Speaking to BoyleSports, Sky Sports pundit and ex-Wolves striker suggests that Matheus Cunha should consider turning his back on a rumoured move to Man United.
Goodman also offered his insight into all things EFL, including the potential of a ‘Hollywood’ move to Wrexham for Jamie Vardy and the long-awaited promotion of Bradford.
Cunha Should Reject Man United!
I wonder whether Matheus Cunha should have reservations about signing for Manchester United. At this moment, if I were Matheus Cunha, I would be questioning whether it would be a good move right now joining Manchester United, who have a lot of ground to make up and rebuilding to do to get where he wants to be.
So I’d understand if he had reservations about moving to Old Trafford. I think he's a top player who could play for any team in the Premier League or in Europe. That's how good I think he is. He needs to sort his head out at times, which is a separate issue, but Manchester United would be very lucky to have him.
From his perspective, and I'm not dismissing the history and tradition of Manchester United, I'd be shocked if Matheus Cunha didn't have options to join better teams. I know it was on a different level, but when I left Sunderland, who are huge club, to join Wolves, it was because Wolves were in a better position to get me to where I wanted to be at that time.
I suppose Manchester United can still win the Europa League, which may change things, but Matheus Cunha will have to sit down and talk through all the offers he'll receive with his representatives when the season draws to a close.
Parachute Payments Mean Nothing
Parachute payments, or receiving the equivalent in revenues, means nothing. Look at Norwich City, Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Luton Town. Regardless of how much money you have, the key to success for any football club, whether they want to win the Champions League or stay in League Two, is how you spend it. If you get your recruitment wrong, you will not succeed.
Once In A Generation Ipswich
Ipswich Town's achievement of back-to-back promotions was a once-in-a-generation accomplishment. This season's promoted teams give you a more realistic vision of what you experience when being promoted from League 1 to the Championship. Portsmouth, Oxford United, and Derby County were all in danger of being relegated. That's a realistic gauge of the gap between League One and the Championship. Ipswich were not.
You can argue Birmingham City were the greatest ever League One team, having broken the points record with 111, and I don't want to take anything away from that achievement, but I would also argue that League One was pretty low in depth and quality this season. I said before a ball was kicked that Birmingham should win the title and break records, which they have done. That's all they could do, and people would be critical if they didn't, so we should congratulate them for going down in history. But it doesn't mean they will challenge for a play-off spot in the Championship next season.
“Naïve” Wagner On Birmingham Promotion Hopes
Think it would be a little bit naive of Tom Wagner to be talking about promotion to the Premier League by the end of next season. You want to be ambitious, and I doubt he's actually said such a thing in regards to promotion, but you have to be realistic, too. If you put the current side in the Championship, it probably finishes between 16th and 10th. If it gets that improvement, then they could finish in the top half, which therefore means you aren't too far away from the play-offs.
I think we'll get a good idea as to what Birmingham City are capable of in the next 10-12 games of next season, as I'm sure the division will be stronger.
Wrong About Wrexham
I was wrong about Wrexham; I'll hold my hands up. Hats off to them, I thought a top-half finish would be a good target, and the gap between League Two and League One would be too much. They got off to a good start and kept the momentum going before digging deep to get over the line.
Everything about Wrexham reminds me of Derby County when it comes to style of play and how they've gone about promotion. They scored lots of set pieces and only averaged the 15th most amount of possession in League One last year. Nevertheless, Derby showed that 20 set-piece goals, an honest work ethic and a solid defence can keep you in the Championship, and I would suggest that a similar objective should be Wrexham's port-of-call.
They should look to get off to a good start and reach a points tally where, halfway through the season, you know you will survive, and you can try and kick on in January. But, for the life of me, I cannot see Wrexham finishing anywhere near the top of the Championship next season with the greatest of respect.
Vardy To Wrexham?
Wrexham and Phil Parkinson have a track record of signing big-name strikers who have previously performed and scored goals in the Premier League. None in the calibre of Jamie Vardy, but those players have bought into the project and have been attracted by the glitz and glamour.
Jamie Vardy and Wrexham could be a match made in heaven. It would be a Hollywood signing. He scored eight goals and registered three assists in a truly awful Premier League team, which is not something to be sniffed at. He still knows where the back of the net is. The only question is whether Wrexham can attract and entice Jamie Vardy. Will he, with respect to Wrexham, get better offers? We will see.
Bristol Rovers Managerial Woes
You cannot argue against the removal of a head coach who has seen his team relegated. It just did not go well for Inigo Calderon, winning just six out of 27 games, which gave him a win ratio of just 22%. It's really sad, but equally, it's no surprise that they've relieved him of his duties.
The club have experience and knowledge of how Darrell Clarke works with him, having done really well there in his first stint. I understand the move and think it's a logical one for Bristol Rovers.
Bradford Finally Promoted!
At last. Hopefully, Bradford City can kick on and take a leaf out of Wrexham's book.
Bradford will be a big club in League One with a really big following up and down the country. I'm hoping Graham Alexander can put a squad together that will be capable of competing for another promotion and have a chance of reaching the Championship.
I'm really pleased. We celebrated the 40th anniversary of winning the Division Three title recently, and so it feels fitting that in the same year that they've gone on to secure another promotion. I'm really, really pleased.
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