Vesper

3 1 FT Barco is a baller in MF

2 1 Strasbourg scored Godo (who had scored before, but VAR chalked it off)

Chilwell just missed a complete sitter that would have put Strasbourg up 2 1 and probably guaranteed they finish top of the entire 36 team Conference League table every person on this board would have likely scored, it was that easy of a finish

Maignan was a shitshow tonight in the Italian SuperCup Napoli beats AC Milan 2 nil in Saudi Arabia

Roman Abramovich defies PM and clings on to £2.5bn for Ukraine Keir Starmer had told the Russian oligarch the ‘clock is ticking’ over proceeds from his sale of Chelsea Football Club that were promised to Ukraine war victims https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/starmer-threatens-to-seize-25bn-from-abramovich-after-Chelsea-sale-nn97gcfzl Roman Abramovich will defy Sir Keir Starmer’s order to hand over £2.5 billion of his assets to help Ukraine. The Russian businessman, who is subject to UK sanctions, believes he has a watertight legal case to ensure the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club will be donated on his terms. The prime minister threatened ­on Wednesday to seize the money but sources close to Abramovich insisted it was the government that needed to abide by an agreement that was made when the club was sold in May 2022. President Zelensky is due to meet European leaders in Brussels on Thursday in an effort to secure frozen Russian assets worth €210 billion for the defence of Ukraine, despite US pressure against the move. Washington is warning privately that it will demand “the money back” if the European Union and Britain try to take it. “The Europeans are going to have to give it back,” said a source close to internal US discussions on reclaiming the Russian funds. President Putin described European leaders as “little pigs” in a vitriolic speech in which he also said Russia would use any means necessary to capture the territory in Ukraine it claims as its own. Politico reported that the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund is ­expected to meet the US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami for talks at the weekend. • Roman Abramovich accuses government of ‘paralysing’ billions for war victims Starmer said the Treasury had issued a licence that permits the transfer of the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea into a new humanitarian foundation for Ukraine. Abramovich believes the money should be used to help victims on both sides of the war. Starmer said: “My message to Abramovich is this: the clock is ticking. Honour the commitment that you made and pay up now, and if you don’t, we’re prepared to go to court so every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin’s illegal warfare.” Chelsea was sold after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. A consortium led by Todd Boehly, an American businessman, and Clearlake Capital bought the club for £2.5 billion. It is understood that Abramovich has received a letter from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, giving him a deadline of March 17 to donate the funds, although it does not mention possible court action. • Fears Ukraine war victims will get less than half of £2.35bn Chelsea sale Sources close to the Russian insist nothing has changed because under the licence issued in 2022 and the legal ­undertaking he gave at the time, the £2.5 billion had to go to a charitable foundation run by the former Unicef executive Mike Penrose and to help all victims of the war. The government has insisted the money has to be used on charitable projects in Ukraine. Some £2.35 billion is frozen in the bank account of Abramovich’s company Fordstam. However, latest company ­accounts show £1.429 billion of that is owed to Camberley International ­Investments, a Jersey-registered company owned by Abramovich. The accounts state “the net proceeds of sale, after allowing for other balance sheet items” would be given to a charitable foundation. The Camberley money is part of £5.3 billion of Abramovich’s cash that has been frozen by the Jersey courts since 2022 and is the subject of a complicated legal case there. Abramovich’s representatives say the £1.429 billion cannot be released to the charitable foundation until that legal action is dropped by the Jersey government. Stephen Doughty, the Foreign Office minister overseeing the case, said: “We are very confident … about what was agreed and what needs to be done and it is for him now to fulfil that. If he doesn’t, we will set up a foundation and we will take the necessary steps.” Doughty said that due to interest the sum in Fordstam’s account had risen from £2.35 billion to £2.5 billion. He added: “Jersey is a crown dependency and subject to sanctions regimes in the same way as the United Kingdom and we’re very confident about the position that we’ve taken.”

