Vesper

Spurs agree £65m deal for Bournemouth's Solanke https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0k48z8e7nlo

lol, less dosh for an actual class defender than we paid for dregs Badi, Disaster, and the worst CB buy in Chels history, Fofane for 75m quid

Jean-Clair Todibo: West Ham agree £34m deal with Nice to sign defender Todibo to join West Ham after Juventus transfer collapses West Ham had loan deal agreed with Nice earlier this summer for Jean-Clair Todibo with an option to buy but centre-back was believed to be waiting for Juventus; Italian side have been unable to reach agreement with Nice; Man Utd also keen but cannot trade with INEOS-owned Nice

Just posted on him. I never wanted him. Low production. Injuries. Wrong foot. Wrong position. Overrated a bit, at least for me. I am not at all happy. My targets over the past 3 years or so have been VASTLY better than Clownlake's. Main reason I did not put my only big leave-off on (Palmer) my lists was that I NEVER thought Citeh would let him go. CuCu has vastly improved, but no way is worth £65m. Almost zero big busts (at other clubs) from my lists. Compare that to Clownlake. So many Clownlake buys I have lost my shit over have been massive busts. Ffs.

Yes. Madness. Another left footed RWer We have over 10 now counting youth and the two 17yo teen superstars coming in next summer. Insanity. We would get eith Desire Doue (ambipedal LW)or Nico Williams (right foited LW), 2 actual true LWers, for less than we are dumping on Neto, who is a RWer all the way. Clownlake is wilfully destroying the club.

One year wonder for me

Cuntois

they are the best footballers on the planet ATM mens womens Sr Youth dominant

3 5 Spain

Doue is a baller

3 4 Spain

yep, extra time and Spain have taken off most of their big guns as they thought they had it in the bag

what a save by the teen French Gker, Restes

Desire Doue came on 10 minutes ago

extra time likely in the gold medal game France came back from 1 3 down 91st minute pen https://cracksports.me/olympics-2024/men-s-football-gold-medal-match-france-vs-spain-stream-1-live

Jean-Clair Todibo has told Nice that his plan and decision is clear: he only wants to join Juventus. 😪

Atletico Madrid tried to cancel Gallagher transfer to finalise Guerra deal – Valencia sporting director https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5688639/2024/08/08/conor-gallagher-javi-guerra-atletico-madrid/ Valencia’s sporting director, Miguel Angel Corona, has claimed that Atletico Madrid tried to cancel Conor Gallagher’s impending transfer from Chelsea to facilitate a move for Javi Guerra. Gallagher is set to complete his move to Atletico after travelling to Spain to seal his €42million transfer from the west London club. The Athletic reported last week that the Spanish side were in advanced talks with Chelsea about signing Gallagher after a fee was agreed between the two clubs. While Atletico were pursuing Gallagher, they were also in advanced talks to sign midfielder Guerra. The Athletic reported earlier this week that they had agreed on a fee of around €25m (£21.4 million) plus add-ons, with Valencia holding a sell-on clause of around 15 per cent for the 21-year-old. However, the deal fell through after Valencia imposed a deadline on Wednesday for Atletico to finalise the transfer, threatening to withdraw if the conditions were not met. Sources close to Valencia, Atletico, and Guerra, who were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, confirmed that the move collapsed. Corona has since stated that Valencia “were not informed of anything regarding the link between the two” transfers. Atletico sources previously admitted that it would be “complicated” for the Guerra and Gallagher deals to both go ahead. “There is a maximum agreement (between clubs) on Sunday, plus it was between the president of Valencia and the maximum shareholder of Atletico Madrid,” Corona said. On Monday, the documentation is developed and, in the same way, it goes in parallel with the player, who is advancing in this negotiation and almost closes the agreement. “On Wednesday morning, due to the delay in the return of Atletico’s documents and some comments made, a specific question was asked to Atletico’s owner, about the situation, why the delay, and the answer was that they were trying to get out of the Chelsea operation and that, if they don’t succeed, they can’t face the Javi Guerra operation. “It was the first news that we and Javi had about it, that the operations were linked, and therefore we (Valencia) got out of it because it was not a condition that was discussed on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, when there were constant WhatsApps, emails, calls, comments on clauses…. We were not informed of anything regarding the link between the two and we got out of it to protect ourselves.” Chelsea are unaware of Atletico attempting to cancel Gallagher’s deal, while Atletico sources say their sporting management were exploring various options before Valencia informed them on Wednesday that they were no longer honouring the agreement for Guerra. GO DEEPER Why Gallagher is nearing Chelsea exit: Shorter contract offers and concerns over free move Having rejected three offers of a new contract, which included a two-year guarantee with an option for a third year, and would have put him on wages comparable to top earners like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Chelsea indicated to Gallagher that he would be sold to avoid risking losing him on a free transfer next summer. Gallagher is expected to sign a five-year deal with Atletico. The 24-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2023-24 season, providing seven goals and nine assists in 50 appearances across all competitions. That form earned him a key role in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championship in Germany, where he made five appearances in England’s run to the final.

