It’s not often that you see an analysis by a ‘talking head’ on TV and walk away impressed by it. But then again, #ThierryHenry isn’t exactly your average ‘talking head’ either. In this clip, Thierry talks about (and shows) some of the issues the current #LVG system at #ManchesterUnited has in contrast to some of the things #Guardiola did at #Barcelona. And yes, sure sure, we are talking very different personnel here when comparing #Messi #Iniesta #Xavi #Henry and #Villa to the numbnuts at United, with #Martial potentially being the only exception.

Simple things matter.

Watch here: (Scroll down the page till you get to the video of Henry and #Carragher)

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The rumor-mill is ablaze with the #Mourinho and #Guardiola to #ManchesterUnited given the inevitable upcoming sacking of the utterly sack-worthy#LVG; the #Guardiola to #ManchesterCity ‘done-deal’ and the #Bayern reigns being taken over in the summer by the superb #Ancelotti or the fabulous jobs being done by #Ranieri at surprise but entirely deserving leader #Leicester or #Pardew and #Flores keeping #Palace and #Watford in the top 7 and the smart consistent job being done by #Pochettino to bring #Tottenham (0-2 winners at #Southampton) into 4th. But amidst all of this, #ArseneWenger has done 3 things to his #Arsenal side –
1. He’s finally learnt to ignore the taunts and jibes of the ‘Specialist in failure’ that Jose has repeatedly dished out to him.
2. He’s finally got the team to be able to defend and organize as well attack on the counter while being a-ok with not controlling the majority of possession, an approach that has seemed counter to Arsene’s core belief and philosophy and finally
3. He’s letting his flair players like #MesutOzil play with much more freedom (he is all over the final 3rd of the pitch and the record 15 assists, including 2 today in the 2-1 win against City shows the reward for it)

Now they need to change one last thing – their inability to close out the season. If they do, this is the one massive opportunity for them to finally win the title, what with #City so inconsistent, #Chelsea hovering above relegation, #United utterly rubbish under LVG and Leicester so utterly dependent on the fitness (and that dreaded winter transfer window) of #Mahrez and #Vardy. If they cock it up this season, they’ll feel exactly like #Liverpool did 2 seasons ago and look where they are now, after another loss, this time a 3-0 thrashing at Watford.

Over in the #LaLiga, while the best team in the world by a country mile, the incredible #Barcelona were busy cantering to yet another #ClubWorldCup trophy beating #RiverPlate 3-0, the beleaguered #RealMadrid thrashed #Vallecano 10-2 in a stunning goal-glut with 4 from #Bale.

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#LouisVanGaal would have been fired from his job at any other super-club in the world with the results #ManchesterUnited have produced in the last 6 games – 0 wins, out of the #ChampionsLeague and after today’s 1-2 loss at #OldTrafford to newly promoted #Norwich, which followed a loss last week at newly-promoted #Bournemouth. But it isn’t just these supremely damaging results, it’s the way he has United playing – boring, dull, toothless with zero shots on goal in many games – in a nutshell, the complete opposite of the #SAF way the fans were used to. Much like #Mourinho’s goose was cooked the day he yelled at #Chelsea doctor #EvaCarneiro, today ought be the day that broke the camel’s back for LVG. United management have shown little maturity and common sense in the post #Gill post SAF era but if they had any modicum of sense left, they would be pulling out all stops possible to get one #PepGuardiola to sign for them come June 2016, now that he’s decided to move on from mighty #Bayern. Hard as this might be, given his ex-colleagues now run #ManchesterCity, #Roman is desperate for a big name #Mourinho replacement and there will be the temptation of the currently available “Special One”, they will need to break the bank (and current perception) and secure Pep’s services.

Over at #StamfordBridge, giving more credence to the theory that the players were orchestrating Jose’s exit, Chelsea put on a commanding performance (for the first time this season) as they comfortably beat #Sunderland 3-1 and will now begin their climb up the #EPL table – it’s too late for a top 4 possibly, but climb they will.

Top of the table #Leicester continue their incredible season with a 2-3 win away at #Everton, thanks to 2 penalties from #Mahrez and are now 5 clear of 2nd placed #Arsenal who get 3rd placed City to visit them tomorrow. #Tottenham went into 4th, replacing United by winning away at #Southampton 0-2 thanks to an absolute peach of a #HarryKane goal and a 2nd by the fantastic youngster #Alli.

Over in the #Bayernliga, #DieRote extended their lead at the top to 8 points after they won away at #Hannover and #Dortmund were beaten from behind at #Cologne 2-1. That race is as done as LVG’s goose is now cooked. Or should be.

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It almost seems like clockwork that #Arsenal draw one of the genuine European heavyweights in the 1st knock-out rounds of the #ChampionsLeague. They’ve had #Bayern and #Barcelona in the past few years and now they have the Catalan giants again and barring a minor miracle and a major upset, will find themselves dumped out of the competition yet again. Normally, #Chelsea and #Mourinho would have been relishing their chance to exact revenge on #PSG for knocking them out last year but given their terrible form this year, they will fear the Parisiens and will likely get knocked out. #RealMadrid get to play an out of sorts #Roma and Bayern are drawn with last year’s finalist #Juventus, who seem to have improved significantly from their dreadful start to the season but won’t have enough quality to upset #Pep’s mighty Bavarian machine.

#United will be kicking themselves in the shins for (a) being such a terrible team and (b) not beating #Wolfsburg and thus qualifying for the knockouts because the german’s were drawn with minnows #Gent, a tie that they should easily win and even this rubbish #Manchester side could have easily overcome. #ManchesterCity got a favorable tie for a change with a trip to #Kyiv and #Atleti get #PSV.

My predictions:

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