HockeyBhoy - Comments

Him and Eric Gates were a brilliant partnership, with Frans Thissijen and Arnold Muhren pulling the strings in midfield.

That Ipswich team should have won more trophies than they did, unfortunately it was at the time when Liverpool were so dominant domestically.

Chapter 33: End of season celebrations

It was with a very sore head that Basil woke up with the day after the final game of the season. The party had gone well into the night at the Galvin Park Reserve as the team celebrated an incredible achievement. Beer cans cast aside all over the dressing room, or as "the shed" as the players referred to it as, and bottles of champagne equally cast asunder.

Even Basil, normally a reserved character, allowed himself to go wild for a bit and embrace he and his squad had actually performed in the last eight months or so.

The following day, it was the Club's end of season shindig which meant yet party celebrations and more alcohol to consume. The team awards would be handed out, who would be the lucky recipients? For players, fans and management alike the tension could be cut with a razor sharp knife. Therefore at 7:00pm that Sunday evening, Basil stepped into the cab that the reception had called for him and headed to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) where the Club had decided to hold the event...no expense spared by Angus Brown!

It was a proper black tie and tuxedo event, Basil thought he looked more like a penguin than a football manager, with players, fans, the fourth estate and dignitaries sat around tables of ten in the main conference centre. Following an impressive meal, it was time to present the awards with local comedian Tom Gleeson acting as both Master of Ceremonies and entertainment for the evening.



The first award was the prestigious Fans Player of the Season. It was a hard fought award but midfield playmaker Matteo Ballan came out on top in the end. The 31 year old took the award ahead of winger Lisandro Paz with top scorer Alec Goodwin rounding out the top three. When asked by Gleeson if he was going to sign a new deal and snub Macarthur FC, Ballan was coy with his response: "Guess, we will have to wait and see.": Brush knew in the next few days, this would be his immediate task in hand before he headed back to England for a two week break to see his family.

Ballan's midfield partner Brandon Zaffina was next to take to the stage: his game winning strike at Kingston City being voted as the Goal of the Season. It was a fabulous strike on the day, and when it was replayed on the big screen: everyone was stood up and applauding how impressive it really it was. Award number three was the Signing of the Season, and taking this one was left winger Michael Holden who marked his second spell at the Galvin Park Reserve with some brilliant performances and justifying why Brush was so keen to bring him back home so to speak.

The penultimate award was the Young Player of the Season: winning this was 24 year old striker Goodwin. Before the season had kicked off, he had been in a contract stand off with the Club (similar to Ballan now), but terms were thrashed out just before the big-kick off and the striker rewarded his new boss' persistence with a double figure goal haul despite being out of the team for certain periods of time.

The final award was the Fans Team of the Season based on the 21 players who played for the Bees this season. In Brush's favoured 4-1-2-2-1 formation, the side was as follows:

Chapter 32: History is made!

Basil and Werribee City entered the final month of the season on the cusp of making more history. Never before in Australian football had a team finished the season without a league defeat. Now the Bees and the rookie Pom Manager stood on the verge of immortality. The task was simple, avoid defeat in the final two games of the 2019-20 season and Brush's name could go alongside Brendan Rogers (Celtic 2016-17), Arsène Wenger (Arsenal, 2003-04), Antonio Conte (Juventus 2011-12) to name just three modern day campaigns but who could forget the original Preston North End invincibles of 1888-89.

Everyone was suggesting they could do it but Brush being Brush, he wasn't getting too carried away with two very hard games to finish with: one which was away to second placed Brunswick City. Brunswick themselves had eyes on a prize, bagging that second promotion spot behind the Bees and a place in next season's NPL Victoria league: two tiers behind the A-League.

Matchday 21: Brunswick City 0 - 4 Werribee City

It was billed as the biggest test for Werribee in their bid to go through the season unbeaten. It ended up being the biggest win of the season for the visitors as they swatted their hosts aside with ruthless finishing. Brush opted to make two changes from the side that appeared in the Bees last game with Cameron Davies and Daniel Petrov coming in for Julyan Collett (surprisingly dropped) and Nicholas Bavcar (injured but also suspended).

Despite the changes, it took Werribee just six minutes to open the scoring. Tom Lakic swung in a cross from the right and Michael Holden planted a header beyond Sebastian Mattei for the left winger's seventh of the season. The lead was doubled in the 27th minute and it certainly sent the 266 visiting supporters dancing with delight. A beautiful through ball from Matteo Ballan sent in-form striker Nathan Elasi racing clear and he slipped the ball under Mattei into the gaping goal.

Two goals in the final stages sealed the comprehensive win. In the 87th minute, James Jones was adjudged to have blocked off debutant Amanze Kessie illegally in the penalty area; Ballan stepped up to ram home the resultant penalty into the bottom corner. It was the midfield playmaker's fourth of the season. Then in time added-on, Werribee completed the coup de grace with a fourth goal to really rub salt into the proverbial wounds. Jamie Gorgovski's cross was headed goalwards by Holden but Mattei could only palm it into his own net to add yet misery to the goalkeeper's miserable day.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Petrov, Davies, Parkinson ©; Pistininzi; Zaffina (Gorgovski 69), Ballan; Paz (Kessie 69), Holden; Elasi (Goodwin 80). Unused Substitutes: Collett, Dunn, Williams, Ammache.
Man of the Match: Matteo Ballan
Attendance: 569
Position After Game: 1st

Matchday 22: Werribee City 2 - 1 Moreland Zebras

History was made at the Galvin Park Reserve as Werribee City completed an incredible season by remaining unbeaten in all 22 league games, the first time in Australian football history. It capped an amazing season for the Bees and their rookie manager Basil Brush who was only appointed last July. For Brush, it represents a remarkable first ever campaign and leave Werribee with a possible fight on their hands to keep him.

