TAA guilty of ‘amateur-level’ defending for Liverpool; axe no shock

Keep your mails coming to theeditor@football365.com…

Trent Alexander-Arnold
The surprise at Trent being dropped from the England line-up is a surprise to me. He gave the ball away 38 times against Southampton and then 40-something times in a game after that; both records. He was at fault for Southampton’s goal defensively, and got ran ragged by Sterling in the City game, while putting up an amateur level opposition: Sterling literally ran in a straight diagonal line at goal (no chops or stepovers, a straight line), three times and Trent just kept hugging the line, for a right-footed attacker? Against Chelsea when Mount scored, he was the extra man defending, didn’t read that the inside was on and move to cover it or direct Fabinho to show inside or outside to Mount (as the free defender, with a view of what’s happening, it’s his responsibility to call which to show to Fabinho).  He must either call the line and cover inside or vice versa.  His attacking output has increased again recently but not to previous exceptional levels, and with Southgate preferring more defensively capable right-backs, it’s hardly a surprise that in his view the attacking ability isn’t currently outweighing the defensive inability.

I also admire with Southgate that he does pick on merit: Shaw, Lingard and Stones are proof of that, as are some of the other players he has given caps to that don’t play for traditional big clubs or have vast England experience. If Trent improves, I can’t imagine Southgate leaving him out of the Euros.

Also, it’s been griping me that there was an article last week after the United vs. West Ham game that asked are United any good and is Ole. I can understand the dilemma of asking is he doing a great job, or if other managers could do a better job, but surely it’s fairly obvious he’s at least doing a good job? According to F365 articles, the current judgement on the top 5 managers is this:

Pep/ City – great job
Ole/ United – not even definitively good
Rodgers/ Leicester – great job
Tuchel/ Chelsea – great job
Moyes/ West Ham – great job

It’s not that I disagree with the other opinions, but does that not jar that the team and manager in second is not at least good at his job? Again, I’m not saying others might not do better or that he’s exceeding expectations, but the club swung up and down for years after Fergie, and seem way more stable now. What I mean is that it doesn’t feel like this team will finish 6th next season, whether Ole is the one there or not. There is a problem when judging Ole and United now; the assumption that United should be challenging for leagues and top trophies no matter what, when the past few years have surely shown that is not just something easily done. The assumption is that Ole is lucky players find moments of individual magic, but how many of those moments have to happen in a season before saying the manager is playing a part in that? Teams don’t accidentally get second in the league. Even financial powerhouses like United don’t do it, as evidenced by Chelsea and Frank Lampard; so why is it so difficult to say he’s at least doing a good job?
James, Galway

As a Liverpool fan I’m quite happy that Trent hasn’t been picked for England, maybe another injury dodged. But what is Southgate thinking. As others have mentioned he hasn’t been at HIS best, but he’s still a far better RB than the ones selected.
Is Southgate really worried that he has shown some defensive frailties whilst playing for (probably) the most unsettled back four and midfield in the clubs history.
I’m not sure Southgate has looked at the fixture list yet but we are playing San Marino, Albania and Poland. None of those teams will probably be in England’s half for 90% of the games and a RB like Trent who’s assist stats have been amazing is exactly what you ned against a back 9.
Neil, LFC, USA

Jesse Lingard. Jesse bloody Lingard.

To be clear, my email regarding TAA was not that he should have picked him this time around but the reason given by Southgate was his ‘poor’ play for 2 years when he was quite clearly the best RB in one of those years. But even when picked for the squad he rarely played him. When he played him he was often played out of position. He put Walker at CB and Trippier as a wing back because he preferred Trippier’s crossing, even though our forwards don’t play that way. We don’t have centre forwards of yore. TAA puts the ball in from deep and is not a regular crosser – more like Beckham in that they come from deeper which would better suit our forwards.

But the bigger point was that Southgate seems bereft in ideas on how to get the most out of the available talent. He plays a formation that few of the sides he is picking players work within. He picks players who clearly have lesser capability and potential. He picked Delph, who was a middling midfielder and played him at LB (okay wingback) but who NEVER played that position for his club – when he could get into their team.

Then he goes and calls up Jesse Lingard!

Jesse Lingard has hardly played much for the last two years and certainly wouldn’t come close to being the best at anything during that period. How can you spout off about TAA, not being great for two years as justification for not picking him and then plonk Lingard into your sqaud? Lingard is average. He was rated when he was a kid but never achieved the potential people thought he may have. He’s getting into a West Ham team who had suffered a few injuries, otherwise he would be a backup or sub for them at best. Yes he had a couple of decent games. A couple! Not a years or two years worth. A couple Gareth! Is that form? Christ, Foden excelled almost every time he played but that wasn’t good enough.

