MASON GREENWOOD: AN ARCHITECT OF HIS OWN MISFORTUNE

It is apparent Mason Greenwood's days at Manchester United are over since the publication of the recorded expletive conversation that culminated into the assault went viral.

Mason Greenwood, a talented player with a prospective future ahead of him, was charged late in 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. That led to his arrest. Following the apprehension, Nike ended its sponsorship deal with the player, and Electronic Arts removed him from active squads in its FIFA 22 game. Those were clear signals that the player was losing his reputation.

In the broader context of societal values, it can be argued that no ethical and morally conscious society should take rape and assault lightly, regardless of race or ethnicity. Generally, the issue of sexual assault and misconduct is viewed seriously by societies worldwide, and this extends to English and Caucasian communities.

The allegations against Greenwood were ultimately dropped, after the Crown Prosecution Service said key witnesses had withdrawn and new material had come to light, meaning there was "no longer a realistic prospect of conviction".

Manchester went on with an internal investigation, and a club statement today revealed that Greenwood will leave the club by mutual agreement. United fans worldwide have anticipated that Greenwood will be reinstated to help the club, which began the season in unfashionable circumstances. It is glaring that the 21-year-old homegrown forward is better than the current forwards, but the club has to take this hard decision in order to safeguard its reputation. The club also has to avoid backlash, especially from feminists and human rights advocates.

In the final analysis, I am in support of Manchester United’s decision. According to a popular Hausa aphorism, ‘Idan ba rami me ya kawo rami" (literally "there’s no smoke without fire"). The case against Mason Greewood, just like that of former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy, was dismissed by the courts, but you cannot rule out an inkling of wrongdoing by the alleged offender. United will not want what transpired in Lorient over the weekend rekindled in Old Trafford or elsewhere in England. Mendy was booed by fans brandishing banners saying "no rapist in our stadium".

In whatever contest you choose to conclude on this, Mason Greenwood, in my opinion, is the architect of his own misfortune. He might go on to play elsewhere, but I doubt if he could revive his hitherto promising career.  

 

2023/24 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: TUSSLE OF THE HEAVYWEIGHTS

On Friday, August 11, 2023, the 32^nd season of the English Premier League and the 125^th season of the top-flight overall kick off in grandeur and razzmatazz. Last season presented an intriguing scrimmage that brought a smashing of the so-called Big Six, with the status quo scattered up and down the table as the unusual suspects put a stake in the ground. The 2023–24 season will likely revert to type, with the heavyweights aiming to rise to the top.

Following their triple triumph, Manchester City will be chasing an unlikely record: in 130 years, nobody has seen a team storm to four English top-flight titles on the trot. However, it won’t be as easy as some pundits predicted.

Sunday’s Community Shield match-up signified Arsenal is really up for it. Their summer signings were crafty, with one sole intention: to tie up the loose ends that saw them bullied at the end of the season. Several managers, including the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, hypothesise that league titles are won with a strong defensive line. Others give credence to how prolific the attacking line is; a recent example is the signing of Robin van Persie by Manchester United in 2012, and his goals invariably clinched the league title.

I differ slightly from these two lines of thought. My belief hinges on a strong midfield, and a viable linkage between the defence and attack plays the most significant role in title wins. That will be where Arsenal will fare most in the coming season. The acquisition of Declan Rice will surely add vigour to the team. Obviously, Mikel Arteta intends to use two holding midfielders, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. With Martin Odegaard in front of them, Arsenal will have a formidable midfield and will surely be one of the favourites for the title, despite the fact that the club seems to have a jinx with consistency.

BBC Sports recently published predictions from 26 pundits. 25 of these pundits predicted Manchester City would end up retaining the league title, thereby winning an unprecedented fourth title. City should be the overwhelming favourites; they have squad strength and depth that are unmatched by the other teams. Man United has been in the market, and Eric Ten Hag has done well in offloading inconsequential players. The signing of the seemingly untested 20-year-old striker, Rasmund Hojlund, and the acquisition of Mason Mount will not be enough to overturn City’s firm grip.

Liverpool only picked up form at the tail end of last season, they put up a yeoman effort to get themselves into Europe. Despite having six senior players, including captain Henderson, they are still a force to reckon with. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai can add some value to the team, but I don’t see them upsetting City. The fate of Chelsea last season was deplorable, to say the least. Chelsea has gone to show that money doesn’t always fetch you titles, the right players do.

I expect Brighton and Newcastle to play the role of dark horses. In Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento, the magpies have done well in the transfer market. If Brighton can hold on to Moises Caicedo, I can see either of these two teams (Newcastle being the other) pushing for a place in Europe at the end of the coming season. With Harry Kane departing Tottenham, I see Spurs struggling unless they can dig in and get another prolific striker to replace the England captain.

Of the three promoted teams, Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton Town, the last two will most likely return to the Championship. Burnley has the potential to pull off surprises and stay up.

The season will be a tussle between the heavyweights, surely. However, it will take a gargantuan task to prevent them from winning another league title, especially if Erling Haaland can avoid a second-season whammy and continue with the scoring spree.