Jonathan Wilson's Blog, page 64

Guardiola-Klopp tactical hybrid now dominates European football | Jonathan Wilson

The era of attrition ended in 2008 but the Manchester City and Liverpool managers have adjusted their approaches since

Perhaps what has been most striking about this season from a tactical point of view has been the degree of consensus. Money can skew games and there always remains the possibility of a brilliant player upsetting theory by doing something brilliant, but for those clubs who have a notion of an underlying philosophy of play it’s fairly clear what that looks like: a high offside line, a coordinated press and a capacity to retain possession when required.

There has been a tendency to portray Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp as opposite poles, one focused on retaining the ball and one on regaining it. That is not unreasonable, although each has edged towards the other over the past couple of seasons. Perhaps what is most significant is that nobody really questions the axis by which they are judged. The age of attrition, of Greece winning the Euros, of José Mourinho, Rafa Benítez and Alex Ferguson in the Carlos Queiroz years, feels a long time ago.

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Liverpool denied title but Paris can provide final flourish to superb season | Jonathan Wilson

Pieces were falling into place for an unlikely triumph but now Jürgen Klopp’s thoughts must turn to Champions League

There is nothing quite like the noise of a goal being scored elsewhere: the isolated explosion from whoever saw it flash up on their phone or heard it on their radio, first rippling out, the doubts almost audible as the wave spreads. Really? Manchester City behind? Could it be true? Then the scramble for confirmation, the celebration hovering uncertainly. What about VAR? Might it yet be ruled out? Then word coming through that City had kicked off again, that the goal stood, that this might actually be happening.

In the end it did not but for 80 unlikely minutes it seemed as though it might. Liverpool did their bit, and that is all they could do. They won and they hoped and in the end it was not quite enough. Perhaps there is a temptation to go back through the season and wonder which the crucial points were: the Christmas defeat at Leicester perhaps? The defeat at West Ham? The draw at home against Brighton?

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Leeds face the abyss and the blame should not just rest with Bielsa or Marsch alone | Jonathan Wilson

Recruitment and injuries have exposed the fact the Premier League strugglers are simply not rich enough for relegation not to be a threat

The Leeds fans at the Reebok Stadium were raucous. “We’ll support you ever more,” they bellowed, because when relegation comes defiance is pretty much the only option that remains. Did they know just how long ever more would be? Did they have any idea just what a journey they would have to undertake before, 16 years later, they next played a Premier League game?

Certainly hope was scarce that afternoon in May 2004. Mark Viduka had swept home a penalty to give the away side a lead they had barely deserved, but was then booked for jabbing a heel into Emerson Thome. Then, in the space of two minutes, he squared up to Nicky Hunt and clattered Ivan Campo before finally collecting a second yellow for flinging an arm into the face of Bruno N’Gotty.

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Fans’ ugly behaviour is not just about football – it’s about society | Jonathan Wilson

Pitch invasions could be joyous eruptions of glee if not for idiots who reflect a Them and Us world of rising violent crime

Roker Park, the final game of 1989-90. Sunderland were sure of their place in the playoffs; Oldham knew they would miss out, largely because of the strains of an extraordinary season in which they had reached the League Cup final and the FA Cup semi-finals. Oldham won 3-2 and, as the final whistle went, home fans invaded the pitch.

Slowly they made for the corner of the Roker End where the away fans were housed. I was on the terrace a few yards away and remember clearly the sense of sudden anxiety as my dad gripped my arm and started to make for the exit. But then something remarkable happened. The invaders stopped a few yards from the corner flag, raised their hands above their heads and clapped, a salute for Oldham’s extraordinary season that would end with nothing.

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Kevin Trapp’s career-defining save lights up final for Euro nostalgists | Jonathan Wilson

Europa League final evoked showpieces of old and marked the moment Frankfurt’s goalkeeper became a hero

Glory comes in many forms and it came for Kevin Trapp in the form of an astonishing save in the final minute of extra time. When Kemar Roofe’s cross was deflected into the path of Ryan Kent six yards out, a late winner seemed certain. But Trapp scuttled across his goal, spread himself and the ball cannoned away off his outstretched right leg, a block rooted in hour upon hour on the training ground, honing reflexes and response times, getting the angles right.

