Jonathan Wilson's Blog, page 73

Lionel Messi is well past his best but this seventh Ballon d’Or feels right | Jonathan Wilson

Prize was not earned in domestic competition or Champions League but in his spectacular Copa América domination

And so , for the seventh time and, barring the most extraordinary of all career finales at the World Cup in Qatar, surely the last. Whatever the idiosyncrasies of the Ballon d’Or, Messi’s excellence has been both absurdly consistent and absurdly resilient, and those seven titles since 2009 are some reflection of that.

To achieve that level of sustained success at any time would be spectacular; to do so in the age of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won five Ballons d’Or since 2008, is extraordinary. Nobody else in history has won more than three – although there is a pleasing symmetry in the fact that when France Football reevaluated those years before the award was opened up to non-Europeans, Pelé also won seven in 13 years.

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Rangnick in, Ronaldo out and a title race to savour – Football Weekly

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Jordan Jarrett-Bryan as the Premier League title race hots up in snowy grounds across the country

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

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Jordan Jarrett-Bryan as the Premier League title race hots up in snowy grounds across the country.

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Ralf Rangnick’s arrival signals shift from messiah fix to modern vision of the game | Jonathan Wilson

The idea of manager as a charismatic leader steeped in a club’s DNA is no way to run a football club – unless you’re Barcelona

As Manchester United go to Chelsea on Sunday, there may be regrets for roads not travelled. Six months after United appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjær as manager, Chelsea also turned to one of their own. But they were far more ruthless and, despite the affection in which Frank Lampard was held by fans, they sacked him in January. The improvement under Thomas Tuchel was immediate and, 10 months on, Chelsea are European champions and top of the Premier League.

Would United be in a similar position had they turned to Tuchel earlier in the year? Probably not. The job Tuchel has done has been remarkable, but he is building on solid foundations: Chelsea are well-run and have recruited sensibly, in part funded by an academy that is now producing first-team players.

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Ronaldo is the biggest problem for Manchester United’s next manager | Jonathan Wilson

Forward is seemingly impossible to fit into a modern system and his signing symbolises a flaw holding back the club

So, what next? Ole Gunnar Solskjær has gone, and with him perhaps Manchester United’s most visible problem, but a sentimental appointment wasn’t the only issue holding the club back. United is institutionally dysfunctional and it will take more than a change of personnel in the dugout to change that.

Solskjær was a fine appointment as caretaker, perhaps the last good decision Ed Woodward made as United CEO. The return of a popular club legend, the sunshine man whose rays of decency could dispel the acrimony of the latter days of José Mourinho’s reign, made sense. The problem was that rather than waiting until his short-term contract expired, Woodward gave him the job on a permanent basis.

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Of all England’s bright young things, the multi-role Phil Foden stands out | Jonathan Wilson

Thanks to Pep Guardiola’s guidance, the technically gifted and tactically smart City tyro is now running games from all angles

It seems remarkable that there was a time, not so long ago, when the Premier League was seen as holding England back. Only about a third of its players were England-qualified, the argument went, and so opportunities for English youth were restricted. The Premier League has many problems and causes many problems, and for the vast majority of young players perhaps it is difficult to secure game time. But for those at elite level it can be a useful finishing school, offering the most promising young players regular high-class opposition and the very best teachers.

These are extraordinary times for English football. Imagine you are picking the squad for next year’s World Cup. Assuming the 3-4-2-1 Gareth Southgate fielded against Albania and San Marino is the default, there are perhaps five spaces available for the two inside-forward roles to operate either side of Harry Kane – which, along with right-back, is the area of real strength.

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England at the World Cup: what can we expect from Southgate’s team?

The manager appears to have settled on a 3-4-3 setup but he needs back-up for the two Harrys – Maguire and Kane

It was easy to see the drab 1-1 Wembley draw against Hungary in October as a turning point – or, at least, the moment when Gareth Southgate appeared more convinced than ever about how to set his team up, when he could feel clarity, a faith in his instincts. He had picked the team that most fans wanted to see – two progressive No 8s in a 4-3-3 (Phil Foden and Mason Mount) – and England were poor. By the end, Southgate had reverted to 3-4-3 with two central midfield bolts and he doubled down on the approach in this month’s ties, using it at the outset against Albania and even San Marino.

