Thank you to Matt Taylor for sharing this story. It is a difficult one but Matt and his family want it out there in Elsie’s memory. Always worth a reminder too that people are dealing with much more important things than football.

Premier League column. ▫️ Jacob Murphy being genuinely class for Newcastle ▫️ How Andre brings balance to the Wolves midfield ▫️ Bit on Carlos Baleba being brilliant for Brighton

Loved speaking to the brilliant Bo Henriksen, one of the managers of the season, about transforming Mainz and taking them to the brink of Europe. Loads of lessons in here about the importance of creating a culture, including one he learned when playing with Sean Flynn at Kidderminster Harriers.

Alisson Becker is the master of the one-against-one but how does he do it? A look at the composure, timing and technique behind being the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Walsall are enduring one of the bigger collapses in Football League history. What is going on? Their striker Jamille Matt not only went to school next to the training ground but has a degree in counselling psychology so felt like the man to ask…

Kylian Mbappe joined the current European champions but maybe he left the next European champions. Is he the problem? On that, ahead of a big night.

Can Thomas Müller help Bayern turn it around against Inter and keep the dream of winning the Champions League final in Munich alive? If he is to do so it will be amid some frustration over the handling of his departure. Asked Jürgen Klinsmann and Roman Weidenfeller for their take on it all.

How Raphinha became the favourite for the Ballon d’Or. Long read on the Barcelona forward, speaking to many of his former coaches from Brazil and Europe, including the story of how he signed for Leeds.

Birmingham City are back in the Championship — and with momentum. Chris Davies has done it by sticking to his style, the owners by learning harsh lessons and transforming the fan experience for Blues supporters.

Column this week: 🔴 Robertson's worrying decline at Liverpool 🔥 Tielemans' passing under pressure at Villa 🔶 Strand Larsen's hold-up play for Wolves

Interview with Nuno Espírito Santo on the tactical flexibility that has helped sustain Nottingham Forest’s Champions League push. Always good on those possession stats too: “It is absurd to think that you control the game because you control the ball."

Went to Ilkeston Town to a trial day for unsigned young players identified on an app who suddenly found themselves being scouted by Premier League clubs including Man City, Arsenal and Newcastle. Here’s how it went.

Column. ⬇️ Man City's defending in transition 🔴 Forest are master front-runners 🔶 How Agbadou improved Wolves

Interview with Marco Asensio on his impressive start at Aston Villa. Lovely player to watch and seems like he is already relishing the responsibility of bringing his experience to the team. ▫️ Taking on a leadership role ▫️ Why he wants to be a No 10 ▫️ Embracing Emery’s demands

Column for this week. ⬇️ De Bruyne's decline 💪 Munoz’s wing-back role 🔶 Bellegarde transformed

Interview with Aston Villa’s Andrés García discussing his mistake against Liverpool and the challenge of adjusting to the Premier League after signing from Spain’s second tier. Also had the chance to speak to Unai Emery and Marco Asensio about him for this piece.

Inspiring to talk to someone who is at the start of their football journey and obviously loving the experience so really enjoyed this with 17-year-old Nelly Las on making her WSL breakthrough.

Column on the following… 🔴 Quansah’s intervention 🔥 Delap’s all-round game 🔵 Alcaraz's quick impact

Man City gave up 20 shots against Real Madrid. Only time conceded more in the Champions League under Pep Guardiola was three weeks ago in Paris. Too easy to get at now. The pressing has been in decline for years and some look physically shot these days. On how and why it costs them games late on.

Interview with Donyell Malen. Neither of us realised he would be excluded from the Champions League squad at the time. Still think he can have an impact at Aston Villa but do wonder what his answers would be now…

On Man City’s new midfield signing Nico González with help from his old coach at Barcelona. “He can be a very good number 8 but an excellent number 6. How he moves the ball so quickly. That, for his size, is not usual.”

Nottingham Forest rank bottom for distance covered and they have also used the fewest players and have the fewest injuries. Maybe there is a connection? On the other advantages of Nuno Espirito Santo’s style of play.

Aston Villa links with Marcus Rashford and Joao Felix are interesting in light of Monchi line about Unai Emery getting the best from players who have maybe lost their way. Asked Emery about that in this interview, in which he also talks about looking for a different type of forward to Jhon Duran.

Nice to interview Rodrigo Gomes about his first season as a Premier League player. Has a great attitude and will go on to have a very good career. Wolves would love a few more like him.

