Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand launched a passionate defence of Alejandro Garnacho after the winger was accused of consistently making poor decisions on the pitch.
The Argentina international started as one of the two most advanced midfielders in Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation.
Garnacho’s faulty execution was on full display, especially in one or two crucial counter-attacks that broke down because he failed to release the ball to Marcus Rashford early enough.
Ex-United star Lee Sharpe pinpointed this as something Garnacho needs to work on, as he labelled the forward “a little bit greedy.”
Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe was also very comfortable against Garnacho and hardly needed to break a sweat.
The United n.o 17 has since come under some criticism from a section of fans, who have highlighted his weaknesses. In the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents, co-host Stephen Howson provided a scathing critique of Garnacho, claiming the Carrington academy graduate “has the decision-making of a cat. It’s awful.”
Howson added that he would drop Garnacho from the starting XI, in favour of an attacking trio of Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund.
Ferdinand wasn’t having any of it and responded, “Don’t talk about Garnacho like that. You can’t be perfect, he’s a kid man!”
“[Without Garnacho] no one’s running back, no one’s running in behind the opposition. I’d play Garnacho on the left.”
“This is a process we can’t expect them to look like the Sporting team now. It’s impossible, you can’t expect that to be the case.”
Garnacho will certainly be hoping for far better fortunes when United host Eliteserien outfit FK Bodø/Glimt at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
Fabrizio Romano: another exit as United player’s loan deal about to be completed, includes buy option
Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia is on the verge of completing a loan move to PSV Eindhoven today.
Having struggled to reintegrate into Ruben Amorim’s squad following his prolonged absence due to injury, Malacia has been heavily linked with a January exit.
Previously expected to go on loan to Benfica, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the deal fell through at an advanced stage.
However, on transfer deadline day, Malacia once again appeared to be headed for a temporary exit as a loan with PSV Eindhoven appeared to be in the works.
Furthermore, the Manchester Evening News reported last night that while the loan agreement had not yet been concluded, it is expected to include an option to buy Malacia on a permanent basis.
Today, it appears as if Malacia’s move to PSV is progressing if Romano’s latest update proves correct.
“PSV Eindhoven are set to fix details of Tyrell Malacia’s loan move from Man United today,” the Italian journalist reported on X.
“Malacia, already in Holland to get the move done.”
🚨🔴⚪️ PSV Eindhoven are set to fix details of Tyrell Malacia’s loan move from Man United today.
With Celtic and Real Betis both reportedly showing an interest in Malacia at earlier stages, it seems as if the Dutch player was involved in a non-stop transfer merry-go-round.
This comes after United reportedly told Malacia that he would be free to leave the club during the winter transfer window.
While United have been low on reinforcements in the full-back positions, the signing of Patrick Dorgu has provided a glimmer of hope as the club hopes that he can bring new energy to Amorim’s team.
These latest developments provide Dorgu with an opportunity to prove himself while also enabling Malacia to get the game time he needs to revive his career.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
Silver lining: United’s “special talent” will be given big chance to shine following teammate’s injury – opinion
Manchester United were rocked as a club on Sunday when late on in their match against Crystal Palace, Lisandro Martinez went down.
The defender seemed to know right away that he had picked up a big injury and yesterday it was confirmed he had suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his knee.
This is one of the most devastating injuries for a footballer and while recovery time has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, the average return time is about eight months.
Therefore, United fans are unlikely to see Martinez play until October time at the earliest and Ruben Amorim will need to find solutions as the transfer window has come and passed without a senior centre back signing.
It can be assumed that Matthijs de Ligt will be the first choice centre back and Harry Maguire will also start as he has seen an increase in minutes lately in Amorim’s back three.
United then have one more spot to fill and the choice is clear.
Leny Yoro must be given the chance to shine. The Frenchman is only 19 years old and at times looks very raw.
He was torn to shreds by Southampton’s Kamaldeen Sulemana and missed the header that resulted in Palace’s first goal at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Nonetheless, this terrible situation could be the chance for Yoro to shine and gain valuable minutes at Premier League level.
Amorim has trusted young players numerous times before in his career and has not been frightened to thrust them into starting positions, such as 17 year old United target Geovany Quenda at Sporting Lisbon.
Yoro has also begun to gain more minutes for Amorim since returning from injury at the end of November. He has started four out of the last seven Premier League games and has played the full 90 minutes in two out of his last three matches.
Amorim is clearly a fan as before his debut in December he claimed Yoro was a “special talent”.
There are many other reasons to give the Frenchman the role, however.
A back three containing De Ligt and Maguire is hardly the fastest in the world and Yoro’s lightning recovery speed will be essential in helping out his fellow centre backs.
What’s more, United have really struggled defending set pieces and in theory, a back three of De Ligt, Maguire and Yoro is tall and strong in the air. All three players can also be a threat from attacking set plays to help add to United’s meagre goal tally this season.
Crucially, with the loss of Martinez, United have lost their best passer from the defence and Maguire and De Ligt cannot replicate the Argentine’s vision.
Yoro perhaps can. Before the match against FCSB last Thursday, Yoro spoke alongside Amorim at the pre-match press conference and explained, “I already played with the back three in the past, so for me, it was easier to adapt my way to play. With the back of three, I can put my attributes in front, you know, like take the ball, defend up, and I think for me it’s a good thing.”