It has reawakened the discussion about whether Southgate risks frittering away the attacking riches at his disposal but, to him, it is not about fantasy; it never has been. It is about stability and balance plus the ability to turn the dial in a progressive direction when required. Expect those tweaks against weaker opposition – Bukayo Saka at left-wing back, for example; Foden or Mount in central midfield. But can it win the very biggest games? Southgate is convinced it can, with the wing-backs fundamental. The talent is certainly there while the experience and ultimate pain of Euro 2020 will stand England in good stead. The excitement is palpable. DH

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Balance matters more than romance in England’s quest for World Cup glory | Jonathan Wilson

A few old flaws remain, but Southgate is edging towards a better set-up, even if it means keeping back some flair options

Within nine months of his first match as England manager in 1963, Alf Ramsey had seen his side put eight past both Switzerland and Northern Ireland (Bobby Charlton scored three in the first of those games, Jimmy Greaves four in the second, if anyone is minded to complain about Harry Kane and stat-padding). Amid general excitement, Ramsey was unmoved: the capacity to hammer minnows (as Switzerland and Northern Ireland then were), he cautioned, had very little to do with the business of winning tournaments.

For a country such as England, qualifying is a curious business. Get through easily and it is treated with a weary sigh, as though getting to the finals was always assured and the draw was kind. Struggle and the sense is, understandably, that if you can’t beat that lot, what hope do you have against the big sides? England made this group look straightforward, and the experience of Portugal and Italy suggests that achievement should not be underestimated. Poland, Hungary and an improving Albania were all potentially awkward opponents.

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Ten of the best for England but World Cup jeopardy for Italy – Football Weekly

Max Rushden is joined by Jonathan Wilson, Lars Sivertsen and Ed Aarons as England beat San Marino 10-0, Scotland and Northern Ireland record impressive results and Italy are left facing a play-off

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

Max Rushden is joined by Jonathan Wilson, Lars Sivertsen and Ed Aarons as England beat San Marino 10-0 and Scotland and Northern Ireland record impressive results.

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Welcome back, Steven Gerrard: forget Europe, avoiding the drop is your priority | Jonathan Wilson

With Newcastle enriched and the middle tier confident, Aston Villa’s new manager enters an extremely tough-looking league

When Ray Wilkins left Paris Saint-Germain in 1987, it seemed entirely natural that he should join Rangers. He was, after all, joining two England internationals in Terry Butcher and Chris Woods at Ibrox. A year later they would be joined by another in Gary Stevens. There was the immediate context of the Heysel ban on English clubs competing in Uefa competitions but, still, that is another world.

It seems almost incomprehensible in today’s financial environment that top English talent would flock to play in Scotland. And that perhaps is the most significant aspect of Steven Gerrard’s appointment as manager of Aston Villa – less what it says about him or Rangers, or even Scottish football, than what it says about the Premier League.

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World Cup run-in starts now – and Southgate has shifted to a back three

The switch against Albania feels significant, as the flexible formation fits England’s players, especially the full-backs

Players may still be suffering their post-Euro hangovers, the last of the broken glass may only just have been swept up from Wembley Way, but the World Cup is already only a year and a week away. For England the lessons of the Euros are still being assessed and assimilated and yet, already, FA officials are travelling out to Qatar to scope out training bases. The final run-in has already begun.

Suddenly a 5-0 win over a desperately disappointing Albania – how on earth had that side, even allowing for defensive injuries, beaten Hungary home and away? – is not just a jolly night out, a chance for Harry Kane to regain his form and pull level with Jimmy Greaves in the all-time scoring charts, and three more points collected towards a ticket to the finals, it becomes a vital indicator of what lies ahead.

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