Had a chat about Manchester United target Patrick Dorgu with the guys at FC Nordsjaelland. ▫️ ‘Journey is a little different’ ▫️ ‘Highest physical numbers’ ▫️ ‘Very flexible, modern player’ ▫️ ‘Will play at the highest level’

Column on the weekend. ▫️ Robert Sanchez ▫️ Bilal El Khannouss ▫️ Dean Huijsen

Asked Borussia Dortmund chief Carsten Cramer earlier this season why they seem to have decided it’s so important to appoint people who know the club when Ottmar Hitzfeld and Jürgen Klopp didn’t. “Let’s see. Hopefully, I am right. And if not, I have to say you asked the right question." On that…

Interview with the manager of the season so far, Walsall’s Mat Sadler. Twelve points clear at the top of the table, what’s interesting is that they are doing it with young players — and (for a lot of the time) without the ball.

Column is on… ▫️ How Liverpool’s attacking depth separates them from the rest. ▫️ Speaking to Marco Silva about the switch that saw off Leicester. ▫️ Asking Fabian Hürzeler to explain what makes Yasin Ayari so good.

How Omar Marmoush turned himself into an elite forward and why Manchester City want him. ▫️’Enormous drive to score goals’ ▫️’Flexible in attacking positions’ ▫️’Fits many styles of play’ ▫️’Finds solutions in tight spaces’ ▫️’Dynamic in transitional play’ ▫️’Improved defensive work’

On Pisa and the prospect of returning to Serie A for the first time in 34 years thanks to Pippo Inzaghi. Asked him why he is doing this when he has won everything in football and it is clear that he is as passionate about this as he was about bundling goals in from a yard out. Enjoyed this one.

“I was very young, all alone and I did not speak any English.” Interview with Omar Mascarell on how his time on loan at Derby County — and the support of Jeff Hendrick — helped set him on the path to success in Germany and Spain. He takes on Real Madrid with Mallorca in the Super Cup this week.

Stats column looks at… ▫️ Manuel Ugarte’s pressing, passing and tackling. ▫️ Raul Jimenez’s perfect Premier League penalty record. ▫️ Jan Paul van Hecke’s progressive passing bypassing opponents.

How has Vitor Pereira improved Wolves so quickly? Went to speak to Nelson Semedo to find out. Some really nice tactical detail in here from the Wolves captain.

Bit on Yankuba Minteh with help from his international manager. Enjoyed watching his early performances for Brighton, hope to see him kick on in the second half of the season.

Interview with Lee Johnson on still trying to find ways to become a more innovative coach as he looks to return after a year out of the game. Only 43, expect he will do just that.

Stats column is on Bruno Guimarães and his pressing, plus bits on Everton struggling when they are given the ball and why Forest are the masters without it.

Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth doing so well is refreshing not just because it shakes up the table but because they are succeeding in a different way to the rest — and each other.

Stats column is on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s passing range, Morgan Rogers’ dribbling and the contrast between Leicester’s goalkeepers.

Had a nice chat with @davidsquires.bsky.social about his new book.

Bit with Salomon Rondon. The big man takes on Real Madrid in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup this afternoon. Turned into a world-beater since leaving Everton.

Column on Amad Diallo’s touches in the Man City box, Morgan Gibbs-White’s high pass completion and what was special about it, plus a bit on Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pressing numbers.

Investment scaled back at Wolves and much of what was spent in the summer was of little use to Gary O’Neil. Even so, he has done such a poor job this season. To get 14 points from his last 26 games is just awful and the total lack of discipline reflects badly on him too. Try to sum it up here.

Interview with Tyrone Mings. Talked about his error at Club Brugge and why he is glad it happened to him rather than someone else. It is because he has learned to cope with football’s lows like few others. On injuries, seeing a therapist, the business of football and more.

Went to TNS vs Panathinaikos last night and being a savvy student of the game immediately clocked that the No.55 in midfield looked a special talent. Later found out it was 32-year-old Willian Arão, Copa Libertadores winner who made his Brazil debut seven years ago. Not expecting a finder’s fee.

Goalkeeper or Goalplayer? An interview with Frans Hoek on the figure (now rarely) stood between the sticks and why the word for the position should be changed. www.skysports.com/football/new...

Interesting watching the game at Old Trafford on Saturday. Think Man Utd have a clear plan now and makes sense for Ruben Amorim to start by trying to keep the ball but the issues trying to progress up the pitch are obvious. Worked for their first goal but too often hit a wall at the halfway line.

On Manchester City’s recruitment and why this run of results shows that even they could be undermined by poor planning and some pretty strange transfer windows. Not just Rodri’s position where they’re exposed either.

Went to Dortmund at the weekend, talking to players, staff and club legends about Jamie Gittens. His goal against Bayern Munich was special. Expect Thomas Tuchel to call him into the England squad before long. www.skysports.com/football/new...

Premier League column is on: ▫️ Nicolas Jackson and expected goals. Patience rewarded! ▫️ Tyler Dibling’s dribbling. Gives Southampton something different. ▫️ Joshua Zirkzee much improved with Ruben Amorim using him deeper. www.skysports.com/football/new...