Great piece about Harry Henry, he’s certainly proved a lot of people wrong, he’s the one proper leader on the park for Utd. Bruno is a frustrating captain, leads by example (good and bad) but generally comes up with a piece of magic like yesterday, after throwing his boot in the direction of the referee, he was probably lucky to stay on the field.
The FA cup for me is just another premiership weekend distraction like the international breaks. There are only two comps that matter these days, the premiership and the champions league. It’s sad, I used to love fa cup weekends, but if you want to watch elite football with elite players you won’t find it here. Clubs more often now play academy players who people argue is giving them first team experience! What against non league opposition! Come on! Call me a cynic but money rules everything in football now and the fa cup will go the way of the league cup in its various guises, they’re distractions to the real games, ask any honest manager and he’ll tell you just that. And don’t get me started on the 2 leg league cup semi final 😐
thanks Macca, sorry for delay in replying, I've had a surreal day in a TV studio debating the 15 greatest British sportsmen and women. Different atmosphere at Cup games because more away fans, and Arsenal-United was a good spectacle with first choice teams. Maguire's a character, totally genuine, sticks up for his team-mates, and ticked me off over a story I wrote about one of them once. Bruno shouldn't be captain, Maguire should now he is pretty much guaranteed to start. Bruno did have a point about the Jesus foul. Enjoy the week, Henry
Henry, with the Chelsea academy players you list dont overlook Tino Anjorin now with Empoli and playing well by all accounts. A player with a Champions League winners medal! Nigel
Brilliant Monday football weekend article Henry. Your best column in my opinion. Spot on about Maguire. Top pro and nice lad and you could see from his reaction the he knew Havertz had dived. System suits him and De Ligt in a three as they can sit deep and defend. Lack of pace led exposed as a result. Pleased for him.
Totally agree on Havertz and no 9. It’s been obvious for two seasons now. He is weak and never does it against the big teams in big games. Arsenal going nowhere big without a top striker. Such a shame and they can’t afford Isak and won’t get anyone in this month.
Walker has had his day. Never been a good defender or reader of the game and has relied on his recovery pace to make him look good. Legs have started to go and he knows it. Let himself down by off field matters to.
The no replays for FA Cup 3rd Round ties is a joke. Just for the 3rd round they should stay in place just in case there are clubs like Tamworth still in the competition. The difference that money would have made to them would have been incredible. Still part time. From 4th round onwards have no replays but keep for 3rd round. It’s the same with the semi finals at Wembley which is a disgrace to. Magic of the competition is being lost. Games spread over 5 days not right either.
Chelsea have produced some players from there academy. Shame not more if them get a decent chance with the first team.
Appreciate the keeping warm advice at the end to!!!!
thanks John, we've discussed Arsenal's lack of a No 9 enough times! It's one reason why ma ny Arsenal fans are having their patience tested with Arteta. He's a good manager but this insistence on doing without a No 9 is bizarre. With Walker, his crossing is poor or simply never puts an early ball in. Must send Harland up the wall. Regards Henry
It's amazing to that in Arteta's five years in charge he has only signed 6 wingers/strikers and 17 defenders. Summer priority. Not easy to find though.
When Harry Maguire was going through his protracted loss of form and malicious ‘memeficiation’ at Manchester United, I really thought it would be best for him and his family to leave the club. It’s an incredible achievement to have turned his predicament around. On paper, United have good coverage across the back three. Further ahead, the problems still remain.
Very relevant video circulating yesterday where Mourinho praised Rashford as a wide forward but said he wouldn’t succeed as a 9. For the same reasons, we are seeing Garnacho’s output restricted in the 10 role. Suspect he will leave in the summer, which is a shame.
Garnacho, like Rashford, is best wide left in a 4-3-3. Interesting the Jose video. Hope Garnacho stays, and that was an important assist yesterday. Collyer good when he came on
Great piece about Harry Henry, he’s certainly proved a lot of people wrong, he’s the one proper leader on the park for Utd. Bruno is a frustrating captain, leads by example (good and bad) but generally comes up with a piece of magic like yesterday, after throwing his boot in the direction of the referee, he was probably lucky to stay on the field.
