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Of the confirmed signings (with Carlos Baleba as another possibility), these are the two notable ones :- 1) Brazilian 22yo Andrey Santos @$50 mil from Chelsea and 2) Belgian 29yo Youri Tielemans @$35 mil from Villa to boost the midfield, replacing Casemiro and to team up with Mainoo, Mount etc. Home grown talents Shea Lacey and 15yo JJ Gabriel augurs well for the future. The opening EPL match against Hull on 22/8 at 7.30pm awaits. GGMU!

It comes as to no surprise that England is the most represented nation in the Premier League by a considerable distance, with France, Scotland, Ireland, and Spain trailing far behind. But what about the smaller nations, or more specifically, the nations with only one representative to have made at least one appearance in the top tier of English football? For clarity, I will not be covering players who swapped their national allegiance midway through their careers, such as Spanish-born, former Swansea defender Jordi Amat, who represented his birth country at youth level but - courtesy of his maternal grandmother's ancestry - switched to Indonesia in 2022. Tanzania - Mbwana Samatta Widely regarded as Tanzania's most famous and accomplished footballer, it comes as to no surprise that Mbwana Samatta has made history more than once. While plying his trade for KRC Genk of Belgium, the striker became the first Tanzanian to play and score in the UEFA Champions League, opening his account in 2019 with a diving header against Red Bull Salzburg. He was also the first Tanzanian to win the Belgian Pro League with Genk. Joining Aston Villa in January 2020, Samatta made history a few weeks later; on 1 February, he became the first Tanzanian to play - and subsequently score - in the Premier League, opening his account against Bournemouth. Ultimately, that was as good as it got for the striker - he made a total of 14 appearance, scoring once, before moving to Turkey's Fenerbahce. The 33 year-old is currently turning out for Le Havre in Ligue 1 - also making him the first Tanzanian to play and score in France's top league. Iraq - Ali Al-Hamadi Technically, Iraqi striker Al-Hamadi isn't the first from his nation to be on the books of a Premier League club. Yaser Kasim spent time in the youth academies of London-based clubs Fulham and Tottenham, while Zidane Iqbal (probably the more well-known name on this list) came through Manchester United's academy and, while he signed a professional contract and was included in the club's Premier League squad lists, he ultimately did not make a single league appearance (although he did turn out in the UCL for them, making him the first Iraqi to officially represent the Red Devils on the pitch). But, in Ali Al-Hamadi's case, he was the first Iraqi to ply his trade in the Premier League, turning out for newly-promoted side Ipswich Town in the 24/25 season. Ultimately, he failed to find the net and saw his appearances limited to late substitutions (11 appearances, 123 minutes) as both player and club suffered relegation. Time is still on his side, though - he is still only 24, still on the books of The Tractors Boys, and may have a chance to finally find the net and make history again (Ipswich Town finished 2nd in the 25/26 Championship season, winning automatic promotion to the big leagues once again). Oman - Ali Al-Habsi Now here's a name that fans who were watching the Premier League during the late 2000s and early 2010s will definitely know. Ali Al-Habsi was actually on the books of Bolton Wanderers for five years, but was limited to just 10 appearances as he failed to displace the long-serving Jussi Jaaskelainen. It took a season-long loan to Wigan Athletic in 2010 for Premier League supporters to finally get to see him in action as an established number one. And his performances were impressive enough for the Latics to tie him down to a permanent deal. He suffered both heartbreak and glory in 2013, with Wigan relegated to the Championship but also winning the FA Cup, beating Manchester City at Wembley thanks to Ben Watson's stoppage time header that sent Dave Whelan and the travelling Wigan supporters into delirium. After leaving Wigan in 2015, Al-Habsi turned out for several other English clubs (Brighton, Reading, and West Brom) before hanging up his gloves in 2020. ~ Fremont (Images from AVillaFan, BBC, Twitter, and Wallpaper Cave)

