Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has chosen a dangerous time to gamble on his criticism provoking a positive reaction January 20, 2019 Conventional wisdom dictates that football managers shouldn’t criticise their players in public. Point out their flaws, tear strips off them and give them the hairdryer treatment behind closed doors, but in front of the cameras it’s generally regarded as counter-productive. Maurizio Sarri has never been one for convention, though. The Chelsea manager, who had a [...]
Arsenal v Chelsea preview: London clubs meet in “small final” for Premier League top four with cracks appearing January 17, 2019 This season was supposed to be about fresh starts for Arsenal and Chelsea. With new managers in place, there was renewed optimism for the future. Unai Emery was the man to step into the void following Arsene Wenger’s long-awaited departure from Arsenal after 22 years, while Maurizio Sarri succeeded Antonio Conte to become the latest [...]
Saint Claudio: Ranieri will have to pull off another miracle if Fulham are to survive January 17, 2019 When it rains, it pours. And when fighting relegation down at the bottom of the Premier League table, it can seem as though everything is going wrong. It felt that way for David Wagner, who left basement club Huddersfield earlier this week, and it must feel that way for Claudio Ranieri, whose Fulham players recently [...]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a perfect fit for the Manchester United job and has given the club a decision to make January 15, 2019 Less than month ago Manchester United were a dysfunctional club, with a team susceptible to being turned over and a manager who had lost the dressing room. Now, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they have been galvanised, their collective spirit is back and, with six wins from six games, they are an opponent to be feared [...]
Old friends become foes as Arsenal legends Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira face each other as managers for the first time January 15, 2019 They stood side by side for club and country over a decade ago, winning just about every trophy there was to be won, but on Wednesday evening, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira will put their playing pasts behind them as they go head to head as managers for the first time. The Arsenal and France [...]
Tottenham 0-1 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shows tactical prowess as Marcus Rashford makes it six straight wins January 13, 2019 Talk of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfect start to life as Manchester United manager has tended to be accompanied by caveats. Easy run of fixtures. Class players. Made to look good by what preceded him. Barring the latter, none of those points hold true any more after a 1-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley which showed Solskjaer [...]
Arsenal’s slump in form is making Unai Emery’s omission of Mesut Ozil harder to justify January 13, 2019 Nothing fortifies a manager’s decision-making like wins, and when you are on a long unbeaten run you can do much as you please. Change formations week to week? Sure. Leave it late to take the points? No problem; never in doubt. Freeze out the club’s top earner, indeed one of the best paid players in [...]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces biggest test yet as Manchester United boss when his side visit Tottenham January 10, 2019 After a week in the sun, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be dropped back into the harsh, cold reality of the Premier League on Sunday, where he can expect to face his biggest managerial test yet. While Manchester United have been enjoying a warm weather training camp in Dubai, this weekend's opponents, Tottenham, continued their fine [...]
Trevor Steven: Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat is a blow but Jurgen Klopp is right to focus on the Premier League and Europe January 8, 2019 It’s been a difficult start to 2019 for Liverpool but their FA Cup defeat by Wolves on Monday was nothing more than unfortunate. They came into the match on the back of two high intensity games against Arsenal and Manchester City, even if they did thump the former 5-1. Jurgen Klopp had decisions to make [...]
Wayne Rooney arrested in US for public intoxication and swearing January 6, 2019 Former England football captain Wayne Rooney was arrested before Christmas for "public intoxication and swearing", court filings revealed this evening. Rooney, who now plays for Major League Soccer's DC United, was arrested in Virginia on 16 December. A spokesman for Loudoun County Sheriff's Office confirmed Rooney was taken into custody "on a charge of public [...]
