Upsetter

Apologies if already posted, but this looks like a foul to me

A much needed and most welcome three points today, which will no doubt give Tuchel a (hopefully) temporary get out of jail card. In the Southampton match thread I described him as some kind of vampire, sucking the attacking life force out of the side, and for the vast majority of today’s game, that was as true as ever. Oh and how on earth he can justify starting Pulisec after that farcically abysmal display at Southampton beggars belief. Tuchel out.

This is 100% on Tuchel, he’s like some kind of vampire, sucking the attacking life blood out of the club.

It’s the Mail. Ok, so even a stopped clock is right twice a day. But I’ve seen nothing anywhere to suggest that this is one of those occasions.

Coming from a Liverpool fan, I actually think the following is pretty fair: “Fine, agree [that the French can’t be trusted], the narrative shouldn’t be good fans caused this, but we’ve seen f**k loads of people on twitter and on forums bragging about blag tickets and efforts to bunk in. I’m not there so I can’t say anything about what happened on the ground but we too often turn a blind eye to scumbags doing quite blatantly the wrong thing. no excuse for two wrong treatment of our good fans, but we need to start calling out our own. whether it’s knobheads throwing flares into rival supporters ends, knobheads robbing service stations on the way to the cup final and bragging about it on twitter or knobheads flogging and intentionally buying fake tickets for this match. our good fans - those in the vast, vast majority get tarred by these twats, and we excuse them too much. I’ll probably get slated for saying this but it’s true.”

Well there’s this: and there’s this, which is all too f**king typical of the media reaction: Dominic King from the Daily Mail speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I have been back out to turnstile Y which is right behind the Liverpool end. I have spoken to a number of them about their experiences. They have been pepper sprayed by the French police. There a re kids in the queue, old people in the queue. they have been there two hours. "It came from nowhere. The anger the people feel in terms of how they have been treated...I need to get this point over. There has been no violence or antagonism they are just dismayed by how the authorities have treated them. "The anger of the people I have spoken to is like nothing I have experienced. It is a failing of the authorities and police with how they are being looked after outside. "There have been some fans that have tried to get in, I'd be disingenuous to say that was not the case but not like groups or anything like Wembley. This treatment is entirely in one direction."

It’s never their fault

Statement from Roman Abramovich - best owner ever. No contest. It has been nearly three months since I announced my intention to sell Chelsea FC. During this time, the team have worked hard to find the right custodian for Chelsea FC that would be best positioned to successfully lead the Club into its next chapter. The ownership of this Club comes with great responsibility. Since I came to Chelsea nearly twenty years ago, I have witnessed first-hand what this Club can achieve. My goal has been to ensure that the next owner has a mindset that will enable success for the Men’s and Women’s team, as well as the will and drive to continue developing other key aspects of the Club, such as the Academy and the vital work of Chelsea Foundation. I am pleased this search has now come to a successful conclusion. As I hand over Chelsea to its new custodians, I would like to wish them the best of success, both on and off the pitch. It has been an honour of a lifetime to be a part of this Club – I would like to thank all the Club’s past and current players, staff, and of course fans for these incredible years. I am proud that as a result of our joint successes, millions of people will now benefit from the new charitable foundation which is being established. This is the legacy which we have created together. Thank you. Roman

Interesting?

If you need a right back with speed call Kyle Walker. If You need a right back with defensive prowess call Aaron WanBissaka. If You need a right back with Strength and agility call Llorente. If You need a right back with magic feet call Juan Cuadrado. If you need a right back that's versatile call Cancelo. If You need a right back that has set piece focus call Trippier. If You need a right back that has nice pass accuracy call Joshua Kimmich. If you need a right back that loves going forward call Achraf Hakimi. But if you need a right back that can do all these things at the same time call Trent AlexanderArnold....he'll give you Reece James's phone number

Que sera sera new version: When we were just an ordinary club, we asked each other... .... What will we be? Can we trust Batesy, will we go bust? Can we kill David Dein? Que sera sera, whatever will be will be Who cares about Istory? Que sera sera When Roman came and made us rich Hatred and envy was all we could see "You're just a plaything, he'll soon get bored" We gave them apoplexy Que sera sera, whatever will be will be Living the moment you see Que sera sera Now we're the world's most costly club Titles and Doubles, two Champions Leagues They hoped we'd go under, they chortled with glee But they'll never break CFC Que sera sera, whatever will be will be Who cares about Istory?, We’re owned by Todd Boehly Que sera sera

