On The Premier League
Name three players that have caught your eye in the Premier League this season
Destiny Udogie for Tottenham. He epitomises what Postecoglou wants from his football teams. I think he has been very impressive for the club so far this season.
Raheem Sterling is taking on what Pochettino wants from his wide attacking players. I’mvery surprised that he hasn’tfound himself back in the England squad, especially when there are players in the squad who aren’t in the best form for their clubs.
Sterling has looked really dangerous again this season. He looks like he is back to his best and has recovered from the little downward spell he had, which all players go through in their careers and isn’t a criticism of him. The ups and downs of a footballer’s life can be very topsy-turvy. He has been really direct this season which has caused a lot of problems for defenders.
Finally, I’ll go with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool. He has come in for a bit of stick, and like Sterling, he had a period where he wasn’t at his best. I’m delighted for him this season. He’s scoring goals and striking the ball with his technique impeccably. That is what he is really good at. He’s bounced back and scored some really important goals for Liverpool this season.
He's playing in different roles for club and country. He’s taking on a new role at this stage in his career and he deserves credit for that.
Name one player that you’ve expected more from/ been disappointed with?
Eddie Nketiah at Arsenal has been disappointing this season. I think he’s got something about him, I really do. He is a young Ian Wright that is ready to burst onto the scene but, again, we’ve spoken about how players can be affected by criticism.
He would have heard all the noises from the Arsenal fans talking about needing something special up front. He will be aware of the rumours and the stories that keep being published about the club signing a striker in January.
For me, he is a natural goal scorer. When you don’t get you goals, it can have an effect on your confidence, which I think has happened. He is still a very young lad, but I think he is a natural talent, and he will come good for Arsenal.
Similarly, to the criticism that Trent faced, Nketiah is probably in the same place as Trent was last year. If you’re talented and you have the right desire and the right people around you, telling you the right things, then you come back.
At the moment he is going through a lull. He’s in a good place at Arsenal, learning from Arteta and he can watch Jesus and learn more about becoming a complete centre forward and hold-up play. I know that he’s got the goal-scoring ability, but maybe he needs to tighten up his all-round game.
Arteta will beed to nurture Nketiah
Which summer signing do you think is having the biggest impact at their new club?
James Maddison has had the biggest impact on his new club so far this season. He epitomises what Ange Postecoglou wants from his attacking players. I think he has joined Tottenham at a very good time for him as a player and for the club as well.
Tottenham have had a dull four years in terms of the brand of football the club has been playing. If Maddison joined the club under Mourinho or Conte, I don’t think he would have had anything like the impact that he’s had so far this season. Don’t get me wrong, he would have been playing with Harry Kane, so he would have done alright, but his role would have been very different because of the football that both of those managers played.
With Ange, Maddison has a licence to create, and he operates in the top areas of the pitch where he is most effective. He has the freedom to move around the park and I think he has been absolutely fantastic since he joined the club. Ange is definitely the type of manager that will get the best out of a player like Maddison.
The race for the title looks like it could involve quite a few teams. Do you expect that to be the case for the remainder of the season and who do you think are the teams that are likely to last the distance?
I think there will be a few teams involved for the battle to become Premier League champions right until the end of the season. Manchester City aren’t going to run away with it this season based on the evidence of the first sixteen games.
I fully expect Arsenal to be up there. By all accounts they played very well at the weekend but didn’t win, which is the perfect result for me. Liverpool are up there now and, after having a little bit of a poor season last year, they now look strong and determined. They look like they are coming back to their best.
Then you have Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham that are pushing in behind them and looking to qualify for the Champions League. All of the teams in the top seven will take points off each other throughout the season.
Which team do you think is playing the best football at the moment?
Liverpool. Simply because they are sat at the top of the table.
On English Strikers
There are a number of players that will be hoping to impress Gareth Southgate to get into his European Championship squad. Who are the English strikers you think are in with a chance and who would you pick as Harry Kane’s deputies?
I really like Ivan Toney. He is a centre forward player that can lead the line brilliantly. He’s at a stage of his career where he knows his game inside and out. If he can come back from his ban and start banging the goals in, then he has to be in the conversation.
I like Ollie Watkins at Villa too. He always looks dangerous and is scoring goals for fun at the moment. He is a little bit younger than Toney, but he is in a similar position in terms of understanding his game and what he can and can’t do. He’s playing in a team that are playing to his strengths. He is looking very goodat the moment, and I would say that he is in the prime position to be Harry Kane’s understudy at the European Championships.
On Spurs vs Newcastle
Tottenham put a run of five without a win behind them with an emphatic victory over Newcastle. What did you notice about this Tottenham performance?
First and foremost, I wanted to see how Tottenham would start the game. This season, Tottenham have started every game really well; even the games that the club lost.
