EPL GOSSIP
SO, WHO’S IN LINE TO REPLACE BRENDAN?
The post-Brendan days are upon us and they are bleak. With the Northern Irishman’s sacking on Sunday however, Liverpool need someone to replace him. So here goes.
Predictably, Jurgen Klopp is the frontrunner for the post. The former Dortmund manager has been fluttering his eyelashes in Anfield’s direction ever since he began his sabbatical, and it’s believed that the Liverpool job will be enough to entice him back into football management. The Daily Telegraph are among those reporting that the German will be approached by the Reds in the coming days.
Some go a step further. The Daily Star claim that Klopp has already signed a three-year deal at the club and has even already chosen his assistant in former trusty lieutenant Zeljko Buvac. Their claims come from Bosnian website PravdaBL, who reported this ‘exclusive’ on Saturday, so a day before Rodgers was even sacked. They did claim the news ‘would go around the world’ on Sunday however, so there you go.
For what it’s worth, everyone is reporting that the club want to install Rodgers’ replacement by the time of their next game against Spurs on October 17.
ITALIAN JOB FOR ANCELOTTI?
Carlo Ancelotti is the second favourite for the vacant post and, according to the Daily Mail, the Italian flew into London from Italy this weekend to begin talks. They do report that Klopp is still the man FSG prefer, however.
On that note, the Telegraph throw a potential spanner in the works of the Klopp to the Kop business. They say the club’s American owners see Klopp as the ideal candidate, and, in the words of Chris Bascombe: “A decision on the next manager will be based on which of the candidates is most willing to work within Liverpool’s existing structure, and who believes they can get the most out of the existing squad.”
Basically, the transfer committee is staying. Which could be a problem for Klopp, as reports claimed a couple of weeks ago that he would demand the committee to be scrapped if he were to take the post.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNER LINKED WITH ‘POOL
This is glorious, glorious stuff from the Metro, via Sky Italia. The latter claim that while Klopp and Ancelotti are the obvious two candidates for the job, a third has emerged in Champions League winning coach Roberto Di Matteo.
It’s utterly bizarre considering Di Matteo’s only four posts in management are MK Dons (left for…), West Brom (sacked), Chelsea (sacked) and Schalke (resigned after struggling). He won the Champions League as caretaker boss at Stamford Bridge, but was sacked within months of being appointed permanently. Rafael Benitez replaced him; Chelsea’s last great manager.
Sunderland lost their manager too, you know.
Difference is, there’s slightly less sexy names linked to the Stadium of Light post. Not only that, but pretty much everyone is reportedly ruling themselves out of replacing the outgoing Dick Advocaat. So says The Sun.
Their sources, in an exclusive from David Coverdale, claim that the unattached Sam Allardyce, Burnley boss Sean Dyche and Manchester City youth boss Patrick Vieira have all distanced themselves from the idea of taking over at Sunderland. Allardyce due to a lack of funds, Dyche due to the stability in his current post, and Vieira because he’s currently working for Manchester City.
Coverdale provides a ray of light however. Said ray of light comes in the form of ex-Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who would supposedly be interested in the role.
AND THE REST
Manchester United have been urged to ‘stop sending in offers’ for Germany’s 26-year-old Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller.
Sanchez, Martins Indi, Allardyce
NEW CONTRACT FOR SANCHEZ
It seems to make an awful lot of sense for Arsenal to sit Alexis Sanchez down and ask him just how much money he wants. He’s their best player and they have £193m in the bank. Maybe stop short of giving him the majority, but a few gold coins seems reasonable.
The Daily Mirror’s Steve Stammers reports that Arsenal will hand Sanchez a five-year deal worth £130,000 per week. We’re a little worried that John Cross hasn’t got this story, to be honest.
Sanchez suffered a slow start to the season (he’s knackered), but scored a hat-trick against Leicester last week. That prompted Claudio Ranieri to say something beautiful about him: “He was born with the ball”. Purr.
ALLARDYCE TO SUNDERLAND
Can Sam Allardyce please just hurry up and become Sunderland’s manager so we can stop saying “When will Sam Allardyce finally manage Sunderland?”
