Vesper

lol, same here overall, footballers are a cringey group to begin with!

CIES Football Observatory n°288 - 23/03/2020 Weekly Post Values Most expensive youngsters: Sancho and Håland at the top https://football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2019/wp288/en/ Two Borussia Dortmund players head the rankings of big-5 league footballers born in or after 2000 with the highest transfer values according to the CIES Football Observatory algorithm: Jadon Sancho and Erling Håland. The Englishman is valued at almost €200 M and the Norwegian at €101 M. While the value of Sancho probably reached its peak, that of Håland is destined to grow. The top 50 list is available for free in issue number 288 of the Weekly Post. The Real Madrid’s attacking duo Rodrygo and Vinícius have the third and fourth highest estimated values: €89 M and €74 M respectively. Both Brazilians also have a high potential for progression. With four nationals, England is the most represented origin in the top 10: Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi (5th, €72 M), Mason Greenwood (8th, €50 M) and Phil Foden (9th, also €50 M). With an estimated value of €53 M, the French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (Stade Rennais) is the youngest player in the top 10. Another footballer born in 2002, Ansu Fati (FC Barcelona) is worth more than €40 M. The value ranges for all big-5 league footballers is freely available here. The 53rd Monthly Report presents the variables and approach developed by the CIES Football Observatory research team to assess the transfer values of footballers on a scientific basis. Estimated transfer value (€ Million) Big-5 league players born in the 2000s (11/03/2020)

Kante turns 30yo in the coming 2020/21 season he is already more than slightly diminished due to multiple factors he is now very injury prone now and played in a system he frankly is poor at he needs to be sold so we can cash in whilst we still have a shot at £100m or so return wait another year his value drops by 25% 30% more, after that it plummets only way I say keep him is if we bring in Simeone (sigh) or some other defensive taskmaster which is not happening I do agree on a no to Pjanic we is 30yo in 11 days almost exactly a year older than Kante damn shame he is not 24 or 25 he is vastly superior to Jorginho, even now, but we cannot be bring in players who turn 31yo in their first season with us, unless it is a keeper

People who think there is going to be Big 5 league football this summer that will finish off the 2019-20 season are probably in for some disappointment. Calling it now. I invite all to bookmark this. I am not afraid to make predictions, and my past track record is more than decent. Hope I am wrong, but judging off what I am seeing, not a chance unless there is MASSIVE changes. We still are not even in lockdown here., the fucking government in Sweden are gutless PC cunts. It is going to be a shitstorm here I fear Same for the UK, Germany, France, etc etc etc but the US is going to make us all look like pikers. The US is insane, and will soon WELL and truly fucked. they are going to be short millions upon millions of hospital beds and ventilators, etc etc They still have at least 100 million fools running around do whatever the fuck they want, they are in full Trump February 28th until 1 or 2 weeks ago 'its all hoax' mode

Premier League clubs told to pay back £762m if they fail to finish season https://theathletic.com/1687633/2020/03/19/premier-league-clubs-cost-762m-fail-to-finish-season/ Premier League executives have been told it will cost them £762 million in lost broadcast revenue if the 2019-20 season fails to finish due to the coronavirus, The Athletic can reveal. The huge figure would come due to a breach of contract in terms agreed for domestic and international rights and was communicated to all 20 clubs during the crisis meeting at Premier League headquarters in London on Thursday morning. The suspension is understood to be costing Sky, one of the two main domestic broadcasters, huge amounts per day as they are not charging many sports customers and cannot attract the same in advertising. The clubs receive broadcast money twice a year, in August and February, so only recently received the cash for the end of the season. Some clubs are determined to get games played behind doors so they don’t lose the broadcast money, such is their vulnerable financial position. Their outgoings — players’ wages in particular — are so high that they fear they cannot survive without it. They want games to go ahead and players to be regularly tested. Training grounds would be sealed off and players “wrapped in cotton wool” to protect them from contracting the virus. They feel it is not long until staff at Premier League clubs would have to be laid off, as has been the case at Lyon in France today. Some players in Germany have donated their wages so non-playing staff can stay employed. This is something many Premier League clubs would be in favour of. Other clubs feel games behind closed doors is unrealistic and that the players will refuse to play if they feel their health or those around them is at risk, especially if the rest of the country is isolating to prevent the spread of the virus. Rather than attend in person, a representative from each club dialled in to the conference chaired by Claudia Arney, the Premier League interim chair, to limit the potential spread of the disease, and the response to the massive price of curtailing the campaign early was said to be sanguine rather than shock. Those in charge of top-flight clubs accepted the consequences of being unable to fulfil fixtures would be significant. That is why, along with issues around competitive integrity, there remains a “100 per cent” commitment to completing the season whatever it may take, including the prospect of staging matches behind closed doors. The Athletic has previously reported on the potential for litigation if there is no relegation or promotion, aside from matters of European qualification. “We need to look outside accepted boundaries in football for a solution,” said a source. “Normal service won’t be resumed.” As per expectations, the postponement to the professional football calendar was pushed back from April 4 to April 30 at the earliest but a joint-statement between the FA, the Premier League, the EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, made plain that further, drastic action could yet be taken. It read: “The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that ‘the season shall terminate not later than the 1 June’ and ‘each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season’. However, The FA’s Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019/20 season in relation to Professional Football.” Those words confirmed the possibility that games could be played into June and even July if necessary and the consensus on that extension was described as “unanimous” in a “far from dramatic” meeting. “Clubs had decided for themselves about the best way forward before they spoke,” said a source. “Any attempt top go with table as it is now would cause uproar.” Others, however, said there are administrators who “may get nervous” if football is not resumed by mid-May as there “wouldn’t seem to be time to get things done.” There are also reservations among players, many of whom feel they will be left in limbo and as the delays go on, with some wondering whether it is really feasible to finish off the season after such a long break. It will be seven weeks by the time May begins. Manchester United and Liverpool have announced they will be paying all casual staff irrespective of whether games are cancelled or go ahead behind closed doors. In Liverpool’s case the pledge relates to the postponed homes games up to the end of April at a cost of £250,000 per match, while for United some 3,000 staff will be paid for each of the four remaining Premier League matches at the time they were scheduled to happen. It will cost United about £1 million in total. Should the games then go ahead at a subsequent date any staff working will be paid again. The joint statement from football’s authorities concluded: “The progress of COVID-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority. We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow. We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.”

