Went to interview Miron Muslic in Gelsenkirchen and easy to see why the ex-Plymouth boss has taken Schalke to the top of the table. Lot of charisma.
“Football is a vampire.”
“Pressure is a privilege.”
“We don’t want possession.”
Really liked doing this one.
Thank you to Matt Taylor for sharing this story. It is a difficult one but Matt and his family want it out there in Elsie’s memory.
Always worth a reminder too that people are dealing with much more important things than football.
Premier League column.
▫️ Jacob Murphy being genuinely class for Newcastle
▫️ How Andre brings balance to the Wolves midfield
▫️ Bit on Carlos Baleba being brilliant for Brighton
Loved speaking to the brilliant Bo Henriksen, one of the managers of the season, about transforming Mainz and taking them to the brink of Europe.
Loads of lessons in here about the importance of creating a culture, including one he learned when playing with Sean Flynn at Kidderminster Harriers.
Alisson Becker is the master of the one-against-one but how does he do it? A look at the composure, timing and technique behind being the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.
Walsall are enduring one of the bigger collapses in Football League history. What is going on?
Their striker Jamille Matt not only went to school next to the training ground but has a degree in counselling psychology so felt like the man to ask…
Kylian Mbappe joined the current European champions but maybe he left the next European champions. Is he the problem? On that, ahead of a big night.
Can Thomas Müller help Bayern turn it around against Inter and keep the dream of winning the Champions League final in Munich alive?
If he is to do so it will be amid some frustration over the handling of his departure. Asked Jürgen Klinsmann and Roman Weidenfeller for their take on it all.
Another string to his bow!
How Raphinha became the favourite for the Ballon d’Or.
Long read on the Barcelona forward, speaking to many of his former coaches from Brazil and Europe, including the story of how he signed for Leeds.
Birmingham City are back in the Championship — and with momentum.
Chris Davies has done it by sticking to his style, the owners by learning harsh lessons and transforming the fan experience for Blues supporters.
Column this week:
🔴 Robertson's worrying decline at Liverpool
🔥 Tielemans' passing under pressure at Villa
🔶 Strand Larsen's hold-up play for Wolves
Interview with Nuno Espírito Santo on the tactical flexibility that has helped sustain Nottingham Forest’s Champions League push.
Always good on those possession stats too: “It is absurd to think that you control the game because you control the ball."
Went to Ilkeston Town to a trial day for unsigned young players identified on an app who suddenly found themselves being scouted by Premier League clubs including Man City, Arsenal and Newcastle. Here’s how it went.
Column.
⬇️ Man City's defending in transition
🔴 Forest are master front-runners
🔶 How Agbadou improved Wolves
Interview with Marco Asensio on his impressive start at Aston Villa. Lovely player to watch and seems like he is already relishing the responsibility of bringing his experience to the team.
▫️ Taking on a leadership role
▫️ Why he wants to be a No 10
▫️ Embracing Emery’s demands
Interview with Aston Villa’s Andrés García discussing his mistake against Liverpool and the challenge of adjusting to the Premier League after signing from Spain’s second tier. Also had the chance to speak to Unai Emery and Marco Asensio about him for this piece.
Inspiring to talk to someone who is at the start of their football journey and obviously loving the experience so really enjoyed this with 17-year-old Nelly Las on making her WSL breakthrough.
Man City gave up 20 shots against Real Madrid. Only time conceded more in the Champions League under Pep Guardiola was three weeks ago in Paris.
Too easy to get at now. The pressing has been in decline for years and some look physically shot these days. On how and why it costs them games late on.
Could only register three new signings and made five.
Interview with Donyell Malen. Neither of us realised he would be excluded from the Champions League squad at the time. Still think he can have an impact at Aston Villa but do wonder what his answers would be now…
On Man City’s new midfield signing Nico González with help from his old coach at Barcelona.
“He can be a very good number 8 but an excellent number 6. How he moves the ball so quickly. That, for his size, is not usual.”
Nottingham Forest rank bottom for distance covered and they have also used the fewest players and have the fewest injuries. Maybe there is a connection? On the other advantages of Nuno Espirito Santo’s style of play.
Aston Villa links with Marcus Rashford and Joao Felix are interesting in light of Monchi line about Unai Emery getting the best from players who have maybe lost their way.
Asked Emery about that in this interview, in which he also talks about looking for a different type of forward to Jhon Duran.
Nice to interview Rodrigo Gomes about his first season as a Premier League player. Has a great attitude and will go on to have a very good career. Wolves would love a few more like him.
Had a chat about Manchester United target Patrick Dorgu with the guys at FC Nordsjaelland.
▫️ ‘Journey is a little different’
▫️ ‘Highest physical numbers’
▫️ ‘Very flexible, modern player’
▫️ ‘Will play at the highest level’
Yeah, I agree. I think he had staff in mind rather than players though.