With Dick Advocaat refusing to confirm that he will stay or go, everyone has understandably translated that message as proof that he will be heading back off into retirement soon. It’s difficult to blame him.
That leaves a Sam Allardyce-shaped hole (don’t), with the Sunday Times reporting that he will take over pretty sharpish after Advocaat leaves.
MARTINS INDI TO UNITED
This one’s from Portuguese publication O Jogo via the Daily Express. They claim that Louis van Gaal has been scouting Porto defender Bruno Martins Indi.
The Express say that Martins Indi will be a replacement for Luke Shaw, ruled out through injury for the next five months at least.
Couple of things:
1) Why do you need to replace someone who might be back in March with someone who you can’t buy until January?
2) If you’re going to replace Luke Shaw, wouldn’t you buy a player who is a natural left-back rather than a centre-back who can play there? United have enough of those.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has started just two Premier League games for Arsenal so far this season, with the 22-year-old still struggling to hold down a regular first-team place at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels that the England international “lacks a bit of self-belief”, and could look to learn from team-mate Sanchez
“For me, it is down to the quality of the reception; that means the area you get the ball,” Wenger said.
“That makes Alexis difficult to mark, because he gets into positions where he can score. He is a good finisher, and that is what Alex has to learn from him. You can work on it, knowing where to be at the right moment.
“I see Alex train every day. He is dedicated, focused, and hungry. But his dad said he lacks a bit of self-belief and I can confirm that because he is very critical of himself.
“That’s positive and a sign of top-level sportsmen, but you have to find the right balance of being not happy with what you do without harming the confidence.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain reiterated the message from his manager, admitting that he is too self-critical at times.
“Alexis is someone who has massive self belief and shows that every week. Quite often that results in a positive performance with good results,” Oxlade-Chamberlain said.
“It’s definitely something for me to take on board and look to improve on.
“I’m critical of myself and I try to demand high standards of myself. Sometimes that can work in a negative fashion.
Sanchez finished as Arsenal’s top goalscorer with 16 Premier League strikes in his debut season, with his hat-trick against Leicester representing his first goals of this campaign.
Oxlade-Chamberlain feels that the Chilean is the perfect role model to learn from as he looks to stake his claim for a regular starting place under Wenger.
“To look at how any goals he scored last year makes it hard for me not to look and learn from him.
“It’s his everyday manner around the training ground, how he trains, his performances, how he scores goals and how defends from the front.
“I’ve definitely put myself in the bracket of somebody who learns from him every day.”
Arsenal scored three times in the first 20 minutes to end the match as a contest, the perfect response to midweek defeat to Olympiakos in the Champions League.
Wenger expressed his happiness at the way in which his side started the match, overpowering United with pace and creativity.
“It was a strong response against Manchester United following our disappointment on Tuesday night,” Wenger said. “It shows the group is very united and very strong as well and from goalkeeper to No 9 everybody played very well, which is what you want.Wenger also praised Theo Walcott for his role in the victory, starting in a central role.
“I believe in the [first half] we started very strong and decided to press very high and play with great pace, and we did that very well. After in the second half we decided to be disciplined, control the result and we did that very well. We had two aspects in our game that was pleasing and we were convincing today. It gives us a strong answer to all the questions raised in the week.
“I’ve been at the club for 19 years and I know what you want is a strong response in a big game when you have a big disapointment. But we [took it in] perspective and focused on what it is important. It’s us and not too much what was said and we focused on what is important in the game and that is part of being at the top level. The pressure on any disappointment today is massive and it’s maybe a little bit more difficult to deal with it but we did well.
“I must say Walcott had a hugely committed performance today in a hugely convincing way,” Wenger said. “He didn’t score but I like to praise the strikers when they don’t score and contribute and give assists.Arsenal sit second in the Premier League, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference and two points behind Manchester City.
“He was involved in two goals – Ozil’s and Alexis’ [second] one. He did really fight today and showed he can fight, commit and protect the ball as well. He is gaining some aspects of his game as a centre forward and they are improving.”
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