Bournemouth have just beaten AC Milan and Manchester United 3-0. But how do a club of their size keep getting it right? Good recruitment for a start, offering talents opportunity and a pathway. Brazilians help. I join the great @Tim_Vickery to discuss Rayan & Evanilson in the latest episode of Futebol & Football. Plus we look at Jose Mourinho's El Clásico victory and debate the art of captaincy as practised by Diego Maradona, Bobby Moore and others. youtu.be/vpIabLNbMuo Watch now on FC Camisa!
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Those who care most about Manchester United – the fans and Michael Carrick – are those who have been let down the most by owners and players. #MUFC Column @FourFourTwo fourfourtwo.com/team/henry-win…
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When Jose Mourinho’s career was analysed and celebrated in that Netflix three-parter it felt almost a farewell to elite football, the credits rolling on a spectacular touchline show. Mourinho was filmed looking at his trophy collection, taking a walk along the beach and down memory lane, lost in his reflections. But there’s always another episode in the Mourinho show. Writing him out of the great script of modern football drama is impossible. The box office remains open.
Last night’s 2-1 victory in El Clasico at Camp Nou was classic Mourinho. He ripped up the script and tore down those headlines questioning his qualities on his return to Real. He got his tactics spot on, keeping it compact, only 37% possession and hitting on the counter. Mourinho created the perfect platform for the clinical Kylian Mbappe, had Marc Cucurella control Lamine Yamal and saw a master-class from the world-class Jude Bellingham. Mourinho even put in a vintage knee-slide. He's not won a title for 11 years (back at Chelsea) but there's always another episode in the Mourinho show. #RMCF
Last night’s 2-1 victory in El Clasico at Camp Nou was classic Mourinho. He ripped up the script and tore down those headlines questioning his qualities on his return to Real. He got his tactics spot on, keeping it compact, only 37% possession and hitting on the counter. Mourinho created the perfect platform for the clinical Kylian Mbappe, had Marc Cucurella control Lamine Yamal and saw a master-class from the world-class Jude Bellingham. Mourinho even put in a vintage knee-slide. He's not won a title for 11 years (back at Chelsea) but there's always another episode in the Mourinho show. #RMCF
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Bournemouth’s excellence should not be overlooked in all the inevitable forensic frenzy over Manchester United’s shambles. Deserved 3-0 winners at Old Trafford. 5-0 would not have flattered them. They targeted United's weaknesses - openness in midfield, lack of belief, pace and concentration at the back. Bournemouth superior in every department to United, including off the field in recruitment and general running of a club.
Bournemouth's starting XI at Old Trafford cost only £169.5m. How much is the MOTM Rayan worth now? At least double the £24m Bournemouth paid for him. Or James Hill, who cost them £1.6m. Superb today. Or Evanilson, Bournemouth’s goal machine, the king of Brazil, the No 9 who scored one of the goals of the month, and was relentless in his pursuit of the ball and pressing United’s creaking defence. Cost £31m; worth double now. At least.
Or the widely-coveted Junior Kroupi returning from injury. Cost Bournemouth £12m; already featured in £80m headlines. Smart recruitment. Good characters as well as good characters.
Good performances throughout. Again. Four wins on the spin, four clean sheets in a row, 11 goals scored. Players fitting into Marco Rose’s tweaking of the successful system he inherited; more breaking at pace through the middle as well as wing-play. Board’s appointment of Rose looking shrewd. Well-run team, well-run club 🙌 #AFCB🍒
Bournemouth's starting XI at Old Trafford cost only £169.5m. How much is the MOTM Rayan worth now? At least double the £24m Bournemouth paid for him. Or James Hill, who cost them £1.6m. Superb today. Or Evanilson, Bournemouth’s goal machine, the king of Brazil, the No 9 who scored one of the goals of the month, and was relentless in his pursuit of the ball and pressing United’s creaking defence. Cost £31m; worth double now. At least.
Or the widely-coveted Junior Kroupi returning from injury. Cost Bournemouth £12m; already featured in £80m headlines. Smart recruitment. Good characters as well as good characters.
