Marcus Rashford, Manchester United and a career at the crossroads.
Clear-eyed thinking is required by both Marcus Rashford and Manchester United as they consider his future. Rashford first. The striker posted his delight at United’s victory over City but will surely see the team moving on from him, especially with Amad Diallo breaking through. Rashford was dropped from the match-day squad for what Ruben Amorim clearly intended as a message about his professionalism. At 27, Rashford has to ask himself whether he has the hunger and dedication to respond. United are clearly going places under Amorim and he will regret missing out. That said, some of the deeply personal attacks on him, throwing a talent, however underperforming, on the scrapheap are naïve and premature. Rashford’s fought back before. Only he knows whether he wants it enough now. Elite footballers are such athletes nowadays that some eschew alcohol during the season. It’s all about marginal gains. It’s all about focus. It’s up to Rashford whether he wants to regain his focus. It would be sad if he didn’t. He’s not a bad lad. I rang him once and he was reading an American book on transport logistics for moving surplus food from supermarkets to schools in disadvantaged areas. He needs to re-find that Rashford, that team player again.
Now United. It’s all very well assuming a buyer can be found for Rashford but United will want a significant fee for an England international whose contract does not expire until 2028. Anyway, who will be willing to match wages north of £300,000 a week? Rashford, psychologically, is the type of slightly introverted character who needs skilled man-management. Amorim’s tactical nous is much vaunted and he will see that Rashford needs to play higher up the field, craves that earlier ball, and becomes frustrated when Alejandro Garnacho holds on to it too long. Amorim’s people skills are much acclaimed but it’s whether he wants to accept the challenge of getting Rashford back on track. Maybe he’s seen things and can’t see a way back for Rashford. That’s quite an asset to be writing off. But, ultimately, it’s Rashford’s career, his responsibility, his legacy. Fight or flight? I hope he stays and fights for his place.
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There are plans, revealed in the Mail on Sunday, for broadcasters and clubs to protect pitch-side pundits from abusive fans with the proverbial “ring of steel”. The problem has been highlighted following insults aimed at Roy Keane at Portman Road. Keane, an unsuccessful past manager of Ipswich, has been targeted before. Other pundits have also endured barbs. Normally the gaggle that congregates behind the advertising hoardings post-match is harmless enough, wanting proximity to the stars and hoping for selfies. The likes of Jamie Redknapp, Micah Richards and others are unfailingly co-operative. But there is always the risk of a stroppy punter wanting to let rip or settle an old club score. As well as shielding the pundits, broadcasters will also focus on looking after their female presenters, who can receive some deeply offensive words by the misogynists. I saw and heard it at Wembley once when a small group of England fans targeted a well-known female presenter trying to do her work with degrading comments. The ring of steel needs to include presenters, too.
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It's painful watching Pep Guardiola suffer. Managers are mortals, too. He’s done so much for football in this country, encouraging an age of enlightened football. His current agitated state, sleepless and restless, is reflective of his own driven nature and also a window on the stresses that managers live with. Wealth does not guarantee health.
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Ipswich Town fans had been willing Jack Taylor to score. On Saturday he became the fourth of Kieran McKenna’s players to find the mark in all four divisions, a reflection of their individual journey and commitment to make it to the top. Sammie Szmodics has managed the feat (and like Taylor also scored in the National League) as have Sam Morsy and Conor Chaplin. Town supporters are also urging Cameron Burgess to score. He’s struck in League Two for Salford, League One for Oldham, Scunthorpe, Accrington and Ipswich and last season in the Championship for Ipswich. There were frustrated sighs when Burgess hit the post against Spurs. He’s getting closer. It’s a select group for the Ipswich men, joining the likes of Steve Claridge, Billy Sharp, John Lundstram, Rob Earnshaw, Jimmy Wallis, Steve Finnan and Gary Hooper (who did the top six divisions). It might help explain the desire to deliver at the top level. McKenna’s players know the sacrifices they’ve made climbing the pyramid to make it.
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How “fleeting” is fleeting? Does the VAR put a stopwatch on a holding offence? Does it become an offence only when the perpetrator holds for more than one second? Two seconds? Elliot Anderson’s clutching of Morgan Rogers’ arm in the Nottingham Forest-Aston Villa game clearly impeded Rogers and was more than “fleeting”. The VAR verdict would have been more convincing if they’d simply said the incident began with Rogers also holding Anderson’s shirt so no pen. The “fleeting” reference was unconvincing.
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I remember being at Kelly Dalglish’s parents’ house in Newcastle in 1997 when Kenny was managing up there, and meeting Kelly who was doing maths at Glasgow University. Even back then she had a calmness now making her one of the best football presenters around. Kelly, now Cates, does her research, has been brought up in a football family, is funny, gets on with people, has no ego, and asks good questions. I don’t like the idea of a rota for Match of the Day – the familiarity of host was part of its historic appeal – but Cates will be a fine addition alongside Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan.
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Emi Martinez’s denial of Nicolas Dominguez’s header on the line at the City Ground has rightly been hailed as one of the saves of the season. But of all time? Martinez’s reaction to drop down and claw away the ball on the line was remarkable. He’s 6ft 5in and almost 14 stone yet moved so quickly. It’s little wonder he’s the reigning holder of the Yashin trophy in the Ballon d’Or. But of all time? Gordon Banks’ 1970 save from Pele’s header remains the greatest for sheer agility. Pele thought the ball was in and shouted “gol!” David Seaman’s one-handed save from Sheffield United’s Paul Peschisolido in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final was better than Martinez’s because of the distance he travelled to get there. The Arsenal keeper appeared almost out of nowhere to push the ball away. Not bad for a 39-year-old, too. Martinez still has seven years. Yet “Dibu” arguably has the honour of most important save in football history against Randal Kolo Muani in the 2022 World Cup final. Kolo Muani was through on goal and about to win the trophy for France in the last seconds of extra time when Martinez stretched out a foot to block. Astonishing.
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Royal Mail being sold to a Czech billionaire, Daniel Kretinsky, the part-owner of West Ham, seems a strange one, a sad and controversial divesting of a British institution. But as West Ham fans are saying…the only positive could possibly be is if Jarrod Bowen does the delivery.
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Enjoy the week….
They should have included under the hood monitors for the referees to watch replays so a) players couldn’t be getting near them
And b) spectators would not be able
To shout stuff and c) stop SKY from analysing why they have been shown certain angles etc. when they go to the screen
Quality Monday post as always Henry. All up to Rashford now. No one to blame but himself. He is not a gods lad either and the press and public had the wool pulled over their eyes by his school meals thing. That was clever PR by his team. Has bead people around him to and Amorim will have seen that. Hence he has acted. Kelly Cates is an excellent appointment but it’s a fudge by the BBC not to nail their colours to the mast and say there is one main presenter like Lineker. One of the few female pundits are presenters that is a genuine asset to the coverage. So many are dreadful. Lovely person and family to.
Pep has a big job on but will sort it out I am sure. Need a few new players as some are past there best. Thought you would have mentioned the Pathetic Kyle Walker yesterday and his five for no contact with Hoijlund. Embarrassing. Had a poor game to.
Agree on the Martinez save. It was fantastic but people have gone overboard with some things being said. Banks save will always be the one to beat and glad you pointed out David Seanan’s save. Such an underrated goalkeeper.
Love the scorers in the four division stats. Nice thing to do.