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…)
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…)
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…)
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…)
Mind games have rarely won football games. Sir Alex Ferguson once famously got under the skin of Kevin Keegan and his comments were widely attributed to United managing to chase down the twelve points lead Newcastle had at the top of the Premier League at the time.
The same would never happen to Pep Guardiola. He is more experienced than Keegan was, he has won more as a manager than Keegan had. He is certainly more street-wise than Keegan. Yes, he will occasionally rise to the bait but he would never let it affect his team’s performances on the pitch. (more…)
José Mourinho and some of the United “supporters” need to get over their latest defeat by Manchester City and stop making excuses as to why the game was lost.
Ander Herrera was correctly NOT given a penalty for his dive in the City penalty area.
Even if the penalty had been awarded there is no guarantee that it would have been scored.
Even if it had been scored there is no guarantee that United would have gone on to draw the match, never mind win it!
Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young are both ageing wingers being played out of position. Had it not been for David De Gea over the last few seasons, United’s defence would have been exposed as the shambles it actually is. (more…)
Apart from all of the money which is thrown at him on a regular basis, is José Mourinho really getting the recognition he deserves for his achievements?
Leaving aside all his trophies, both domestic and in Europe, with his previous clubs. Leaving aside his transforming of struggling clubs such as Chelsea and Inter Milan, both of which he turned into title winners and leaving aside his record of being only the fifth manager to have won the title in four different countries, we sometimes wonder what he has to do to please some people. (more…)
The Manchester Derby this weekend won’t actually tell us very much with regards to where the title is going to end up unless Manchester City win.
A United win would reduce City’s lead to five points, meaning that City would still need to lose another two games and United continue winning for them to overtake their neighbours.
Obviously, a draw would mean that everything stays the same and only Chelsea, providing they win, would really benefit. (more…)
Josep Guardiola 0525 by Thomas Rodenbücher (CC BY 2.0)
Manchester City have so far enjoyed a truly dominant season in the Premier League, blowing teams away with their attacking prowess and avoiding a defeat on their impressive record.
Under former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, the Sky Blues finally look to have got going properly, after they started strongly but ultimately faded out in their manager’s maiden campaign in charge during 2016/17.
Guardiola earned immense plaudits and shot to managerial stardom with success with Barcelona, rallying to three consecutive La Liga victories from 2008 to 2011 and also claiming an incredible two Champions League triumphs. (more…)
Manchester United usually start to make their mark on the Premier League from January onwards. At least, that was always the case when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
This season they haven’t done too badly when considering that they have only lost two games and one of those, based on form, should have been won.
Had they managed to beat Huddersfield Town, however, they would still be five points behind Manchester City who have reached this stage of the season unbeaten.
So, in order for the “Fergie effect” to actually have any effect, City need to lose at least three games and the derby next week would be a good start! (more…)
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 