ugh Azpi at LB and Kante rammed in hard pass

What is Lampard’s best Chelsea XI when everyone is fit? https://theathletic.com/1689889/2020/03/20/lampard-chelsea-starting-xi-injuries/ The sudden shutdown of English and European football has had significant consequences for Chelsea. The first-team squad are still self-isolating at home after Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus, Cobham remains in partial lockdown and operations at Stamford Bridge have been scaled back to such a degree that stadium tours have been suspended until at least next month, while the Millennium Hotel has been made available to accommodate NHS hospital staff. It could be some time before Frank Lampard is able to work normally with his players again. When he does, however, the one sliver of a silver lining is that Chelsea will not be required to navigate the defining stretch of the Premier League season with one of the longest injury lists in the division. Hudson-Odoi (hamstring), N’Golo Kante (adductor), Tammy Abraham (ankle), Mateo Kovacic (achilles) and Christian Pulisic (adductor) should all be good to go if the Premier League resumes in early June, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek will feel the benefit of several extra weeks to improve his fitness after a serious achilles rupture. More options means more decisions. What is Lampard’s best starting XI? The Athletic has decided to risk your ridicule by proposing a team. But just before we begin, a couple of disclaimers: 1) Hakim Ziyech does not feature in this list. Even if this Premier League season runs beyond June 30, under the current rules, he would not be able to be registered in Chelsea’s 25-man squad for the competition. He can be left for next season’s debate. 2) Willian, Pedro, Olivier Giroud and Willy Caballero are all set to become free agents on July 1 but, for the sake of simplicity, all are assumed to be eligible for the duration here. With that in mind, here we go… The formation Lampard has alternated between 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and 3-4-2-1 at different times this season, in response to both the tactical challenges posed by Chelsea’s opponents and the form or fitness of his own players. All three have yielded mixed results but, as written earlier this month, 4-3-3 has produced the highest consistent level of performance — a conclusion reinforced by convincing back-to-back home wins against Liverpool and Everton immediately prior to the coronavirus shutdown. It makes most sense, then, to arrange this team in a 4-3-3 formation, mindful of the fact that doing so will count against certain players who function best in different systems (apologies in advance, Marcos Alonso). And with that, on to the selections… Goalkeeper Kepa’s struggles this season have been very well documented, from his startlingly poor advanced save metrics to his at times shaky distribution with the ball at his feet and command of his area. Lampard ran out of patience following the 2-2 draw with 10-man Arsenal in January, benching the Spaniard for Chelsea’s next six matches. Willy Caballero came in and performed solidly enough but Kepa is still the clear pick here. While his form since arriving at Stamford Bridge has not justified the “world’s most expensive goalkeeper” tag, he has a far higher performance ceiling and, at 25, has room to grow. Caballero, at 38, does not. Kepa’s impressive displays upon regaining his place against Liverpool and Everton also suggested his time on the bench may have succeeded in refocusing his mind. Defence Alonso’s eye for goal has helped reinvigorate Chelsea’s attack at a crucial stage of the season, and in terms of intelligence, anticipation and execution, he might be the most talented goalscoring defender in the club’s history. But he is a wing-back, not a full-back. He cannot be consistently relied upon to defend his position without the safety net of a centre-back patrolling the space behind him. Emerson has all of the physical and technical tools for the left-back job but his body of work at Chelsea has been largely disappointing. He is too frequently caught upfield in key moments but without offering much of a threat to actually break down opposition defences. Cesar Azpilicueta is a far superior one-on-one defender than both and still offers a reasonable crossing threat from the left, even if the need to cut back onto his right foot does occasionally hinder the team’s attack. Just as importantly, shifting him to the position where he won the Premier League title in 2014-15 also allows Reece James to come in at right-back. James is special. An athlete with the technical comfort level on the ball of a midfielder, his spectacular crossing ability will be a key weapon in Chelsea sides for years to come. In this team, his frequent forward surges can be offset by Azpilicueta dropping in from the opposite flank to form a three-man defence with the two centre-backs. The middle of the back four is considerably trickier. Lampard has tried six different centre-back partnerships across all competitions this season — not including the matches when Chelsea have lined up in a back three — and none have staked an overwhelming claim. Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori are all talented defenders with different individual strengths and weaknesses but the chemistry of a partnership also has to be taken into account. Zouma has played more Premier League minutes than any of the others, and it’s easy to see why. In a worryingly-small Chelsea team, he is the only player who could legitimately be classed as aerially dominant, winning 74.4 per cent of his duels in the air. That physicality is the main reason he has to be in this team, in spite of his occasionally erratic positioning and clumsy style in possession. Rudiger, Christensen and Tomori all have relatively equal cases to start alongside him, but Zouma-Tomori was the partnership that provided the foundation for Chelsea’s best run of form this season in the autumn, punctuated by a brilliant 1-0 defeat of Ajax in Amsterdam. Tomori has fallen out of favour in recent weeks and endured a horrible day against Bournemouth last month. But at his best, his speed across the ground, sound defensive instincts and solid passing complement Zouma well. Midfield No other area of Lampard’s squad has so many high-quality options, so collective fit is vital here. The three most high-profile Chelsea midfielders are Jorginho, Kante and Kovacic but a season beset by stodgy attacking performances under Maurizio Sarri provided ample evidence that playing all three together does not give the team enough creativity or threat in the final third. At the other end of the spectrum, Billy Gilmour’s two masterclasses against Everton and Liverpool have catapulted him into a conversation that would not have even included him a month ago. His intelligence, passing range and general poise are all incredible for an 18-year-old and he also showed hugely-encouraging defensive understanding of the No 6 position across both games. Ultimately, 180 minutes is too small a body of work for Gilmour to push his way into this team but, make no mistake, with everything he has shown so far, it would not be a surprise if he made his omission here look very silly very soon. Kante is Chelsea’s only world-class player and has shown on the rare occasions when he has been fit this season that he can still profoundly impact matches at the highest level. Kovacic has arguably been the most consistently impressive performer under Lampard this season, frequently getting the team on the front foot with his remarkable ability to slalom through an opposition press. Both need to be in this team, which means Jorginho cannot be. Kovacic is more than capable of setting the tempo of Chelsea’s passing as a No 6, while Jorginho’s physical and defensive limitations offset the rare quality he brings to the team with the ball at his feet. Kovacic has his own problems reading danger but that is why Kante is beside him. The presence of Kante and Kovacic also means the goal threat from Chelsea’s midfield must come from the third member of the trio. Mason Mount and Ross Barkley have each shown flashes of being able to supply that, and both were on sparkling form with and without the ball either side of Gilmour in Chelsea’s 3-0 win against Everton earlier this month. But cast your mind back to last season and an even better candidate emerges. Loftus-Cheek blossomed into one of Chelsea’s most important players in the final months of Sarri’s tenure, breaking from midfield to score against Cardiff, Brighton, Watford and Eintracht Frankfurt — strikes that saw him break into double figures for goals in the campaign. Loftus-Cheek’s unique blend of physical and technical attributes complete this midfield and his intelligent runs into the opposition penalty area offer what Kovacic and Kante mostly cannot. It has been a long time since he was able to show it but at his best, he gets into this team. Attack Olivier Giroud’s return to form has come at a key time for Lampard and, for the first time this season, created a genuine debate about Chelsea’s best No 9 — particularly in light of the fact that Tammy Abraham’s star has not shone quite so brightly since the turn of the year. Abraham’s dip in production cannot easily be separated from the freak ankle injury he sustained colliding with an advertising hoarding during the Arsenal draw, however. He remains Chelsea’s top scorer with 13 goals in the Premier League and his expected goals per 90 minutes (xG90) rating of 0.61 is still significantly better than that of Giroud (0.45). Giroud’s best attribute is his ability to make those around him better with smart hold and link-up play, so it is no surprise that his expected assists per 90 (xA90) of 0.20 is better than Abraham’s 0.13. But goals are the main requirement for a striker in this Chelsea team, so Abraham gets the nod. The less said about Michy Batshuayi’s form this season, the better. On the left of the front three, Christian Pulisic is a no-brainer. The American ranks behind only Abraham in xG90 (0.51) among regular Chelsea starters, providing a much-needed secondary punch to the attack. His ability to move dangerously with and without the ball is unrivalled among Lampard’s wing options, and he is also a perfect fit for a high-intensity pressing style. The opposite flank presents tougher choices. Hudson-Odoi is a tantalising talent who has shown exciting flashes in tandem with an overlapping James, and he is gradually learning how to incorporate the incisive runs that Pulisic regularly makes into the six-yard box into his own game. But he is also yet to truly blossom in the Premier League, his development slowed by injuries. Pedro does not merit serious consideration on either flank because, on the rare occasions he has played this season, he has generally looked a shadow of the wide forward who proved so dangerous in Antonio Conte’s best Chelsea team. That leaves Willian, forever trusted by his managers and forever divisive among supporters. The pure goal and assist numbers have always been underwhelming for Willian, but his other qualities make him a sensible choice to complete this team. His 2.38 key passes per 90 minutes (KP90) mark him out as more creative than any of Chelsea’s other wing options, and his dribble success rate of 65 per cent also marks him out as the most reliable ball carrier. Out of possession, Willian’s defensive contribution offers some tactical balance. He has the best duel success rate (59.3 per cent) and tackle success rate (61.5 per cent) of Chelsea’s wingers. Hudson-Odoi may be ready to take his spot as soon as next season but for now, the Brazilian remains one of the experienced heads in a team not short on youth. Full team (4-3-3): Kepa; James, Zouma, Tomori, Azpilicueta; Kante, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic What do you think of these selections? Let me know in the comments below — and please be kind!

