Jonathan Wilson's Blog, page 97
July 20, 2020
Leeds United are back in the Premier League – Football Weekly
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Paul Doyle to discuss Leeds’s Championship triumph in the company of Daniel Chapman from the Square Ball podcast, plus the weekend’s FA Cup semis
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Jonathan remembers one of Argentina’s all-time greats, Silvio Marzolini, and we ask: has David Luiz stolen Virgil Van Dijk’s magic powers? There’s more FA Cup semi-final chat, while the pod also discuss Jon Moss’s boots, Watford firing Nigel Pearson and much more.
July 19, 2020
De Gea's decline continues as United's FA Cup chance evades his grasp | Jonathan Wilson
The Spanish goalkeeper handed Chelsea at least one goal at Wembley and his manager may soon have a decision to make
Amid the chaos of Spain’s World Cup in 2018, perhaps the greatest casualty was David de Gea. The days when his heroics repeatedly papered over the cracks at Manchester United feel a long time ago. It can be debated whether De Gea was at fault for the first and third goals, but he was clearly to blame for the second and, in those two moments, United’s long unbeaten run disappeared, and Chelsea’s passage to the FA Cup final was secured.
Frank Lampard had left out Kepa Arrizabalaga for his Cup keeper Willy Caballero, although given no goalkeeper has conceded a higher proportion of the shots on target he’s faced since Opta began collecting the data, he may have done so with a sense of relief. Ole Gunnar Solskjær will perhaps wish he had done something similar. Although he made a number of changes to a putative first-choice lineup, both a reflection of the fact his side had played Crystal Palace on Thursday and an indication that Champions League qualification remains the priority, he preferred De Gea to Sergio Romero, who had played in the four previous rounds.
Related: Giroud leads Chelsea's march to FA Cup final at Manchester United's expense
Continue reading...July 18, 2020
United and tough breaks keep coming back to haunt Frank Lampard | Jonathan Wilson
Chelsea under their former player are regularly being undone on the counter, leaking goals in a manner that suggests Manchester United could take advantage in FA Cup semi-final
On the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Chelsea went to Old Trafford, controlled possession for long periods, hit the woodwork twice and were beaten 4-0, shredded on the break again and again. The pattern for Frank Lampard’s first season in the Premier League was immediately set: Chelsea, good with the ball; not so good when they lose it. They have lost twice more to Manchester United since and, on Sunday afternoon, face them again in an FA Cup semi-final.
Lampard is widely considered to have had a decent campaign. Even with the competition’s diminished status, an FA Cup final and perhaps a first trophy would augment that – perhaps more so this year than for a while, given the oddity of the season restarting with the league in effect already won, leaving the Cup as the one domestic trophy still available. But doubts still remain, notably about Chelsea’s defensive record.
Related: Frank Lampard says VAR is favouring semi-final rivals Manchester United
Chelsea have leaked 12 goals from crossed set pieces this season, more than any side other than Norwich and Aston Villa
Related: Jorginho starting to look the odd man out in Chelsea midfield plans | Jacob Steinberg
Continue reading...July 12, 2020
Tottenham win but derby leaves fog of confusion over north London | Jonathan Wilson
Key questions about both sides’ forwards went unanswered in a game where Spurs and Arsenal showed their flaws
After all the optimistic talk, the north-London derby was a sobering reminder for Arsenal of just how much still needs to be done, just how pervasive are the problems Mikel Arteta inherited. And while the victory lifted Tottenham above Arsenal, and for all this in some respects resembled a classic José Mourinho mugging, it was a result that did little to clear the doubts about the manager and his approach.
Spurs won because their defence were less chaotic than Arsenal’s but the picture, really, was of two attacks seeking an identity. At least it was possible to discern a Tottenham attack, which wasn’t the case against Everton or Bournemouth.
Related: Toby Alderweireld punishes Arsenal errors to give Spurs derby glory
Related: José Mourinho targets Europa League after Tottenham edge past Arsenal
Continue reading...July 11, 2020
Why Tottenham are stagnating under José Mourinho, who has yet to evolve | Jonathan Wilson
It’s hard not to feel we’ve have seen this all before and know how it plays out. The sense is the endgame has begun
As they prepare for the north London derby on Sunday, who would you rather be: Arsenal or Tottenham? For the past four years, it wasn’t a question that required much consideration. Even in 2015-16, when Arsenal last finished above Spurs, it felt freakish. The trajectories of the two clubs seemed clear: Spurs were rising, replete with gifted young players and blessed with a charismatic manager whose ideas were notably modern, while Arsenal were sinking in the dotage of a managerial great whose best years were behind him but whose departure would inevitably bring turbulence.