Of course, Yoro will need rotation and he cannot play every game. United’s other defenders will need to step up but they are not the future.
Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans can provide experience but it is highly unlikely either will be at the club come next season.
Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot can also cover as third centre backs, especially with the arrival of Patrick Dorgu for the left wing-back position, but it seems a strange choice to prioritise playing someone out of position at the expense of developing a potential world-class talent like Yoro.
Ayden Heaven has also arrived this winter and whilst it would be interesting to see him get some first team action, the 18 year old has only played one match for the senior Arsenal team.
In contrast, Yoro has played a combined 88 first team matches for LOSC Lille and United, so their experience is incomparable at this stage.
Therefore, Amorim’s choice of third centre back is a clear one as Yoro’s development is one of the most important things the club does over the next few years.
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
Man Utd: Scholes slams ‘odd’ Amorim coaching technique: ‘The life has been sucked out of them’
Paul Scholes finds it strange that “everything is focused on tactics” as Man Utd warm-up ahead of matches under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils have been having a terrible time this season with Amorim coming into replace Erik ten Hag in November after the Dutchman was sacked.
But Amorim has struggled to make much of a difference to results and performances with the squad at his disposal failing to adapt quickly to his style of play and ideas.
After their 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace, Man Utd are now 13th in the Premier League table and have won just eight of their 24 matches this season, while only four clubs have scored fewer goals than them.
Making a point about broader football, Man Utd legend Scholes has criticised the Red Devils’ warm-up under Amorim, which focuses on tactics rather than practising your touch.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes said: “When I was playing, I wanted to play with more freedom. I watch football all the time, but I don’t analyse the game as much anymore. Nowadays, with football being so tactical, I feel like the life has been sucked out of the players.
“I’ve been watching Manchester United the last few weeks, specifically how they’ve been warming up before matches, and I’ve noticed that they’re practising the team shape.
“They’ve got the back five defending the goal, with crosses coming into the box for the forwards to attack and they’ve even started practising set pieces in front of the fans, which just seems odd to me.
“The warm-up is there to enjoy, having the ball at your feet, practising your touch, but everything is focused on tactics and I’m not sure I’d be able to deal with it, if I was playing.”
And Scholes is frustrated with the way that football is played nowadays with too much focus on tactics and not enough on “good bits of play”.
The Man Utd legend continued: “Trying to work out the tactical element of football matches doesn’t fascinate me.
“I want to see good bits of play, defenders firing the ball into the midfield, a winger taking on their full back, so I’m not looking at the tactics, but maybe I should be.”
One player in the Man Utd ranks who has been exciting to watch this season is Amad Diallo and ex-Red Devils striker Louis Saha has likened the winger to Ryan Giggs.
Saha told spaceportsweden.com: “Amad can go very far. He has the capacity to develop into one of the games superstars. I love his humility and at the same time, I love his determination. He’s a player with guts. He’s got the guts to grab the opportunity that he has been given. He’s got the skills and he’s also got good body strength.
“He reminds me a little bit of Raheem Sterling when he first broke through. People thought they would be able to knock him off the ball because of his size, but they couldn’t.
“What Amad’s done in terms of energy, in terms of his impact, it’s unbelievable.
“I remember back in the day, I saw Cristiano, I saw Wayne Rooney, I saw Giggsy train. He’s got the same dedication. He’s got the same desire. He’s got the same level of dedication.
“You can see that Amad is obsessed about his football, you can see that he wants to entertain the fans, and he’s got a real connection with the United fans. Ruben Amorim can play him in any position, and he knows that he will get a performance out of him. Amorim should give him the keys to this United team. They should build around this guy because he’s that good.
“I really like what he’s doing. The enthusiasm that he’s got, it’s brilliant. I watch football to see guys like Amad play.”
“Shooting yourself in the foot”: Pundit launches blistering attack on bizarre Amorim decision
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been criticised for his controversial decision to play Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine in the 0-2 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The tactical switch caught many by surprise as United named a first eleven without a recognised striker.
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were both relegated to the bench and Mainoo was the most advanced player out of an attacking trio of Amad and Alejandro Garnacho.
Mainoo had impressed in the Europa League as a number 10 last week against FCSB, scoring and assisting Diogo Dalot.
The system seemed to be working quite well as the club’s attacking play was more fluid and Mainoo carved out a chance for Garnacho and hit the post himself inside the first 10 minutes of action. Unfortunately, the home side’s threat substantially dwindled and they only managed two shots on target in the entire match.
Commenting on the game, ESPN’s Julien Laurens questioned why Amorim decided to switch system when the club had no time to prepare, after being in action on Thursday night.
Speaking on ESPN’s Gabs and Jules Show he said, “they played in the Europa League on Thursday, they would have come back in the night between Thursday and Friday.”
“Friday you don’t train. Saturday you don’t train because you’re the day before the game, so they would have played in this formation now, with Kobbie Mainoo as a number nine without having worked on it at all, against a team that was in decent form, too. Why would you do this?!”
The pundit continued his scathing attack by claiming that Amorim is only making life more difficult for himself by making a series of unusual choices.
“There’s no justification for what you did. This is ridiculous. You’re shooting yourself in the foot. I have had enough of it already, man.”
