Chatter from the sidelines
- Benitez refuses to rule out Napoli exit why so coy, Rafa?
- Manchester United prodigy snubs new deal and agrees Juventus move makes sense, he isn't getting any playtime under LvG
- EXCLUSIVE: James Milner warned by Liverpool to drop wage demands to seal free transfer huh. I believe Milner at LFC when I see it
- Willian ready to be targeted by the Tottenham boo-boys after transfer snub The rumour around this was the fact that Willian arrived at the medical and got changed, only for his phone to ring and he stepped out to speak to his agent - and never finished the medical for Spurs because Chelsea offered more money. Ha ha HAAAA!
- The Doomed Fairytale of Harry Kane Great metaphor, sobering end. Why did vice put it out there
- Chelsea take on Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final aiming to secure the first silverware of the season the final is today 16:00 sky sports. Wow. Actually, I was watching Mourinho's interview yesterday, and I forgot how thoughtful and measured he could be, because his pantomime and antics tends to overshadow his savvy. I thought his comments on Europe and his attitude towards European competition vs the sneering reporter said it all, really. But I don't have time to get into that right now.
- Manchester United job offer led to Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova falling out, former Barcelona boss Charly Rexach says all I know is, Guardiola didn't visit Tito when he was desperately ill even though they were in the same city (New York- Guardiola was taking a year off with his family, and Vilanova was there for treatment for his cancer). Their wives bumped into each other in the city all the time (I guess they lived in the same chi chi hood), so Guardiola knew. The fall out was such that his wife asked Guardiola not to show up at the funeral since he didn't show up when Tito was ailing.
Pictures
sorry about the minimal news round up, but not many things interested me today.
Men's new kit for Mexican football first team
There's been the controversy re: the Mexican shirts and Adidas? For the men, they are totally black with green highlights, for the women, green and black. People aren't happy, I've read?
Ha! This is how I know that Steven Gerrard is a father, because this is #dadjokes to a T
Match pics
In no particular order, yeah? I have less an hour to do this, so it won't be to the usual curated standards, my bad
Dortmund 3- 0 Schalke
Neer neer neer neer, Batman! (and robin). Nice to see
Someone over Bleacher report is all, "Put the games away, Dortmund, you can't play with Juventus" and I'm like, "CAN'T A TEAM LIVE?!" GDI
I can't get over how good Reus wears them knee highs. I do it, and my legs look like sausages in a too tight case
Yayyy, we're moving on up!
I'm putting up pictures around the match (before and after) because the match wasn't that great. Oh, it was? I'll get my coat
Also, the resolution of Dortmund's pictures hurt my feelings. Like they're shot with hipster lighting, aka grainy and you can't see a thing. High resolution for me, bb!
Premier League
Manchester United 2 - 0 Sunderland
Again, pictures in no particular order, and I'll post the scores if I remember them
One of Sunderland's men got sent off- but they sent off the wrong guy! To be fair to the referee, he was speaking to the linesman to make the right call, but the linesman was out to lunch, obvs
Rooney scored. It's too early in the morning for me to look at his face willingly. So we'll go with this. Yes
Yayy for Janzuaj- how do you spell/pronounce his name?
Blint and Herrara had more passes than the entire Sunderland team COMBINED. Thanks, Squawka!
Falcao played well, drew a penalty for Manchester United - and van Gaal called him off the pitch before he took it. The supporters clapped him warmly.
Burnley 0 - 1 Swans
Burnley got an OG- own goal not original gansta- hah, I kill me. Seriously I do
That being said, I do have big respect for the Swans. They went from a League 1 outfit in 2003, to Championship and then PL, and then going from 14th place finish to 8th (where they stand now). They've had Roberto Martinez and now Garry Monk, former players who managed the club and have done right (mostly) by the club in terms of their management.
Swans have a lot of former players from Southampton, Spurs and Arsenal on their books (who come to the Jacks) because of lack of first team opportunities at their former clubs. I respect how Monk (their manager) makes it seem like a plus. That you can come to Swans, use it as either a spring board to your career, or make it a 2.0 remodelling. Yeah, that's all I have to say about the Jacks- but you go. I don't mind Welsh teams in the PL at all if they'll all be like the Jacks
West Ham 1- 3 Crystal Palace
I won't lie, the match was interesting, when I got to watch it. I was knitting and writing a story while the match was in the background
Today's letters are O and G- because own goals were the name of the game yesterday. Tragic!
I'm distinctly meh on Crystal Palace. They have the loudest supporters which is awesome- but their cheerleaders and American eagle makes me go, "Eh?"
West Brom 1- 0 Southamptom
West Brom drew first blood in seconds of the opening whistle
Schneiderlin was working. I do hope that the Saints can keep him
That Pullis magic was just too strong for the Saints yesterday
La Liga
Suarez found his goals
Beez in the trap, beez beez in the trap
The trident of Barcelona being hardened.
Barcelona all smiles as they are now in the hunt for the title. The Barca supporters are trophiless- and hungry
Almería 0 -0 Deportivo la Coruna
Nil all, y'all
OP: right, I gotta dash. Have walks to go on before the Spurs vs Chelsea final at Wembley - academy talent vs polished imports! It's going to be fun. As usual, any broken links, pushback and whatnot leave in the comments. I have to finish a story, do a couple of projects today, so I won't be around much. Speak when we do!