Yes, England have a few injuries to deal with and the possibility some of the real talent in Germany may be restricted from playing. But there are still way better choices with massive future potential.

Sure, with San Marino and Albania coming up you could say no big deal. On the other hand, are these precisely the fixtures you would want to bed in new or younger players and not recycle someone who has no future?

Southgate would say he is picking Lingard on ‘form’ – a ‘get out of jail free’ PR card. You use it after your recent warblings about a player not being ‘at his best’ for two years. Beginning to sound like all the managers who want to justify their team selections. Sounding a bit Mourinho-esque. And look at how well that is going.
Paul McDevitt

The first ever full international elite PFM
Mourinho has now achieved a lofty position, he is by my reckoning the first ever full international elite PFM. Don’t get me wrong, I know some of our best loved home-grown PFMs have now gone international but only ever after their PFM status had waned in England and their true reputations started to catch up to them. Jose now has nearly all the hallmarks of this hallowed order, just read Johnny Nic’s piece from years back and tell me this doesn’t describe him and the enabling culture around him. Maybe the nationalistic aspect is the only thing that sets him apart though the way the English PFMs protect him he’s basically ‘one of our own’. Can’t wait to see what mid-level club needs ‘a winner’ next.

Also, following on from the time keeping rants, can I just say that it was this type of exactness or preciseness that brought about VAR. You think it’s ridiculous that a players can be offside for a toe or an armpit? Wait until your teams last gasp winning goal is disallowed because time ‘ran out’ the millisecond before the ball crossed the goal line. I can just imagine all the clock management coaches that will spring up when you lot eventually get your way.

Finally, what the hell are United doing letting Rashford go on international duty? They guy is obviously on his last legs and looks like he’s carrying an injury, I know Marcus probably wanted to go but so what, refuse and make him lie down for a week.
Dave, Manchester

Jose the way to oblivion
How many times will Mourinho get away with playing the same old tune. It’s the players, it’s the attitude, it’s the fact that the other team was on the pitch, it’s it’s…anybody but me!  At United he lost the players, at Chelsea they gave up on him, and now it’s happening again. The point of a manager is to get the best out of a team, but he now has a track record of making them worse. See Luke Shaw, Pogba, etc…

Einstein’s saying kicks in, doing the same thing over and over and expecting something different to happen is the way to insanity.

Get rid of him.
Tim

Advice for Levy
There’s two words that would make spurs a much better team and they are… Ralph Hasenhuttl, simple as that and much cheaper than Jose is too.
Aaron CFC Ireland

Stick me up front, gaffer
I was reading the letter this morning about Mourinho being the devil (he is) written by Jon (great name), and felt surprisingly inspired and motivated. Seriously.

With all sincerity, I nominate Jon for the presumably upcoming vacancy at Spurs.
Jon (Mou out), Lincoln

Manchester United managers
Hello,

In response to MM, who argues that Manchester United is not compelling for top managers and asks who in their right mind would want to manage them. First of all, MM says that “technically it is true that Everton is more attractive to an elite manager, because they have Ancelotti and ManU don’t”. Just a guess, but maybe it is because Everton called (or faxed…) Carlo and asked and ManU didn’t? It really tells nothing about the relative attractiveness of those two clubs.

In a wider context playing the “if I would be a top manager” game, I would claim that at least these factors are relevant when top managers make a decision which club they want to manage. Of course they are individuals and might have other criteria as well, but just some thoughts:
– How well known a certain club is. Is it obscure or is it known world wide? Probably most managers who can almost freely choose their next employer want to manage a club that absolutely everybody knows and gets most media attention
– What is the structure of the playing squad? Is it competitive? Can I do something with it or is it a lost cause needing a lot of reconstructing?
– If it’s not competitive, do I get enough funds to get the players in I want?
– What sort of reputation and feelings I have about the board? Is it merry go around or do I have support and time to be successful?

– How much freedom do I have to do the things I want to do my way?
– How competitive and well known is the league the club is competing in? Do I get to play in the champions league?
– Will I get a good salary? Do I want to live there and how does my family see it?
– Last but not least, how did the previous manager do? Do I have the feeling that I will have an easy task improving the performance or was the previous manager a wizard over achieving and it will be extremely difficult even to maintain the results?

