Chatting to a friend in the gym on Saturday morning, I had to smile when he reflected on his father’s career building factories and then winning the contract to demolish them a couple of decades later. We in the media can move even quicker in building them up and knocking them down when it comes to players. Trent Alexander-Arnold can vouch for that. One moment he is being praised for his deserved nomination as Premier League player of the month for December and the target of a bid from the greatest club on the planet, Real Madrid, who can see his strengths supporting Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. And the next moment Alexander-Arnold is being depicted as some hapless ingenu who shouldn’t be allowed near elite football.
He definitely had a shocker for Liverpool against Manchester United: culpable for both United goals; gave the ball away; caught out of position; and his usually assured passing was errant. The criticism was deserved, the derision wasn’t. People were writing him off, and I’m not talking about Roy Keane’s “Tranmere Rovers” comment about Alexander-Arnold’s level. Keane, a brilliant pundit, throws in these explosive comments amidst overall sound, informed analysis, the reducer in his rhetoric. They are his over the top tackles in a strong, all-round match performance. He’s not changed.
Keane is also quick to salute achievements, and will know it would be naïve to consign Alexander-Alexander to the scrapheap. The right-back is 26, has won the Premier League and Champions League, has played 367 times for club and country, and nailed one of the most nerveless and important penalties in England’s history. He doesn’t deserve to be belittled, to have memes made up of him. He defended fine enough at the start of the season, but all the Real talk looks like it got to him at Anfield, as well as United’s clever isolating of him. One bad game does not define a career.
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Sunderland supporters were inevitably in good spirits after yesterday’s win over Portsmouth but it was still good-hearted of them to go out of their way on social media wish the 1,069 travelling fans good luck for the rest of the season. And, talking of going out of their way, wishing them good luck for the long trek home. Sunderland fans know all about loyalty and long distance: 1,739 of them made the 800-mile round trip to Plymouth Argyle in September, selling out their allocation, and rewarded with a 3-2 defeat. Pompey fans, already contending with the fixture switch for TV (causing some to have to cancel hotel bookings), had a 700-mile round trip to the Stadium of Light, and also rewarded with defeat.
I did a southbound Lincolnshire stretch of the A1 at 5am yesterday and it was filthy. According to the travel news, far worse further north where the Portsmouth 1,069 had their journey complicated by ice and snow. Boat might have been easier, if a bit choppy. But it was all another reminder of the remarkable passion for clubs. And also another reason why the Premier League elite should never forget the importance of the pyramid.
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Setting tribal rivalries aside, Manchester United fans joined forces with their Liverpool counterparts outside Anfield yesterday to protest against ticket price hikes and attacks on concessions. The #stopexploitingloyalty campaign is vital to highlight the mix of greed and naivety of clubs. The few millions generated is modest compared to the sums spent on average players, agents and compensation to managers. It’s also impossible to put a price on the PR disaster distancing fans from their owners. Whoever is advising these owners clearly has no understanding of fans. They wouldn’t treat customers in their other businesses in such an off-hand manner.
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A general lament here: the amount of holding and blocking at corners has become ridiculous, a scar on the game, almost an epidemic. With set-piece specialist coaches increasingly influential, the “EPL” risks turning into NFL, let alone WWE. Some of the match-ups are mismatches in size: a defending team’s shorter players just run interference on the attacking side’s taller players, making no attempt at an aerial challenge. Referees deserve some pity here. If they book one of the more over-zealous grapplers, they will be expected to punish them all and games will end nine a side. Another frustration is the increasing amount of time-wasting. Some officials probably don’t mind as it allows them a breather in high-speed games (even at a time when officials have never been fitter). But the quality of entertainment is being damaged by grappling and time-wasting. One for IFAB to look further into.