“You’ve been there two minutes and you do silly things like this. This was stupid from Amorim. This was really silly. It made no sense whatsoever and he got punished for it and he deserved it.”
United’s new boss finds himself between a rock and a hard place as he does not want to abandon his 3-4-3 principles in similar fashion to how both Erik ten Hag and Louis van Gaal left behind their ideas early on in their tenure at United.
Nonetheless, while the Red Devils continue to lose and play poorly, it ramps up even more pressure on the former Sporting Lisbon manager.
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
Amorim’s most unwanted United star could still leave despite window slamming shut – report
Manchester United still have time to offload any players that they deem surplus to requirements at Old Trafford in spite of the window slamming shut last night.
The Red Devils have already sent numerous youngsters out on loan such as Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Ennis and Ethan Williams.
They have also loaned out senior players Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa and Antony to Real Betis.
Nonetheless, there is still a collection of players the club may look to move on as they aim to clear out deadwood in the squad.
It was reported last night that United viewed the window as an opportunity to clear space so that they could prioritise summer spending, even if that has left areas of the squad looking quite threadbare, noticeably the attack.
The Manchester Evening News state that “transfer windows remaining open after Monday night will allow United to offload some members of their squad should they wish to do so.”
“One country is Turkiye, with clubs in the Super Lig having until midnight on February 11 to complete their transfer business.”
In the Netherlands, clubs have an extra 24 hours to sign players, with the transfer window closing at midnight on Tuesday evening and Austria has a little longer with the window closing at 5pm on Thursday.
The extra 24 hours for the Netherlands will probably see Tyrell Malacia complete a move to PSV Eindhoven, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming this morning that the player is in Holland ironing out the final details of his loan move.
🚨🔴⚪️ PSV Eindhoven are set to fix details of Tyrell Malacia’s loan move from Man United today.
The American market is also open until 23rd April, so there is still plenty of time for a United player to make a move to the MLS.
The most obvious potential departure is Casemiro, as he has found himself dropping below Toby Collyer in the midfield pecking order.
The Brazilian has been linked to moves to Turkiye and the United States, so there are still a couple of avenues for departure for the 32 year old former Real Madrid star.
Christian Eriksen is another player that the club may look to sell but with less than six months left on his contract, that looks increasingly unlikely to come to pass.
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
Jorge Vital is Man Utd’s fourth-choice striker; they needed Spurs’ ‘zero shame’
Manchester United have somehow emerged from the January transfer window with even fewer attacking options than before.
Send your views on the transfer window – check out the completed moves – to theeditor@football365.com
How have Man Utd worsened their attacking options? I’m very much in two minds about United’s transfer window. On paper it doesn’t do much for us in the short term but it in the long term we might have signed some quality young players for a small enough amount (less than £30m combined) that we might actually sell all of them for a profit even if they don’t turn out to be top quality.
On the one hand I quite like the business we have done: some depth for the future on the left side with two young physical and quick wing backs, at least one of whom looks good going forwards and might actually provide an answer for a season long problem on the short term. And we’ve signed a young left sided centre back for free. A position where Everton wanted to charge us £70M in the Summer.
Doesn’t matter if he turns out to be shit he’s free and will almost certainly provide us with a profit should he be sold. Given Martinez’ injury he’s at least a body in the squad. The signing of two young wing backs (or at the very least, attacking full backs) also signifies something of a long term approach to squad building, suggesting that even without Amorim, full backs attacking the box will remain a feature of our play.
We’ve also avoided any panic buys or loaning a past it centre forward. Or Wout Weghorst. With the loans of Rashford, Antony and Malacia we’ve got a fair whack of wages off the club for six months. This obviously makes it easier for us to comply with PSR in 24/25, making it more likely we avoid a points deduction amidst next year’s inevitable relegation battle. Maybe it’ll give us a little extra to work with in the summer and puts said players in the shop window.
But then… look at United. We are so bad going forwards. It feels like we needed to do something here. Our two forwards have a combined xg of less than six and have scored five goals between them (yeh it’s not shooting that’s their problem). Spurs, though they’ve been gash for a while now, score goals for fun yet still were so desperate to sign Mathys Tel (a shot machine) that they showed absolutely zero shame in being rejected and having another crack.
Not saying Tel is the answer for United, he may well be more of a left forward than a striker, but it turns out he was available on loan and United weren’t even attempting to beat Spurs. You’d have to say that Spurs look more likely to win the Europa League because they can score goals than United who really can’t. Spurs haven’t been more likely to win a trophy than United for about 60 years.
And if not Tel then surely there was someone who could do some sort of job? Our current depth chart at centre forward reads:
Hojlund Zirkzee Mainoo Jorge Vital
There isn’t any sign of any young forwards coming through the ranks that can play there right now, though as with Rashford someone might surprise us. Even with the cups, this season is a write-off. I’m taking my son to Old Trafford for his first competitive game and I’m gravely concerned that the whole experience will put him off football for life. But then he’s Scottish, so that’s maybe a good thing.
I think we’ve started making good decisions for the long term. I’m just petrified of the worst-case scenario this season (relegation) though we are helped by the current bottom four being utter tripe.