It comes as to no surprise that England is the most represented nation in the Premier League by a considerable distance, with France, Scotland, Ireland, and Spain trailing far behind. But what about the smaller nations, or more specifically, the nations with only one representative to have made at least one appearance in the top tier of English football? For clarity, I will not be covering players who swapped their national allegiance midway through their careers, such as Spanish-born, former Swansea defender Jordi Amat, who represented his birth country at youth level but - courtesy of his maternal grandmother's ancestry - switched to Indonesia in 2022. Armenia - Henrikh Mkhitaryan One of the more famous players on this list, "Micki" was born when his home country was still a part of the Soviet Union. Rising through the ranks of Pyunik, he made his professional debut at the Armenian-based club in 2006. He moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2010 before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2013, where he was an integral part of the team under Jurgen Klopp. A £30m move to English giants Manchester United in 2016 brought about three trophies in his first season, but he left midway through his second in a swap-deal (which saw Alexis Sanchez going the other way) in January 2018. Post-Manchester, he also represented Roma and Inter Milan, where he still plays. United supporters will always remember him for his scorpion kick goal against Sunderland. Kenya - Victor Wanyama Premier League supporters will definitely be familiar with Victor Wanyama, but before making his way over to the big leagues, he made a name for himself with two seasons at Celtic, where he became the first-ever Kenyan player to score in the UEFA Champions League in a 2-1 win over Barcelona in 2012. Wanyama moved to Southampton in 2013 and subsequently, Tottenham Hotspur in 2016. Ultimately, he spent seven years in the Premier League, before moving to Montreal Impact and back to Scotland, where he retired in 2025. Faroe Islands - Gunnar Nielsen Torshavn-born Gunnar Nielsen made headlines in 2010 when he appeared for Manchester City as a 76th-minute substitute (against Arsenal) after first-choice goalkeeper Shay Given picked up an injury. Ultimately, that was the Faroese's only appearance in the Premier League. Following two loan spells at Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers, Nielsen left the Citizens in 2012, before turning out in countries such as Denmark, Scotland, and Iceland, where he spent eight years and made 140 appearances before retiring in 2023. ~ Fremont (Images from Wikipedia, Wallpaper Cave)

Welcome back to Part Four of this series, where I'll be taking you back to Premier League goals of yesteryear that I believe deserve a lot more attention than they ever got. From fleet-footed trickery ending in the ripple of the net, long-range rockets that zip past stunned goalkeepers, or audacious attempts that leave the crowd with agape mouths, sit back and relax as I take you on a trip down memory lane. 1) Paul Konchesky vs West Ham, 2008/09 What is it with left-backs and thunderbolts? In the previous parts of this series, we saw incredible efforts from the likes of Erik Edman and Charlie Daniels. And now, we're shifting our focus to Paul Konchesky. The marauding fullback turned out for Premier League clubs such as Charlton Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Fulham, Leicester City, as well as half a season with Liverpool during Roy Hodgson's ill-fated tenure. And while goals were a rarity in his game, two of his total of 14 professional career efforts will be fondly remembered. One was a cross-shot in the 2006 FA Cup final for West Ham against Liverpool, his future employers, and one was a long range bullet for Fulham against West Ham, his previous employers. Unfortunately, this came in a 3-1 away loss at Upton Park. It did win the Premier League's Goal of the Month award for January 2009 though. 2) Keith Gillespie vs Charlton Athletic, 2006/07 Hardcore followers of English football may well remember Keith Gillespie for other reasons. The Northern Irish winger who came through the Manchester United academy holds the unfortunate record of the fastest red card in Premier League history, having been sent off just 12 seconds after coming on for an elbow on Reading's Stephen Hunt. Technically, with play yet to be restarted between his introduction and dismissal, you could count this as 0 active seconds. But Gillespie also etched himself into Premier League folklore, with his stunning 25-yard volley a part of the Goal of the Month catalogue for December 2006, which saw so many brilliant efforts that it might seem impossible to pick a winner. And one of those efforts was Paul Scholes' smashing volley against Aston Villa, which ended up winning the 2006/07 Premier League Goal of the Season, which further proves my point. I couldn't find a video of the goal itself, so I decided to attach the whole December 2006 Goal of the Month candidates. Gillespie's effort is the first, so you won't have to wait long. But honestly? Do yourself a favour and sit through the whole thing. This is truly Barclays football at its finest. 