In his fortnightly exclusive column for CaughtOffside, Jon Smith, one of football’s first-ever agents and a man who was an integral figure in the forming of the Premier League, discusses his support of players with addiction, why Marcus Rashford was wrong to party after the Manchester derby, why a Saudi Arabian World Cup wasn’t a surprise – and more! 

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It’s important that the Premier League retain the Saturday 3pm blackout

There’s so many devices out there which means that you can now watch live football at three o’clock anywhere in the world nowadays if you want to subscribe to them.

For example, I could watch live Premier League football out of Saudi Arabia or Qatar or wherever it might be, and that’s already beginning to have an effect not just on TV subscriptions but also on some of the lesser exciting fixtures, with respect, on a Saturday.

I know that the Premier League are doing a lot to counter this at the moment as are most broadcasters, because it’s important to protect the live crowd involvement at matches.

If there was the option to have 3pm Saturday games televised, those supporters from their mid-20s upwards, that have families or are just married, will record it, watch it later, go shopping with the missus to get a few brownie points…. There’ll potentially be a big number that won’t then go to a game, so yes, it’s vital the blackout remains otherwise, potentially, you’ll have half empty stadia.

I was at Watford the other day and they were playing Millwall whose contingent was so noisy that it really made for a better game.

Influencers like IShowSpeed are here to stay

Regardless of what we want, influencers are the way forward simply because of the enormous reach. ‘Fan TV’ audiences are massive and if you gross them up, you’re looking at over 120m/130m hits a month. That’s important.

It’s an important audience because it’s real football supporters who are taking time out to talk, shout, scream, laugh and joke all about the game, and obviously comment on it. Like everything else, there needs to be a balance.

Social media in its various guises is slowly maturing as opposed to being just a platform to shout abuse at each other or grab five minutes of fame.

There are some events like the Ballon d’Or which attract a multitude of potentially interested reporting parties and I include social and electronic in there.

I used to run FIFA’s The Best awards for two years when it was in London and the media requests would be astonishingly large. You have to manage it.

Some of the influencers are trashy but they have sizeable followings, and what you don’t want them to do is not promote your game.

In a goofed up world football is very often the repository of our emotions. We can shout at the screen, whereas you can’t shout at a group of people waving Palestinian flags – but that’s still on our screens, all the time.

I think there’s a need for responsible influencers, someone like Mark Goldbridge of The United Stand. He’s shouty but responsible and intelligent, and has huge audiences. You have to be respectful of that.

Rashford was completely wrong to party after Manchester derby defeat

The professionalism around footballers and football clubs is sizeably enhanced today from what it was back in the 80s and 90s when the audiences were just as big but not global, and the behaviour of some of the competitors was poor.

We used to argue with our players all the time and we had as many as 400 at our height.

We’d tell them that if they’d lost a match, particularly a big one, just stay home and don’t do anything. If you have to go out, go to the cinema because anything else is so offensive to the supporters who pay good money and have strong emotions around their team – particularly if that team has lost badly. Just don’t go out.

Why would Marcus Rashford go clubbing after losing the Manchester derby? It makes no sense.

As much as I have the highest regard for Rashford, and I’d like to say that on record because I do think he’s done some great social work and he’s a terrific football player, he made a big mistake that day.

Footballers with addictions should be treated with respect

I’m actually quite friendly with the Ivan Toney family and I listened to a lot of what they said. What the individuals have done is wrong, but I think the sentence doesn’t fit the crime.

It’s very difficult for the game to take money from betting companies on the one hand, and on the other say to the participants ‘if you do this, you’re a football criminal.’ It’s so wrong.

The players should be punished yes, but 10 months – in Sandro Tonali’s case – is far too long. These guys have got short careers anyway.

You’ve got to give these people help. If they’re addicted to something, be that gambling or any of the other substances that are around today, or any behavioural attitudes that includes sex and various other things that fill out social media screens, they need help.

There’s someone I saw wearing a t shirt the other day that said ‘It’s not wrong to ask for help,’ and I think that just sums it up.

I think if you ask for help, you should be treated with respect and not just as a criminal to be punished.

Saudi Arabia being offered the World Cup was obvious

I think it was obvious because they are supporting the game with a lot of money and they need to fuel the next generation of FIFA’s governance. Football needs financial input from nation states, as well as major corporations.

So I think that was an obvious one and I know James Johnson really well, he’s a very clever operator, a very bright guy and the Chief Exec of Football Australia.

I think Australia were putting themselves in there so that they could drop out and say: ‘Look, we’ll drop out, Saudi can have it, but we want this in exchange.’

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Now, I don’t know what the ‘this’ is but it may become evident in the next few weeks. With various other tournaments being awarded, it’ll be interesting to see what goes to Australia.

There was no one else out there really bidding anyway, so it was Hobson’s choice.

Also, I’d like to think that the World Cup being more global has helped Qatar’s attitude towards behavioural science, and that includes respect for women and for other religions.

I’m not quite sure that’s the case now that the cameras aren’t pointed at them all the time, but it must’ve had some effect.

If it does the same in Saudi Arabia, then that’s perfect.

The post Agent’s column: Rashford was wrong to party, Saudi World Cup was obvious, addicted footballers must be helped, 3pm blackout must remain and influencers are here to stay appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Wednesday night brought the news that Millwall and their manager of four years, Gary Rowett, have parted company.

The Lions are in 15th place in the Championship table at present, with 15 points from their 11 games.

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On the face of it their league placing could be said to be a disappointment, however, Millwall are only three points off the team in sixth place, Birmingham City.

Adam Barrett has been placed in caretaker charge as the club consider their options.

BREAKING: Championship side Millwall have mutually agreed to part company with their manager Gary Rowett ?? pic.twitter.com/RK6eUPxGif

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 18, 2023

Pictures from Sky Sports News

The post Video: Millwall mutually agree to part company with Gary Rowett appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Daniel Farke would surely have been delighted with Leeds’ performance at Millwall on Sunday, and the travelling all whites supporters certainly had fun at the expense of the south Londoner’s hooligan element – if you can call them that.

Joel Piroe’s double and one from Georginio Rutter saw Leeds ease home at The New Den, and the anger at the hosts performance soon got the better of some of home supporters.

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As their Leeds counterparts began to laugh and gesticulate at their plight, a handful of Millwall’s fans made it abundantly clear that they were ready for a tear up after the match – leading to more mirth and merryment from the away section.

2 minutes of pure comedy…. ?? #LUFC pic.twitter.com/8IX3kj2x7x

— Hot Tub Hire Dorset (@DorsetHottub) September 17, 2023

The post Video: Leeds United supporters have fun at the expense of Millwall hooligans appeared first on CaughtOffside.

In a comical moment on the pitch, Milwall’s Duncan Watmore experienced a moment of forgetfulness as he was being substituted off during a match.

The incident was caught on camera, showing Watmore leaving the pitch after the substitution before mistakenly heading towards the opposition’s bench, thinking he still played for Middlesbrough.

Realizing his error, Watmore quickly changed direction, heading towards his own team’s bench, while shaking his head in embarrassment. His teammates couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the amusing mistake

Watch below:

Oh dear…? ? ?

? That's a fine, Dunc!#Millwall pic.twitter.com/RfgoVOyjtw

— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) August 6, 2023

Duncan Watmore forgot he wasn’t a Middlesbrough player anymore after getting subbed off for Millwall ??
pic.twitter.com/c2C1g0nXpB

— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) August 6, 2023

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You can’t blame him considering he spent the three years with Middlesbrough between 2020 and 2023 before joining Millwall only in January.

In 97 appearances for the Brough, he scored 21 goals and 7 assists.

The post Video: Championship player’s hilarious gaffe as he momentarily forgets which club he plays for appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Millwall have announced the sudden passing of their chairman and owner John Berylson.

The Championship club have released a statement on the sad an unexpected news, though they didn’t provide much in the way of detail over his death, stating simply that it was an “accident”.

Their statement read: “It is with a collective broken heart and the deepest of regret that we announce the passing of our beloved owner and chairman, John Berylson.

“John’s sudden and tragic passing will unquestionably impact all those who were fortunate to have known him. He was a truly great man, incredibly devoted to his family, and a person of such remarkable generosity, warmth, and kindness.

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The post Millwall announce shock death of “beloved owner and chairman” after sudden “accident” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Roy Hodgson has done an incredible jabot Crystal Palace this season, and the nine points from nine that he has achieved has given the club more than enough hope that they’ll still be a Premier League outfit next season.

It had been looking dicey at one point as Patrick Vieira hadn’t been able to muster a single win after the turn of the year, per WhoScored.

Once salvation is confirmed, which the Eagles will surely hope is sooner rather than later, then the south London club can set about restructuring their playing staff ready for the kick off of the 2023/24 campaign.

It seems that one youngster who won’t form part of any new manager’s plans, assuming Hodgson doesn’t stay on beyond this season, is 21-year-old Killian Phillips.

The youngster has been on loan at Shrewsbury where Football Insider note that he has impressed and, further, that both Millwall and Luton Town are very interested in acquiring his services.

