Vesper

well, there are 684 comments, I am not going to post them all, lol I post SO many of The Athletic articles would be nice if people supported them, they are the best football site on the net IMHO

Chelsea fans: Discuss the Arsenal game with our reporter Liam Twomey Tuck into Christmas dinner and eat several mince pies — tick. Watch Home Alone — tick. Indulge in festive football on Boxing Day — soon to be ticked. If you’re not spending the day watching game after game and following our coverage then you are simply doing it all wrong… Pose your questions now and The Athletic’s Chelsea reporter Liam Twomey will join in a couple of hours before kick-off, then discuss the performance, where the match was won and lost and pick through what the result means for the club. https://theathletic.com/2283155/2020/12/25/chelsea-arsenal-score-2/

Liam Twomey Chelsea Correspondent Not for the first time this month, Chelsea haven’t come close to matching their opponents’ intensity. Arsenal haven’t played like a team in disarray and their lead is utterly deserved. Frank Lampard urgently needs to change something here.

Transfer news tracker: Real Madrid lead Alaba chase — with United not in running https://theathletic.com/2284088/2020/12/26/transfer-news-live-rumours/ The transfer window will soon open and between now and the first day of February, The Athletic team will keep you informed of all the significant developments they hear. Not a subscriber to The Athletic? You can sign up for our award-winning journalism for just £1 a month for the next 12 months by clicking here. We won’t bring you gossip or rumours, just what is really happening and why. December 26, 2020 David Alaba is one of January’s hottest properties as the Bayern Munich defender’s contract enters its last six months, reports Laurie Whitwell. A host of Europe’s top sides have entered discussions with his representatives over a deal. But The Athletic understands that Real Madrid lead the way in pursuit of his signature. Alaba is reported to have turned down a £200,000 per week contract offer from Bayern and the European champions would like to keep the player who has been an integral part of the team since 2011. Real, however, are ready to provide the kind of salary the Austria international is demanding and a departure is becoming more likely. Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the 28-year-old, who can play full-back, centre-back and midfield to an elite standard. But having been made aware of the costs associated with the move, United will not be entering the running, it can be confirmed. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to maintain a squad of balanced earnings as much as possible and the scale required to secure Alaba would be too great. Alaba, who has 14 goals in 75 caps, is one of the continent’s most experienced players, having won nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns. Real are hamstrung on paying transfer fees having been hit hard by the financial impact of the pandemic, but would be able to facilitate the signing of Alaba on a free once his contract expires at the end of this season. He will not be leaving in the January window.

Manchester United’s faulty defence is undermining electric attack https://theathletic.com/2285222/2020/12/27/manchester-united-defence/ A draw away to a team second in the table is usually welcomed warmly, even by sides aiming for silverware, but the way Bruno Fernandes left the pitch at the King Power Stadium told the truth of Manchester United’s Boxing Day result. Fernandes flung his arm into the air at the final whistle and walked straight off the pitch, chuntering to himself the whole way. Acknowledgements with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Brendan Rodgers only momentarily halted his march down the tunnel. Fernandes knew his team had let slip a victory that would have added authenticity to suggestions United are best positioned to provide a challenge to Liverpool in this season’s title race. Instead, United conceded five minutes before the end to provide a dawning realisation that such talk is premature. Quite obviously, no team can keep conceding two goals per game and be considered contenders; not even one creating as much as they are at present. Leicester City joined Leeds United, Sheffield United, Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion in scoring twice against Solskjaer’s side this campaign. Crystal Palace got three and Tottenham Hotspur doubled that. United have conceded two or more goals in seven league games, which is only three games shy of last season’s total for the entire campaign (when they conceded two or more goals in 10 league games) and more already than in 11 previous campaigns in the Premier League. In specific games when United play conservatively, such as against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal, the defence has been solid, but there still needs to be work done on the calibration for those games when the handbrake is off. Only Leeds, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Newcastle United and Palace have conceded more than United’s 23 goals and though the Tottenham result skews that to a degree, there is an underlying issue. United’s attack is flowing wonderfully — and only Liverpool have scored more (36 to United and Chelsea’s 30) — but teams cannot win titles with one of the worst defences in the divisions. In the last three seasons, the top two finishers in the league have also had the top two defensive records. Chelsea were champions with the third-best defence in the 2016-17 season. United won the title in 2012-13 despite conceding 43 goals (Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton conceded fewer that season) but the highest in the years since was Manchester City’s total of 37 (second-fewest) in 2013-14. At United’s current rate, they would concede 62 goals by the time all 38 games are played. Both of Leicester’s goals were preventable. For the first, Fernandes was guilty of trying to be too adventurous in a dangerous part of the pitch, Harvey Barnes was allowed too much space to shoot and David de Gea was too slow to dive. For the second, a miscommunication by Fred and Paul Pogba left Ayoze Perez free and though Solskjaer praised Jamie Vardy’s movement, allowing a player of his calibre room eight yards out is fatal — even if the finish did require an inadvertent deflection off Axel Tuanzebe. “The pressure on the ball for the first one wasn’t good enough,” said Solskjaer. “Second one, could have stopped the cross maybe. When you score as often as we do, you have to accept you open up at times. You would rather win 3-2 than draw 0-0.” That last line is fair and the Fernandes error was a case in point; he was trying to start a counter that could have led to a chance. But United are also guilty of elementary issues, collectively and individually. Three times, mistakes have led to goals this season, a figure only behind Chelsea (six). David McGoldrick’s goal at Bramall Lane was a recent example and there was an echo at Leicester. Harry Maguire again passed back to invite unnecessary pressure and De Gea hurriedly — and unconvincingly — scooped into the path of Marc Albrighton. United scrambled to recover from conceding on that occasion. Teams are targeting United’s attempts to pass out from the back and more care is required. Clearing lines does not have to be treated as a last resort. Scrutinising United’s defence may sound critical for a team with 20 points from eight games since last suffering defeat in the Premier League but it is a reflection of the rising expectations Solskjaer is producing. United are nine points better off after 14 games of this season than last. They are also 18 points closer to the league leaders. But this could have been a statement win to really get near to Liverpool. When Leicester unexpectedly won the title in 2015-16, they won at Manchester City in February. That is the kind of result this United team needs and so, in that light, this was a missed opportunity.

Jimmy Greaves finally set to net gong in New Year’s honours – to complete 1966 squad https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/13579367/football-legend-jimmy-greaves-mbe-tottenham-england/ FOOTBALL great Jimmy Greaves is finally set to be given a gong in the New Year’s honours. The record-breaking striker and former TV host, 80, will be made an MBE along with fellow 1966 World Cup squad member Ron Flowers, 86.

he really needs to tighten up quick pens are apparently ever going to be good for him

The secret ‘merit table’ that selects referees for your team’s matches https://theathletic.com/2268098/2020/12/27/merit-table-referees-premier/ It is usually 4pm on a Monday when the email arrives. Each week, the notification tends to come through at the same time, informing the referees which match they will be covering the next weekend. And the people in charge of this process have realised over time that it is impossible to keep everybody happy. Nuno Espirito Santo, for one, judging by his withering assessment of Lee Mason’s competence last Monday and, in what felt like a direct plea from the Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach, his verdict that, “I just don’t want to see him anymore.” The refereeing authorities took one call recently from Steve Cooper, manager of Swansea City, to object to Andy Woolmer’s appointment for their Championship game against Sheffield Wednesday on November 25. Cooper did not trust the Northamptonshire official – and wanted to put it on record that he was not happy about the former postman being in charge of his team. A few days later, Woolmer disallowed what looked like a legitimate winner for Swansea in stoppage time. “One thing for sure, whatever the decision was, it was not going to us,” Cooper said. “It’s personal, unfortunately. It was a performance I predicted from the official and one that I spoke to the governing body about a few days ago. My prediction was right.” Note the key word there: personal. A manager cannot make that kind of allegation without risking punishment. Cooper had gone too far with his criticisms and was fined £3,500 for questioning the integrity of a match official. No doubt, though, there are a lot of other people in football who do not want to be persuaded that the system is fair. Managers, players and, of course, supporters. Ever wondered why one of your least favourite referees is covering your team? Or how the authorities choose which referees cover which matches? What you might not realise is the level of planning that goes into the selection process and the complex system that has been in place by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the organisation led by referees’ chief Mike Riley, to start making appointments six weeks in advance. It involves Riley and his colleagues keeping a league table – or “merit table,” as they call it – to identify the officials who can be trusted, and those who perhaps cannot, for the top-of-the-table clashes, the big derby matches or the relegation six-pointers. That table – which is kept top-secret by PGMOL bosses – is based on an elaborate points system that takes into account every single decision a referee ever makes. The referees have password access to see where they rank in the table after every round of fixtures. It is the same for assistant referees, too. They know whether they have gone up or down a few places. They are acutely aware of whether they are challenging for the top or languishing near the bottom. And there is even an appeals process – again, with an emphasis on confidentiality – if they disagree with how any decision has been marked. It is, in short, a lot more complicated than perhaps you might imagine. Howard Webb has never forgotten the build-up of tension waiting to find out where he was going next. Sometimes it would be delayed until Tuesday lunchtime if there was a Monday night fixture. Usually, though, it was the same slot – Monday, 4pm – every week. Webb recalls in his autobiography the fierce competition that existed between the referees in the Premier League’s Select Group. Too fierce, at times, bearing in mind the team-building expedition to the Lake District when Graham Poll and Mark Halsey squared up to one another. Or the personality clashes between the “Red Wine Club” – namely Poll and a group of largely southern-based colleagues – and another faction led by Jeff Winter, Halsey and various others. “I’d be restless and agitated for most of the day,” Webb says of the Monday routine. “Within each round of games, there would inevitably be one fixture I fancied and one I dreaded. Once I heard the message ping, I’d anxiously scroll down the attachment, my subsequent shout of ‘Yes!’, ‘No!’ or ‘Shit!’ being an indication of how happy, cross or uneasy I felt about my allocated game.” Today’s match officials are the same. “You know what time they are coming out,” assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis told the Outside The Box podcast recently. “You’ve literally got your phone out. ‘Where am I? Where am I?’ It’s excitement every week.” Webb refereed the 2010 World Cup final but knew when the PGMOL had lost trust in him because he stopped being awarded the matches for which he was once the first-choice pick. His last fixture was Hull City vs Everton in May 2014. It was the fourth time he had covered Hull since the turn of the year and, in that time, he had refereed only two Premier League games featuring teams who finished in the top four. Monday, 4pm, had become a personal ordeal. The clubs are informed at the same time as the referees and if you are wondering why Michael Oliver is now one of the go-to choices for the big assignments – the latest being Arsenal vs Chelsea yesterday – it is because he is one of the consistent pace-setters in the merit table. Anthony Taylor, we can also assume, must be scoring high marks, bearing in mind he will referee Chelsea’s match against Manchester City next Sunday (the festive schedule is always decided early). But then there are the referees who are not yet deemed ready for the big matches – or the ones who have been around a long time but always tend to be overlooked for the top games. How does Stuart Attwell (below) feel after two spells, incorporating 11 seasons, as a whistle-blower in the Premier League that he has never been assigned a Merseyside, Manchester or north London derby? Mason has been on the Select Group even longer, since 2006, which immediately tells us that the PGMOL does not agree with Nuno’s assessment of the Bolton-based referee. It is true, however, that Mason tends to be assigned matches – Burnley versus Wolves, for example – that indicate he is not particularly near the top of the merit table. As for the other Premier League referee who has been in the news this week, what does it say for Graham Scott that he was set to be demoted from the Select Group at the end of the 2016-17 season? Scott fought the decision, won an appeal and took charge of Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw against Fulham last Saturday. He was the referee, in other words, who awarded Newcastle a penalty after an alleged dive from Callum Wilson and, to make matters worse for Fulham, sent off their defender Joachim Andersen in the process. The red card was overturned on appeal and what a shame, Fulham’s supporters might say, that there is no way to find out how the PGMOL assessed Scott’s performance at St James’ Park. Those assessments take place in two stages. First, a match delegate – a former player or manager – will put together a report on the referee’s performance. The more technical process, however, takes place afterwards when the PGMOL’s evaluators receive the match footage and go through every decision. And here’s the thing: this does not just take in the incidents where the referee penalises someone, but every single time a decision is taken about whether or not to blow their whistle. That is a lengthy process, bearing in mind a top-flight referee will typically make around 250 of those decisions per match. For assistant referees, it is usually 50 to 100. Points are awarded, or deducted, for each one and the tariff is based on three categories – whether it was “easy”, “difficult” or “non-routine” – as well as taking into account where each incident occurred on the pitch. More points are awarded for a correct free kick decision just outside the penalty area (ie, a scoring chance) than one on the halfway line. If it is a particularly difficult decision, there are higher marks. Alternatively, extra points are wiped off for a mistake that directly influences the game. But then it gets even more complicated. Within 24 hours, the referees receive the full evaluation and can appeal if they think any decision has been marked unfairly. Even if it is an ultimately meaningless free kick, it can go to a specially convened three-person panel to decide through an online process whether points should be added or taken away. That decision is final. It all goes towards the merit table. And even then, there are plenty of other considerations for the PGMOL to take into account before the in-form referees can be assigned the plum appointments. Perhaps you can remember the fuss four ago when Anthony Taylor was assigned the first Liverpool-Manchester United match (below) of his refereeing career. Taylor was brought up in Wythenshawe, which is on the southern edge of Manchester, and Keith Hackett, formerly the PGMOL chief, described it as “grossly unfair” to award him such a match. Riley maintained it was the right appointment and Liverpool took the view that, just because Taylor lived closer to Old Trafford than any of Sir Alex Ferguson, Ed Woodward or Wayne Rooney, it did not necessarily mean he was a secret United fan who would award all the key decisions in their favour. Taylor describes himself as a fan of non-League Altrincham and that now seems to be generally accepted, judging by the lack of attention to his Mancunian roots when he refereed Leeds United’s 6-2 defeat at Old Trafford last weekend. Nor did it seem to matter that the referee for the Manchester derby two weeks ago also grew up with 0161 as his phone area code. Chris Kavanagh was raised in Ashton-under-Lyne, another suburb of Manchester, but has assured his bosses that he, like Taylor, is not a supporter of United or City. Kavanagh calls himself a fan of Droylsden, and there are plenty of people at that non-League club who can verify his attendance at matches, going back to when he was a boy and his grandfather used to take him there. Michael Oliver, on the other hand, is not allowed to referee Newcastle United, because they are the team he supports. Nor will you ever see him taking charge of a Sunderland game. “Just imagine the reaction if a Geordie awarded a debatable last-minute penalty against Sunderland,” says one leading official. This is why every referee has to declare where they live, who they support and any other relevant details for the appointments panel – made up of Riley, ex-linesman Adam Gale-Watts and former referees Alan Wiley, Mike Jones and Neale Barry – to factor into the selection process. Interestingly, one Premier League manager has told the authorities he trusts the PGMOL’s referees so much he would have no issue if his team played at Newcastle and Oliver was in charge. But it will never happen, just as Mark Clattenburg, another Newcastle fan, was never allowed to officiate at St James’ Park. Jon Moss, a Sunderland fan, is kept off Newcastle matches for the same reason. Moss is allowed to referee Liverpool, however, even though he was once James Milner’s primary school PE teacher. A line has to be drawn somewhere and Moss could hardly be accused of favouritism, given that he sent Milner off in a Liverpool vs Crystal Palace game two seasons ago. Within the PGMOL, it has been noted that there are countless examples of referees from London taking charge of matches in the capital without it being deemed a big issue. At other times, unexpected issues crop up. When Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur were competing for the title towards the end of the 2015-16 season, Kevin Friend was removed from a Spurs match to spare him from potential allegations of bias. Friend was affiliated to the Leicestershire And Rutland FA, lived near Leicester and would sometimes watch games at their King Power Stadium. He is actually a Bristol City fan, having been born there, but it was still deemed too sensitive for him to referee Leicester’s direct rivals in the title race. The nature of the business throws up other issues. Referees can pick up injuries. COVID-19 has caused numerous problems. Nor does it make it any easier that UEFA sometimes appoint referees for European assignments with only a few days’ notice. A referee who has jetted off to some far-flung place for a Thursday-night Europa League tie, often with no direct flights back to the UK, cannot be expected to officiate a Saturday 12.30pm kick-off in the Premier League. All of which helps to explain why the PGMOL’s planning meetings, looking six weeks ahead, can last upwards of three hours. Then there are follow-up meetings every Monday to go over what has happened at the weekend and, if necessary, make last-minute changes. David Coote, for instance, was the VAR who decided Jordan Pickford’s challenge on Virgil van Dijk (below) during the Merseyside derby in October did not warrant a red-card check. Coote has already been removed from one Liverpool match and, with so much sensitivity about that incident, it might be a while before he is appointed to referee a game at Anfield. Riley has to make decisions on a human level, too, when the referees are working in a highly competitive environment – and that rivalry is not discouraged by the PGMOL. The referees who are relatively new to the Select Group are encouraged to believe they can eventually land the biggest matches. Andy Madley, for example, is regarded as one who can reach that level. Riley will sometimes give a referee a weekend off if there has been a lot of media criticism. At other times, he will deliberately give an under-fire referee another match straight away, depending on what he thinks is best for the individual. And in exceptional circumstances, there have to be tough decisions based on a common-sense approach. Clattenburg went six years without being selected for a game at Goodison Park because of the fallout from a Merseyside derby in 2007 in which he sent off two Everton players and made several other calls in Liverpool’s favour. The same official was also kept off matches at Chelsea for six months after Mikel John Obi accused him, falsely, of making racist remarks during a game against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in 2012. Clattenburg had done nothing wrong but the PGMOL took the view that it might be better for everybody if there was a cooling-off period. Moss knows about this, too. He went 20 months without a game at Leicester after they complained about his performance, featuring a red card to Jamie Vardy for diving, during a 2-2 draw with West Ham in their title-winning season. And never under-estimate the power of Sir Alex Ferguson’s voice during his many years as a fervent student of refereeing demonology. Martin Atkinson, one of the Premier League’s highest-ranked officials, had one eight-month spell without a game at Old Trafford, and another lasting a year, after various controversies involving Ferguson’s teams. Riley and his colleagues are currently looking at February’s rota and that is a long, detailed process when it does not just involve selecting every Premier League referee, assistant referee, fourth official, VAR and assistant VAR – if possible, the authorities like to keep the same teams of referees and assistant referees together – but also making appointments for every EFL, National League and Premier League 2 (under-23s) fixture. The same organisation also looks after the Carabao Cup, as well as helping with FA Cup selections, and the general rule is that the same officials should not referee the same teams within at least three weeks. It is a rolling process. And it all comes back to Monday, 4pm. “Refereeing is a very cut-throat business,” Jeff Winter once said. “A player can play in a cup final on the left or right of midfield. There’s only one position for a referee.”

