Vesper

Surely we must be looking at the following over fucking Brozovic (Inter will FUCK us and he is 28yo in 2 months and is NOT the crunching nor athletic type of DMF we need,) and the VERY problematic Soumare (horrid stats, a pure dice roll) Assuming we get Rice this window or next summer we should be looking at 3 DMF's who would be an ideal partner for him in a double pivot 1 Camavinga (my dream signing) 2 Denis Zakaria super cruncher, beast mode 3 Bruno Guimarães so versatile, the most skilled on here after Camavinga 4 Ismaël Bennacer <<< tough pull but he is little pitbull, player of the tournament at AFCON 2019 5 Boubacar Kamara (recently switched to DMF, where he was been superb, and he is also, of course a very decent CB, so lots of versatility) <<< all day long over Soumare 6 Thomas Partey (if Arsenal fuck it up) Would love to sell Kante (no one is shocked by that) fuck Sarri, he ruined him I do agree on the loans to a point, to get better prices good to see we will go big again not sold on Mendy, but I guess we all will literally defer to Cech, so IF we buy him, I instantly stop the negativity and become a fan

here are the best left-footed CB's who are available or may be available next year we now have a true wild card, Malang Sarr, who I rate atm over all but the bolds, and quite possibly can become a start with us there are only 5 on the list (the ones in bold), if you remove Alaba and assume Theo is not tried at CB, who could walk in and be a starter for us and 4 are likely not available and the other one, N'Dicka is 50/50 in terms of being ready In fact there are only 2 others in football who could, Laporte and Lenglet so you can see why left-footed CB's are SO in demand A shocking stat, is that if you make Alaba a LB and DO convert Theo to CB, 10 of the top 16 T Markt most valuable left footed CB's are French and Sarr is only one slot in value behind. What the hell is in the water in France??? David Alaba (last summer window n any list for me, as he is then too old, and tbh, I hope he renews with Bayern to keep him away from Shitty, Victimpool, Manure, Barca, RM, and Juve, all of whom I hate more than Bayern and some are also EPL direct threats) Lucas Hernández (IF Bayern are not satisfied with him, but that is doubtful, he just needs to stay healthy) Theo Hernández (I am positive he can be converted to LCB like his older, smaller brother) Alessandro Bastoni (his explosion upward is why Inter may sell Skriniar, probably an impossible pull) Alessio Romagnoli (another extremely hard pull) Dan-Axel Zagadou (huge, 1.96m, but pace is an issue) Pau Torres (not impressed with the last 5 games I watched him play, but he is young so may get stronger) Presnel Kimpembe (cannot see him leaving PSG) Abdou Diallo Evan N'Dicka Benoît Badiashile 19yo, 1.92m, we are tracking him Marcos Senesi Jordan Torunarigha Mohammed Salisu (deffo watching how he adapts to the EPL, huge upside) Moussa Niakhaté Felix Uduokhai Strahinja Pavlovic 19yo, 1.94m Eduardo Quaresma (ambipedal) 18yo I do not rate Umtiti (I would take him on a free though, lolol) shocking drop for a WC-winning starter who is only 26 and was a Barca star

Transfer news tracker: Everton near loan deal for Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori https://theathletic.com/1959808/2020/09/08/transfer-news-latest-chelsea-tomori/ The transfer window is open and between now and October, The Athletic team will keep you informed of all the significant developments they hear. Not a subscriber to The Athletic? You can give our award-winning journalism a trial by clicking here. We won’t bring you gossip or rumours, just what is really happening and why. Our team around the country will provide in-depth analysis of the big moves and all the detail — including the Premier League’s value for money table and how it works and David Ornstein’s insight in his weekly column. September 8, 2020 Everton are closing in on a deal to sign Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori on loan, report Patrick Boyland and Simon Johnson. Tomori has been on Everton’s radar since last summer, when he came close to joining in a similar deal. On that occasion, the move was scuppered by David Luiz’s switch to Arsenal, but now they finally appear set to get their man. Talks are progressing well between the two sides, and have accelerated after the toe injury to Mason Holgate in Everton’s 2-0 pre-season win over Preston on Saturday. Holgate, who left Goodison on crutches after the game, underwent tests over the weekend. Although an exact timeframe has yet to be specified, The Athletic understands he is likely to face an extended spell on the sidelines, missing the start of the season. As reported by The Athletic last month, Rennes are among a host of other clubs interested in signing Tomori. However, one of clubs linked, Newcastle, is not one of them. Chelsea also considered offering the centre back on loan as part of negotiations with West Ham over Declan Rice, but nothing came of it. Tomori made 18 starts in the first half of last season under coach Frank Lampard, but has been named in the first XI just three times since the turn of the year with his last appearance coming seven months ago. Injuries have played a part in his lengthy absence, including a muscular problem ahead of the restart in June, however a lack of game time has been a cause of some frustration. The 22-year-old has fallen further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge this summer following the arrival of former Paris Saint Germain captain Thiago Silva. Tomori remains highly rated in west London and hopes a loan can help him impress Lampard and bring him back into England contention, especially with the European Championships taking place next year. He was given a five-year contract last December and the hope is regular football elsewhere will help develop his potential even more. It is understood Everton’s long-standing interest in the Canada-born defender should see him head to Goodison Park if he receives the assurances over game time he requires. He would be Everton’s fifth signing of the summer if, as expected, Abdoulaye Doucoure completes his £22 million from Watford. Carlo Ancelotti has already strengthened his squad this week with the additions of Allan and James Rodriguez, with Doucoure in line to join them over the next 24 hours. Holgate’s injury could also afford youngster Lewis Gibson an opportunity at Goodison Park. Gibson had been expected to complete a loan move this summer but has turned down interest from Huddersfield and Reading in recent days as injuries mount in central defence. Yerry Mina is still working his way back to full fitness following injury, while teenager Jarrad Branthwaite missed the game against Preston with a knock. Mina may still feature against Tottenham in the curtain-raiser on Sunday, but at present Michael Keane is currently the only fully fit senior option at Ancelotti’s disposal. The Athletic understands that Gibson is still likely to earn a temporary move later in the window once Ancelotti has more options at his disposal. Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi is also expected to sign a new 12-month contract before leaving on loan for Crystal Palace in the coming days. Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Brentford have agreed on a club-record £28 million deal for striker Ollie Watkins, reports Gregg Evans. The 24-year-old has been at the top of Dean Smith’s transfer wishlist all summer and Villa are close to landing their man. It’s understood the fee could rise to £33 million with add-ons and is a clear statement of intent ahead of the 2020/21 season. Villa missed out on Callum Wilson, who moved from Bournemouth to Newcastle United instead, but have quickly turned to Watkins to boost the strikeforce. Last season’s top goalscorer in the Championship can play down the middle or out wide. Villa also want to add another attacker to their ranks before the October 5 deadline. The Athletic also reported last night that Villa have lodged a second bid for Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez and it is substantially closer to the £20 million asking price. They’re now waiting to see whether a deal can be done.

you truly have to be having a laugh

Cesar Azpilicueta – assertive, ambitious and the epitome of Chelsea https://theathletic.com/2051321/2020/09/09/cesar-azpilicueta-chelsea-captain-conte-lampard/ Last Christmas, all of Chelsea’s first-team staff at Cobham received a bottle of red wine as a gesture of appreciation for their hard work. Such festive gifts are pretty common from managers and executives at clubs; former technical director Michael Emenalo was known for going out of his way to make sure people across the different departments felt valued. But these particular bottles were from the new club captain, Cesar Azpilicueta. Sadly, they weren’t bottles of Azpilicueta, the winemaker that has gained significant brand recognition in Spain over recent years as a result of their namesake’s exploits on the pitch for Chelsea, despite having nothing to do with him, but the act is one of many over the past year that underline just how seriously the defender takes the position he inherited permanently from Gary Cahill before the 2019-20 season. As one Chelsea insider told The Athletic, Azpilicueta conducts himself as if he is “captain of the staff, as well as the players”, with a duty to represent and include everyone he deals with at the club. It is a leadership role that he has been steadily growing into since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2012 and while he, like Cahill before him, will always suffer in comparison to John Terry, it is hard not to be impressed by the extent to which he has embraced the responsibility. In an interview with Spanish business newspaper Expansion last month, Azpilicueta explained what he understands the role of Chelsea captain to be. “Being captain of Chelsea implies a great responsibility for everything the club entails, its fans and its expectations,” he said. “I am very proud to convey their values every day and to keep the club among the best teams in the world. Our work is exposed to the public and beyond the opinions of each of them, that pressure must be replaced by self-criticism. Recognising that you can do better is vital to moving forward.” It was that spirit of self-criticism that prompted Azpilicueta to stand up and address his team-mates in the Stamford Bridge dressing room after Chelsea allowed a 2-0 lead to slip at home to Sheffield United in August 2019. He had been directly at fault for the goals that enabled Chris Wilder’s team to leave with a 2-2 draw and the result meant Frank Lampard’s tenure as manager had begun with one win in five matches. He apologised for his performance, took responsibility for the result and used the September international break to clear his head with his wife and children, returning to training with a renewed determination to improve. Chelsea responded by winning eight of their next 10 matches, embarking on a seven-match winning streak in the Premier League to establish an advantage in the top-four race that, despite numerous wobbles, proved decisive. “It made me a better person, a better captain and everything,” he said in an interview with the Daily Mail in July. The 2019-20 season ended on a similarly disappointing note for Azpilicueta personally as he limped out of Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal with a hamstring injury after conceding the penalty that led to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s equaliser. But between those two low points, he was one of the few stabilising components of a shaky defence and an assertive voice in a squad short on vocal leaders, encouraging his younger team-mates while also holding them to account. Lampard had no doubt about Azpilicueta’s enduring value; no player in Chelsea’s squad played more than the Spaniard’s 4,310 minutes across all competitions in 2019-20 and whenever the time was deemed right to give the prodigiously talented Reece James an opportunity to grow into the role of starting right-back, the man he will one day replace was invariably shifted to left-back rather than the bench. “His attitude; his application every single day is an absolute standard for any young player,” Lampard said about his captain. “He is the epitome of the club. He is the one the fans look at and say, ‘That is how we feel about Chelsea’. He is captain for that reason.” The challenges posed by Azpilicueta’s first season as captain went far beyond the pitch. The sudden shutdown from March to June in response to the pandemic forced Premier League clubs across the country to think long and hard about how best they could serve their communities. Chelsea were more proactive than most in focusing the full range of their resources on tackling the public health crisis in England and no player at the club was more engaged in the process than Azpilicueta. As well as keeping in regular contact with his team-mates to make sure they were coping, he put himself at the centre of Chelsea’s community outreach, making calls and recording video messages to keep up the morale of vulnerable people in isolation. More than simply making himself available, those overseeing the projects would regularly receive calls and messages from him suggesting ideas and discussing the details of arrangements. He personally funded 500 exercise packs and 300 school meals for the children of key workers in Hammersmith and Fulham. Club divides melted away as footballers banded together to take collective action and Azpilicueta stepped up to the task of representing his team-mates. He was one of the most prominent voices on the conference calls between Premier League captains, led by Jordan Henderson of Liverpool, where the details of Project Restart were discussed and the “Players Together” initiative to help the National Health Service (NHS) was born. Azpilicueta was the one who spoke for the Chelsea squad in talks with the board about a potential first-team pay cut in light of the football shutdown. It was an awkward situation replicated at other clubs across the country and sources have told The Athletic that he found the talks very difficult to navigate but he nevertheless accepted the responsibility as part of his leadership role. Ultimately, no pay cut or wage deferral for the playing squad was forthcoming. Chelsea regard Azpilicueta as a man who can be relied upon to find the right words for the moment, whether it be a bad defeat or a subject weightier than football; it was no surprise in January when he stepped up to speak passionately and eloquently about what the club’s pioneering campaign against anti-semitism meant to him. That quality also makes him a better captain day-to-day at the training ground. One legacy of Terry that Azpilicueta has continued is a genuine care and interest in the happiness and success of everyone at Cobham. His video message wishing Chelsea Women good luck on the eve of the new Women’s Super League season wasn’t an idle gesture — he often attends their games — and sources told The Athletic that he recently got in touch with an injured academy player to offer words of encouragement with his rehabilitation. On the pitch, Azpilicueta is the last remaining link to the Terry era, the last player in Lampard’s squad who once called him a team-mate — and he takes every opportunity to try to maintain the culture they once set as players. Jose Mourinho once claimed that a team of 11 Azpilicuetas could win the Champions League. Chelsea have had to make do with one but he’s still been enough to help lift six major trophies in eight years. It’s the sheer variety of his contributions to winning teams that makes Azpilicueta’s status as a Premier League legend unassailable. A highly-rated young right-back when he was signed for just £7 million from Marseille in 2012, he won his first Premier League title in 2014-15 as a left-back who was so consistently solid that he ended Ashley Cole’s eight-year career at Stamford Bridge. He won his second as a centre-back in Antonio Conte’s inspired 3-4-3 system in 2016-17, covering for the limitations of Victor Moses and enabling the former Nigeria international to showcase his strengths as a wing-back. “We had watched some videos about him before but the first days of training confirmed our assessments for the better,” Angelo Alessio, Conte’s former assistant at Chelsea, tells The Athletic. “We needed a player who knew how to defend but was also technically good for playing from the back. “Azpilicueta was the right choice — he had great skills to cover that position. He is so capable of playing anywhere in defence because he has a lot of skills and his concentration was always 100 per cent on the pitch.” It wasn’t until Maurizio Sarri arrived in the summer of 2018 that Azpilicueta got the chance to be Chelsea’s undisputed starting right-back. It was the moment when his journey towards the captaincy accelerated rapidly; Cahill, the man who inherited the armband from Terry, swiftly fell out of favour and he was selected by the new regime to be the captain on the pitch. “There were other players who were entitled to the position because of the time they’d spent at Chelsea, because of their personalities, because of the players they were,” Sarri’s former assistant Gianfranco Zola tells The Athletic. “Cahill was very important for the group but we also had David Luiz, who was very reliable, another leader. He was one of the ones but in the end we went for Cesar because he deserved it. “He’s a very, very reliable person, which is very important in our job. He’s honest, a good person to have around you when you’re trying to do something important and know there will be difficult moments.” Throughout a rollercoaster season under Sarri, punctuated by several damaging defeats and flashes of open hostility from supporters, Azpilicueta proved himself a stabilising influence — while being prepared to speak his mind. “His attitude in troubled moments was to put his head down and work harder,” Zola says. “He’s serious about his work. When they had chats between the players, he would be one of the players talking. When things aren’t going well, you need a wake-up call and to have people in the changing room who can do that is very important. “He was someone who always did his work with thought, without leaving anything behind. But, at the same time, when it was necessary to say a few things, he said them. He wasn’t afraid to speak up and that’s very important. I would call him a balanced leader.” In the aftermath of Chelsea’s win over Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku, Cahill had no problem letting Azpilicueta keep the armband and handle the trophy lift. He also took a leading role in the celebrations afterwards. “A good memory I have of Cesar is when we won the Europa League final against Arsenal, everyone was celebrating in the disco in the hotel in Baku,” Zola says. “We were all dancing and Cesar was going crazy along with David Luiz. It tells you how much it meant for them, even after they won so much.” Azpilicueta has been Chelsea’s most-used outfield player in every one of the last five seasons across all competitions, and from August 2015 to May 2019, he missed just two of 152 Premier League matches, starting 149 of them. The physical load he has shouldered has been nothing short of staggering and his remarkable durability was a big reason why it was so jarring to see him limp off against Arsenal in the FA Cup final. For years, his daily routine has been rigorous: he arrives at Cobham in time to have breakfast at the training ground and then hit the gym before training, where he sets an exacting standard for the intensity of the session. Afterwards, he sticks around to do extensive stretches and goes for a swim in the pool. In his own time, he is always eager to learn about new ways to optimise his body’s ability to rest and recover. But he also knows he is not a machine. This season, with Ben Chilwell expected to establish himself as Chelsea’s long-term solution at left-back and James taking the next steps in his development on the right, Azpilicueta is likely to play fewer minutes. But you can also expect him to put up a serious fight before he gives up his status as a regular starter, just as Branislav Ivanovic and Cole did before him. Having just turned 31, he has every reason to believe his body has more to give at the top level. Football remains his primary focus but he is setting the wheels in motion for the next chapter of his life. Chelsea team-mates and staff have grown accustomed to seeing him tapping away at his laptop on the journey back from away trips as he works towards an online degree in business management at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation. He is part-owner of a FIFA esports team called the Falcons with two prominent Spanish YouTubers, Jose Antonio Cacho and Jesus Rincon, and he has a vision for the project beyond mere financial investment. He wants the Falcons to have a team ethic similar to a real football team and to use the platform to help people; recently, he hosted an online camp with the parents of gamers aimed at increasing awareness of the potential dangers of playing online, such as bullying and communicating with people posing under fake identities — a concern that has grown in his mind since having three children of his own. Despite the extent to which he has embraced leadership at Chelsea, those who know Azpilicueta don’t expect him to go into management when he finally retires. Given how settled he and his family are in their home near Cobham, however, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him choose to live in the UK rather than return to his native Pamplona, when he hangs up his boots, or for another role to be found for him at the club he has served so well for so long. In the meantime, players and staff at Cobham can continue to enjoy the benefits of having a captain worthy of Chelsea’s best traditions and grandest aspirations.