The EPL official site lists Ferguson at 1.83m (Osimhen is 1.85m) https://www.premierleague.com/players/71590/Evan-Ferguson/overview

Samu Omorodion for Conor Gallagher should be the final straw for Chelsea fans https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-todd-boehly-out-omorodion-gallagher-final-straw-Chelsea-fans Chelsea have swapped an academy star who captained the club he’s been at for the last 16 years in a season in which he played more football than any other player in the squad for an eight-goal striker that 95 per cent of the fans will never have heard of before the start of this transfer window, who we’re 95 per cent sure will join 95 per cent of the £1bn-worth of Clearlake signings thus far that have been a complete and utter waste of money. Mr Boehly, Mr Eghbali, you can shove your pure-profit peddling, FFP-swerving amortisation tactics up your proverbials, we – or rather I – have had enough. Two days after it was announced that Conor Gallagher would be joining Atletico Madrid for £36m, Chelsea agreed a £34.5m fee with the same club for Samu Omorodion. It is, to all intents and purposes, a swap deal. Omorodion has signed a seven-year deal and his transfer fee will be amortised (split) over five years, while Gallagher’s sale will appear as immediate pure profit. Financially, it makes sense. But that’s where the logic to these transfers begins and ends. Gallagher was the heart, soul and lungs of Chelsea last season. Cole Palmer stole the headlines but Gallagher stole possession to make his feats of absurd quality possible. Moises Caicedo was twice the player with Gallagher alongside him and the fans really took to him and his unparalleled exuberance, particularly in those dark early months of the campaign when he was just about the only shining light. With the Cobham lad storming around the pitch Chelsea still felt – just about – like Chelsea. In May, on the back of reports linking Tottenham with Gallagher, the fans unfurled a banner of his face with ‘Chelsea since birth’ emblazoned above it, which was ironically also the phrase underlined above a list of names in Todd Boehly’s office, with eight players – including Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Lewis Hall and Ian Maatsen – already crossed out. Had Gallagher been signed last summer the insulting two years he was reportedly offered in a contract to remain at Stamford Bridge would have been tacked on to an existing eight-year deal. Imagine the delight in Enzo Fernandez producing anything like Gallagher’s performances. The only reason he’s being sold is because he’s been at ‘Chelsea since birth’. Enzo Maresca says the rules are to blame. Any rule that sees a club benefit far more from selling academy players than anyone else is daft. We can all agree on that. But this is also definitely a Chelsea problem. The Rules didn’t force them to spend £1.2bn on players and managerial pay-offs. They knew The Rules when they were spending that money and have always been aware of the cost of those failed investments, but they pay no mind to the feelings of the fans and the academy products those fans are intrinsically linked to. It makes you wonder what their limit is. Just how much potential or talent does an academy product have to have before they’re considered unsellable? Would Chelsea currently be considering offers for Reece James if he hadn’t been injured for so much of last season? Real Madrid want a right-back. It’s hard to imagine them turning their noses up at £60m if it was put on the table right now. Chelsea fans shouldn’t be waiting for that moment to come, because it will. The owners will currently feel as though they’re getting away with it. They’ve taken the Champions League winners to the Europa Conference League having bankrolled the signing of Palmer and a bunch of also-rans by selling the majority of the first-team players who truly know what the club means, and they’ve barely faced any backlash. Clearly not enough for them to divert from The Project anyway, as the signing of Omorodion exemplifies on the back of fellow unknown quantities Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Renato Veiga and Caleb Wiley also joining this summer. Who the bloody hell are they, you ask? Absolutely no idea. Some might come good. Most won’t. And apparently they’re fine with that. I’m not though, and neither should other Chelsea fans, when the owners’ only way of realising their failing policy is to get rid of the players that keep Chelsea feeling like Chelsea, rather than what it is now becomgin: some franchised American play-thing whose roots are being periodically ripped out in the guise of progress that we’ve seen no sign of and shouldn’t accept anyway when it comes at such a cost.

