Two Cups, One Goal
Two Cups, One Goal
Tous les flics sont des bâtards
The Week In Ball
Let's start with my man, the conqueror of Rome, the legend, the moment: José Mourinho.
Last Wednesday Roma played Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa League Conference Final. Now, it was quite dull... I've enjoyed most of the cup finals so far this season, they've generally been exciting spectacles but this just seemed to grind along, until the Nicolò Zaniolo goal on 32 minutes (ngl I thought it was right before half time but I'm not going to argue with google!) which perked it up a little but not enough to really hold my interest.
I was however delighted for Roma and for José who I have long stanned (as long as he stays far far away from any of my clubs) and particularly Tammy Abraham who's just rocked his first season in Italy. More young English players to go abroad and kick ass please!
Then of course on Saturday it was the big one, Grimsby v Wrexham in the National League. I kid but I sadly missed what looked like an utterly chaotic game and I feel sad for the celeb owners, who've taken Wrexham to their hearts, that it was Grimsby who prevailed.
No, it was of course the Champions League Final in Paris. Liverpool v. Real Madrid.
Unfortunately what should have been a great spectacle was ruined by the chaos of Liverpool fans trying to get into the stadium. Tweets were flying about with all sorts of information but it transpired that the organisation and policing was utterly unfit for purpose.
I felt sick as it was unfolding, of course it was a horrible situation for any group of fans to be in (and by all accounts it was a shambles at the Europa League Final in Seville too) but for it to be Liverpool fans felt particularly pointed. Lack of entrances, crowds, poor policing. We've been there before.
Thankfully, I suppose, given the alternative, the only injuries I've heard of were those caused by the police using tear gas. What a wild thing to do. Tear gas on peaceful football fans with legitimate tickets? Fans who just wanted to watch their team play football for the biggest prize in Europe?
It makes me so angry, especially when you saw all the messaging from UEFA being that fans were late and the tribalism from some "fans" running with it being the fault of Liverpool fans. Again, where have we seen this before?! How can you have lived through all the nonsense with Hillsborough and still find yourself automatically thinking it was the fan's fault. Disgusting.
Anyway for me those scenes really tainted the final. It felt extremely weird and wrong and just completely off. I have full admiration for the players for getting out there and playing the game with all the chaos going on outside.
I wrote a paragraph here about the game and how I didn't enjoy it, which I didn't. But I'm listening to Stadio now and they're waxing lyrical about the game and I guess I've coloured my own experience of it with the way I felt about what happened outside the game and the way some of the reactions to the result made me feel. So, I'm going to actually skip talking about the game and suggest you go elsewhere for match reports and so on!
Props of course to Real though and especially Carlo Ancelotti. I'm thrilled for him personally because he's such a don and has proven himself to be an incredible coach. Thinking about him being at Everton in 20/21 is completely wild now! Of course Courtois had an incredible game too but then pissed all over it by being a petty little bitch in his interview afterwards. I'm sure plenty of people loved it but eh, not me thanks. I do have time for Toni Kroos walking away from an interview he wasn't happy with though.
Finally, it was the Championship Playoff on Sunday between Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield. I only saw the last ten minutes or so of the game but by all accounts it was... not a great game for the outgoing ref Jon Moss.
I'm delighted for Forest though, it feels right for them to be in the Premier League (mainly because I'm old so remember the first time) and I hope Jon Moss will be very happy overseeing The Vinyl Whistle in his retirement.
The {Offside} Thirst Trap
To console him for not getting into the England squad and to balance out the "terrible" time he's having gadding about in Miami and Monaco, this week's Thirst Trap is: Eric Dier.
Yeah he looks a bit like the posh kid from uni, sounds a bit like him too, but. BUT.
I would climb him like a tree as the saying goes. He's got it all, height, good looks, dogs, cute with kids, likes good food and art, has a vegetable garden... Just a shame he plays for Spurs ;-)
Merch Stand
Just one thing to mention this week (I think there might have been some more kit releases but I'll save those for the pre-season when we get into the nitty gritty of rating the full sets of H/A/3 and also who each team's hottest player is) and that's the absolutely outstanding adidas x Gucci collab, fronted by Jude Bellingham, Paul Pogba, David Alaba and Serge Gnabry.
It's so beautiful (and outrageously pricey, the cheapest thing I've seen so far is £405 bucket hat, I'm hoping maybe there'll be some socks for £50 or something I can throw money at lol), the styling is impeccable and just, hnnngh, yeah I fucking love it.
Extra Time
Our favourite party boy Jack Grealish made it to Ibiza
This is really delightful
Everyone at Man City has the same birthday
Incredible footage from United's win over Bayern in 1999
I'm going to be taking a break now until the Women's Euros kicks off. Before then I'll be at the Finalissima on Wednesday hoping to see some sweet Messi action and a lot of hot Italians. Then I'll be at the Stadio Live event on the 27th and am likely to be drunk so please do come and say hi and tell me how much you love TWUTAB if you're also going to be there lol.
Also don't forget, Love Island is back on the 6th June! I know there's a strong football/LI crossover so enjoy that huns!
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