Mails: Love for Alexis and Costa, hate for Poch

Matt Stead

Don’t forget to read our other morning Mailbox, which is a Manchester United and Liverpool special. Then send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

 

Alexis > Alan
On MOTD Shearer asked why Wenger hadn’t played Sanchez up front 2 years ago when he first arrived. This is the same Alan Shearer who at the start of the season (when Alexis was getting used to his new position and therefore didnt look that great) insisted to us all that Sanchez was not a striker and Wenger was being foolish playing him there.

Secondly the world class question. I realise its a pointless question as there is no subjective definition of what it is, but if Alexis is not world class, then nobody in the league is. I hate it when a players individual ability is defined by the team trophies they have won and Alan continued to vex me by suggesting Alexis can only be world class by winning the Premier League. What makes that league more valuable than the La Liga titles Alexis has? Or the 2 Copa Americas with an unfancied Chile competing against two powerhouses of world football?

Alan, you are massive tool but I’m sure Alexis isn’t even slightly bothered as I don’t think he is human and therefore cares little about your classification system. I’m not saying he is a god (he might be, I just don’t have proof) but he has definitely evolved into something more than the rest of us could ever be.
Adonis Stevenson, AFC

 

Sorry to drop another mail in but I forgot to mention how classy Alexis’ behaviour with the West Ham ball boys was on Saturday.

Top drawer on all fronts. What a great example for the beautiful game helping restore some of the dignity that has been lost recently.

I’m sure there are other examples out there so please let us know in the mailbox!
Chris, Croydon

 

How Chelsea won it/City lost it
A lot has been said about the Man City vs Chelsea match, including an excellent 16 conclusions and several great mails. I wanted to talk briefly about the role of three key substitutions in the match, as I feel that is ultimately how Guardiola lost, or rather, how Conte won. Full disclosure – this is a Chelsea’s fan Point of View here:

The void in defensive shield from Matic was clear from the persistent and unrelenting attack down Chelsea’s left channel aimed at Alonso and Cahill. Too often DeBruyne had plenty of time for a well placed cross and Silva or Navas made fantastic runs and pegged Chelsea back. City’s game plan yielded an early offsides goal from Fernandinho and eventually the Cahill own goal. It was also the source of several attacks during the first half and start of the second half. It probably should have yielded more.

In the past, Mourinho would have blamed Hazard for not tracking back as to why they scored (think back to when Chelsea lost to Atletico in the semi final of Champions league several years ago). So why did Cone make his first substitution on the opposite side of the danger? He took off Pedro (much more of a marauding forward) and replaced him with Willian.  With both Hazard and Willian playing a little more in the (attacking) midfield instead of three forwards, there was a little more stability on defense, closer to an actual 5-4-1. After the goal kick, Fabregas had a little more time on the ball with some of the defensive shuffle from City and Costa had a little more space to operate in and they linked up for their goal from what seemed like from nothing soon after the substitution was made.

I think the biggest mistake for Pep was to then substitute Leroy Sane. Sane – what a player! He had the most successful dribbles of any City player at 3 having only played 69 mins and really forced Moses to play more as a defensive shield. Sanes attacking presence prevented Moses from feeling comfortable enough to sprint forward to be dangerous (Moses also had 3 successful dribbles, but 2 came after Sane was substituted). Clichy comes in and plays like a LB in a WB position – after coming on as a sub, he immediately makes a run and provides width for his team and stays in an advanced position, but he doesn’t sense the danger in his actions and clearly hasn’t been watching the game. He completely leaves Kolarov to cover Willian, oops. While the width allows for Silva to make a great run inside, they turn the ball over. Surprise, Chelsea counter, and Clichy can’t sprint fast enough down the field to catch Willian who scores. Watch the replay – its comical (and he literally just got on the pitch!).