Osimhen is taller than Evan Ferguson and Duran. Only 1 cm shorter than Gyokeres. Do you even look up data before you post? This board kills me at times. 😦😥🙄

it is madness

twice the CB of all we have save for Colwill and cost less than all of them save for Colwill and Trevoh

2 CBs!

Saudi Arabia reveals all 15 stadiums for the 2034 World Cup https://www.dezeen.com/2024/08/01/2034-world-cup-stadiums-saudi-arabia/ Saudi Arabia has unveiled the stadiums that will host games at the World Cup in 10 years time, including a venue built on The Line at Neom and a stadium informed by the bark of a tree. Revealed as part of its official bid submission to FIFA, the 15 stadiums will be based in and around four cities – Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Abha, as well as the under-construction The Line. In total 11 new stadiums are planned for the World Cup, with three currently under construction. The country's two current largest stadiums will be renovated, while two further existing stadiums will be temporarily expanded during the tournament. FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 event in December, with the country the only bidder for the event. Read on for details of the 15 stadiums set to host games at the 2034 World Cup: New Murabba Stadium, Riyadh, unknown architect Informed by the bark of an acacia tree, the New Murabba Stadium will be surrounded by numerous rock-like forms divided by canyons. "Its design replicates the layered overlapping planes and peeling planar texture of the bark of the native acacia tree," according to the bid document. The 45,000-seat stadium will form part of the Murabba downtown development, which is being created in the northwest of Riyadh. The development will also include a 400-metre-high cube-shaped skyscraper named Mukaab. King Salman International Stadium, Riyadh, by Populous Set to host the World Cup final, the King Salman International Stadium will be the country's largest stadium when it completes. Designed by architecture studio Populous, which is creating several venues for the tournament, the stadium in Riyadh will have a capacity of 92,000. Its design was informed by mountains and renders show landscaped panels enclosing the structure. "The stadium will blend into its surrounding topography, with terrain and natural habitat forming part of the stadium's roof," said the official submission. "Aside from its aesthetic appeal, this design will provide effective shading and ventilation tailored to the desert climate." Roshn Stadium, Riyadh, unknown architect Designed to resemble numerous crystal-like shards rising into the air, the Roshn Stadium will be built to the south of Riyadh as part of a wider residential neighbourhood. "The stadium is designed as a dynamic part of the urban fabric, encouraging the community to walk around and through the facility," the bid stated. It will sit in a central plaza, surrounded by the bowl's 'crystalline' structure, a delicate latticework that will glow in the night sky. King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh, by Ian Fraser, John Roberts, Michael KC Cheah Originally opened in 1987, the King Fahd Sports City Stadium is topped with a distinctive fabric roof supported on a series of 24 masts that are each 58 metres high. The stadium, which is in east Riyadh, is currently being refurbished by Populous with its capacity set to increase from 58,000 to 70,000. The renovation is expected to be completed before the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, Riyadh, by Populous Named after Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, the stadium is planned as part of the Qiddiya entertainment district 30 kilometres from Riyadh. The cliffside stadium will have stands on three sides with a large, retractable LED wall occupying the other side. The building will also incorporate an Olympic Museum. "The bowl has been designed to optimise the spectator experience, featuring a unique three-sided arrangement to allow for spectacular views out towards the Tuwaiq cliffs," said the official bid. Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh, Populous Currently under construction in the east of the city, the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium will be informed by traditional architectural motifs from the country's central region. "The stadium design draws inspiration from the 'culturally contextualized modernism' principles of Salmani architecture," said the bid document. The stadium will be constructed using locally produced materials and will utilize energy efficient systems, including extensive solar panels on the roof." South Riyadh Stadium, Riyadh, Populous Another stadium informed by the "principles of Salmani architecture", the South Riyadh Stadium will be located in the south of the capital – as the name suggests. It will be wrapped in numerous reddish-brown vertical fins and topped with a transparent roof. "The facade blends modernity with the rich architectural language and material palette of the area," the bid stated. King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, by Michael KC Cheah, renovation by Populous One of two existing stadiums that will be temporarily expanded for the World Cup, the King Saud University Stadium will have a capacity of 46,000 during the tournament before being reduced to 33,000 after the event. Neom Stadium, Neom, unknown architect Described as the "most unique stadium in the world", the Neom Stadium will be incorporated into The Line mega city, which is under construction in the north west of the country as part of Neom. "Neom Stadium will be the most unique stadium in the world," said the bid. "With a pitch situated more than 350 meters above ground, stunning vistas, and a roof created from the city itself, the stadium will be an experience like no other." King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, by Arup Opened in 2014, the 62,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium was designed by Arup. The stadium will be refurbished ahead of the World Cup. "Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is an elegant, respectful and versatile complex that combines traditional Islamic architecture with innovative design to form a highly functional, sustainable and flexible building," said Arup. Qiddiya Coast Stadium, Jeddah, Populous One of the most colourful stadiums being built for the World Cup, the Qiddiya Coast Stadium is being built 45 kilometres to the north of Jeddah. It will be surrounded by numerous fins that were designed to evoke the idea of a Mexican wave. "It is designed as a physical representation of the vibrant relationship between people and water, energy and matter, with its design also evoking the ripple effect of a Mexican wave," said the bid. "Its form undulates; its vibrant color palette is rich and joyful." Jeddah Central Development Stadium, Jeddah, by GMP Architecten Currently being built as one of the anchor buildings of the Jeddah Central giga project, the 45,000 seat stadium was designed by German studio GMP Architecten. The stadiums will be entirely surrounded by buildings that make it appear to be a mass of historic structures. "It echoes the traditional architecture of Jeddah's historic Al Balad district, while embracing technological advancements and innovative building design," said the bid document. "It features three tiers, with an outer concourse connected to four surrounding 'villages'. The stadium bowl is fully covered by a semi-translucent roof, with a retractable inner roof and a 360-degree LED screen." The wider development will include 17,000 homes as well as an arts centre designed by Heatherwick Studio, an opera house designed by Danish studio Henning Larsen and an oceanarium by US studio SOM. King Abdullah Economic City Stadium, Jeddah, unknown architect Located 80 kilometres for Jeddah, the King Abdullah Economic City Stadium will form part of a planned new city on the Red Sea Coast. The drum-shaped stadium will have a capacity of 45,000. Aramco Stadium, Al Khobar, by Foster + Partners and Populous With a concept by UK studio Foster + Partners and now being designed by Populous, the Aramco Stadium is currently under construction in the city of Al Khobar on the country's eastern coast. Informed by the whirlpools that exist off the coast of Saudi Arabia, the 47,000-seat stadium will be covered in a series of sail-like forms. It is set to complete in 2026 and be used for the 2027 Asian Cup. "The stadium's architecture celebrates the sea's dynamic nature and its profound influence on the local community," the official bid document. "Its whirlpool-shaped design mimics overlapping sails and draws on graceful, natural wave motifs, to blend seamlessly with the coastal landscape." King Khalid University Stadium, Abha, renovation by Populous Located in the southwestern city of Abha, the King Khalid University Stadium is the second existing stadium that will be expanded for the tournament. Originally opened in 1987, the stadium currently has a capacity of 12,000, which will be increased to 45,000 during the World Cup.