Werribee took to the field in front of their largest crowd of the season, and there were two surprise selection choices from Brush. Second choice goalkeeper Thomas Dunn was rewarded with his first start of the season in place of Alex Baird whilst Gorgovski replaced Brandon Zaffina in central midfield. Two goals in nine minutes had them celebrating more on the day that the Champions flag was unfurled in the Melbourne suburb. The first came in the 21st minute, and it was a fourth goal in four games for Elasi. Holden provided a delicious cross from the left and the striker powered home a header from ten yards past Stephen Hatzikourtis.

The second came directly on the half hour and what a goal it was. Lisandro Paz picked up a throw-in from Lakic and fed it duly onto Gorgovski who took a couple of touches before unleashing an unstoppable shot from outside the penalty area that whizzed in the far bottom corner; Hatzikourtis given no chance whatsoever. Despite playing in a kit that reminded those present of Juventus, the visitors were far from being their lookalikes as Werribee controlled matters. However, the clean sheet for Dunn was taken away from him when Nick Niagioran headed in with just three minutes left. Yet the Zebras would finish the game with ten men as central midfielder Jake Barker-Daish was sent off for two yellow cards as the game entered injury time.

All hail the Werribee Invincibles!

Team: Dunn; Lakic, Petrov, Davies, Parkinson ©; Pistininzi (Collett 73); Gorgovski, Ballan; Paz, Holden (Ammache 65); Elasi (Goodwin 81). Unused Substitutes: Zaffina, Baird, Williams, Kessie.
Man of the Match: Jamie Gorgovski
Attendance: 688
Position After Game: 1st

Chapter 31: A busy final few weeks

A weary Basil staggered into his hotel suite after the NPL - Victoria 2 title had been secured. The party was something else indeed as players and staff celebrated as one in one of the most memorable days in the 50 year history of Werribee City. Fearing he would be pulled for a DUI, Basil hailed a taxi to get him back to the hotel but even that proved a tad problematic. Well...

The fans were so ecstatic about the title win, they were partying themselves in the Galvin Park Reserve car park and making hard for vehicles to enter and exit it. Who could begrudge them though? The last time Werribee had won this honour was way back in 1993, so long overdue indeed. Yet the work was far from done.

A few days before the Northcote game, Werribee had announced that Peter Haynes had been recruited as the Club's first ever Director of Football. Basil had been pursuing this matter all season, and finally the Bees had found someone to fill the role. Haynes, 38, who had a more than decent playing career of 72 goals in just 167 games had been acquired from Goulburn Valley Suns where he was fulfilling a similar role. Then just 24 hours after the celebration, Werribee welcomed another new face to the Galvin Park Reserve. Coming in as the new Youths Manager was four times capped former Croatian internationalist Joey Didulica. Didulica, who had spells at Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar in his playing career as well as winning the Austrian league title with FK Austria Vienna, was the standout applicant and Brush was keen to work with him.

Brush was still trying to secure a new deal for star midfielder Matteo Ballan but at the calendar flipped into May, no deal had been agreed with the demands of the player being higher than what the board could afford to pay. Shades of Alec Goodwin earlier in the season, eh? But newly formed Macarthur FC monitoring proceedings, there was a distinct worry that the new Victoria - 2 champions could lose such an influential player whose creativity was second to none. Yet Brush hoped he could persuade the midfielder to stay...

That new month meant one more thing, John's fixtures email, the final one of the season.

Two games from immortality, that's what remained. Basil was more determined as ever to finish this rookie season in the best way possible and that meant one thing, remain unbeaten and create history. Nobody had done it before in Australia, and Basil had never experienced it as a player either so it would be doubly sweet. Time to finish the job!

Chapter 30: Crack open the bubbly!

It was the penultimate month of the season and it had all the elements needed to spark a celebration in the Melbourne suburb of Werribee. The Bees were on the verge of securing promotion to the third tier of Australian football under their rookie coach Basil Brush. Brush knew it, the players knew it, the fans knew it. Could they finish the job with games in hand?

The team had been unbeaten all season, an invincible season beckoned: the first time ever in Australian football. History books were there to be re-written.

Matchday 19: Werribee City 3 - 0 North Geelong Warriors

The first of back to back home games in April saw a then in-form North Geelong make the trip to the Galvin Park Reserve, could they stop the Bees making it 19 games unbeaten? Werribee showed a couple of changes from the side that defeated Kingston City in their last game, back came Mark Pistininzi after his one game suspension and club captain David Parkinson appeared in central defence. The Warriors had the worst beginning possible when they were reduced to ten men after just six minutes; midfielder Damien Rastocic being showed a straight red by referee Rob Eedy for a late and dangerous challenge on Michael Holden. It was the right decision looking at replays over and over again.

Encouraged by Brush's words, the Bees took the game to their numerically disadvantaged opponents. Yet it took 25 minutes after that red card for the deadlock to be broken. A quick throw-in from Nicholas Bavcar found Alec Goodwin in a pocket of space and the striker crossed for Brandon Zaffina to nod home his second goal of the season from just outside the six yard box. Werribee doubled their lead 40 seconds into the second half when another Goodwin cross was this time headed out by Warriors' Shaun Montagner but straight to the feet of Tom Lakic who took a couple of touches before blasting the ball into the roof of the net for his maiden Bees goal.

The win was sealed four minutes from time, and with another landmark goal. Substitute Omar Ammache showed great persistence to get in his cross from the left wing despite being tightly marked; and there was Nathan Elasi on hand to poke home his first ever Werribee goal of the season at the seventh time of asking. That result confirmed a ninth clean sheet of the season for Alex Baird, and with results going their way: promotion for Werribee.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar (Davies 79); Pistininzi; Zaffina, Ballan; Paz, Holden (Ammache 63); Goodwin (Elasi 74). Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Gorgovski, Murray.
Man of the Match: Lisandro Paz
Attendance: 245
Position After Game: 1st


With promotion secured, Brush's next objective was to secure the title. Then the champagne could really be taken out of the fridge and celebrations could begin. Ever since the media had been talking about Werribee and their title aspirations at the end of the first half of the season, chairman Angus Brown had put a case of the finest Möet Chandon aside; chilling away in a fridge in the boardroom. Now it was just a case when it could be used so to speak. With another home game to come to finish off April, maybe sooner rather than later right?