The third and final substitution that I thought was key was Chalobah for Costa. Subtle, but having Hazard play as a striker and reinforcing the midfield with Chalobah was a clever way to balance out City’s attacking substitutions with Toure and Iheanacho, especially on the left channel that was exposed all game. When Costa indicated he was injured, the assumption was to replace him with Batshuayi. However, in Chalobah you have a DM with tactical discipline and I’m sure Conte likes him because of his year long loan spell with Napoli. By providing cover for Alonso and Cahill in the dying moments of the game, you knew Chelsea were looking to kill off the game with another counter attacking goal. So, of course it was Chalobah that broke up the play between Iheanacho and Toure, which allowed Fabregas to find Alonso, who spotted Hazard for the assist. Not a bad contribution as a Sub.

Great game in the end. I’m sure the Subs probably would not have mattered if City had been more clinical with their finishing. How many chances does Aguero need? It was like watching Cavani out there. And yes, Fabregas slapped Fernandinho. Because Fabs got a yellow during the match, he probably wont get further punishment. And – Costa is having some year — his goals and assists tally is absurd. Its too bad people hate him, otherwise they would be singing his praises like Sanchez. Probably the most clinical and team-oriented striker this year.
JB, (Chelsea FC) Washington DC

 

Poch ain’t the same
Reading about the latest mini-outburst from poch over alli’s dive got me thinking. He isn’t the same man from last year. THAT Chelsea game changed him and he has a more devilish look about him aswell (beard notwithstanding).

Usually calm, poch has become more prone to angry reactions to the press and on the bench as well never quite looking satisfied or happy.. a feeling that disaster is around the corner.

Spurs haven’t had the best season thus far but his reaction has been delayed. In their current state, after a summer of significant investment, losing out on the champs league group stages should not be acceptable to a big club.

It’s rich for me as a Chelsea fan to say this but I believe spurs are starting on a downtrend which will see them go back down to Europa league level- something akin to the season after their last champs league appearance.

In my humble opinion, spurs need to change things to make it as a bitter club. Levy’s tight strings dont help and after the sissoko disaster. I don’t think poch is the man to take them forward.
Sood CFC

 

Nasty little Sergio
Something I love is that people are finally starting to realise that Aguero is a horrible little b*stard. People fawn over his record, and rightly so, but he is a proper nasty shit so good to see it’s being realised.

About time.
Andy Wilson

 

Pulis is a wizard
I’m sure most of your emails this weekend will be about some crazy games, very encouraging performances from Spurs and Chelsea, and some fascinating moaning from united and Liverpool fans.

I just wanted to throw the point out there that Tony Pulis is a wizard. That’s 10 points from the last 12 for west brom, quietly moving up to 7th (One point behind united, actually). It may not be pretty, but the man can organise a defence, and can coax the odd run of for, out of his teams that keeps them well clear of the relegation battle. Barring disaster, they’re pretty much safe by Christmas…

Chadli for about £13 million was one of the signings of the summer, Spurs didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory effectively swapping him and £17 million for Sissoko.
Tom.

 

Assorted thoughts
> Whoever decided to get Jenas and Deeney on the same show deserves a raise. Both insightful, reasoned and eloquent.  The polar opposite of Shearers laughable comments re. Sanchez only being world class if Arsenal win the league – would the same apply if they do a swap deal for Messi in Jan?

> Jonathan Walters… what a freaking goal that was.  Best of the weekend for me as it was so unique. Is uber-deft a word?

> How many PL players could conceivably get retrospective bans in due course?

> The Bournemouth / Liverpool game could have been any score. So many chances for yet more goals.  I always get the feeling that Eddie Howe spends his half-time team talks giving motivational advice and cuddles when they are behind. They seem to come out second half with more belief.

> Regarding Howe, he was surely the outstanding candidate for England manager…. No disrespect intended towards Southgate, but how can an English manager, playing with primarily English players, in the English top flight, who has a record of improving his mainly English team to be more than the sum of their parts not be the best Englishman for the job?

I anticipate someone BTL to say he’s too inexperienced – he’s not.  He’s young. There are 13 year old’s with degrees. People start successful businesses while teenagers. Mhairi Black was a serving MP at 22. Age isn’t important – talent is.

> As a Swansea fan I really fear the drop this year. The issue isn’t solely Bradley, although I would have liked to have seen  Guidolin given more time. It’s not even Leroy (relagationaholic) Fer. It’s the baffling decision to let good players go and attempt to replace him with photocopies of footballers.  I still have hope, but we need at least 6 players in January, probably more.

