Ben Davies, sliding doors and wind-down windows.
10 thoughts about the weekend...
Beneficial Ben. When I first interviewed Ben Davies at Swansea City, he’d just got into the first team and was being teased by the stars for having a car without automatic windows. His team-mates would wave to him in the car park, get him to stop so they could enjoy watching Davies frantically turning the handle to roll down the window. At 31, and after a decade at Tottenham, Davies doubtless drives a more sophisticated car now but is still the same down-to-earth character, a great role model for aspiring professionals. He’s not in Ange Postecoglou’s starting plans for Spurs but he’s the faithful friend, on the bench, ready to fill in, help out and even play a part in a goal as against Aston Villa. And what a servant he has been on 336 occasions for Spurs since that £10m move, now 23rd on the club’s all-time appearance list. He could have moved but stayed, loving Spurs, and still playing his part. Top pro. The days of the wind-down wind-up merchants are long gone.
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Simeone family values. Dad Diego, Atletico Madrid’s coach, spoke out emotionally in support of the people of Valencia and the surrounding district hit by horrific flooding which has already claimed 211 lives already. Diego paid tribute to the character of the people in Valencia out with shovels, desperately digging through mud and debris searching for loved ones and neighbours. He questioned whether La Liga should be playing on. His son, Giuliano, dedicated his first goal for Atletico to the people of Valencia. Father and son put football in perspective.
It’s distressing what’s befallen this great city. The home of Valencia’s football club, Mestalla, is a famous, atmospheric football ground. Before “Tu Museo Deportivo” closed down, I used to visit the memorabilia-filled bar opposite Mestalla to check in on Spain’s most celebrated fan, Manolo the drummer. I’d take in programmes from Premier League matches involving Spanish players and he’d be delighted and hand over a Manolo pin badge. He was so proud of the club and the city, its connections with Ernest Hemingway and the Pepicas bar on the beach the writer frequented. Manolo loved the astonishing Fallas festival where kids run around throwing firecrackers at your feet and huge wooden models are set ablaze. He spoke with wonder of the magnificent modern museums built in the centre of Valencia. It’s a special place. So the words and actions of the Simeone family were poignant, similarly the sight of the former Valencia coach Unai Emery wearing a black armband for Aston Villa’s weekend match. Thoughts with all in Valencia
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FA Cupset. It's only 20 minutes down the A43 from Kettering to Northampton, a bit longer if you detour via the Snooty Fox in Lowick (“Best Country Pub” finalist again), but there’s far further between their football clubs, Poppies and Cobblers. There’s 79 places. The FA Cup, for all its issues, conjured up an upset and another chapter for the history books. Kettering, of the Southern League Premier Division Central, have been through much, including administration and relegation. But they’re alive and kicking, and roared on by 1500 travelling fans overcame their League One hosts 2-1. Kettering’s winner came from Nile Ranger, who has done plenty wrong in his life, wasted his best playing years, and been to prison twice, but the 33-year-old former Newcastle striker rose to head the Poppies into the second round. The Cup still matters. Kettering are on many road signs off the A14 and A43, and Sean Dyche was born there, but the Cup really them properly on the map again.
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The Bournemouth Barista. Milos Kerkez loves his coffee, is good at making them, even helping out in a local coffee shop and he was certainly wide awake against Manchester City. The Serb-born Hungary full-back took time to settle after joining from AZ Alkmaar last year but is now flying. Kerkez got away from Phil Foden to create Antoine Semenyo’s goal and set up Evanilson’s finish with the perfect cross. Kerkez put in a couple of blocks to deny Bernardo Silva. And he’s still only 20. More clever recruitment by Bournemouth. More inspiring coaching by Andoni Iraola. And the coffee afficionado is now delivering fully. Better latte than never.
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Slot machine. Except he’s not. Arne has got Liverpool operating like a machine but he’s no robot. He showed his soft skills at the weekend. Slot’s team are top of the Premier League because of the quality of the squad he inherited from Jurgen Klopp, the way he’s organised them, tightening defence and instilling more control, but also by appealing to players’ heart as well as head. Liverpool trailed at the break to Brighton & Hove Albion so Slot sent on Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz to press the life out of Brighton. “In the second half it was not about tactics just about run and run.” It was about work ethic. It was about Slot influencing his team tactically and emotionally.
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Alexander The Great. Isak showed Arsenal what they’re missing. Put Isak in that Arsenal side, they’d finish a higher percentage of chances, against the better defences, and be higher up the table. Five of Kai Havertz’s seven goals have come against Preston, Bolton, Southampton, Leicester and Wolves, hardly human walls (the other two were against Brighton and Paris St-Germain). Of his 13 games, Gabriel Jesus has scored only against Preston. Isak scores important goals, against Spurs, Chelsea (twice) and Arsenal. The Swede has injury issues but he’s a guaranteed source of goals. No wonder Newcastle love him and want to keep him. He’s contracted to Newcastle until 2028 but all the headlines about Arsenal put him an even stronger position during ongoing contractual talks with Newcastle. He’s worth it. As the great David Coleman famously opined, goals pay the rent.
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J-Low. What exactly does Julen Lopetegui bring? You always want new managers to do well, to be given time and patience, but the concerns of West Ham fans are understandable. They have some good players underperforming, the old problem of lacking pace in midfield has not been addressed and they were outfought and outclassed by Nottingham Forest. Lopetegui was outwitted by Nuno Espirito Santo. The mood and concentration of his players was poor. Something’s not right. Where was the urgency, the pressing, the determination to close down the cross from Alex Moreno for Chris Wood’s header? Where was the marking on Wood? Where was the legitimate fight rather than frustration spilling over? It’s too early to make a call on Lopetegui but a penny – or Euro – for David Moyes’ thoughts.
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Bren gunning for glory. Celtic’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, was so enraged by a laxness in possession when 3-0 up against Aberdeen that he kicked a loose ball with his left, lost footing with his right and landed inelegantly. He laughed and smiled even more when his team added another three goals. All the focus in the build-up had been on imperious Aberdeen. Rodgers and his proud players wanted to make a statement, so they tore into Aberdeen to reach the final of the Scottish League Cup. Worth a tumble by Rodgers.
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Noussair taking off. Manchester United’s versatile full-back, Mazraoui, was one of the few positives of Erik ten Hag’s recruitment, and definitely will have stood out when Ruben Amorim looks at the video of United’s draw with Chelsea. Mazraoui defended well and re-distributed the ball effectively, completing 33 of his 36 passes and all five of his dribbles. A wing-back-in-waiting for Amorim.
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Fine arts academy. Chelsea academy old boys had quite the weekend. Ola Aina, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Guehi all scored. Newcastle’s full-backs, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, earned more plaudits for their work against Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka respectively. Conor Gallagher was praised for his energy and ball-winning in Atletico’s win over Las Palmas. One who remained at Chelsea, Reece James, was outstanding in the draw with United. Academy kids matter.
Enjoy the week…
Ben Davies comes across really well, as you say. I see in his spare time he has studied at the Open University and is a qualified accountant. Hopefully he will remain in the game in the future - putting his qualifications to good use
Usually quality Monday morning post about the weekends events Henry. Always a good read. Dead right about Arsenal and Isak, West Ham and loyal Ben Davies. Mazroui has definitely been Man Utd best signing this summer although that wasn’t hard. Seriously what does Zirkzee or Ugarte bring. Looked very average players. Nice bit about Valencia too. Lovely city.