He had four years at Paris Saint-Germain, but that save, even more than keeping out Aaron Ramsey’s penalty in the shootout, is what will define his career. In his second spell at Frankfurt, he became the man who won them their second European trophy.

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Rangers and Frankfurt fans hit Seville for once-in-a-lifetime European final | Jonathan Wilson

Two teams with no recent success in Europe – and their huge number of followers – make this a true, major event

A man in an orange shirt stumbled down a narrow street in the Alfalfa district of Seville. It was just before 11am, but the stench of booze preceded him. His eyes were half-closed and he looked as if he hadn’t slept for a couple of days. Over his shoulders he wore a placard bearing the message, in English and Spanish, that he was willing to pay €500 for a ticket for the Europa League final on Wednesday.

He staggered up to a pair of bemused French tourists. “I give you 500,” he said in a Glaswegian slur. “Cash. Dinero.” Seville police are anticipating as many as 100,000 fans from Scotland and 50,000 from Germany for the meeting of Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt.

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Another Wembley win for Liverpool and Emma Hayes doubles up - Football Weekly

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Gregg Bakowski and Jonathan Wilson as Liverpool make it two out of four at Wembley on their quest for the Quadruple this season and Chelsea’s Women win the Double

Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email.

On the podcast today; Liverpool and Chelsea play out yet another 0-0 in a cup final this season and once again Liverpool emerge victorious after the penalty shootout secures the men’s FA Cup. Is it luck or do marginal gains make the difference in the big games?

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Mark Noble’s farewell defuses drama of Manchester City’s title defence | Jonathan Wilson

While West Ham were saying goodbye to one of their greats, City looked unconvincing in their push to wrap up the league

End-of-season games often have a slightly curious dynamic, a sense of being played at cross-purposes. On the one hand, there was Manchester City battling for the win as they pursue a fourth league title in five years. On the other, West Ham basking in the knockings of a season well done and determined to celebrate the final home game of one of their greatest recent players, Mark Noble.

When Noble came on with quarter of an hour remaining, what did that mean? He had played just 308 league minutes previously this season. Would he have come on had this not been his grand farewell? Does it matter? Would Liverpool fans who, if social media was anything to go by, were bizarrely aggrieved by the VAR award of an obvious penalty, have been aggrieved that West Ham in effect turned the final quarter of an hour into a testimonial?

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Klopp’s science and rigour pave way for Liverpool to win a game of inches | Jonathan Wilson

FA Cup was decided by the width of a post but Chelsea were beaten by a side that ensure tiny margins make the difference

Imagine, for a moment, you are the goalframe at the east end of Wembley. Last summer you watched as Marcus Rashford, at the climax of that sulphurous July night, took a straight run-up, stuttered, and then, as Gianluigi Donnarumma fell to your left, dragged his penalty to your right.

You like the young man, his obvious decency, his stance on various social issues – and you are an English goalframe after all. You wanted him to score. You tried to just stretch a bit further, to widen your stance, but your feet were rooted and the ball cannoned off the base of your post and away. If only he had struck it three inches more centrally you probably could have helped it in and, if you had, England would probably be European champions and Rashford might not have had such a miserable season; Manchester United might not feel like quite such a faded force in need of desperate reconstitution.

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Klopp’s science and rigour paves way for Liverpool to win a game of inches | Jonathan Wilson

FA Cup was decided by the width of a post but Chelsea were beaten by a side that ensures tiny margins make the difference

Imagine, for a moment, you’re the goalframe at the east end of Wembley. Last summer, you watched as Marcus Rashford, at the climax of that sulphurous July night, took a straight run-up, stuttered, and then, as Gianluigi Donnarumma fell to your left, dragged his penalty to your right.

You like the young man, his obvious decency, his stance on various social issues – and you are an English goalframe after all. You wanted him to score. You tried to just stretch a bit further, to widen your stance, but your feet were rooted and the ball cannoned off the base of your post and away. If only he had struck it three inches more centrally you probably could have helped it in, and if you had, England would probably be European champions and Rashford might not have had such a miserable season; Manchester United might not feel like quite such a faded force in need of desperate reconstitution.

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