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Entering the old boardroom for the first time at the City Ground a few years back, I was stopped in my tracks by the simple grandeur of the wall ahead. A fireplace and in pride of place, two replica European Cups won by Brian Clough. At Nottingham Forest, a provincial club which rose to rule Europe, an incredible achievement. Fifty years have passed since Clough marched into the City Ground on January 6, 1975, turned a club around, and turned the established order on its head. Clough managed Forest for 994 games over 18 years. It was a pity he didn’t make it to the landmark 1,000. It was a pity he never managed England. The FA blazers back then were too scared of his strong personality. If Clough’s reputation was slightly damaged by subsequent struggles with alcohol and offensive comments about Liverpool fans at Hillsborough (comments he later apologised for) then he will always be remembered as one of the managerial greats. Anyone needing a masterclass in man-management, in picking the right characters and blending them into a formidable team, need only look at Clough’s remarkable career. There will be many Forest fans with memories and emotions overflowing today. Clough’s name will be sung loudly by Forest fans at Molineux tonight.
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Not many footballers know how to milk cows. Savinho does. The Manchester City winger grew up in an agricultural community in the south of Brazil and helped out on small farms while honing his footballing skills with friends. The cream always rises to the top, and Savinho has risen from Atletico Mineiro, Troyes, PSV Eindhoven, Girona and now increasingly delivering at City. He’s made five assists in 994 minutes across 17 Premier League games for City since joining for £30m from Girona in July. He’s not Riyad Mahrez but he’s only 20 and he’s deservedly keeping Jack Grealish out of the City team.
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When Thomas Tuchel consults Lee Carsley, Ben Futcher and other England age-group coaches about emerging talents, Liam Delap’s name will surely be to the fore. His performances have been exceptional for England Under-21s this season for Futcher (with Carsley now returning from his senior caretaker duties). He’s such a quick, mobile, physical target-man. Delap earned rave reviews for his work in Ipswich Town’s 2-2 draw at Fulham. He cleverly won a soft penalty which he then expertly despatched. There’s plenty of talent ahead of Delap with England, namely Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins, and obviously Harry Kane, the main man (still). Tuchel is focusing only on the short-term as it’s 2026 World Cup glory or bust for him. But Delap’s development will inevitably be closely followed for the longer term. He’s still raw, still has elements to work on, but eight goals in 19 Premier League games for a newly promoted team signals Delap’s promise. And he’s still only 21.
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Happy New Year to one and all. This Monday column reflecting on the weekend’s football will continue free in 2025. Hope you enjoy it, Henry.
Quality points raised on a Monday as usual Henry. So many areas covered. Good to read. Well said about Trent. Had a nightmare of a game and is not a good defender one on one but he has had a very good season and his benefits far outweighs the positives in his game. People really do like to pile in on him at times. I mean Real Madrid are after him and Liverpool want to keep him after all. Not a bad choice. Certain people just like to knock some players. Dalot hasn’t gotten enough credit for his performance. Although I must say Bradley is not far behind him and a great replacement.
I really like Delap. Love his attitude. An old school forward who just goes out there and gives hi all in a more physical way. Been superb in last two games. Chelsea despite having a poor defence anyway couldn’t handle him last week. Seems a tough lad to. Would be an ideal back up for Man City but he needs to play now and not be on the bench. Hope he can keep it up and and England call won’t be far away. Would be great in a front two to by the way. I miss the striker combos.
Totally agree on the holding and time wasting now. It’s getting a joke. Also how easily players go down now to is pathetic.
Savinho has big promise and good to see him do,aging wide left. Conventional winger putting in crosses for Haaland. Needs service. Grealish hasn’t gotten enough to have a look at himself. £100m and no goals or assists for over a year. Now that deserves criticism.
The timewasting and feigning injury is getting worse week on week, especially in the National League, not to mention the keeper holding onto the ball for going on 20 seconds now or delaying a goal kick beyond 10 seconds, really needs looking at.
Grappling, holding, shirt pulling, another area officials just don't police it. Make it 9v9 if you have to, the managers and players then learn and it stops, but they just choose not to get involved.