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Chaos in more than a few places

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The Independent’s football newsletter December 10, 2021 Reading the Game Written by Miguel Dela

The Independent’s football newsletter [View in browser]( [The Independent]( December 10, 2021 [The Independent]( Reading the Game Written by Miguel Delaney Chaos in more than a few places "Flexibility" required for football's fixture challenges As Europe faces winter surges, and Plan B takes hold in England, the game is going to have to come up with more plans for the fixture list. The Premier League has so far successfully evaded any major schedule disruptions since Project Restart, but what happened with [Tottenham Hotspur does serve a note of warning.]( It was encouraging that Uefa saw sense with the Europa Conference fixture against Rennes, and it seems that is likely to be the case for the fixture’s rearrangement. The governing body’s regulations state that group games usually need to be finished by 31 December, but with the French winter break starting on 22 December, that gives little space. The Independent has been told that Uefa will be “flexible” on the situation. There is also the reality they don’t want the precedent of games going unplayed or teams forfeiting. It is naturally seen as crucial to the integrity of the sport to actually get fixtures played. There is going to be a knock-on effect, with the Brighton and Hove Albion match already postponed, and the fixture against Leicester City - who have had their own Covid issues - looking certain to follow. [Leicester dropping into the Europa Conference themselves]( means a play-off game and another bit of time taken out of the calendar. There could be some busy weeks ahead. The Premier League clubs themselves have meanwhile been instructed to be much more vigilant on Covid again. It is going to change dynamics for players and fans.. Rudiger looks around, as Chelsea look fragile without him With [Antonio Rudiger]( considering what next, as reported by my colleague Tom Kershaw, many around Chelsea are saying just how strong his hand suddenly looks. Their defensive form has plummeted with the German out of the team. He really gets what Thomas Tuchel wants to do with that defence, and is key to how it works. Rudiger is also greatly attracted by Real Madrid. They might not be what they were, but it’s still Real Madrid. Most players want to experience them at some point in their careers. Rangnick thinks the kids are more than alright It was a genuinely lovely moment at Old Trafford as [Robbie Savage commentated on his son Charlie’s debut](, and there was also a landmark moment as [Zidane Iqbal](at the same time became the first British Asian to play for Manchester United. Those at the club don’t want to get overly excited, particularly in the case of Iqbal, since they want the lads to develop without extra pressure or burdens. There is naturally quiet confidence about both, though. Savage is seen as a highly technical holding midfielder. Iqbal has some exquisite talent. For a club that recently had real issues in midfield, United may soon have an abundance of options. The use of such players, and the very team against Young Boys, also had another effect. It displayed Ralf Rangnick’s deeper commitment to youth and bringing players through. Some have even said it is a few levels above Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who paid more lip service to United’s traditions, but never put out a team anything close to that for his own dead rubbers. It is in talent development where Rangnick really stands out, and has arguably most made his name. One of Leipzig's principles was never signing players above a certain age or after their second contract because it wasn't as conducive to high-pressing football. Young players are likely to get even more chances. Another questionable call from Everton? Given some of the decisions that [Marcel Brands wanted to make at Everton](, and what he was overruled on, it increasingly seems like the club should have listened to him rather than lose him. The former director of football didn’t want Carlo Ancelotti or Rafa Benitez, and was responsible for the signing of players like Lucas Digne, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Richarlison. While debate continues about the status of both those former Champions League winners in the modern game, it is fair to say they are now most respected for their histories rather than their current methods. They are not seen as part of the elite group. In other words, this points to the reality Brands had a more progressive view than most at the club. Then again, the view - or, rather, what Everton see themselves as - is the primary problem at Goodison Park. That has been what is holding them back. They don’t know the sort of club they want to be, beyond “big” or “a European club”. There’s no route to get there. Like so many modern clubs falling behind, they badly need to articulate and define a football philosophy and build everything towards that, so everything in the club is in unison. That really isn’t the case right now, as the very dismissal of Brands indicates. Football's great chance has so far raised eyebrows If last week saw Premier League officials undermine their own arguments against the fan-led review with references to “Maoism” and such, this week was the opposite. [Tracy Crouch MP was far from convincing when speaking to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee about her proposals](. A case in point was the answer to a question about Newcastle United. She gave the same answer she offered to me and Football London’s Alan Smith when we asked her about it over two weeks ago. Crouch said that she had not seen "all the details" of the takeover. You would think, in the time between the report’s release and an appearance like this, she might have familiarised herself? It is only one of the most pressing issues in the game and precisely what the review should have been covering. But then that’s also why any “details” would have been too late and the review remains so underwhelming. It’s frankly hard to understand why it got such gushing praise when it came out. Beyond some admittedly good measures, such as fan influence at board level, it was vague and superficial. It didn’t even mention state ownership once, which is frankly remarkable given the mandate the review had and what its scope was supposed to be. After the nature of the Super League challenge, football was given a free hit to produce a blueprint for what the game should ideally look like. It was instead nothing of the sort. Many might say the Premier League’s response illustrates the scale of the challenge to even get small measures through, but that’s part of the point. The frame of debate needs to be completely shifted. That’s what the Super League did. There was a chance to push it all right back. It feels like an opportunity and momentum have already been squandered. Top stories [Sentimentality the enemy for Steven Gerrard as Liverpool legend returns to Anfield]( [Brendan Rodgers unsure what the Europa Conference League is after Leicester loss]( Miguel's Dispatches The government’s Plan B has naturally changed things for journalists, too. The brief few weeks of in-person press conferences have already ended, with clubs going back to Zoom. It has prompted some debate about the practice within the media. Some people both inside and outside media feel press conferences are by now a waste of time, and the hours spent travelling to them - since they are usually in training grounds in the country side - are better used on other work. But, apart of what is actually said in press conferences, it is one of those things with different levels of value. For one, most managers will be more willing to open up and have better discussions if they get to know the journalists in person. Jose Mourinho may be widely criticised now, but he was still brilliant at just discussing pure football when you got him on the right day in a press conference. I still refer to a brilliant 15 minutes he gave us on how you face Leo Messi in 2015. Linked to that, there is a longer-term value in regularly going to a press conference. A journalist absorbs a lot by osmosis. You get to know the feel of a place, as well as to know a manager’s personality and deeper perspectives. It is also something that cuts to the core of journalism: there is simply nothing like going somewhere and speaking to people. That is the root of the job. Quote of the day “Faced with this ‘London fog’, the SRFC reserves the right to approach UEFA. This lack of fair play is all the more glaring as Tottenham had confirmed by email that the match would be held at the start of the afternoon before warning Rennes of their intention not to play just after their landing in London City.” Rennes put it on Tottenham Hotspur with some poetic phrasing, after the controversy over their postponed game. Reading the game quiz Since 1992, there have been 18 players who have played for current Premier League clubs and also scored Champions League hat-tricks for non-English team. As an example, Sebastian Haller is the latest, having played for West Ham United and also scored four for Ajax in a recent match against Sporting Lisbon. Name the other 17. The hat-tricks can have come either before or after their time in the Premier League. (Friday's answers: Arsenal (14), Lyon (12), PSG (10), Roma (9), Atletico Madrid (8), Valencia (7), Manchester City (7), Bayer Leverkusen (7), Schalke (6), Sevilla (5) Essential reading [How an old rule can bring a new solution to football’s competition crisis]( [Manchester United could see a different, better Mason Greenwood under Ralf Rangnick]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's football newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's football newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Football_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.

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