Arsène Wenger’s retirement in 2018 did lead to chaos – or perhaps more accurately, exposed the chaos that was already there. With Ivan Gazidis and Sven Mislintat leaving, only Raul Sanllehi remains of the triumvirate who were supposed to replace him. Major concerns remain about recruitment and particularly the influence of the agent Kia Joorabchian.
Related: Calm Mason Greenwood can avoid Exciting Teenage Talent implosion | Barney Ronay
Continue reading...July 9, 2020
Eddie Nketiah, Eric Dier and disciplinary debates – Football Weekly
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Jonathan Fadugba to discuss Eddie Nketiah’s red card for Arsenal, Eric Dier’s four-game ban for Tottenham, and Scottish farming communities of the 19th century
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Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Jonathan Fadugba to discuss Eddie Nkeitiah’s red card, Eric Dier’s ban, and Scottish farming communities of the 19th century.
Continue reading...July 4, 2020
David Moyes's sorry Sunderland saga bodes ill for West Ham | Jonathan Wilson
The Hammers may survive this season but the prospects for the next one do not look good – just ask fans of the Wearside club now in League One
Perhaps this time the Ferryman will not accept the fare. Wednesday’s unlikely victory over Chelsea, allied to the abjection of Norwich and Bournemouth and the struggles of Aston Villa and Watford, means West Ham may survive this season, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t major questions for the club to answer, foremost among them who should be their manager.
Wednesday’s Premier League game turned out to be a clash of two managerial flaws, the inability of Frank Lampard sides to defend set‑pieces or counterattacks winning out over the tendency of David Moyes sides to drop deeper and deeper, particularly when they have something to defend. The victory may end up being decisive, but there can be no long-lasting sense of wellbeing.
Related: Out with the old and in with the nearly new: David Moyes is back at West Ham | Jonathan Liew
Related: David Moyes needs to rediscover his fire after falling short at Sunderland
West Ham have made ambitious signings but when you buy above yourself these players will generally not have patience
Continue reading...Jamie Vardy plunders Crystal Palace to become Leicester's man of the century
It was a struggle, it was not hugely convincing, but it was a win – and given how things have been going recently for Leicester, that is the most important thing. Not much less significant is that Jamie Vardy is scoring again. His first goal, his 100th in the Premier League, was a simple tap-in, but his second was the Vardy of old, a confident, dinked finish in injury time after a classic breakaway. If this is a return to form, it could be decisive in Leicester holding on to third place.
Since scoring at Manchester City just before Christmas, Vardy’s only goals had come against Aston Villa in the final game before lockdown. Brendan Rodgers had been keen to stress that Vardy’s drought was indicative of a collective failing and that there has been a problem getting players up alongside him. To that end, he selected Kelechi Iheanacho alongside Vardy, with Ayoze Pérez deployed behind them.
Related: Norwich stare at the trapdoor after Trossard seals win for Brighton
Related: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal: Premier League – live!
Continue reading...June 27, 2020
Flashes of the old Jesse Lingard only highlight how his powers have faded
The midfielder failed to seize his chance against Norwich and his time at Manchester United may be running out
There was a moment early on in Manchester United’s drawn-out win at Norwich when Jesse Lingard picked up the ball on the edge of the box, feinted right, jinked left and, with a rapid shuffle of his feet, glided past Timm Klose. It was a welcome reminder of the player he used to be. What followed in a generally drab United performance was a less welcome reminder of the player he has been over the past year.
It was only last June that Lingard was having a goal for England against the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-final ruled out for the tightest of offsides. A year before that he scored a brilliant goal against Panama at the World Cup. And he scored the extra-time winner when Manchester United last won the FA Cup, an elegant finish against Crystal Palace in 2016.
Related: Manchester United finally end 10-man Norwich’s Cup hopes through Maguire
Related: Manchester United 'not too far away' from title contention, says Solskjær
Continue reading...Joelinton's and Joe Hart's plight shows dire touch of the cold hand | Jonathan Wilson
Neither the Newcastle forward nor Burnley goalkeeper will want pity but their crises in confidence have made them shadows of their former selves
Seventeen minutes into Newcastle’s win over Sheffield United, Joelinton ran on to a through ball from Miguel Almirón. As he reached the box, three options were open: to use his left foot; to jab a finish with the outside of his right, probably in at the near post or through the keeper’s legs; or to open his body in the style of Thierry Henry and bend it right-footed in at the far post.
In the end his attempt appeared some horrible amalgam of the latter two and he scuffed a shot that reached Dean Henderson – just – on its second bounce.
Related: Joe Hart: 'All I want is to be a big part of a club. That's all that burns through me'
Related: Steve Bruce looks on bright side and hopes Newcastle limbo can end soon | Louise Taylor
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