Arne Slot manager of the season for all reasons.
Assorted contenders present convincing cases for Premier League Manager of the Season. Andoni Iraola has done wonders amidst an injury crisis at Bournemouth. They are one point off a possible Champions League place. Nuno Espirito Santo has twice won Manager of the Month this season for his inspirational work at Nottingham Forest, who lie third. But it has to be Arne Slot. His tactics were clever against Manchester City, using Luis Diaz and Mo Salah as his attack and letting Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones raid through the middle. He’s taken a good squad inherited from Jurgen Klopp, tightened the defence, brought more control to midfield and has a team who may be crowned champions with a month to go.
Slot’s worked with the same players, barring the arrival of Federico Chiesa for £10m. He’s improved players like Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo. He was criticised for publicly demanding more from Darwin Nunez but why not? It shows Slot’s high standards, and his desire for all players to meet them and Nunez hasn’t been. It was nothing he wouldn’t have said to Nunez in private. Slot’s also handled adroitly all the questions and uncertainty about the future of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah. He comes across as incredibly likeable and intelligent in interviews. He’s also driven, and revealed that trait with his rather excessive reaction to Michael Oliver which led to a touchline ban. He can pull the strings of this fine Liverpool side from the stands. Slot’s the Manager of the Season for all reasons.
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Whatever happened to “referee’s call”? David Moyes and Evertonians are legitimately asking the questions following VAR’s intervention and the baffling overturning of Andrew Madley’s original decision to award Ashley Young a penalty against Manchester United. Young had his shirt pulled by Matthijs de Ligt, was fouled by Harry Maguire and then fell theatrically to earth. How to make sense of ensuing events? The Premier League Match Centre on X doesn’t permit replies to its posts. Probably sensible. People would be on X more than Elon Musk. It posted: “VAR checked the referee’s call of penalty to Everton for a challenge by Maguire on Young and deemed that no foul had been committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball”.
A few thoughts. Firstly, VAR did check De Ligt’s shirt-pull, which the Match Centre should have clarified, and cleared it, which was bizarre as it’s a foul anywhere else on the pitch. De Ligt acted to prevent Young reaching a rebound. Secondly, Madley’s decision to award the penalty was correct in most eyes; it certainly wasn’t a clear and obvious error requiring VAR rescue (although former ref Mike Dean called it a “correct call”). Thirdly, Young’s theatrics were a response to illegal attempts to stop him by De Ligt and Maguire. Just because he has a reputation for taking the odd tumble doesn’t mean the officials should automatically rule this out. Fourthly, referees like Madley need to have the courage of their convictions and stick with their original decision. Fifthly, it’s frustrating when unnecessary interventions like this damage the credibility of VAR further. Technology is here to stay - it just needs using more judiciously.
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Abdukodir Khusanov endured a shocking debut for Manchester City against Chelsea, gifting Noni Madueke a goal, receiving a caution and being subbed, but the defender’s now settling in very promisingly. The 20-year-old Uzbeki’s stats were impressive against Liverpool: six clearances, one block, one tackle,102 touches and 87 passes with a completion rate of 99%. City, for all their issues, have started their rebuild.
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Newcastle United had the proverbial game of two halves against Nottingham Forest: clinical, then chaotic. Except their young left-back, Lewis Hall, excelled in both periods. He was busily creative before the break, showing his understanding with Anthony Gordon (which will benefit England). Hall, 20, then demonstrated his determination as Forest tried to force a comeback. Anthony Elanga gave him occasional problems but Hall stuck manfully to the task. He won a series of headers, and executed one perfectly timed tackle on Elanga, stretching out his right foot. Any miscalculation and Hall risked a penalty. He wasn’t solely on the back foot in the second half; he also embarked on a great dribble until fouled by Nicolas Dominguez. The challenges keep on coming: Hall faces Mo Salah twice in 18 days.
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It’s strange to think that the decisive passage of play in the Premier League season had its roots in a potato field in Herefordshire. Jarrod Bowen regularly trained on his uncle’s farm in the off-season, building up his leg strength, and also his arm muscles by carrying weights. So when West Ham’s captain collected the ball outside his own area at the Emirates, and released Aaron Wan-Bissaka up the right, he had the determination and strength to hare 80 yards, getting ahead of Declan Rice to meet the right-back’s cross and score. All that training in draining, muddy conditions has Bowen feeling a complete sprinter when flying across pristine pitches like the Emirates. Arsenal’s nightmare was seeded in a potato field of dreams.
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More signs of collective action by angry fans. Manchester City and Liverpool supporters staged a joint protest before kick-off at the Etihad over ticket prices. City fans have already written to the club detailing their concerns over the hikes and also the presence of away fans in home areas. It happened when Real Madrid visited and again yesterday when some Liverpool fans were in the home areas. This obviously affects segregation and leads to unpleasant incidents which inexperienced stewards are not necessarily qualified – or predisposed - to tackle. The Premier League ignores the protests at its peril.
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Having watched a fair bit of Heung-min Son of late, I was convinced he was past his best, a fading force at 32. Judging Tottenham Hotspur’s captain against Ipswich Town’s naïve defence may not lead to the most accurate of conclusions but there were definite signs of a welcome revival in Son’s form. He created Brennan Johnson’s two goals with some of his old sleight of foot to deceive a defender and accurate delivery. Son will need replacing at some point, but not quite yet.
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Twelve years ago, England’s thrashing of San Marino was notable enough for the eight goals. It has subsequently proved notable for involving four midfielders now managing in the Championship. Frank Lampard, Scott Parker and Tom Cleverley all played that day in Serravalle while Michael Carrick was on the bench. Parker’s Burnley put four past Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, Coventry City continued their revival under Lampard with victory over Preston North End on Saturday before Cleverley enjoyed a much-needed win for Watford over Luton Town yesterday. Carrick was the only one who endured a disappointing long weekend, losing at Bristol City, Middlesbrough’s fifth defeat in succession. Boro have slipped out of the play-off picture but Watford have a chance and Coventry are a point off sixth following three wins on the spin. Burnley are two points off automatic. The Championship is rarely short of storylines and the ex-England midfielder narrative, 171 caps between them, adds to the drama.
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Great to see the pictures that Nigel Pearson posted of him walking in Derbyshire. He’s had to learn to walk again after a neurological condition. “Making progress... been out in the Dark Peak, a place of beauty I never tire of being in... real food for the soul.” I’ve been walking with Pearson and his engaging company is also real food for the soul. One of the game’s great characters. Happy hiking, Nige.
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Thanks for reading. Enjoy the week.
Sadly I find myself disagreeing with a lot you write these days Henry, your Bellingham ‘love in’ was a difficult one but Slot as manager of the year takes the biscuit, it’s not even his side. The Young penalty decision was correct anyone who sees him play knows he’s a diver, and most writers agreed he exaggerated his fall, and if referees gave penalties for a shirt tug in the box there’d be a penalty every time there’s a corner where there’s far worse taking place. Anyway all the best Henry I’m off.
A friend of mine David Young is Chairman of Canongate. Happy to put you in touch. Giles