Losses can affect your confidence sometimes, but Tottenham took the game straight to the opposition and went after Newcastle immediately. It looked like the team’s confidence hadn’t been affected by the recent run of games without a win, which was very pleasing.
The game could have gone either way if Newcastle took their early chance, but that’s football. I feel like Tottenham fully deserved the result in the end.
Who caught your eye in the victory against Newcastle?
Kulusevski caught my eye. He showed real desire and strength. He is becoming quite a leader for the team.
Ben Davies was very goodagainst Newcastle.
Son is always roaming and causes defences problems. If I had to pick one player that really made the difference, then it would be Kulusevski.
On Kulusevki
He likes running at defenders and taking them on. Heappears to be all left foot, but he can use his right if you allow him to. I like him in the wide areas, but he can play in the number ten role. He has goals in his game, and I think he is a valuable asset to the Tottenham squad.
He’s a young lad. Sometimes, you don’t always get the consistency with younger players and players that arrive from Serie A. I think his performances have been really consistent this season that he has shown a level of maturity.
On Richarlison
Goals change people’s opinions of you as a player. I thought Richarlison played OK against Newcastle, but when you score a brace, people will say that you had a great game.That’s the life of a professional footballer.
Richarlison needs to start scoring goals for Tottenham consistently. He can’t get too carried away with himself after these goals. He needs to keep a level head on his shoulders and realise that he needs to do a job every single time he puts on a Tottenham shirt regardless of if he puts the ball in the back of the net.
His performances can improve – he can still get better. Today Richarlison is the hero because he scored two goals. I love that.
Richarlison needs consistency
On Cristian Romero
Romero was very lucky to stay on the pitch against Newcastle. There were two challenges in the game; one he could have got booked for earlier on and then the one on Wilson where he did get booked. He could have quite easily gone. He can’t keep taking these risks. He will have to change his game.
As a player, you learn what you can and can’t do on a football pitch. He needs to realise that he can’t fly into tackles hard at every opportunity, especially in this day and age. You’ve got to bide your time.
He’s twenty-five-years-old. He still has time to learn. Hopefully he doesn’t get caught out too many more times and get sent off for Tottenham this season.
The Ange impact and objectives
I am absolutely delighted for the Tottenham fans with the way that Ange Postecoglou has came into the club. He has changed the whole ethos of what Tottenham do on the football pitch.
He has given Tottenham fans what they want to see in terms of the way the club plays football;football played in the opponents half, on the front foot with confidence. His team is playing with a lot of enthusiasm, passion, and desire. I absolutely love everything about Ange’s tactical philosophy and the way that he has got his players playing. They are knocking the ball about beautifully at the moment, creating lots of opportunities and scoring goals.
At the same time, the way Tottenham defended against Chelsea was absolutely kamikaze. I can’t explain how I was feeling watching that game; there was no real technical demonstration of the team’s defensive abilities. There were no signs of Ange setting up a team to stop the opponent from playing. It was naughty viewing! That’s all I can say. I don’t think Tottenham should go into matches and try and play that kamikaze defensive style again.
For what Ange Postecoglou has given Tottenham and the Tottenham fans since the start of the season, I can forgive him for that defensive display. I just hope that he learns not to do that again.
Sheringham admires Ange impact
Ange’s commitment to playing attacking football and targets for a great season
I love Ange’s football. I can’t be any more optimistic or pleased with what Ange has given the fans after a four or five-year period. I’m absolutely delighted that the fans are getting up off their seats when they go and watch Tottenham Hotspur. I’m excited for everyone associated with the club and can’t speak more highly of what Ange has done since the start of the season.
The future looks bright under Ange. He has Romero back now, Van de Ven will be back in the New Year and both of those players give you defensive stability.
A great season would see Tottenham get into a Champions League spot and win the FA Cup. That would be a great season. You can’t ask for more than that. Winning the FA Cup on its own would be a great season, but the club will be looking at the financial rewardsqualifying for the Champions League brings, which allows you to bring in better players.
I don’t think it would be realistic for people to expect Tottenham to win the league this season. They’ve lost some key players this season that has taken its toll on the team’s results recently. You can’t carry on without your best players and expect to be up at the top of the league and challenging at the end of the season. I don’t think the squad is big enough or good enough to challenge for the title this season.
Squad depth
For Tottenham to keep moving in the right direction and to give the club the best possible chance of qualifying for the Champions League, they need more quality. Without a doubt.
I really like players like Udogie and Bissouma; players that have been very good this season.
Everyone is talking about Arsenal getting Ivan Toney in January. He seems to be the only player in the centre forward position that might be available in the next window. I would love to see Tottenham nick him off of Brentford and get there before Arsenal do.
