The Sun Newspaper

IF THERE’S one thing that gives me the hump about Christmas, it is hearing footballers complain about what a tough time it is.
I never went along with that as a player and certainly not as a manager, so don’t expect me to change now.

Harry Redknapp is not having players complain about the hectic Christmas schedule Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Even back in the day, when they used to play matches on Christmas Day itself, I couldn’t see what there was to get upset about.
All it did was make me think how lucky we were . . . training for an hour, being well paid for something you love. How could anyone say they were hard done to?
If anyone has reason to moan it’s all the doctors, the nurses, those in the emergency services who are working. It’s all about a reality check and realising what you’ve got.
And talking of reality checks, when I was still a youth-team player at West Ham, and hoping for my big first-team break, one Christmas brought the biggest ever.

It was Boxing Day 1963 and we all went to watch the game against Blackburn, all of us confident we’d get a result.
We had the likes of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Ronnie Boyce, some really decent players, and Johnny Byrne actually put us two up. But it turned into one of the strangest games I ever saw because Rovers came back and battered us 8-2.
Afterwards we had to wait outside the dressing room, and there wasn’t a sound from inside, in case there had been any injuries or manager Ron Greenwood wanted to make any changes.
The way the fixtures were back then, we were playing the return at Blackburn two days later and us young lads thought we might have a chance because of the result.

Harry Redknapp in his playing days at West HamCredit: Popperfoto – Getty

But as it happened he stuck with the same lot, bar bringing in Eddie Bovington for Peters, so it was a doubly disappointing Christmas.
Ron knew what he was doing because we went to their place — both teams on the same train — Eddie man-marked Bryan Douglas and we won 3-1.
Ron kept the same side for the rest of the season and we ended it winning the FA Cup, so maybe that Boxing Day hammering actually did us a favour in the long run.
I always loved the Christmas period –— although if you are worried about results, especially as a boss, you’re just going through the motions with all the festivities.
If you’re fighting relegation and need points, that’s all that matters. And that was the case in my first year in charge at West Ham, when we were bottom of the table.
So you can imagine my reaction when I heard the players had booked an open-top bus, complete with jazz band, to drive through East Ham for their Christmas party.

Harry Redknapp and Bobby Moore congratulate Trevor Brooking in 1972Credit: Rex Features
I told them “when you go past all those workmen, people digging the roads, the ones paying your wages, they’ll chuck all sorts at you,” and cancelled it. They still went out, just in a couple of mini-buses instead, and, of course, it didn’t end well because a bus got damaged.
Those parties are more trouble than they’re worth.
When it came to Christmas Day, I’d bring the players in early for training and then let them go home for dinner with the family before we’d meet up for the game the next day. But I’d never, ever, say to them they could have just one drink, because the minute you do that you’re heading for trouble!
It’s a hectic time and you’re away from home on Christmas night but you’d have all summer to go on holiday . . . and were getting well paid for the privilege.
So if I ever heard any of them complaining — or moaning about too many fixtures — I’d be on them straight away. Try doing it in ankle deep mud, like we all had to back in the day . . . maybe then you’d have something to moan about.
Although even then you never did, because you were just thankful to be playing football for a living. There’s a few out there who would do well to remember that now.
DIEGO GREATEST OF LOT

Diego Maradona tops the greatest players for RedknappCredit: AFP – Getty
LIONEL MESSI set the all-time scoring record for one club with his 644th goal for Barcelona this week — one more than Pele got for Santos — raising the old question of who is the greatest.
The way Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the best two in the world for a decade is incredible, and, of course, Pele was fantastic.
But for me Diego Maradona tops the lot, for almost single-handedly winning the World Cup, as well as turning an unfashionable Napoli into title winners. But it’s a close call.
ALL SET TO SHAKEM UP
I CAN’T wait to watch the football over the next couple of days.
But as much as I love it, the horse racing is always something special over Christmas, too — and I’m even more excited than normal about it.
My horse Shakem Up’Arry is due to run in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown next week and we fancy him to give us a real run.
He ran a cracker when fourth last time, he’s been burning up the gallops and he shouldn’t be far away. I’ve another decent bumper horse due out at Warwick in the new year, so I’ll let you know about him, too.
CUP PICKS TOOK MIKEL

Mikel Arteta rung the changes and saw his Arsenal side crash out of the Carabao CupCredit: Getty Images – Getty
I KNOW it’s a busy period but I don’t think that was any reason for all the changes we saw in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
You’re a couple of rounds from Wembley, from winning a trophy, but managers were bringing in eight or nine different players. Unbelievable.
Mikel Arteta really missed a chance to redeem himself by fielding that Arsenal side against Manchester City. If they’d got a result it would have eased the pressure on him.
All anyone cares about now is either making the top four or  staying up.
Arsenal don’t seem to have a chance of the first, so surely they don’t fear relegation?

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SAM JOHNSTONE is giving West Brom a headache — and putting the big guns on red alert.
Goalkeeper Johnstone, 27, tops the Premier League for saves this season.

Sam Johnstone could be up for sale if West Brom are relegatedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But the Baggies may be put on the spot in the transfer window if an offer comes in, as Johnstone is a free agent in 18 months.
If new boss Sam Allardyce cannot keep West Brom up, Johnstone will enter the last year of his deal in the Championship.
That would put Albion in a bad place as he would be a big earner who could eventually leave for nothing.
The last time they can hope for a decent fee for Johnstone is at the end of the season and even then it might only be about £7million.

So if Albion are looking doomed by the end of next month, it could bring forward his ideal time to be flogged off.
Johnstone may even gatecrash England’s squad for the Euros in the summer as rival Dean Henderson struggles for game time at Manchester United.

Johnstone left Old Trafford for first-team action and has not looked back.
Clubs like Leeds and Brighton are looking for a top quality keeper.

Ideally for West Brom that would be at the end of the season. But an earlier offer would make them think.

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FERRAN TORRES could yet give Manchester City’s stuttering season a Silva lining.
The £20.8million summer signing from Valencia took on the famous number 21 shirt vacated by Etihad legend David Silva.

Ilkay Gundogan slammed Manchester City in front on Saturday nightCredit: PA:Press Association

Ferran Torres continued his stellar debut season with the secondCredit: Reuters

And the young Spain international is now needed to play a big role just like the midfielder did so many times in the past. 
With Gabriel Jesus out with coronavirus and Sergio Aguero feeling his way back from a serious knee injury, Pep Guardiola has no fully fit strikers.
Going into key games at Everton and Chelsea this week, it could be a real worry for a team struggling to find the net.
But just as he has done in the Champions League this season, Torres popped up with a big goal in the win over Newcastle.

And Pep might well need more from him over the next few days to keep his team’s title chances alive.
After all, Spanish forwards called Torres normally score goals in England, don’t they?
Guardiola said when he arrived in England back in 2016 that the Boxing Day fixtures were something he was looking forward to.
But having lost two more key players to Covid-19 in the days leading up to this in Kyle Walker and Jesus, he might have had a slightly uneasy feeling.

Even so, City’s record against Newcastle should have eased any nerves.
They have won the last 11 meetings against the Toon – with an aggregate score of 39-7.
Last time, the Geordies won an away game at City was back in the Maine Road days – more than 20 years ago.
So this was probably the last game Steve Bruce wanted as he tried to pick up his players from their Carabao Cup disappointment at Brentford.
And after a low key opening, it was no surprise when City took the lead just before the quarter hour mark as Kevin de Bruyne and Joao Cancelo fashioned an opening for Raheem Sterling down the right.
Instead of going for goal he turned sharply – foxing Fabian Schar completely – before sliding the ball back for Ilkay Gundogan to fire home.
The German opened the scoring in City’s last home game here against West Brom in mid December and they failed to take advantage.
But there was a different feel about this one and De Bruyne almost added a second with a cross shot that Karl Darlow had to claw away.

Torres rolled home the clincher with time and space in the Newcastle areaCredit: AFP

Pep Guardiola’s men dominated the game despite the stormy conditionsCredit: AP:Associated Press
The keeper also made a save to deny Ferran Torres although the Spaniard must have known a pass to Sterling was a better option.
The former Valencia man’s superb volleyed pass set De Bruyne clear but Darlow stood up well to deny him.
Sterling then sprang the offside trap to get in again down the right but this time his effort was deflected into the side-netting.
City had completely dominated but it was an all too familiar feeling for Guardiola as his team had failed to kill off their opponents.
Even with seven clean sheets from their last nine – and just two goals conceded – he was not able to relax with just a one goal lead.
And just before half-time, Joelinton gave something of a warning as he flashed a header just wide.
Soon after the restart Jacob Murphy got some space on the right and his low shot needed a smart save from Ederson to keep it out.
However just as the visitors were threatening to make a game of it, they gifted City a second goal.

