Archive for the ‘European Football’ Category

Who’s To Blame For Manchester United’s Dip In Form? José Mourinho Or The Players?

Posted: December 28, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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Firstly, we have to decide if there is any blame to be attached for anything. Manchester United are currently drawing games they would normally be expected to win but this could be described as just a blip.

Every team, at some stage, goes through a downturn in form and the trick is to make sure it lasts for as short a time possible.

It is also true to say that, in most other seasons of the Premier League era, United’s points tally would be enough to see them top the table, albeit narrowly.

Their ignominious exit from the Carabao Cup was the only real black mark on an otherwise relatively impressive season. (more…)

Bits & Pieces: Including – Mourinho’s Moans, Pep’s Prediction, Harry’s Hat-Trick And Klopp’s Clown

Posted: December 27, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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José Mourinho’s latest gripe is the amount of games United have to play over the festive period and how close together they are.

He will actually only be involved in the same number of games as everyone else in the Premier League but, hey, this is José so it wouldn’t be normal if he wasn’t affected more than the others.

Having played in the late game on Saturday evening when United threw away two points having allowed Leicester to equalise in the 95th minute, the poor souls were only afforded a break from football matches of two and a half days before they had to go into battle again. This time against Burnley at Old Trafford. (more…)

What Your Big Six Team’s Manager And Fans Wanted For Christmas (But Didn’t Get)

Posted: December 26, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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As another year draws to it’s conclusion in just a week’s time, we look at what the big six managers would have liked for Christmas and try to figure out whether or not they will get their heart’s desire in the near future, (or the January transfer window as it is now known in football circles).

So, in no particular order other than their initial letter and it’s place in the alphabet, here’s our list: (more…)

Why José Mourinho Needs To Improve As A Manager

Posted: December 25, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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The ‘Special One’ is no longer special. Very good, maybe, but special? No longer.

Whilst winning all of his titles and trophies with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea again and now, Manchester United, he created a history deserving of his title.

In 17 seasons of club management, Mourinho led his club to win its domestic league eight times, the UEFA Champions League twice and the UEFA Cup/Europa League twice. Between 2003 and 2012, Mourinho did not go a single calendar year without winning at least one trophy.

So he was, without doubt, special. He now needs to prove that he still is, or still can be. (more…)

Do The Manchester Clubs, (And Others), Really Employ Any Scouts?

Posted: December 24, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Transfers
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This is a question which, in various guises, has been asked before, even by our goodselves.

In the not too distant past we have criticised the big clubs for waiting until players become household names and then spending a fortune to buy them, rather than scouting them as young players and picking them up for next to nothing, relatively speaking.

We are reminded of these instances every time, for example, Virgil van Dijk is mentioned in the press and, lately, this has been quite often. (more…)

Manchester United Need To Get Back To Winning Ways, The Rest Just Need To Carry On As Usual!

Posted: December 23, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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After a midweek which saw the fringe players of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester’s United and City experiencing largely successful outings against “weaker” opposition, with only United failing abysmally to progress, attention now returns to the Premier League.

Now there can be no ensuring that London teams have a home draw and Manchester teams both have to travel, or that the draw for the semi-final will be constructed in such a way that a London team is guaranteed an appearance in the final.

No, this is the Premier League which stands for all that is good and right with the game. (more…)

José Mourinho Should Stop Blaming Bad Luck And Start Looking For Answers

Posted: December 22, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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Eleven points behind Manchester City, beaten at Huddersfield and knocked out of the Carabao Cup by a Championship team. What is the reason for these poor results? Well, according to José Mourinho it’s “bad luck”, certainly with the last one.

One of Mourinho’s biggest failings is his inability to admit that anything is ever wrong. He will happily discuss what other managers do/did wrong, particularly those who preceded him at Old Trafford, going on to tell us who he wouldn’t have sold and who wouldn’t have gone out on loan.

He will then regale us with tales of what a wonderful manager he is and remind us, incessantly, of how many trophies he has won. (more…)

Bits & Pieces: Including – The Draw Would Have Been Fixed, Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard And The Retrospective Diving Rule

Posted: December 21, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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So here we go again dear readers. Another opportunity for Manchester United to advance to the semi-final of a domestic cup competition, another opportunity blown.

They had the easiest draw as they were playing the only club from outside of the Premier League and their inept performance was inexcusable.

Despite José Mourinho insisting that Bristol City were lucky, they gave United a lesson in how to keep possession and how to take chances but at least there is a silver lining in the defeat. (more…)

How Do The Rest Of The Top Six Compete With Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City? Here’s The Answer

Posted: December 19, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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Today we exclusively reveal the secret behind Pep Guardiopla’s success at Manchester City – there isn’t one!

There is an old saying which goes something like, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”.

This may represent the best solution for the likes of Mourinho, Klopp, Wenger, Pochettino and Conte in their battle with Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.

After all, doing what he does is not rocket science and is only baffling to the simple structures which pass as brains in Premier League managers.

When we here at WSA started watching football we used to get quite excited when the internationals were being played. Back then, of course, with a mere 42 league games per season for the top flight clubs, a break wasn’t seen as necessary so the Home Internationals were played at the end of the season. (more…)

Following The Weekend’s Games Who Does Your Team Need To Buy, If Anybody?

Posted: December 18, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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With wins for all of the “Big Six” except Tottenham and the January transfer window looming large we look at the performances and whether or not the teams need to strengthen in any position for the run-in next year.

In the Saturday games Arsenal were at home to Newcastle United and managed to scrape a 1-0 win.

More important for the Gunners this January is probably who they can hold onto rather than who they can buy.

Alexis Sánchez has been largely anonymous this season and that fact goes some of the way to explaining why Arsenal are short of goals. (more…)

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