the remaining 27 games. Can you see that? No. Nor can I.
It’s only a week since Guardiola was complaining City don’t get decisions from officials. I said that was bollocks last week - and seven days on we got the evidence.
Ok. I can see an argument why VVD’s header was disallowed. But it shouldn’t have been really should it? Robertson wasn’t interfering with Donnarumma’s line of sight. If he had been the keeper wouldn’t have nearly saved it. Of course he saw it.
Not that Chris Kavanagh had a clue. No ref has changed his mind more often when told what to do by his colleagues - usually Michael Oliver.
As regulars know I keep an ever growing list of refereeing howlers now and I’ll give you two examples of goals given in similar circumstances to the one Liverpool had disallowed - both to City!
1. City at Wolves last season. John Stones scored late - Bernardo Silva was standing on the keeper clearly impeding him. Goal was given - by Kavanagh.
2. Ake scored in a win over Fulham the season before. Fulham rightly felt Akanji had interfered in play by going for a ball whilst he was offside. VAR didn’t dare get involved because the ref was - Michael Oliver. You couldn’t make it up. I don’t need to mention both men were on duty at The Etihad do I?
Whilst we’re on the subject - did you see the two refereeing shockers at Brentford?
Of course Brentford should’ve had a pen when Dan Burn (what a good lad he seems to be) fouled Ouattara in the box. Burn knew he had, but Stuart Attwell booked Ouattara for diving. VAR confirmed the decision saying there was ‘minimal contact’. What nonsense. Nowhere in law 12 (which covers fouls and misconduct) does it speak of ‘minimal contact’. Paul Tierney was the hapless individual in the bunker.
Attwell and Tierney compounded their error by then giving Brentford a pen - and sending Burn off - when Ouattara went down again. This time there was no contact, but the pair knew they’d fucked up so they gave this one.
On the subject of ‘minimal contact’ there was less contact on Doku when Oliver gave City a pen. Week after week this nonsense goes on. One excuse and lie follows another - exposed by those of us who monitor these things.
Good luck to the former City centre- half Dave Watson in his battle to have his brain condition recognised as being the result of football-related injuries.
Watson won the most recent stage of his claims after doctors said they believed Watson has probable Alzheimer’s and probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) which is a brain disease brought on by repetitive head injury.
Watson has won the right for a first-tier tribunal to have another look at his claim he should receive benefits as a result of industrial injuries suffered during his playing days.
He’ll be doing an awful lot of good for those fighting the same battle if he keeps going and wins.
To be frank Thomas - stop pissing about.
Question. Why did Tottenham employ Thomas Frank? Answer. Because he’d done really well at Brentford. Fair?
There might be other reasons, but predominantly it had to be because of what Daniel Levy had seen on the pitch. And what was that? Well, Frank had served up straight forward, no nonsense football. No tippy-tappy master classes. Brentford would get the ball from back to front quickly, inflicting as much damage as possible. And it worked beautifully. Levy wanted that.
When Spurs appointed Frank I remember writing here I thought they might just have got it right at last.
There were good signs early on. I also remember complimenting him on getting a free kick into the box, competing for the seconds and scoring in his opening home game v Burnley. Ange’s Tottenham would’ve passed sideways and backwards before wasting the chance. Tottenham fans loved it.
So what’s happened? Spurs were hopeless on Saturday - laborious, predictable and offered little or nothing. On the other hand Chelsea were vibrant. They hunted everything down, not giving Spurs a moment to think. They looked more like a Frank Brentford team.
Has Frank got the Spursy bug already? Has he become overawed by the tradition and history of Tottenham? I hope not because if he has he’ll go the same way as the 14 coaches Daniel Levy hired and fired before his departure. Just keep it simple Thomas. Do what you know best.
It was a satisfying win for Chelsea. Reece James was as good as I’ve seen him in a Chelsea jersey - both in midfield and at right back after half-time.
The problem with this Chelsea side is you can’t trust them to perform as they did on a regular basis. They’re too flimsy. I don’t see real commitment. They lack a DNA. They strike me more as a ‘trading post’ than a football club under the current ownership. They’re miles from the JT years.
One last thing. Maresca was smart leaving players on the half-way line on the occasions Spurs did launch a long throw, but he’s not a the genius I’ve been reading about. The X-Coventry boss Gordon Strachan would leave three up at set-pieces every time we played Wimbledon. There’s nothing new in the game really.