Mikel: I’m never going back to Trabzonspor – it’s not right to play football now https://theathletic.com/1686642/2020/03/19/mikel-trabzonspor-chelsea-coronavirus/ Mikel John Obi insists he will reject any approach to play for Trabzonspor again having walked away from the Turkish Super League side after complaining about their handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking exclusively to The Athletic, the former Chelsea midfielder has revealed the extraordinary events of the last few days which have seen him cancel his contract and return to London to be with his family. While most professional sport around the world has been postponed in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Turkish Super League was still going on until authorities suspended it late this afternoon. Trabzonspor have not won the championship since 1984 but lead the division — albeit only ahead of Istanbul Basaksehir on goal difference — after 26 games. Mikel wrote a post on Instagram last Friday insisting the season in Turkey “should be cancelled”, which is understood to have angered the Trabzonspor board. The player says he was ordered to a meeting with club president Ahmet Agaoglu, at which he claims he was instructed to take the post down. Mikel refused to delete the message. The Nigeria international explains: “They were really upset about the whole thing. I was told to meet with the president in his office one-on-one. He asked me to take it down (the post). I told him I wasn’t going to do that. It’s my opinion. This is how I feel. We live in a free world. I have freedom of speech. I can express my opinion. “I wanted to win the league too but at this point in time we have to think about what is more important: to save peoples’ lives. “I want to help in any way that I can to defeat this virus. For us to be out there playing; I don’t think we are helping the global situation. I don’t feel it is right for us to play football. “UEFA have postponed football. How come they are still playing in Turkey? It’s not right at all. But Trabzonspor were not having it — for me, they don’t care. “I told them I wanted to go home. They said, ‘If you go home, you’re not coming back.’ I said, ‘OK, I’m going home.'” Mikel, 32, was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with nearest challengers Istanbul Basaksehir and then chose to walk away from his contract, worth around £35,000 a week, which still had more than a year left to run. The former Chelsea midfielder says he had already been assured an option for another 12 months was going to be triggered, which would have taken him up to 2022. On Wednesday, he flew back from Turkey to be reunited with his partner and young twin girls, who had stayed in the family home near Chelsea’s training ground in Surrey while Mikel played in the Turkish Super League. He adds: “I explained to the club that I needed to see and be with my kids. They were calling me every single morning, crying on the phone, wondering why their friends were not coming over for playdates, why they can’t touch anyone on the street. I didn’t feel happy every morning lying to my kids, making up stories to explain why in order to try not to make them panic (about COVID-19). “I knew if I came home, they’d be relaxed because they’d then know Daddy was home. I told the club, ‘OK, if that’s what you’re saying, I’m ready to give up my contract. To be with my family, to help the world to do the right thing — everybody needs to stay at home at this point in time.’ “I have taken a financial hit by taking this stance. It is worth every single penny, I’m telling you. To see my kids happy and fine, to know we will survive this together; the only way we can beat this is by being at home with your family, taking care of your family, your neighbour. “When I arrived back at London Heathrow, it was amazing. My girlfriend has been panicking all week over the possibility of the UK borders being shut and me not being able to come back home, that I’d be stuck in Turkey. Just imagine if this goes on for months. I wouldn’t be able to see my kids, to help my family. God forbid anything happened to them and I wasn’t there. I wasn’t willing to make that sacrifice. “Before we hugged, I had to come home and shower, change my clothes and everything. In Turkey, I was not tested or anything like that. I had to make sure I did the right things before touching them.” Mikel, who won eight major trophies at Chelsea from 2006-17, joined Trabzonspor — on Turkey’s Black Sea coast, 650 miles east of Istanbul —as a free agent last summer, having spent the previous two years at Tianjin Teda in China and Championship Middlesbrough respectively. He had become a key player in the Turkish side’s title challenge but had been increasingly living as a recluse as the coronavirus crisis intensified. Turkey had six reported cases at the time of Mikel’s post but that figure had jumped to 47 by Thursday. He says: “I thought, ‘The more this goes on, I won’t be safe out there.’ I just kept myself locked up. I went to training and then I would go back to my flat. That is basically all I did until I came home. “I was doing so well, playing every week. The team was winning — top of the league. We were playing well. I was enjoying my football out there. We had a chance to win the league but I gave that all up to do the right thing.” Mikel is adamant he would refuse to rejoin Trabzonspor if the club made a bid to re-sign him. “Go back to Trabzonspor? No chance,” he says. “Not with the way they have dealt with this situation. “We have to look at ourselves sometimes in life and ask what is more important? Who do I want to be friends with? When I’m in trouble, who is going to look after me? And, the way they have dealt with this, I don’t see myself going back to Trabzonspor again. “I hope (there will be offers from elsewhere). I hope I will be back out on the pitch once everything is settled and everyone is back at work, everything is back to normal. I want to be out there as soon as possible. But we have to defeat this virus first. “I am looking forward to my next chapter. I don’t know where it’s going to be. I want to be closer to home, somewhere in England maybe. But we will see what happens. The best option is where I will go. “In the meantime, my girls will help keep me fit! I will be in the gym too and, if I can, I will do some running outside.” A Trabzonspor spokesperson said: “Mikel’s claim about our club stated in the news you have made does not reflect the truth. Trabzonspor Club has taken all the necessary precautions against Covid-19 in a very short time. “In accordance with the information given by the Ministry of Health, the health committee of our club has informed our footballers. The facilities, pitches and the stadium have been disinfected. Restrictions of the access of the guests in the club training ground, including even the guests of the players themselves, have been placed. “Our staff at the facilities has started to work from home in accordance with the social distancing rule. “Despite of all the precautions and common sense calls, Mikel wanted to go to United Kingdom, where his family is located. He was also informed that he would not be able to come back due to the restrictions in the international flights. “Oyour footballer, whom we expected to calm and prudent just like all the footballers and football family members, who have been waiting for the league to be postponed in Turkey, decided to leave himself. His manager himself is a witness of this situation. As a result, we had to part ways with him by common consent. “We wish him success in his career.” Mikel responded by telling The Athletic that he disputed the club’s version of events and said the has no manager (agent) and that he attended the meeting with the club president alone.

Exclusive: UEFA to relax FFP regulations in light of coronavirus crisis https://theathletic.com/1690193/2020/03/20/exclusive-uefa-relax-ffp-regulations-coronavirus/ European football’s governing body UEFA has relaxed its Financial Fair Play regulations to help cash-strapped clubs survive the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. With the professional game facing its biggest economic challenge since World War Two, the move has been broadly welcomed by football finance experts but some have warned UEFA not to let clubs with the wealthiest owners take advantage of the temporary relaxation. In response to calls for urgent help, the Swiss-based governing body has extended the deadline for clubs to prove they have no “overdue payables” — such as unpaid tax bills, transfer instalments or wages — from March 31 to April 30. Furthermore, it has also reminded clubs that the principle of “force majeure”, a French term that means greater force, is written into the spending rules. “Any extraordinary event or circumstances beyond the control of the club that are considered a case of force majeure are taken into account as part of the club’s assessment, on a case-by-case basis,” a UEFA spokesperson told The Athletic. Introduced in 2011 to curb overspending, the FFP regulations are based on the idea that clubs should not spend more than they make from their ordinary business activities. Owners are allowed to invest as much as they like in the club’s academy, community work, stadium and women’s teams but there are strict limits on how much additional funding they can put into the first team playing budget or transfer kitty. The rules are policed by an independent body known as the Club Financial Control Body, which has investigatory and adjudicatory arms. Numerous clubs have been sanctioned for breaching these rules, most notably Manchester City, who are currently appealing against a two-year ban from European club competition that was imposed last month. It is understood that the decision to push back the deadline for unpaid bills and reassure clubs that any extra support from owners in the coming months will be assessed more leniently than usual follows talks with the European Club Association, the organisation that represents the interests of the continent’s leading clubs. Confirmation of UEFA’s move comes a day after the Premier League warned clubs that domestic broadcasters might ask for £762 million back if no further fixtures can be played this season and former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios told The Athletic that clubs will go bust if players do not agree to pay cuts. “UEFA has employed a practical and sensible approach,” says Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert who lectures at the University of Liverpool. “By giving clubs longer to provide proof of no outstanding debts it allows the clubs to focus on day-to-day issues rather than administrative compliance issues. “In relation to the monitoring for FFP, UEFA has acknowledged we are in extraordinary times. It has effectively allowed clubs some flexibility in terms of FFP compliance. “At the same time, those clubs who do have significant resources behind them cannot exploit their financial advantage to use the present circumstances to give themselves carte blanche in terms of spending money without fear of action.” John Mehrzad QC, a leading sports law specialist at Littleton Chambers, agrees with Maguire that this move was necessary, pointing out that the relaxation of the March 31 deadline will help “clubs remain afloat” at a time of continuing expenses and uncertain income. He warned, however, that it might not be so good for “clubs, players or staff wishing to be paid over the next six weeks, as clubs can effectively default until the end of that period and not face UEFA sanction”. But this, he explained, is the “hard balancing act” governing bodies have right now, as they prioritise saving clubs on the basis that if they go bust, their players and staff might not receive any further pay at all. On the decision to take a more generous view of injections of cash from owners, Mehrzad says: “That approach makes sense but it is potentially open to abuse if, for example, a very rich club injected in a lot of cash from an owner not to use on wages but to buy players in the next transfer window. Hence, the assessment on a ‘case-by-case’ basis.” Nick De Marco QC, from Blackstone Chambers, is perhaps the leading legal expert on FFP rules in the UK and described the UEFA move as “obviously sensible”. But he would like to see the British football authorities follow suit. “The suggestion that clubs may be able to rely on the principle of ‘force majeure’ will be of particular interest,” says De Marco. “In England, the clubs that are struggling the most to pay their players and keep going are governed by the English Football League’s (Profitability and Sustainability) rules which are far stricter than those of UEFA. “In my view these rules need to be suspended during the current health emergency. Clubs are already struggling to be able to pay their players and other staff, and if the only way they can do so is by going into debt it makes no sense at all to then punish them for it.” The EFL declined to comment on UEFA’s decision to loosen its rules but it is understood that any change to its profitability and sustainability regulations would have to be agreed by its 71 clubs and those conversations are ongoing. Sean Cottrell, the founder and chief executive of LawInSport, sums up the situation like this: “Extending the deadline makes sense, given the crisis countries across the world are facing. “Football, like all sports, is having to adjust rapidly to the situation and in many cases they are supporting local communities at this difficult time whilst managing their own internal difficulties. “What is of interest is UEFA suggests COVID-19 is considered a case of force majeure in terms of FFP. This may have significant legal implications later down the line for clubs and players.”