He turns 18yo (born August 30, 2008) the day before the summer 2026 transfer window closes on August 31, 2026, so he could have come here (and been loaned out, obviously) Djylian N’Guessan (Saint-Étienne) – Scout Report https://targetscouting.com/2025/07/25/djylian-nguessan-saintetienne-scout-report/ (from July 2025) Djylian N’Guessan is a 16-year-old French/Algerian striker who currently plays for St Etienne and was part of the French U17 side that recently lost to Portugal in the final of the UEFA U17 European Championship in Albania. He scored four goals for his country and had a total of eight shots on target during the tournament. At 5’11”, N’Guessan may still have some physical development to come, but he already shows good strength in 1v1 duels, both on the ground and in the air. Although he lost more aerial duels, this was largely due to facing stronger opponents, such as Germany and Portugal. N’Guessan has a good spring when attacking headers, and he doesn’t shy away from physical contact. He will sometimes drop deep, pulling defenders out of position, which creates space for teammates. He links play well with intelligent first-time passes into feet. The player is quick and explosive. He is happy to drop in, link up, then sprint into the penalty area, often arriving around the 12-yard line to wait for cutbacks. These short bursts of pace are a common feature of his game. He is very athletic and instinctive. N’Guessan also shows good upper-body strength to hold off defenders or opponents tracking his runs. However, one concern is his stamina. In high-intensity matches, he can become tired and sluggish as the game progresses. With consistent strength and conditioning as he reaches 17 and beyond, I expect his stamina will improve over the next five years. In possession, N’Guessan operated mostly centrally (as a false 9), but he would also drift wide to the left and cut in to shoot with his favored right foot. He has a great first touch and is comfortable playing first-time passes to teammates making advanced runs. He displays excellent close control and composure when dribbling in tight spaces and is confident in the channels, often taking on full-backs or central defenders. His shooting tends to be very accurate, and he usually looks to place his shots. He is comfortable both facing play and with his back to goal. His ability to bring the ball down with his chest and then find a teammate with a short pass is excellent. His short passing is precise and intentional. The way he positions his body and maintains balance in possession is impressive. N’Guessan demonstrates good technique in congested areas to find teammates and consistently shows the ability to play on the shoulder or drop into deeper pockets. In the box, he is sharp and composed but sometimes tries to do too much when a simple shot would suffice. Out of possession (as seen against Germany), France alternated between a 4-5-1 mid-block and a 4-4-2, with N’Guessan the most advanced player in both formations. As a lone striker or false 9, he presses aggressively, forcing mistakes and helping reclaim possession high up the pitch. He shows good intelligence and positional awareness. However, as matches progress, he tends to tire and becomes less willing to press or close down passing lanes. As a striker in a front two, he sometimes seems unsure whether he or his partner should press or hold position, which leads to frustration. He tends to lose focus when fatigued. N’Guessan has a very bright future ahead of him. He is already showing excellent potential and is a tremendous young athlete. Certain aspects of his game—particularly stamina over 90 minutes and concentration levels—need improvement. Another season with St Etienne in Ligue 2 would be ideal for his development, although a return to Ligue 1 wouldn’t be surprising. A move to a Bundesliga club (e.g., Mainz or Werder Bremen) could offer an even better platform for his growth.

Palace have 3 games in next 6 days (tonight, then Saturday, then Tuesday). That is madness, especially for such a low-depth squad. The will also be without 3 key players: RB Daniel Muñoz and DMF Cheick Doucouré are out injured, plus RW/AMF Ismaïla Sarr is off to Africa with Senegal's national team for a month. CB Chadi Riad is also out until January.

Everything you need to know about why Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo must serve a one-match suspension in the Carabao Cup... https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/Chelsea-moises-caicedo-carabao-cup-36419787 Chelsea's Cup success: Enzo Maresca's side advanced to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night following a 3-1 victory against Cardiff City. Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto secured the win and a spot in the competition's final four. Suspension details: Moises Caicedo will be unavailable for the first leg of the semi-final in January after picking up a yellow card during the match. This caution was his second in the competition, triggering an automatic one-match suspension. The quarter-final incident: The booking occurred in the 45th minute when referee Tony Harrington penalised Caicedo for dissent. The midfielder was sanctioned for sarcastically applauding the official's decision to award a free-kick to Cardiff. Previous offence: Caicedo’s first yellow card of the Carabao Cup campaign was received during the previous round against Wolverhampton Wanderers. On that occasion, he was booked for arguing with the referee deep into second-half stoppage time. Timing of the ban: Because the second booking occurred before the semi-final stage, the suspension must be served in the next round. Yellow cards are typically wiped before the semi-finals, but this does not nullify bans triggered by cards accumulated in the quarter-finals. Upcoming fixtures: The semi-final first leg is scheduled for the week of January 12, with the return leg following in early February. Chelsea are set to face either Arsenal or Crystal Palace as they compete for a place in the Wembley final. Impact on the side: Caicedo has become a vital component of Maresca’s midfield and his absence represents a significant blow for the first leg. The manager will now have to find a tactical alternative to replace the Ecuadorian's defensive presence.

Chelsea signing Quenda due in London for surgery https://www.tribalfootball.com/article/soccer-premier-league-Chelsea-signing-quenda-due-in-london-for-surgery-cbcabfff-fb72-437d-ad89-8c0a13b16117 Chelsea wing-back Geovany Quenda is facing surgery in London. Signed over the summer from Sporting CP, Quenda is spending the season on-loan with the Lisbon giants. The teen is due to undergo foot surgery this weekend in London. Record says Quenda has been carrying a metatarsal fracture suffered last month against Estrela Amadora. He is expected to be sidelined for two months as he recovers from the operation.

the account has changed a lot it is now far more credible it was likely sold to an actual insider

