Rather than a usual ‘top five’ dipping our toes into nostalgic waters, let’s keep things a little more up to date and see which Premier Leagye managers have cause for reflection.
Who’d be a manager? The week just gone has seen more than a few under the cosh after things didn’t go as expected. Being in charge isn’t just a case of loading up Football Manager but, if anything, the last few days have really highlighted this. So rather than a usual ‘top five’ dipping our toes into nostalgic waters, let’s keep things a little more up to date and see who has cause for reflection.
5 - Jurgen Klopp
The Liverpool manager has the horrific situation surrounding the kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s father to deal with. Certainly not anything to be made light of although he must have been relieved to have the player declare himself available for selection once more. It was no bad thing either, with the trip to Luton Town a new experience for just about everybody at Liverpool.
We all love the fact that Kenilworth Road is a Premier League stadium, given it is a world apart from just about every other ground in the top flight. The discomfort for all visitors clear to see, with Klopp talking prior to kick-off about how half his team would need to get changed in the hotel. On a personal note, it makes me wonder how Griffin Park would have fared had Brentford secured promotion from the Championship a few seasons earlier. Alas, two bites at the play-offs saw The Bees fall short (plus ça change) and that scenario was averted.
We digress. With The Hatters expected by just about every pundit to be the divisional whipping boys, they have already confounded the critics with their refusal to roll over and lose every game. Instead picking up five points from their opening 10 fixtures – including the win up at Everton.
Really, it should have been 8 from 11. Forget that nonsense about, “We’d have taken a point up front if offered it”. The feeling of coming oh so close was hanging heavy in the air. Klopp had no answer to Rob Thomas’s tactics or Luton’s ability. When Tahith Chong gave them the lead with 80 minutes gone, it seemed as if the story of football was about to have another paragraph added to the chapter entitled ‘biggest shocks ever’.
Alas not. There was Diaz in the final minute of time added on to break hearts and save Klopp’s blushes. Not that I imagine he’d have had anything bad to say. He’s just too sporting.
4 - Jack Wilshire
Presumably, we’ve all heard the story of the Arsenal Under 18 team? Their manager Jack Wilshire – still only 31 (oh, I feel so old) – would have been fuming after his team’s game at Brighton on Saturday was cancelled.
Not due to injury or inclement weather but because the coach driver picked the wrong South Coast city and turned up at Bournemouth by mistake. There was no time left to make the near 97-mile detour back to the correct venue and so the fixture was called off.
3 - Mikel Arteta
The first XI didn’t have much luck, either. Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United was the catalyst for an incensed rant from manager Mikel Arteta about VAR in which he used the word ‘disgrace’ more times than his side had shots on target.
His post-match interview saw him lose it to almost Kevin Keegan levels:
“I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable…We didn’t deserve to lose the match. We lose the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. A disgrace. That’s what it is – a disgrace.
“It’s embarrassing what happened – how this goal stands, in the Premier League – this league we say is the best in the world. I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It’s a disgrace and there’s too much at stake here. We are trying to do incredible things and be at the highest level each week”.
We’ve all been there, Mikel.
2 - Ange Postecoglou
Perhaps even worse fare was experienced at Tottenham on Monday night? The dream start experienced by Ange Postecoglou came crashing down in some style. Spurs going as Spursy as only Spurs can.
Their 4-1 trashing by Chelsea one where the final scoreline only tells half the story. Five goals ruled out by VAR. Sendings off for Romero and Udogie (both of whom had already dodged the red bullet, somehow) reducing Spurs to nine men. That’s before you get to the long term injuries suffered by both James Maddison and Micky Van de Ven before half-time.
At one point, with no substitutions remaining, it even looked like goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario – whose heroics had kept Spurs alive whilst they continued to play their high-line football rather than sit on the ball – may not be able to continue.
It would have left them down to eight players and with an outfield player in goal. Thankfully, the ‘keeper was able to continue but was powerless to see off the ultimate humiliation – losing to Chelsea. A fate made worse by the return of Poch to Tottenham
1 -Erik ten Hag
‘Your Theatre Of Nightmares’ proclaimed the vast banner that stretched across the Parken Stadium’s home end last night. Manchester United left under no illusions as to the raucous atmosphere and desire they would face when playing FC Copenhagen in a Champions League Group A match.
Whilst it may not quite have been on 1993’s ‘Welcome to Hell’ levels of ferocity they faced at Istanbul airport back in 1993 ahead of the game in Galatasaray, the effect was much the same.
A 4-3 defeat saw Marcus Rashford sent off and the Red Devils pegged back to all square after heading into first-half time added on with a 2-0 lead. They went back ahead before finally succumbing to Roony Bardghji’s 87th-minute winner.
Qualification for the knockout stages is now very much hanging in the balance with United bottom of their group and facing the prospect of another game in Istanbul next time out. You can be sure their Turkish hosts will scent blood in the water and look to make it as difficult as possible. This is followed by the small matter of a visit from Bayern Munich in their final game.
Nobody said it was easy but Erik ten Hag must wonder whose black cat has crossed his path, such is the way his season is panning out. At this rate, a Premier League visit from Luton Town this Saturday is probably the last thing he fancies. Enjoy…..