Answering these questions being as neutral and objective as I can makes the manager position in said club a very compelling opportunity, if not the most compelling option of all the football clubs in Europe. Manchester United is one of the most well known clubs in the world along Real Madrid and Barcelona (one can argue about Liverpool, Juventus and Bayern as well but that’s another discussion). The squad is quite competitive, currently second in the league and the age of the playing squad is ideal. Most of the players are either in the 20-25 age bracket and about to reach their potential during the near future or in the 25-30 age bracket not needing replacement in coming seasons with few emerging exciting talents and few more experienced veterans guiding younger players having been there, done that. They have few actual superstars and few potential superstars with right guidance.

Club is wealthy and should have money for the few new players a new manager needs and if I can get assurances during my recruitment process about it, all is perfect in that sense as well. The club seems to be patient with managers and have a history and reputation of not sacking managers at earliest convenience.  Of the level of freedom running a club I have no clear idea. Ferguson seemed to have a lot of it understandably, Ole less so, again maybe understandably.

English premier league seems to be the number 1 place to be at the moment attracting some of the best managerial talents from other top leagues in Europe and on top of that, ManU will play in the Champions league probably next season. Of the salary I have no idea really, but I would again guess that it is similar as with the other mega clubs. Probably Mourinho and Ferguson had quite good salaries and Ole bit worse, again considering their background quite sensible. Never been to Manchester so can’t really comment on that. but maybe Barcelona could be bit more attractive in that sense… And the answer to the last question for me is that Ole has done OK. He has done good changes to the squad and ManU has definitely become better than they were before, so there has been progress. Yet I have a feeling, Guardiola or Klopp for example could take it to the next level and further improve the performance quite a lot. It seems a clear tactic and way of playing is sometimes missing and ManU relies on individual performance rather than brilliant tactics. It’s just an opinion and maybe I am wrong but that’s how I would feel when considering my chances (if I were a top manager confident of my ability) being successful and enhancing my career.

So overall, I would think most top managers, who are willing to consider other options, would be very interested in ManU.
Matti Katara, (The next manager of an obscure chess club, if lucky,) Finland

No Pogba bashing
Funny how there’s no mention of Pogba in the morning mailbox after a half fit Pogba came on, bailed us and Ole out by getting us the goal we needed and looked like one of the best players on the pitch. Now I get that his job is literally to play football for Man Utd so in that respect, Pogba doing his job is not necessarily praiseworthy. But given how a certain section of fans think he should be running rings around the other team, banging in hat-tricks, saving goals, tackling like Kante and single-handedly dragging Man Utd to the top of the league because of an arbitrary price tag he had no say in, maybe a little appreciate for him would not go amiss.
Daniel (Man Utd actually looked like they could defend yesterday, Cambridge)

Paul McDevitt on Southgate
Just wanted to retort to Paul McDevitt’s thoughts on TAA and Southgate from this morning’s mailbox.

“Not sure he truly gets the best out of the talent available with a generally risk averse attitude” – we had a fairly rotten starting lineup in Russia, he did well with it.

“Not that TAA couldn’t be a wingback but it does mean shoehorning players into positions to fit the model – Walker in at CB, for example – than playing players in their best role.” – Walker has played CB in a three for Southgate plenty in the past and he clearly trusts him to do so, I wouldn’t say that’s shoehorning. If you want to judge Walker as solely a RB, then he starts ahead of TAA anyway based on his role in a fantastic City side.

“I think we have seen that he has not been at his best this season – but then he has was shorn of his midfield cover (Fabinho centrally, Henderson on right wing) and having to play with a different set of CBs weekly.” – If he struggles without Fabinho and Henderson covering him, then he will struggle in this latest England side with no Fabinho or Henderson…also, maybe it’s not ideal to pick two CMs who will have to spend half the time covering for TAA, I’d rather a RB who doesn’t need as much cover defensively.

“Here we are in a period where some of the best young talent for a long time – winners in their prior age groups – are available for England and most getting some decent minutes and for teams vying for the top 8 to 10 places in the EPL. But does he pick them? Play them regularly or even close to their best position? No.” – cards on the table, I’m a West Ham fan. I’m happy for Rice and Lingard, but I’m not all upset that Antonio, Cresswell and Dawson haven’t been picked. Villa and Leeds fans REALLY need to take a similar approach. Believe me, lads, you’re the only ones upset that Luke Ayling and Matty Cash aren’t making it in. I concede that it might be better to start with players who’ve played at the top level for longer and have experience of going deep in knockout competitions.

“With Stones seemingly in good form, Keane playing reasonably well, and several CBs showing decent form, he should be able to get back to a decent 4-4-3 or 4-2-3-1 scenario that would better suit the midfield and attacking talent at his disposal.” Agreed, especially with Shaw offering competence at LB. But it still only means having one RB, and Walker, Trippier and James are clearly trusted more. It’s a very strong field, and your candidate only being the 4th best isn’t a huge slight on his honour.

