In his unique column for CaughtOffside, former Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s major conversing points, like news Martin Odegaard is close to signing a new contract at Arsenal, the ongoing criticism of Harry Maguire, and who could substitute Gareth Southgate as England supervisor, plus much additional.
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Martin Odegaard is not captain material…
Martin Odegaard is reportedly close to signing a contract extension at Arsenal. If and when that is officially announced, that will be actually, seriously very good news for the Gunners.
He’s been excellent considering that he joined from Authentic Madrid a couple of several years back, and with his recent deal set to expire at the end of up coming season, building guaranteed they do not eliminate arguably their ideal player for next-to-practically nothing is genuinely clever from Arsenal. Odegaard is hugely vital to Mikel Arteta’s options and project so by maintaining him on board seriously shows the ambition of the club and where they’re aspiring to be.
Odegaard was named the team’s captain final yr, and although I imagine he’s a phenomenal footballer he’s unbelievably technical and conveniently a single of the most effective midfielders in the state, I am not one hundred per cent absolutely sure he is captain material. He doesn’t strike me as the variety of participant who is heading to drag the others above the finish line. We observed that very last period, or didn’t see it, I must say.
Let’s be straightforward – Arsenal bottled it last season. They bottled the league and are not likely to have that variety of prospect once again for a really prolonged time. Did Odegaard do all he could to guard the crew against complacency? – Obviously not. Some might argue that the times of the Patrick Vieira’s and Roy Keane’s are prolonged gone, but I disagree. Soccer teams however need that warrior-kind chief in the trenches with them and I really don’t think Odegaard is the style of participant who provides that. I am not confident Arsenal have any players like that essentially. Declan Rice may well be the 1 in the future but it’s going to be very tricky for Arteta to give the Englishman the armband without upsetting Odegaard, and likely, the rest of the squad.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Man United? – Hmm…
There have been some rumours a short while ago that Manchester United have added Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to their January transfer shortlist amid the uncertainty encompassing Jadon Sancho and Antony.
On Sancho – I have constantly defended the lad. My consider on his time at Outdated Trafford has been that the club and enthusiasts ought to stick with him mainly because he’s a serious talent and has the skill to be the variation-maker. I have to turn my back again on that now while. He came out, not for the very first time in his vocation, and claimed he’s a scapegoat and went versus his supervisor, and that by no means goes down nicely. As I said last 7 days, I would be surprised if Sancho still has a long term at Manchester United.
So to hear that United are hunting for wingers is not surprising. I know there have been hints Sancho could return to Borussia Dortmund but I actually would not rule out a mutual bank loan go involving Sancho and Kvaratskhelia. My only true concern would be that Kvaratskhelia has massively gone off the boil. He experienced a excellent very first 50 % to the time past season but he has not scored a objective in Serie A since March and that’s a authentic massive fear. Why are Manchester United searching to switch an underperforming player with an additional underperforming player?
Harry Maguire is not very good plenty of for any prime-6 sides…
Harry Maguire arrived out earlier this week and admitted he is not used to getting criticism but insisted he can manage it, and then his mum also came out and basically requested admirers to cease choosing on her son. Truthful sufficient. It possibly is not good to see another person you love so intensely scrutinised by the typical public, but let’s not go as well overboard in this article.
Supporters, and pundits, have each appropriate to criticise a player if they imagine they are not accomplishing to an suitable conventional. Until somebody states something that breaks the law, then they’re not performing nearly anything incorrect.
From what I can see, most persons are either questioning Gareth Southgate’s decision to proceed participating in him when he will get this sort of minor match time at club level, or they are indicating how terribly he has performed. So if that is ample to get you cancelled, properly, cancel me, because I concur. He isn’t very good more than enough to be any leading club’s 1st-selection centre-again. He’s a terrific career gentleman. He’s gone from Sheffield United to Hull Town, to Leicester and to Manchester United, and none of that is his fault. But he is not great adequate. If you had Virgil Van Dijk participating in subsequent to him, you could possibly get absent with it, but no prime-six club with significant ambitions of profitable titles and silverware would opt for Maguire.
Do not get me wrong – I’m sure Maguire is a awesome bloke away from football. I have hardly ever gotten particular with the male, but when it arrives to discussing a player’s footballing potential, or deficiency thereof, reacting to their on-area contributions should not be viewed as if it is some form of dislike crime. A single of the most effective matters about soccer has often been how it sparks discussion and encourages a huge wide variety of views.
What following for Gareth Southgate?
When it comes to the criticism Maguire is obtaining, I have to agree that Southgate’s insistence on playing him for England each individual recreation is contributing to fans’ disappointment. His loyalty to a player who is normally out of favour all over the place else could conclude up costing him.
He has a contract that runs until right after up coming year’s European Championship and I do assume that irrespective of how England do in the match, 2024 will be when he leaves his position. He has completed so a great deal great get the job done for England’s men’s group.
It is seriously challenging to say he’s been the country’s biggest-ever supervisor because of study course Sir Alf Ramsey received the Entire world Cup in 1966 but he’s surely produced the second place his possess. The Fabio Capello’s, Sven Goran Eriksson’s, Bobby Robson’s and the like are all preventing for 3rd.
If and when Southgate would make way for the next England supervisor, I think the FA ought to make him the head of football specialized operations. Basically a function that oversees every little thing from grassroots up to the senior workforce, which include coach and manager enhancement. That is how vital he has been to this nation all through his time in charge.
There are 3 obvious candidates to exchange Southgate…
In terms of which manager could finish up changing Southgate, there has been speak of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, but I am a business believer that intercontinental soccer must be all about a nation showcasing the expertise they have and that features the supervisor.
If the FA are heading to adhere with using the services of English supervisors, I consider there are only 3 noticeable decisions at the moment. Eddie Howe will in all probability be a candidate but until Newcastle United sack him before then I cannot see him using in excess of from Southgate. The other two, for me, are Graham Potter and Steve Cooper.
