Jon Smith – CaughtOffside

Exclusive: Klopp the only worthwhile choice to take over from Southgate but Howe more likely

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:46:51 +0000

Gareth Southgate leaving the England job was the least surprising news post-Euro 2024.

Even if the Three Lions had triumphed in Berlin, there was little chance Southgate would continue as he would’ve bowed out at England’s greatest win since 1966.

The fact that his side were second best for the vast majority of the final against Spain made it a foregone conclusion that he would leave.

Regardless, he can look back on a job well done, if we place any sort of importance on the health and state of the national team.

Klopp unlikely to be new England boss

They were a shambles when Southgate took over and at least now England resemble one of European football’s elite nations.

If they could just get over the line…

Former agent, Jon Smith, believes there’s only one man for the job.

“My choice to replace Southgate would be Klopp, absolutely. He’s out of a job – not that he needs one – but my only concern is that it’s a bit too soon and he probably needs a year out to spend some time with his family,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“[…] I think the FA will actually end up going for a Potter or an Eddie Howe, because it’s an easy and a justifiable appointment.

Eddie Howe or Graham Potter are more likely to take over from Gareth Southgate

“England are in a pretty decent place, but they need excitement.

“Gareth obviously did a good job over the years tactically, but we need a manager that brings high energy, younger, more evolved tactics, and somebody like Klopp would be phenomenal. I’d move heaven and earth to get him.

“Maybe there could be an interim coach before him and that would be revolutionary.”

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If there’s one thing that the English Football Association have never been, it’s revolutionary.

They had the chance to be that way back when Brian Clough could’ve had the job and they appeared to bottle it.

Though they may have moved with the times to some extent since then, it’s such a stuffy and old fashioned organisation that you wonder if there’ll ever be a time when they’ve modernised to such an extent that they’ll be thought of as pioneers of the modern game.

If they were to go for Klopp, or even Pep Guardiola for that matter, that could be the start of them redressing the balance.

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Former agent’s stinging rebuke of FIFA after recent player welfare comments

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:10:45 +0000

Trust FIFA to come out with yet more nonsense in order to try and deflect the ire coming their way over decisions that mean clubs and players have to travel to and play in yet more tournaments.

The games’ governing body are already making the Club World Cup a ridiculous mini-tournament from 2025, and this will fall slap bang in the middle of a season.

FIFA were believed to have hit back at the Premier League, suggesting that if the English authorities really did care about player welfare, they wouldn’t send them to all corners of the world during pre-season.

Former agent and co-creator of the Premier League, Jon Smith, isn’t impressed.

Former agent not impressed with FIFA

“I think FIFA’s comments were actually protective of themselves and disingenuous,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“This is all about money. I’m sorry, there’s no other part of this. It’s not for the benefit of the game. What’s the new format of the Club World Cup going to offer the game that it doesn’t already have? This is all about additional income.

“I think player welfare is absolutely paramount, that and fan well being.

“I still believe that what’s going to happen is that the Club World Cup will ultimately morph into a Super League of some construction – though it won’t be called a Super League for obvious reasons.

“I think the money will come out of the Gulf within the next five years that competition will evolve because the dates are already in the calendar.

The FIFA Club World Cup is turning into a money grab according to former agent, Jon Smith

“Pre-season tours only stress a player’s body marginally, and the fact that you’re going to America or in some cases even Australia doesn’t matter because players have the best medical support and support more generally available.

“It’s not overly taxing their bodies unlike flying around the world for a Club World Cup during the middle of the season when energy levels need to be conserved.

“Why do you think so many players get injured and stay injured longer? Because we’re patching them up quickly to get them back.

“I support the PFA and the EPL completely on this. Player welfare is a major part of the game and needs to be reviewed urgently now, because you can’t keep adding more and more games.

“You have to balance player well being and squad success.”

One only had to look at England’s Harry Kane during the European Championship to see just how tired he was.

It was believed he had a back injury towards the end of the domestic campaign, and if he hadn’t completely recovered from the same before being thrust straight back in to elite level competition, it’s truly a surprise that he didn’t succumb to an extended period on the sidelines.

Kane isn’t the only player suffering from the incessant need to keep playing matches either.

We’re not quite at the point yet where there will be a player revolt, but it doesn’t appear to be that far off either.

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Exclusive: Abhorrent Mason Greenwood was still an asset for Man United

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:57:20 +0000

Although Mason Greenwood has moved on from Man United, the fact that the club have been allowed to profit from his sale is likely to leave a sour taste for many.

In every other walk of life, the alleged crimes that the 22-year-old was believed to have committed would have seen him almost certainly dismissed.

Football as an industry on the other hand seems very forgiving of all manner of misdemeanours.

Former super agent, Jon Smith, attempted to explain why the Red Devils had every right to a transfer fee for Greenwood when he spoke to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

Mason Greenwood still had a value for Man United

“There are 26.6m reasons why Mason Greenwood’s move from Man United to Marseille has been allowed to happen,” he said.

“He’s a major asset on the Man United balance sheet, and it’s very difficult when monies are at this level to just turn your back on that.

“Sure, if you’re a director of a public company and you make a bad comment or error of judgment, you get fired and the company loses the benefit of your services. But the company’s detriment is exactly that.

“It’s the person who loses on this occasion.

“I’ve seen and heard some of the stuff that went on with Mason Greenwood, and it was dreadful.

Mason Greenwood was an asset for Man United.

“His partner seems to have forgiven him, they’re having children together, and no one really knows what went on except them.

“It’s a terrible example to set, and we in the football sector are certainly focused on the fact that we are very influential, especially with younger minds.

“So I completely understand the angst, and I disapprove heartily of everything that went on. I abhor alleged partner violence.

“I’ve got nothing good to say about that, obviously, but from a cold-hearted perspective of ‘why does the football industry allow benefits to be taken by his employers?’ – it’s because he’s an asset on the balance sheet.

“Most companies don’t have people as their assets. They have hardcore assets which are either real

“Had the company, in this case Manchester United, just got rid of him, they wouldn’t have realised 26.6m in assets.

“I can understand why that’s happened bit it doesn’t support any positivity towards Mason Greenwood, it just acknowledges the reality.”

What will be interesting to see is if Marseille’s supporters decide to protest when Greenwood takes to the field for the first time wearing their shirt.

There appears to have been a big social media backlash regarding his move to the Ligue Un giants, but for Man United it’s no longer their problem.

New Marseille manager, Roberto De Zerbi, has been forthright in his stance on Greenwood, and if he does the business on the pitch for the French club, whilst keeping his nose clean off it, there’s a chance that he can put his past firmly behind him and be remembered only for the quality of his football.

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Exclusive: Reaction to Enzo Fernandez is symptomatic of today’s world

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:44:58 +0000

When the video of Enzo Fernandez celebrating with his Argentina team-mates after winning the Copa America went viral, the player undoubtedly realised he’d made an error of judgment.

Alleged racism within the words of a song he was chanting quickly got used against him on social media, and come Chelsea players are believed to have been offended by the content.

Although it’s expected that Enzo Maresca will try and ensure that his first-team quickly move on from the matter, he may find that Fernandez’s team-mates are less forgiving.

Chelsea could have a problem after Enzo Fernandez video scandal

Former agent, Jon Smith, believes that the reaction to the footage is symptomatic of today’s world.

“In today’s society you can’t say what you want, you have to say what is acceptable to the world in general,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“Enzo Fernandez’s words were critical of somebody’s heritage as I saw them. Not nice but not overly offensive either, and the fact that everybody jumped on it made it a lot worse.

“I think is that symptomatic of the times we’re living in. Very often what you say in one sentence these days means you end up in the hangman’s noose, even though what the player probably wanted to infer was a much more placid comment than an offensive racist remark.

Enzo Fernandez was spotted chanting a controversial song about the French national team following Argentina’s Copa America win.

“I’m not saying this was right from him, but I think the lesson to be learned is twofold.

“Firstly, be very, very cautious on what you say publicly.

“I’ve been on team buses with players who’ve won a big game, the energy levels are so high and they say and do things that are just spontaneous. I think you have to manage that spontaneity these days.