3) Ricardo Fuller vs Aston Villa, 2008/09 The last time Stoke City played top flight football was in 1985, when Mikhail Gorbachev was the newly appointed leader of the now-dissolved Soviet Union. The 2008/09 season marked the Potters' foray back into the big leagues, and their brash and long-ball style of play were labelled by some as "anti-football", with Arsene Wenger probably its biggest critic. But the unfancied side managed to carve out some notable results (2-1 home win against Arsenal) and some wonderstrikes, one of which was by Jamaican Ricardo Fuller, Stoke City's main man up top and their top scorer for that season. Though not a long range thunderbolt or an audacious volley, just watch the way Fuller flicks the ball without breaking stride, bamboozling the Villa defender. Fret not, there will be many more to come in the near future. I have compiled a list (mostly from memory, some by watching older match highlights in my free time) of goals I think deserve more attention than they have gotten. ~ Fremont (Image from Urban Pitch)

Welcome back to Part Three of this series, where I'll be taking you back to Premier League goals of yesteryear that I believe deserve a lot more attention than they ever got. From fleet-footed trickery ending in the ripple of the net, long-range rockets that zip past stunned goalkeepers, or audacious attempts that leave the crowd with agape mouths, sit back and relax as I take you on a trip down memory lane. 1) Charlie Daniels vs Manchester City, 2017/18 AFC Bournemouth made their maiden Premier League debut with promotion from the Championship in 2015 with a team of relative unknowns (at the time), experienced stalwarts, and a handful of top flight regulars. There was the all-English centre-back pairing of Simon Francis and Steve Cook, the eccentric and no-nonsense Artur Boruc (who saved two penalties for Celtic against Spartak Moscow in Europe), and the evergreen Frenchman Sylvain Distin, who brought 14 years of Premier League experience with spells at Newcastle United, Manchester City, Portsmouth, and Everton. But one of the most memorable top flight moments by a Cherries player may well be from their long serving left-back, Charlie Daniels. The long-serving fullback made 249 appearances and scored 16 times for the Dorset-based club, with one of those goals cementing itself into Premier League folklore. Just look at the way he struck this ball. The timing, the calculation, the way he let it drop before unleashing a left-footed thunderbolt that sent the Dean Court faithful into rapturous celebration. And of course, Daniels' effort won him the Premier League Goal of the Month for August 2017. 2) Robbie Keane vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2011/12 Known for his eight-year stint with Tottenham Hotspur across two spells, the diminutive Irishman rocked up for many notable clubs across a playing career that spanned 21 years, with Inter Milan, Liverpool, Celtic, and LA Galaxy among those. And while the Irishman scored 126 top flight goals, none would have been as memorable as this sumptuous strike against Wolves, the club in which he made his first professional appearance for. Ever the gentleman, Keane refused to celebrate against his old employers as a gesture of respect. 3) Glen Johnson vs Hull City, 2008/09 Liverpool fans will remember Glen Johnson for his six-year spell at Anfield. And while the right-back was hardly prolific, he had a knack of popping up with stunners. Having spent his whole 16-year career in the Premier League (apart from a loan spell at Millwall in the Championship), the Engand international racked up a total of 358 appearances and 15 goals. But none will be as memorable as this effort, a dipping half volley with his weaker foot, which won the 2008/09 Premier League Goal of the Season award. Fret not, there will be many more to come in the near future. I have compiled a list (mostly from memory, some by watching older match highlights in my free time) of goals I think deserve more attention than they have gotten. ~ Fremont (Image from Wikipedia)

Having been an avid watcher of the Premier League for close to 20 years now, I've seen more than my fair share of "golazos", and some just live in my mind rent-free. From Papiss Cisse's absurd "trivela-esque" volley that dumbfounded Petr Cech at Stamford Bridge to Wayne Rooney's iconic bicycle kick at Old Trafford that silenced our noisy neighbours (yes, I'm a United supporter), these are amazing goals that any average Premier League fan can recall off the top of their heads. But what about the ones that fall under the radar? The goals that never got the fanfare they deserve? Allow a Premier League "veteran" fan who spends his spare time trawling through old compilations to take you through a few that, throughout all these years, still manage to leave me wondering "how the hell did he do that?" 1) Gretar Rafn Steinsson vs Stoke City, 2008/09 Ask fans to name any Icelandic player who made an appearance in the Premier League and you'll invariably get answers such as Gylfi Sigurdsson and Eidur Gudjohnsen. Eagle-eyed fans may even pick out Aron Gunnarsson, the long-serving captain of the Icelandic national team, who featured for Cardiff City, but it takes a certain level of ball knowledge to confidently say "Gretar Rafn Steinsson" without a hint of doubt. In four seasons at Bolton Wanderers, the Icelandic right back made 126 appearances in the top flight and netted five times, including this absolute rocket of a half-volley against Stoke City. How this doesn't get featured regularly in Premier League compilations is beyond me, because this wasn't a fluke (unlike Tom Cleverley's cross-cum-shot against Newcastle in 2012), he clearly meant it. 2) Erik Edman vs Liverpool, 2004/05 Swedish left back Erik Edman's first taste of English top flight football was a solitary season at Tottenham Hotspur, before returning for a brief albeit injury-stricken spell at Wigan Athletic, but he will be fondly remembered for this outrageous thunderbolt from way out. He managed 41 appearance across his time at both clubs and only scored once, but what a goal it was. In fairness, ardent Premier League fans may have come across this goal once or twice among the many compilations on YouTube, but it's too good to leave out. Just from how the ball spins, the ferocity of the strike, and the way Jerzy Dudek was totally caught out makes it a worthwhile entry into this list. 3) John Carew vs Stoke City, 2008/09 The big Norwegian joined Aston Villa in the summer transfer window of 2007, having won titles at Valencia (01/02) and Lyon (05/06 and 06/07), and immediately formed a "Barclaysman" partnership with Gabriel Agbonlahor, combining both pace and power that propelled Villa to a sixth place finish in three consecutive seasons. Carew spent four seasons in the West Midlands, amassing 113 appearance and finding the back of the net 37 times, and I think this effort is the best of the bunch. For such an audacious attempt, it certainly does not get the plaudits it deserves. The goal starts around the seven minute mark, which is when the embedded video should start playing from. That's all for Part One of this series. Don't worry, I'll be back with more forgotten bangers for Part Two. ~ Fremont (Image from Yahoo Sport)

Welcome back to Part Two of this series, where I'll be taking you back to Premier League goals of yesteryear that I believe deserve a lot more attention than they ever got. From fleet-footed trickery ending in the ripple of the net, long-range rockets that zip past stunned goalkeepers, or audacious attempts that leave the crowd with agape mouths, sit back and relax as I take you on a trip down memory lane. 1) Johan Elmander vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2010/11 Long before Alexander Isak and Zlatan Ibrahimovic - two of Sweden's talismanic forwards - graced the Premier League, along came a relatively unknown player by the name of Johan Elmander. Signed from Toulouse by Bolton Wanderers, the Swede wasn't exactly the definition of prolific, with 92 top flight appearances and 18 goals for The Trotters. But one of them was so silky and brilliant that in a poll by The Guardian, it was voted as the greatest Premier League goal ever. There's just something about watching a 6'2 striker twist and turn with the kind of fancy footwork rarely associated with players of that stature, before calmly slotting the ball into the side netting. 2) Charles N'Zogbia vs Arsenal, 2009/10 The elusive French winger spent his whole career in the Premier League, spanning 12 years and three clubs. Newcastle United brought him to England from Le Havre's academy, and he spent five years on Tyneside before making the switch to Wigan. His time at the Latics spanned two seasons, 83 appearances, and 15 goals, where he was very much an undisputed regular name in the starting lineup. He would then make the switch to Villa and spend five years in the West Midlands, where his career quietly petered out. A move to Nantes in 2016 was scuppered by the discovery of a heart problem, and the "Zog", as the Geordies affectionately called him, retired soon after. 