Most physically robust outfield players https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost526 The 526th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the most physically robust outfield players in terms of minutes played in official matches (club and national team) over the past year. Paraguayan international Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro) tops the list, ahead of Belgium's Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) and Argentina's Nicolás Otamendi (SL Benfica). Among players born in 2004 or later, the top three are Dutchman Wouter Goes (AZ Alkmaar), Ecuadorian Joel Ordóñez (Club Brugge) and Belgian Matte Smets (KRC Genk). Their ability to play matches at a high frequency will be a major asset for their careers. Colombia is the most represented country in the top 50 (seven players), reflecting both the tight schedule of the Colombian league and the physical strength of their players. The Post also presents the distribution of minutes according to the type of competition (club national, club international and national teams), as well as the rankings for the last two, three, four and five years. The following players top the tables for each of these periods: Nicolás Otamendi (two years), Bruno Fernandes (three years), Gustavo Gómez (both four and five years). Players with the most minutes played in recent years Official matches until 12/12/2025 Type of competitions: [CD] clubs, domestic competitions / [CI] clubs, international competitions / [NT] national teams

Palmer made the FIFA Best XI for 2025 https://www.fifa.com/en/the-best-fifa-football-awards/2025/articles/mens-11-revealed-2025 The Best FIFA Men’s 11 Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes Midfielders: Cole Palmer, Vitinha, Pedri, Jude Bellingham Forwards: Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal

Ruben Amorim set to be sacked; decision on new manager made https://thedailybriefing.io/p/ruben-amorim-manchester-united-indy-kaila-update Ruben Amorim will not be a Manchester United manager next season. That is according to the latest from reliable insider Indy Kaila, who cites his trusted sources inside Old Trafford. Kaila is certain of his source’s information who claims that there is a growing belief that Amorim is not the right man to lead the club back to Premier League glory. Oliver Glasner is being eyed by the United officials and the Crystal Palace manager is also ‘desperate’ to get the United job. Glasner is certain to leave Palace in the summer. The pressure is mounting on Amorim who has continued to struggle. Amid the uncertainty surrounding the manager’s job, the club has seen several transfer targets slip away. Which is why the club is ready to sack Amorim if the results are not met in the coming months. If needed, the club will appoint a temporary manager. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) Is the problem at Man United beyond the managerial changes? As the exit door looms for yet another manager, a familiar question arises: is the issue at Manchester United truly the man in the dugout, or something far deeper? If Ruben Amorim departs, he will join a long list of prestigious names from Louis van Gaal to Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag, who arrived with pedigree but left with their reputations bruised. The cycle at Old Trafford has become predictable. A new manager arrives, enjoys a brief “bounce,” only to be dragged down by a disjointed squad, a lack of clear footballing identity, and a recruitment strategy that often prioritises commercial appeal over tactical fit. While INEOS has attempted to restructure the sporting department, the reported loss of transfer targets due to managerial uncertainty' suggests the structural rot has not yet been fully excised. Until Manchester United establishes a culture where the manager is a cog in a functioning machine rather than the sole savior, replacing Amorim with Oliver Glasner may simply be resetting the clock on the next inevitable crisis.

checking all those boxes narrows it down to one candidate (ZZ is NOT going to come here, that is a pipe dream, he will be the next French national team mamanger after WC 2026, nor is Pep going to come here, nor will King Carlo, who soon retires I assume, nor will Enrique) that leaves the last of the current 'Big 5 Giants', all who are CL winners of course, out there............... Klopp good luck with that 🤣 Hansi Flick, IF he wins the CL with Barca (or some other side) will make it a 'Big 6', which will go back to a Big 5 when Carlo retires (or it will be a Big 4 IF Flick doesnt win it again) I cannot, in good faith, count Mou as a cuurent member of the top managers, the game has sadly passed him by at CL-winning level. Btw since Moscow 2008 and Fergie (arrrrf), the only other CL-winning managers at all who are NOT listed in my 'Big 5' above have been: Mou (the Inter Treble team of 2009/10 and Porto in 2003/04), then 2 Bayern managers: Jupp Heynckes and Hansi Flick, plus 2 Chels managers: Tuchel and Roberto Di Matteo. The only 2 of the current 'Big 5' who have not won the CL with multiple teams are Klopp and ZZ, the other 3 have won it with 2 different clubs (which Mou of course has done as well, as have the criminally underrated (all 3) Jupp Heynckes, Ernst Happel, and Ottmar Hitzfeld).

we are fucking cursed!

I would rather face Brentford or Fulham or Palace, in that order, lolol

he has been btter since he flushed that horrid bleach blonde hair down the loo

at least we won Garnacho MOTM

wooot Garnacho with a brace

and Badi almost gifted them another equaliser with a horror clearance wtf

thank fuck for Neto

only remotely offensive players we have to bring in are Enzo and Reece

Maresca deserves all the pain he gets by insisting on playing that cunt Tosin

Tosin again!! with no help from Gusto

fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk