Ask CROUCHIE
OUR MAN ON OZIL, ALLI’S DILEMMA... AND THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT BACKFIRED!
CHRISTMAS is coming and Peter Crouch’s mailbox is full to the brim. Sportsmail’s resident columnist is in high spirits but before he talks presents, he looks at what is in store for Dele Alli, discusses Everton’s renaissance under Carlo Ancelotti...and wonders what’s next for Arsenal.
WOULD ARSENAL’S PROBLEMS BE SOLVED IN SOME PART IF THEY FIND A WAY FOR MESUT OZIL TO RETURN?
Chris W via email
No, Chris. I don’t think for one minute that bringing him back — no matter how much of a class player he is — will spark the change they need. I can understand people asking why Mikel Arteta hasn’t tried it, but the manager has clearly made his mind up.
This issue isn’t sustainable. I played for Tottenham, but I have huge respect for Arsenal. The Arsenal I knew wouldn’t have put itself in a position where a player is able to tweet after a game, hinting at division and undermining the manager, as ozil has done.
As it stands, Arsenal are heading towards a relegation battle and it shows how badly things have gone since Arsene Wenger left.
The Unai Emery experiment was a disaster and at the moment you cannot see where the next three points will come from.
I hear people say they will strengthen in January, but who are they going to buy? More to the point, who is going to want to come to the Emirates?
Yes, it was all roses in July when they won the FA Cup, but the momentum from that win over Chelsea has completely gone.
It needs more than ozil to get it back.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON EVERTON RIGHT NOW?
JoeEfc171 via Twitter
I’M very impressed with them, Joe. I said in a column earlier in the season that Everton were in safe hands with Carlo Ancelotti and, as he marks a year in the job, he has shown why. The last three wins against Chelsea, Leicester and Arsenal are huge.
What has impressed me most is how sensibly they have played in the last three matches. They could have been hurt by the injuries that regular full backs Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne sustained, but Ancelotti has hit on a formula that makes them hard to beat.
Going into Christmas in the top four is outstanding — I remember being worried about relegation for them 12 months ago — though I don’t see a title challenge materialising in the second half of the campaign. They are still just a bit short.
But there is no doubt they are going along the right lines. I love how Dominic Calvert-Lewin has developed and I hope he continues his good form on Wednesday.
The Carabao Cup quarter-final is huge and I suspect it’s the game Ancelotti wants to win most over Christmas.
DO YOU THINK THERE’S A GENUINE RIVALRY BETWEEN MOHAMED SALAH AND SADIO MANE OR IS IT JUST HEAT-OF-THE-MOMENT STUFF?
Liam Wraith via Twitter
THERE is only a problem, Liam, around something like this if a team are losing. Liverpool have won everything over the past two years and I would expect them to retain the Premier League, too, given the form they have hit. But don’t kid yourself that a competition isn’t going on between Salah and Mane.
Every forward player is selfish and these two will want to score as many goals as they
possibly can — Salah, in particular, looks obsessed with his numbers right now. Salah came here as a winger but he has developed into one of Europe’s most prolific forwards; a goal machine. He was in the right place for his first at Crystal Palace and his second, to complete the 7-0 rout, was absolutely beautiful. Mane’s face, having been substituted, was a picture. He was furious and rightly so, because when you smell blood as a striker, the last thing you want is to be taken off. Are he and Salah the best of friends? I doubt it. But it doesn’t matter. I had strike partners who I knew never liked me. It never prevented me getting on with my job.
Phil Edwards via email
It’S time for him to go, Phil. I don’t like it when I see good players languishing on the sidelines and Alli has too much ability for it not to be utilised. I am worried about Harry Winks, too, and wonder whether he needs a fresh start.
In terms of Dele, he has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
We’ll see whether either of those moves comes to fruition but I hope he has a fresh start to get his career back on track as he needs a new club.
If he does not move soon, his career will stagnate because I think the fact Jose Mourinho didn’t include him on the bench yesterday told you everything you need to know. there is no future for him in north London while Mourinho is in charge.
ARE YOU, LIKE ME, GETTING BORED WITH JOSE MOURINHO’S SILLY ANTICS AND BAD SPORTSMANSHIP?
Barry Quelch via email
No, Barry. Far from it. I love it, actually. I didn’t like it when Mourinho was inhibited at Manchester United and it’s made me laugh, recently, seeing him having a pop at people, starting wind-ups and saying things that are aimed to shock.
He does this when he knows he has a proper team. He wouldn’t get involved in a squabble with Jurgen Klopp if he thought Liverpool were miles and miles ahead. He will, though, get involved in the fight if he believes his team can go to war. I felt Mourinho had a glint in his eye when he took the Spurs job 13 months ago and it’s been obvious over the last couple of months. I understand he is not everyone’s cup of tea but I’ve always enjoyed the joust with him. I hope he continues like this.
Scott Andrews via email
THAT’S a good question, Scott. the first thing to point out is that England have never been more blessed than they are right now in that position. trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Kieran trippier are established; Aaron Wan-Bissaka is there; tariq Lamptey is emerging.
I’m sure, though, that Gareth Southgate and his team will be in contact with Steven Gerrard, and his scouts will be watching.
to score as many goals as tavernier has done already is an outstanding achievement and he’s clearly in the form of his life.
the job Stevie has done with Rangers is amazing. I might have underestimated things earlier in the season, especially in terms of Europe.
they have moved into the last 32 of the Europa League in impressive fashion and they have given themselves an outstanding chance to become champions.
WHAT’S YOUR BEST EVER CHRISTMAS PRESENT? AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS YEAR?
WHAT NEXT FOR DELE ALLI AFTER HE WAS LEFT OUT OF TOTTENHAM’S 20-MAN SQUAD AGAINST LEICESTER?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER JAMES TAVERNIER — WHO NOW HAS SCORED 13 GOALS FOR RANGERS — SHOULD GET INTO GARETH SOUTHGATE’S SQUAD?
Alice Kelly via email
OH, Alice. You’ve opened up some memories here. In 1990, I wanted the England tracksuit that the team wore for the World Cup, the one made famous by Paul Gascoigne. Santa had run out of those tracksuits by the time he got to Ealing, unfortunately. Instead, my mum and dad got me one of those old Chelsea substitute tracksuits. It was an all- in- one, with a zip running from chest to foot so you could take it off easily. Maybe they had seen into the future and realised their son was destined to be a super sub. I don’t actually want anything this year and I hope you’re not thinking I’m going to give you inspiration for lastminute gifts. one year I bought Abbey a three-metre charger, so she could sit on the couch while boosting her phone rather than resting by the wall. I thought it was practical, but let’s just say she didn’t react as she would have done had it been a diamond ring! on that note, let me wish you a very Merry Christmas. Let’s all stay safe and well over the festive period.