Arne Slot’s Liverpool, Eddie Howe’s three years at Newcastle United, Kai Havertz, Cole Palmer, VAR, Darwin Nunez, Lewis Hall, Premier League tough guys, ACL injuries…
The variety of questions posed by subscribers to The Athletic during our question-and-answer sessions never ceases to amaze and our latest instalment was no different. I tried to answer as many as I could but, wow, the time went by in a flash!
Thanks to everybody who participated or contributed or who is reading now. It was an intense hour or so where I tried to balance being as speedy as possible with being as insightful as I could — a decent challenge for both my brain and my fingers. We’ve edited things here to either make more sense or add a bit of context. Thanks again and see you next time!
Cheers, Alan.
Matthew J asked: Do you think the praise for Arne Slot is over the top? He’s taken over a team of leaders and winners that pretty much runs itself.
On the contrary, I think Slot has done brilliantly. Yes, Liverpool are a well-oiled machine with some very good players, but he’s added to it, he’s made them tougher defensively and they’ve only lost one game. That doesn’t feel like a case of too much hype.
Sometimes, new managers give their teams a bounce, but there have been enough occasions when influential long-term figures have gone and things have fallen apart. Intensity or identity can dip. That’s certainly something Liverpool would have been desperate to avoid when Jurgen Klopp left.
I was lucky enough to be at Anfield doing co-commentary for the Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen, and the German team were blown away in the second half.
Slot has implemented a few interesting tweaks. You’re not seeing Trent Alexander-Arnold going into midfield as much as he used to and he’s defending better as a consequence.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are excellent centre-halves; if either of them suffered an injury, then I might be worried.
In midfield, Liverpool have Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch — in other words, they have really good options. They have depth up front, and they’re without one of their best players in Alisson at the moment. So they’re really strong.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Charlotte R asked: It’s Eddie Howe’s third anniversary at the helm of Newcastle United. What do you think his biggest achievement has been and how would you rank him against modern Newcastle managers?
Eddie’s biggest achievement was to keep Newcastle in the league in his first season in charge. There have been some huge highs, like getting to a League Cup final and playing in the Champions League, but those things couldn’t have happened without securing safety from relegation. Going down would have been disastrous. It looked pretty nailed on when he was appointed.
How would I rank him? He’s given us great football, great entertainment, he’s engaged with fans and he’s reminded us what Newcastle can be. I’d put him up there with the very best of our managers — Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson — and he’d be at the very top of the list if he was to deliver us a trophy.
I think we’ve got a very good chance of finally doing it this season. We’ve got a home draw in the Carabao Cup quarter-final and if we could have handpicked any of the Premier League teams left in the competition, it probably would have been Brentford. There’s no reason we can’t go back to Wembley.
I’m a huge, huge fan of what Eddie has already achieved. I don’t think you can be anything else.
Gerard G asked: Which up-and-coming striker do you rate highly?
I don’t class Cole Palmer as a striker; he’s a modern, versatile forward — but I love him as a player and this is my excuse to write about him! His rise from where he was at Manchester City to where he is now is extraordinary.
(David Rogers/Getty Images)
He’s phenomenal at everything, particularly scoring goals, but one of his biggest attributes is not being fazed by anything; he looks like he’s playing in the park with his pals. You’d never know he was operating under any sort of pressure.
Chelsea wouldn’t be anywhere near as good as they are without him in the team. He dictates everything. His passing ability, his willingness to take the ball in tight areas, his finishing…
He has all the hallmarks of being a top-class player for years to come.
Dominic J asked: If you were Newcastle manager, who would you realistically be targeting in January to improve the first XI and why?
I would definitely be targeting a centre-forward, a right-sided forward and probably a centre-half. Those are the three priority positions.
I’m biased, but those forward roles feel like the most important where there is little cover for Alexander Isak.
Who exactly? It depends on how much Newcastle can spend. There’s Viktor Gyokeres smashing goals in left, right and centre at Sporting Lisbon. Manchester United have appointed Ruben Amorim, but he says he won’t be signing players from his former club in January. You have to target the best — and he is the best option at the moment.
Jimothy J asked: Darwin Nunez has only scored two goals in all competitions this season, but his performances have earned plaudits with his work rate and contributions off the ball. What do you make of his season so far?
Chris F asked: What would you do to help Darwin Nunez go up a level?
The one obvious, glaring thing: his finishing should be a lot better. He gets into so many good positions, his running ability is excellent, but when he has time to think, it doesn’t quite work for him. When it’s instant and instinctive, it does. He scored two great goals late on against Newcastle last season, so it’s in there, but it isn’t reliable or consistent.
There’s only one way to change that, and that’s practice, practice and practice. I would have him doing every finishing drill going every day so it becomes natural. I did it. As a kid, the best bit of advice I was given was from Jack Hixon, the scout who discovered me. There would always be better players than me, and he said: “So make sure you work harder than any of them.”
Klopp was more rock ’n’ roll, I guess. The new tune is quieter, but when they go for you as they did during the second half against Brighton and Leverkusen, they go for you properly. Nunez does that exceptionally well but, as a forward, it’s vital that you chip in with goals. His finishing is still very erratic.
(Andrew Powell/Getty Images)
Will B asked: Who do you rate as the Premier League’s biggest hard man?
I’m not sure you can be a tough guy in the Premier League anymore! The game has changed from when I was playing and it’s probably changed for the better. Some of the things they — and I — got away with… Well, it was a different time.
Patrick Vieira was as tough as they come, ditto Roy Keane. But it was the Arsenal back line who always stood out for me. Martin Keown, Tony Adams… I’ve still got the scars, a twice-broken nose, popped lips and more! I also gave as good as I got. That was my game; to survive, you had to look after yourself. I loved that physical element.
Logan K asked: Do you think Kai Havertz can continue to develop as a centre-forward at Arsenal?
I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from Havertz this season. In terms of being a traditional centre-forward, see Cole Palmer above. Those things aren’t natural to him, but in terms of leading the line and bringing people into the game, he’s doing it and done it as well as he could, even if it has been a difficult few games for Arsenal.
I haven’t changed my view since last season. They’ve got Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus, but I’d still say they need an out-and-out centre-forward. They needed one in the summer. They still do now.
Andrew B asked: Which current Premier League managers would you have most enjoyed playing for and why?
Pep Guardiola. With the team Manchester City have, I’d feel very confident of scoring 40+ goals per season.
I’d have loved to play at Liverpool under Klopp and the same applies now to Slot. My reasoning isn’t rocket science: the best teams tend to create the most chances and they would give me the best opportunities to score goals, like I did at Blackburn Rovers and then again in my early years at Newcastle.
I have to say Eddie Howe as well — and not just because Newcastle are my team. The intensity and aggression of his side are right up my street, particularly when it’s coupled with the kind of cross Anthony Gordon put in for Alexander Isak against Arsenal. I’d be screaming at him – literally, screaming – to fire those in every week, whether he’s doing it from the left or the right.
That was one of the best crosses I’ve seen in a long time. It’s about time they came back into fashion.
(Harriet Massey/Getty Images)
Tommy T asked: Do you think Gary O’Neil should be replaced at Wolves?
Cliche alert: it’s a results business and the results are not there. If you look at the bigger picture then Wolves have had really tough fixtures, but the next month is crucial time. If results don’t change, then you’re in the dodgy territory of pushing your luck.
From what I’ve seen of Wolves, they’ve got enough to stay up. They’re definitely in a relegation battle but they are capable of being better than three other sides. But they — and the manager – need wins now.
Michael K asked: How difficult is returning from an ACL injury?
This is something that Manchester City’s Rodri and Sven Botman at Newcastle are facing right now. The good news: I wasn’t changed by it. I did my ACL at a young age and I didn’t feel as though anything was hugely different after coming back. I felt just as quick, sharp and sprightly and my numbers didn’t change — in fact, they got better.
Naturally, until I got back playing, there was a nagging doubt, but that vanished pretty quickly. I still felt as though I was as quick as anybody else around.
My second serious long-term injury came in 1997 when I damaged my ankle. That was more painful and I definitely felt as though I’d lost half a yard when I eventually came back. I hadn’t lost my hunger or instinct for goals, but the same pace wasn’t there. I put that down to a culmination of injuries and my increasing age. It comes to everybody!
SC asked: What’s your assessment of Rasmus Hojlund? On paper, he has all the tools to be a top-class forward, but I feel he flatters to deceive a bit.
