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A composite picture of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Picture by Carl Recine/Getty Pictures, Alex Pantling/Getty Pictures and Aston Villa official X account
In his unique column for CaughtOffside, former Aston Villa attacker Stan Collymore discusses a few of soccer’s greatest speaking factors, together with whether or not Marcus Rashford will probably be a hit at Villa, why Man United are missing true leaders, why Arsenal must cease their infantile antics and extra.
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Marcus Rashford is an enormous punt by Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford holding an Aston Villa shirt with Monchi. Picture credit score: Official Aston Villa X account
On the Celtic recreation final week Villa had been cruising and had been very, superb, after which two targets had been conceded in a short time. The participant that the membership needed – a defender – was lastly landed; Axel Disasi from Chelsea.
It’s attackers that at all times seize the creativeness, nonetheless, and from a fan’s perspective, I feel to myself, with Asensio doubtlessly on the proper of a 3, Ollie Watkins down the centre and Marcus Rashford coming in from the left, that’s a really persuasive entrance three.
Then you will get actually caught up in a variety of the web stuff the place influencers are getting very excited, however soccer isn’t performed on paper, and there are query marks over each Ascensio and Rashford, let’s be completely sincere.
If each gamers had been taking part in anyplace close to their high type, they might be at Manchester United and PSG, respectively. So I feel that you must put that into some type of context.
From a fan’s perspective I’m excited and hoping to see the very best of them at Villa for nonetheless lengthy they’re there. From a pundits perspective, I feel that Rashford is an enormous punt.
He hasn’t regarded as if he’s loved his soccer and it’s going to take him three or 4 weeks I’d think about to stand up to hurry earlier than he’s bought to hit the bottom operating. Do I consider he’ll do this? I don’t know. I feel the jury is massively out and he’s been so hit or miss for such a very long time.
At Villa he’ll perhaps chill out just a little bit if he feels that he’s taking a step down, as mentally that always occurs with gamers which have performed for the likes of Man United and Liverpool, however in fact the information media will nonetheless control him to see how he’s doing.
Underneath Unai Emery there’s a supervisor there that can make the additional effort to place an arm round him and to seek out out if there are any points and issues, and to make him safe. Villa followers will give him an opportunity to succeed – they usually’ll need him to succeed.
Marcus ought to know and perceive that the expectation at Aston Villa Soccer Membership would be the similar as at Man United although. They need to compete. Interval.
So long as Marcus realises that and he’s open and he’s sincere if he has any points, he talks to the employees, he makes associates with the gamers and so forth., then I feel there’s a very good probability that we’ll see one thing from him. Do I feel that we’ll see peak Marcus Rashford for a protracted, extended interval at Aston Villa? I’m not so positive.
It’s all right down to him now.
Arsenal want to focus on profitable matches not daft celebrations
Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal celebrates scoring his crew’s third objective with teammates through the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester Metropolis FC at Emirates Stadium on February 02, 2025 in London, England. (Picture by Alex Pantling/Getty Pictures)
What I like about Arsenal is that they’re now just about profitable the video games in opposition to the large boys that they should, they usually’re handing over respectable performances. The draw back is that they chew too simply.
I feel that Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Haaland celebration is good – in case you’re taking a look at it by way of the lens of a few of the youthful Arsenal demographic – however in my view it’s that type of OTT behaviour and method about them that ensures the crew don’t come throughout as a ‘machine.’
They’re too pre-occupied with screaming in opposition gamers faces and the like, and I feel that optics are actually necessary.
Examine and distinction the noise out of the Emirates to what’s popping out of Liverpool by the use of instance. It’s not about celebrations. It’s not about winding up different managers or winding up different gamers. They’re simply getting on with enterprise.
It’s not irrelevant as a result of the basics of soccer by no means actually change; management, self-discipline, worry. Do groups worry taking part in Arsenal? No.
You will get scared of groups if you’re a participant. There have been groups after I performed, most notably the nice Manchester United groups, the place there was no nonsense and the infamy of Roy Keane ready for you within the tunnel. You thought ‘we’re in for a recreation, they’ve come to play.’
With Arsenal, there’s a variety of reactive stuff from from Mikel Arteta and his gamers that simply doesn’t should be there and that, for me, is the place Arsenal have nonetheless bought some development and bought some studying to do.
Simply get on with enterprise.
