Teddy Sheringham didn't mince words when assessing the Premier League's most turbulent clubs for BOYLE Sports . On Liverpool , he repeatedly used the word "toxic" to describe the situation around Arne Slot , insisting the club needs a change and that the man who just left Bournemouth is the answer.
On Xabi Alonso joining Chelsea , Sheringham was blunt: Liverpool fans have no right to feel aggrieved, placing the blame squarely on the club for failing to act when they had the chance.
Roberto De Zerbi's early work at Tottenham drew cautious optimism from Sheringham , who felt the Italian's record since taking charge was better than it felt from the outside. He drew a direct parallel with the Harry Kane and Declan Rice situation to explain what kind of signings Spurs need to make this summer, and he was equally clear about Jordan Pickford's future at Everton .
Manager Talk
The Slot Problem
I think there is a toxic vibe developing around Liverpool now. Keeping Arne Slot only to sack him if he does not start next season well, that is a very negative way of going into a new season, straight away. You cannot go into a season like that. I do not think a club like Liverpool should be going into a season with that thought. It wastes another season. If that is the case, and after twelve games they are 10 points off the leader or something, what are you going to do?
You cannot do that at Liverpool . I will be very surprised if something does not happen sooner because they need a change, and I think Andoni Iraola is the man to come in. Richard Hughes is at Liverpool now. He was at Bournemouth . I would be very surprised if they have not already spoken about the opportunity. I would even bet on it that Iraola will be the next manager of Liverpool Football Club .
I was so surprised that Iraola left Bournemouth without something else lined up. If you are a football manager, you sign another two-year deal and then get sacked after six months, and you get paid up, so why would he not have anything set up? Where is he going? I do not think he is just planning to sit on the beach. He is a football manager, and a very good one, and I think it would appease the Liverpool fans, too, at the moment.
If the club sticks with Arne Slot , it is just going to get worse and worse. It is just not good enough. The fact he managed to sneak into the Champions League means he kept his job, I guess, but that is not enough. I do not like the vibes around Liverpool going into next season. It is all too negative. That does not bode well for the football club, really.
Xabi Alonso To Chelsea
Was Xabi Alonso going to Chelsea a bit of a slap in the face for Liverpool fans? Not really. The writing has been on the wall at Liverpool with Arne Slot . They knew Xabi Alonso was available. Go and get the deal done. Get it sorted. It was there to be done. If you do not have complete faith in your manager, sort it out while Alonso is available, but they did not do that.
It is not Alonso's fault Liverpool missed the boat. It only adds to the strange vibe around Liverpool , seeing him go to Chelsea . Xabi Alonso is a Liverpool man. Maybe Chelsea fans might end up thinking he is only here as a stepping stone before he goes on to take the Liverpool job. Fans do not like the idea of that. He might have to win over the Chelsea fans and prove he is there for all the right reasons.
Tottenham
De Zerbi's Task At Spurs
Where can Tottenham Hotspur finish next season under Roberto De Zerbi ? Higher than where they have finished the last two seasons, for starters. I think De Zerbi had a strong finish. What was it, seven games, three wins, two draws and two losses? That is a good record, especially given the state Spurs had been in. It did not feel anything like that, but it is a good return, and if he can start winning games at home, that will turn the corner, too. It is unbelievable they only won three games at home all season.
I liked De Zerbi as manager of Brighton . Hopefully, the football club will give him money to spend. He has already shown enough to deserve it, in my opinion. They should be asking him who do you want, and then go and get him those players. About three years ago, I said that Manchester United needed to go and sign Harry Kane and Declan Rice as soon as they were available. United did not get either of them. Tottenham are in that situation now.
You have to go and get the big players now to lead by example, players that come into a club and set the standard, like what Harry has done at Bayern Munich and Declan has done at Arsenal . You need players who will put the shirt on and fill it out like Eric Cantona did when he went to United . The most important thing for Tottenham to remember is that if you just bring in the same sort of players that you always have, and they are all good players, you will end up in the same position again, and that is not good enough for Tottenham at the moment.
They need to go and bring some leaders into the camp and change the whole picture at Tottenham . De Zerbi will know what he is looking for and where to find them. He will already have his contacts out there looking at the players he needs to bring to take the club to bigger and better places.
Jordan Pickford
Pickford's Next Move
For a goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford is still young. He is right in his prime. Let us not forget Peter Schmeichel and David Seaman kept going on until 38 and 39 and into their 40s. When you are good, you are good, and you know it. So there is still time for Pickford to dare, I say this to the Everton fans, to move to a bigger club in the top six, competing for the big titles.
There is still time for him to do that, but he is obviously enjoying what he is doing now, and I am sure it is the question that has been put to him time and time again over the last few years. If he wanted to go, I am sure David Moyes would not stand in his way because of the service that he has given Everton , and I would understand if he wanted to go on and further his career.
Obviously, Moyes wants to take Everton to the next stage too, so he would not want that, but I think it is all about what Pickford wants, really. Number one playing for England , but not playing for a top club. I know that will infuriate Everton fans to hear me say that. Manchester United do not need a new goalkeeper now. They are happy with the one they have found, Senne Lammens . Chelsea need a top-class goalkeeper, and Pickford would tick every box for what they are looking for, without a doubt.
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