As all the cameras continue to converge in Manchester, Antonio Conte continues to work without the lights and pressure at the bridge.
Chelsea could be the surprise ace in the pack, as media attention continues to shift towards Old Trafford and the Etihad. What Conte has quickly done is establish a back 5/6 players who are fit, efficient, dogged and disciplined while unleashing a front 4/5 players who are efficient and play with flair. Conte’s unit are winning games and getting the points without media glare and he is building a team of 14/15 players with his starting eleven plus Pedro, Batshuayi, Moses and Cesc and he is taking no prisoners on his way (Even Cesc is finding himself on the bench on a regular basis and Hazard is substituted whenever his intensity drops during games). Without Champions League football, Conte has abundance of energy to challenge until the last few weeks of the season. I can’t tell who would win come end of season, but I know that Chelsea would be up there challenging, unless of course the players decide to throw their toys out of their prams once again, after all, they’ve done that before haven’t they?
ARSENAL TAKE OFF AT LAST
Arsenal’s season finally kicked off against Watford on Saturday. By the end of the first half, the tie was truly over as the Gunners displayed a brand of football we saw in spurts last season.
The win does not change the fact that Arsenal need to go to the market, before the remaining goods on the shelves are emptied on Wednesday.
Why Wenger always leaves it late still baffles me – the players would have missed Arsenal pre-season, they would also need to settle down, house hunt, understand their team mates and understand how the team plays – because each time he does so, he loses valuable time integrating the new players.
Southampton, Hull and Nottingham Forest are not entirely teams to sweat about so hopefully Arsene Wenger can get his team back on track on the title trail in the following weeks, otherwise he may be out of it before he even knows he is.
RASHFORD MUST PLAY
Play him beside Zlatan and play Rooney off them at the tip of a diamond.
Play a Christmas tree with Rashford at the top with Zlatan and Rooney at the base.
Play him on the left of a 3 man attack……
Play him through the middle when United attack and send him to the side when you defend.
I don’t have all the answers and I do not know how, but Jose has to find a way through for Marcus Rashford at Manchester United.
Until Marcus Rashford came on the pitch on Sunday, United didn’t look like scoring, even with their superior domination of the tie against Hull. Somehow the attack was heavy, as there were no runs behind the front two of Rooney and Zlatan and each time the big man dropped deep, there was nobody running into the spaces he left, until Marcus Rashford came and started running at Hull.
No excuses made by Jose, he knows teams would build a brick wall against his team and frustrate them, but that was what Sir Alex had to deal with for several years and his teams always found a way through. They would play against teams like this, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also face this week in week out, but the top teams find a way, so United need to find a way past tough defending and I believe Marcus Rashford is just that way.
I can’t wait for the Manchester derby next week.
INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Is there a wonder that footballers just want to get paid even more and more? Any wonder why most serious countries never send any of their club players to the Olympics?
International break? Already? I thought the Euro Championships, Copa America and Olympics football just finished some few weeks ago?
Someone has to talk to the football authorities that the games are just THREE much! Champions league starts in a few weeks as well and add Cup football to that, there would be over 70 club games per player this season again. Add the internationals!
Injuries, fatigue, constant pressure and mental stress would steer many players towards recreation, so don’t be surprised when we start seeing the stars at the back of the tabloids, in gossip columns and on Social media – and don’t expect pretty press as well – as they try to ease off the pressure of mega money.
It’s no excuse for any irresponsible behaviour/s but it’s high time someone tell the TV moguls and football authorities to revisit the football calendar, it’s just too much.
THIERRY HENRY
A big up to Thierry Henry as he takes on the challenge as Assistant Coach of the Belgian National team. I always say that it’s easier for an ex-professional football player to become a coach.
You ask why? Because they’ve played and lived the game, they understand tactics, techniques, skill and emotions, which are all vital ingredients to become successful as a coach/manager.
What your professional football career does not do however, is give you the personality needed, nor the man management skills required to successfully manage a football season and/or football games.
What a football career doesn’t give you as well is the patience required to pass on a skill, a technique or tactical instruction to a young player who is ‘green’ or to a mature player who is set in his ways. What it gives you is the podium to go on and coach but the qualities of leadership still have to be acquired individually.
I didn’t see the Belgian appointment coming, especially after Gary Neville’s attempt in Valencia ended prematurely, but it’s obvious that Thierry had always set his sights on management.
Arsenal and Wenger could have patched up their differences with him and promoted him through the ranks at Arsenal – he would have been a big influence in any dressing room at the Emirates from 1st team to the academy recruits – but it’s turned out to be another loss for English football and a gain for Belgian football, for now.
Good luck to Thierry and we are rooting for him to succeed in management as he has been on the field.