Explained: Why left-footed centre-backs are so in demand https://theathletic.com/2049395/2020/09/08/explained-left-foot-centre-back-ake-laporte/ After narrowly beating Sheffield United 1-0 at Bramall Lane in January, Pep Guardiola was asked his thoughts on the importance of Aymeric Laporte to his team. The Frenchman had returned to the starting XI that day after a near five-month layoff through injury. “He has something that we don’t otherwise have in the squad — his left foot in a central defender,” said the Manchester City manager. “There are many actions to build up — to make our play quicker, better — but we can’t do them. Not because the other players are not good but because Laporte is the only left-footed central defender.” He gave a reason for why Laporte was so vital to City from the back but not an explanation of how being a natural left-footer actually helps. The reasons are two-fold: passing angles and trajectories. Here’s an example of what happens when a right-footed defender plays at left centre-back, from Arsenal’s 3-1 win away to West Ham United last December under caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg. Calum Chambers lines up on the right of defence with Sokratis — who used his left foot the joint-least among Premier League centre-backs last season in terms of the percentage of passes he made with it — on the left side. Here’s a good example of a situation in which a left-footed centre-back can make a pass more often and comfortably than a right-footed one can. Sokratis has the ball and is under relatively weak pressure from the home team’s Felipe Anderson. To his left is Kieran Tierney, hugging the touchline. If Sokratis attempts to pass with the instep of his right foot, the ball will curve in a convex manner, the path of which is naturally closer to the three highlighted West Ham players. Alternatively, a pass with the left instep leads to a trajectory that is further away from all of the highlighted trio. A left-footed pass is less likely to be intercepted, so is the safest means of progressing the ball out to Tierney. However, West Ham’s shape is good here, which leads to Sokratis going back to goalkeeper Bernd Leno instead. A passage later in the first half of the same match offers another useful example. Sokratis (No 5) receives the ball from Chambers but his body shape is square-on. A natural left-footer here would open up their body more, let the ball run across them, and hit the large space to their left (as circled below). Lucas Torreira (No 11) isn’t watching, and Sead Kolasinac is out of the picture, meaning Sokratis has to again go back to Leno. A natural left-footer would have found it easier to be more progressive. Sokratis isn’t the most comfortable in possession anyway but the issues with Arsenal’s build-up in this game aren’t just down to him. Here’s another example, this time with Torreira on the ball. Although the Uruguayan is playing in midfield and not at the back, this is another right-footed pass that shows the structural reasons why left-footed passers are so revered. Torreira passes to Tierney with his right foot. This is one of the few times in the first half where the passing lane out to the left is clear — Robert Snodgrass had a great first half when it came to blocking Arsenal’s progress down the left. Mesut Ozil is circled and, although he’s being (loosely) marked by Mark Noble, the West Ham captain is the wrong side of his man. If Arsenal play this situation right, they could find themselves in a threatening position. Snodgrass switches on and starts to close Tierney down. The trajectory of the ball means it’s curving in towards Tierney, so if he wants to attack the space in front of him, he has to control the ball and move it forwards himself… …instead, he elects to pass the ball back from Torreira. Ozil is still free, and in plenty of space, but is unable to be found by Torreira. In fact, it takes Arsenal eight more passes and 30 seconds before the ball eventually reaches Ozil’s feet. At the start of the move, he was between the lines of West Ham’s defence and midfield, but now Ozil receives the ball just behind the midfield line (see below) — a far less threatening situation than one that could have played out. Let’s replay this situation, but instead imagining that the pass Tierney receives is from a left foot instead. The trajectory of the ball would naturally be going forwards instead of towards the sideline, and Arsenal’s left-back would be able to run onto it at speed. One pass would have comfortably moved the side upfield, temporarily removing six players from the game as they attack down their left: In this situation, Arsenal would have upped the tempo of their possession, and potentially tempted a West Ham defender to step out from the back to reduce the threat of Ozil between the lines if the ball is played his way. Any number of possible situations could play out in theory, causing plenty of chaos and resulting in a dangerous attack, but none of these were able to take place due to the initial pass. According to Statsbomb data on fbref, Chambers and Sokratis combined for 177 passes in open play in this game, the most by members of a four-man Arsenal back-line in any game in 2019-20. That’s a lot of opportunities to progress the ball but they rarely did, completing just two progressive passes (those that move into the opposition box or take play forward 10 metres more than any of the prior six passes) and two passes into the final third. The combination of the two shows a stagnant centre-back pairing, unable to build effectively from the back. There’s little wonder, then, that Mikel Arteta