John Terry’s dramatic revelation about his Chelsea career may not be the final word, Rémi Garde was probably right to focus on the league and Wayne Rooney continues to draw inspiration from Bobby Charlton
1) Terry’s dramatic revelation may not be the final word
There was a whiff of political manoeuvring to John Terry’s post-match announcement that Chelsea had opted against offering him new terms for the summer. It was the way in which the captain laboured his point, while also suggesting the hierarchy had “said that, when the new manager comes in, things might change but it’s a ‘no’ at the minute.”. There, unmistakeably, was his get-out should this tale take another twist. At present, anything feels possible. Maybe an offer is on the table, most likely from the Chinese Super League who appear so intent upon plundering the Premier League this winter, which Terry hopes Chelsea will come close to matching. Perhaps, now he has entered the final six months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and is permitted to negotiate a summer Bosman move to a foreign club, this is all a lavish game to coax a reaction from the club where he has spent the last 18 years as a professional. Certainly the timing felt rather odd. That Chelsea were compelled to issue their own statement late on Sunday night suggested they too had been taken by surprise by the centre-back’s outburst, with damage limitation underway given the reception that might await at Watford on Wednesday night. By the end of Sunday that instinctive reading of Terry’s comments – all anguished regret and resignation that his time at this club is drawing to a close – did not seem quite so clear-cut. Doubt is already creeping in – a parting of the ways may not be inevitable – fuelled by hints a new manager might want a say on whether a player with 700 career club games to his name should be discarded. The key now is the speed with which either party makes their next move: does Terry sign elsewhere, do the club stick or twist?
2) Arsenal’s repeat against Hull City equals relief
Arsène Wenger had simply offered up a prayer with regard to the FA Cup draw in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Burnley. The Arsenal manager was well aware that after the fifth-round weekend his team play Barcelona on Tuesday, 23 February, in the Champions League last 16, first leg. His prayers were answered when his club pulled the Championship leaders, Hull City, at home. It will be the third season in succession Arsenal have faced Hull and they have won each of the previous meetings – most famously, the 2014 final, which was an extra-time thriller. It did, though, raise the general question about Arsenal’s ability to fight on three fronts and Wenger, who is now without only three players – Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla – was bullish. “If we can keep everybody fit, we can do it,” he said. “Against Burnley, I rested Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Walcott, Özil, Mertesacker of course [who was suspended]. Barcelona will play as well on the weekend before the tie.”
3) Garde was probably right to focus on the league
Many would say Aston Villa are down already and watching their listless display against Manchester City students of body language would find it hard to disagree. Yet Rémi Garde admitted afterwards he had made a few changes with the next couple of league games in mind, and looking at the fixture list it is not difficult to see why. Villa’s fate could be determined this week. They have a home game against West Ham on Tuesday and a visit to Norwich at the weekend. They need to win both. If they do they can at least stay in touch with the other relegation candidates; if they don’t their crisis of confidence will continue into a difficult run of opponents that include Liverpool, Everton, Stoke, Manchester City and Tottenham. So, Villans, no pressure or anything but this is the week to get going. Points from anywhere else are likely to arrive too late.
4) Liverpool’s armband rotation allows Klopp to show faith
Liverpool’s goalless draw against West Ham was notable only for young players overshadowing more experienced team-mates, Darren Randolph’s commanding display in the visitors’ goal and more complaints from Jürgen Klopp about replays and the fixture list. It did, however, provide another example of the Liverpool manager’s belief that responsibility should be accepted throughout the squad as Joe Allen became the seventh player to captain the side during Klopp’s 26 matches in charge. Brendan Rodgers frequently bemoaned an absence of leadership in his team, often justifiably so, but – as with his trust in young players to handle Premier League opposition at home in the FA Cup – Klopp has given his players an opportunity to address that concern. For Allen, who is out of contract at the end of next season, the armband was a timely show of faith from his manager. In answer to the inevitable question Klopp’s other Liverpool captains have been Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Lucas Leiva, Kolo Touré, Christian Benteke and José Enrique.
5) Iturbe can learn from Howe history lesson
Juan Iturbe’s move from Roma to Bournemouth on loan was one of the more eye-catching deals of the transfer window. A £16m purchase from Verona in June 2014 the 22-year-old, who has played one friendly for Paraguay but has since declared his allegiance to his homeland Argentina, made a promising start in the Italian capital but quickly drifted to the fringes. Iturbe showed glimpses of his quality amidst the huff and puff of the victory against Portsmouth, particularly with a powerful shot that Ryan Fulton did brilliantly to tip on to the post in the first half, but his manager knows there is potentially plenty more to come. “The first half wasn’t something he was maybe used to. Juan’s talent is not in doubt, he’s an outstanding player. I still feel there’s an adjustment from our perspective to get the best out of him.” That’s not all Howe will do to make him feel at home. Bournemouth’s captain, Tommy Elphick, revealed new signings are given a club history lesson by the manager when they join. Since Howe has spent almost half of his life at the club, Iturbe would do well to listen.
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