Curtis Jones: What comes after the breakthrough? https://theathletic.com/2272449/2020/12/27/curtis-jones-liverpool-future-carrragher/ In 2020, Curtis Jones has achieved what appeared to be the impossible for any teenager: establishing himself in a Liverpool team considered to be one for the ages. His year began with a spectacular match-winning goal against Everton in the FA Cup. He then scored and captained the youngest Liverpool side ever in the next round against Shrewsbury Town. There was a first Premier League goal against Aston Villa, a long-term contract and a new, far lower, shirt number. He has since scored the winner against Ajax in the Champions League and was many observers’ man of the match in the victory over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. There is a quiet belief among those who have followed his brief professional career that he could squeeze himself into England’s squad of 23 for the European Championship in the summer. Next month, he turns 20. Gradually, the expectation will increase. The Athletic has spoken to three former Liverpool players who, up to this point, have had similar experiences to Jones. They emerged from the youth system before making strides in the club’s first team and are best placed to explain how his challenge now changes. Jamie Carragher — breakthrough year: 1996 He ranks second on Liverpool’s all-time appearance list but Jamie Carragher was not viewed as a superstar from the moment he started representing their first team in his teens. “I was different from Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard: attacking players capable of producing spectacular moments. My notoriety was built over time. It was a slow progression,” he tells The Athletic. “You see yourself being written and spoken about in the press. You earn more money and then, suddenly, you’re in the team regularly and more people are talking about you. “Curtis is a really talented player and a lot more creative than me but our experiences have been similar because he’s been knocking about with the first team for a while now. Let’s not forget, he’s played quite a few games and scored some important goals already. The winner against Everton in the FA Cup at the start of the year was spectacular but it happened in a game where lots of kids were playing, so he was viewed as ‘king of the kids’. “Spurs was different. It was a really big game between two top-of-the-table teams and the best players available all played. The whole country was watching. The outcome didn’t just affect the mood on Merseyside. The hours and days after will have been different because his name was all over social media. It was the first time his name was on lots and lots of people’s lips. His phone will have exploded. “I spoke about him before the Fulham game (three days earlier). Nationally, a lot of people think, ‘Curtis Jones is playing — someone else must be injured’. You’d have that view if you didn’t really know what is going on at the club. If you watch Liverpool when he plays, it doesn’t feel as if someone else is missing. He’s one of Liverpool’s midfield players now.” Carragher says Liverpool are one of the most rewarding clubs to play for in the good times but the associated challenges, particularly when results are not so good, are enormous. “People always say that local lads are the first ones to get criticism but you could look at it another way: foreign players who come in for big money might think the local players get an easier time,” he says. “I tend to think on-the-pitch success takes care of itself because, ultimately, you are in control of yourself but off the pitch, it’s a bit different. You have two huge clubs living side by side. There’s a fierce rivalry. And the city itself is only small. By nature, it’s an intense city and this translates into the football culture. If you ever go out for a meal, everybody knows about it. “I think players now are completely different in how they look after themselves. They’re wiser around alcohol and socialising. If you go out and have a drink, more often than not, someone somewhere will do something stupid, thinking it’s just a laugh. Footballers now rarely put themselves in those situations. They’re a lot more sensible and make less mistakes. It happened to me, Stevie and Robbie. Ross Barkley as well.” Jones’ entry point to the first team is significant because he arrives at a moment in Liverpool’s history where the expectations are already being met by results on the pitch. It wasn’t quite that way for Carragher, when Liverpool were getting close but not close enough. “Curtis is still viewed as a young player and the hopes and dreams of the supporters don’t rest on his shoulders at the moment. That will come when he’s viewed as one of the leaders in the team. It will be the same for Trent Alexander-Arnold, when they are seen as the players who have got to produce for Liverpool to do well. Currently, that responsibility rests with Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane. “Supporters, especially at Liverpool, want to see themselves on the pitch. You’ve got to give 100 per cent. But Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so you want to see quality as well. You’ve got to be seen doing everything for the team and the club — never shirking anything. “Also, you can’t afford to get big-headed or show that you fancy yourself. That was always in my mind. Every time I did an interview or spoke publicly, I didn’t want people to think I’d changed or I was full of myself. I was always conscious of that. I still am. I know I’m pretty normal because I’ve made mistakes. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I was putting on an act to show them I’m normal. “The big challenge with being a footballer is you are expected to act more maturely than perhaps you naturally are. You retire at 35 and a 28-year-old footballer is seen as really experienced, someone who’s a real man and knows everything about the game. But if you saw a 28-year-old lad in the pub, you’d still think he was quite young. The period between 20 and 35 is probably the period where the average person makes the most mistakes. Footballers, though, master their craft really early and become famous very quickly, so they’re judged by different standards. We look at footballers and forget how young they are.” Jay Spearing — breakthrough year: 2009 Carragher and Gerrard were in their primes when Jay Spearing attempted to break into the starting XI. “LFC TV had launched in 2007, just after we’d won the FA Youth Cup for the second time, so there was lots of interest in the junior players,” Spearing remembers. “We then went on to win the reserve league in a period where there was lots of interest in the next local lad coming through because the club had been through a process of signing a lot of foreign players. There was a belief that a few of the lads could come through and make an impact.” In the late 2000s, social media was not as prevalent in everyday life as it is now. Twitter was in its infancy and Instagram didn’t exist until 2010. The hope that the next Gerrard or the next Carragher would emerge had its positives and its negatives. Spearing says: “I felt backed rather than pressurised. It might be different for other players but the desperation for local lads to make it meant I was allowed to make a few mistakes but I’d still get the support of the crowd. This gave me more of a licence to express myself.” It would be an exaggeration to suggest that Spearing was expected to succeed Gerrard but he was the midfielder every other young local kid playing that position was judged against. “There will never be another Stevie and I accepted that from day one, so I tried to be myself,” Spearing says. “I learned that whatever happens, people will have an opinion. You’ve just got to put it to one side and focus on what you can control and that is the way you train and the way you play. The only person you really need to impress is the manager. “There was a huge amount of expectation on the central midfielders at Liverpool but I think Jurgen Klopp has changed that because players in that area are now workers rather than the main creators or goalscorers. This might help Curtis because, first and foremost, he’s expected to work hard for the team and that is what all supporters want to see. If you show a passion for the team and an understanding of the city, you win people over.” Spearing had a long-term girlfriend and he became a young father. He also had the support of his own dad, who worked on the toll at the mouth of the Mersey tunnels. After featuring in the club’s famous 4-0 victory at Anfield over Real Madrid in 2009, Spearing did not become a first-team regular for another couple of seasons but suddenly, doors were opening to him that he didn’t even know existed. He would play 55 times for Liverpool before being loaned to Bolton Wanderers in 2012, with a permanent transfer arriving the following summer. “All sorts of commercial deals come your way and it’s easy for your head to turn, but you’ve got to treat everything with a pinch of salt and remember that training comes first,” he says. “It must be really exciting for Curtis. Where else in the world would any young player want to play at the moment? There’s no better club for him to learn his trade. He’s got to enjoy it while also grasping the opportunity. Football can change in an instant.” Adam Morgan — breakthrough year: 2012 “I’d broken goal records in Liverpool’s youth sides and represented England, but everything changes when you score for the first team — even if it is in a friendly,” Adam Morgan says. “In 2012, we played (MLS club) Toronto on a pre-season tour. It was Brendan Rodgers’ first game in charge, so a lot of people were paying attention. It was a friendly, but I didn’t treat it as a friendly. It was my World Cup final. I was so emotional when the goal went in, I’m surprised I didn’t take my shirt off in the celebrations or do a somersault. It’s mad how the high the highs in football really are. “When the game was finished, I checked my phone. My name was trending on Twitter and in the space of an hour, the number of followers on my account had trebled from around 20,000 to 60,000. All I could think of is, ‘Wow — this is crazy’. “I didn’t consider myself a first-team player but my confidence went up again when we arrived back at John Lennon Airport at the end of the tour and Liverpool’s player liaison officer Ray Haughan asked to keep hold of my passport because I was going to be involved in the squad for a Europa League tie in Belarus against Gomel. “I’m 26 now but I was 18 then and, looking back, I wasn’t prepared for everything that came with playing for Liverpool. I was a Jack the Lad but I never considered myself to be malicious and people who know me best would agree, I think. From the moment you represent Liverpool’s first team for the first time, the eyes of the world are on you and you’re expected to behave perfectly, though. “You can’t sneeze the wrong way without someone forming an impression of you. Everyone seems to be waiting to capture the moment that proves you’ve lost your humility. I found the environment a challenge because it’s in my nature to ease any tension in a room by cracking a joke or saying what I really think. “I had a lot of support from the academy staff. The education and welfare department was led by Phil Roscoe. I always felt as though I could speak to Clive Cook (former education and welfare officer) and Alan Redmond (former language tutor) as well. Yet I think my generation was the last where players tended not to speak honestly about their anxieties and fears. The culture in football has changed a lot since. I wish I’d been a lot more open with people I knew I could trust. “Between the ages of 15 and 18, I’d always worn Adidas boots but after playing for Liverpool, I had new offers and I went with New Balance. Suddenly, lots of brands and new friends want to be associated with you. If you want to go out for a meal, you don’t need to turn up at a restaurant with a reservation. If you want the latest iPhone, someone will have it with you inside a few hours. If you want to buy a watch for your girlfriend from DM Robinson’s in Liverpool city centre, it can happen. It’s very difficult to seem humble when you’re inundated with offers because everybody wants to be associated with success, even if, in reality, the success is quite modest. “I look back now and think that people are nicer and more genuine when you haven’t yet made the grade. It’s better to be on the brink of something. If people see you doing something they can’t do, sometimes they don’t like it. You become a target for attention, both good and bad, but a lot of it is unhealthy and it needs to be managed somehow. “I would read a lot of stuff that was said and written about Raheem Sterling, who was one of my team-mates, and it didn’t bear any resemblance to the real person. I can relate to some of his frustrations because a rumour started that he was dating this girl and that girl, when it simply wasn’t true. “I had a girlfriend around the time I broke into Liverpool’s first team and a rumour on social media went around that I was also in a relationship with a girl who worked at the LFC shop in Liverpool city centre. I’m not sure how it all started but I think it was because we were seen in the same bar one night. I ended up walking into the shop and asked her what was going on, and it was clear to me that she was not involved in it. Someone put two and two together and came up with 22. If you heard that story, you’d probably thought I was a bad lad.” Morgan played three senior games for Liverpool but was out on loan less than six months after his favourite night in Toronto. He made a permanent switch to Yeovil Town in January 2014 and now plays for Chelmsford United in the National League South, having relocated to Essex last year. “I was back home for Wolves (the 4-0 win at the start of December) and I went out for a meal on Smithdown Road to watch the game. I think I got asked about 20 times why it didn’t work out for me at Liverpool and it reminded me of one of the reasons why I decided to leave for another part of the country. I couldn’t deal with the questions any more. In Essex, nobody remembers me, so they don’t ask.”

Rice, Origi, Saliba, Messi, Dele and more: David Ornstein’s transfer mailbag https://theathletic.com/2280676/2020/12/26/rice-origi-saliba-messi-eriksen-alaba-january-transfer/ The transfer window and all its madness are nearly upon us again. Last week, you put your questions to David Ornstein about what might happen in January, here he answers the best of them… Sal T: How busy do you think January will be — a few loans here and there or are there particular clubs/leagues you think are ready to invest in substantial permanent deals? Hi Sal, thanks for the question and I hope you are well. January is a difficult window at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic that seems to be getting worse, and the current feeling among those I speak to with knowledge of the market suggests it will be fairly quiet in terms of spending. Several English clubs were more active last summer than initially expected but lots of those signings were supposed to be balanced out by departures, which largely failed to materialise. For many, therefore, the priority this winter is to shift bodies rather than accumulate them — and with money in short supply, that’s more likely to come in the form of loans and swaps than permanent deals. Equally, there will be some teams who look to take advantage of opportunities and capitalise on the vulnerability of others. I’m mainly thinking Premier League sides casting an eye on the EFL and Ligue 1 in France, given their respective financial crises. Meanwhile, if the big spending in China hadn’t already ended, the new restrictions there will almost certainly ensure it does. In summary, I anticipate quite a lot of activity but not for a great expense. Richard F: Could Liverpool bring some players on loan? Ship out Origi to help pay for short-term replacements? The title is still up for grabs. If Liverpool weren’t top of the table it wouldn’t be a big deal, but winning back-to-back titles is worth spending some money. As you may recall, Richard, I reported at the time of the injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez that Liverpool had no plans to recruit a centre-back or any other position in January. The hope was their existing options would provide sufficient cover, at least until the summer and possibly beyond. I don’t have any reason to believe that stance has changed, although we all know it could at any moment if need meets opportunity. So, barring an extraordinary turn of events, no arrivals are anticipated at Anfield this winter and the club’s current recruitment work is focused on potential acquisitions for the summer. In the meantime, the title defence you reference appears to be going pretty well! In terms of possible movement in the opposite direction, I’m told there’s no active intention to sell or inclination that anyone is agitating to leave. There has been plenty of speculation around Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi (who my colleagues James Pearce and Tim Spiers have reported on) but I don’t get the sense they are especially unsettled and, at the time of writing, sources indicate that moves at the end of the season are more probable. There also remains a lack of clarity over the future of Georginio Wijnaldum, which I first mentioned in my column on January 5 and Oliver Kay wrote about last week. Ronald Koeman wants to bring his fellow Dutchman to Barcelona but with his future at the Nou Camp and the club’s finances up in their air, there have been no developments on that front. Similarly, Inter Milan’s interest could rely on getting Christian Eriksen’s salary off the books: easier said than done. More generally, with teams forced to tighten their belts during a time of such uncertainty, huge wages for free agents may become a thing of the past. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants Wijnaldum to stay but talks over a new contract are said not to be ongoing and the midfielder is allowed to speak with foreign suitors from January 1. Menas K: Any truth in Man Utd pursuing Kieran Trippier? Are they targeting any other right-backs to add depth in that position this January? It is accurate, Menas, that Manchester United held discussions over a move for Trippier but I’ve not heard anything to indicate the matter has gone any further. What it does show is that they are thinking about adding competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, which is what happened at left-back last summer when Alex Telles was recruited to vie with Luke Shaw. I don’t know of any other names in the frame at present. As for Trippier, it sounds to me like he and his family would consider returning from Spain but any potential transfer will be complicated by the 30-year-old’s 10-week suspension by the Football Association over a betting charge relating to his move from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid in 2019. Kishan P: Will Chelsea move for Declan Rice in January? That’s the question we all want answering, Kishan! Did you read Simon Johnson’s excellent piece on this for The Athletic recently? It gave loads of detail on the situation and reflected a view I’ve heard from several good contacts; that Rice to Chelsea is starting to feel a case of “when” rather than “if”. I reported in the last transfer window that West Ham decided he was not for sale under any circumstances and, at the same time, some at Chelsea were not totally convinced the 21-year-old had rectified certain perceived weaknesses that contributed to them letting him leave Stamford Bridge as a teenager. But Frank Lampard seems firmly committed and evidence suggests the Chelsea manager tends to get what he wants in the transfer market. Simon tells me Rice remains Chelsea’s one real target for January but that there is only a remote chance of a deal materialising. Lampard needs to sell if he is going to buy and even if Chelsea were to offer the level of money Rice is valued at, West Ham will probably reject it as his stock and importance to them continues to rise. Similarly, there is no guarantee it will happen in the following summer. But what we can be pretty certain about is that this is a talking point which won’t be going away! Charlie H: Any hints where David Alaba will end up? Will Bayern try to sell him in January or let him leave on a free in the summer? I have read rumours of Chelsea being in the running (fingers crossed). I’m told Alaba will join a new club on July 1, Charlie, and all possibilities remain open as to which club that is. He will neither be signing a new contract at Bayern Munich, nor agree to be sold next month, and that makes him a highly sought-after free agent. The Austrian’s long-term preference was Spain but there is also said to be strong interest from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. To my knowledge, Chelsea don’t figure among the contenders at present. Despite Alaba’s versatility, they are not currently looking to recruit in his positions. Alex S: Are Tottenham looking to strengthen in January or is Mourinho happy with what he has for the rest of the season? Personally feel if Dele was to go along with the departure of Eriksen a year ago, we could do with bringing someone who could add a goalscoring threat from midfield. After a summer of reasonably heavy investment, Alex, I don’t think Spurs chairman Daniel Levy intends to spend at all this winter. Even if he wanted to, it doesn’t sound like the money is there. The only way that might change is if anybody is sold and needs replacing. Dele Alli doesn’t enter that bracket because the position he usually occupies is surplus to requirements in Jose Mourinho’s system. The 24-year-old is keen to leave permanently but meaningful talks have yet to take place and Levy may favour a loan, given Dele is under contract until 2024. While Paris Saint-Germain retain an interest and vice versa, it’s thought financial fair play issues could scupper their chances. Although Mourinho might welcome the chance to strengthen his squad — I hear he would like some back-up for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the defensive midfield role — the manager is said to be satisfied with his existing options. Another subscriber asked: “Do you expect Spurs to sell Davison Sanchez and go for Milan Skriniar or any other CB?” Sanchez has indeed fallen out of favour somewhat, and Joe Rodon is arguably moving above him in the pecking order, but with Mourinho, these things can change at any moment and I don’t envisage Inter’s Skriniar being revisited for now. A point perhaps worth mentioning is that if Spurs do try to sign someone there may be a reluctance for them to be foreign, given the club are already at the limit of permitted overseas numbers. Kieran Y: What are Southampton’s plans for the January transfer window? Hi Kieran, cheers for getting in touch. If the top-flight table is anything to go by, I’m not sure Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad needs a great deal of surgery! But Southampton are aiming to add some defensive cover, specifically at full-back to guard against injuries to Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Bertrand. For the second consecutive window, they’ll seek to lure Brandon Williams on loan from Manchester United, although they won’t be the only team in the mix for him. Some youngsters are set to depart St Mary’s temporarily to continue their development with regular game time, while Southampton still hope Danny Ings will sign a new contract — that ball is in his court. Parimal A: Will Manchester City see any transfer activity? Any chance of Oleksandr Zinchenko or Eric Garcia leaving the club? City are among the sides, Parimal, who don’t intend to make any signings in January but that doesn’t mean they won’t already be working on plans for the following window. In an interview I did with the club’s chief football operations officer Omar Berrada in October, their interest in Lionel Messi was confirmed. “If he leaves Barcelona and should Messi become something that can be discussed, then we could potentially explore that option,” said Berrada. From January 1, City will be allowed to speak to the Argentinian with a view to bringing him to the Etihad Stadium as a free agent next summer. That market is tipped to be a very busy one for manager Pep Guardiola, who many believe will need to upgrade in multiple areas. As for departures, Garcia’s situation is unchanged: he will be staying unless a suitor produces a suitable bid. It’s the same story with Zinchenko. City do not have a pressing desire to move on either man, whereas they will need bodies to compete for each competition in what will be an unprecedentedly congested season. Liam H: Are Arsenal willing to back Mikel Arteta in the January window? I imagine they originally intended to back him in the summer but surely they need recruitment ASAP if they still think he is the right man for the job? That’s a fair assessment, Liam, and one echoed by many of our subscribers. As you say, Arsenal’s recruitment plans were initially geared towards the end of the season. That’s when Mesut Ozil, David Luiz, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi will be out of contract, meaning a creative attacking midfielder and right-sided centre-back were on the agenda. But from the moment it became clear the team was struggling to produce goalscoring chances, I started to receive indications that some of those plans might be escalated to the winter. Arsenal weighed up a move for Dominik Szoboszlai before he decided to join RB Leipzig and have also considered talents such as Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund. Lyon’s Houssem Aouar was a previous target but reservations have emerged and he is believed to have dropped down the scouting list, while former Spurs’ playmaker Eriksen is not a candidate they are minded to pursue. The pressure to enter the market seems to intensify by the day and technical director Edu will try to reinforce Arteta’s squad — but the global environment renders January an even tougher window than normal and it is by no means certain that Arsenal will manage to fulfil their aims. I don’t know what money they have available; the club’s ownership has helped to fund transfers in the last two years and may have to do so again. There are a couple of new faces already in the building: Bruno Mazziotti has finally arrived from Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazilian medic is said to be making a positive impression around London Colney, while Bournemouth first-team physiotherapist Nick Court has also joined Arsenal. Greg C: Any William Saliba or Folarin Balogun news at all, please? Obviously, a lot of rumours that Saliba is going to be sold and Balogun won’t renew his deal… (can’t blame either tbh) I’ve not heard anything about Saliba being sold, Greg, but he is expected to go out on loan in the coming weeks. That should provide the game time he needs before hopefully returning to challenge for a spot at Arsenal next season. The 19-year-old’s preference is to stay in the UK and continue his acclimatisation, though he also has opportunities in his native France. Saliba’s £27 million move from Saint-Etienne in 2019 has been a failure so far; a disjointed year back at the Ligue 1 club on loan, followed by a slow adaptation to English football. He is yet to experience any senior action and it can’t have helped that nobody who played a role in his signing remains in position at the Emirates Stadium. Given the excitement around Saliba, plenty of supporters want to see him integrated into the first-team picture immediately, but Arteta says he is not ready. Despite the centre-back hoping he would be involved in last week’s League Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester City, there was no space and Arteta declined to elaborate on his reasoning. Balogun, by contrast, is starting to accumulate minutes on the pitch but no agreement has been reached in negotiations over a new contract. Talks have not stopped and the door is still open, however, the distance between the two parties is thought to be far and with the 19-year-old’s current deal expiring next summer, it looks increasingly likely he will depart as a free agent. Although Balogun’s domestic admirers include Liverpool, he can speak to speak to foreign clubs from January 1 and that route is understood to hold greatest appeal at present, particularly Germany. It would be a major blow for the club if they were to lose the England Under-20 international, who has been prolific at youth level for Arsenal. Liam B: Do you expect Aston Villa to do any business, in or out? Liam, have a look back at my first answer and you’ll see I predicted that some teams will try to take advantage of opportunities in the upcoming window. Villa, I suspect, might well be one of them. Their owners are extremely wealthy and have already shown a willingness to support manager Dean Smith in the market, which I’m told they won’t be averse to doing again if a unique chance arises. That said, the Villa hierarchy are very satisfied with their starting XI, almost half of which only arrived last summer. Wesley will soon return from injury to create more depth up front and some back-up players have performed well lately. The clear focus, though, is to move out fringe players. With four goalkeepers and three right-backs at their disposal, you can see why. Ed S: Are any transfers done entirely over WhatsApp? Interestingly, Ed, I have actually seen a few transfers that have been largely negotiated through WhatsApp text messages and voice notes. It may be the ease, the encryption or a bit of both, but it does appear to be an increasingly common way of going back and forth when you’re involved in transactions of this nature. The examples I mention were between clubs and agents: thrashing out the numbers, details, clauses, structure, logistics and so on. Club-to-club talks tend to be more formal: face-to-face conversations, phone calls, emails etc. Ultimately, everything has to be put in writing, even if some parts of the agreement are struck via more novel methods of communication! Rohan S: David, we’ve seen the growing prominence of the turtleneck/blazer combination over the past few months. Any expected fashion trends to keep an eye out for in early 2021? Rohan, I’m not sure it’s wise to seek wardrobe advice from a man of such sartorial inelegance… but in keeping with my line of work, I do anticipate dipping into the January sales at some point if there is an opportunity and I’m sufficiently enticed by the style and value for money. Hopefully, that enables me to emerge with a new item or two and freshen things up for the second half of the season. Impossible to tell you what it might be in such an unpredictable market, but if you’re a follower of our YouTube show Ask Ornstein, then all will be revealed in the not-too-distant future!

Aston Villa – fit, fresh and now a team to be feared https://theathletic.com/2285304/2020/12/27/aston-villa-dean-smith-anwar-el-ghazi/ Aston Villa are quickly becoming a match for all; the big boys, the bottom teams, local rivals, and now the wily and seasoned sides. Games against middle-ranking, established Premier League outfits caused promoted Villa problems last season. Not now. They were even able to play a full half without the dismissed Tyrone Mings and still managed to not only see out this latest win but extend the margin of victory, too. To put it simply, the fresh, youthful legs of Villa got the better of Crystal Palace’s ageing squad. When the youngest team in the division came up against the oldest, there was a clear winner. Another win, another clean sheet, and another 16 attempts at goal. That their 3-0 Boxing Day win was screened free to the nation live on BBC was an additional advertising bonus. Those who were not aware of Villa’s qualities are now. Even Auntie Margaret will recognise Anwar El Ghazi next time out, and for those of you who did not see the full 90 minutes, he is the one who channelled his inner Cristiano Ronaldo to smash in Villa’s third goal in style. This is officially Villa’s best start to a Premier League season and they are showing no signs of slowing up. For a young side — yesterday’s starting XI had an average age of 25 — they have the guile and know-how of an experienced group. They cover some serious ground these days, but can also wear teams down with the constant probing. Ollie Watkins defends from the front and really sets the tone. That was the story again versus Palace. During the half-time interval, head coach Dean Smith said to the 10 men that if he could choose any player in the division to lead the line for the second half, it would be Watkins. Although the striker did not score on the day, he created all three goals, hit the woodwork twice and was a real handful throughout. One impressive aspect is how Villa were still able to record 39 per cent possession for the game despite going a man down just before the interval. Bertrand Traore’s opener gave them something to cling onto but there was always a desire to get more and the second-half goals from Kortney Hause and El Ghazi were deserved. Mings had a bad day, from allowing Wilfred Zaha through at goal early on to his eventual dismissal, when he became tangled up in two challenges with the Palace dangerman in the space of six minutes. Both bookings appeared harsh. Did he really do anything wrong in the first altercation, where all he appeared to do was lift an arm to keep Zaha at a distance? And was he fouled first by the attacker before carelessly bringing him down to stop an attack soon after? Either way, Mings will know he messed up. It was a rare stumble by a player who is usually measured and composed, but it did not matter in terms of the final score. Villa showed incredible guts to continue attacking even after they were at a numerical disadvantage. They purposely targeted a Palace rearguard (the goalkeeper and back four) that had an average age of 31.6 years because they knew they had the legs to rip them apart. Smith set up extra fitness sessions during the first lockdown, and those hard yards have set the tone for this vibrant new approach. “I know we are fitter than last season,” he says. “We worked on getting the players’ running numbers higher — the high-speed distance and sprinting. ”You can see from the counter-attacking aspect of our game just how fit we are. But there’s also a great maturity in the team, even though we’re the youngest group in the Premier League.” There is also a sheer willingness to keep the ball out of the net — their total of eight clean sheets is the best in the division, even though most clubs have played more than their 13 games. Right into the last minute, when the game was done and dusted, there were disagreements over the direction of an Emiliano Martinez goal kick. For all the additional running, it is not just aimless sprinting into space, either. The movements are careful and considered. Villa had the highest dribble success rate in the Premier League (66 per cent) at time of writing and, on average, they are having more possession in matches this season (50 per cent) compared to 43 per cent last time. The cold, hard statistics do not show the amount of work this team is getting through, though. Take the recoveries and interceptions numbers. Villa are not stacking up favourably in comparison to others but what is not measured by readily-available numbers is the way their players are backing each other up. Look at how Douglas Luiz nips in either side of the back four to mop up when he is needed. The perfect example came in the 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last weekend, when he bulldozed his way into Grady Diangana after the wide man spun away from Matt Targett in a rare break upfield. Or how about when Jack Grealish missed a chance just before half-time against Palace before tracking back to win first the ball, and then a foul. It was nice to see Villa turning to the dark arts somewhat in the second half, too. El Ghazi won clever fouls, the backline refused to be beaten — Targett in particular — and there were occasional examples of running down the clock. If there was a sight to sum up the way Villa got under the skin of their most recent opponents, it was Palace manager Roy Hodgson sat slumped in his dugout chair, resigned to becoming the latest victim to this evolving side. He had his Palace players — starting XI average age of 29 — training on Christmas Day and then sleeping over in Birmingham the night before this game, but it was all in vain. “I didn’t see the 3-0 coming,” he admitted. Not many will have, but Villa won’t stay under the radar for long if they continue this form.