specifically requested a left-footed centre-back in the January window shortly after he joined from Manchester City as head coach. The club brought in Pablo Mari of Flamengo, and then signed Gabriel from Lille last week. Both players are natural left-footers. After Mari arrived, Arteta’s comments about him echoed those of Guardiola. “Mari balances what I want to do from the backline,” Arteta said. “He gives more options, more solutions, he opens up the pitch more.” And those solutions were evident in the return fixture against West Ham in March. Newly-signed Mari anchored Arsenal’s backline alongside David Luiz, the first natural left and right pairing at the back of the season. Arsenal’s shape in this game saw midfielder Granit Xhaka slotting in at left-back when their de facto left-back Bukayo Saka bombed forward. The presence of Mari led to greater balance on the left side of the field and created situations such as the one below early in the game. This helped Arsenal get the ball into the final third, courtesy of a curling left-footed pass in to Saka in space behind West Ham’s midfield. It’s an unsurprising pass to see Mari make, given it’s a very common route that Guardiola uses at City with his left-footed option, Laporte. In the 2-2 draw at the Etihad against Tottenham Hotspur at the start of last season, Laporte frequently used a left-footed pass to carve a way into the attacking third. First of all, he passes to Oleksandr Zinchenko, who sets Raheem Sterling up for a shot just six seconds after the Frenchman’s pass… …then Laporte gets Sterling in behind less than 90 seconds later… …and again three minutes later, with Zinchenko acting as a decoy, with the left-back moving centrally to pull his marker inside the pitch, again offering a clear passing lane in behind to Sterling. It’s not just passes along the ground that left-footers on the left side can help to complete, but also those in the air. Here’s an example of Mari lifting the ball forward over West Ham’s midfield, aiming for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The natural flight of the ball spins away towards the touchline, over Jeremy Ngakia’s head. It’s not a perfect ball — that would have allowed Aubameyang to run directly at goal — but it does result in him having the ball under control in a fair amount of space on the left. Again according to fbref, this game saw Arsenal’s two centre-backs combine for 146 passes overall, eight progressive passes and eight into the final third — a huge improvement in getting the ball forward from the back. It’s hard to isolate the reason for this uptick in passing performance being solely down to this revised defensive pairing, but there is a clear difference in how Arsenal looked to distribute the ball and impact the game. The benefits of having a left-footed centre-back are clear for teams that are hyper-focused on building out from defence, and there are a few teams in clear need of a left-footed option. Manchester United are the most obvious, given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer practically told the world what he’s looking for in the transfer market… Solskjaer’s side regularly played with a fully right-footed backline last season, but the merits of having a left-footed option in defence were tangible away to Chelsea in February. United started with a back three of Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire, with the left-footed Shaw completing nine progressive passes. That’s the most of any United centre-back appearance in a league game last season, level with Maguire against Watford. The difference here is that United shouldn’t be reliant on the finer elements of building out from the back to defeat the likes of a Watford side that ended up relegated but in games against top opposition, such as Chelsea, this efficiency in doing so is important. Another club who might want to enter the market for a left-footed centre-back are Tottenham. With the recent departure Jan Vertonghen, who was their only naturally left-footed option in central defence, Spurs’ options when building up are going to be limited. When looking at the games in which Tottenham start with a back four, they get far more productive passing from their two centre-backs when the pairing is a left-footer with a right-footer rather than two right-footed players. Southampton are one such club that won’t be worrying about a lack of balance at the back. Although they’re hardly a possession-heavy team, their signing of 21-year-old Mohammed Salisu for £10.9 million from Real Valladolid could be quite the coup. Given how much teams value “Premier League experience”, there’s a very good chance you will see Southampton’s new left-footed centre-back linked with all manner of top teams if he starts regularly for them and accrues good minutes. That’s a sentiment shared by those within the game too, with one data scout at a European club noting, “Come the end of the season, if he’s got 2,000 minutes in the league, he’s a £20 million player minimum, likely verging on £25 million-£30 million.” This all points to why Manchester City were so willing to pay £41 million this summer for Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake — there are very few top left-footed centre-backs in the market at the moment. He will likely be a deputy to Laporte, but Ake gives City another left-footed option at the back. When you have a player as crucial as Laporte who’s had a recent long-term injury, it makes sense to invest heavily in a back-up. Ake’s signing ensures Guardiola can exploit the additional angles and trajectories that come with having a southpaw at the back.