> Are Leicester fans starting to fear relegation?  I made a fair few quid last year by backing them to win games.  This year I’m making money opposing them. Is all this somehow my fault? I hope so as I have a wee wager at a ridiculous price for Leicester to win the Champions League.

> Finally, is there a massive conspiracy to try and get Mourinho to criticise referees in post match interviews. I know his meltdowns are hilarious, but this week’s attempts were laughable. Lol.
Danny, (Mak Bewon still hasn’t accepted my friend request – I’ll try that melt that doesn’t ‘get’ Degsy next) Scotland

 

*What made the game at the Etihad extra dramatic and wonderful was that not only did very good players do very good things, but very good players also looked very fallible as well. Kanté, DeBruyne, Azpilicueta, Aguero, and many more made the roll of error. Plus, Antony Taylor seemed completely overawed by the occasion. But as self-appointed president for life of the Willian Is Overrated Club, I’m considering motions to disband. The drum I’ve been beating for some time is that Chelsea’s left side is defensively weak. City showed that again and again today, and Matt Stead pointed it out in his excellent 16 Conclusions. But it might not matter.

*Idrissa Gana continues to look like one of the top summer transfers, easily man of the match against Manchester United. He kept the somewhat more expensive Paul Pogba quiet most of the afternoon, and was surprisingly useful in attack. Fellaini probably mistook him for Eden Hazard.

*Burnley traveled to the No Longer Britannia Stadium and played some of their best football of the season, at times making Stoke City look noticeably second best. Jeff Hendrick for once looked worth some of his record fee, and André Gray actually played like a top-flight striker, although being matched against Marc Muniesa helped (that is eyeliner he wears, isn’t it?). But most of the quality was on the other side, so it wasn’t enough. Clarets fans will be encouraged by the second half particularly, and say that more performances like that might mean survival. But to me it looks ominously like they played well against a team that only showed up in spurts, and still lost. Will they win any away games this year?

*Playing West Ham at the moment makes everything look easy, but I’d stick with a central midfield of Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka. Mohammed Elneny is a squad player, and Aaron Ramsey is a box-to-box player who belongs in another kind of system altogether.

*Very nice win for Crystal Palace, and Christian Benteke will soon be picking up his award for Least impressive Performance By A Striker Who Still Scored Two Goals. As for Southampton, their minds seem to be on the cups. Fourteen games, and their only league wins are against Swansea, West Ham, Burnley, and Everton. Charlie Austin looks way too slow, Nathan Redmond can’t deliver the killer ball, and James Ward-Prowse isn’t good enough yet. Maybe when Dusan Tadic comes back?

*There was lots of great finishing on display this weekend – Steve Cook is undoubtedly on the phone to Jorge Mendes as we speak – but my favorite goal was Jermain Defoe’s. He sees the deflection, knows exactly what he wants to do, and first time with his weaker foot casually puts it where the keeper has no chance. Simple and beautiful. And while we’re talking Sunderland, over the last three games they’ve finally looked like a settled side that have a plan and know how to execute it. Could this David Moyes chap actually know what he’s doing? Oh, and they have Jordan Pickford, too.
Peter G, Pennsylvania, USA (You gotta love Ryan Fraser)

 

Sunday’s best comeback ruined
I’m sitting here wide awake in the early hours of Monday morning struggling to sleep as I take in Sunday’s events. I’m a Dons fan and I set out yesterday morning with my brother at 3am to start our 8+ hour journey to Manchester for our cup tie with Curzon Ashton. After being packed on a cramped coach for the best part of 7 hours it was a welcome relief to arrive. What we got was what we should of expected after so much effort on our behalf, 2 down at HT to the comps lowest ranked team and if we’re honest it could/should have been 3/4. After they scored their third I think there were quite a few fans that would have happily walked away from this game if it wasn’t for the fact they were stuck in the middle of nowhere (no disrespect to our hosts, they were amazing).

What followed was a classic Wimbledon comeback in every sense. The goals were poor but we barely had time to celebrate one before the next went in!? When you’re turning and hugging complete strangers on the terrace, you know you’ve just witnessed something special.