Good performances throughout. Again. Four wins on the spin, four clean sheets in a row, 11 goals scored. Players fitting into Marco Rose’s tweaking of the successful system he inherited; more breaking at pace through the middle as well as wing-play. Board’s appointment of Rose looking shrewd. Well-run team, well-run club 🙌 #AFCB🍒
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Some thoughts on the mess at Manchester United, including the crisis of leadership throughout. The only blameless people are the fans. #MUFC
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Michael Carrick will doubtless pay the price with his job for this deserved defeat to an excellent Bournemouth side and another lifeless display by his Manchester United team. Some of his selections and tactics have been questionable, United were again so open in the centre. But Carrick was not responsible for recruiting Youri Tielemans, who lacks physicality and mobility (and Aston Villa haven’t missed him) and Andrey Santos, a Chelsea reserve.
Carrick was not responsible for the board’s damaging failure to strengthen at centre-back and left-back. Carrick was not responsible for his main striker Benjamin Sesko being injured and the board’s failure to provide him with cover. Carrick was not responsible for the club he loves being in the grip of co-owners like the Glazers whose priorities are focused more on business than the sport. The direction from the top has been negligible, arguably negligent. No real leadership. No expertise.
Carrick may be out of his depth but many United fans sang his name during the painful demise to Bournemouth because they know he cares and they know the problems lie elsewhere. The Stretford End again sang in protest at the wretched Glazers.
Noticeable that there were few songs in support of Bruno Fernandes. He is supposed to be captain, rallying the players, Footballer of the Year, Player of the Year, not arm-waver of the year, underachieving and complaining. Yet Bruno will be at United longer than Carrick.
Carrick was praised for United finishing third last season and getting in the Champions League. But he will doubtless go partly for his own failings and mainly the failings of others. And United will be trapped in this doom loop again. And again until the core problems are addressed in the boardroom - and the Glazers sell up - and flaws in the recruitment department. #MUFC #MUNBOU
Carrick was not responsible for the board’s damaging failure to strengthen at centre-back and left-back. Carrick was not responsible for his main striker Benjamin Sesko being injured and the board’s failure to provide him with cover. Carrick was not responsible for the club he loves being in the grip of co-owners like the Glazers whose priorities are focused more on business than the sport. The direction from the top has been negligible, arguably negligent. No real leadership. No expertise.
Carrick may be out of his depth but many United fans sang his name during the painful demise to Bournemouth because they know he cares and they know the problems lie elsewhere. The Stretford End again sang in protest at the wretched Glazers.
Noticeable that there were few songs in support of Bruno Fernandes. He is supposed to be captain, rallying the players, Footballer of the Year, Player of the Year, not arm-waver of the year, underachieving and complaining. Yet Bruno will be at United longer than Carrick.
Carrick was praised for United finishing third last season and getting in the Champions League. But he will doubtless go partly for his own failings and mainly the failings of others. And United will be trapped in this doom loop again. And again until the core problems are addressed in the boardroom - and the Glazers sell up - and flaws in the recruitment department. #MUFC #MUNBOU
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Elite finish, schoolboy defending. Bournemouth superb, clinical, and showing all the belief and enterprise that Manchester United so painfully lack. #MUFC
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Heaven and hell for Manchester United. Poor challenge from Ayden Heaven, gifting Bournemouth that free-kick opportunity. Then poor marking by United on Rayan. Good finish. Now Yoro slips, Tavernier pounces 2-0 Bournemouth. Nightmare for Carrick #MUNBOU
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Burnley 22nd in the Championship, players not responding to coach Nicky Hayen, whacked 4-1 by Lincoln City, so no great surprise that Hayen sacked after 14 games (one win). But… even by football standards the club's curt 26-word dismissal statement is unnecessarily brutal (and naïve) for four reasons...
First, it’s classless towards a departing member of staff, however underachieving, so what does that say about the owners’ treatment of people? What message does it send to potential successors?
Second, Hayen was the board’s appointment. What does that say about their judgement? Nb: new technical director incoming who should understand football better than chairman Alan Pace.
Third, it highlights the mess, not least in recruitment, that Hayen stepped into. Did he have a chance? Relegated squad, sold best players (last two club POTYs Flemming & Esteve + Anthony), is there enough fight in the team?
Fourth, highlights the club’s financial problems. Burnley used to be well-run.