Friday March 20 2020 Football Nerd Can Jose Mourinho's teams still defend properly? By Daniel Zeqiri Jose Mourinho has not solidified Tottenham's defence CREDIT: PA Throughout football's coronavirus hiatus, we remain committed to providing a weekly newsletter of football facts, analysis and retrospectives. If there is a topic you are keen for us to cover please email [email protected]. Above all, stay safe. The question of whether Jose Mourinho's teams are too defensive has been debated to the point of tedium - the more pertinent enquiry in 2020 is whether Jose Mourinho's teams can still defend. Tottenham have a wretched defensive record since Mourinho's arrival, and while doubts remain over his ability to coach repeatable and choreographed attacking moves, the failure to solidify Spurs is just as troubling. Following Mourinho's first Premier League match in charge at West Ham, Tottenham conceded two goals or more in eight of 17 games. Only three teams - Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Newcastle - have conceded more shots on goal than Tottenham's 240 in that period. Moving from quantity of shots to quality of chances, the picture is no less bleak. Tottenham have conceded 1.55 Expected Goals per game under Mourinho, with only Villa, Newcastle, Bournemouth and West Ham allowing a higher total. This is not a 'pragmatic' way of playing; it is plain dysfunctional. Mourinho's best teams may have dropped into a mid or low block and shown little interest in dominating possession, but they suffocated opponents in the final third and suppressed shots and chances. This Tottenham team are not doing that CREDIT: OPTA Admittedly, individual quality is part of the picture. Defenders such as John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Walter Samuel formed the foundation of Mourinho's tightest defences and they do not grow in trees. In Mourinho's first two title-winning seasons at Chelsea - between 2004 and 2006 - they conceded a remarkable 2.2 and 2.5 shots on target per game in the Premier League. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are in the autumn of their careers while a position that was once Tottenham's strength under Mauricio Pochetinno, full-back, has become a weakness. Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose have all departed while Ben Davies was lost to injury early in Mourinho's reign. The result has been frequent switches between a back four and a back five, with promising young centre-back Japhet Tanganga asked to play out position. There were signs at Manchester United though, that teams were slicing through Mourinho's low block with alarming ease. Although United finished second and conceded just 28 goals in 2017-18, that season was built on the superhuman and unsustainable performances of goalkeeper David De Gea. United conceded 3.9 shots on target per game that season, the highest of Mourinho's league career aside from his disastrous half-season at Chelsea in 2015-16. At Tottenham as at United, Mourinho is in charge of a top-heavy squad whose talent is stacked in the attacking third. Performances at Spurs and United have fallen into two categories: abjectly reactive displays that isolate the attacking talent, or hell-for-leather attacking performances that expose the defence. Mourinho is yet to show he can strike a balance in the modern game.

well, that is why it is called net worth it presupposes a pure liquidation (which is impossible at these levels of assets) versus an immediate servicing in full of all debts and liabilities but yes, it is all entirely speculative

yes, Giggs is an absolute shitehawk of a human being on a moral level

way too early to assume that by June it will be safe and sound we are headed into uncharted (at least since 1917-18) waters I think the whole thing gets voided out (stats too perhaps, I would have to think, which is shit for the players, Cavani and Mertens will go bonkers more than most, as they might lose their 200 PSG goals, and top club scorer statuses, respectively)

Speed was never his game anyway, and he is superb shape, so another 12 months might not fuck him too hard. Dice roll not of his own choosing.

I like Gary Neville (I think he is one of the best football pundits in the world, although that positing will surely get me stick here), but I still hate Giggs lolol although he is doing a good thing atm

Gazzetta dello Sport reports that PSG are planning to spend at least €100m in order to sign Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Lazio: Szoboszlai arrives if Milinkovic-Savic leaves https://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/19-03-2020/lazio-arriva-szoboszlai-se-parte-milinkovic-savic-3601841452213_preview.shtml?reason=unauthenticated&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gazzetta.it%2FCalciomercato%2F19-03-2020%2Flazio-arriva-szoboszlai-se-parte-milinkovic-savic-3601841452213.shtml The Serbian dreams of the Scudetto, but could make the jump to a top club like PSG. And in its place the Biancocelesti would focus on the Hungarian from Salzburg or Bonaventura, released at the end of the season

Acerbi’s agent responds to Chelsea & Inter links as transfer talk builds around Lazio defender https://www.goal.com/en/news/acerbi-agent-chelsea-inter-links-transfer-talk-lazio/huj8gakqdxd71afhh7oj5jrai The Italy international centre-half is said to be attracting interest ahead of the next window, with his representative happy to talk up his qualities Francesco Acerbi is capable of playing for “any club in Europe”, claims his agent, with the Lazio centre-half generating talk of interest from Chelsea and Inter. The Italy international, who battled testicular cancer back in 2013, has been a model of consistency since earning regular game time in Serie A at Sassuolo. His exploits there secured him a move to Stadio Olimpico in the summer of 2018 and Acerbi has taken his game to even greater heights with Lazio, with Simone Inzaghi’s side chasing down title glory in 2019-20. snip