The Selhurst Park outfit can ill afford to endure another season like the current campaign, and to that end, fringe players are unlikely to get a look in unless they’re at the top of their game and can demonstrate they’re worth a shot in the first team ahead of established professionals.

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It therefore benefits players like Phillips, at this stage, to seek his fortune and fame elsewhere as it gives him a chance to show off his envious skill set each week rather than being sat on the bench and see his confidence dip.

That does neither player nor club any favours whatsoever.

The post 21-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder set to leave the club in summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jamie Shackleton’s agent is said to want a move for his player this summer as he struggles for starts on loan at Millwall.

Agent Hayden Evans told Phil Hay of the Athletic that said that Shackleton has become annoyed at his situation on loan with the Lions from Leeds, where the midfielder has started just 16 times this season.

“It’s been frustrating for Jamie. He’s not getting the minutes, but the side are winning. When he’s come on, he’s done well and Millwall have applauded that. But he’s not getting enough minutes.

“He’s got a year at Leeds, so we probably need to find him a permanent move away. He needs to be starting games, and he’s good enough. The quality he has has not diminished in any way. He trains and works hard.”

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With 27 Premier League appearances to his name at Leeds, Shackleton isn’t short of minutes at the top level, but with the likes of Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie looking like they will be the full time midfield starters for Leeds going forward, perhaps a move for Shackleton is the best thing for him and his career.

The post Leeds United midfielder’s agent wants move for player this summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Leeds United could reportedly be set to make a surprise sale despite Jesse Marsch recently praising this promising young player.

Charlie Cresswell is currently out on loan at Millwall and had been impressing there, though in more recent games he’s found himself out of favour.

Latest reports now suggest that Leeds could end Cresswell’s loan early, and that a permanent move away could also be on the cards for the 20-year-old defender.

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Some Leeds fans will surely be disappointed by this news, as it looked like Cresswell could at some point be someone capable of challenging for a place in Marsch’s side.

The American tactician himself praised the youngster as “amazing” in a recent interview, but things can change quickly in football.

The post Leeds could sell player Marsch labelled ‘amazing’ just last week appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Leeds United have the option to recall defender, Charlie Cresswell, from loan in January.

That’s according to journalist Tim Thornton, who claims the young centre-back could make a surprise return to Elland Road following what has been an impressive loan spell so far.

Although best known for his defensive capabilities, Cresswell, who has featured in nine Championship games, already has three goals and one assist to his name.

Highly rated among the Whites’ coaching staff, there is likely to be an expectation that the 20-year-old has the talent to become one of the club’s senior starters in the near future, and according to Thornton, that may be sooner rather than later.

“I think there’s a recall option, potentially in January,” Thornton told GiveMeSport.

“But I would expect him to stay at Millwall all season and then come back next season and try to force his way into the first team.”

MORE: Exclusive: Chelsea “should regret” this transfer blunder involving “amazing player”, says Fabrizio Romano

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Given his current squad options, American manager Jesse Marsch seems to prefer the likes of Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch.

However, although Thornton reckons Cresswell will see out the remainder of the season at The Den, the young defender’s early form cannot be ignored and given every team’s need for quality in depth, especially when this year’s World Cup will take place in the middle of the domestic season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Marsch recall the youngster and challenge him to make the step up in competition.

The post Talented Leeds United youngster has interesting clause in deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell is currently impressing on loan at Millwall but the Premier League club do have the option to bring him back to Elland Road. 

The 20-year-old joined the Lions on a season-long loan in July and has been in great form since, keeping two clean sheets, scoring three goals and supplying one assist in nine appearances across all competitions.

Back at Elland Road, Leeds’ defence has not been perfect and have only kept one clean sheet all season whilst conceding five goals against Brentford last time out.

Should Jesse Marsch and the club want Cresswell back, they do have the option to terminate his Millwall loan but that does not seem to be the plan at present.

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According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, the journalist has stated that Millwall were not offered the young centre-back by Leeds in the summer and instead, the Championship club had to meet the Yorkshire side’s demands to be able to loan him.

Hay said: “Unlike [Jamie] Shackleton, Millwall were offered no chance to sign Cresswell permanently and while Leeds did not demand a loan fee before sending him south, the deal with Gary Rowett’s team will impose penalty clauses if he fails to play as much as Leeds want.

“There is also a provision for his parent club to recall him in January, though that safety net is for emergencies.

“The whole point of the transfer was that he stayed at The Den and played.”

Leeds clearly hold the centre-back in high regard which is evident by not including a buy clause and if their defensive frailties continue – all though not planned – could they bring Cresswell back during the next window?

The post Leeds United could terminate impressive player’s deal in January appeared first on CaughtOffside.