281 games, 28 goals, 12 seasons in the Premier League. But Charles N'Zogbia will always be remembered for that winner against Arsenal in stoppage time that sealed a memorable 3-2 comeback win for the Latics. 3) Ryan Taylor vs Newcastle, 2008/09 To anyone who isn't a Wigan or Newcastle supporter, Merseyside-born Ryan Taylor remains just one of many to have plied their trade in the English top flight. But delve a little deeper, and you'll see that in 10 seasons playing at the highest level, the English fullback - who is also a free-kick specialist - has a goal catalogue that any striker, much less a defender, would be proud of. And although Taylor only managed 117 appearances in that time, his tally of eight goals ranges from dipping volleys, instinctive efforts, and well-placed free kicks. If injuries hadn't restricted his appearances, who knows what other attempts we could've been treated to? This video will start playing at the 0:28 mark. Just sit back and enjoy the audacity of this attempt against his future employers. 4) Ryan Taylor vs Everton, 2011/12 And on the topic of Ryan Taylor, here's yet another screamer from the fullback, this time for Newcastle. 5) Ryan Taylor vs Sunderland, 2011/12 And here's yet another Taylor effort, this time from a dead ball in the Tyne-Wear derby. It's no wonder Geordies gave him the nickname "Over-The-Wall". Don't worry, there'll be more to come in Part Three of this series. I am staunchly determined to give as many of these forgotten "Barclaysmen" the plaudits they so deserve. ~ Fremont (Image from GiveMeSport)

For all the intricacies of today's footballing landscape, with managers employing unusual tactics - think Pep Guardiola fielding four centre backs - and a greater emphasis on playing it out from the back, the greatest joy a game can give its viewers is still a goalfest, where chaos reigns supreme and the net never seems to stop bulging. And Manchester United's recent 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford has reignited that spark. Indeed, this scoreline is by far the most common in terms of high-scoring games and has also produced some of the most memorable performances in history. Think Chelsea-Man City in the 22/23 season ("Cold" Palmer), Liverpool-Arsenal in 08/09 (Arshavin, take a bow), and Newcastle-Arsenal in 10/11 (Rest in peace, Tiote). With that in mind, let's take a dive into the history of the Premier League and revisit three classic games that delivered a gluttony of goals. 1) Portsmouth 7-4 Reading – 29 September 2007 (2007/2008 season) 11 goals. The highest-scoring game in the league's history. Nine different goalscorers (a joint record). What's not to like? Reading's first foray into the big stages saw them finish a comfortable eighth, but that form would not carry on to the next season, which saw them relegated in 18th place on goal difference, conceding seven to Pompey and six to Spurs along the way (although they fared better than Manchester City, who shipped eight goals to Middlesbrough). Amazingly enough, this game ended 2-1 to Portsmouth at half-time. The lucky 20,102 in attendance, as well as many others watching on the "telly", were in for a treat. One can hardly complain about eight goals in a single half of football. And the scoreline could've been higher if David James hadn't saved Nicky Shorey's penalty. (The Premier League does not allow embedding of its YouTube videos, so please tap the image to go straight to the video itself) 2) Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – 28 August 2011 (2011/2012 season) Ironically enough, Manchester United would lose the title to Manchester City on the final day on goal difference. And as a staunch United supporter, the wounds are still raw. Every time that "AGUEROOOO" moment pops up in a football compilation, it's a quick fast-forward from me. I even tried watching City's All or Nothing documentary on Amazon Prime, but I stopped completely the moment they played the aforementioned in the second episode. But what makes this scoreline all the more surprising is that this wasn't the case of a better side facing off against a weaker opponent, these were two English giants. Champions League regulars (back then). And even though Arsene Wenger was forced to field a weakened defense (injuries and suspensions played a part), you'd expect Arsenal to put up more of a fight. In the end, Rooney netted a hat-trick, Young curled two pearlers into the top corner, and Arsenal