Shut up Guardiola. What was he talking about after City’s win v Bournemouth? What absolute bollocks it is for him to suggest City have been treated unfairly by officials for a decade.
Guardiola was upset because Antony Taylor didn’t rule out Bournemouth’s equaliser. He was right not to. Donnarumma made a complete mess of clearing the corner and was entirely to blame for the goal.
Ok. He was disturbed by Brooks momentarily holding his arm, but he was unimpeded when he came to punch the ball. He simply made an arse of it. It was all his own fault.
Donnarumma is a top shot stopper. He’s equally good at saving pens, but he’s hopeless when the ball is in the air. It’s one of the reasons Paris let him go.
City have had 9.9 out of every 10 decisions refs have made during Guardiola’s time in charge. I notice he made no mention of the pen Bournemouth should’ve had when Nunes pushed Brooks over in the box. Anywhere else on the pitch that’s a free-kick. It should’ve been a pen. Taylor shit it.
Things aren’t right at Newcastle are they? The Saudi project has clearly stalled and Eddie Howe looks tired to me. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is his last season with the Toon. Watch this space.
I’m sorry to see Will Still lose his job so quickly at Southampton. Our game needs bright young Brits (I know he was born in Belgium) making a go of the coaching opportunities they’ve been handed.
Having said that I think there’s a bit of the ‘Russel Martin’s’ about him. Don’t make his mistakes Will. Be your own man. And don’t be a slave to an era that passing.
Saints’ owners were always going to react when the heat was turned on them. There’s trouble at Leicester as well where Jon Rudkin’s sixth coach in two years is in trouble. When are DoF’s going to be held accountable for the shocking howlers they make? They’re currently getting away with murder - none more so than Rudkin.
Martin O’Neill is playing a blinder at Celtic. It’s great to see him back in the mix pretending he won’t take the job if it’s offered. Yes he will.
If O’Neill doesn’t get it full time my choice would be Robbie Keane. He’d be perfect. They can’t go back to Ange.
And I’m reading Rob Edwards is in the frame for the Wolves job? Regulars know how highly I rate him so I’m not surprised, but why would he leave Middlesbrough, where he works for a top bloke in Steve Gibson, to take over in a madhouse? I don’t see it. He’s not daft. And the chances are he’ll be passing Wolves at the end of the season anyway.
Memo to Sunderland fans. Of course it was fixed.
Of course it was a fix. And if it had been the other way round I’d have been furious as well. But it’s time to let it go now.
For the benefit of people who have no idea what I’m referring to let me explain.
We’ve got to go back to 1977. Yes. 1977. Sunderland, Coventry and Bristol City are all fighting for their lives in the old Division One. Sunderland were at Everton, on the same night we played Bristol City. If Sunderland lost, a draw would save both Coventry and Bristol City. These were the days when the season dribbled to a conclusion. Not every team played at the same time.
Sunderland did lose. Coventry and Bristol City finished 2-2. I would add that we’d led 2-0 at one stage, but I’m clutching at straws. Sunderland went down.
On the face of it, those are the facts. Except they’re not. You’ve got to factor in the back story.
Coventry’s chairman was Jimmy Hill. Jim, of course, had once managed Coventry. His old assistant, Alan Dicks, was now Bristol City boss. And his assistant was John Sillett, one of Jim’s first big signings when he got the job at Coventry. Sillett was later to deliver Coventry’s famous Cup win of 1987, but I digress.
I’m pretty sure both matches were scheduled 7.30 kick-offs. This is significant because Coventry’s match was delayed 15 minutes - on Police advice.
I wasn’t there so I’ve no idea what it was like outside Highfield Road, but the delay was on safety grounds. At least that’s what an FA inquiry later found when it cleared Hill and Coventry of any wrong doing. What were they thinking? How couldn’t they see it? Or perhaps they did. Jimmy had friends everywhere.
It wasn’t the delay that was the issue, but the fact it allowed Coventry and Bristol City to stop playing after Hill performed a ‘public service’ act and announced the score from Goodison 15 minutes before the end of our game.
I say ‘what were the FA thinking?’ because it didn’t need Colombo (a popular tv detective at the time) to work it out Of course it was fixed. How can I be sure? Let me tell you that as well.
Some time later - 1992/3 it must’ve been, I was hosting a talk show for Sky Sports called The Footballers’ Football Show. The modern day equivalent is The Overlap. Trust me, there are no new ideas in TV. They all come round again.
Anyway, I digress again. We were in front of an audience at Coventry. One of our four guests was Terry Yorath, who was our captain on the night in question. I loved Terry. He was the reason I got his daughter Gabby her job at Sky.
Terry told the story of the night in question - including a tale about a sub Bristol City put on. The kid apparently hadn’t been briefed, so went on, dribbled past half a dozen Coventry statues and smashed the ball against the bar. Yorath said everybody turned to the Bristol City bench, in blind panic, asking what the hell was going on? Oh how we laughed.
Except it wasn’t a laughing matter for Sunderland fans. Oh, I’ve got to add that I was with Graham Kelly a few weeks later. He was FA Secretary then and he set up the inquiry. He pulled me and said ‘I saw your programme. I was going to re-open the inquiry after hearing what I did, but I decided it was better to let the matter rest’. Phew.
Hill saw it as well. He called me to express his surprise - and annoyance- we’d even discussed it. If I remember correctly he wanted an apology as well. There was no chance of that. What had been said was true.
I can feel Sunderland fans coming to the boil at this point. Especially because it sort of happened again in 1997 when we went to Spurs and won to stay up. This one started 15 minutes late as well because of crowd issues, but I promise you this one was legit.
On this occasion I was in a Sky Sports studio watching. It was two from three on this occasion. Middlesboro could only draw at Leeds whilst Reidy’s Sunderland lost at Wimbledon. They both went down.
I was the only person involved
who saw the last 15 minutes at Spurs. They battered us. Steve Ogrizovic had a worldly and kept them at bay. They were desperate to beat us, perhaps remembering 1987?
The match was coming into the Sky building, but we couldn’t put it to air because we’d covered our allotted amount of games for that season. There was me, trying to conduct a sensible conversation with our studio guests, whilst glued to what was happening at White Hart Lane. We should’ve put it to air and argued about it with the PL later. Everyone was desperate to see it.
There was no skull-duggery this time though.
So let’s go back to the original reason why this animosity exists between Sunderland and Coventry - and why I’ve chosen to revisit this now.
As I said - it’s time to let it go. First - It isn’t the only game that’s ever been fixed. It happens every week somewhere in the world nowadays. Even WC matches have been fixed. Not that that’s an excuse for what happened at Coventry.
Second - Sunderland had their revenge beating us in the play-off semi-finals last season. We were better in the two games, but we lost. I think it’s fair to say Sheff Utd were better in the final, but they lost. So top marks to Sunderland. They earned the right to play PL football this season.
And I’m absolutely delighted to see them doing so well right now. They were fantastic at Chelsea and they sit fourth on merit. Keep it going guys.
Having said that, I feel as though I can point out the winner at Chelsea could easily have been disallowed. Geertruida was clearly offside and in the keeper’s line of sight, but Sanchez failed to make anything of it, so Talbi’s goal was given.
And Isidor’s equaliser should’ve been disallowed. Mukiele’s long throw was illegal. His back foot was off the ground when he released the ball. But who would expect the assistant, who was six metres away to spot that? Anyway - well played Sunderland. You made the most of it again.
Nothing was made of Sunderland’s winner, but Stuart Attwell (VAR) took it upon himself to disallow Everton’s equaliser v Spurs, for much the same reason I’m arguing Sunderland’s first was a little fortune The decision changed the whole game. It was a ridiculous call. Craig Pawson was weak and should’ve ignored Attwell, who’s trying like a bear to impress enough people to get a WC call up.
The Brentford pen was another daft call. Leave it. Don’t get involved. And how Antony Taylor and Michael Oliver decided United shouldn’t have had a pen when Amad was brought down is staggering. The fact the ball brushed off a defender’s heel is irrelevant. The foul had been committed. Taylor and Oliver are supposed to be our two tops refs. Well - they consider themselves to be. I’m still counting Howard.
Truce Sunderland? And please back off Jason McAteer. He didn’t mean any harm. He loved his time at Sunderland.
Arne Lost? And well played Harry.
As regulars know I love to start on a positive note if I can. And this week I can.
I was delighted for Harry Maguire Sunday. He’s just a good, solid bloke. He deserved his winner and the joy that followed it.
Maguire has endured some torrid times in recent seasons - from the indignation of being stripped of the captaincy at United to struggling to even get a game.
What you see is what you get with him. He’s dependable. And a true leader. Granted, he isn’t fancy. He’s not a new-age defender or a ball playing centre-back like Ferdinand. He’s just ‘Harry’. He sticks his head on a ball and there isn’t a trick in his locker. As he’s shown time and again, he’s also a real threat in the opponents box.
Never once has he complained about the way he’s been treated by both ten Hag and Amorim or the stick he’s had to endure. Top man Harry. Enjoy your week.
If I’m a Liverpool fan I’m a bit worried right now. Arne Slot looks more like his internet caricature Arne Lost at the moment. Andy has been saying for a few weeks on BeINSPORTS he doesn’t think Lost knows his best team and I agree.
Lost was smart enough to leave things well alone after succeeding Klopp, but this is his group now. It’s his system. They’re his players after a massive summer spend. It his self-inflicted problem.
But it isn’t just about the new players he’s got - he’s playing a very different system and I don’t think Salah likes it. If you lose him you’re in trouble. Klopp did once or twice, but quickly got him back onside. Lost is clearly pissing him off right now.
Speaking of Klopp - think back to how long it took him to actually have an influence at the club - and I mean a real influence. He worked for the power he achieved over all areas. I’m wondering if Michael Edwards has given Lost too much too soon after last seasons Klopp inspired title success?
Back to the United game - of course it should’ve been stopped immediately Mac Allister was clattered by van Dijk. I was really surprised a ref like Michael Oliver - held in such high esteem by himself - didn’t blow when he saw Mac Allister go down holding his head. He was looking straight at the incident. He was close enough to hear it as well - something we don’t get the luxury of. It was poor refereeing. And dangerous.
Liverpool should also have had a pen. Amad clearly handles Gakpo’s cross and that’s given every time in the CL. It was a pen. His arm is out. He’s made himself bigger. And he’s blocked a dangerous cross. Pen.
And Arsenal can be a little aggrieved they didn’t get the pen at Fulham. Ok, Kevin gets the slightest of touches on the ball, but he has to go through Saka to get to it. And if that’s not enough - what about ‘momentum’? We hear that a lot when decisions like that go the other way.
It was a pen - just as Gyokeres’ was at Newcastle when Pope cleaned him out. Happily neither decision affected the result in either game, but it’s important to call these things out. I’m keeping a record of an ever growing list of mistakes because we know Howard Webb doesn’t.
Do we congratulate Ange on setting a new record? Sacked after 39 days. We all saw it coming. How come he didn’t?
He wanted to change things too quickly I’m afraid. Look - I’m not suggesting things at Forest were calm following Nuno’s departure - or even leading up to it, but Ange didn’t get players on board. He lost too many too quickly. Why change solid back four - one of the best in the league last season, into a five? Why leave Murillo out? He’s a Maguire-type warrior.
My only surprise was why Marinakis waited until after the international break. What was the point? If Chelsea turned up - and they did in the second-half, that was a nailed on away win. So why wait? I’d like to wish the next man all the luck in the world. He’s going to need it.
Let’s close with another quick word about what’s happening at Rangers. I’m hearing Kevin Muscat turned the job down because he didn’t fancy reporting to Kevin Thelwell. Who would?
I said a fortnight ago Thelwell should’ve followed Martin out of the door. He was responsible for making that dud decision. He should be accountable for it. And now it appears he’s the stumbling block to a new appointment.
Rumours of a police investigation at Rangers into the misappropriation of funds isn’t good news either.
I know Celtic fans aren’t happy right now either, but isn’t it refreshing to see a Derek McInnes inspired Hearts top? And I’m especially pleased to see Hibs going so well.
David Gray is in charge there - reporting to my mate Malky Makay. Well done both. Keep it going.
We went accuracy and honesty from our officials. Not lies.
So we got there. It took more than a week, but Howard Webb has finally
admitted two of our top refs fucked up at Brentford.
Of course Nathan Collins should’ve been sent-off for denying Brian Mbeumo a goal scoring opportunity. Of course it was nonsense to suggest Mbeumo didn’t have the ball under control, so it wasn’t a DOGSO and Collins could stay on. Of course Webb was going to have to admit those of us that called it on the day were right.
Webb should also have admitted Arsenal should’ve had a pen at Newcastle. What were they thinking over turning the on-field decision? Perhaps he forgot what he said after Saliba/Pedro? Let me remind you again. I mentioned it last week.
Brighton got a pen last season despite Saliba getting to the ball cleanly before he caught Pedro. ‘That touch on the ball doesn't negate the possible award of a penalty’ said Webb about the decision. ‘We've seen other examples where the ball may touch a player but there's still heavy contact on the follow through and it's a penalty’. Quite. No argument from me.
So why did they decide to change the decision at Newcastle? We still haven’t had an adequate answer on that - because there isn’t one if you apply Webb’s original view on these incidents.
I’m not coming back to this so I can be smug. I’m talking about it again because the Mbeumo admission underlines how bad things are right now when it comes to our refereeing.
Not only did Craig Pawson get it wrong on the pitch - Andy Madley got it wrong in VAR. These guys are two of our top officials. How could they both make such a bad call?
What infuriates me as much - perhaps more - is that on the day the Matchday Centre - set up to communicate with broadcasters, lied their way around the problem - and on the Monday a raft of PGMOL patsies were sent out to compound those lies by pretending the decision was good. It wasn’t. We all knew it wasn’t.
What we want is simple - better referees for starters. And some honesty when mistakes are made. We all make mistakes - we can deal with that. Own them. That’s all we’re asking.
Happily there wasn’t much to get excited about this weekend, largely because the football was so poor. I honestly can’t remember such a bad group of matches. Yes, there were moments - like Semenyo’s goal and Caicedo’s strike, but there wasn’t much else. For the most part it was awful.
Why didn’t Brentford have a go at City? Keith Andrews was probably happy with a 1-0 defeat, but he shouldn’t have been. Why didn’t he set up to noise City up - like Brentford have so many more. City are fragile right now, so get in their faces.
City had only one more shot at goal after scoring. That’s how bad it was. Brentford sat off almost admiring them. Why? They’re not scary anymore. The only threat is Haaland. He’s got 12 of their goals this season. No-one else in the team has got more than two.
I like how Jason Burt put it in The Telegraph today. He says City are now the Haaland team. Burt reminded us when making that observation that Guardiola once accused Spurs of being the Harry Kane team.
I think Guardiola will also be regretting starting Rodri. Having spent a week telling us that he can’t play three games in a week right now, Guardiola started him in a third consecutive game. Why? He didn’t need him at Brentford. If he hasn’t got 11 players that can’t beat Brentford without Rodri, then something is seriously wrong.
Thank goodness Rangers finally pulled the plug on Russell Martin. What a chancer he is. He eventually got totally exposed at Southampton, arrogantly trying to convince us he was right about everything and we were all wrong.
So how on earth did Kevin Thelwell, Rangers Sporting Director, come to the conclusion Martin was the right man for a Goliath of a club like Rangers? He might as well have appointed Russell Grant. Thelwell should follow Martin out of the door.
I’m a huge fan of Keith Jackson, who writes for Scotland’s Daily Record. He’s closer to Rangers than anyone else and I enjoyed reading his piece today. He sums up the madness of Martin’s appointment far better than I can. Here it is.
And I can’t finish without a mentioning Super Frankie Lampard. What a job he’s doing at Coventry. Like so many I was devastated when Mark Robins was sacked. That decision wasn’t Frank’s fault of course so he was welcomed to the club as Mark’s replacement. It was the owner Doug King who took the heat.
Well King can feel very pleased with himself right now. Super Frank has really got things moving for us. I’m delighted for the club and our fantastic supporters.
There’s a long way to go yet, but right now we’re the best team in the C’ship and are deservedly top.
As for Super Frank - top work Frank. I hope the love affair we’re all involved in right now goes on for a long time yet. You deserve all the affection coming your way.
Another manic Saturday and Sunday.
I’m almost at the point of exhaustion with our hapless officials. Perhaps that’s their idea though? To be so bad we give up analysing and asking questions because we’re all losing the will to live.
Where to start? It’s been another awful weekend and I know as I type Howard Webb’s army of apologists are out spouting nonsense trying to justify some bemusing calls.
Ok. Who said this? ‘That touch on the ball doesn't negate the possible award of a penalty. We've seen other examples where the ball may touch a player but there's still heavy contact on the follow through and it's a penalty.’
Yep. You’ve got it. Howard Webb. Why? Because he was explaining why Brighton got a pen v Arsenal last season when Saliba got a good head on the ball, but followed through and caught Joao Pedro on his head. I have to say I agreed with the decision.
The words I want to focus on are ‘we’ve seen many other examples where the ball may touch a player but there’s still heavy contact on the follow through’. In other words - momentum. On VAR that day was Darren England.
If you apply the same reasoning - why was Arsenal’s pen denied by VAR at Newcastle? Pope got the tiniest of touches on the ball before cleaning out Gyokeres. It was a pen. Nailed on. Jarred Gillett got it right.
He certainly hadn’t made a ‘clear and obvious error’ so why did VAR get involved? And I’ll bet some of you are ahead of me - who was in VAR? You’ve got it - Darren England of course.
Howard Webb must now admit they got it wrong. He has no choice. His own words prove that. But, doubtless they’ll be spinning some sort of excuse, once again treating us like idiots.
You can apply the same criteria to the incident at Villa. Martinez clearly clatters Josh King. It’s a pen. Andy Madley got it wrong, but added insult to injury by booking King for simulation. Honestly. You couldn’t make it up.
‘They can call us, they can write to us what they want, but it’s clear it was a penalty’ said Marco Silva after the match. The Fulham boss was also raging about another incorrect call - when King’s shot hit the arm of Marty Cash.
These are often subjective - but not this one. The shot was on target and beating Martinez. That’s what made it a pen. Had Cash been five yards further back and on the line Madley gives it. It’s also given in the CL, where these decisions tend to be made more accurately.
How did Collins stay on at Brentford? He intentionally pulls Mbeumo away from the ball as he’s about to slide it in. It’s a clear denial, with no attempt to play the ball. He’s got to go. Nope - this time we were told ‘the on-field decision stands because Mbeumo didn’t have control of the ball’. Of course he didn’t ffs. He was pulled off it. And he would never have controlled it anyway - he was scoring with one touch.
Inconveniently for Webb and his inept charges we had the very same incident at Chelsea later that day. Chalobah was sent-off when he denied Gomez in the D. Did Gomez have control of the ball? No. It was some two/three yards away from him, but Simon Hooper called this one correctly. It was a clear DOGSO. My question is ‘how was it different to the one at Brentford?’ The answer is ‘it wasn’t’.
I often hear people say ‘ah well, it doesn’t matter, because so and so went on to win anyway’. That’s not the point. It does matter. The inconsistency is scary. And the decision making generally poor. Those two things, and the stream of excuses post match, is what drives coaches to distraction. You can have nothing but sympathy for Silva and Fulham, who’ve been hit harder than most this season.
Now let’s talk about football. Top marks to my title-tips Arsenal. I was critical last week, but they were terrific at Newcastle. I’d have to say the match-winner Gabriel was lucky to be on the pitch when he scored mind you. He should’ve gone after punching Woltemade in the face in the first half. That was violent conduct, so it comes into VAR’s orbit, so what were they doing in the bunker? How didn’t they see it?
I wasn’t surprise to see Palace beat Liverpool. What a run Palace are on - 18 unbeaten now. I’m still not convinced by Liverpool. I don’t think they’re as good as their results suggest. If we’re all honest we enjoyed seeing them ‘Liverpooled’ didn’t we? The late winner was deserved. Like me, how long before others start asking questions of Wirtz? What does he do?
I’m staying with my self imposed ban on discussing United. I’ll say just this - I’m not sure what was worse - getting beaten by a rookie coach, half the team Brentford once were or being denied a little piece of history - winning back to back games under Amorim.
Good luck to Nuno. He’s going to need it at West Ham. It was a certainty Potter would go once Brady and Sullivan started getting it in the neck, but what a treacherous manner in which to sack the coach. The morning after you’ve let him conduct his weekly press conference and part way through preparing the team for their next game.
Look. He was a poor appointment. He was never ever going to be the man ‘to deliver further success’ as Brady predicted. He’s a myth. A rich one mind you.
The press decided he was a genius because he tried to ‘play the right way’. He’s not. He’s a nice guy heavily over backed and over promoted. He won’t get another big job.
As for West Ham - Nuno will eventually regret ever having taken the job. It’s only a matter of time before he leaves saying exactly the same things about Brady and Sullivan as all the other coaches they’ve abused.
I’ll say it again - I genuinely feel sorry for West Ham fans. Coaches will continue to come and go through the revolving door there and the club will remain a mess behind the scenes
You could do something about those things but what they can’t change is the fact they play in an athletics arena. Hammers fans were sold a dream, but in reality it’s a nightmare. They were conned. Brady delivered that con. She should follow Potter out of the door.
The Gunners fired only blanks - loaded by Arteta.
I wonder how many of you got sent this like me. If you did you’ll already be scratching your head in disbelief. If you didn’t, have a look and absorb it.