Ricardo Quaresma has been given the kind of understated welcome you’d expect for such a modest man at his new club Vitória.

more Phillips than him most people bashing Rice on social media in the past few months are simply anti-Chels jelly trolls or twat plastic fans with absolutely zero footie knowledge Twitter is a sewer some of the worst are the cuntish African (or fake African) accounts toxic as fuck, sexist and homophobic as hell, and and divvy as a bag of hammers

2020-21 UEFA Nations League, Group Stage Denmark v England http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2020/nations-league-denmark-vs-england-s2/ https://www.totalsportek.com/england/

Yes, loan him, but Jorginho and Kante both here still is a semi disaster. They both are rapidly lising value and both do not fit in well on the team (as we have no true compliment for Kante to play a double 8 pivot with). Fuck Sarri, what a disaster he was, regardless of the trophy. He saddled us with Jorginho and wrecked Kante at multiple levels.

those MOTHERFUCKERS were going to take that OPTION to buy and FUCK us next summer, refuse to redeem and try and pay £10m max I hate Italian club ownership and boards more than any others in football criminal scammers, gameplayers, and mafia wannabes all are connected to Italy misery Tiemoué Bakayoko ( the selling, not the buying) Emerson Davide Zappacosta Jorginho Victor Moses ( the selling, not the buying) Alonso ( the selling, not the buying) plus we got screwed to a point on Mario Pašalić and then stupidly did not exercise Boga's cheap buy-back

it is next year or they can fuck off no way are we paying well over £100m for a 29 or 30yo, even a keeper, who age better for £108m you need to get at least 7, 8 years out of him and a 37, 38yo Oblak is not going to be as good as a 27, 28yo Oblak, it will not be close he is the same height as Kepa was listed at for years (1.88m and he was a reverse Kepa, because he used to be listed at only 1.86m for awhile) so he cannot rely on his height as he ages Jose Luis Caminero, on the right, is 1.87m these are the top 20 keepers in the world in terms of value who are 34 years old or older its not a pretty sight (even the freak Buffon's last truly good season was when he was 38/39, and he is a one in a thousand exception nowadays) the ONLY ones I would accept as a starter for us (stop gap obviously for all but Neuer and he has only 3 or 4 good years left max) would be Manuel Neuer Igor Akinfeev Fernando Muslera Samir Handanovic Ben Foster that's it, only 5 (and only 2, are actually good to great) on the planet who are over 33yo let that sink in Willy is fucked, and his age is bending and warping our sensibilities (as he is better than Kepa atm, arffff) Foster, if he was 34, would be worth around £5-6m on this list (far more in reality) Samir Handanovic would be around £10m at 34yo (far more in reality) obviously Buffon at 34yo would be worth a tonne that's about it, Heaton is dogshit and the other 3 ARE only 34 now

you want tall lolol 2.04m started 34 league topflight games as an 18/19yo for Eredivisie club FC Emmen in 2018/19 with Onana (who is 1.9m) with Edwin van der Sar (1.97m, same height as Mendy)

that video fills me with dread he looks for shit when it come to sweeping, and he has bad hands and a tendency to push/punch the ball back into dangerous positions plus 52% pass completion??!!! and that is in weak-ass Lique 1 arrrrf not feeling this at all it is rare lately when I have had a fit over a buy, but this one might do it I hope I am dead wrong but my tummy is churning already

2020-21 UEFA Nations League, Group Stage Netherlands v Italy http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2020/nations-league-netherlands-vs-italy-s1/ https://www.totalsportek.com/netherlands/

Disgracing a once proud nation by breaching a biosecure bubble BRITISH PEOPLE IN COLD WEATHER The youthful Fiver was a model of good behaviour. We never quaffed an excess of White Lightning before defacing the annual flower show in our local park; we never put our boot through the window of Radio Rentals to impress peers we’d didn’t even like; and we certainly never allowed lascivious urges to impair our judgment. Nope. As such we have not a scintilla of sympathy for Phil Foden, 20, and Mason Greenwood, 18, who have disgraced a once proud nation by breaching the England biosecure bubble after the win over Iceland. Incriminating Snapchat footage shows the two enjoying the company of local females, it says here. For Foden and Greenwood, it was a costly game of Uno: having breached Covid regulations, both players have been bundled on to flight DO1 back to England. Foden and Greenwood have not been in contact with the rest of the squad, so England’s match in Denmark will go ahead as planned. “We have no alternative but to do what we are doing,” sighed Gareth Southgate. “They’ve been naive. I recognise their age but the whole world is dealing with this pandemic and there’s responsibility on every age group in playing their part and not spreading the virus. They have apologised.” Foden and Greenwood made their debuts on Saturday, and their actions hint at an inexplicable desire to join a list of England one-cap wonders that includes Joey Barton, Neil Ruddock and Percival Parr. Southgate hasn’t yet decided whether they will be available for selection when England return to their biosecure bubble – their forever tainted biosecure bubble – next month. “All of those things are too early, until I’m totally aware of every situation,” said Southgate. “I’m a father of young adults and I know they can get things wrong. We are not excusing that in this instance and we have to assess everything else moving forward.” Manchester City, famed purveyors of morality, were not quite as gentle as Southgate. They released a statement to say that Foden’s actions were “Totally inappropriate … His behaviour not only directly contravenes strict guidelines related to Covid-19, but also falls well below the standard expected of a Manchester City player and England international.”

Rijkaard is a strange case gave up managing at 49 still only 57 said years ago he would never manage again he retired from playing early too only 32 won the CL with Ajax in 1995 (what a fucking team that was!!!) and said SEE YA! I actually admire all that as long as it is what makes him happy good on him

we have the most complicated CB situation in the big 5 leagues potentially in a great way I agree that we need Rice MUCH more at DMF than CB Silva (will only be here two years max, as he surely will not play much when he is 38 years of age) Zouma (long term he must be sold, hopefully next summer, as he is simply not good enough and we will have plenty of others in the mix) Christensen (must be sold soon, he simply is not going to work out, barring a miracle) Rudiger (the CB with the most to prove, he simply must come good again thsi year as he and Silva, if they play to potential, are the two best we have (barring a hail mary Skriniar buy/swap deal) Tomori (huge enigma, wtf happened to him with Lamps? Loan him out I guess) Ampadu (he can pprove me wrong , and I hope he does, but he looks to be a bust atm. That said, he is SO young, and I still have some hope (DMF might ne his position) Clarke-Salter (I see a sale in his future, he is not starting Chels CB quality IMHO, but again, hope he proves me wrong, I have zero against the lad, he just should have 'popped' by now, he is 23yo in 2 weeks, time is tights) Sarr (IF he does extremely well on his loan spell, he might negate one of my projected buys) Mbuyamba (He has the most upside of any CB we have had since Terry, but is not a sure thing, but IF he comes good, we have a top 5 or top 10 CB on the planet on our hands) given all that, only time will tell if we even need to go after Upamecano or Skriniar or (as I stated before a real wild card) Theo Hernandez shifted to a LCB from LB (and he can be our backup LB if Chilwell cannot go) or Giminez or Ginter or Tapsoba or anyone else not listed and finally also IF we even will slide Rice over to CB