Toney has got something about him. He carries himself well and can take on the mantle of being the main man at a club. Everyone is suggesting that he could be the icing on the cake for Arsenal, but I think he could be a big, big player for Tottenham at this moment in time.
He could spearhead Tottenham’s attack. Sonny isn’t really a centre forward. He loves to run in behind, but he doesn’t play like a centre forward – you need a focal point in your team. You need that man that brings it all together. A player that can lead the line, stretch defences, hold the ball up and bring others into play. I see Ivan Toney as a player that is more than capable of doing that.
On Steve Cooper's Future
Will Forest get rid of Cooper?
I would be very surprised if Nottingham Forest got rid of Steve Cooper. The circumstances are a little bit different to last season when there were rumours and whispers about his future. The knives came out and everyone thought that Cooper were going to get the sack, but he recovered from that well.
It all depends on what the hierarchy wants to do and what their expectations are for the club this season. He was probably awarded that new contract with the ambition to make progress this season and improve the team’s fortunes. They have spent a lot of money on players over the last year and the owner would have expected the players that were signed to have improved after a season in the Premier League. Perhaps the owner feels that the level of progress discussed with Cooper (when he was awarded a new contract) isn’t happening on the pitch.
If the owners look at the league table, Forest are doing alright. They’re in a position where they have their destiny in their own hands. Forest aren’t pulling up any tress at the moment, but the Premier League is a tough division to get points in home or away. Everyone is capable of nicking pints off of each other.
On Manchester United
United's problems
For me, it’s easy to put my finger on what is happening at Manchester United at the moment. When you buy decent players, you get decent consistency. United are sixth in the league, which isn’t horrendous, but isn’t anything other than decent. That tells me that they’ve got decent players with decent attributes.
If you want to be the best, you need to sign the best. How United were not in for Declan Rice and Harry Kane at the start of the season is beyond me. Throughout my time as a player, and when I played for Man United, the club would always sign top players. Under Sir Alex, if a centre forward became available, he would go out and get that player.
Top players elevate you. They elevate the players around them and raise standards. Fergie would always bring in that type of player if he felt it would improve his team. These are the type of players that perform to a high standard every single week. These are the type of players that can drag a team over-the-line in a tight game. Declan Rice would have done that in midfield and Harry Kane would have done that upfront. Signings like that have a transformational effect on the entire football club.
Look at the players that United have bought over the years: Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie, Rooney. These are massive players that came into the club, led by example, and dragged players with them. Manchester United have not done that over the last few years. They have bought decent players, so they are in a decent position.
Manchester United will never be world-beaters of they keep buying decent players.
United need to buy world class players like Keane and Ferdinand
Ten Hag’s transfers
Listen, Manchester United signed Rasmus Højlund for £72m. He’s an unproven twenty-year-old who could turn into a good player in the future, but Harry Kane was available for only £30m more. If United had signed Kane, he would have taken the club to a totally different level. Manchester United should have broken the bank and signed him. The football club should have showed its determination and desire to be the best club in the country by signing the best possible players. They should have gone out and got the best. That didn’t happen and that is why Manchester United are in the position they are at the moment.
There are doubts about whether ten Hag is the man to take United back to the promised land
I don’t think that Manchester United are going to get more out of the team than what they’re getting already. As I mentioned, the club doesn’t have enough top, top players that drag everyone else along and raise standards.
Decent players coast along and are happy to be where they’re at. Manchester United have never been about that. When I think of Manchester United, I think of winning. When I was at the club, second was never good enough for the club and its fans. At the moment, Manchester United are hoping to finish fourth, which could be regarded as an OK achievement for a lot of people. That isn’t what Manchester United are all about or should ever be about. United are a club that is built on winning titles. The club needs to go forward and be the top dog.
Will Jim Ratcliffe allow United to sign the world’s best players
When you look at Manchester United’s ability to sign the world’s best players, then the club needs to take some responsibility for not having the correct recruitment structure in place and Erik ten Hag has to hold his hands up for making mistakes in the transfer market.
I think both offer a reason as to why recruitment at United hasn’t been good enough. Maybe ten Hag’s hands have been tied on a couple of deals and maybe some of the players that he has worked with before in Holland haven’t been able to adjust to the demands of the Premier League yet. It can take some getting used to.
Sheringham plays down Jim Ratcliffe impact
I’m not sure that Jim Ratcliffe is going to be able to have a transformative effect on the club and turn them into titlecontenders when he walks through the door.
He wants to put some money into the club, but I can’t see how he can transform the club if he isn’t the final decision-maker. I’m not so sure what will change at the club unless he goes into the building and says, “I want to buy four world-class players”.I’m not sure he is going to be able to do something like that or have that level of input. We really don’t know what is going to happen when he comes into Manchester United or how much influence he will be able to have with a twenty-five percent stake in the club.