“Secondly, and if I was advising a client of mine who’d been offended, I would advise him or her to make one comment saying ‘I’m disappointed. I’m sad. I love where I come from, and I’m very proud of it.’ Finish, end of story. Don’t make the situation worse.

“If you are the injured party, you make one constructive comment and move on.”

Though Smith appears to be making a well intentioned summary, if you are the offended party, then simply having your agent tell you not to make any further comment isn’t going to cut it.

Racism, alleged or proven, has got to be kicked out of the game for good, and if proven then punishments need to be commensurate.

If UEFA, FIFA, the Premier League and others are only prepared to pay lip service to the issue, nothing will change.

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Exclusive: Saudis happy enough but focus remains on 2034 World Cup

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:11:38 +0000

With the summer transfer window open for business, it won’t be a surprise to see the Saudi Pro League on the prowl for players once again.

Astronomical salaries being offered make it hard for any player and their families to turn down, though the league is still something of a fledgling enterprise which is only now beginning to gain traction locally.

TeamForm recognise that the Saudi Pro League is only the 68th best in the world at present, so in order to garner interest at home and aboard, there are necessary talks to be had.

Saudi Pro League focus is on next 10 years

Former super agent and Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, has held informal talks with some movers and shakers in the league, and he shared his thoughts with CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I didn’t have specific conversations when I met with Saudi Pro League representatives recently, I just had general conversations, but they have a long-term goal with their project, running into the World Cup in 2034,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“So, as far as they’re concerned, the conversations that we had were all about how we can promote the Saudi league outside of Saudi.

“Having said that, inside Saudi, when two of the top teams were playing each other, every coffee lounge and every restaurant had the game on. They weren’t featuring overseas games. They were featuring Saudi Pro League games and the crowd were really, really energised.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action in the Saudi Pro League

“So, something good is happening in Saudi football, and I think they’re happy that what they’re creating appears to be working locally. I think their big concern is ‘how do we get international acceptance’?

“That’s where they’re going to focus their attention.

“I think there’ll be a few more deals this summer but nothing sensational. They’re probably not going to buy the top six players in the world but in my view they’ll buy another two or three reasonably high-profile names. Then the focus is on what happens next. How can we promote what’s happening here abroad?”

If they can execute their 10-year plan correctly, then acquiring some of the world’s best talents in Cristiano Ronaldo and others will all have been worthwhile.

Were everything to buckle under the weight of expectation, however, in much the same way as the Chinese Super League imploded, the Saudi Pro League could disappear into the ether as quickly as it came to the fore.

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Exclusive: Sensational transfer is obvious summer deal for Chelsea

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:56:35 +0000

With the summer transfer window already open for business, it remains to be seen just how busy Chelsea will be.

Ever since the Blues were taken over by Todd Boehly they’ve been one of the major players and payers in the marketplace, having broken the British transfer record twice over the past couple of summers.

The first time that they smashed the £100m barrier was to acquire Enzo Fernandez, and then a £115m bid was enough to secure Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Chelsea to sign Osimhen?

Despite seemingly having a bottomless pit of money to throw around, the club still haven’t arguably earned the success such an outlay perhaps deserved.

Former managers Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel might’ve have pointed to the churn of players as being a significant enough reason why Chelsea just can’t get themselves going.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the West Londoners will need to buy again this summer, though they might not be the only team heavily investing in the market.

Victor Osimhen to PSG?

“There are certain players that I think are going to move this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz being one,” former Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I can’t see much beyond Bayern as far as he’s concerned, because they need to do something big and he will be a great pleaser for the crowd in Munich.

“I’m also looking at Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, which is an obvious one to Chelsea, but, as we’ve talked about previously, the way it’s set up at the moment means that the Blues will have to sell before they can buy.

“Some of their best homegrown talent like Gallagher and Santos may have to be sold because of the financial implications, rather than the consequence of their positive talent. I think that’s a really strange situation that has to be addressed in how financial fair play is reconfigured.

“There will be a lot of money spent in this window but it’ll be quite late. I think everyone will be looking to see what everybody else is doing.