LIVE Transfer Talk: Real Madrid and Barcelona to fight for Alaba https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/4076535/live-transfer-talk-real-madrid-and-barcelona-to-fight-for-alaba Bayern Munich are more to used to buying top players from other clubs than selling to them, but their hand might be forced by full-back David Alaba's desire to leave Germany, says Sport Bild. Alaba, 27, is arguably one of the best left-sided defenders in the world and has been at Bayern since 2008, but now he wants to try a new challenge. Clearly many of Europe's top clubs are going to be interested in the Austria international if he becomes available for a reported €70m, but Sport states that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are leading the way. Though Chelsea also showed an interest in the January transfer window. As luck would have it, Alaba went on record about his future destination when he told Bild last year about the countries he wants to play in: "Spain, England. In Spain, it would be the two big clubs, I guess, Real or Barcelona. Also the big clubs in England." There we go then. snip

Real Madrid's Jovic faces arrest if he breaks coronavirus isolation again https://www.espn.co.uk/football/real-madrid/story/4076734/real-madrids-jovic-faces-arrest-if-he-breaks-coronavirus-isolation-again

lolol I just got banned from an American political chat board for posting that in the sports section the FUCKING CUNTS said I advocating HOARDING!!!!!! WTF!!!!!! probably was a butthurt spuds fan

