In his exceptional column for CaughtOffside, previous Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s biggest talking points, such as how soccer can support Sandro Tonalo overcome a gambling habit, what the January transfer window could have in shop for Kalvin Phillips and Scott Mctominay, as properly as a search ahead to this weekend’s Merseyside Derby, plus considerably far more.
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Newcastle will stand by Sandro Tonali but soccer should do more…
I’m absolutely sure Newcastle United would have been stunned when they read Sandro Tonali’s agent affirm he has a gambling dependancy, and while they will not appear out and say it, they would have felt let down but the club will search immediately after him. They, like all golf equipment, have a obligation to seem after their personnel and which is what they’ll do. I thought Eddie Howe’s push conferences, which have definitely been dominated by concerns about Tonali, have been dealt with impeccably very well.
Tonali is not the 1st player to endure from a crippling dependancy. Despite the fact that gambling isn’t one thing I have at any time suffered with, I know of a whole lot of players, past and current, who do struggle with it.
It’s a actually massive problem. The phasing out of gambling-similar front-of-shirt sponsors is a excellent phase to consider, but we require to do much more to defend addicts and also to support protect against the subsequent technology from turning out to be addicts. I assume there should be a whole ban on all gambling-associated advertisements. We ought to make football a gambling-cost-free ecosystem this would allow those who do have a challenge to enter a ‘safe space’ whilst not thoroughly forbidding those people who do gamble responsibly from doing a little something they take pleasure in. I assume that is likely the fairest way to control it, but we have to do something mainly because this just cannot keep on.
Kalvin Phillips and Scott McTominay on the move?
Obviously, Tonali is now experiencing a lengthy spell on the sidelines just like Brentford’s Ivan Toney, and of program, need to the unavoidable take place and his quantity 8 is suspended for a period of time, Howe will need address.
A several names have already been thrown around, such as Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.
I imagine both of those of these gamers, who aren’t getting the recreation-time they require at their existing golf equipment, will be on the lookout for new groups the moment the January transfer window opens, and whilst I rate both equally, I would be leaning towards Phillips if I were a supervisor.
He’s a extremely intense midfielder, who can get forward in research of a target when he requires to. He also has an exceptional vary of passing and would definitely complement a Newcastle United staff. I’m not certain I see him at St. James’ Park nevertheless.
I observed some reviews a short while ago about Bayern Munich getting fascinated in him – it wouldn’t surprise me if Harry Kane is influencing his club’s transfer coverage. I am guaranteed Kane would really like to welcome an international colleague to Bavaria, and if they simply cannot get Joao Palhinha out of Fulham in January now he’s signed a new contract, Phillips would be the ideal different. It’s absolutely a shift I can see materialising.
As for McTominay, it looks unlikely he’ll ever come to be a standard at Old Trafford under Erik 10 Hag, and he would definitely be the variety of player who could in good shape Howe’s higher-do the job price technique, but I have a sneaky sensation David Moyes and West Ham will be back yet again in the New 12 months for him. McTominay would thrive under Moyes I am positive of it – can United get a £30 million, or greater, supply all over again even though? – We’ll have to see.
Jude Bellingham’s most significant tests are still to occur. How he responds to them will define his legacy…
Don’t get me completely wrong, he’s a terrific participant, but I do not want to get way too carried absent.
He’s had a monumental increase. Not only did Birmingham Metropolis retire his shirt when he left as a teen, he went to Borussia Dortmund and did pretty well in advance of moving to Serious Madrid and starting excellently.
It is really hard to believe he’s however just twenty yrs outdated. But let’s not forget… All the things is heading very well for him at the moment, but that won’t always be the circumstance. He will have down intervals in his vocation, no matter whether that comes from Actual Madrid not enjoying very well as a group, or terrible luck with accidents. It’s in these tough times that I want to see what Bellingham does. I want to see how he responds from a 5 or six-7 days injuries lay-off. That will present accurately the player he is and is capable of starting to be.
If he carries on on this upward trajectory, he definitely can grow to be just one of, if not, the world’s greatest midfielder. At the second, I never think he can assert that title for the reason that he’s quite very good at almost everything. What I suggest by that is that he isn’t remarkable at a person or two particular disciplines. He has been scoring a great deal of targets recently, which is good, but can he continue to keep it up? – Can he become the subsequent Frank Lampard? – Only time will tell, but he undoubtedly has the potential to go on and turn into the best English participant of all time.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp get their way (once again)…
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have not shut up about ‘player welfare’ and how our crowded fixture record is far too demanding on gamers, and following the FA verified they’re scrapping 3rd and fourth-round replays, it appears equally have once yet again received their way.
Listen, I never automatically disagree with what both administrators have explained. There is extra soccer than ever remaining performed these times and footballers, although paid quite properly for what they do, are continue to just human beings. They feel the psychological and actual physical effects of factors and we should not pretend they really don’t.
However, the concern I have with Guardiola and Klopp, and other administrators who are demanding a reduction in online games, is that they only at any time goal the English game’s heritage, and never ever Europe’s. They want fewer Carabao and FA Cup online games, but hardly ever less Champions League video games, so is it definitely their players’ welfare they have in brain, or do they just know what aspect their bread is buttered?
The working day 1 of individuals two comes out and states ‘Right, our gamers are actively playing also substantially, in addition to scrapping 3rd and fourth spherical cup ties, let us do much more, let us lessen the variety of European competitions’ is the day I will just take them critically.
To be this season’s Leading League champions, you will have to end increased than Liverpool…
This weekend’s Leading League motion ought to kick off with a bang. It is the Merseyside Derby at Anfield and, like constantly, I am certain it’s heading to be a amazing contest. There haven’t been many instances exactly where the divide in good quality amongst Liverpool and Everton has been as big as it is now so Sean Dyche has his work minimize out. Obviously, Liverpool are the overwhelming favourites, and rightly so, but if Everton can put in a sound efficiency and demonstrate heart, willpower and need, their admirers will forgive them even if they reduce – the most critical thing for the Toffees is that they are tough to defeat, and I think they have a opportunity of staying just that.
Liverpool nevertheless have a very new squad, in particular in midfield, so it’s heading to be exciting to see how some of people new names manage their to start with Merseyside Derby. I suspect they’ll arrive via it and proceed to have one more good campaign. I think if any group finishes above Klopp’s adult men, they’ll be champions. For me, Liverpool will both gain the league or they’ll end second. I feel they’ll finish increased than Spurs and larger than Arsenal – the only staff I see doing greater than them over a 38-domestic video game season is Manchester Metropolis.