Incredible isn’t it? But you can be sure Arsenal aren’t the only club with a raft of ‘experts’ like these. Having read it a couple of times my conclusion is this - what a pity not one of them has got the bollocks to tell Arteta to grow a pair himself and to start using all the tools at his disposal to try and win big games.
They were a joke again yesterday. Awful. And Arteta had the cheek to come out after the game and tell us his team had played better than the day they put five past City last season. Does he think we’re all fools?
No they didn’t. They were scared. Timid. Passive. Ok - they had a lot of possession, but the lions share if it was in their own half. What use is that?
They mustered three shots on target. Donnarumma parried one at his near post in the first half. Blocked one from Eze that was right down his throat in the second and was beaten only added time with the third. A very good third you’d have to say. Martinelli took the chance really well.
Other than that ‘new’ City were comfortable all day. And I mean comfortable.
Hasn’t Arteta been watching them this season? They’re a project right now - beaten twice already and ripe for the taking yesterday, if he’d picked the right team. And been more ambitious.
How could he not start Eze? I was staggered when I saw he’d left him out. Why did he buy him if not to play him in big games. He terrorised City in the Cup Final.
What an exquisite ball it was that set up Martinelli. You have to wonder what he might have done across 90 mins. Putting him on at half-time was a clear admission from Arteta he’d fucked up.
You’ve also got to ask why did Arteta buy Gyokeres if he’s not going to play to his strengths? He doesn’t want to be part of a tippy-tappy fest. He wants crosses. He wants balls over the top like Haaland gets now. He got nothing yesterday. Arteta will kill him unless he adapts.
The change in the game appears to have passed Arteta by. It hasn’t Guardiola. Have you noticed how direct City are now? Donnarumma bangs everything long. They’re quicker through the lines and even take long throws!
I read a stat in The Times this weekend they’re now moving the ball towards goal at an average speed of 1.6 metres per second (it didn’t say what it has been) which is much faster than at any time in Guardiola’s previous seasons.
They’re different. Evolving. So get at them. You were at home Arteta. What another wasted opportunity. I’ve said already this season - if Arsenal don’t win the title it will be directly on his toes. He’s got all the tools now. So use them. There can’t be anymore excuses. Or lies.
As for City - do we think Guardiola has changed, or is it the influence of Klopp’s former lieutenant Pep Lijnders? I suspect it’s a little bit Guardiola - a lot Lijnders.
I still don’t think Guardiola looks wholly committed and I’m even more convinced this will be his last season. Before you scoff - remember who told you. a full year before it happened, that he would get the City job.
His replacement will be Vincent Kompany. He’s just about the only man who could follow Guardiola and get a fair reception from City fans, who still adore him.
It looks like Graham Potter is toast. Is anyone surprised? Regular readers of this blog won’t be. He was never the man for West Ham. He’s not a big club manager.
All that bluster from Karen Brady when they appointed him looks even more stupid now. She should go with him. She’s made one bad decision after another in her role with The Hammers - including delivering an athletics arena for them the play football in. I feel sorry for West Ham fans. Oh for the Moysey days eh?
We mentioned Villa last week so I won’t dwell on them, but clearly all is not well there - and things won’t have been helped by Emery’s assertion that his players were ‘lazy’ at Sunderland. The fuse has been lit.
I guess after giving Ian Holloway a mention last week his Swindon were going to stumble, so I hope it doesn’t happen to Forest Green Rovers. They’re now top of the Conference. Top marks Robbie Savage.
When I had lunch with their DoF in the summer - my mate Mark Bowen - he told me he had a hunch about appointing Savage. You were right Mark.
Oh - and have you noticed who’s second? Mark Hughes’ Carlisle.
Dewsbury-Hall - booked for taking a quick free-kick. Incredible. And just three minutes added time at Anfield, despite six second-half substitutes and no end of stoppages. How? Darren England was the ref - the same England that wrongly ruled out that ‘on-side’ Luis Diaz goal at Spurs when he was on VAR duty. Did he think he owed Liverpool one? Surely not? I can’t believe that.
Happily it was a pretty quiet weekend. The Darren England puzzles aside I noted only one real clanger by VAR - that was a stick-on pen for Newcastle at Bournemouth.
If you didn’t see it - Woltemade clearly had his shirt pulled by Diskite in the box. The ref missed it. VAR shouldn’t have done. Eddie Howe had every right to be furious, but was politely calm of course. 😂
It should’ve been a pen though.
I’m done with talking about United.
Relax. I’m not going talk about United. I’ve been doing that for too long. I haven’t got anything to add and I’m bored of the subject now. What is interesting though is that the Jim Reaper’s lackies are now all repeating what I’ve been saying, which tells me Amorim’s time is nearly done. They wouldn’t dare stray into the areas they have this weekend without knowledge or permission - perhaps both.
I want to talk about Villa today. What on earth is going there? As a Coventry fan I should be revelling in their current plight, but I can’t, because I don’t share the same feelings as every other Coventry die-hard. I’ve never disliked the club.
I was a huge fan of Doug Ellis, both as a man and an administrator. There was always a warm welcome whenever we were at Villa and bumped into him. And I enjoyed his company many times when I met him socially in Mallorca.
He built something special at Villa But whatever he did was never quite enough for Villa fans, who didn’t share my affection for him and I found that sad.
What he handed over was a club with first class facilities and with little or no debt. Why they haven’t competed at the top end more often is a mystery.
It feels as though they’ve spent more time we the wrong end down the years - never as bad as when Steven Gerrard was in charge, but not as good as Emery has had them.
But this? Just two points and still no goals? Fans have got every right to be asking questions.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out why. In a year when PL clubs spent a record £3.29b in the window Villa shelled out just £40m. They haven’t stood still - they’ve gone backwards and every single one of the teams they might see as rivals has streaked away from them.
I don’t buy PSR excuses. They apply to every club, but seem not to affect their ambitions. Chelsea spend as they like. Newcastle weren’t shy in the last window. Nor were Forest (again), nor United (again). So why are Villa so publicly scared?
I have no evidence to support this theory, but my feeling is the owners - Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and American billionaire Wes Edens - don’t want to spend. They’re hiding behind PSR excuses.
My gut tells me something else is going on, but I’ve no idea what. And I can’t think of a good reason why. But something feels wrong.
Villa were on the cusp of taking the next step. They were enjoying heady CL nights. Going toe-to-toe with the big boys. At one stage it looked as though they were about to join the elite clubs, but it’s all come crashing down.
Just spend. Compete with the rest. If the PL come calling refer them to City’s lawyers. It’s Everton that will get any points deduction anyway. I’m being facetious of course, but I’m not far from the truth!
It’s early days yet and Villa might get going, but after tipping them for a 5th placed finish I fear they’re in for a rough season.
Good-bye Daniel Levy. But why? I don’t get it. I know few Spurs fans will be shedding tears for him, but I think he’ll be missed. Yes - he was tight. Yes - sometimes he got it badly wrong. Sacking Mourinho in the week of a cup final was madness, but on the plus side, Levy was a Spurs fan and cared about the club. Like Doug Ellis he was a top administrator and he’s left the club in fantastic condition. Over time I think he’ll be missed.
Name the agents please. I’m referring of course to the people at the heart of the 74 charges levelled at Chelsea. I’m talking about the people who took ‘off-the-books’ payments during the Abramovic years. Who are they? We want to know. They should be exposed. And then dealt with.
Before we finish with this week’s officiating howlers I want to give Ian Holloway a mention. Take a look at the top of League Two and you’ll see why.
Swindon were a mess when he joined them in October 2024, in 22nd place one point above the relegation places. Now look at them. It’s a rare good news football story. Well done Ollie. Keeping it going.
And welcome back Chris Wilder. At the time of writing his re-appointment at Sheff Utd isn’t confirmed but I can’t see why it won’t be. What damn fools Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy were sacking Wilder last summer. If Chris is back, as I believe he will be, let’s give the above mentioned a little bit of credit for admitting their error. Wilder will get the Blades going again.
And finally…honest ref watch. Sorry Howard - it wasn’t a good weekend again was it?
What a ridiculous call by Jarred Gillet to rule that Spurs goal out. Error - big error, compounded by the fact he was looking at a nailed-on pen when Fernandes wrestled Van de Ven to the ground, but gave nothing. VAR could only have been asleep again.
Wolves’ lMosquera has got to go for a denial when Harvey Barnes is clean through at Newcastle. It’s as clear a dogso as you’ll ever see.
And Ugochukwu has got to go for that lunge on Mac Allister. That was really nasty. Why didn’t he? Because Michael Oliver was ref and as we know nobody questions Michael. But Oliver got another one wrong.
I’m keeping count of these errors for Howard Webb because our chief ref struggles with his adding up. Three VAR errors last season? That’s really funny.
RIP Ricky. And thank you for all the great nights. You won’t be forgotten. What a warrior. 🩵.