WILSON’S GOT HIS NEW GIG
EXCLUSIVE BY
HE might be on speaking terms with Salford’s famous owners but former Manchester United striker James Wilson says that does not reduce the expectation levels.
Life in League Two for the one-time Old Trafford prodigy is a million miles removed from his start in football. But there’s no bitterness or jealousy from the 25-year-old, who scored twice on his United debut as a teenager.
There is just a desire to help United’s class of 92, who have switched their allegiance to Salford City, to achieve new lofty ambitions.
Wilson and his Salford side will be at Wembley on Saturday to face League One Portsmouth in the final of the Football League Trophy held over from last term.
It is confirmation the club under Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs (below), Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham is moving in the right direction. Wilson said: “The backing from the owners is great and I think their ambition rubs off on us. I think we thrive on the extra pressure which comes with playing here.
“I’m not sure knowing them from my Manchester United days makes it any easier or harder.
“They watch us so at times it’s like they are judge and jury. But at the same time they are fans and want us to do well. I think it pushes us even more.”
His two-goal United debut feat against Hull was replicated in his first game for Salford – against Plymouth – after joining from Aberdeen last January.
“Getting game time is massive for me,” he added. “I would love to get back to playing in the Premier
League. Circumstances in football can always change and so who knows what is ahead if I play well and stay fit?”
Salford would love to add the Football League Trophy to their growing list of successes they have enjoyed since their high-profile takeover. And Wilson can’t wait to experience playing at Wembley.
He said: “I have only watched games there so being involved will be a special occasion.
“I saw England play Spain in a friendly and I’ve watched a rugby league Challenge Cup final involving Wigan Warriors. My girlfriend’s family are all mad on rugby league as well as being football fans. I had to grin and bear it for the first few years and then I started really enjoying it.
“Now this is the chance to win some silverware although the longterm focus has to be on the league.”
WHATEVER we believe about loyalty and contracts in football, the harsh reality is that it is not about what players think – it’s about what players want.
I’d love a situation where contracts mean something, where players’ loyalty is rewarded by loyalty back from the clubs and vice versa, but it just isn’t. Full stop. To quote Ramy Abbas Issa. Mo Salah’s agent knew what he was doing when he tweeted that full stop after the game on Thursday. I saw it and straight away I thought, “Here comes trouble”.
He can dress it up however he wants now, but, as the agent of a highprofile player, you know that anything you say is scrutinised forensically and anything cryptic like that can be interpreted in sinister ways.
I’ve not got a clue what he meant, but it was clearly pointed.
And you know what, if the player is agitating for a move, let him go.
I’m not having a go at Salah. I love him to bits. But I truly believe that transfers now are largely about what players want, so the ball is in his court, not Liverpool’s.
If he wants to go, then he should go. If a player wants to leave, we have to accept it’s in the mix.
I’m a firm believer that if they are unhappy and want to be going, then they should be going. Jurgen Klopp has said the same, too – he doesn’t want anyone at the club who doesn’t want to be there.
It is my belief that was his attitude with Philippe Coutinho (left). He agitated for a move.
Liverpool turned it down in the summer because it didn’t suit them financially and in terms of bringing players in.
But they did the deal in January, and used the money to buy Virgil van Dijk (below) and Alisson.
Klopp didn’t want Coutinho because he thought his attitude wasn’t right, and he didn’t want that poison in his camp in the end.
So if Salah is truly unhappy, if he is upset he hasn’t been given a new contract or whatever, then cash in, get as much as you can for him and use the money to make tweaks with the current team.
I’m a fan of Salah, obviously, who wouldn’t be? But Liverpool didn’t miss Coutinho that much, did they?
And it turned out that he wasn’t quite so good as people thought anyway – the system he was playing in made him look better.
Perhaps that’s the same with Salah. You’d miss his goals, but is it possible to find someone better – not necessarily as a direct replacement, but in strengthening the team as a whole?
I think Liverpool do need a few tweaks now. Their problems have slipped over from a slight dip in confidence to a major crisis of confidence. You could see it all over the pitch against Chelsea.
It does happen. I always believed in myself, but I had a couple of periods where my confidence went and I started to question myself, wonder if I’d lost it. I had one like that at City – it was demoralising.
You think you’re finished. I’ve seen it in Salah – he was bossed by Rudiger on Thursday, and looked far too easy to push off the ball.
Sadio Mane looks to be lacking confidence too, though I’d actually argue that he was the best of the front three in terms of keeping going and keeping trying things – so Klopp was right in leaving him on.
Firmino has struggled for a long time. He does the odd thing, which still looks great, but you see him give the ball away far too much. And that happens in other areas, too.
It’s not a time to panic, though, and rip the team up. I think you have to accept there is a real danger now of Liverpool not making the top four – we’re getting to the point where if the gap grows any larger, it will be impossible to make up.
They are eight points behind Manchester United and that means they have to win three more matches than a team who don’t lose many games. It’s a huge ask.
But even if Liverpool don’t finish in the top four, it’s not entirely disastrous. Yes, financially it’s massive, clubs need that European money more than ever, with losses sustained during the pandemic.
But they can come back. Get Van Dijk back in the team, get a couple of replacements (and they can be decent IF Salah does leave), get the mentality back Klopp instilled so well and I honestly believe you’ll see the real Liverpool return.
In the meantime, I have some simple advice for Liverpool’s players.
Go back to basics. I know that sounds simplistic, I know people will say it can’t be that easy. But, honestly, sometimes that’s what is required.
You saw Mane trying an outrageous volley on Thursday when his confidence is not the best.
It didn’t come off and it affected him. So give yourself a better chance, open your foot and make it technically easier, make the target bigger.
Hit the target, don’t try the Hollywood passes, keep possession, don’t throw it away trying stuff that comes off one in 10. Rebuild confidence by doing the easy things well.
Even five draws instead of defeats in the last five home games would have put Liverpool in the top four.
I believe that those questioning Jurgen Klopp are ridiculous. I believe he will turn things around – and quite possibly this season.
I don’t think major changes are required, but I still believe that if a player wants to go – even someone as adored by the fans and as important as Salah – then let him.
I HAVE to be careful how I say this, but watching Manchester City is boring – and I mean that as the biggest compliment I could possibly pay them.
They are so technically gifted, so tactically disciplined and so mentally honed with patience and clarity of thought that you know they can play their brilliant possession game and always find a way to break down even the most defensive opponents.
I think they are at the height of their talents and their confidence, just as Liverpool were last season.
Sometimes it just works out like that in football, you have times where things just click. I don’t believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can adopt Manchester United’s usual policy of loading the defence against his top-six rivals and trying to suffocate the games.
He needs to be bolder. Use the pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony
Martial and cunning of Bruno Fernandes as a weapon to cut through City. It’s a tall order against the best team in Europe right now and, in truth, I think I know the ending to this particular film.
But United should give it a real go – because a win over City would give them the lift they need to guarantee a top-four finish.