Matchday 20: Werribee City 3 - 1 Northcote City

Brush and Werribee knew one thing going into this game, avoid defeat and the title was theirs despite whatever everyone else did. It was as simple as an equation as that. So in a surprise move, Brush made one change from the team that had won 3-0 against North Geelong a fortnight prior, Elasi started in place of top scorer Goodwin. Visitors Northcote City and their outspoken new manager Stephen Downes, who played for Grimsby Town and York City, were keen to upset the proverbial applecart.

It was a tense game but eventually the Bees exerted their influence and took the lead in the 23rd minute when Harry Johnson tripped Lakic as the full back charged into the penalty area. Up stepped midfielder Matteo Ballan, who Brush is desperate to tie down on a new deal, and he sent Petrovski the wrong way from twelve yards. The celebrations went up a further notch when the Bees scored their second ten minutes before half time. This time Ballan was the architect as usual with a free-kick deep into the penalty area and Elasi looped a header over Petrovski for his second in as many games. Proper bus syndrome as Brush alluded to.

The champagne was certainly out of the fridge when Werribee scored their third 14 minutes from the end. Zaffina was afforded so much room to measure and pick out a cross which was easily headed in at the far post by substitute Ammache; his first for his new club. Joseph Louey scored his first ever goal for Northcote in the final throes but by then the game was long gone: resulting in this:


Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar (Davies 67); Pistininzi; Zaffina, Ballan; Paz, Holden (Ammache 74), Elasi (Goodwin 74). Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Murray, Weaver.
Booked: Bavcar
Man of the Match: Matteo Ballan
Attendance: 479
Position After Game: 1st

So with just two games to go, this is how we stand:

England Head Coach Mark Duell has named an experienced squad for the Three Lions forthcoming games against Italy in the UEFA Nations league semi-final and a friendly against Colombia. There are recalls for John Stones, Reiss Nelson and Ricky Armstrong but RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Phil Foden misses out. Foden's absence has come as a surprise, fuelling rumours that he and Head Coach do not see eye to eye.

There is a first ever England call up for Crystal Palace's former Celtic goalkeeper Lee Mullen.

Duell had this to say:


The squad is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS:
Jordan Pickford (Everton, 63 caps/0 goals)
Lee Mullen (Crystal Palace, 0 caps/0 goals)
Dean Henderson (Olympiacos, 3 caps/0 goals)

DEFENDERS:
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool, 99 caps/6 goals)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Olympique Marseille, 1 cap/0 goals)
Ryan Sessengon (Manchester City, 37 caps/1 goal)
Steve Grainger (Leicester City, 4 caps/0 goals)
John Stones (Manchester City, 124 caps/6 goals)
Joe Gomez (PSG, 77 caps/5 goals)
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur, 133 caps/14 goals)
Declan Rice (CF Valencia, 45 caps/3 goals)
Craig Laycock (Southampton, 8 caps/0 goals)

MIDFIELDERS:
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton, 10 caps/0 goals)
Lewis Cook (Leicester City, 44 caps/4 goals)
Ricky Armstrong (Tottenham Hotspur, 59 caps/3 goals)
Dominic Clark (Manchester United, 9 caps/1 goal)
Reiss Nelson (Liverpool, 5 caps/1 goal)
Jadon Sancho (Chelsea, 56 caps/13 goals)
Delé (Tottenham Hotspur, 124 caps/30 goals)

FORWARDS:
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur (141 caps/94 goals)
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United, 136 caps/60 caps)
Eddie Nkeitah (Manchester United, 24 caps/8 goals)
Mason Greenwood (Leicester City, 1 cap/0 goals)

The Italian game will take place at the Emirates Stadium on 2 June 2027, with the Three Lions hosting Colombia at Wembley seven days later. However, should England make the Final of the Nations League then it's likely the Colombia friendly will be cancelled.

Chapter 29: Don't want to be an April Fool

Four games that's all that remained in Basil Brush's maiden season as a football manager.

The title was within reach, just four points needed. But Basil had been a winner all his life so he set himself a new goal, finish the season unbeaten. That would be some achievement indeed. Even "The Gaffer" had never gone through an entire season unbeaten so this would be one thing that Basil might have over his mentor.

Yet keeping his size seven's firmly planted on the ground and not assuming anything was a given would be just as important as taking three points from an opponent. He opened his emails and there was the fixture one from John:


So that was the stark reality. Should both Moreland Zebras and Brunswick City fail to take maximum points and Werribee did this month then as John said, the champagne could come out of the fridge and corks a popping. Time to finish the job once and for all then plan for 2020-21, but would that be in Werribee still? That would have to wait for now...winning those remaining games was the objective for the Club!

Chapter 28: Beware the Ides of March

Said the soothsayer to Julius Caesar in the Shakespearian play of the very same name. Therefore lo and behold, Basil saw a lady dressed in rags whilst walking through the centre of Melbourne a few days before the next game. The lady gave the impression that she was some kind of gypsy, and told Basil to be wary for challenges ahead.

Werribee's next match was at struggling Pascoe Vale, a team needing points to survive the drop. Vale had improved since the two sides had met in November but they were far from out of danger. Could this be Basil's Ides of March? No need to take things easy and assume it was a foregone conclusion.

Matchday 17: Pascoe Vale 1 - 2 Werribee City

Lisandro Paz had been the two goal hero when Werribee defeated their hosts in the previous encounter, and the winger would prove to be a hero again at the CB Smith Reserve with another brace which inched the Bees closer and closer to the title. Werribee were unchanged from their last game which meant Nathan Elasi was given another chance to impress as the sole striker; top scorer Alec Goodwin remained on the bench. Not a bad replacement to have on hand, and proof of the strength in depth that Basil had his disposal.