Lack of management is the main headache for Ruben Amorim
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United reacts through the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Crystal Palace FC at Outdated Trafford on February 02, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Picture by Carl Recine/Getty Pictures)
Ruben Amorim will probably be taking a look at everyone in his Man United squad and saying they’re all on the market. Who’s there that you could assure will play 38 video games and be a title winner? I don’t assume there are any.
As we’ve stated within the column beforehand, there are gamers which were scorching for 4 or 5 video games and Amad springs to thoughts, however there’s no one actually that has bought the consistency to undergo a complete season on the high degree.
I feel that captaincy and management is the main situation that Amorim must become familiar with.
Clearly Harry Maguire was purchased in as a frontrunner however he’s had off area points and plenty of accidents as effectively, so he hasn’t actually been the constant eight or 9 out of 10 chief that you just’d need.
I don’t assume Bruno Fernandes is captain materials both. I simply don’t. I take a look at him and assume if I’m in a dressing room with him I’m not going to hold on each phrase he says, and he isn’t going to enter the trenches in put in a shift.
I do know the lot of individuals might imagine that the times of a Roy Keane kind captain are lifeless however I simply don’t assume Bruno Fernandes’ performances, his means to steer and his means to persuade that further 5% out of gamers is confirmed.
I performed below Stuart Pearce at Nottingham Forest, a really completely different form of captain to the one I performed below at Liverpool; John Barnes. The previous led by instance – onerous tackles, onerous man, whereas the latter was extra collegiate and did extra speaking, so I do perceive the completely different captaincy roles.
Check out Liverpool now and go searching their squad. Mo Salah is a captain determine, though he’s a objective scorer. Virgil van Dijk is a captain determine. Andy Robertson, a captain determine. Even Trent Alexander Arnold’s been a captain determine, and others have grown into the into the function as effectively.
Manchester Metropolis have Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and now Haaland is turning into very vocal, and you may see that he has an affect within the dressing room.
I take a look at Manchester United and I simply consider a bunch of reasonably proficient gamers that in case you get the higher of them inside 20/25 minutes, there’s no one there that opponents could be actually petrified of – and that worry issue is exactly what Ruben Amorim wants.
Evan Ferguson is one to observe as West Ham are one of many switch window winners
Evan Ferguson arrives on the stadium previous to the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Metropolis Floor on February 01, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Picture by Dan Istitene/Getty Pictures)
Evan Ferguson is definitely one to observe. I like him as a participant and it’s going to be actually fascinating to see him again below Graham Potter’s wing. It’s additionally fascinating to see James Ward-Prowse going again to West Ham, as a result of everyone talks about his free kicks and corners however his longer vary passing can also be superb.
I wonder if Graham Potter, significantly on away days, might look to do what Nottingham Forest do very effectively, which is defend very deep and look to hit on the counter, and Ferguson will run like an quaint centre-forward into channels for Ward-Prowse to choose him out. That joined up pondering makes a variety of sense.
Disasi was a necessity for Aston Villa, while we’ve already talked about Asensio and Rashford. It’s going to be the toss of a coin. For those who get the proper facet of the coin and each work out, Aston Villa are solely ever going to be higher off for it.
Tel… wants should as a result of Tottenham are right down to the naked bones.
I do know that Wolves’ January acquisitions weren’t significantly horny signings, however the argument from a variety of Wolves followers is that there haven’t been sufficient incomings over latest switch home windows to freshen issues up. Likewise with Ipswich, they’ve introduced in gamers to provide the squad a elevate for an necessary second half of the season.
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For those who’re taking a look at a winner on paper, you couldn’t go a lot additional than Villa due to the names they’ve introduced in and the calibre of them. Then in fact there’s Jhon Duran going to Saudi. That’s simply an enormous waste of expertise, however he’s an enormous maverick determine.
That child will both go on and be the subsequent massive factor, or he’ll be taking part in for Orient in 4 or 5 years time.
For Man Metropolis, the likes of Marmoush and Gonzalez and so forth… you’re speaking correct cash, aren’t you?! And I feel that clearly indicators the top of Jack Grealish and he’ll transfer in the summertime.
I’m actually struggling to seek out out who’s going to take him thoughts you as a result of I simply don’t assume {that a} high six membership will check out him. What does he do now? Does he go previous anyone? Does he create possibilities? Does he rating targets? I hope I’m mistaken, however I simply can’t see it.
It’s not about what Metropolis have completed on this switch window both, it’s what they’re going to do within the subsequent two summer season home windows that different golf equipment have gotten to fret about.