Rebooted: Lambourde – ‘It was hard to understand a word Dennis Wise was saying’ https://theathletic.com/1683737/2020/03/19/bernard-lambourde-chelsea-rebooted/ With British football suspended, The Athletic has picked up the season from 1998-99, where Chelsea’s pursuit of silverware has continued with victory over Norwegian side Valerenga… Try as he might, Bernard Lambourde can’t stop chuckling. The former defender has just been asked to reflect on the 21st anniversary of scoring his first Chelsea goal and the question has caught him by complete surprise. “You want to talk about that goal?” he replies. “Why? The one against Tottenham was much better. This shot took so many bounces before it hit the back of the net.” Lambourde, who joined Chelsea from Bordeaux for £1.5 million in 1997, was approaching the end of his second season at Stamford Bridge when he got off the mark for the club at the 32nd attempt. March 19th 1999 would have been the morning after the night before, when Chelsea were playing the second leg of their Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final against Norwegian side Valerenga. They went into the match already leading 3-0 and player-manager Gianluca Vialli soon eased any fears of an unlikely comeback by scoring an away goal in the 11th minute. Lambourde’s moment came shortly afterwards. As the clock hit the quarter-hour mark, a corner from captain Dennis Wise was headed clear by a Valerenga defender to the edge of the penalty area and an unmarked Lambourde decided to try his luck. “I thought, ‘You’re a bit far out but you have to try it anyway,'” Lambourde tells The Athletic. “I caught the ball on the volley but the connection wasn’t the best. It seemed to take a long time and a lot of bounces before it went into the corner. I didn’t celebrate too much. I was laughing more than I was celebrating. I couldn’t believe it had gone in.” It may have been a low-key moment in a one-sided affair — Chelsea went on to progress to the semi-finals 6-2 on aggregate — but this bit of fun was in keeping with a lot of happy times Lambourde experienced in west London. The Frenchman moved to the English capital at a time when Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit was entertaining the globe with what was described to be “sexy football” — a term the Dutchman had first used while working as a TV pundit. Gullit ended the club’s 26-year wait for a major trophy in the season before Lambourde arrived by lifting the FA Cup. The following campaign, which saw Gullit replaced at the helm by Vialli with three months remaining, brought both the Carabao Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup. It was a squad full of talent, with the Midas touch being provided by Gianfranco Zola. The next step was winning a Premier League title and the club signed Marcel Desailly, who had just won the World Cup with France, along with Denmark international Brian Laudrup, Albert Ferrer from Barcelona and Lazio striker Pierluigi Casiraghi. The signal of intent was clear. Lambourde was not one of the biggest stars in the group but the kind of solid squad player all top teams need to rely on throughout a gruelling fixture list. “There was a lot of competition,” he admits. “I was up against Desailly, Frank Leboeuf, Michael Duberry and a young John Terry. “There were two parts to this — there is a positive because it takes you to your best level. You have to compete with all the guys to get your place in the team. But there is also the bad way of seeing someone like Desailly come in. He was ‘The Rock’; one of the best defenders in the game, someone who has just won the World Cup. It is very difficult to take the place off someone like that. “All I said to myself was, ‘Just do your best to get in the team and fill in anywhere — even if it is at right-back. Improve your game and do the best you can. Be there for the team when they need you.’ “Was Marcel a hero of mine? No. He couldn’t be a hero when we shared the same agent and played the same position at the same club. He was a reference for me, though. When you see the best, you have to try and match them.” As far as inspirations throughout his four years at Chelsea go (albeit the last season was spent on loan at Portsmouth), it was actually Mark Hughes who made the biggest impact. The Welshman’s underwhelming managerial career has led to some of his exploits as a striker to fade into the background. This is a man who played for Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, among others, and amassed 224 goals, 39 of which came at Chelsea between 1995-98. “Out of everyone I played with there, Hughes was my idol,” the former centre-back says. “He was the most difficult one to be up against in training. It wasn’t like he was quick or anything but he always fought for the team and his team-mates. He was good in front of goal and for me, he was the example; the state of mind he had, the character, the person. “He was always talking to everybody in the dressing room, smiling. But once he was on the pitch, you had someone you could rely on. He would fight for everybody. He was an animal. He was like that in training matches, too. Just before games started, he’d be all quiet but once underway, he’d be completely different.” While Hughes wasn’t around in 1998-99, another significant character was still making a big impression. “Dennis Wise will for ever be my captain,” Lambourde adds. “He was the same as Hughes, forever working hard for the club, for the team. He is the guy who made me realise it was important for the team to always compete, even in training. “Could I understand him? At the beginning, no chance! I only knew a little English. I improved after a few months but even after one year, it was hard to understand a word he was saying. “He would play practical jokes on me but I couldn’t always understand what he was doing. He wasn’t the only one. Many people would do jokes but it was Dennis who created this atmosphere. Luckily, he never tried to do anything with my clothes but he would do things to people like Duberry. He would cut them or hide them, just practical jokes. People like him are important, they bring everyone together.” An opening 2-1 defeat at Coventry City made a mockery of Chelsea’s ambitions to beat Arsenal, who had won the double of Premier League and FA Cup in 1997-98, plus mighty Manchester United to first place. But they didn’t lose again in the top flight for five months and were beaten just three times in total. Had they won, rather than drawn, successive April games against mid-table trio Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday, they would have finished above champions United. This is the Manchester United side still lauded till this day because they made history by also claiming the Champions League and FA Cup that year. Yet Chelsea finished just four points behind them. Getting so close to first place still haunts Lambourde. “I think about it now and what might have been,” he says. “Everyone remembers Chelsea lifting the Premier League trophy in 2005 and regard this period as when they became a big club. “But we were at the beginning of all that. Unluckily for us, we didn’t win the title. If we had, things would have been different for all of us, even now, as players. People would have always remembered us and this team. Now, when people talk about Chelsea, a lot is all about 2005. “Everyone remembers the first title since they won it for the first time (in 1955) and that could have been us. I don’t care about having a statue at the ground but it would have been nice to have the souvenir! “At the end of your career, it’s not about money, statues — it’s about the souvenirs, the memories of doing something together. The group did pick up some trophies, so it’s not like we didn’t win anything. “But when Manchester United are winning all the trophies, there is no place for second, for anyone else. I was at Chelsea for four years and there was always Manchester United or Arsenal ahead of us in the league.” Why did Chelsea lose out? Fortune certainly played a role. Casiraghi suffered a career-ending knee injury against West Ham United in the November, Laudrup left within weeks due to homesickness, while two regular goalscorers — Gustavo Poyet and Tore Andre Flo — spent a few months on the sidelines at a key time with injuries. It was also suggested that Chelsea’s bid to retain the Cup Winners’ Cup, which ended with a 2-1 loss to Real Mallorca at the last four stage, was an unwelcome distraction. But Lambourde dismisses such a theory. “I don’t think that was the problem,” he says. “There was a great state of mind, a great atmosphere and ambience. No one was tired, everyone wanted to play all the games. “Maybe it was the calibre of players we had on the bench. I’m just comparing it to Manchester City and Liverpool now — who can play two teams. For us, it was still quite early. We were also lacking a bit of experience — not in terms of where many of them had played, as they were internationals. But most of us hadn’t won the Premier League before. That was the issue more than the quality. “We also suffered bad luck, with Poyet and Flo getting injured. It was huge. Every time Flo came off the bench he was scoring, even in the Cup Winners’ Cup, he was crazy. The same with Gustavo. We still had some players to fill in but it was difficult to lose them.” The following season brought disappointment for Lambourde. He was left out of the squad that won the FA Cup final and was on the pitch when Chelsea came within seven minutes of reaching the Champions League semi-finals, only to eventually lose 5-1 to Barcelona (6-4 on aggregate). “I am down now. I have to hang up!” he jests as these moments are brought up. Being reminded of his two other goals for Chelsea is received a lot more warmly. However, as with the Valerenga strike, his effort in a 1-0 win against Middlesbrough, below, is a source of mirth. “Don’t watch that one back,” he pleads. “Zola hit a free kick against the bar but I was like a rugby man and just barged the rebound across the line.” His lob over goalkeeper Ian Walker to ensure Chelsea beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in February 2000 is a different story. “Ahhh,” he exclaims. “Thank you. Everyone thought I didn’t do it on purpose but it was great technique. I loved this because I’m a defender and no one expected it. It’s my favourite goal in my career. It told the world I was not just a defender, I was a good technical player. It was against Spurs too and got a 1-0 win. What more do you need to ask for?! I’m in the history books.” So what does the 48-year-old do now? He is actually trying to pass on all that he learned during his playing days, at Chelsea in particular, to his first club, Cannes. He has been employed as general director there since 2016. “Cannes used to be a pretty big club but it is now in the fifth tier of France,” he says. “I want to take them back. It is a long way but it is my dream. You need cash and without it here, it’s difficult. I can maybe afford a Lambourde but not a Desailly! “Having said that, I cost £1.5 million to Chelsea — a bargain! If I was to sum up my Chelsea career, I’d say it had ups and downs. It’s like getting your report card at the end of the year at school and it says ‘Could have done better.'” One suspects being eclipsed by that Manchester United side 21 years ago is responsible for that.