The Bees immediately took the game to their hosts, and were rewarded with the lead after just nine minutes. Winger Michael Holden sped past Gonzalo Muñoz as if the Chilean wasn't there before lifting a cross deep into the penalty area. The cross was met by a looping header from fellow winger Paz over Luke Gavalas and send the 248 away supporters dancing with delight. It took Pascoe Vale 26 minutes to create their first chance but Alex Baird produced a superb fingertip save to deny Atilia Ofli the equaliser.

Vale did get an equaliser and it came on the hour when Joseph Youssef sent Dimitri Hatzimouratis clear of the Bees defence. The midfielder, who had been pushed up front in a Vale reshuffle, took a couple of touches before bearing down on Baird. He then drilled a low shot beyond the custodian and into the far corner to restore parity. Basil was far from pleased, and shortly afterwards replaced the ineffective Elasi with Goodwin: demanding more out of his side. Then just as Pascoe had had thoughts of a point off the unbeaten league leaders; Paz and Werribee broke their hearts with a 84th minute winner. That came when a free-kick from Matteo Ballan was met by another Paz header that found the net via the crossbar. 17 games unbeaten now for the Bees!

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett ©, Petrov, Bavcar; Pistininzi (Murray 78); Ballan, Zaffina (Gorgovski 69); Paz, Holden; Elasi (Goodwin 64). Unused Substitutes: Ammache, Dunn, Parkinson, Davies.
Booked: Pistininzi
Man of the Match: Lisandro Paz
Attendance: 373
Position After Game: 1st

That booking against Pascoe Vale proved to be a financial hit for Mark Pistininzi as it was the defensive midfielder's fourth booking of the season. Under the league rules it meant the former Pascoe Vale player would now have to serve a one match suspension. It also meant he would be fined a day's wages under the Bees Code of Conduct.


Now attention was switched to yet another away game, this time at promotion rivals Kingston City. A win there would really put the Bees into the proverbial driving seat as regards the P-word which Basil had banned all talk of the dressing room. Five games left to play, and maybe just maybe dreams could come true.

Matchday 18: Kingston City 1 - 2 Werribee City

Werribee's promotion charge continued with their 11th win of the season and 6th away from home. The win put a massive in Kingston City's own hopes it pushed them three points outside the second promotion slot. The unbeaten Bees made two changes to the side that won 2-1 at Pascoe Vale 15 days ago, and it was an enforced one at that. Mark Pistininzi was suspended for a single game under the yellow card totting up procedure; Bradley Murray came into the starting eleven to replace him. In the other change, top scorer Alec Goodwin was restored in place of Nathan Elasi.

Kingston took the lead midway through the first half, Werribee switching off at a set piece play and allowing central defender Simo Jovanovic to tuck home his first goal of the season from close range. But the Bees were not behind for long as they equalised just a minute later. Good work by Holden down the left saw him tee up Goodwin around the penalty spot and the striker pouched his 10th of the season with a confident finish beyond Dowisha.

The winner came nine minutes from half time, and what a goal it was. Nicholas Bavcar's throw in was headed out to Brandon Zaffina at the edge of the penalty area, and the midfielder took two touches before unleashing an unstoppable effort that just whizzed into the far corner. Some way to open your goalscoring account for the Club, eh? There were no further goals after that but the Bees now go to 18 unbeaten and just need four points from their remaining four games to send those champagne corks a popping.

Team: Baird; Lakic (Parkinson 73), Collett ©, Petrov, Bavcar; Murray; Ballan (Gorgovski 67), Zaffina; Paz (Ammache 81), Holden; Goodwin. Unused Substitutes: Elasi, Dunn, Govedarica, Davies.
Booked: Petrov
Man of the Match: Brandon Zaffina
Attendance: 627
Position After Game: 1st

So with four games to go, this is how the table stands:

End of season awards

The Premier League have announced the winners of their annual awards. These were as follows:

Lemar: A man of the match performance from the Frenchman

THE EMIRATES FA CUP - FINAL

WATFORD 1 LIVERPOOL 3

On a sunny afternoon at Wembley, a Thomas Lemar inspired Liverpool lifted the FA Cup for the eighth time in their history, their first win in the competition since 2006. The triumph also secured a domestic Cup double for the Reds and their manager Mark Duell.

After Ryan Cassidy had passed up the chance to give Watford the lead after just four minutes; Liverpool made him pay with the opener three minutes later. A long ball from skipper Virgil Van Dijk was brought down superbly by Romelu Lukaku. The big Belgian then showed great composure to wait and then feed the ball to the on rushing Eduardo Venegas who placed his shot beyond Ryan Ferris. Ferris had passed a late fitness test hours before the big kick-off to take his place in between the sticks for the Hornets.

Liverpool continued to dominate and were rewarded with a second goal in the first of two minutes added-on at the end of the first half. Lemar swung in a free-kick and Kieran Tierney was upended by Nathaniel Chalobah as the full back aimed to get his head on it. Up stepped Lemar and he drilled in a perfect penalty to the bottom corner despite Ferris going the right way.

Things got better for the Reds two minutes after the interval with a third goal. The goal owed itself to Mateo Kovacic as the Croatian internationalist put in a dangerous cross that caught out the Hornets defence and allowed Reiss Nelson a simple finish for 3-0. Watford needed a goal to get themselves back into the game and got one three minutes after that Nelson goal. A great counter attack saw Cassidy find Will Hughes who produced a superb placed finish beyond Alisson and into the roof of the net.

The game had no further goals after that, but Reds fans were delighted to see one final appearance from Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino. The veteran forward, who is retiring at the end of the season like his captain Van Dijk, came on for Lukaku in the 71st minute to great cheers from the East end of the famous old stadium.