I am not however at the stage that Aman is, who is so upset he can’t even get his facts straight (Pogba was our record signing) and whilst I think it is partly their fault, I doubt many strikers would be able to outscore Hojlund and Zirkzee’s xg enough to make any sort of fee worth it, certainly not 150. And contrary to His Honourable Gentleman (I assume) Dr Yeboah, I hope that Amorim sticks to his guns. Ten Hag changed immediately and achieved short-term success and look where we are now.
That said, if we don’t start to see improvement now he’s got some training time (still not totally convinced with that argument) it’s going to be increasingly choppy. Ashmundo (just 11 more points, please)
…As February roles in, we are faced with the prospect of watching a once great Empire crumble further into chaos. I’m not talking about the US, but my beloved Manchester United.
Much like our friends across the pond, this once imperious force on the global stage, now fail to even get basic decisions right.
United have scored 28 league goals this season. Tottenham, 1 league place below them, are on 48. Leicester, 18th- in the relegation zone- have 25.
Anyone who has watched even a single United game in recent months can see they are woefully short of ideas and confidence in front of goal. They desperately need a driving force up front, a leader, who instinctively knows how to work a goalkeeper and find the back of the net. Hojlund and Zirkzee are promising talents, but neither is anywhere near ready to lead a team of United’s ambition – even if that ambition is a top half finish and a Europa cup run.
Why, once again, are we left scratching around on deadline day, hoping for an 11th hour loan of yet another exciting but unproven player, only to be beaten to it by Tottenham? Where is the planning? The organisation?
It’s an embarrassment for a club of United’s history and success. Next they pathetically send out the client journalists to try and spin this tall tale that they “didn’t want to waste money on a loan fee”- what, were they hoping Bayern would lend Tel to us for free?
You don’t need a FIFA pro license, or an MBA from Harvard, to work out that a team woefully lacking in goals, languishing in 13th– will not be improved by not only failing to sign any attacking players, but letting two of your current ones leave on loan.
Rashford and Antony were not starters- but they were good depth. This season has seen Sancho, Greenwood, McTominay (occasional makeshift CF) and now Antony and Rashford depart.
If we concluded the problem is the team, not the manager, then we probably need some new people in that team, even if they can’t be very expensive people.
They are now reliant on Garnacho and Diallo providing their wide forward attack, for a whole half a season, including European and FA cup football.
Even in the unlikely event they actually start winning matches, these players will need a rest at some point. Are we bringing on Johnny Evans on the right wing at 75 minutes? Or perhaps that 60 year old goalkeeping coach Amorim seems so fond of?
So much for Sir Jim and co “doing things differently”- the only difference is we failed to get the last minute panic buy over the line this year. If they didn’t want a loan player, why did they go in for him?
It can simultaneously be true that Manchester United need to recruit savvy long term reinforcements in the summer, whilst desperately needing something in the interim to save what is left of their season.
Whilst the likes of Tel did risk being yet another underwhelming gamble, surely they could have found an older player to fill the void for 6 months?
Henrik Larsson was a prime example in the Ferguson era, during a time when Manchester United understood the importance of goals. Ighalo was much the same for Ole. Even Weghorst, whilst a little lacking in the ball-in-the-net department, worked so hard for United during Ten Hag’s brief spell of promise.
Alvaro Morata was clearly available. Would Danny Welbeck have turned down the chance for a brief cameo back home at United? Would Jamie Vardy not have been tempted to wear that famous shirt in the dying embers of his career? Could Mitrovic, Ivan Toney, Memphis Depay or Olivier Giroud not be tempted back to the premier league? They all know how to score goals- something this United team at the moment sorely do not.
They are a club in chaos – changing their manager 4 months after the rest of the planet realise it is an inevitable necessity, and belatedly appointing one of huge promise, only to deprive him of the basic personnel needed to have any success in his job.
They insisted he move immediately in November, when his strong preference was to come this summer, only to force him to undergo the humiliation of seemingly writing the season off, gutting the team, and undermining his reputation and morale before making any attempt to model a team in his image.
The Glazers and Ineos will not last. What a mess. Mike, (this time next year Rodney we’ll be millionaires) Oxford
They scored a good win over a team who mocked them last time and turned that mocking against them. That is peak football if you ask me. Arsenal fans should be allowed to enjoy it. As should the team and staff.
On the topic of Pep he isn’t a manager for building something new, never has been. As someone else pointed out, he’s the manager for building on top of a good foundation. Each time he has taken over players who already won trophies, we’re already experienced. In the case of Bayern despite his two doubles he was a failure really because he took over a treble winning team and was asked to win the Champions League and never did. At least at City he can say that he did what was asked, he delivered the Champions League that everyone begged him for.
But he’s a bit like Jose. He’s world class in very specific circumstances. He couldn’t take Aberdeen to stardom like Alex. Or take a fallen giant with no budget like Liverpool to winning every trophy. It’s just not in his wheel house. That’s no slight because what he’s done is still impressive. But City likely need someone else to build a new team now, that’s not Pep’s skill set. Pep is the next step guy, not the first step guy.
Finally there are people who say the prem is not as competitive as it used to be. Absolute hogwash. This is probably the most competitive season in its history. Small clubs actually taking the game to big clubs, and winning! The only thing that’s worse now than the past is refereeing. Which is genuinely the lowest quality it’s ever been and seems to get worse. Lee
Of course when you do so well so consistently, you are seen to be having it easy rather than actually overcoming road blocks and when you struggle as he is now, you are supposedly hitting the very first obstacle. It’s as if spending a truckload of money and getting back a dominant team year after year is child’s play. Hi United for the last 10 years (getting worse the more money they spend). Hi Boehly’s Chelsea.
No, keeping a great team on top as he has done is a challenge regardless of the financial backing.
And yet, I am incredibly frustrated with Pep. The view from the inside is different, but still somewhat damning. As I see it, the challenge that Pep seems unable to overcome and the reason why this collapse has been as dramatic as it has is his own philosophical stubbornness. This is his Achilles’ heel.
I don’t doubt that the Rodri injury was the straw that broke the camels back, and that the aging, small and injury-laden squad is making Pep’s job significantly more difficult. But he is not helping the team or himself by refusing to see the forest for the trees.
If I had 10 mins of the man’s time I would ask, why he has allowed City to become so rigid and predictable. In the early days of Pep’s time at City he instilled his distinctive philosophy of choking the opposition with possession, a high defensive line, synchronised pressing and fluid fullback positioning. Yet through the talented feet of Ederson and the likes of the pacey Sane, he had the perfect foil. As the opposition sought to press high themselves, the were undone as City were also capable of going long, or breaking fast. Defenders could never relax and box City in so deftly as they do today. It does not surprise me that City’s best play of late was against Chelsea. The ease of which sending the ball long got Chelsea turned upside down was stark.
And so it is incredibly frustrating to see Pep almost intentionally stomp out this part of City’s game out for the Arsenal match. Let’s face it, everyone pretty much has his number right now as the religiously performed slow build up high line is just a one-dimensional boxing glove in a wind-up box compressing a spring until it rebounds viciously in our faces at a much greater rate than it successfully forces the defense into submission.
The fleeting moments of joy for City vs Arsenal came not from pinning them back as Pep is so fond of, but the few times a player tried something different usually Marmoush or (surprisingly) Kovatic, moving towards the opposition box at pace.
Pep has indeed been found out, as he does not seem willing to try anything but to slowly strangle the opposition to death. He refuses to acknowledge any other approach to putting the ball in the net. So fed up of seeing Foden receive the ball under pressure and invariably give it straight back to the passer rather than try something risky. Fed up of seeing Nunes… full stop? No a bit harsh, but he can’t defend and he has one move on the right flank. Worst of all, I’m fed up of seeing City turn their nose up at exploiting the oppostion on the counter, with a fast break. They have lost their instincts
This isn’t a call for Pep to scrap his tactics, but you have to mix in some variety to keep the defenders guessing. It’s so utterly basic in it’s premise. Like playing Rock-Paper-Scissors and always picking paper, it’s doomed to fail. As long as the ball never goes in behind them, defenders won’t panic, their job is simple, and the way to counter it is well-known. Haaland’s not to blame. Like any number 9, he needs that unpredictability to make him hard to mark. Not once did I see us respect his runs in behind. Reduced to trying to get on the end of the occasional cross into a crowded box, he’s utterly wasted.
This is Pep’s biggest test, overcoming his own stubbornness. Nick
Actually the worst miss ever I’ve grown to learn not to take the Stewie bait, but I don’t know what’s funnier – Stewie writing in at half time before Arsenal walloped City, Havertz getting one of the goals or the fact he thinks Havertz’s miss was the worst ever.
The worst miss ever actually came in the second month of the Premier League and involved Rocket Ronnie Rosental and Aston Villa.
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London
Stewie is back… Arsenal fans deary me. I can’t even recall a similar level of iconic celebratory dancing when Spurs went to Etihad (where Arteta has never won) and spanked Pep 4-0, a more impressive result. Were Arsenal fans graceful about that result? Or, did they down-talk that result with the caveat that “Pep is cooked”? 🤔 Of course, now that Arsenal finally get a win vs a totally destroyed Pep Citeh, it is being celebrated like the discovery of genome editing. In reality, it’s a team that’s spent over £750m finally getting a strong result, against a washed Pep team. Even Amorim spanked Pep a few months back didn’t he?
What I want to address is the usual intellectual dishonesty of Arsenal fans. It’s understandable they’re all excited to finally beat a Pep side convincingly (who hasn’t this season? 🙄). Their latest “woe betide poor Arsenal” is “aren’t we allowed to enjoy ourselves”? First off, here’s that MAGA DEEP STATE parallel again: exactly who is preventing Arsenal from enjoying themselves? Is this like the “War on Xmas” Fox News tells us about every December? The apparent one where you are “not allowed to say merry Xmas anymore”? Because the WOKE RADICAL FAKE NEWS MEDIA won’t let us! 😂. What the F are these Arsenal fans on about? Celebrate and enjoy, if you see the achievement as such! The problem is, Arsenal fans are constantly projecting. Their first reaction to the “Greatest result ever”? Whine that the world isn’t impressed with your pyrrhic victory! So you see, the only people “preventing” Arsenal fans from enjoying themselves iiiiis….Ah yes: Arsenal fans!