Smith Rowe, Saka and Martinelli can be Arsenal’s present and future https://theathletic.com/2285416/2020/12/27/smith-rowe-saka-arsenal/ Kieran Tierney is perhaps the most relatable among this group of Arsenal players. If anyone in this squad is in tune with the supporters, it is him — and there was a moment half an hour into this vital victory over Chelsea when the Scotsman spoke for every Arsenal supporter watching. As Emile Smith Rowe took the ball under control, looked up and laid it out wide, Tierney was sprinting down the left flank. He had just enough breath, however, to yell at the top of his lungs: “Yes, Emile! Go on!” It was a cry repeated on sofas across north London and beyond. Suddenly, Arsenal had a No 10. It’s not that Smith Rowe’s 65 minutes on the field was particularly spectacular. In a season characterised by a dearth of creativity, however, it did feel stylistically unique. The likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Joe Willock have tried and failed to provide a point of connection between midfield and attack. For Smith Rowe, it is natural. At times this season, a chasm has opened up between Arsenal’s central midfielders and centre-forward. That is the space in which Smith Rowe operates. You do not have to be a maverick or a match-winner to make the difference: sometimes it is as simple as having someone there, of offering a pass, a run, an option. Mesut Ozil once made an art form of doing simple things well, of finding space where the opposition are vulnerable. We do not yet know whether Smith Rowe shares that pedigree, but he appears to share those instincts. This was just Smith Rowe’s second Premier League start — the previous occasion was almost exactly a year ago, the match before Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal. The hunger of a young player was evident in his defensive work too. As Arsenal’s recent run of poor results has steadily taken its toll, Arteta has gradually become a less animated figure on the touchline. An incident midway through the first half appeared to break him out of his stupor. When Smith Rowe pressed N’Golo Kante, regaining possession in the process, Arteta sprung back into life to applaud his efforts. The 20-year-old had not finished with the Frenchman — a deft nutmeg on the World Cup winner in the second half might have been the highlight of his night. This was a victory Arteta and Arsenal desperately needed. It ended a dreadful run of seven Premier League matches without a win. After the wretched run they have endured, neither Arteta nor the supporters will be getting too carried away: the team are still ensconced in the bottom half of the table, and only a stoppage-time penalty save from Bernd Leno prevented this match from having a very nervy finish. As the German plunged to palm away, the roar from the Arsenal bench was loud enough to fool you into thinking a group of Arsenal fans had snuck back into the stadium. Arteta and his staff knew the significance of that moment. It means Arsenal can focus on the green shoots of recovery. Smith Rowe was not the only young attacker to shine — on the wings, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were also excellent. Martinelli was also making his first Premier League start of the season. The impact this 19-year-old has made since returning from injury is remarkable, and a testament to the diligence and commitment he showed during rehabilitation. Staff at London Colney have been thoroughly impressed by his attitude and application. Martinelli has movement, speed and a willingness to defend from the front — in his time on the field, no Arsenal player made more tackles. The Brazilian exchanged wings with Saka — the youngest of the trio, yet already the most experienced. He felt like the orchestrator of this attack. No player passed more accurately in the opponents’ half than Saka (84.2 per cent). Speaking after the game, he cheekily insisted Arsenal’s third goal was the consequence of a perfectly-placed shot rather than mishit cross. The glance he gave towards the six-yard box might suggest otherwise, but Saka earned his luck with sheer hard work. According to Opta, the 19-year-old covered the most distance of any player on the field (11.5 km). The young players’ efforts were supported by strong performances from experienced players like Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka, but it was the effervescence and energy of the fresher faces that breathed life into this team. One wonders if this youthful trio would have been out there had the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Willian been fit to start. When Smith Rowe was named on the teamsheet at Goodison Park a year ago, it was for caretaker Freddie Ljungberg’s final game in charge. The Swede picked a team packed with young players, in what felt like a pointed statement about Arsenal’s senior players. Perhaps that opportunity came too early for some, but 12 months on these young players deserve persistence. If Arsenal’s domestic goals are beyond them, they could do worse than ensure Smith Rowe, Martinelli and Saka get the game-time they need to continue developing. Against Chelsea, it was the youngsters who led the charge. For all the talk of recalling Ozil to the Premier League squad, Arsenal would surely be better served by dedicating that game time to a player who has a chance of being in north London beyond the end of this season. Ozil almost certainly belongs to the past; Smith Rowe might be part of the future.

Sensible Transfers: What Chelsea are doing about Rice, Tomori, Alonso and others https://theathletic.com/2254434/2020/12/26/sensible-transfers-what-chelsea-are-doing-about-rice-tomori-alonso-and-others/ How can Chelsea possibly follow up the buzz of excitement they generated in the last transfer window? My word, it was a lot of fun: a period when the club sent out a statement they meant business, that they were going to be top contenders again. They were so intent to get ahead of the competition, their first deal was completed before the window even officially opened as Hakim Ziyech’s switch from Ajax was finalised in February. Over £200 million was spent on five players, but just like many households who have enjoyed a splurge over the holidays, January is going to be a bit of a reality check and a few cuts need to be made to get the bills under control. It should still be intriguing because head coach Frank Lampard has a different kind of problem to solve. Last season the squad was not good enough, now it is just too big. Some players simply have to go. As far as The Athletic is aware, there is only one signing Chelsea would consider bringing in and that is Declan Rice. But as revealed earlier in December, it is not going to be easy and the summer is more likely. For Chelsea to stand a chance, they are going to have to raise revenue first. It is not as if they have an open chequebook. Financial Fair Play remains a consideration. Several players could depart, but with COVID-19 still damaging finances, Chelsea may face a struggle to secure permanent moves for most of them. So who is set to leave? For starters, step forward Fikayo Tomori. Few players have had a more dramatic fall from grace at Chelsea than the 22-year-old, who has been given just 109 minutes of action in the Premier League during the calendar year. That is some drop considering he made 14 Premier League starts in the first half of the 2019-20 campaign. One of the questions most asked by the readers is why this has happened. There are several factors and the form of Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma is one of them. But sources have told The Athletic that Tomori’s levels in training dipped for a significant amount of time and a sloppy performance against Bournemouth in February didn’t help his cause either. While still highly regarded at the club, there is some concern over his ability to compete in the air and a tendency to lose concentration, which leads to silly mistakes that can cost goals. Tomori is rated for his pace and ability to defend one-on-one but there is a desire, as was revealed in November, to see him go out on loan and develop his all-round game. However, The Athletic has also been told that he has had enough of being on the periphery at Chelsea and aims to push for a permanent move. If he does move on loan, Chelsea favour a move to another Premier League club so they can monitor his progress more closely, but Ligue 1 side Rennes, who wanted him earlier in the year, have renewed their interest. Tomori turned down a move to West Ham on deadline day in October and it is unlikely that he will end up going there. Leeds have been mentioned as not-so-secret admirers for a long period. A key requirement, of course, is that he plays regular first-team football. The situation could get even more complicated. Lampard has five centre-backs in his squad, yet Silva and Zouma are playing in the majority of the matches. With the European Championship taking place in the summer, Germany international Antonio Rudiger and Denmark international Andreas Christensen won’t be happy with just getting the odd game here and there. The latter is attracting interest from top-six clubs in Spain, France and Germany, while Rudiger considered a switch away from Stamford Bridge earlier in the campaign. Should one of those two push to move — and it is worth pointing out they have only 18 months left on their contracts — it could generate funds to put towards Rice. Yet that would also mean Tomori’s departure would get blocked because Lampard will not want to be reduced to three centre-backs, especially with Silva’s game time requiring management. Another department overstocked is at left-back. Ben Chilwell is comfortably the first choice since joining from Leicester for £50 million, leaving Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso on the sidelines. Alonso is the one most favoured to be sold or loaned. The Spain international has not featured since upsetting Lampard for his behaviour after being substituted against West Brom in September. As The Athletic exclusively revealed at the time, observers were under the impression he had played his last game for the club. The problem is Alonso hasn’t generated much interest, especially as Chelsea are demanding a fee above £20 million. Inter Milan, who are coached by former boss Antonio Conte, made an enquiry in the last window about a loan with an option to buy. But there have to be question marks over the budget available to Conte now after they finished bottom of their Champions League group. Emerson is ahead of Alonso in the pecking order, as was shown by starting Chelsea’s last two Champions League games and his appearance from the bench for the injured Chilwell against West Ham. Like Rudiger and Christensen, Emerson will have concerns about the Euros having got into Italy’s first XI of late. Inter Milan, Roma and Napoli have been linked with him in the past. However, Chilwell’s damaged ankle, which has sparked concerns that the England international could be out for a couple of weeks, could give Emerson a run in the side over the festive period and help quell any desire to leave. Notably, his agent Fernando Garcia has appeared to rule out a switch: “Will he go away from Chelsea in January? I do not believe so. I don’t know if there will be the possibility of returning to Italy. For now, there has been no contact with Inter. Emerson has a good relationship with Lampard.” What to do with the goalkeepers, particularly Kepa Arrizabalaga, is another area of concern. A sale significantly below the £71.6 million transfer fee Chelsea paid Athletic Bilbao in 2018 is out of the question right now. Even a loan will be problematic because of the £170,000-a-week salary. It is believed Willy Caballero isn’t particularly pleased with the turn of events at Stamford Bridge and is the most likely of the three senior goalies to depart. Before Chelsea signed Edouard Mendy from Rennes in September, the 39-year-old got to play a couple of games. He hasn’t been involved since and if Kepa doesn’t get a move, which isn’t expected at this stage, then the former Argentina international will pursue a transfer of his own. Sources have told The Athletic that Caballero is exploring options to join an MLS club. He still feels he has a lot to offer in the game. It is thought that Lampard is prepared to grant Caballero’s request to leave as a recognition for his efforts. There is also sympathy within the club for a man who went from playing in key games during 2020 to being demoted to third choice without doing anything particularly wrong. Mendy was made the automatic No 1 and there was no way Chelsea were going to relegate Kepa below the No 2 spot. Should Caballero go, a slot will open up. Technical and performance advisor Petr Cech was surprisingly named in Chelsea’s Premier League squad in October and recently played for the under-23s against Tottenham. Croatia Under-19 international Karlo Ziger was on the bench for the Champions League game at home to Krasnodar, but the difference in experience him and Cech is obviously vast. It is a situation to watch with interest. One of the options Chelsea previously considered to raise money for Rice was to sell Jorginho. The midfielder was being lined up to join Arsenal in the previous window. But it is hard to see who would be able or willing to pay more than £50 million for the Italy international in the new year. Two men Chelsea will definitely look to offload again is Danny Drinkwater and Abdul Baba Rahman. They have had to settle for playing for the under-23s to maintain match fitness as they were not included in Lampard’s squads for the Premier League or Champions League. Drinkwater’s salary of £110,000 a week, let alone his lack of game time over the last three years, will be a major obstacle in attracting bids. Chelsea will have to pay some of the wages to enable a loan. Left-back Baba Rahman, who was subject of loan enquiries from Middlesbrough and Watford last time out, will be easier to shift. Inevitably, there are also stories surrounding players Chelsea want to keep. Striker Olivier Giroud was thinking of leaving, but has had a change of heart now Lampard is selecting him more often. Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has been targeted by Bayern Munich on two prior occasions and continues to be employed sparingly by Lampard. But Chelsea will not let one of their few natural wide players go, especially as they are competing on three fronts (Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup). There have been a few questions about whether 19-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour could be loaned out to get more experience. However, The Athletic has been assured he is going nowhere because Lampard sees him as an option to play as the holding midfielder as well as a No 8. The same applies to another emerging talent in Tino Anjorin, who made his first start against Krasnodar. Chelsea have received loan offers from clubs in the bottom half of the Premier League, at the top of the Championship and there is also interest from abroad. However, Chelsea are not interested. The plan is for him to continue to get more game time in the second half of the campaign — he provides cover for Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi, who have all had injury problems. Plus he will benefit from training with the senior group, just as Gilmour has. Injuries to key personnel could change some of Chelsea’s thinking over the players mentioned above, but it speaks volumes that overall they are very content with the talent within their ranks. The club’s business at the start of 2021 may not be as enthralling as what took place before. That’s because the hard work in the market has already been done. Chelsea are in great shape because of it and their fans should hope their entertainment will continue to be provided on the pitch rather than the gossip columns.

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.[11] This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663.[12] This custom is linked to an older British tradition where the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families since they would have to serve their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Until the late 20th century there continued to be a tradition among many in the UK to give a Christmas gift, usually cash, to vendors although not on Boxing Day as many would not work on that day.

Poor management. It is not rocket surgery. Amazing how little offensive ingenuity Lampard shows with his tactics and formations and where he puts players.

Not happy at all. He appears in over his head. He is very poor with game management and formation/positional set ups. If we lose 5 of the next 7 EPL games he needs to be sacked. All 5 are tough games. The other 2 of the 7 are Burnley and Fulham. I am very close to losing patience. You give a decent manager these incredible players and I guarantee they would at least have a structure. Cannot believe that when we had NO true wingers and THREE healthy CFs Lampard still refused to even TRY 2 at the top. Insanity.

I have been ripping him (one of the very few players this season) for ages. He destroys the pace of the game whenever he plays and is the worst defending DMF on any top 30 club. I want him GONE. Lampard is clueless as to how to use him. He needs to go back to Serie A. FUCK SARRI. He stuck us with a £57m white elephant.

OUT!

not at all, it is cumulative I have said nothing until now he has many holes in his game

I am not complaining about Werner or Havertz at all its Lampard and his fucking formational and tactical cluelessness

what did she say?

that pass out turnover was madness gave it right to them! if he was not aircraft carrier-sized they would have scored the 4th

not at all sold on Mendy for anything other than our new backup he has far too many unfixable weaknesses

ahh, oki, sorry for misunderstanding