Thunder, Lightning, Rainbow (Laces)🌈
Thunder, Lightning, Rainbow (Laces)🌈
Kick Off
Well, it's been a jam-packed week of football so forgive me if I miss out anything you thought was a big story or needed mentioning, I am but one person!
So where to start? I think my first point of order would be to mention how exciting most of the leagues are looking this year. When you see some of the results and watch some of the teams it may not on first glance feel like that (City, PSG, Bayern all getting results), but I would argue that bar La Liga, whose Top 4 seems pretty much to be business as usual, there are unexpected and interesting things going on in all the other leagues.
In France the Top 4 is currently PSG, Lens, Lorient and Rennes. In Germany it's Union, Bayern, Freiburg, Eintracht. Serie A sees Napoli holding on to the top despite a slight scare from Roma last night, Milan second, then Lazio and Atalanta. Finally, in the Premier League, Arsenal are still top, City second, Spurs, despite their apparent "Spursiness" still third and Newcastle sit fourth. We're also seeing decent performances by promoted sides in all leagues too (Fulham, Toulouse, Bremen, Mallorca and to a lesser extent, Monza.)
Now of course, many of the teams mentioned are league stalwarts who've enjoyed previous successes in their respective countries, however I still think, given the recent domination and predictability of the top end of most leagues, this is something to cheer about and makes what is already a weird and wild season even more exciting.
OK, let's talk about the actual action over the past week then.
Very briefly, the mid-week games saw Darwin finally score at Anfield to give Liverpool a ground out win against West Ham, Man United dominated Spurs for a 2-0 win, Leicester, Palace, Southampton and Newcastle all got wins, as did Fulham, a 3-0 battering of Aston Villa that cost Steven Gerrard his job and finally Brighton and Forest and Brentford and Chelsea had 0-0 draws.
In Germany, there was a round of Pokal games which saw no real shocks with only Freiburg, last year's runners up, scraping through against St Pauli with a stoppage time equaliser and then a last minute of extra time winner.
Perhaps the biggest mid-week news however was the UWCL results. Barcelona, who of course, everyone knows are good, stormed past Benfica with a 9-0 win with goals from seven different goal scorers. In Paris, Chelsea overcame PSG 1-0 with a Millie Bright goal and in Lyon, Arsenal battered current holders Lyon 1-5 with a brace each for Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead and a goal for Frida Maanum. Cannot wait for the return leg at the Emirates the week before Christmas.
The weekend then.
It started on Friday with a 0-3 over Ajaccio for PSG, which included this goal from Messi with an outrageous backheel assist from Mbappe.
Across the rest of the weekend in Ligue 1 there were some pretty standard results, a couple of 2-1s, some score draws, a few reds, and then on Sunday LOSC hosted Monaco and ended up 4-3 winners.
In Spain it was business as usual for Real who beat Sevilla 3-1 with yet another long-range effort from current highflyer Fede Valverde.
I know nothing about the Rayo Vallecano Cadiz game, but it looks like it was a lot of fun, with Rayo winning 5-1 and each team having a player sent off.
Then on Sunday, Barcelona smashed three past Athletic Club in ten minutes, then sealed it in the second half with a fourth. Again, I didn't see all of the game but I believe Gavi caught one square in the nads and had to go off and then Sergi Roberto was also driven off the pitch at the end leaving Barça with ten men for the final few minutes. Which made no difference as the game was theirs by then.
In Germany, after defeat by Union, Dortmund bounced back to smash Stuttgart 5-0, which included a brace by my incredible Brummie son Jude Bellingham. Mainz also won 5-0 against poor Köln, while Eintracht's 3-1 win against Gladbach put them into the top four.
Union slipped up against Bochum, reducing the deficit at the top to one point so much like the Premier League, we may well see a return of the juggernauts to the top in the next couple of weeks.
The Bundesliga table now, extremely pleasingly, looks like this:
Serie A, of all leagues, provided us with a goalfest with Juve, Inter and Milan all winning with four goals. Inter were pushed to the brink by Fiorentina but lucked out with a stoppage time Mkhitaryan goal, the match ending 3-4, whereas Juve and Milan easily saw off Empoli and Monza, winning 4-0 and 4-1 respectively. For Milan, pocket rocket Brahim Diaz is on fire, getting a brace while Origi and Leão got the others.