There’s no doubt that Ruben Amorim will want to bring a centre-forward in, because that’s one of the positions Manchester United most need to strengthen, but I like Hojlund and what’s happened to him during his brief time at Old Trafford has been unfair in my opinion.
That £72million ($93.5m) fee was huge, the pressure was huge and he wasn’t ready to lead the line on a regular basis. He should have been in and out, learning and developing, rather than becoming the first choice for such a huge club straight away. He’s had to play far more than he should have done, but he’s really promising. I like a lot of what I see.
(James Gill/Getty Images)
Josh D asked: As an American who has fallen in love with the Premier League, what’s one thing about the game that’s truly hard to understand without visiting or living in the UK?
The passion of the fans in person. When you go to the iconic stadiums — Anfield, St James’ Park, all of these grounds — that’s when you truly understand the passion and love.
Playing in those environments made me feel 10 feet tall. I wish I could bottle that feeling and take it wherever I go. The confidence and belief it gives you is incredible. I was on such a high. The roar is staggering. I suppose it must feel the same if you’re a rock or pop star, singing in front of thousands of people and when you feel like you have the crowd in the palm of your hand.
I travel to the USA on a regular basis with the Premier League and I get to see the following clubs have over there. It’s brilliant and growing all the time. I know that you have to get up at stupid o’clock to watch a lot of the games!
I hope you get to see the Premier League in person (over here) soon, Josh!
Dave A asked: Harry Kane trails your Premier League record goal-scoring mark by 47. How long before you think he returns to take a crack at it?
Harry’s numbers are off the charts. Because of technology, sports science, pitches, modern boots, players are carrying on for longer now. I think at some stage he will come back to the Premier League. When that is, I don’t know. I hope it’s a while, for obvious reasons! Keep enjoying the beer and the bratwurst, Harry!
Only he knows how his body feels, but at the minute there’s no obvious slowing down, so he’s got a few years left. My record will be broken one day. I love having it, but one thing I should point out (before Gary Lineker does it for me): football and goals existed before the Premier League!
(Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Chris W asked: What are your thoughts about Newcastle’s Lewis Hall getting an England call-up?
He definitely deserves it. It’s been coming. In fact, he’s not only been knocking on the door, he’s been banging on it and it’s not as England have many recognised left-backs. Hall’s performance against Arsenal last weekend will have gone a long way in terms of getting him into the squad — he was magnificent against Bukayo Saka, one of the Premier League’s best players. He came out on top.
It was tough for him last season at Newcastle — he’s had to be patient, he’s had to stick at it and familiarise himself with Eddie Howe’s particular demands. That is a compliment in itself because when it’s going against you, you have to dig deep, stick to your beliefs and work hard.
Clearly he has done that and this season he’s been magnificent. He’s fit, he’s good one-vs-one and at attacking, and he’s tough to go past. With Tino Livramento on the other side, Newcastle have a pair of excellent, young English full-backs.
Matthew C asked: Do you think the VAR process is working better this season, and if not, what still needs to improve?
No. Some of the decisions are still taking far too long and we make it very difficult for our officials with some of the laws — handball in particular. Whether VAR is here or not, it’s always going to be subjective.
I’m hopeful that semi-automated offsides should help speed things up. VAR can be massively improved, primarily through the standard of refereeing and the quality of decisions that are being made, although communication has definitely been better under Howard Webb.
Inside grounds, it drives me mad. The paying public is still the last ones to know. I hope that changes, too.
Jack D asked: What do Newcastle need to do to get Sandro Tonali in the starting XI?
From what we’ve seen so far, Tonali is best suited to playing in the middle of a three, where he can pull the strings. The same applies to Bruno Guimaraes and I don’t think Newcastle have been at their best when both of them have been in the team. The balance of Bruno or Tonali, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock works best, because of Willock’s pace, energy and ability to get up and down. With Willock and Joelinton on the left, that side is very strong.
I would keep that formation because it worked superbly well in the Carabao Cup against Chelsea, when Tonali started, and then against Arsenal, when it was Bruno’s turn. They’re both very good players, but they’re very similar and both want to get on the ball in the middle of the park.
I would pick the same midfield at Nottingham Forest this weekend and I suspect that’s what the manager will do.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
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