Although the stats tell a different story, everyone felt for our hosts. Try just ‘ran out of steam’.

We left that ground knowing the epic return journey would feel ALOT easier now.

The reason I’m even writing this (and struggling to sleep) is for what happened about 40 mins in to our coach journey home.

Whilst driving down the M4/6 (sorry I don’t know my motorways) and heading under a bridge, 3 kids decided it would be funny to throw rocks down from above at our coaches. They managed to smash the front windscreen of the leading coach and hit the roof of ours. We also quickly found out they had got a container lorry next to us which had completely shattered the windscreen!

I want to say that I’m wide awake because I’m still buzzing about the unbelievable comeback in an amazing cup tie, but deep down i know it’s because anything could of happened in ‘that’ moment.

Sorry for the rant.
Chris Hardy (Womble til I die)

 

News from Japan
Zweigen Kanazawa beat Tochigi SC in the relegation playoff to retain their place in J2. The away leg was pretty even, and Zweigen were indebted to their goalie Yoshinobu Harada, who made an excellent save with his legs midway through the second half to keep the score at 0-0. Zweigen bundled an important away goal in the 89th minute, scored by Tatsushi Koyanagi, to win 1-0. The second leg was actually played in Toyama Prefecture because the pitch at Kanazawa’s stadium was being worked on. Strange timing, considering Zweigen had been in the bottom three all season so there was always a strong likelihood of them featuring in the relegation playoff. Nevertheless, there were 7,000 people there to see Zweigen win 2-0 thanks to a goal in each half from Keiya Nakami, the first of which was a penalty. It must have been bittersweet for Keiya Nakami, who was a standout performer for Tochigi last year when they were relegated, to the extent that he earned a J1 contract before being sent out on loan to another relegation battle in Kanazawa.

He was one of three mid-season signings. Another was Masaru Akiba, Returnee of the Year, who came from fellow relegation-strugglers Gifu having only left Zweigen in the winter. His midfield partnership with Kenta Yamafuji in 2015 was significant in helping Zweigen finish 12th in their first season in J2. His departure, along with many others from those two successful seasons and the lack of adequate replacements, meant the manager, Hitoshi Morishita, didn’t know his best team or formation and Zweigen were in the bottom three all season. Morishita stepped down at the end of yesterday’s game after five years in charge.

The third mid-season signing comes under Cameo of the Year. Brazilian striker David da Silva looked most likely to create chances by pressuring defenders into mistakes and sprinting onto long balls. His performance against Yamaguchi was a great cameo: off the bench in the 61st minute, match-winning goal in the 64th minute, yellow card in the 71st minute, second yellow in the 81st minute. After his suspension he made another cameo appearance: off the bench in the 67th minute, injured himself as he almost intercepted a pass between opposition defenders in the 74th minute, substituted, season over.

That game, away to Fagiano Okayama, had one of my moments of the season, a 94th-minute winner from Andrew Kumagai to complete a comeback from what looked for much of the afternoon like it would be a frustrating loss against ten men.

Disappearing Act of the Year goes to Romarinho, who was last seen on the pitch in early July making the fourth and last of his four appearances (all as a substitute). The only sign I’ve seen of him since then is a brief interview in a local free magazine (they took him to a sushi-making experience).

Among Zweigen’s J2 opponents next year will be Nagoya Grampus, former club of Gary Lineker and Arsene Wenger, who were relegated from J1 for the first time.

Regards,
James T, Kanazawa, Japan

 

Away ends
A couple of weeks you published a piece from Daniel Gray’s book, Saturday 3pm. It was on away ends erupting.

That Chelsea end on Saturday lunchtime was a prime example. An explosion of pure and utter joy. Limbs everywhere. Brilliant.
Andy (CFC) London

 

Any ideas?
Winston Bogarde’s full name is Winston Lee Hendrie Bogarde.

Although, wikipedia is not properly moderated, so it may be bull plop.

Anyone think of any other footballers that have other footballers as middle names?* Mark Everton Walters would work, if Everton played football (zing).
Alex Stokoe
Newcastle upon Tyne

*Must be two separate names, so ‘Pedro’ or ‘Ronaldo’ would not count.