At the top of the table, Napoli had to battle hard against Mourinho's Roma until, who else, Victor Osimhen scored this beauty of a goal to put them ahead. (Listen for the net sound, glorious!)
This consolidates their top spot, with Milan chasing hard but still a win behind. As ever, do not sleep on Serie A! It's been fantastic these past two seasons!
Before we move on to the Premier League let's swerve over briefly to the WSL. I would say all the results went as expected yesterday and there's now a three-way tie at the top, with Arsenal leading solely due to the alphabet as far as I can tell. We do also have a game in hand, as do United, over Chelsea, who prevailed over Brighton in the late kick off. An achievement tbh when they were all also wearing wetsuits and galoshes.
Finally, then, to the Premier League.
The weekend began on Saturday with Nottingham Forest v. Liverpool in the 12:30 kick off slot. And... Forest won. Let's be honest, although they were decent, Liverpool really weren't. They missed Thiago (hope he gets well soon, I relate hard to him having to call in sick with an ear infection), they missed Luis Diaz, they missed Trent, and they missed Darwin. It was an extremely pedestrian performance and Forest were able to take advantage after a slightly dubious free kick was awarded to them.
There were only two 3 o'clock games, both won by the home team who both scored three goals. Haaland was back to scoring, getting a brace against Brighton, who for maybe ten minutes looked like maybe they might get something after getting one back to make it 2-1 but Emo Kevin De Bruyne hit back and sealed the victory. Meanwhile in the other fixture, Dominic Calvert-Lewin showed that he's back and means business by scoring after only 11 minutes against Palace. Further goals came from Anthony Gordon and Dwight McNeil to finish that one.
In the evening it was The Fixture That Always Ends In A Draw, Chelsea v. Manchester United (it is officially the most drawn fixture, 26 of them). For the longest while it seemed like it was going to be a 0-0 draw this time and it really felt like a 0-0 but then Ten Hag decided to up the clown factor at the death by subbing on Scott McTominay who almost immediately gave away a penalty, which Jorginho slotted home. So that was that then? No. At the other end a goalmouth scramble, a Casemiro header, a desperate lunge by Kepa, a pause, a buzz on the wrist and it was 1-1 United.
Obviously, this was the best outcome for Arsenal but it was also just very very funny.
I also loved this tweet from Licha afterwards. I kinda love him, you know.
The only blot on the game was a first half injury for Rafa Varane, who went off in tears early in the game. It's been confirmed that he won't be playing any more club football but whether he makes the World Cup remains to be seen.
On Sunday we began with a lacklustre performance from Arsenal who came away from St Mary's with a 1-1 draw against Southampton. It started well, with a cracker of a goal from the Comeback Kid, Granit Xhaka but then we just couldn't consolidate the lead, wasting chance after chance. Annoyingly Martin Odegaard scored a brilliant goal, but it was moot as the ball had gone out of play beforehand. There is also a lot to say about the refereeing which was frankly abysmal. I usually prefer to steer well clear of debates about refereeing standards as I don't think anyone comes away from them well (except in those extreme cases of a ref being very obviously wrong) as they always descend into tribalism, but in this case, Robert Jones was very bad indeed.
Tucked away off the TV were three far more exciting games. Firstly, because I don't care and I hate them, Leicester won 4-0 against Wolves, for whom I have a soft spot but who I also believe to be doomed. Talking of doomed, Fulham took down Leeds after going behind after 20 minutes, beating them 2-3. Is Jesse Marsch next in line for the sack? It would be a shame, I really enjoy this Leeds side and don't really want them to go down.
Finally, after sacking manager Stevie G earlier in the week, Villa hosted Brentford. The pace and the mood was set after just two minutes with a goal from Leon Bailey. This was followed by a Danny Ings brace in just seven minutes, leaving Brentford 3-0 down with only 15 minutes gone.
While I'm pleased for my Villa supporting friends, I do feel some ire when I see a team who've been awful, suddenly buck up their ideas when a manager is sacked. Stopping playing for a manager when they've lost the dressing room is just a bit childish to me. I get it but I don't like it.
The final game of the weekend saw Spurs take on Newcastle in apocalyptic conditions. The first half was fine but at half time, both over the stadium and indeed over my flat, there was a shock of pink lightning and absolutely torrential rain. When the teams came out again for the second half they were sodden in a matter of seconds. I did not mind.
