Sport
Seven Days in Seven Points
LvG won’t last the season
On Monday a number of sources – some fairly reputable – declared that LvG was close to the sack. In fact, many seemed certain that he would be gone by the end of the day. Though that never materialised, it does appear that the Dutchman’s days are numbered. Manchester United look lifeless, flat, and uninspired, and it’s not sitting well with the fans. Visitors to Old Trafford demand flair and entertainment from their team, but at the minute something is sorely missing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see LvG out of the door before 2016.
Jose Mourinho will be back
And it’ll be with Manchester United. As soon as LvG’s seat is vacated, Mourinho will come sauntering in to fill the void. It’s likely to be his most difficult managerial task since guiding Porto to Champions League success in 2004, but he’ll be desperate to prove his critics wrong. I can’t see Manchester United winning the title with him in charge, but I expect he’ll build a much more flamboyant and solid team than the current Red Devils ensemble.
The football world is rejoicing following Blatter’s ban
FINALLY! An eight-year-ban both for Sepp and his chum Platini means both FIFA and UEFA can begin the long and arduous task of reclaiming their credibility. That they’ve been banned for a specific length of time rather than for life is a little frustrating, but it’s great to see that the bad eggs are being removed from football’s upper echelons. Long may the trend continue.
Guardiola nailed on for Manchester City?
It doesn’t seem to matter how well Pellegrini does, a large section of Manchester City’s fans will always want him out. Why? Probably because he doesn’t fit with the ‘cool’ brand the club is trying to build and promote. As with every other club that has money to burn, the fans are demanding instant success, and to achieve that goal many think the correct course of action will be to hire Guardiola, football management’s hottest property. Many sources claim that he would be happier to move to London rather than Manchester, but the money on offer will ultimately be too much for him to turn down. Pep will be singing Blue Moon come August.
It only took 4 goals in 45 minutes for the Real crowd to cheer Bale
Real Madrid’s fans are well known for their changeable nature, but when it comes to their ridiculously insufferable treatment of Welsh superstar Gareth Bale they tend to be consistent. Bale is regularly booed, ridiculed, and heckled, and it’s for one simple reason – he isn’t Ronaldo. They have quickly forgotten that Bale scored a vital goal in their 2014 Champions League final victory, and almost singlehandedly won the Copa del Rey in the same year, but that’s what Real’s fans do; they demand the world, and then cry when their team falls short. Bale scored four goals in Real’s 10-2 rout of Rayo Vallecano, and was enthusiastically applauded by the home supporters, but how long until those cheers once more become whistles?
Brighton’s unbeaten run was emphatically ended by Boro
I predicted that Brighton would come down to earth with bump, and so it proved. Middlesbrough’s superiority shone through last weekend at The Amex, and they crushed Brighton to move top of the Championship. Though the result was Brighton’s first loss of the league campaign, it will certainly not be the last. Brighton are massively punching above their weight, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them slide further and further down the table. Boro, on the other hand, will continue to shine, and are my tip for promotion.
Adam Bogdan makes Mignolet look like Neuer
Liverpool’s Adam Bogdan decided his mark his return to the starting XI by putting in a performance full of errors, inconsistency and nerves. Regular number one Simon Mignolet is regularly criticised by Reds fans for putting in below par performances, but the Anfield faithful will be begging for his return between the sticks after witnessing the alternative.