Ok. Given the choice of a 33 year old Lewandowski or 29 year old Lukaku for the next two or three years, who would you go for? Apart from everything else, younger strikers in the squad could learn a lot from Lewandoski. I dread to think what they’d learn from Lukaku…

A welcome note of positivity from the Standard. Problem what problem? Chelsea: Todd Boehly takeover on track for May completion despite new Government fears over sale Todd Boehly is still on course to buy Chelsea, despite fresh concerns raised by ministers. Whitehall sources claimed yesterday that the £4.25billion deal was at risk of falling through over concerns about the structure of the sale. There are still worries about where the funds could end up, despite Roman Abramovich vowing that all proceeds will go to charity. But sources close to the deal have told Standard Sport that Boehly’s buyout remains on track to be completed by the May 31 deadline, when the special licence granted to Chelsea in light of Abramovich’s sanctions will expire. There is belief that the Government are making a late attempt to get more control over the distribution of proceeds. A source close to Abramovich last night reiterated his determination to donate the funds to good causes. “We are not concerned about the situation, and are still confident in the sale,” said the source. “There has never been any intention for Roman Abramovich to benefit from these funds.” The latest concerns from Government provided a fresh twist at a time when the sale is nearing completion. Sources spoke of “alarm” that Chelsea’s owner would let the deal collapse over a disagreement on the structure of the deal. Standard Sport understands that the Government is concerned the Russian oligarch’s public commitment to donating proceeds via a foundation is not being matched by the legal or technical infrastructure to deliver them. The Government want to set up an escrow - or third-party - account to hold the funds so creditors of Abramovich’s other companies, Camberley or Fordstam, cannot get to the money. Chelsea’s owner already promised to write off the £1.6bn in loans made to the club during his time in charge, which was another issue that raised concern within Whitehall in recent weeks. Boehly has signed terms on the deal to buy the club, and the Premier League are confident the owners and directors’ test will be passed before the deadline. It is now a case of the Government signing off on it and issuing a licence to complete the sale. US merchant bank Raine Group are also confident the deal is on track after selecting Boehly as the preferred bidder from a host of potential buyers.

This story (which is all it is, after all) serves as a convenient distraction from the reports of Liverpool fans booing the National Anthem and Abide with me. Speaking of Scouse scumbugs, there’s this: Liverpool fans raid service stations again on route to Wembley The sheer blatent-ness of it all is what gets me. The f**kers are openly boasting about nicking as much as they can from motorways service stations, making a “who can rob the most” competition out of it.

Having lost tonight “Arsenal now need Norwich to do them a favour against Spurs on the final day.” Funniest thing I’ve read all day!

I’m watching Airdrie v Queen’s Park in the Scottish Division 1 playoff second leg on BBC Alba, with none other than David Hopkin on co-commentary. Most of the commentary is in Gaelic, but with an occasional outbreak of English, presumably in an attempt to involve non-Gaelic speakers. All square at half time, Airdrie having taken the lead with a cracking free kick, Queen’s Park equalising from a goalmouth scramble that eventually ricocheted into the back of the net

To lose an FA Cup Final? Well ok, you can’t win ‘em all. Losing two in a row is somewhat unfortunate. But to lose three consecutive FA Cup Finals is f**king careless whichever way you look it it. f**k it, I’m drained.

