Keepers, blockers and havoc-bringers

It’s not often that managers deliver deep insight immediately after games, especially in the flash interviews. And understandably so. They’re too fired up or tired, too wanting to get into the dressing-room and be with their players, too keen to see family, or simply too careful of stirring controversy. Some still try to find time for a drink with the opposing manager, a much-loved tradition of the English game disappearing given managers’ myriad post-game commitments to media, sponsors, board etc, and the need to get back on the road.

Mateta v Ramsdale. Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images.

Oliver Glasner has always been one of the more thoughtful observers on football and usually worth listening to. Crystal Palace’s manager opened up on Match of the Day into the incident when his striker, Jean-Phillipe Mateta, put off Southampton’s keeper, Aaron Ramsdale, for Trevoh Chalobah to score from a typically pinpoint Will Hughes corner. Mateta got in Ramsdale’s way, and there was light contact, but it wasn’t excessive. “It’s a foul all over Europe but not in England,” Glasner commented.

Here was an expert contribution to the broader set-piece debate across the Premier League, and also a glimpse behind the curtain of how managers prepare. Glasner referenced the managers’ pre-season meeting with officials when the rules, and their implementation, were clarified. “We were told that this is the Premier League, known and famous and world No 1 with this way of playing,” Glasner continued of the allowance of some physicality. “Not every contact is a foul in open play and in set-piece as well. We adjusted to these rules.”

Hence Mateta’s positioning as a pesky presence around Ramsdale. Southampton should have been prepared for this, or reacted in-game, by inserting a player between the pair, giving Ramsdale some protection and room to get at Hughes’ corner. In fairness, Ivan Juric has only just arrived as Saints head coach and is learning some quick, painful lessons about life in the Premier League.

A degree of physicality is permitted. “If this goal had been disallowed many, many set-play goals will be disallowed in the future,” Glasner added to the BBC. He then listed others doing it. “Because this is what Arsenal is doing in every single corner – pushing, blocking.” Even without Ben White, who was often on keeper-marking duty before his injury. Glasner also mentioned Wolves’ tactic against Manchester United on Boxing Day of placing Matt Doherty in front of Andre Onana and Santiago Bueno behind. Matheus Cunha swung the corner in, over Onana who was boxed in by Doherty and Bueno, and into the net. Onana complained but Wolves were clever, they fair – if physically - legitimately made it difficult for Onana to reach the ball.

Glasner finished his discourse with another case study - United’s similar problem against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup. Heung-min Son curled his corner in on top of Altay Bayindir, who failed to react strongly enough to the leaping Lucas Bergvall. There was some contact, Bergvall’s right hand on Bayindir’s left arm, but not enough for a foul in English football.

Bayindir was furious and was booked for his complaints. He should have focused more on asking Lenny Yoro why he didn’t stay with Bergvall’s run. Defenders have to be more alert in blocking the keeper-blockers. The keeper himself has to be more assertive in reaching the ball. Even Spurs have got round to working on set-pieces. Archie Gray blocked Craig Dawson to open space for Rodrigo Bentancur’s header against Wolves yesterday. Glasner’s revealing words reflected the work being put in across the league.

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If Footballer of the Year was voted now, Mo Salah would win by a landslide following 17 goals and 13 assists in 18 Premier League games. He just has to maintain this remarkable form and the Egyptian King will be crowned King of England. Those who followed Dennis Bergkamp’s career – and clever feet – closely will have appreciated Salah’s turns to deceive Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman for Cody Gakpo’s goal in Liverpool’s 5-0 demolition of West Ham. Pure Bergkamp. Salah remarked afterwards that he was not close to signing a new deal. In form like this, a two-year extension offer from the club is surely a formality. They cannot afford to lose their best player, the best player in the country and one of the best in the world.

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I’ve met Neal Maupay only once, when he was at Brentford, on a fine, sunny day at the training ground. He was working with a member of staff on a specific piece of movement. Afterwards, he came across and chatted, seemed very friendly, but then you look at his mischievous posts and realise he doesn’t care about being liked. “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile,” Maupay posted on X following Everton’s 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. That’s quite a provocative comment from someone who is still an Everton player, albeit on loan to Marseille who have an obligation to buy. Maupay embodies the mistakes made in recruitment at Everton over the past decade: one goal in 32 appearances. His attitude was poor. He’s not as good as he thinks he is.

That said, Everton’s striking problems remain an issue. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (2 in 18), Beto (2 in 13) and Armando Broja (0 in 4) are hardly striking fear into opposing defences. Broja may deliver more when up to speed, and if he can stay fit. But recruiting a fit, reliable, committed goalscorer has to be the No 1 requirement of Everton’s new owners. At least they won’t have to splash out any money on a leaving-do for Maupay. Nobody would go.

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West Ham fans are still waiting to find out exactly what Julen Lopetegui brings to their club. The football isn’t more attractive than under David Moyes. And it’s far less successful. West Ham were too passive in possession against Liverpool, and too porous out of possession, and Lopetegui has to take responsibility for that.

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Chris Wood was rightly praised for his deft finish, lifted expertly over Jordan Pickford, for Nottingham Forest’s first goal at Goodison. The variety in Wood’s game was also seen in his threaded pass, angled through Everton’s defence, to Morgan Gibbs-White for Forest’s second. Wood has a better touch than occasionally depicted. With a good manager, excellent team spirit, and reliable target-man surrounded by pace, Forest are not second by chance.

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Is there a better left-back in the Premier League at the moment than Antonee “Jedi” Robinson? Bournemouth fans could point to the flying Milos Kerkez, Newcastle’s to the developing Lewis Hall. Manchester City supporters will make a case for Josko Gvardiol, although he’s not currently at his buccaneering best. Arsenal fans will argue for the emerging Myles Lewis-Skelly while Rayan Ait-Nouri, Wolves left wing-back, has many admirers inside and outside Molineux and is eighth in the Premier League assists list with five. Only Mo Salah and Bukayo Saka have more assists than Robinson’s seven, all from open play. He’s quick, aggressive, accurate with his delivery, reliable in defensive one-on-ones and is bound to feature in headlines when the transfer window reopens. However frustrating that may be for Fulham fans, it's inevitable and simply a reflection of Robinson’s excellence.

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Wishing you all a wonderful New Year….