Board have to make the right appointment, remember Burnley are a football club as well as a business and engage better with increasingly disaffected fans. Burnley fans deserve better than what Pace and ALK Capital are giving them. #twitterclarets
First, it’s classless towards a departing member of staff, however underachieving, so what does that say about the owners’ treatment of people? What message does it send to potential successors?
Second, Hayen was the board’s appointment. What does that say about their judgement? Nb: new technical director incoming who should understand football better than chairman Alan Pace.
Third, it highlights the mess, not least in recruitment, that Hayen stepped into. Did he have a chance? Relegated squad, sold best players (last two club POTYs Flemming & Esteve + Anthony), is there enough fight in the team?
Fourth, highlights the club’s financial problems. Burnley used to be well-run.
Board have to make the right appointment, remember Burnley are a football club as well as a business and engage better with increasingly disaffected fans. Burnley fans deserve better than what Pace and ALK Capital are giving them. #twitterclarets
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“We are here to change the club’s mentality.” Very significant remark from Matheus Fernandes to Sky Sports after Tottenham Hotspur’s win at Chelsea. Summer signing talking about new arrivals’ determination to help Spurs beat the bigger teams. Fernandes and Sandro Tonali impressed in midfield v Chelsea, as did Jan Paul van Hecke in defence while Andy Robertson will always give grit, 100% etc.
Takes time to change a mentality. Spurs have lacked leadership and a defiant, winning edge for some time. Antonio Conte and others highlighted that. Needs sustained determination and concentration, week in, week out. But the team strengthened by Fernandes, Tonali and others increasingly reflects Roberto De Zerbi’s fighting spirit.
Lads, it’s the new Spurs? Not soft any more? They have to maintain this level for the club's mentality to change fully. Definite start, though. #THFC
Takes time to change a mentality. Spurs have lacked leadership and a defiant, winning edge for some time. Antonio Conte and others highlighted that. Needs sustained determination and concentration, week in, week out. But the team strengthened by Fernandes, Tonali and others increasingly reflects Roberto De Zerbi’s fighting spirit.
Lads, it’s the new Spurs? Not soft any more? They have to maintain this level for the club's mentality to change fully. Definite start, though. #THFC
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World champions🙌🏆congratulations to the @England Cerebral Palsy team who beat the USA in their own backyard. In Atlanta, no less. It can be done. It was done. In the IFCPF World Cup final. Having beaten Brazil in semi-final. Fantastic achievement #CPFootball 🦁🦁🦁
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Cole Palmer fortunate to receive only a yellow there. However frustrated Palmer may have been with Mateus Fernandes for the handball, you can't go flying into an opponent as aggressively as that. Violent conduct?#CHETOT
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Deserved victory for Aston Villa rooted in every one of Emery’s players knowing his role and working tirelessly to fulfil it. All of Villa’s subs, Mbaye, Buendia, Barkley, Goretzka and Madjo, had an impact, hunting the ball, protecting the lead. Jackson MOTM, Cash immense #AVFC
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Nicolas Jackson rarely looked an elite-level striker at Chelsea. Decent goal record, 30 in 81, but missed a lot of chances and got caught offside a lot. Jackson offside every 98 minutes at Chelsea (PL). At Villa, only every 128 minutes (PL). Reunited with the alchemist Emery. Decision-making improved. Emery filled him full of belief. Jackson knows how much Emery rates him.
Worked together for a season at Villarreal, where Emery improved Jackson’s positioning and made his runs more targeted and effective. Reunited, Jackson has 7 goals in 11 already under Emery at Villa. So hard-working, pressing, holding ball up, linking (well with McGinn and Manzambi) and scoring goals like that against Manchester City. Wrong-footed Anderson, gave Donnarumma no chance. Giving Guehi an uncomfortable time. #AVLMCI #AVFC
Worked together for a season at Villarreal, where Emery improved Jackson’s positioning and made his runs more targeted and effective. Reunited, Jackson has 7 goals in 11 already under Emery at Villa. So hard-working, pressing, holding ball up, linking (well with McGinn and Manzambi) and scoring goals like that against Manchester City. Wrong-footed Anderson, gave Donnarumma no chance. Giving Guehi an uncomfortable time. #AVLMCI #AVFC
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