The FA cup for me is just another premiership weekend distraction like the international breaks. There are only two comps that matter these days, the premiership and the champions league. It’s sad, I used to love fa cup weekends, but if you want to watch elite football with elite players you won’t find it here. Clubs more often now play academy players who people argue is giving them first team experience! What against non league opposition! Come on! Call me a cynic but money rules everything in football now and the fa cup will go the way of the league cup in its various guises, they’re distractions to the real games, ask any honest manager and he’ll tell you just that. And don’t get me started on the 2 leg league cup semi final 😐
thanks Macca, sorry for delay in replying, I've had a surreal day in a TV studio debating the 15 greatest British sportsmen and women. Different atmosphere at Cup games because more away fans, and Arsenal-United was a good spectacle with first choice teams. Maguire's a character, totally genuine, sticks up for his team-mates, and ticked me off over a story I wrote about one of them once. Bruno shouldn't be captain, Maguire should now he is pretty much guaranteed to start. Bruno did have a point about the Jesus foul. Enjoy the week, Henry
Henry, with the Chelsea academy players you list dont overlook Tino Anjorin now with Empoli and playing well by all accounts. A player with a Champions League winners medal! Nigel
Good point Nigel. I missed a few.
Brilliant Monday football weekend article Henry. Your best column in my opinion. Spot on about Maguire. Top pro and nice lad and you could see from his reaction the he knew Havertz had dived. System suits him and De Ligt in a three as they can sit deep and defend. Lack of pace led exposed as a result. Pleased for him.
Totally agree on Havertz and no 9. It’s been obvious for two seasons now. He is weak and never does it against the big teams in big games. Arsenal going nowhere big without a top striker. Such a shame and they can’t afford Isak and won’t get anyone in this month.
Walker has had his day. Never been a good defender or reader of the game and has relied on his recovery pace to make him look good. Legs have started to go and he knows it. Let himself down by off field matters to.
The no replays for FA Cup 3rd Round ties is a joke. Just for the 3rd round they should stay in place just in case there are clubs like Tamworth still in the competition. The difference that money would have made to them would have been incredible. Still part time. From 4th round onwards have no replays but keep for 3rd round. It’s the same with the semi finals at Wembley which is a disgrace to. Magic of the competition is being lost. Games spread over 5 days not right either.
Chelsea have produced some players from there academy. Shame not more if them get a decent chance with the first team.
Appreciate the keeping warm advice at the end to!!!!
Big PL games this week. Enjoy.
thanks John, we've discussed Arsenal's lack of a No 9 enough times! It's one reason why ma ny Arsenal fans are having their patience tested with Arteta. He's a good manager but this insistence on doing without a No 9 is bizarre. With Walker, his crossing is poor or simply never puts an early ball in. Must send Harland up the wall. Regards Henry
Haaland apologies
It's amazing to that in Arteta's five years in charge he has only signed 6 wingers/strikers and 17 defenders. Summer priority. Not easy to find though.
When Harry Maguire was going through his protracted loss of form and malicious ‘memeficiation’ at Manchester United, I really thought it would be best for him and his family to leave the club. It’s an incredible achievement to have turned his predicament around. On paper, United have good coverage across the back three. Further ahead, the problems still remain.
Very relevant video circulating yesterday where Mourinho praised Rashford as a wide forward but said he wouldn’t succeed as a 9. For the same reasons, we are seeing Garnacho’s output restricted in the 10 role. Suspect he will leave in the summer, which is a shame.
agreed, Paul.
Garnacho, like Rashford, is best wide left in a 4-3-3. Interesting the Jose video. Hope Garnacho stays, and that was an important assist yesterday. Collyer good when he came on
best
Henry