A big week on the horizon
It wouldn’t have happened often under Sir Alex, but can you describe what it was like walking into Carrington after a disappointing result and how is the best way to refocus ahead of a massive game against Bayern?
Sir Alex wouldn’t have done anything drastic after a defeat, but he would have brought the players together and reminded them of the privilege it is to play for Manchester United and reminded them of their ability as football players. He would have told them that losing at home to Bournemouth is not good enough and he would have had a few one-on-one chats with some of the players to get a feel for what is going on.
Sir Alex was an excellent man-manager. For some players, he would put an arm around them, and he would come down hard on others, but he always understood the best way of motivating each individual.
He could always get the best out of his players. Ahead of the match against Bayern, which could be United’s biggest game of the season, he would have the players ready to go. If United lose the game, they are out of the Champions League completely. The message would be to take things one game at a time. Do not even think about the Liverpool game. Put everything into the Bayern game and remember what it means to be a Manchester United player and an inspiration to millions of people around the world.
ten Hag future uncertain
Uncertain future for ten Hag?
Nobody can predict the future. We don’t know how Erik ten Hag’s United career will be looking at the end of the week, there are a lot of big ifs and buts. After losing to Bournemouth 0-3, If United were to get walloped by three or four goals against Bayern and Liverpool that is not a good look for Manchester United.
If Manchester United go out of Europe in the mid-week, the players have a mountain to climb to lift themselves for a game against Liverpool who will not want to give them any favours at Anfield. That will be a cauldron. Liverpool will have a desire to kick United even further towards the gutter. It’s imperative that United go into the Liverpool game off the back of some sort of result against Bayern Munich.
Manchester United in the Champions League
When you look at Bayern, with Kane banging in the goals, is there a sense of regret that he isn’t wearing a United shirt? Is it a case of this is what you could have won with Manchester United and Kane?
Harry’s scoring goals but I think he would score goals in any team. Bayern aren’ttop of the league at the moment, we don’t know if they will finish the season as champions of Germany. Only time will tell if he’s made the right decision in terms of choosing a move to Bayern over a move to Manchester United. At the moment, United shouldn’t be thinking about what could have been if Harry Kane had joined them; they need to focus on getting the best out of the players that they have at their disposal. They need to get these decent players playing at a higher level than they currently are.
If Harry scores a couple of goals and puts them out, then people will be talking about what might have been.
On West Ham United
David Moyes mentioned fatigue – he keeps talking about it. Does Moyes need to use his squad more?I thought it was quite interesting that Tony Gale suggested that the more Moyes mentions his players workload, the more his players will believe it. Do you think that’s true?
I completely agree with Galey (Tony Gale) on this. I think David Moyes is doing a brilliant job at West Ham – OK, they had a poor result against Fulham at the weekend – but if your leader starts saying that his players are tired, then I think the players will start to believe that they are tired and that will only plant negative vibes in the players minds.
I would veer away from those type of statements and start telling people the opposite: “we’re professional footballers who are ready and raring to go”.
Recently, West Ham have been using Jarrod Bowen in the strikers role rather than on the wing. Do you like him in this position?
I like Bowen as a forward player, but I don’t think that he is a number nine. I don’t think he holds the ball up well enough to be a nine. If it was twenty years ago, then maybe he would work really well alongside a different player up front – I think he could play in a two-man attack well. The centre forward role is a very difficult position to play these days, especially when you’re on your own.
You have to be exceptional at multiple things, running in behind, leading the line, hold-up and link play. I don’t think that Bowen is exceptional at any one thing, but I think he is a very good player at doing a lot of things. That can bring inconsistent performances if you’re playing in the centre forward role. I do really like him as a forward player. I think he offers West Ham a lot.
West Ham in Europe
First and foremost, it’sreally tough to go from European football to Premier League football in the same week and to manage the ups and downs that come with playing in Europe.
Player’s build themselves up for European games. It’s only natural that players want to play in Europe as it’s a new experience for some of them, and players will always want to play in the top games against Chelsea, Tottenham or Liverpool.
It’s the games against the smaller clubs you have to get up for. The games against the likes of Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace; the games that West Ham are expected to win.
The desire with the way the football club is being run, is top. David Moyes has played a big role in that. The football wasn’t great last year, but they are still getting performances that get them across the line. West Ham are moving in the right direction and the club is getting bigger each season because its competing in Europe.
They are in the Europa League this season after winning the Europa Conference League. The level has increased. The challenge would be to go as far as they can in that and to build their reputation. The better West Ham can do in the Europa League, the more money will come into the club. They can then invest that money to sign better players and their level keeps going up. That’s what you have to do if you want to be successful in football.
The result against Fulham was a blip. That is going to happen over the course of a season.