Watford: Ferris; Balerdi, Fry, Luperto, Valencia; Chalobah (Bellocq 79), Doucouré ©; Hughes, Angel Gomes, Semenov (Ziyech HT); Cassidy. Unused Substitutes: Brown, Worgan, Jordan, Downey, Miller.
Liverpool: Alisson; Heerkens (Alexander-Arnold 57), Vallejo, Van Dijk © (Rodri 80), Tierney; de Jong, Kovacic; Nelson, Venegas, Lemar; Lukaku (Roberto Firmino 71). Unused Substitutes: Woodburn, Stevens, Robertson, Salah.
Booked: Valencia
Man of the Match: Thomas Lemar (Liverpool)
Attendance: 90,000
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Manchester)

2026-27: End of the Premier League Season

So we lost the final game of the season, 2-1 at Newcastle: only my second league defeat since taking charge midway through. However, radios were to the ears for the Red Army. how had City fared?

Despite playing more time added-on, two minutes more actually, we finished our game before City. City were drawing 1-1 with already relegated Cardiff at the Etihad, could the Bluebirds do us a favour and help us finish second behind United? Well...


Well, get in there you Welsh wonders! The Bluebirds managed to hold on for a point at the Etihad which guarantees us a second placed finish and an automatic berth in next season's Champions League (finishing in top four would equally have been just as good). It also gave us a whopping £44.9 million in prize money, which is a major boost to the Club's finances.

Considering that we were in ninth place when I took over at Anfield, and the team had been whipped 4-0 at Elland Road on the opening day, the turnaround has been nothing short of phenomenal. Sure we have changed the formation a few times but it's all about finding the perfect tactic that can beat everyone and anyone. United remain the yardstick we're aiming to surpass but there's some real potential in the squad to make that happen. That said, I know I need to bring a few new players in the summer but won't be held to ransom over fees despite being at such a high profile team these days.

The shopping list will have to comprise of the following:

* A new back up keeper as young Ertem Stevens isn't fully ready for first team action. The candidate ideally will become the number one after Alisson retires which I anticipate will be in the next season or two.
* Two new central defenders
* A defensive midfielder who loves to break up opposing attacks
* A new striker to take the goalscoring burden off Romelu Lukaku.

Other than this, I think we have a good squad behind us. Making a good start to the 2027-28 season is vital, we don't want to be left playing catch up like we have this season as that maybe cost us finishing closer to United.

The hard work begins after the FA Cup Final against Watford.

2026-27: May Summary

Welcome to a summary of the final two games of the season, would we finish second or third?

MATCHDAY 37 - Sunday 2 May 2027


We kicked off our final home game of the season in a great potential position. 24 hours before we had seen that Manchester City, our rivals for a second placed finish, had slipped to a 1-0 loss at Tottenham thanks to a 27th minute winner from Brazilian winger Kinho. That meant that if we could beat Arsenal, we would move into that all important second place ahead of a final day decider.

With the second leg of the Champions League semi-final just a matter of three days after this game, I opted to ring a number of changes and one of those put us into an early lead after just six minutes. Former Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson with a precise right wing cross for Karim Camara to nod past Cuesta. We doubled the lead in the 21st minute when Camara returned the favour to set up Nelson who created space for himself to drill a low drive past a leaden footed Cuesta.

To be honest Arsenal were pretty terrible, considering they still had a Champions League place to secure for finishing fourth as we dominated them. They did however score with one of their rare attacks in the 72nd minute when Christian Pulisic fed Andy Slater, a player I had had my scouting eye on when he was at Celtic, and the Scot smashed an unstoppable effort past Alisson into the top corner. But we held comfortably after that, the stage was set for a Super Sunday indeed.

Team: Alisson; Heerkens, Vallejo ©, Rodri, Robertson; Tielemans, Kovacic; Nelson, Camara, Woodburn; Roberto Firmino. Substitutes: Lemar (for Camara 57), Salah (for Tielemans 62), Fernando Almeida (for Roberto Firmino 75), Lukaku, Stevens, Gough, Tierney.
Booked: Vallejo, Rodri
Man of the Match: Jeroen Heerkens (Liverpool)
Attendance: 54,074

MATCHDAY 38 - Sunday 9 May 2027
LIVE ON


The permutation was simple on the final day, a minimum of a draw would be enough to finish second unless City defeated an already relegated Cardiff by seven clear goals at the Etihad. Win and City's result would be immaterial, whilst losing would mean a tense biting of one's fingernails. I chose to field my strongest possible side with the exception of Jesús Vallejo who was given a rest ahead of the Cup Final, Kieran Tierney dropped into central defence alongside Virgil Van Dijk who was playing his last league game in Liverpool red. Andrew Robertson filled in at left-back following Tierney's switch inside.

It had to be said that game was a feisty affair, with the Magpies falling foul of referee Mr Coote as they picked up cards like it was confetti. We slipped down to third when Correia put City ahead in their game after 27 minutes and then the misery deepened when North Korean winger blasted the home side into the lead after 31 minutes. We were looking a shadow of ourselves, and not a team that really wanted that second placed so with the scores remaining as they were at the respective intervals, I couldn't help but launch the hairdryer treatment in the away dressing room to try and get the side galvanised.

Just before the hour we had a goal to draw level when Youri Tielemans pulled away from his marker at a Thomas Lemar free-kick to plant a free header past home 'keeper Odysseas. A further lift came in the 65th minute of the City game when Ruben Loftus-Cheek equalised for the Bluebirds, our fans were dancing. Then Newcastle were down to ten men when Daniel Podence saw red for two yellow cards. But we couldn't take advantage of this, and despite also another final league appearance in Liverpool red from Roberto Firmino this time, it was the home side who scored next in the 81st minute to take the three points on the day.

Good work down the wing by Ortega saw him cross for fellow countryman De Zan to head home on his birthday, the Magpies number nine sneaking in front of Tierney to cement his place as the Premier League's top scorer. Six minutes of time added on followed, four at the Etihad. Who would prevail?