“Salah will probably end up in Saudi and Ivan Toney will leave Brentford now, but will he go to Arsenal? Will it be Spurs? Not quite sure, but something’s going to happen with him.”

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Premier League creator’s surprise choice to win Euro 2024

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:44:03 +0000

Euro 2024 has been quite the spectacle so far, and now we’re getting down to the serious business.

The final eight teams will be getting ready to do battle at the end of the week in order to be in with a chance of making the semi-finals and then the final in mid July.

England are still in with a chance despite being woefully out of form to this point.

Spain or Germany to win Euro 2024 says Premier League co-creator

Often in cup competitions the notion that a ‘name is on the cup’ comes to the fore, and with the Three Lions having made it into the easier side of the draw despite playing poorly, there appears to be a feeling that Lady Luck might be with Gareth Southgate and Co.

If England are to get anywhere near their first major silverware since 1966, however, they will need to significantly up their game against Switzerland in their quarter-final.

Joshua Kimmich in action for Germany

Even if they were to be able to make it as far as the final, former super agent and Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, can’t see Southgate’s men bringing the trophy home.

“I can’t see beyond the Spain vs Germany game for the winners of Euro 2024,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I just think it’s going to be one of those two.

“I’d like England to be in the final but if it’s not to be, then Spain vs Germany is the final I’d like to have seen.”

Given the way in which the likes of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have played for Spain, as well as Niclas Fullkrug and Kai Havertz’s form for Germany, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to disagree with Smith’s sentiments.

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Exclusive: Southgate’s England coaching set-up is the big problem

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:30:56 +0000

So far in Euro 2024, England have been incredibly underwhelming in the system that Gareth Southgate and his coaches have devised for them.

Touted as one of the favourites for the tournament before it had kicked off, the Three Lions have been hanging on by their fingernails.

Under normal circumstances a quarter-final against Switzerland would hold no fears whatsoever, however, the Swiss have been playing above themselves in the tournament and, given England’s own form, will represent another tough challenge.

Southgate’s England need to up their game

In Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, Southgate has the Player of the Year in both the Premier League and La Liga at his disposal, as well as the Bundesliga’s top scorer, and yet England have looked a shadow of the team that they could be.

Former super agent and co-creator of the Premier League, Jon Smith, believes the problems derive from Gareth Southgate’s backroom team.

“I like Gareth Southgate a lot, and I used to work with him years ago. He’s a super human being and a great manager. Over the years you see the other great managers, but now it’s always a management team.,” he told CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“In days gone by, when I was working with people like Fergie, he wasn’t the greatest tactician, but he acknowledged that and hired the best tacticians, managing them from an overall capacity and in his case, very personally.

Gareth Southgate’s England aren’t playing anywhere close to their best

“I’m sadly of the view that the coaching set up around Gareth Southgate at the moment just isn’t right. It doesn’t play to the strengths of the players that he’s got.

“Look at the way the team played last week and the week before… and eight of those players are in teams that play a high press, very quick movement of the ball, inverted wingbacks on occasion, all the kind of modern jargon that you want to throw in there, but they play it well because they’re well coached.

“Gareth could do worse than just say, ‘play like you play at your team and let’s coordinate what you do in a collective,’ rather than ‘let’s play it safe here, keep it there.’

“Everything’s a bit old fashioned in this setup. It’s a bit 10 years ago, it’s showing and I’m fearful.

“I mean, I want England to win it, but I’m very fearful that coaching has moved on, and England haven’t in coaching terms. I’d like to see us use the wonderful players we’ve got in the ways that they’re used to being used.

“Gareth is a really good man manager, I’m just not quite sure what’s happening below him in the tactical management set-up.”

It’s hard to disagree with Smith’s point of view because the Three Lions certainly appear to have reverted to type in this tournament.

They are still in it, however, and with a favourable draw all the way to the final, if they can find some form, there’s still a chance they could go all the way.

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Exclusive: “Disastrous for Everton” – Former super agent hints at what’s next for Toffees

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:34:20 +0000

It’s a very trying time for Everton Football Club at the moment under the direction of Farhad Moshiri.