“Fortune favours the bold. The teams that always do well and surprise at tournaments are the ones prepared to be bold.” – I think this is just untrue. France had lots of critics for boring play in 2018, they could have had far more attackers in the line-up, but they won it. Portugal in 2016 were just horrible to watch, but they won it. Uruguay have pulled off surprises with negative tactics. Greece for goodness sake. At best, you could pull out a few teams that have played nice football and gone far, but there will not be enough to prove your statement, as defensive teams have done well too. I would rather a solid back 4 and a holder or two and grind our way through than glorious quarter-final failure with as many attacking players shoehorned in.

Just my two pennies.
Sam in Stockwell

In praise of McManaman
Hi F365 Team

Chippy Brady’s email on pundits has made me want to do something unimaginable in the minds of most football fans – I want to raise a defence of the commentary of Steve “Fletch, Fletch, Fletch” McManaman.

I used to find his opinions, laddish familiarity with players’ nicknames and high pitched bewilderment at events unfolding before him toe curling. But do you know what? Those very things are mirrored by fans around you at pretty much any football match you go to and in these days of not being able to attend matches that is alright with me.

He is always, always fully invested in what is happening in the present, the right now. He doesn’t go on meandering fables of what happened in this fixture 63 years ago, or refer to games that have also taken place that weekend that have no impact on the game in front of him.

El Spice Boy will always look for the positives from both sides and will encourage changes and outline what those should be. He is enthusiastic and seems pretty balanced (although a United fan might disagree) and thankfully knows he is a bit ridiculous – he definitely doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Do you remember at the World Cup in 2010 when Lawro and McCarthy seemed completely bored to be there? That now appears to be the go to standard. Have you heard Michael Owen mumble his way through uninteresting anecdotes, or Stephen Sidwell utter short bursts…..of three or four…..words at a time….instead of full……sentences? Have you heard the moronic partizan platitudes and cliches that come out of the mouths of Ferdinand, Keown, Jenas et al? And don’t get me started on the lazy, bitter, going through the motions dribble that comes out of the mouths of Tyler and Smith, who this year alone described footballers as key workers and are so fully entrenched in the Premier League bubble and need for narrative that they barely commentate on the game in front of them anymore.

I want to watch a match and hear someone who is always, always interested in the game in front of them, excited to be there and knows his stuff. Macca is a national treasure and in a world where everything, including football commentary needs to be so deadly serious and analytical, I am delighted when he is on comms.

(And look, I get it with Robbie Savage, I really do. But having a man say over and over “BEST GAME IN THE WORLD, THIS IS JUST THE BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD” over and over during the Juve vs Porto game last week really warmed my cockles).
John (their manager was sent to prison on Monday) Foster, Brighton

European draws
In the sidelines of the other events happening in European football, I’ve just taken a moment to check the teams that are part of the draws for both the Champions League and Europa League quarter finals. In terms of domestic location, English teams are leading the way:

Champions League:
3 x English (Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea)
2 x German (Bayern Munich & Borussia Dortmund)
1 x Spanish, French, Portuguese (Real Madrid, PSG, Porto)

Europa League:
2 x English & Spanish (Arsenal, Man United, Granada, Villareal)
1 x Italian, Dutch, Croatian, Czech (Roma, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb, Slavia Prague)

I was quite surprised by this – has Man City’s domestic dominance become so normalised that I hadn’t realised the comparative quality of the other teams in Europe? Still, quite an achievement for English sides to be so well represented!
Alex, Reading

Really thrilled with the Champion’s League draw as a Liverpool fan. Firstly Madrid as an absolute glamour tie. Playing against the most successful team in the competition’s history is always going to be fun. It’s the type of match you’re thinking about weeks ahead, and you can’t wait to kick off.

Secondly, it gives me belief as a Liverpool fan that we just might have a chance at winning it. If we’d drawn City, with Bayern in the semis and PSG in the final I’d have said no chance. But Madrid? Then Chelsea or Porto? And a one off match against the aforementioned 3? It’s possible. It’s certainly not likely, but it’s possible. And having a little bit of hope is what football is all about.

Can’t wait till April now…
Mike, LFC, London

Training ground curse
Been thinking about Liverpool’s so called new training ground curse.

Didn’t Barry Fry take a piss at all four corner flags at St. Andrews when Birmingham were going through a rotten run of home form?

Just an idea. . .
@rubym83

Outstanding hat-tricks
Mikey, CFC – Luis Suarez didn’t just score a couple of good goals in a hattrick, he scored two goal of the season contenders. Poor Norwich…
Joel Bradley