Team: Alisson; Heerkens, Tierney, Van Dijk ©, Robertson; de Jong; Tielemans, Venegas; Nelson, Lemar; Lukaku. Substitutes: Kovacic (for Venegas 67), Roberto Firmino (for Lukaku 79), Rodri (for de Jong 89), Ballard, Stevens, Warburton, Salah.
Booked: Diaz, Ortega, Gustavo, Podence, De Zan, Hwang-Song
Sent Off: Podence (second yellow card)
Man of the Match: Han Hwang-Song (Newcastle United)
Attendance: 57,098

Tahith Chong scored twice to send the Red Devils to Amsterdam

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL - SECOND LEG

LIVERPOOL 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 4 (Aggregate 3-7)

Dutchman Tatith Chong scored twice to ensure that Jürgen Klopp's first return to Anfield as Manchester United boss would be a winning one, and end the Champions League hopes for the home side for another season.

In front of a sell out crowd on rainy Merseyside, United took the lead after 23 minutes to negate Liverpool's away goal eight days earlier. Some patient passing saw Arthur find an overlapping Dalot on the right and the full back advanced with very little challenge before clipping a shot over Alisson and into the bottom far corner to silence the Kop.

United then put themselves really in the driving seat with a brace of goals in two minutes. The first came in the 26th minute when Man of the Match Gustavo Bonanno played in Chong and he placed his shot past a stationary Alisson, and the Argentine got his name on the scoresheet shortly afterwards. That came when Leon Bailey crashed an angled shot against the post before picking up the rebound himself and squaring it for Bonanno to sidefoot into a gaping goal.

Bonanno picked up his second assist of the night on United's fourth goal which arrived seven minutes before half time; weighting a pass into Chong who blasted an angled shot into the roof of the net for 0-4. Liverpool needed a response to get themselves going and reduced the arrears on the night two minutes after that second Chong strike. Top scorer Romelu Lukaku with a superb pass into Fernando Almeida whose first shot was parried by David De Gea but the Portuguese internationalist netted at the second attempt.

Fired up by some harsh words from their manager at the interval, Liverpool gave it a go in the second half. They scored their second of the night in the 58th minute when a low and hard cross from Reiss Nelson was turned into the net by former United striker Lukaku from point blank range. The home side then had over half an hour to try and perform the big comeback. Thankfully for United and their fans, it never happened although Liverpool did have the ball in the net for a third time seven minutes from time: substitute Mateo Kovacic touching in Virgil Van Dijk's goalbound header past De Gea but the Croat was correctly viewed offside.

United now play neighbours City in the Final at the Johan Cryuff ArenA in Amsterdam on 29 May 2027, the Citizens having seen off Bayern München 3-0 in their second leg in Bavaria for a 5-2 aggregate triumph.

Liverpool - Alisson; Heerkens, Vallejo, Van Dijk ©, Tierney (Robertson 81); Nelson, Rodri (Kovacic 53), de Jong; Lemar; Lukaku, Fernando Almeida (Woodburn 65). Unused Substitutes: Ballard, Stevens, Venegas, Salah.
United - De Gea; Dalot, De Ligt ©, Wöber (Luiz Felipe 79), Riveros (Vinicius Junior 79); Bailey, Arthur (Clark 79), Pogba, Bonanno; Chong; Ricci. Unused Substitutes: Rashford, Rajkovic, Itter, Heatubun.
Booked: de Jong, Rodri
Man of the Match: Gustavo Bonanno (Manchester United)
Attendance: 54,704
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)

2026-27: May Preview

So the final month of yet another season, the ninth overall of this career.

We begin May with a tough game at Anfield against Mats Gren and his Arsenal team. By the time we face the Gooners we have had a favour from their biggest rivals, Tottenham. That's because Spurs face Manchester City 24 hours beforehand; and if they beat City then we know full well that we can go second if we equally overcome Arsenal. Tottenham have nothing to play for, just a wee bit of pride, so it will be interesting to see how they approach it.

After the Arsenal gane it's midweek European action back at Anfield with the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against United. They lead 3-1 at the halfway point in this tie. However; we have what might be a priceless away goal to our credit. That means if we win 2-0 on the night then we will advance to Amsterdam on away goals or we win them convincingly which is hardly going to happen. They have so much quality about them in virtually every position, we know we will have to be our best in progress. The Final will be at the end of the month if we somehow make it; will give it our best shot I suppose. And that's all you can do...

Our final Premier League game of the season is at SJP. We have played them three times since I took over, and each one we have won but in Federico De Zan, they have a goalscorer who is doing the hallowed number 9 jersey proud and he's one we will have to keep quiet for sure indeed. Depending on the games in the previous round of matches, we can be in charge of our destiny to finish second or if both us and City have won then we will have to depend on City losing on the final day to secure second. City that day face already relegated Cardiff, which really has a win for City seen as a nailed on banker. Can we finish second?

Unless we have beaten United and made the Champions League Final; our final game of 2026-27 is the Emirates FA Cup Final at Wembley. Our opponents are Watford, a team that has had a more than reasonable season in the Premier League. The Hornets will be obviously looking to sting us and prevent us from doing a domestic Cup double which would be the perfect way for Virgil Van Dijk and Roberto Firmino to retire on. Barring injuries I am hoping to let both play some part in the showpiece.

Then we start the club rebuild, who to keep and who to let go whilst working throughout summer also on internationals with England! Time certainly never stops....

2026-27: April Standings and Awards

Well not long to go in the 2026-27 season.

United have secured yet another title, their sixth in succession. City have slipped up after making an incredible start under Tuchel, and not even the loss of Diego Simeone to rivals Chelsea has halted the United juggernaut. Whatever we do then we know we will be playing in the Champions League next season but quite at what stage, remains to be seen.

We are destined to finish no lower than third which considering the team were mid-table when I took over; represents a large step forward for the Club.

However we know we will need to spend on reinforcements in the summer but don't have the spending power to match the Manchester duo but if we can get some decent quality in then we might be there or thereabouts in 2027-28. The good news to come out of April was that we have managed to squeeze extensions to Alisson, Mohammed Salah and Andrew Robertson. Their experience will be more than useful as we build for the future.

As you can see, the bottom three are already decided. Stoke and Burnley are automatically promoted from the Championship, although the title went to the Potteries on goal difference. Neither could match my points total with Preston it has to be said. The third spot will come from either West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Brighton who are going to battle it out in those dreaded play-offs. Of the four, I wouldn't mind Albion actually...

Of the loan players that we have out, Patrick Roberts has been in superb form at Stoke City and is probably the one that shone brighter than most. I'm hoping that the Potters will decide to shell the agreed the £12.75 million fee at the end of the loan period if not beforehand now they've got promotion. Yet the fact he's on £110K a week here, means he's gonna have to take a possible pay cut for that to happen. The others are doing alright but none as good as Roberts.

As for the awards, surprise surprise nothing came our way. Despite having a 75% win ratio, I once more failed to make the top three which is astonishing considering the third placed manager only had a 60% win ratio. Makes you wonder how these decisions are made, eh? The only nomination we got was a second place for Frenkie de Jong in the goal of the month behind Tottenham's Giovani Lo Celso. Maybe one day we will sweep all and sundry and get everyone else talking.

One more month to go, but equally as important as the others.

De Ligt: Scored the third goal for United

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL - FIRST LEG

MANCHESTER UNITED 3 LIVERPOOL 1

It's first blood to Manchester United after they won the first leg of the all-Premier League Champions League semi-final at a rainy Old Trafford. Goals from Mario Ricci, Maximillian Wöber and Matthijs De Ligt gave Jürgen Klopp's Red Devils an important lead over his former side ahead of next week's second leg at Anfield.

It is an advantage that United really deserved after controlling this first leg from start to finish. The Red Devils carved out chance after chance and could have easily won by a more convincing margin.

United took the lead after 20 minutes when Leon Bailey's through ball was collected by Ricci, and the Italian hotshot rounded Alisson to slot home his 30th of the season and repay another huge chunk of the £104 million transfer fee United paid Juventus last summer.

Seven minutes later, the Italian turned provider for United's second of the night. A left wing corner was flighted in by Gustavo Bonnano to Ricci and he nodded it down into the path of Wöber who drilled his effort into the net to hand his side a huge advantage. Liverpool were at sixes and sevens and simply couldn't contain the Premier League champions.

Yet they showed some spirit in the second half, and halved the deficit with twenty minutes left on the clock. Reiss Nelson played in former United man Romelu Lukaku whose angled drive was beaten away by David De Gea but the Belgian poached away the rebound into the gaping goal.

However, United restored their two goal advantage with a third goal in the 77th minute when De Ligt flicked home a Bailey corner into the top corner. Liverpool's night was compounded when star midfielder Eduardo Venegas limped off with suspected pullet ankle ligaments seconds before the De Ligt goal and England captain Trent Alexander-Arnold also looked in some discomfort as the teams shook hands at the final whistle.

United - De Gea; Dalot, De Ligt ©, Wöber (Luiz Felipe 78), Riveros; Bailey (Rashford 78), Arthur, Pogba, Bonanno (Vinicius Junior HT); Havertz; Ricci. Unused Substitutes: Woolley, Rajkovic, Itter, Heatubun.
Liverpool - Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Vallejo, Van Dijk © (Robertson 66), Tierney; Rodri, de Jong; Salah (Nelson 57), Venegas (Kovacic 77), Lemar; Lukaku. Unused Substitutes: Fernando Almeida, Stevens, Heerkens, Camara.
Booked: Riveros
Man of the Match: Leon Bailey (Manchester United)
Attendance: 75,635
Referee: Tobias Welz (Germany)

2026-27: April Summary (Part Two)

Welcome to the second part of two which details how we fared in the Premier League for the month of April.

MATCHDAY 35 - Wednesday 21 April 2027


The games kept coming and coming, and a long trip south to St Mary's was next on the agenda. I made four changes to the side that had lost to United, and one of those changes was in central defence as young centre back Richard Warburton was given his full Premier League début. The local lad had done well in an FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient so I felt it was a good enough chance to showcase himself in the top flight; and to be honest he acquitted himself well again.

We took the lead in the 10th minute when Lemar, playing in the "hole" role, fed Lukaku who struck the ball first time low into the bottom corner and end a personal goal drought which had lasted for the best part of ten hours gameplay. The relief on the big Belgian's face was plain to see. Saints were pressing us but the defence was holding out considering it had three alterations to it. The lead was doubled in the 29th minute, Reiss Nelson with the assist this time into Lukaku who again found the net with a first time finish albeit this one went in off the post.

A third goal came eight minutes from time, and it was another youth product who provided the assist. Gateshead born winger James Barker marked his first appearance in the Premier League with a dangerous low cross into the six yard box which was anticipated by Lemar six yards out just as Angus Gunn thought he was claiming the ball first. There was to be no clean sheet as German Florian Neuhaus scored in the second minute of five added-on but by then we were home and hosed.

Team: Alisson; Heerkens, Vallejo, Warburton, Robertson; Tielemans, Rodri; Nelson, Lemar ©, Woodburn; Lukaku. Substitutes: Fernando Almeida (for Woodburn 65), Barker (for Nelson 72), Salah (for Rodri 78), Tierney, Stevens, Camara, Roberto Firmino.
Booked: Warburton, Tielemans
Man of the Match: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Attendance: 27,497

MATCHDAY 36 - Saturday 24 April 2027
LIVE ON


April concluded with a tough assignment at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. As we kicked off, we knew it was now a case of battling Manchester City for second as United had wrapped up yet another title: their 26th top flight title and 19th Premier League one since its inception in 1992-93. Dutch duo Van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong returned back to the starting eleven after being rested from the team at Southampton, and it was another hard away game which we had to work for the points.

