Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca guided his side to victory at Manchester United on Sunday despite playing more than an hour with 10 men, extending City's unbeaten Premier League start to four wins from four games. Daily Mail columnist Ian Ladyman wrote that the derby performance showed why Pep Guardiola, who left City after ten years in charge, had been right to step down.
Ladyman said Guardiola, watched on Manchester City's fly-on-the-wall documentary, appeared to be "a man starting to wilt and fray at the edges" under the weight of a decade in the job, someone who by his own admission had little new to offer. He wrote that Maresca, nine years younger than his predecessor, brought back the energy and freshness that had been missing last season, even as senior players such as Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias and Rayan Cherki continue to show Guardiola's influence.
He praised the progress of midfielder Elliot Anderson and the form of Enzo Fernandez, who arrived from Chelsea, describing the Argentine as freed "from the circus show that was life at Chelsea." Ladyman, who said he had been a strong critic of Maresca's spell at Stamford Bridge, called that Chelsea side "horrible and ugly to watch." He wrote that City "look invigorated and rebooted" and ready to challenge champions Arsenal, though he cautioned it remained early, with the first international break still to come.
Howard Webb under pressure over VAR errors
Ladyman said referees' chief Howard Webb should be held accountable for a run of VAR mistakes, including an error at Sunderland on Saturday and what he called "the mother of all disasters" during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. He wrote that Manchester United had to be sent a letter of apology over the mistake, and questioned whether Webb, who leads the body now known as Pro Ref, could continue in the role.
Arsenal's Arteta accused of double standards
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was also criticised after his side's game at Sunderland, where video assistant referee officials failed to overturn a penalty award after referee John Brooks ruled that Ezri Konsa had been pulled to the ground by Sunderland defender Dan Ballard the wrong way round. Sunderland's resulting penalty was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Ladyman said Arteta's subsequent comments about referees needing to "protect the game" were "a bit rich," given Arsenal's own record of pushing "right at the edges of what is legal at set pieces."
Sky's half-time interviews criticised
Ladyman also criticised Sky Sports' in-game interviews, singling out an exchange between presenter Patrick Davison and Manchester City defender Marc Guehi at half-time, and another with Manchester United manager Michael Carrick as he left the tunnel for the second half. He called the interviews "an utter waste of time" that revealed nothing of interest, despite forming part of broadcasters' rights packages this season.
Raya praised as Martinez struggles for consistency
Ladyman repeated his view that Raya is now the Premier League's best goalkeeper after his display at the Stadium of Light. He contrasted that with Chelsea's Emiliano Martinez, signed from Aston Villa for 7.5 million pounds, who was "erratic" in Chelsea's draw against Hull on Saturday despite starring for Argentina in the World Cup final. Martinez, 34, was not at his best for Villa last season, he added.
Solanke under pressure as Tottenham's drought continues
Tottenham Hotspur remain without a Premier League goal this season after a draw with Everton, despite an improved attacking display under manager Roberto De Zerbi in the first half, Ladyman wrote. He said Omar Marmoush, signed recently from Manchester City, looked more effective playing behind a striker than leading the line alone, and questioned whether Dominic Solanke, who cost 55 million pounds two summers ago and has scored just 12 league goals since, is good enough to lead Tottenham's attack. "He has something to prove," Ladyman wrote.
He noted Tottenham's bench against Everton included James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall and Connor Gallagher, and said progress "must come." Everton, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and sit eighth in the Premier League after draws with Tottenham, Manchester United and Bournemouth and a win over Crystal Palace. But Ladyman dismissed midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's claim that David Moyes's side can challenge for Europe, arguing a poor transfer window means "the forces of gravity" will eventually catch up with them.
Lampard's Coventry still searching for a goal
Coventry City, promoted after winning last season's Championship, are also without a Premier League goal following a 5-0 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion under manager Frank Lampard. Ladyman wrote that Lampard, 48, long touted as a future England manager, was still being backed by Coventry's fans, but that continued struggles would complicate any FA interest, given his previous mixed spells at Chelsea and Everton.
Tuchel to trim England squad this week
England manager Thomas Tuchel is due to name his first squad since the World Cup this Friday, cutting his 26-man party from the tournament in America down to 23 for four Nations League matches against Spain, Croatia and Czechia over a three-week international break. Ladyman wrote that Cole Palmer and Phil Foden are pushing for recalls, while Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Fulham's Josh King, whom Tuchel watched in person nine days ago, are also in contention for what he called an "inevitable midfield reshuffle."
Villa's tunnel gamble and Emery's substitution risk
Aston Villa placed their Europa League trophy, won last season in Istanbul, in the players' tunnel ahead of a home defeat to Nottingham Forest, the midlands rivals they had beaten in that competition's semi-final. Forest striker Liam Delap scored his first goal in 28 games, a 25-yard strike, as Forest won what Ladyman described as a one-sided game.
Villa have taken one point and scored one goal in four Premier League games. Manager Unai Emery had used all five of his substitutes by the 63rd minute, before defender Ian Maatsen was forced off injured late in the match, a decision Ladyman called a risk.
The weekend's quiz asked which former player of both Manchester clubs was heard singing "Take me Home, United road" in the Old Trafford press box before kick-off. The answer was Peter Schmeichel.