Torn Meniscus https://www.medicinenet.com/torn_meniscus/article.htm Torn meniscus facts The medial and lateral menisci are two large C-shaped cartilages that are positioned on the top of the tibia bone at the knee. The knee is the largest joint in the body. Cartilage within the knee joint helps protect the joint from the stresses placed on it from walking, running, climbing, and bending. A torn meniscus occurs because of trauma caused by forceful twisting or hyper-flexing of the knee joint. Symptoms of a torn meniscus include knee pain, swelling, popping, and giving way. Treatment of a torn meniscus may include observation and physical therapy with muscle strengthening to stabilize the knee joint. When conservative measures are ineffective treatment may include surgery to repair or remove the damaged cartilage. Introduction to the knee The knee is the largest joint in the body. The knee allows the leg to bend where the femur (thighbone) attaches to the tibia (shinbone). The knee flexes and extends, allowing the body to perform many activities, from walking and running to climbing and squatting. There are a variety of structures that surround the knee and allow it to bend and that protect the knee joint from injury. The quadriceps and hamstring muscles are responsible for moving the knee joint. When the quadriceps muscles (located on the front the thigh) contract, the knee extends or straightens. The hamstring muscles, located on the back of the thigh, are responsible for flexing or bending the knee. These muscles are also important in protecting the knee from being injured by acting to stabilize the knee and preventing it from being pushed in directions that it isn't meant to go. There are four ligaments that also stabilize the knee joint at rest and during movement: the medical and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL, LCL) and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL, PCL). Cartilage within the joint provides the cushioning to protect the bones from the routine stresses of walking, running, and climbing. The medial and lateral meniscus are two thicker wedge-shaped pads of cartilage attached to top of the tibia (shin bone), called the tibial plateau. Each meniscus is curved in a C-shape, with the front part of the cartilage called the anterior horn and the back part called the posterior horn. There is also articular cartilage that lines the joint surfaces of the bones within the knee, including the tibia, femur, and kneecap (patella). The terminology torn knee cartilage refers to damage to one of the C-shaped menisci of the knee between the femur and tibia. As with any injury in the body, when the meniscus is damaged, irritation occurs. If the surface that allows the bones to glide over each other in the knee joint is no longer smooth, pain can occur with each flexion or extension. The meniscus can be damaged because of a single event or it can gradually wear out because of age and overuse, causing degenerative tears. What is a torn meniscus? A torn meniscus is damage from a tear in the cartilage that is positioned on top of the tibia to allows the femur to glide when the knee joint moves. Tears are usually described by where they are located anatomically in the C shape and by their appearance (for example, "bucket handle" tear, longitudinal, parrot beak, and transverse). While physical examination may predict whether it is the medial or lateral meniscus that is damaged, a diagnostic procedure, like an MRI or arthroscopic surgery, can locate the specific part of the cartilage anatomy that is torn and its appearance. Because the blood supply is different to each part of the meniscus, knowing where the tear is located may help decide how easily an injury might heal (with or without surgery). The better the blood supply, the better the potential for recovery. The outside rim of cartilage has better blood supply than the central part of the "C." Blood supply to knee cartilage also decreases with age, and up to 20% of normal blood supply is lost by age 40. What causes a meniscus to tear? A forceful twist or sudden stop can cause the end of the femur to grind into the top of the tibia, pinching and potentially tearing the cartilage of the meniscus. This knee injury can also occur with deep squatting or kneeling, especially when lifting a heavy weight. Meniscus tear injuries often occur during athletic activities, especially in contact sports like football and hockey. Motions that require pivoting and sudden stops, in sports like tennis, basketball, and golf, can also cause meniscus damage. The sports injury does not have to occur during a game but can also occur in practice, where the same motions lead to meniscus damage. The risk of developing a torn meniscus increases with age because cartilage begins to gradually wear out, losing its blood supply and its resilience. Increasing body weight also puts more stress on the meniscus. Routine daily activities like walking and climbing stairs increase the potential for wear, degeneration, and tearing. It is estimated that six out of 10 patients older than 65 years have a degenerative meniscus tear. Many of these tears may never cause problems. Because some of the fibers of the cartilage are interconnected with those of the ligaments that surround the knee, meniscus injuries may be associated with tears of the collateral and cruciate ligaments, depending upon the mechanism of injury. While the normal cartilage is "C" or crescent shaped, there is a variant shape that is oval or discoid. This meniscus is thicker and more prone to injury and tearing. What are symptoms and signs of a torn meniscus? Very often, meniscal tears do not cause symptoms or problems. However, some people with a torn meniscus know exactly when they hurt their knee. There may be acute onset of knee pain and the patient may actually hear or feel a pop in their knee. As with any injury, there is an inflammatory response, including pain and swelling. The swelling within the knee joint from a torn meniscus usually takes a few hours to develop, and depending upon the amount of pain and fluid accumulation, the knee may become difficult to move. When fluid accumulates within the enclosed area of the knee joint, it may be difficult and painful to fully extend or straighten the knee, since the knee has the most space available when it is about 15 degrees flexed. In some situations, the amount of swelling may not necessarily be enough to notice. Sometimes, the patient isn't aware of the initial injury but starts noting symptoms that develop later. Moreover, there may not be an acute injury. The knee cartilage may become damaged as a consequence of aging, arthritis, and wearing away of the meniscus causing a degenerative meniscal tear. After the injury, the knee joint irritation may gradually settle down and feel relatively normal as the initial inflammatory response resolves. However, other symptoms may develop over time and may include any or all of the following: Pain with running or walking longer distances Intermittent swelling of the knee joint: Many times, the knee with a torn meniscus feels "tight." Popping, especially when climbing up or down stairs Giving way or buckling (the sensation that the knee is unstable and the feeling that the knee will give way): Less commonly, the knee actually will give way and cause the patient to fall. Locking (a mechanical block where the knee cannot be fully extended or straightened): This occurs when a piece of torn meniscus folds on itself and blocks full range of motion of the knee joint. The knee gets "stuck," usually flexed between 15 and 30 degrees and cannot bend or straighten from that position. snip What is rehabilitation and recovery like for a patient with a meniscus tear? If a conservative, nonsurgical approach is taken, the pain and swelling of a torn meniscus should resolve within a few days. Recovery and rehabilitation becomes a long-term commitment, as does making certain that the muscles surrounding the knee are kept strong to promote joint stability. Maintaining an ideal body weight, and avoiding activities that cause pain are adjuncts that are often recommended. If knee arthroscopy is performed, the rehabilitation process balances swelling and healing. The goal is to return range of motion to the knee as soon as possible. Physical therapy is an important part of the surgery process, and most therapists work with the orthopedic surgeon to return the patient to full function as soon as possible. Since the procedure usually is planned in advance, some health care professionals advocate pre-hab. With rehabilitation prior to the procedure, the patient begins strengthening exercises for the quadriceps and hamstring muscles before surgery to prevent the routine muscle weakness that may occur immediately after an operation. After surgery, once the swelling in the knee joint resolves, the goal of therapy is to increase the strength of the muscles surrounding the knee, return range of motion to normal, and promote and preserve stability of the joint. Elite athletes return to practice within one to two weeks after surgery, but they are a motivated group of people who spend hours each day in rehabilitation. For most other patients, return to mild routine activity occurs in less than six weeks. Most patients do well after surgery. The prognosis for return to normal activity is good but depends upon the motivation of the patient to work hard with their physical therapist and to continue that work at home after formal therapy has been completed. What are recommended exercises once a torn meniscus has been repaired? Rehabilitation after an operation depends upon the individual patient and the response to surgery. Specific recommendations regarding weight-bearing and exercises will be customized for the patient by the surgeon and therapist. Usually the goal is to return the knee to normal function within four to six weeks. What is the prognosis of a torn meniscus? Is it possible to prevent a torn meniscus? Most patients have their goals met by either conservative or surgical treatment, meaning that they are able to return to a normal level of function. This even includes both elite and recreational athletes who are able to return and compete in their sports. Complications may occur during surgery. For meniscectomy, where the damaged cartilage is surgically removed, the rate of complication is less than 2%. This includes anesthetic complications, infection, and failure to prevent long-term stiffness, swelling, and recurrent pain. Other complications include deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the leg) and the associated risks of the anesthetic. In patients who undergo meniscus repair, complications can occur in up to one-third of patients. Once cartilage is damaged, it cannot be repaired to be as good as the original. For that reason, prevention may actually be the best treatment for a torn meniscus. A lifelong commitment to maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding injury will decrease the stress placed on the cartilage of the knee during daily activities. Keeping muscles strong and flexible will also help protect joints. For the knee, this includes not only the quadriceps and hamstring muscles but also those in the core and back.