We were ahead of after just seven minutes when Cuenca fouled Lukaku as they challenged for the ball following a Ben Woodburn cross. Referee Stuart Attwell had no hesitation in saying penalty, and Lemar confidently drilled it into the bottom corner and under the dive of Iczo. It was the Frenchman's 100th league goal of his stellar career. The Foxes equalised in the 29th minute with what some thought was a great individual effort from Mason Greenwood. However from our perspective, it was shambolic as first of all Vallejo allowed himself to be easily dispossessed by the former United man, Jeroen Heerkens was then swatted aside by the same attacker and finally Alisson was beaten easily at his near post.

The match winning goal came three minutes later and it was redemption for Heerkens who produced an accurate cross for Lukaku to continue his goalscoring run and divert it past a leaden footed Iczo. We weren't at our best but a combination of dogged defending and Leicester not taking their chances saw us win a second successive away game. The game also saw the reappearance of Croatian internationalist Mateo Kovacic as a 56th minute substitute following three weeks out with sprained ankle ligaments.

Team: Alisson; Heerkens, Vallejo, Van Dijk ©, Robertson; Tielemans, de Jong; Nelson, Lemar, Woodburn; Lukaku. Substitutes: Kovacic (for de Jong 56), Venegas (for Lemar 64), Fernando Almeida (for Nelson 71), Alexander-Arnold, Stevens, Tierney, Roberto Firmino.
Booked: Nelson, Van Dijk, Vallejo
Man of the Match: Mason Greenwood (Leicester City)
Attendance: 29,839

2026-27: April Summary (Part One)

Welcome to the first part which details how we fared in the Premier League for the month of April.

MATCHDAY 33 - Saturday 10 April 2027
LIVE ON


Our first game of the penultimate month was a home encounter with a Wolves side on the fringes of the fourth Champions League spot; so we had to perform if we wanted to avoid Arsenal catching us. The game kicked off early due to the Grand National race meeting a few miles north taking place same day. We made two changes from the side that defeated Schalke in midweek, Youri Tielemans and Eduardo Venegas returning to the starting eleven in place of Karim Camara and the rested Thomas Lemar. We also kept faith with the 4-2-3-1 formation used against the Germans.

The game was an entertaining one with the main difference being the finishing, as we took our chances and Wolves didn't which enabled Alisson to record his 14th Premier League clean sheet of the season. We took the lead in the 25th minute, Tielemans laying the ball off to Frenkie de Jong whose low drive from the edge of the area found the net via the inside of the far post at the Kop end. The lead was doubled four minutes later when Venegas received a return pass from a short corner routine with Romelu Lukaku to stride on unchallenged by the visiting defence before drilling a low effort across Lafont and into the far corner.

Two late goals added the gloss. In the 78th minute, Kieran Tierney's goalbound effort was blocked but Venegas smacked in the rebound for his second of the match and our third. Then a couple minutes later we had our fourth of the afternoon, a classic counter attack seeing Venegas weight a pass into the path of substitute Fernando Almeida who curled a beautiful effort around Lafont into the far corner. Job well done!

Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Vallejo, Van Dijk ©, Robertson; de Jong, Tielemans; Nelson, Venegas, Woodburn; Lukaku. Substitutes: Rodri (for Vallejo 57), Salah (for de Jong 64), Fernando Almeida (for Lukaku 73), Lemar, Stevens, Robertson, Heerkens.
Booked: Tierney
Man of the Match: Eduardo Venegas (Liverpool)
Attendance: 54,704

MATCHDAY 34 - Saturday 17 April 2027
LIVE ON


After the midweek heroics in Gelsenkirchen, we faced our old rivals United in a North West derby that would have a massive bearing on the Premier League title's destination. We knew if we won then we would stand as good a chance to deny United a sixth successive crown. United had stuffed us 4-0 at Anfield earlier in the season, before my time, and this was also to be a dress rehearsal for the impending Champions League semi final at the end of the month. To try and stifle United, I adopted a 4-2-1-2-1 formation with Tielemans supporting the wingers and Lukaku from deep in central midfield. Unfortunately my skipper was to have his worst game for me since I took charge.

Both teams created a multitude of chances, 41 between them. Predictably United had the best of them but it took the home side 28 minutes to break the deadlock when Argentine Gustavo Bonanno picked the ball up on the left wing before advancing unchallenged into the penalty area and then hammering an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net; Alisson rooted to the spot. Seven minutes later, they were 2-0 ahead when the prolific Mario Ricci collected a Kai Havertz pass, shrugged off Van Dijk like he was an amateur, and finished with ease. We were in danger of being humiliated once more such was the incisiveness of United's play.

Harsh words were said at the interval, some of them unprintable, to gain a reaction and to be honest we were a lot more improved in that second half. We reduced the arrears in the 61st minute when Thomas Lemar started and finished a well crafted move with a shot he bent around De Gea for his 100th goal in Liverpool colours. United's attacking process saw them restore their two goal advantage in the 68th minute, Dalot charging down the right wing before putting in a deep cross that Havertz nodded down to an unmarked Marcus Rashford and the England internationalist placed an effort around Alisson into the bottom corner.

But we were unwilling to lie down and scored a second with quarter of an hour to go. This time Lemar turned provider with an inch perfect corner that was met by a bullet header from Kieran Tierney. Chance of a draw beckoned if we could get a lucky break. However, fate decreed otherwise as United clinched the points to put them on the brink of the title with a fourth three minutes from time. Arthur's corner was headed goalwards by Wöber but parried away by Alisson only for it to strike the back of the head of Tierney and roll agonisingly over the line. No way back after that. But the second half at least gave me some hope for our Champions League game. It was the first time I had tasted defeat since becoming Liverpool manager.

Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Vallejo, Van Dijk ©, Robertson; de Jong, Rodri; Tielemans, Fernando Almeida, Lemar; Lukaku. Substitutes: Venegas (for Tielemans 57), Salah (for Fernando Almeida 66), Heerkens (for Alexander-Arnold 81), Nelson, Stevens, Robertson, Woodburn.
Booked: Rodri, Tierney
Man of the Match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Attendance: 75,635