And here’s that Trump analogy again: Arsenal fans, do you have any realisation of how ridiculous it looks when there’s endless conspiracy theories after every dropped Arsenal point – but, rarely a word is said about the refs after a victory (MLS freak incident aside)? This is the equivalent of shouting “RIGGED FAKE FRAUDULENT ELECTION, STOP THE COUNT!”, when you lose….but conversely not a squeak about ethics or integrity when you do win! Funny that.
Did Arsenal fans let Brighton fans enjoy their well-earned point at the Emirates? Ah right, no. PGMOL DEEP STATE COLLUSION! Of course. Were Bournemouth fans allowed to enjoy a famous home win? Again, no chance: PGMOL BROOKLYN BASEMENT HILLARY CLINTON EMAILS. Were Citeh fans able to enjoy a 97th-minute equaliser? Nope! PGMOL AND UAE PETROSTATE COLLUSION! TOTALLY RIGGED PROCESS! So opposition fans are never able to enjoy wins against Arsenal you see, as those are only ever handed to them by the “Deep State refs”. But naturally, the Deep State never gives favours for Arsenal. Right? Nope, never profit from the system.
Who remembers how precious Arsenal fans were about Haaland lightly chucking a ball at Gabriel? It’s “bantz”, it’s shithousing (which Gabriel excels at btw) and all’s fair in love and war etc….Except – on these very 365 pages, various Arsenal fans virtually DEMANDED the UN appoint a Special Rapporteur to look into post-conflict Emirates violence in an extraordinary UN General Assembly session. 😂😂 Ridiculous. For a flicked football that wouldn’t harm a toddler. Every perceived slight is positioned as some “anti Arsenal” plot, by unnamed dark forces – perhaps it’s RADICAL ANTIFA 🤔
Ultimately Arsenal fans, this Citeh padding – which was admittedly very good – reminds me of the Wenger days when Arsenal would play pressure-free games against eg Fergie ManYoo around March, with the full knowledge that there’s no chance either team can win the title because Mourinho has it sown up already. Which always results in Arsenal’s best performances, the ones where there’s little pressure. Which is what that match was: in the cold light of day, when the Emirates InfoWars tinfoil-hat Massive are over their hangovers from that Emirates Kool-aid, there will be no getting away from the fact that Arteta has presided over yet another season of Failure.
The preseason objectives were clear: a PL title win, after coming close (and choking) twice. Every single bookie in the UK had Arsenal down as one of the 2 favourites for the title preseason. Liverpool (despite apparently having a World 11 Slot inherited, albeit one that finished behind Arsenal two years running, remember) were not in any equation. Every Arsenal fan was focused on Pep and Citeh, so overlooked were Liverpool. The fact that Slot has so effortlessly made a mockery of Arteta’s five years of PR FAKE PROCESS is an abject humiliation, and we all know it, we all see it. With the exception of those sipping on that Emirates kool-aid.
Arsenal are going to finish the season trophyless – again. And That is going to be the main talking point this May, not thrashing a finished Citeh. 🙄
MLS looks a sensational talent: why did Arteta spend nearly £50m on Calafiori? Having blown more on Zinchenko previously? How much on full backs is that! Yet the attack is totally lopsided. Arteta is going to win naff all this season. No amount of diversionary bollocks and hand-wringing can change that.
You can all talk as much shite about Haaland as you want but the reality is that at 24, he has won trophies nobody in that Arsenal squad will ever touch (CL, PL). Manager included. SHAME! Stewie Griffin (Netflix FC)
Pedant corner I’m a big fan of the BBC. It’s a wonderful institution that no matter how much Murdoch paid for Tories try to dismantle it, it continues to sit at the centre of the nation’s rich cultural heritage. However, it has followed football media to the depths of football baiting headlines.
‘Emphatic Arsenal put five past City to cut Liverpool’s lead’
Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City: Teenagers Nwaneri & Lewis-Skelly score as Gunners run riot – BBC Sport
Every weekend it’s the same. Just riling up, narrative driven nonsense that bares no relation to footballing reality. It’s been the same for a few seasons now. Arsenal have not cut Liverpool’s lead. The lead was 6 points. Now the lead is 6 points. No lead has been cut. The other way is just as bad. Team plays early and its team x goes 3 points clear. No they don’t. They’ve just played earlier in the day.
“Emphatic Arsenal put five past City to maintain breathing distance on Liverpool”. There you go. Fixed it. Still good narrative. Still got Arsenal, Liverpool and City in the same headline. And not bollocks.
Now Mediawatch has seen it, it won’t be able to unsee it. Alex, South London
Man Utd ‘offer’ £50m for attacker after Mathys Tel transfer ‘completely collapses’
Man Utd have made an offer for another attacker after their potential deal to sign Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich collapsed on Sunday night, according to reports.
The Red Devils are looking to do business before the transfer window closes on Monday evening with a new forward at the top of their list of priorities.
Ruben Amorim’s side are 13th in the Premier League table with only four sides scoring fewer goals than them so far this campaign.
That led to Amorim benching Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in their loss to Palace with Kobbie Mainoo starting in an advanced false nine role for Man Utd.
Bayern Munich forward Tel – who is also wanted by Arsenal and other Premier League sides – has been the Red Devils’ top target in recent days but Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg revealed on Sunday evening that a deal had ‘completely collapsed’ for now.
Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘The negotiations between Manchester United and FC Bayern have now completely collapsed! … also from Bayern‘s point of view! No agreement could be reached. Not even in the last 2 hours.
‘Bayern had rejected everything, as reported. Despite the player’s preference to join #MUFC, the move to the Red Devils will not happen at this stage. Arsenal are still in the race, along with other options. Time is running!’
And now reports in Spain claim that Man Utd have made a £50m ‘offer’ for Sporting CP winger Geovany Quenda as they look ahead to the summer transfer window.
The report adds: ‘The deal is said to have been closed for a figure close to £50m, a move that has made clear the Red Devils commitment to strengthening their squad with youngsters with great potential.’
The continues: ‘Despite strong interest from other European giants, Manchester United have managed to get ahead in the race for his signature. The competition was tough, but the English club are confident that Geovany Quenda will become a key part of their forward line in the coming years.’
When put to Amorim that it felt like a damaging day for Man Utd as they lost to Crystal Palace and saw Lisandro Martinez come off with an injury, the Red Devils boss replied: “Yes, hard day for the team, for the fans, we lose again.
“We improve in some areas of the game, we controlled better the game, we had more possession, we had situations, but, in the end, we suffered two goals that we can avoid.
“And Licha is really important for us, not just as a football player but the character that he has, especially in the hard moments. So now it’s time for us to help Licha like he is doing for so long.”
Abolish transfer fees and player contracts; Jhon Duran shows both are ludicrous
Today is the last day of the transfer window, which has never seemed to ‘slam shut’ so much as come to rest on the latch.
Transfers are deceptive and the fees paid are often more political than practical, like Neymar’s £222m transfer to the nation state of Paris. But most transfers are loans. Fees barely exist beyond the first two tiers, which is how it should be. Boxes of kippers are still currency.
The contract-based system is, by any standard or legal working practices, absolutely surreal, being largely pointless as a guarantee of anything. Contracts are, in effect, worthless other than as statements of agreed working practices and wages which could exist without them.
In October, just four months ago, Jhon Duran signed a contract until 2030 and almost immediately fancied some desert oppression money. That ‘tying him to the club for five years’ cliche is just words unless they add ‘if both sides agree’. Villa fancy making a big profit on him and don’t want a player who’d rather be elsewhere. So his contract was worth nothing. It may as well not have existed. It was no guarantee he’d be around for its duration and offered no guarantee he’d be picked.
Much is made of Chelsea’s seven-year contracts, but they do not mean anybody stays for seven years if the club and player decide otherwise.
Of course, a transfer is a much-needed earner for clubs lower down the pyramid where the player began, if they get a sell-on fee. But that could still be agreed. A memo of understanding sets out wages, what we pay for, what you will pay for, bonuses, sell-on fees. That’s it. Set a rolling amount of weeks these conditions apply for and everyone knows where they stand. It could be almost standardised.
You may object on the grounds that it makes players less secure but I’d argue the reverse. You’re free, as long as you work a notice period, to go anywhere you want, at any time. If you’re crap and no club wants you, are you seriously arguing they need a long contract to be secure in this profession you’re no good at? Forcing a club to pay you money. That’s crazy.
Eventually, I would like to see contracts as they currently are and transfer fees abolished. It would stop clubs pushing themselves to buy and pay players they can’t really afford. It sounds radical but all it does is place the player in a position of power, as any worker has the right to expect. The decisions are taken away from stupids in the boardroom who fritter money away like only someone can who is usually not spending their own cash. Wasting fortunes.
Look at the third-rate sluggers Manchester United have signed. Whoever identifies, pays a fee for and draws up contracts for these schmucks is hopeless. £80million for Anthony! How much better would it be to know that if you make a mistake, you’re not committed to him for five years of paying him ridiculous money to sit on the bench because no-one else can afford his mental wages?
Every worker can move to a new employer if they work a notice, why shouldn’t footballers? Why can’t they be self-employed? Many are their own company already. They’d likely get paid more, as clubs would use wages, terms and conditions to attract players. And if it turns out they’re a comedy clown outfit like Manchester United, they can get out quite quickly. It imposes a need to be disciplined as a club or lose players. It means they have to be flexible with players. It means clubs are judged by their staff on an ongoing basis.
If this was clear from the start, players wouldn’t just suckle from the club’s milky paps. They’d be aware that it’s easy for the club to let them go, so they’d better perform if they want to stay.
You might argue that it will increase instability, but that horse has bolted. For example for about five years in the 70’s, Middlesbrough didn’t sign anyone. Football was less promiscuous, but now, as soon as any of our players has a good season, he’s sold. I guarantee we won’t have Emmanuel Latte Lath next season. So instability is already here. Money has destabilised the game. This just introduces more honesty. It doesn’t mean all players will gravitate to the highest wage-payers any more than it does now.
The situation at the moment is broken. Allan Saint Maximin was a loved on Tyneside and was sold to Al Ahli for £23m, played 30 times and is now on loan to Fenerbache. I bet he wishes he was still in Newcastle, but they needed the money, one way or another. In my world, they wouldn’t. And if he wanted out, I bet Fenerbahce wouldn’t have been his first choice, but he was a failed player in the awful Saudi League and had to go where he could; when he was a desirable player at Newcastle his options would have been good. His career has hit the buffers, all because of transfer fees.
Transfer inflation is out of control and leads to erroneous judgement. Phrases like “he’s an 80 million pound player” or “he was a steal for 10 million” abound, like there is a degree of football that equates to an amount of money. £222million elevated Neymar to a status no one could live up to; he’s earned unfathomable money but hasn’t fulfilled his promise. The money weighed heavily on him and it was more like a Hollywood Babylon tale of greed, undeserved wealth and hangers-on. It could still happen, obviously, but at least there’s no mad transfer fee.
Surely we need to calm the money down. Transfer culture has become an obsession above the actual football. This is primarily a sport, not international fiscal politics. It also helps democratise football because less wealthy clubs don’t have to worry about the size of the fee and players can be persuaded in footballing ways to join the club, manager and team.
Clubs owning a player’s registration is outmoded. Imagine if you worked for Tesco and they owned your right to work for another retail outlet. That is totally ridiculous. The whole procedure belongs to another era. If signing a new five-year contract four months before being sold doesn’t illustrate the stupidity of the situation, nothing will.
And that’s before we even talk about agents fees for transfers which sucks money out of the game unnecessarily, often for doing little or nothing. Transfer fees is just one more way for leeches to sup their blood money and I’ve no idea what is achieved by them except the impoverishment of everyone who isn’t an agent.
Man Utd transfer: Red Devils flop ‘may as well play for Exeter’ if £42m Palace striker agrees late deal
Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund has been told he “might as well leave for Exeter” this month if the Red Devils complete a late deal for Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Mateta has scored six goals in his last five games, including a brace in the 2-0 win over United on Sunday, and Paul Merson believes the 27-year-old would thrive at Old Trafford if given the chance.
The France international joined Palace from Mainz in January 2021 on an initial loan deal that was made permanent for around £10m a year later.
He’s got 42 goals in 134 appearances for the Eagles, which isn’t a record to write home about, but 26 of those goals have come in the 41 games he’s played under Oliver Glasner.
That excellent form has reportedly led Palace to set a lofty £42m asking price for Mateta, to ward off potential suitors.
“Man United should get Mateta, that’s what they need,” Merson told Sky Sports on transfer deadline day.
“He’s a strong lad up front, playing at the top of his game, he leads the line, scoring goals now. He runs and works his socks off harder than anyone you know.
“But they won’t because he plays for Palace. And everyone would go: ‘what are you buying him for?’
“But he’s 100 times better than anyone Man Utd have in the front line. Not Amad, he’s a young kid – but he’s much better than Hojlund and Zirkzee at the moment.
“And Man Utd are playing Mainoo up front. If you’re one of those two centre forwards, I would say: I might as well go out on loan and play for Exeter this month.”
Despite being critical of Hojlund – who joined from Atalanta for £64m in the summer of 2023 – Merson expressed his sympathy for the striker.
“I like Hojlund, he’s a young lad,” Merson added. “He will get into it – but the club is too big for him at the moment.
“He makes good runs, he gets in positions, snatches at the moment. but he’s a young kid. But you’re only as good as the people providing you, and the people behind him aren’t good.
Rashford rumours rubbished by Carragher as pundit makes ‘ego’ claim after Aston Villa transfer
Jamie Carragher has given his verdict on Marcus Rashford’s move to Aston Villa on loan, insisting he ‘never saw’ the Manchester United star moving to a European giant.
Rashford announced his desire for a “new challenge” in mid-December and completed his last-gasp move to Aston Villa over the weekend with alternative options thin on the ground for the 27-year-old.
Villa are covering 70 per cent of his £325,00o-per-week wages and hold the option to make his loan move permanent in the summer for £40m.
Speaking in his first interview with VillaTV, Rashford said: “It’s an ambitious time for this club and a great opportunity for me to join the team and help them keep pushing forward. I’m excited, can’t wait for the first training session and obviously the first game.
“(Unai Emery is) a top manager and what he’s done at the club since he’s come to Villa is unbelievable.
“It’s the constant ambition that’s attractive, and it’s why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year, and that’s what the team has been doing and are doing this year.”
Carragher thinks it’s a “decent move” both for Rashford, who wasn’t going to play under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, and for Villa, as he gives Emery options.
Carragher told Sky Sports: “I think it’s a good move for Rashford. There was talk of some of the biggest clubs in Europe buying him – I never saw that.
“But there’s no doubt Aston Villa are one of the biggest clubs in this country and they’ve got a fantastic manager. And Unai Emery does get the best out of players more often than not. So it’s a decent move.
“And it’s a good move for Villa as well. There was always a problem that they had Duran and Watkins as both could only play centre forward. Now and again, Watkins could play wide but it wasn’t his strongest suit. So it was always going to be a problem, one had to go.
“Rashford gives you, as an option, through the middle and on the left. He can play with Watkins. And if Watkins is injured, which it looks like he may be, Rashford can get a go through the middle.
“It gives Emery and the Villa team more options -and there’s also more football for him to play. Because there was no chance he was going to get that at Manchester United.”
Asked if it is Rashford’s last chance at the top level, Carragher said: “We say that a lot but footballers always seem to get a second chance.
“Certainly someone who has had the pedigree of Rashford, he’s always shown he has the quality but maybe not often enough. Like all managers, Emery will have that ego that he is the manager to unlock that, to get Rashford back to his best.”
