TOGETHER: Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring against Southampton with mates TOGETHER: Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring against Southampton with mates
Image: AFP
HELLO my good football people, I trust all is good with you… it’s been a great season, but as it stands with nine games to go, all we are completely unsure about is who will claim the Champions League spots.
It’s a bit of an anti-climax, therefore a bit weird before the Manchester United v Arsenal game on Sunday, watching montages on the telly of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson and the goals and battles of that era...
Wow, we’ve come a long way from then and from an entertainment perspective, nowhere near what used to get served up. There was a lot of attention all over the media preceding this one for some reason.
I guess more about the plight of the respective managers more than anything. The huge choke on the hands of Mikel Arteta and the (seemingly) sinking ship that is United under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.
Even ex-Gunner Paul Merson was grabbing the headlines! I know a lot of people can’t stand him and judge him on his substance-abuse riddled past, but I’ve always liked “Mers”.
He was a very decent footballer and essentially involved in some of the Gunners best years. Following his retirement from the game, eventually getting into punditry, he has created a slightly controversial persona, often making off the mark comments about players, teams, matches or anything to do with the game.
The clickbait headline on the weekend from the former midfielder stated: “Man Utd sent major long-term ‘problem’ warning as Merson makes ‘best point of season.’”
So there I was, eager to learn, and so it read… United “won’t be anywhere near the biggest club in the world in 15 to 20 years if they continue to struggle on the pitch”. FFS. Talk about a candidate for the least profound statement of the year!
I mean, there’ll be some of you who’ll probably argue the point and say it doesn’t matter where they are in the league, the successes of the past will retain their status.
Okay, we can debate that, but let me ask you this. In five, 10 or 15 years, if United are consistently sitting mid/low-table or relegated to the Championship, do you think kids will want to be associated?
It’s not how it works… I mean, why do you think we see youngsters in Manchester City shirts over the last few years? Saying that, k*******s like Sir Jim Ratcliffe (and the Glazers) recognise the power and value of the global brand and by hook or by crook, will probably turn it around. But that’s by no means
guaranteed. There is no entitlement on the pitch, especially when four, five or six rivals are pitching for the same outcome.
LINKED TO UTD: Frank Lampard LINKED TO UTD: Frank Lampard
Image: AFP
I also saw an article (following Frank Lampard’s) remarkable success at Coventry City this season, suggesting that he is working his way towards Old Trafford!
It’s amazing how a puff of conjecture can create a story with zero foundation! If I cared, and had a magic wand that enabled me to be in charge of the club, I’d change owners, re-employ most staff, upgrade the academy, sack the coach, sell the players, rebuild the stadium and start from scratch!
It’s a massive task and makes issues at a club like Chelsea (as an example) seem little more than a blip in a season. While we’re there, it’s absolutely incredible that Arsenal “title contenders”, “best team in England”, “London is red” and all that, are only six points ahead of the Blues, who are having a really bad season as the coach steadies the ship.
Enzo Maresca and his boys go to the Emirates this Sunday and that could be reduced to three! Chelsea were horrible against Leicester City, but got past and retained strong hope for a top four (or five) finish.
BATTLE: Noussair Mazraoui in action with Thomas Partey BATTLE: Noussair Mazraoui in action with Thomas Partey
Image: AFP
Back to United v Arsenal, I saw comments on social media like: "United always turn up for Amorim in the big games". What the f**k were they watching? It was only in patches in the second half that we saw some fight from the Reds Devils.
But it was an average game, dominated in large by Arsenal.
As it stands, Liverpool, who were awful in the first half against Southampton, need 16 points to win the Premier League title.
With Arsenal having to win all of their remaining games to stand a chance, seeing as the Reds have lost just once in 29, I’d say there is more chance of Donald Trump turning up at an EFF rally…
Poor old Arsenal, they’ve peaked right? The last year or two they were much better than this season. They are nine points worse off than last year.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are illustrating the truth in the cliché... champions grind out results even when they play badly.
Chat next week, bye bye…