by Just A BLIP?
If you really say you are definitely going to win the Premier League this year, you may be losing the firm grip you once had. Perhaps even the most well-oiled machines can break down. Maybe Santa Claus is real.
“The feeling we have today is that we will win the Premier League,” gushed Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s third successive draw last weekend and most were still convinced. However the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa in midweek forced a number of other doubters to cross the bridge to join Gary Neville in the Arsenal Camp. The meekness with which City fell against Unaiball had more in common with the Mark Hughes era than the all-powerful, all-consuming concern we were made aware of. Three shots, City? Three? That’s ridiculous.
However, Pep does not panic, opting to double instead, and fair play. He has every right to do so as a three-time winner and a great certified manager at the tender age of 52. He says he is “still in love” with his squad, even if at this exact moment it includes about nine winning stars three times. , two midfield marks not suitable for summer and somewhere, in a hut at the bottom of the garden trying to remember what football is, Kalvin Phillips. And yes, they have injuries and will all be back at some point to mount the inevitable title charge. But what if Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri fly the Millennium Falcon back to Alderaan and it’s no longer there?
A great test awaits what remains of Pep’s beloved boys when they visit Kenilworth Road on Sunday. Luton have not turned their home patch into a graveyard for the big clubs, but they have given them all a scare. They should have taken all three points against Liverpool, one from Tottenham and at least one from Arsenal on Tuesday. A capacity of less than 11,000 did not prevent “the Kenny” and his fabled “cauldron” producing some of the most impressive games in the Premier League this season. At least the ground is attracting headlines for reasons other than football to entrance to the free end. Yes we do KNOW it is a house.
“At the moment we are not the best team in the world because we are not getting results,” Pep said in his pre-match press conference before taking the cat analogy route, of course. “For a long time, we have lived like a cat [strokes head] and [known] how good we are. We have to say: ‘Guys this business – it’s terrible’. You’re unbeatable and then, by God, you can’t win one game – nothing.” So what price, then, for Rob Edwards’ close-knit side who stunned City on Sunday? It’s a long shot for obvious budgetary reasons. There is still a familiar look in the eyes of everyone who doubts Guardiola; it’s still hard to believe that this is nothing but a blip.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY
“I felt like I was shouting” – Roy Hodgson, then, apologizing to the Crystal Palace fans for joking and expressing regret that he did not take part. Yes, Roy!
DAILY FOOTBALL LETTERS
Why don’t Spurs walk dogs? Because they can’t be in charge. Also, on the canine theme: how much is Udogie in the window, the one with the dodgy backpass?” – David Fisk (and no other frustrated comedian).
While Aston Villa are rightly praised for their achievements on the pitch, it’s been a development off the pitch that has caught my attention recently. They recently announced a link with Real Unión de Irun, in the third tier of Spanish football, which is groundbreaking at first until you realize that the club was previously owned by Unai Emery’s family; His father, grandfather and uncle were former Unionists. They are a club I first learned about when reading about Steve Bloomer, the former England international who managed the club. Unión won the Copa del Rey three times in ten years (1918, 1924, 1927) back when it was the de facto national championship, and they have barely had a sniff of glory since. If history repeats itself, Aston Villa fans should prepare for a few years, followed by a long spell of remembering how good they used to be” – Ed Taylor.
VAR (Yesterday’s Football) doesn’t need ‘rizz’: it needs competence, consistency and communication. And a bit of common sense” – David Morgans.
Send any letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter winner is … Ed Taylor, who receives a copy of Pretty Polly: The History of the Football Shirt, published by Pitch Publishing. Visit their amazing football book store here.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Robyn Cowen and the Football Week football team ask: are Everton good enough?
NEWS, YEAST AND BOBS
How do you like that “crisis”? Manchester United have swept the table seemingly forever in November’s Premier League final, with Harry Maguire (player), Erik ten Hag (manager) and Alejandro Garnacho (goal) honoured.
A group of MPs have urged the FA to amend its policies on transgender inclusion in the women’s game, accusing the governing body of “turning a blind eye” to the issue.
Tottenham challenged teachers to find new adjectives for “Spursy” by taking another lead and losing at home to West Ham. “We have a long way to go as a team and today is further evidence of that,” said Ange Postecoglou.
Mikel Arteta will continue to show his emotions. Oh yes!
The Saudi Pro League says it would welcome Lionel Messi to its ever-expanding franchise project. “If he decides next season that he wants to come here, we’ll be happy to welcome him,” said the league’s chief shilling outfit, Michael Emenalo.
And a petition has been started in Grimsby calling for Boris Johnson to be banned from the Grimsby Town bobble hat worn by the former Prime Minister attending the Covid inquiry this week. Petition organizer John Dale accused Johnson of wearing the hat “to add luster and glamor to his own broken life. It is also giving Grimsby a bad name. This petition asks Johnson to stop wearing the hat and to adopt a hat more suited to his low stature. e.g. MUFC.”
KLOPP Off the wrong side of the bed?
Liverpool have a 12.30pm kick-off against Crystal Palace on Saturday, so naturally, Jürgen Klopp is in trouble. How did he feel about going to the top that could be there? “No one came out as a champion because they were top of the table at 2.15 on matchday 16.” Okay. How about a tough battle between the top five teams? “I couldn’t be less interested in it.” What about City? “It seems a bit unusual that City are not first, second. Arsenal are doing very well. We’re not doing too bad. Aston Villa are very strong, a really impressive performance last game to be honest. United … whatever. I’m not really following him… sure I forgot someone, not on purpose… what can I say?”
STILL ABOUT MORE?
The weekend is upon us, and here are the routines things to look out in the Premier Division. Ten of them, according to.
Jamie Jackson analyzes Manchester City’s rare state of confusion and their explosion in midfield.
Xabi Alonso chats with Andy Brassell about success in Germany, the potential of Bayer Leverkusen and being a proud Basque.
Archie Gray gets Leeds youngsters by him chat to Ross Heppenstall about his famous football family, linking GCSEs with breaking into Marcelo Bielsa’s squad and the importance of being versatile.
Jonathan Wilson turns his attention closer to home, and to his heart, by lamenting Sunderland’s failure to land a proven striker and analyzing the fallout from Tony Mowbray’s departure.
Grimsby chairman Jason Stockwood on why succession planning is essential, whether you’re at the top of the Premier League or the middle of League Two.
And Graham Ruthven previews the MLS Cup final between Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew.
MEMORY LANE
Pep Guardiola’s pet talk reminded us of the Anfield Cat. Here he is making a run for it in October 2016 ahead of Liverpool v Manchester United. He may have slept well on the pitch – a strange game ended 0-0.
Bad day for Gunnera
