Latest news with #JanMolby
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'A genuine people person and a shrewd strategist'
Thomas Frank has a reputation within football as a manager who detects problems and finds solutions. Now he must solve the seemingly never-ending puzzle that is Tottenham Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby knows his countryman well, watching Brentford regularly in his role as a main Premier League football analyst in Denmark."I see a squad ready to play Thomas Frank football," Molby said."It is about putting the opposition under pressure at every given opportunity. The one thing you don't want to do as a team is defend. He likes to put the opposition under pressure."That is in open play, set-pieces. He makes no bones about his use of long throw-ins. Put teams under pressure. Play long. Play quick. He is adaptable tactically as well."Frank has tailored Brentford's style so they are not quite as reliant on set-pieces. Excluding penalties, 33.3% of their goals came from set plays in 2021-22, followed by 31%, 19.6% and 21.2% in the subsequent three lap of honour with his players around Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, often when one of the Premier League's elite names had been defeated, became a familiar sight - his common touch often leading him to acknowledge faces in the crowd with whom he became also strikes the balance between the pressures of the top flight and enjoying his victories, often talking about his "few glasses of red" when basking in the afterglow of a might be harder to employ the personal touch at one of the game's aspiring superpowers in a magnificent 60,000-capacity stadium, but anyone who has been in close proximity to Frank would see a genuine people person as well as a shrewd football more of Phil's analysis on Frank here
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jan Molby: Why Liverpool Still Have Points to Prove Against Arsenal
Liverpool vs Arsenal: Molby's Candid Take on Reds, Rivals and Reality Jan Molby Cuts Through the Noise on Anfield Index In a week where Liverpool eyes a composed finish to the Premier League campaign, Jan Molby joined Trev Downey on Molby on the Spot to dissect the Reds' form, Harvey Elliott's role, and a looming Arsenal clash coloured by psychological shadows. As always, Molby brought a voice of clarity and pragmatism — never shying away from home truths. Advertisement 'I don't know whether he'd be able to do that at any Premier League club,' said Molby when Trev floated the idea of Elliott orchestrating play like a central pivot. 'A championship is not for Javi. Javi is a Premier League player,' he added, giving credit while highlighting the physical limits that make the top level a steep climb for some. Transfer Musings: Adam Wharton Yes, Stiller No When talk turned to potential Liverpool summer targets, Molby didn't sugar-coat his verdicts. On Stiller, a name circulating in fan chat, Molby was blunt: 'I can't give you a lot on Stiller to be fair, Trevor… I haven't done my homework.' But when it came to Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Molby lit up: 'The other boy, Trevor, all day long. What a player he is.' He reflected on Wharton's January move: 'That boy is a top player. What a spot that was by Crystal Palace. I remember when they signed him… I said, please, you've got to put this kid in.' For Molby, Wharton's unique reading of the game and balance as a left-footed midfielder puts him on a path to the top: 'Some players you just need to see and you go whoa whoa whoa.' Arsenal's Wobbles and Anfield's Opportunity The conversation pivoted to Arsenal, Liverpool's upcoming opponents and a side Molby painted as brittle. 'They have some top players, Trevor… but the things [Arteta] says publicly — it's the kind of thing I used to say privately when I was a manager,' he noted, questioning the Gunners boss's victim complex. Photo: IMAGO There's a sense that Arsenal, having fallen out of the Champions League and Premier League race, may stumble into this fixture adrift. 'It must be really hard not to be — what's the cliché — on the beach,' Trev remarked. Molby agreed: 'Once you take that away, Trevor, once you take that away, things happen psychologically.' Standards, Not Holidays: Molby's Mentality Despite having the title wrapped up, Molby insisted there's more to strive for — particularly for Liverpool veterans like Mohamed Salah. 'Mo would love to finish with 30 and 20,' he said. 'These kind of little things matter to me. Maybe I'm a nerd. Maybe I should have my feet up. But I was quite invested in us getting 94 points.' Advertisement Molby's standards are uncompromising: 'Losing to Chelsea pissed me off because it's a standard. It's a mark. It's a look — this is better than the vast majority.' As the podcast closed, Molby backed Liverpool to edge Arsenal 2-1, underlining his belief that professional pride still matters even when the stakes have eased. 'Nothing will change that,' Molby said of Arne Slot's apparent squad views. 'It isn't a case of Endo playing the next three games and being man of the match in all three of them and all of a sudden thinks different of him.' Liverpool might already be crowned champions, but with Jan Molby and Trev Downey calling it as they see it on Anfield Index, there's still plenty to play for — not least pride, standards, and a proper send-off to a historic campaign.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool Transfer Talk: Jan Molby Endorses Adam Wharton Move
Adam Wharton, Liverpool and Transfer Truths: Jan Molby's Verdict Liverpool Legend Jan Molby Delivers Transfer Praise for Wharton In the latest Molby On The Spot podcast, former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby joined Trev Downey for an insightful discussion on summer transfer prospects, squad dynamics, and the club's shifting future under incoming manager Arne Slot. Central to their conversation was the subject of Adam Wharton, a name gaining traction in Liverpool transfer circles. Advertisement When asked about Wharton, Molby was unequivocal in his admiration. 'That boy is a top player. What a spot that was by Crystal Palace,' he said. Referring to Palace's January 2024 signing of the midfielder from Blackburn Rovers, Molby recounted, 'I remember when they signed him in January… I was doing deadline day for Danish TV… I said, please, you've got to put this kid in [the top five signings].' Molby's endorsement of Wharton is grounded in more than hype. 'He's got a little bit of everything,' he said. 