In his distinctive column for CaughtOffside, previous Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s most important speaking points, which include information Martin Odegaard is shut to signing a new agreement at Arsenal, the ongoing criticism of Harry Maguire, and who could replace Gareth Southgate as England manager, plus substantially more.
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Martin Odegaard isn’t captain material…
Martin Odegaard is reportedly shut to signing a deal extension at Arsenal. If and when that is formally announced, that will be genuinely, genuinely very good news for the Gunners.
He’s been fantastic due to the fact he joined from Real Madrid a few of decades back, and with his recent offer established to expire at the finish of upcoming year, building sure they do not get rid of arguably their very best player for following-to-nothing at all is seriously wise from Arsenal. Odegaard is massively crucial to Mikel Arteta’s ideas and project so by retaining him on board really shows the ambition of the club and wherever they’re aspiring to be.
Odegaard was named the team’s captain previous year, and whilst I assume he’s a phenomenal footballer he’s incredibly specialized and easily a single of the most effective midfielders in the country, I am not a hundred for every cent confident he is captain material. He does not strike me as the sort of participant who is likely to drag the other individuals more than the end line. We saw that final period, or didn’t see it, I must say.
Let’s be truthful – Arsenal bottled it past period. They bottled the league and are unlikely to have that form of likelihood once more for a incredibly very long time. Did Odegaard do all he could to guard the workforce against complacency? – Definitely not. Some may well argue that the days of the Patrick Vieira’s and Roy Keane’s are extended absent, but I disagree. Soccer groups even now will need that warrior-type leader in the trenches with them and I never believe Odegaard is the form of participant who provides that. I am not certain Arsenal have any gamers like that essentially. Declan Rice may perhaps be the 1 in the potential but it is heading to be extremely hard for Arteta to give the Englishman the armband without the need of upsetting Odegaard, and likely, the relaxation of the squad.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Man United? – Hmm…
There have been some rumours lately that Manchester United have additional Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to their January transfer shortlist amid the uncertainty surrounding Jadon Sancho and Antony.
On Sancho – I have often defended the lad. My choose on his time at Previous Trafford has been that the club and enthusiasts should adhere with him for the reason that he’s a authentic talent and has the means to be the variation-maker. I have to turn my back again on that now nevertheless. He came out, not for the very first time in his profession, and mentioned he’s a scapegoat and went towards his supervisor, and that by no means goes down well. As I explained past 7 days, I would be amazed if Sancho even now has a potential at Manchester United.
So to hear that United are wanting for wingers is not astonishing. I know there have been hints Sancho could return to Borussia Dortmund but I basically wouldn’t rule out a mutual personal loan shift in between Sancho and Kvaratskhelia. My only true worry would be that Kvaratskhelia has massively gone off the boil. He had a excellent initially 50 % to the period past year but he hasn’t scored a goal in Serie A since March and which is a actual significant be concerned. Why are Manchester United wanting to swap an underperforming participant with one more underperforming player?
Harry Maguire is not good plenty of for any major-6 sides…
Harry Maguire came out earlier this 7 days and admitted he isn’t used to getting criticism but insisted he can deal with it, and then his mum also arrived out and fundamentally questioned admirers to end buying on her son. Fair ample. It in all probability isn’t good to see someone you like so greatly scrutinised by the standard public, but let’s not go also overboard right here.
Fans, and pundits, have each correct to criticise a participant if they consider they are not accomplishing to an suitable standard. Until anyone states some thing that breaks the regulation, then they’re not performing just about anything incorrect.
From what I can see, most men and women are possibly questioning Gareth Southgate’s decision to continue taking part in him when he gets this sort of very little match time at club level, or they are stating how badly he has performed. So if that is ample to get you cancelled, nicely, terminate me, since I agree. He isn’t very good enough to be any top club’s first-alternative centre-back. He’s a terrific job gentleman. He’s absent from Sheffield United to Hull Metropolis, to Leicester and to Manchester United, and none of that is his fault. But he is not good adequate. If you experienced Virgil Van Dijk actively playing following to him, you might get away with it, but no leading-6 club with significant ambitions of successful titles and silverware would choose Maguire.
Really don’t get me improper – I’m sure Maguire is a wonderful bloke away from soccer. I have by no means gotten individual with the person, but when it arrives to talking about a player’s footballing capacity, or deficiency thereof, reacting to their on-area contributions really should not be considered as if it is some type of despise criminal offense. One particular of the finest points about football has often been how it sparks debate and promotes a vast variety of thoughts.
What following for Gareth Southgate?
When it arrives to the criticism Maguire is obtaining, I have to concur that Southgate’s insistence on taking part in him for England each match is contributing to fans’ annoyance. His loyalty to a player who is otherwise out of favour everywhere you go else could end up costing him.
He has a deal that operates till right after subsequent year’s European Championship and I do consider that irrespective of how England do in the tournament, 2024 will be when he leaves his placement. He has finished so significantly fantastic do the job for England’s men’s workforce.
It’s genuinely hard to say he’s been the country’s best-ever manager mainly because of course Sir Alf Ramsey won the Environment Cup in 1966 but he’s undoubtedly created the 2nd location his have. The Fabio Capello’s, Sven Goran Eriksson’s, Bobby Robson’s and the like are all fighting for third.
If and when Southgate would make way for the upcoming England supervisor, I think the FA need to make him the head of football specialized functions. Mainly a position that oversees everything from grassroots up to the senior team, which includes mentor and manager improvement. That is how vital he has been to this country through his time in demand.
There are three evident candidates to swap Southgate…
In conditions of which manager could end up changing Southgate, there has been talk of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, but I am a firm believer that worldwide soccer really should be all about a region showcasing the expertise they have and that contains the supervisor.
If the FA are likely to adhere with selecting English managers, I assume there are only 3 noticeable decisions at the minute. Eddie Howe will possibly be a applicant but unless of course Newcastle United sack him before then I just can’t see him taking around from Southgate. The other two, for me, are Graham Potter and Steve Cooper.
