🧵Pretty much my first job in football was to cover Wimbledon FC in the early 90s for a sports news agency, Hayters. We did the jobs the nationals either couldn’t staff or didn’t want to do (‘Anyone for Orient v Hartlepool in the Zenith Data Systems Cup tonight?’)…. Every Friday I had to go to Wimbledon training to get the team news + a news line for the papers. I know to Gen Z this will conjure up visions of a swanky gated training ground, press officers, Sky Sports and a live TV conference…..

🧵If you’re going to laud Girona + the success of Man City Group, as my colleague Martin Samuel did yesterday, then I think French club Troyes are worth a mention. They’re also part of CFG (City Football Group)…..

There’s been a club in Troyes since 1900. There’s always been financial difficulties but current version was formed in 1986 and fought its way from non league to Ligue 1, winning the Intertoto Cup (forerunner of UEFA Conference League) in 2001, beating Newcastle in the final…

🧵As I left Old Trafford last night - unlike many, I stayed to the bitter end - there was one man in his 50s stood on corner of Chester Rd by Lou Macari chippie, angrily addressing fans. ‘Look at ten Hag!’ he shouted, to no one in particular. ‘Look at what he’s bought!’… Most of us filed past, head down, trying to avoid eye contact. Trams to catch, homes to get to…..for once I was there as a punter rather than a working journalist + that gives you fresh perspective …

Can’t quite believe we’re here again after the chaos of Paris last year + promises made that Istanbul would be better …. but we’ve tried to collate the experiences of Man City fans in the paper today + I’m properly shocked at what went on last weekend in Istanbul… Shocked that having put some work into this, @UEFA wouldn’t even comment or offer any apology. I’m guessing they will in time but impression it gives is that they don’t care (FWIW I know there are people who do, but the official face is so tone deaf)…..

This is the story of a 17-year-old playing U20 football for a Brazilian 4th division side off the beaten track, two hours outside Sao Paolo

And the story of a scout’s hunch, formulated only by watching some grainy iPhone footage, that he might be worth a watch.. (pic Ituano FC) …there’s no data on the player, no stats to make him stand out. Just the initial take of Brazilian scout Everton Gushiken that he might be worth tracking. Equally, you would have to ask, if he’s any good why haven’t Corinthians or Palmeiras picked him up? ….

The UEFA independent review into Paris Champions League Final is a staggering read. At the time you had an instinctive feeling no one knew what was going on. Reading report shows how rank incompetence + arrogance led people into a death trap…. There are so many jaw droppings moments of incredible incompetence, it’s hard to do justice to how thorough report is. That said, some moments that stand out…..

PL investigation into Man City started in Dec 2018, after Spiegel emails leaks

But both City + PL tried to keep details secret even when it reached High Court. Which was an extraordinary case of corporates trying to evade scrutiny

The Mail on Sunday challenged that in court… ….and Ld Justice Males sided with us + said:
'It is surprising, and a matter of legitimate public concern, that so little progress has been made after two and a half years — during which, it may be noted, the club has twice been crowned as Premier League champions.'

Should say at outset, that I don’t necessarily believe all of what follows. But simply trying to explain the thinking behind Todd Boehly’s ‘reinventing the wheel’ £600m splurge…. For those of us with longer memories it is slightly reminiscent of Peter Ridsdale’s ‘living the dream’ at Leeds or the Venky Bros. at Blackburn….yet there is some logic behind what they’re doing (even if it’s risky)….

🧵It’s always useful (IMO) to rewatch a big game after event, without the emotion + angst. And, as a journalist, without the stress of 1000 words to send as the whistle blows! With that in mind, some thoughts on my re-watch of ENG v FRA I’ll try to point out what is more apparent in cold light of day rather than re-emphasise things that were obvious on night, such as Saka was brilliant + unplayable for spell in 2nd half (he was)….

Let’s address the Pochettino/Tuchel thing

A disclaimer: I like Poch more than any manager I’ve worked with. So what is said below is not against him. It’s directed at what elite club manager culture has become….. Because it is such a ruthless, pressurised world, the ‘potential coach of elite club’ bubble (which comprises about 10-12 coaches) has to develop a sense of self that is unsuited to the England job….

World Cup semi finals reached since 1998:

CROATIA 🇭🇷 3

ENGLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 1*
ARGENTINA 🇦🇷 1*
PORTUGAL 🇵🇹 1*
SPAIN 🇪🇸 1
ITALY 🇮🇹 1
BELGIUM 🇧🇪 1
URUGUAY 🇺🇾
TURKEY 🇹🇷 1
SOUTH KOREA 1 🇰🇷

GERMANY 🇩🇪 4
BRAZIL 🇧🇷 3
FRANCE 🇫🇷 3
NETHS 🇳🇱 3

(Obviously Eng, Arg, Port could yet make it 2) (Croatia has a population of 3.9million)

🧵For past few months @MailSport we’ve tried to report + investigate chaos of Stade de France at the Champions League final in Paris last May….in doing so we were contacted by so many #LFC fans with compelling stories that all deserves telling we were somewhat overwhelmed… We had what we think is important evidence for the UEFA independent review led by Dr Rodrigues (who coincidentally is in Liverpool today meeting fans). Unsurprisingly it completely contradicts French interior minister @GDarmanin narrative of ticketless fans….

*deep breath*

I know there’s a huge debate over ‘This is all the Glazers fault’ v ‘You can’t keep blaming the owners’ which was kinda Redknapp v Neville on Saturday night…..

Let’s be clear: Joel Glazer isn’t responsible for David de Gea chucking the ball in his net….. Nor is he responsible for Erik ten Hag signing a 5’ 9” centre half, playing Eriksen as a false 9…..these are individual errors, coaching mistakes.

However, leadership is about the culture you create

So let’s break down the culture the Glazers have at #MUFC…..

Feeling drained after last week investigating Paris. What I experienced was minimal compared to stories I’m hearing - I had the magic press pass, a super power in a crowd - but the more I hear, the more I feel a little shaky about what happened. Here’s a short 🧵…. Firstly, I want to thank the scores of fans who have been in touch and shared their testimony. Your stories are all important. I’m sorry not every one is in this article. But without the sheer weight of evidence we’ve collated, we couldn’t write this….

It’s important to tell what happened on the ground last night as I see that there are already several versions of ‘The Truth’ flying around. I was on the ground from 6.45pm (2.15 hrs before kick off) when problems began. So here’s a 🧵explaining my experiences…. Want to get this out as French interior minister @GDarmanin is claiming ‘thousands of ticketless British fans’ caused the issues. Sure this plays well in France. I note he was tweeting from safety of observation box in stadium + wasn’t on the ground

Sad to relate it’s chaos outside, police funelling fans into dangerously narrow routes - because their fans are parked blocking the pavement. Dangerous crush building up behind… We spoke to police, but last I saw riot police were heading that way, as the build up of people was uncontrollable. Police pretty helpless

Some thoughts on Todd Boehly and Clearlake

1) Whilst they’re not Roman, I do think they’ll spend (relatively) big this summer. They’re not Mike Ashley model of scrimp + save to make £. Boehly spoke of need to spend big at LA Dodgers to create ‘jolt of energy’ So expect signings (Dodgers were the biggest spending baseball franchise under Boehly/Mark Walter) and overtook NY Yankees in that department)

If Roman Abramovich now wants his £1.6bn loan paid back as @TimesSport is reporting, then Chelsea have a huge existential problem

UK Govt have always insisted this can’t/won’t happen

Clock is ticking on May 31st deadline but it’s more serious than a complex delay…. The Premier League meet on June 8th to constitute the new league for 22-23. If Chelsea aren’t licensed to operate by then - and they are only licensed now on UK Govt sufferance - then they can’t be part of PL. Simples…..

I watched ENG v SCOT again, so you don’t have to (you’re welcome)

Believe me, it doesn’t improve on 2nd viewing….but FWIW some thoughts… 1.I’m bemused with how Southgate is asking team to play. Mitigation is lack of prep time. But there is so little urgency or structure. In 2018 there was clear plan (play out from back, get crosses in from aggressive wing backs, press high at times, set pieces)

Some thoughts from the past 72 hours: I wonder if the Big 6 will ever be a thing again?

This crisis has shown they have vastly different motivations

Chelsea + Man City models aren’t aligned to LFC + MUFC motives + I doubt they’ll ever line up together so willingly again... THFC + AFC were always just hanging on to coat-tails. If they’re no use to LFC + MUFC in driving change (which is dead) then presumably they can cast them adrift to Europa Conference League hell (obvs LFC may be spending some time with them in purgatory next season)...

The longer this goes on without anyone from Big 6 willing to put their head above parapet and sell this thing, the more you think it is one giant negotiating tactic

To launch an idea with ZERO PR (other than Florentino Perez rambling in Spanish) indicates either.... John W Henry, Stan Kroenke, Joel Glazer are imbeciles who couldn’t run the proverbial piss up in brewery....or that they view this as a useful disruptor. And at end of it all they’ll smugly take credit for having moved football closer to what they want...