For some while now it has appeared that the 69-year-old British-Iranian businessman has wanted to get shot of the Toffees, but a proposed deal with 777 Partners has now collapsed.

What that means for the club and it’s owner nobody really knows, though it’s clearly not a good situation for the Merseyside outfit to find themselves in.

Not least because they will soon be moving into a new, start-of-the-art £500m stadium at Bramley-Moore dock.

Everton could be in trouble after 777 pull out

Despite a points deduction for breaches of Financial Fair Play, Sean Dyche managed to keep the first team up in the Premier League for another season at least, and that’s some bright news amidst the gloom.

The immediate and short term future for the club still looks murky, however.

“I think I said previously that if Everton went down, they would have to go into administration,” Jon Smith said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“If 777 pulled out, which has now happened, and there was nobody else, then the Russians would have to step up and keep the club alive during the process.

“There was a there was a rumour, and it is just rumour that 777 allegedly hadn’t loaned Everton money and that the Russians were allegedly continuing to fund the club.

“At the moment, the only obvious potential buyer that I see is John Textor, but he has to get rid of his 45% share in Crystal Palace.

“Now, I know he’s talking to the Premier League about becoming a silent partner, so he’ll have no voice and won’t be a part of the decision making process at Palace.

“His plea to the Premier League, therefore, will be on the basis that could he be allowed to have conversations with Everton? I think that he’s waiting for that as a response.

“It makes no sense for the very wealthy Russians behind Moshiri to let this go, because they’ll lose everything. They might as well keep it going and wait for a Textor or someone else – and there will be a someone else at some point.

“If the Russians can’t, for whatever reason – politically or otherwise – keep it together, then they will have to seek some sort of administrative support, which would be disastrous for Everton Football Club.”

It paints a said picture for a once great club, and one can only hope that John Textor or any other businessman/consortium can come in at the 11th hour and look to provide some sort of salvage package.

Regardless of whether than happens or not, Everton have the more immediate decision of whether to cash in on some of their superstars, knowing that it will severely weaken what Dyche will be aiming to do for next season.

If he decides to walk out as well, given it will be a case of two steps forward and one back and then the club really will find it hard to claw themselves back from the brink.

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Premier League co-creator says VAR will remain despite impending vote

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:13:39 +0000

The emergence of VAR in English football was always going to be contentious, and it’s absolutely right to say that it hasn’t yet proved to be a hit with supporters or clubs.

Unlike the video reviews in rugby, cricket or tennis, the process isn’t seen by fans in the stadiums, and we’ve had the unedifying sight of thousands of supporters losing their minds at what was believed to be an important goal then being chalked off up to five minutes later.

It’s no wonder that Wolverhampton Wanderers put forward a motion to have VAR scrapped, and the vote is expected to happen later this week.

After years of VAR being around, it still isn’t streamlined enough to be considered as fit for purpose, though there has always seemed to be the argument that it’s the people that are using the technology that are the problem and not the technology itself.

VAR to stay despite Premier League vote

Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, believes that despite pushback on the technology in certain quarters, it will remain and is likely to be updated.

“I don’t think VAR will be scrapped because I think there’s enough positive sentiment towards it,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I think the problem is all in the presentation, and the whole issue is the timeframe that it takes to make a decision.

“In the World Cup it was a lot faster, and that’s the system that should be followed. The officials absolutely need to present what is happening on screen in the grounds, so that the fans become part of it rather than just a waiting audience.

“They actually need to change it a bit where the lines that are drawn for the tightest decisions don’t determine whether the player is onside or offside.

“I like that expression ‘clear and obvious,’ which was the entire premise of VAR in the first place.”

It was believed that the technology used at the 2022 World Cup – Semi Automated Offside Technology – would come into effect in the Premier League from the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

That appears to be quicker and more accurate than what the officials working for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) are currently using.

The use of the same may be the only thing that ensures that the vote proposed by Wolves is defeated.

There certainly seems to be an argument that going back to the way things were done pre-VAR, mistakes and all, is a more natural way of officiating a game, but with most other sports having a variation on the same theme in terms of VAR, football can’t really afford to be left behind.

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