As for the game itself, it was fine. It's good to see Miggy scoring (Jack must be knocked sick by his renaissance) and of course, I cannot lie, as an Arsenal fan I don't mind Spurs losing, it's just a shame it had to be to Newcastle.
So there we have it. We're back to Champions League action this week for both the men and the women and Europa League & Conference for the men so I'm hoping for some great action again and then back to the leagues at the weekend.
Half Time
This weekend saw the start of the annual Rainbow Laces campaign with teams up and down the country donning rainbow laces and rainbow armbands during their matches.
While this has so often felt like a hollow or tokenistic gesture, this year it feels more important than ever with both more players than ever choosing to come out (yes, it's still a microscopic number but it's more than it ever has been) and the World Cup in the homophobic state of Qatar.
The initiatives and promotion of the event feels more wholesale, more grounded in a true desire to change and to make people from the LGBTQ+ community feel welcome in football. There is of course so so much more to do but this year it's big and it's bold and it also includes the trans and diversity Pride flag which is important given the current state of this country (Qatar is bad of course but let's never ignore the disgraceful treatment of trans and queer people in this country).
It's something I've mentioned so often and will continue to speak up about, football is for all. There are unwelcoming spaces and people trying to block this, but the game wants you. Every space I've ever been in, whether in real life or online has been enhanced by diversity and football too will eventually get there.
So instead of writing a screed on the bad things that have come out of this weekend, or out of any attempt to include LGBTQ+ communities, I want to instead highlight some of the positive things from this weekend. There are many important and necessary conversations to be had about inclusion and I won't ignore those but right now, let's have some nice things.
Here's a few things that teams and players and supporters' groups are doing (remember a lot of these will have four bits of media attached so do click through to the tweet themselves)
Chelsea have been extremely vocal about inclusion this year, and this little film is really lovely.
Thirst Trap
This week we have someone who's been on my radar long before he decided to join the oil lads; someone who bears more than a passing resemblance to Kirby; a man who understands how to properly bleach his hair to keep out those brassy tones; yes, it's Newcastle United's Bruno Guimarães.
He's not one of my biggest thirst traps but he's very handsome, very cute and looked incredible when soaked to the bone during the storms at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium yesterday.
Merch Stand
There have been some absolute banger shirts released this week. Here's some of them:
Having produced two beautiful shirts already, Athens Kallithea FC have stormed the shirt leagues with their third shirt offering which is simply stunning. It's so good it makes me want to kick something.
Next we have a shirt that 'broke the internet"*, Japan's special edition shirt collaboration with designer Nigo. Isn't it just gorgeous?
*made lots of my followers make ugly noises of delight
Werder Bremen have already smashed it with their weird salmon and dirty green combo away kit but this third kit is such a lovely shade of green it warrants a mention. This is also from a thread of new releases so check them all out, there's some beauts.
Portland Thorns made the headlines last night by getting through to the NWSL playoff via a winning goal from Crystal Dunn who only gave birth five months ago, and did it wearing their lovely jersey. I need to investigate properly but I think both the NWSL and the MLS have some top tier kits.
Finally, a mention for this banging track top from Union Berlin. A striking, graphic wonder.
Screeching in at the deadline to make a mockery of that jacket being the 'and finally' item, is this collab from Kappa, again, for Monaco. Not hugely sold on the kit but the tracksuit is sweet. (click through for all the pics)
This is taking the piss now but I really need to mention these two stunning collabs with Avery Dennison, Stadio, Versus and Manchester and South London Laces. Two fantastic kits with an even better message. Love them.
Full Time
Kovacic after the Chelsea United game. OK. (For reference, please note that this is purposefully not in the Thirst Trap section but if you would put it in your personal Thirst Trap section you knock yourself out)
It was Le Boss's birthday on Saturday. I love you Arsene!
Extremely Wholesome Conte and Eriksen content
And that's all folks! Sorry it was so link heavy; hope you enjoy at least one of them! Have a great week, as I mentioned last week I'll be at both the Arsenal Women's matches this week (Zurich Frauen in the UWCL at the Emirates, tickets still available(!) and the WSL game against West Ham at Meadow Park) so hopefully lots of pics and lots to report next week. Until then, adieu! 😘
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