MyBettingSites had an opportunity to have a chat and a cup of tea with former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders who had a well travelled career. Having played for both Benfica and Galatasaray as well as managed the high flying Wrexham, Saunders is well placed to give us his thoughts on the current ongoings at his former clubs.
In this article:
- Saunders warns Bah of the demands of English football
- Saunders Reflects on His Time at Wrexham
- Wrexham’s Rise: A Fairytale in Progress
- Victor Osimhen’s Shock Move to Galatasaray
- Is Victor Osimhen the striker Manchester United are missing?
Saunders warns Bah of the demands of English football
Alexander Bah, the Danish defender, was linked to Barcelona in the summer alongside a host of other European clubs including Arsenal and Brighton. Saunders is a fan of the young Danish defender but remains wary of a move coming too soon for Bah. With the football schedule getting busier by the year in tandem with injuries becoming more of a regularity, Sanders warns Bah of the demands of the English game.
“Benfica is another great club and in the last ten years, there have been a lot of players coming out of Benfica and done really well at bigger clubs in Europe. They sign a lot of Brazilians in Portugal. If you play for Benfica you’ve got to win 3-0. You can’t just win. They expect you to win in style so it’s a good breeding ground when you go and play for City, Barca or Bayern.
“He’s a good player but it’d be a test for him. The standard in the Prem is relentless. The bottom team in the Prem can beat the top teams.
“Rodri came out and said the players play too many games which I think is nonsense really. When you’re a footballer and you’ve played 90 minutes and it’s gone to the wire, you feel worse on Monday morning. Sunday you’re tired but when you start training on Monday you start feeling it in your legs. They feel like lead.I think there should be a 48 hours minimum before games. And if you’re not mentally right it’s tough.”
Whilst Saunders does somewhat sympathise with the footballers of today he notes that the players are lucky to be playing on the quality of pitches available in this era. The belief is if you’re playing at the highest level of club football, then playing three times a week should be the expectation.
“If they’re not mentally up for a fight against Everton for example, then you can get turned over. Doing that three times a week is like going in a ring with Mike Tyson every day of the week and by Wednesday you’ve had enough. You’ve lost before you’ve started.
“But the pitches are perfect and they have five subs. Marcus Rashford last season completed 18 games for 90 minutes. Rodri only completed 33 games. If me or you played, it’d be the last 20 minutes where you’re out on your feet. It’s the last bit that makes your legs go. If you play for the biggest clubs in the world you’ve got to be able to play three games a week.”
Saunders Reflects on His Time at Wrexham
With the way Wrexham are continuing to improve season by season, are they well on the way to making it to the Premier League? Wrexham AFC currently sit in second place in the League One standings, with six wins, two draws, and two losses from their first 10 matches. They find themselves only two points behind Birmingham City, the league leaders and will be looking to continue the club’s rise up the English football pyramid after being taken over by co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Saunders is happy to see the work Reynolds and McElhenney have done at the club and reflects on his time in charge.
“I was manager in the National League for three years and my playing budget for the season was £750,000 which had to cover all the wages. We got 100 points and we got into the playoffs. Normally that wins the league. I always thought if I could get Wrexham into League 2, we could get into the Championship because I knew we were better than some of the League 2 teams when we played in the Conference. That’s been proven right.
“The manager Phil Parkinson has got a formula and the two superstars in Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have come in which I initially thought was a joke. Everyone thought it was a joke but I have to say you couldn’t have written a script any better. They’ve made a tv show out of it and it’s not a tourist attraction. People come in from all over the world. Not only has the football club benefited but the whole town has. They’ve put so much money into it.”
Wrexham’s Rise: A Fairytale in Progress
However, Saunders is cautious of the rapid rate at which Wrexham have progressed and warns the club of what will come with another promotion were it to occur.
“Now they’re riding high and up there with Birmingham City in League 2. Next season is a tester because if they go up this year, the Championship has 3 Premier League clubs that have been relegated. Their playing budget is £50m. To compete you’ll have to start handing out £20,000-£40,000 a week.
“I always thought the Premier League might be a step too far but you never know. Look at Ipswich. They bounced from League 1 to the Premier League. I support all the Welsh teams. Wrexham are a big club. They slipped out of the Football League but now they’re back.”
Victor Osimhen’s Shock Move to Galatasaray
One of the summer’s biggest surprises saw Victor Oshimen Victor Osimhen join Galatasaray on a loan deal from Napoli, which will last until the end of the 2024-2025 season. It was a summer transfer saga that dragged and dragged after a series of failed moves to clubs like Chelsea and Al-Ahli. Oshimen has already endeared himself to fans of the club and will be looking to leave a lasting impression in a football obsessed country.
“I was surprised but there was a loophole in the transfer window. Napoli tried to force him and Galatasaray have benefited. I went through a similar thing when I was 31 and they’re happy to snap you up. They’ve got a scouting system that looks to snatch a player at the right time.
“What a club. What an atmosphere. Unless you’ve played there it’s hard to explain. I’ve played at big clubs but Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce is another level of local derby. It was such a good experience. When I signed for Galatasaray and we played away games I thought we’d have fans travelling to the games but when we faced Antalyaspor for example the whole stadium would be Galatasaray fans with a bunch of Antalyaspor in the corner. But Antalyaspor fans support Galatasaray first and then Antalyaspor. All the smaller teams either support Galatasaray or Fenerbahce. Then they support their local clubs. I loved my time there.“
Is Victor Osimhen the striker Manchester United are missing?
But is Osimhen going to remain at Galatasaray beyond this season is the bigger question on everyone’s lips. Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be on the hunt for a new number nine, whilst Manchester United haven’t exactly started the season on fire from a goalscoring perspective. Saunders feels as though United should be looking at a striker like Osimhen whilst their younger strikers continue their development.
“Osimhen would get in Arsenal and Chelsea’s team. He’d get into Tottenham’s team. He might get into Liverpool’s team. He’d defo get into Manchester United’s team. He’d get into most teams as a good player and goalscorer.
“I do think the amount of money in the game is spoiling it. It’s obscene. The average man in the street can’t comprehend a footballer earning 375k a week. You’re watching them and questioning if they even care about what the score is. Have you got too much money? Money is at the root of all evil. You can ruin a young player’s career by giving him too much too soon. They think they’ve made it and it takes the drive out of you. I think the bubble will burst at some point.”