cats chase bright n' shiny too, but I don't want a kit that appeals to them either

that Leipzig shirt looks like pj's for an 8 year old Harry Potter fanboy

According to Kicker, Upamecano's new contract includes a €42 (£37.8m) million release clause, which will be active from next summer. That is SO low. And we can sell him on the project (and we have his best teammate (Werner) here already, plus Havertz and Rudiger)

gag hello Palace

yes, I know my standard want was Skiniar this window, Upamecano in summer 2021, but I gave a lot of other options as well IF we do mange to grab Rice and a GKer this window (we have to dump a lot of dregs to get to both) then obviously Skriniar is not happening now only way I could see all three happening this window is move that will make half the board rage and seethe in anger, that being a Knate for Skriniar straight swap (and then we HAVE to buy Rice) a summer 2019 Skriniar is worth a summer 2020 Kante valuation (both at £70-75m or so) now with COVID-19 and with Skriniar being on the outs, it is probably an overspend to ship Kante straight up for him (55-60m euros cash waived in Inter's face, I think they would sell Skriniar, meaning we are valuing Kante at only £49.5-54m in a straight swap, which is very low, especially as Serie A will extend his career at high levels, provided he stays healthy, which is a big if) that said, Kante starts to (he already has) massively go down in value for the summer 2021 window he turns 30 right near the end of winter (March), and if he is injured a lot this coming season, we are fucked in terms of his valuation another option to grab Skriniar is to offer Inter €35-40m + Emerson for Skriniar they are fucked at LB/LWB atm Inter Still Keen On Signing Chelsea’s Emerson Palmieri Italian Broadcaster Claims https://sempreinter.com/2020/09/04/inter-still-interested-in-signing-emerson-palmieri-could-sign-him-on-loan-with-option-to-buy-basis/