Ferran Torres with his seventh of the season to become City’s joint top scorer this year 👊Cruise control for Pep’s team now. pic.twitter.com/4VubYOUCVx
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 26, 2020

Newcastle had various chances to clear their lines before a low cross from the impressive Cancelo was not dealt with by Federico Fernandes.
It fell at the feet of Torres who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the corner for his second Premier League goal for his new club.
Guardiola’s enthusiastic celebration spoke volumes about how the goals have dried up for City this season. His team had mustered only two in their previous three league matches.
Bernardo Silva could have added another one after a low cross from Sterling but he blasted his shot form a narrow angle against the post.

Torres could have got his second of the night as he failed to get anything on another wicked low cross from Cancelo.
That was his last action before he was repaced by Aguero – who should have added a late goal himself but for a brilliant save by Darlow.
The Argentine – who was only fit enough for a brief cameo – would normally have expected to score that with his eyes closed.

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GYLFI SIGURDSSON made it a happy anniversary for Carlo Ancelotti as Everton soared into second place.
The Italian boss, who marked his first game in charge of the Toffees a year ago with a win over Burnley, saw the Icelander’s cool finish 10 minutes from time repeat that success and move them within two points of neighbours Liverpool in top spot.

Gylfi Sigurdsson secured all three points for Everton away at Sheffield UnitedCredit: AFP

Sigurdsson celebrates his late winner – the only shot on target after the breakCredit: PA:Press Association

Everton rushed to celebrate the only goal of the gameCredit: Reuters

It was heartbreak for Chris Wilder’s bottom-of-the-table Blades after they showed much-needed fight in this Boxing Day battle.
But it was not enough as Sigurdsson’s third goal of the season made it 15 games without a win for the hosts.
Having suffered concussion in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United, Richarlison was ruled out for Ancelotti’s side.
The Brazilian striker grabbed the winner when the teams met here back in July, but his absence saw 19-year-old Anthony Gordon handed a first start of the season – although he struggled to make the most of his opportunity.

With Sander Berge ruled out for up to four months with a tendon injury and John Lundstram starting a three-match suspension, the Blades brought Ben Osborn into midfield and Oliver Burke bolstered the attack by replacing John Fleck.
David McGoldrick was shifted into a No10 role behind the forwards and almost caught Everton off guard in the 16th minute with the first chance.
Bursting onto a through-ball from Rhian Brewster, he rounded Jordan Pickford but scuffed a weak finish that Ben Godfrey was able to clear casually off the line. The offside flag might have come to Everton’s rescue too had it gone in.
It was bullish from the Blades and a thundering challenge from John Egan on the right to stop Dominic Calvert-Lewin in his tracks showed the aggressive approach that riled Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer when Manchester United faced them ten days ago.

David McGoldrick couldn’t finish an early chance after rounding Jordan PickfordCredit: AP:Associated Press

Alex Iwobi then tested Aaron Ramsdale with his side’s first attempt, a 20-yard drive that was well held.
After a scrappy, scruffy start affected by the swirling wind and rain, the game warmed up with Calvert-Lewin so close with a spectacular strike in the 29th minute against his former club.
Collecting a long ball from Michael Keane on his chest just outside the box, the next touch was a venomous volley that whistled past Ramsdale’s right-hand post.
It would have been some goal for Calvert-Lewin at the ground where he once dreamed of scoring for his hometown club – something he never managed during four seasons with United after coming through the youth ranks.
Lifted by that moment of magic, the visitors conjured up another opening when the under-fire Ramsdale blundered by fumbling a free-kick from Sigurdsson into the path of Godfrey, but reacting well to block the shot.
Sigurdsson’s 25-yard effort then didn’t curl enough to trouble the home keeper and neither did Burke’s flick after he wrestled his way past Abdoulaye Doucoure in the box.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin came close for EvertonCredit: EPA

Chris Wilder’s Blades have gone 15 games without a winCredit: Reuters
That was Burke’s last contribution as big Oli McBurnie came on at the break and had a penalty claim dismissed by VAR after a slight shove from Keane.
Wilder’s men have racked up some unwanted records during their wretched run of results.
And a fifth successive home league loss equalled a top-flight club record set in 1908 – and gave Everton back-to-back league away wins at United for the first time in 123 years.
Wilder sent on another Oliver, Norwood, to replace McGoldrick as he looked to do anything for the win.
But, with the first shot on target in the second half, Sigurdsson slotted low into the corner after being teed up by Doucoure.

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