'He might lack a bit of pace off the mark, yeah, but his ability to read the game negates that… and the passes he sees… and the fact that he also gives a nice balance with his left foot.' For Liverpool, a club poised for evolution this summer, Wharton's name carries weight. 'I just see a kid that's destined for the top,' Molby said, highlighting the contrast with other young prospects: 'I talk to a lot of ex-pros… and I still talk to ex-pros who go, 'I'm not sure about him,' more than they go, 'I'm not sure about him,' and I go, 'Wow.'' Summer Strategy: Transfers, Motivation and Mind Games While Wharton is an aspirational acquisition, other potential targets like Stiller received less clarity. 'I can't give you a lot on Stiller, to be fair, Trevor,' Molby admitted. 'I haven't done my homework.' This honesty reflects the wider uncertainty surrounding Liverpool's transfer strategy post-Klopp. Photo: IMAGO Molby also discussed the tactical approach of Slot and whether late-season performances would influence squad decisions. 'It isn't a case of Endo playing the next three games and being man of the match in all three of them and all of a sudden [Slot] thinks different of him—because he won't,' Molby stated. 'He's made his mind up.' Meaning in the Margins: What's Left to Play For? Even with the Premier League title secured, Molby was quick to stress the internal motivations driving top players. 'Someone like Mo Salah is looking at a season where he could possibly score 30 and assist 20,' Trev noted. Molby responded, 'Mo would love to finish with 30 and 20, but he's no longer chasing that with the same determination… and I can't do anything about that, Trevor. That's human nature.' Advertisement On points and targets, Trev remarked, 'I was quite invested in us getting 94 points. So losing to Chelsea pissed me off because it's a standard.' Molby, the consummate professional, replied, 'Maybe I should be on the beach, but those kinds of little things matter to me.' Where Wharton Could Fit at Liverpool For supporters wondering if Wharton could truly slot into Liverpool's evolving midfield, Molby's praise is revealing. He described the youngster as having 'a unique way in how he plays,' and reiterated, 'What a player he is.' Such conviction from a club legend adds credibility to whispers that Wharton could become a pivotal part of Liverpool's future midfield—especially under a new manager who values ball intelligence and left-footed balance. While Molby admitted, 'Some players you just need to see and you go 'whoa,'' Wharton appears to be one of those rare talents. If Liverpool are to build for the next chapter, these are precisely the types of players who must be identified and pursued.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Liverpool legend Jan Molby looks back on the Reds' last title win in front of fans as Anfield prepares to toast Premier League glory and jokes: 'I'd have celebrated 1990 more had I known the wait would be so long!'
Jan Molby is a Liverpool legend, who won three league titles and two FA Cups during a glittering 12-year career. His pinpoint passing, nerveless penalty-taking and ability to score spectacular goals made him a fans' favourite in a team of all-stars. He was on the pitch on April 28, 1990 — the last time the Reds became champions in front of an Anfield crowd. Molby, now 61 and a respected pundit in his native Denmark, has provided Mail Sport with a personal account of a day that seemed like any other — but turned out to be anything but. It was a unique season. Looking back, it's almost incredible to think people just expected us to win the title. We had always been very good at bouncing back. When Everton won titles in 1985 and 1987, we took it straight back off them and everyone felt we would do the same to Arsenal, champions in 1989. But we had an up-and-down start. There was the iconic 9-0 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield in September but we dropped silly points and the lowest part of the season came when we went back to Hillsborough in late November, to face Sheffield Wednesday. Isn't it amazing, looking back, how nobody felt it was unusual we were having to play at that stadium after what happened seven months earlier? It was cold, miserable and we all remembered things we didn't want to remember. It was the only time I felt we would lose before kick-off. We got beaten 2-0. Even though we were top of the league, we knew we had to get our act together and we certainly did. I didn't play my best but I do remember 1989-90 for being notable as I scored the only header in my career, when we beat Wednesday 2-1 at Anfield on Boxing Day. The star man was John Barnes. It felt like he was unstoppable, that you could give him the ball and he'd do the rest. He scored in all the big contests and eventually we moved clear, Ronny Rosenthal's late cameo of seven goals in eight games really helping. Aston Villa were never quite able to mount a true challenge and we got the job done against QPR, Barnesy's penalty giving us a 2-1 win. I've heard it said the celebrations were low-key, almost quite cold, but these stories have become distorted. Yes, we were used to winning but the elation of getting a medal is impossible to describe. No, we didn't dance around the pitch but sitting in the dressing room with a beer, looking at the medal you have earned, is the greatest satisfaction you can get in sport. That is what it is all about, the medal. When this squad are presented with theirs, they will have the same thought as we did then: 'You know what — we've done well here.' I remember Alan Hansen, who was winning his eighth title, Ronnie Whelan (sixth) and Ian Rush (fifth) smiling as if it was their first. Some people have asked why we didn't make more of things. Should we have stayed on the pitch longer after beating QPR and, again, when we were presented with the trophy the night we beat Derby 1-0? Maybe. If we'd been able to see into the future, I'm sure we would have. But we did what was expected at the time. Some of us went to the Moat House, a hotel we used by the waterfront, for a meal; others went home. It was all very calm but it was nothing that we took for granted. As it was, it was the moment that all good things started coming to an end. I was fortunate, through my job, to be in the stadium in 2020 when Liverpool got the trophy but the whole Covid experience was strange. This afternoon will be all about raw emotion and everything that comes with an incredible sporting achievement. It's a huge moment and I'm thrilled for Virgil van Dijk. He embodies Liverpool — I don't see another player as important in Europe. He'd have fitted in well with our group. He's a winner and he'll appreciate the value of this medal.