Meet the Boehlys — the new first family of football After a tumultuous time for the club, Todd Boehly is set to take over at Chelsea. So who is the US sports mogul and will Stamford Bridge ever be the same? By James Robson At first glance, Todd Boehly does not look like a billionaire. So, it is understandable that the American businessman, philanthropist and — as of this week — new owner of Chelsea FC went unnoticed by some of the fans he sat among in the lower west stand of Stamford Bridge three weeks ago. On his visits to London over the past three months, the 46-year-old father-of-three has wandered around virtually anonymously, dressed in baggy hoodies, long-sleeved Henley T-shirts, chinos and jeans. A baseball cap has kept his shaggy mop of hair under control and a dad-style anorak has kept out the British springtime chill. The fluorescent laces worn on just one of his sneakers last Friday night when he signed terms on a £4.25 billion deal to buy Chelsea might have been the only reason for the average passer-by to look twice at the man whose star-studded portfolio ranges from the LA Dodgers baseball team, the LA Lakers basketball team and Bruce Springsteen’s song collection. Few might have had any idea of the spectacular wealth which has put Boehly within government and Premier League approval of buying out Roman Abramovich in the biggest acquisition in the history of football. But looks can be deceiving. Valued by Forbes as having a personal fortune of £3.66 billion, the former Citibank exec is known as a self-made finance guy who made much of his money as the co-founder and head of Eldridge Industries, a private investment firm based in Connecticut. He is said to be very focused, with an “intellectual” interest in football. But he has on-the-ground experience, too. Chelsea is far from Boehly’s first sporting business. Insiders say Boehly’s low-key appearance is typical of how he operates; he is the down-to-earth billionaire who lives in Darien, Connecticut with his wife Katie and their sons Nick, Zach, and Clay. “Grounded” is a phrase commonly used to describe Boehly. On that trip to the Bridge last month, when Boehly made a point of avoiding the executive seats to truly taste the match-going experience, he insisted on walking the perimeter of the stadium to drink it all in. Chelsea lost 4-2 that night — and of his three most recent visits, he is yet to see the side win. On Saturday they threw away a two-goal lead against Wolves to draw 2-2, and previously he watched Real Madrid effectively end their defence of the Champions League with a 3-1 win in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. But it was that match that figures close to his bid say convinced them that he would do anything to win the battle for the Bridge. Even in defeat, Boehly was left utterly enthused by the spectacle and the atmosphere. Boehly’s bug dates back to that originally Chelsea bid back in 2018. But it was that game that reinforced his determination to see off competition from some of the richest people in the world to land the club. Boehly has made his fortune in knowing how to invest — first with global finance company Guggenheim Partners, and then Eldridge Industries, where he oversees more than £32 billion-worth of investments. Chelsea is his latest bet after partnering with long-time friend, British property developer Jonathan Goldstein. Investment firm Clearlake Capital is providing major funding, while Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss also make up the consortium. But of most interest to Chelsea fans is his part-ownership of the Dodgers — one of the most famous sports teams in America. Under him, the Dodgers have won the World Series and eight-straight National League West titles. He has spent heavily — including the record £227 million, deal for Mookie Betts in 2020, while the wage bill has topped £240 million. He has also used analytics to pick up previously unheralded stars from the sport’s minor leagues, like Max Muncy. Yet if Boehly is understated in his appearance, his ambitions are anything but. He is convinced he can better Abramovich’s unprecedented success that delivered 19 major trophies in nearly two decades. He plans to make significant investments in the first team — starting immediately when the transfer window opens this summer. He will also redevelop the stadium on a stand-by-stand basis, with Goldstein using his expertise to take a leading role in that. But it is notable that Boehly, who has seen the rise of women’s football in America, previously tried to buy US women’s team Washington Spirit. He sees Chelsea’s women as a major opportunity for growth. Crucially, he considers Chelsea to be an asset that can still appreciate considerably in value. It is why he was never dissuaded during an arduous bidding process conducted by merchant bank Raine Group. It is understood Boehly’s base offer of £2.5 billion was in place from the start, with a further £1.75 billion committed to investing in the club. Boehly, who will be at Saturday’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool, knows his numbers. He is described as intensely analytical and can absorb incredibly complicated information in one take. The enormous sums available through broadcast revenues are also a major attraction. He has described the Dodgers’s media rights as an “investment-grade bond”, underlining his cold, hard business approach to sport. But he also has a fundamental understanding of what is required to give him the best chance of a return on his investment — on-field success. Legendary basketballer Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a partner in the Dodgers — and Boehly has credited him with instilling a winning mentality. At Chelsea, it remains to be seen what involvement former players will have, but he understood a key weakness in his bid from the outset. US owners are looked on with suspicion from fans, given the records of the Glazers and Stan Kroenke at United and Arsenal respectively. The British arm of his consortium, meanwhile, is a well-known Tottenham fan, in Goldstein. Boehly, sources close to him say, wanted to inject his bid with people who “speak Chelsea”. Tory peer Daniel Finkelstein, and PR executive Barbara Charone — both lifelong Chelsea fans — were named as board members, should he be successful. Despite being so consumed by analytics, he is fascinated by the uncontrollable elements of the game. Boehly’s business is about assessing risks, crunching the numbers to come up with the best returns. In football, he is drawn to the potential of doing “all the right things” yet still ending up on the losing team. In the battle for Chelsea, it was Boehly who proved the ultimate winner.

Yep. Sky, the BBC, and God knows who else, have been bigging up Arteta like nobody’s business. What they conveniently neglect to mention is that Arsenal have so far played 45 fixtures, a whopping 40% fewer than ourselves who have now played 63 matches. And people wonder why the players sometimes seem tired?

If this is true, no wonder we didn't go for him: