Villa legend Dennis crying foul over constant pushing, pulling and falling
ASTON Villa’s most successful captain, Dennis Mortimer, is highly critical of the way too many players flop to the ground feigning injury. He is also appalled at the constant unpunished fouling in the penalty area and, at times, the wrong interpretation of VAR.
He dislikes, too, the attitude and tactics on certain occasions by the Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, clearly illustrated recently against Manchester City.
Dennis would also like to see former players involved in the VAR trucks to help the referee with their calls. Every time it seems the pitch referee is called to the monitor you can successfully predict the outcome before he makes it!
Mortimer, a stylish midfielder, was with the Villa for ten years from 1975. He captained the team to their greatest achievements – winning the Football League First Division as it was then in 1981 and then the European Cup the following year.
Villa had an outstanding team and will celebrate the latter triumph with a sell-out 500-guest dinner with the squad at Villa Park on May 26 – the 40th anniversary of that victory in Rotterdam.
Mortimer’s comments, which carry my support, were clearly illustrated in the recent European competitions where players were going to ground at the slightest touch to either attract a free-kick or waste time.
It happens mostly with European teams but some of the Premier League teams are guilty of it as well.
Meanwhile, the jostling and fouling that goes on unpunished in penalty areas at setpieces is incredible.
I have been banging on about it on a regular basis. Mortimer is staggered too. We both agree it would be a foul anywhere else on the pitch.
Just one example was in the Romaleicester match where Roma’s Chris Smalling grappled his opposite number, Wesley Fofana, to the ground. The referee and VAR ignored it. The law says for clear and obvious errors by the referee. That was certainly one! I believe it should be extended as it is in rugby union where the TMO will advise the on- pitch official if he spots something serious.
A leading football character said to me there would be chaos if the referee gave a penalty each time.
Chaos? It would soon stop. The referee, by the way, is always quick to penalise a forward for a foul at that time so why not a defender?
Dennis would like to see an explayer used permanently in the VAR truck to assist the official there.
I think that is an excellent idea to interpret what has happened. Too good an idea! I think football would reject it as either unnecessary or undermining the authority of that official. Football usually has a negative reason!
I think former players should be more involved in other areas as well as management and coaching.
I was pleased to see that the former Crystal Palace forward Jobi Mcanuff has been appointed to the FA’S newlook board.
He was selected ahead of two other candidates. Debbie Hewitt is the recently appointed FA chair. These are good steps after years of the old blazer brigade! Football is nervous about the Government push for an independent regulator. Appointments like these two strengthen the FA case.
I am glad Wolves and Villa are still going flat out this season.
Villa stopped Burnley’s recent revival under Mike Jackson with a 3-1 win at Turf Moor to put the Lancashire team back in relegation trouble. Burnley will not relish going to Villa Park for the return on Thursday week.
Now Villa can affect the league title with the home match tonight with Liverpool and then away at Manchester City in their last match.
Plenty for Villa players to prove before the club search the summer transfer market. Weekend results mean, by the way, that Liverpool have it all to do.
I did write in this column recently that people were wrong to assume the top two would win ALL their remaining matches.
Wolves, too, have a say in the title race against both contenders – Manchester City at home tomorrow before they finish the season at Anfield on May 22.
Wolves have had a good season despite a recent dip but Saturday was heartening coming back from 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge to hold Chelsea to 2-2 in front of Chelsea’s new owner, who did not look happy!
The regular Championship season is over. West Bromwich Albion finished 10th of 24. Not good enough for their aspirations.
But Steve Bruce took over late and I hope they have the sense to stick with him and support his transfer ambitions.
Birmingham City finished ten points and two places above the relegation zone. Another awful season. Rumours abound about the manager’s future.
That is one of several problems. They keep changing the head coach. Give Lee Bowyer longer.
The club always point a finger at that role instead of questioning themselves. Maybe the reported potential new owners will change all that.
Finally, let me point you up to my Sunday Mercury nostalgia column with IMPACT when I look back at my time with Dennis Mortimer, whose first club was Coventry City. Plenty of memories to write about.
Mortimer’s comments were illustrated in the recent European competitions where players were going to ground at the slightest touch.
It’s no secret that Robins would like to sign centre-half Clarkesalter on and talks between all parties are understood to have been started.
MARK Robins has dropped a summer transfer hint about Coventry City’s season-long loan duo from Chelsea.
Jake Clarke-salter and Ian Maatsen have been model loan signings for the Sky Blues, both performing to a high level and getting the seal of approval from both the manager and the fans.
The City boss gave the pair one last game for the club at Stoke at the weekend before they head back to their parent club to discuss their futures at Stamford Bridge.
“They’ve been brilliant, the pair have been a credit to themselves and obviously Chelsea,” said Robins, who chose 20-year-old Maatsen as the club’s Young Player of the Year at Saturday’s end of season awards.
“While Jake has had one or two issues with injury now and again, when he’s played he’s been absolutely outstanding.
“Likewise for Maats. He had a bit of illness at the start and an injury but apart from that he’s done really well. But the biggest thing I can say about them both is that they have bought into Coventry City and being our players. And that’s credit to them and Chelsea really.”
It’s no secret that Robins would like to sign centre-half Clarke-salter on a permanent contract and talks between all parties are understood to have been started.
However, any potential deal, as far as City are concerned, is believed to
hinge on whether he’s available on a free transfer. The 24-year-old former England Under-21 international is out of contract at Chelsea but the Premier League club has an option to extend that for another year.
Doing so would enable them to get a fee for the defender who has come up through the youth ranks with the Blues, having worked under Adi Viveash as a teenager.
Clarke-salter will not be short of offers. Although it’s unlikely he figures in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, the leftsided centre-back has ambitions to play in the top flight.
Maatsen, meanwhile, is understood to be highly rated by Chelsea, and it remains to be seen if Tuchel feels he’s ready to join his senior squad and compete for a place next season.
The likelihood is that he will be sent out on another loan spell to continue his development and upward trajectory, given that he has progressed effortlessly from a season in League One with Charlton Athletic to prove himself in the Championship with the Sky Blues.
Whether his next step would be at a higher placed second tier team, lower end Premier League club or abroad remains to be seen, but Coventry might just fit the bill given Robins’ ambitions to push for the play-offs next season.
Asked by Coventrylive if he has any chance of getting either Clarke-salter or Maatsen back, either as permanent signings or on loan, the 52-year-old didn’t rule it out, saying: “Who knows! Who knows!”