ended with 10 men. In fairness, this game could've gone very differently if van Persie's penalty hadn't been saved by De Gea with the score still at 1-0 to United. (The Premier League does not allow embedding of its YouTube videos, so please tap the image to go straight to the video itself) 3) Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan Athletic – 23 November 2009 (2009/2010) To date, no player has scored a double hat-trick in the Premier League, and only five players have come close. Andy Cole (vs Ipswich Town), Alan Shearer (vs Sheffield Wednesday), Sergio Aguero (vs Newcastle), Dimitar Berbatov (vs Blackburn), and Jermain Defoe, who slammed five past a hapless Wigan side, including three in seven minutes. And incredulously, the scoreline was 1-0 to Spurs at half-time, which meant that this game holds the Premier League records for the most number of goals scored in one half of football (nine) and the most number of goals scored by one team in one half of football (eight). Sit back, relax, and let the goals flow. (The Premier League does not allow embedding of its YouTube videos, so please tap the image to go straight to the video itself) ~ Fremont (Images from Andrew Yates/AFP, The Irish Independent, The Times, Premier League Archive)

Take nothing away from United's well-deserved derby win over City, they absolutely deserved it. Despite the blue half of Manchester having the lion's share of possession, United absolutely tore them apart on the break with slick passing combinations and electric counterattacks. City barely had a sniff at goal, with Lammens largely untroubled. But is this another false dawn for Manchester United, or a sign of better things to come? To give you an idea of just how one-sided this derby was, United had three goals disallowed and hit the woodwork twice, whilst City had ZERO shots on target As a football supporter, I'm well aware of the effect of the "new manager bounce". But Saturday's brilliant performance against Pep Guardiola's men have inevitably raised many questions, most of which were criticisms aimed at Ruben Amorim's spell in charge. Let it be known that I am still pissed at Amorim's sacking. I love the guy. He's a straight-talking, no-nonsense manager. He got rid of the troublemakers in the group (Garnacho, Rashford, Sancho). And the fact that many of our current players took to social media to thank him for his time in charge is concrete proof that contrary to popular belief, he did not lose the dressing room. Criticism may be aimed at his 3-4-2-1 formation, but United knew what they were getting, and Amorim has every right not to deviate from his philosophy, as he’s said from the start. Lisandro Martinez's return and Harry Maguire's ongoing redemption arc has brought much-needed steel in the heart of United's defence And for all the "backing" that INEOS and Jason Wilcox promised, this summer brought a host of forwards and ZERO midfielders. I’m not slating the signings, Cunha and Mbeumo have brought a fresh impetus to our attack, something we sorely needed, but for years now, the midfield still lacked a decent upgrade. Someone in the mould of Elliot Anderson, or even a punt on Morten Hjulmand, would've benefitted us greatly. Instead, the board ignored Amorim's concerns that have long been echoed by the previous United managers. Can you really blame him then? Granted, we looked good in a 4-2-3-1 when we beat City. And being a former long-serving United player himself, Carrick knows a thing or two about the club's DNA. But as he's stated, he's just here on an interim basis until the summer. Who then, would be a good fit for the United hot seat? If you've been following the news recently, then you'll agree with me that Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes need to keep their traps shut And if you've watched the United-City game, I implore you to cast your mind back five years, when United were under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's charge, and you'll inevitably notice similarities. Under Ole, United sat in a low block against stronger opponents and launched devastating counterattacks on the break. Against weaker opponents who were happy to sit back and do the same to us, United struggled to break them down. Isn't this just regression? I for one, am wary about celebrating too early. I've seen this far too many times. Under Erik ten Hag, his first season was about pragmatism: Sit back and hit opponents on the break. His second season saw him try to implement the same philosophy that brought him much success under Ajax, and we all know how that went. Ole was hired on an interim basis midway through the 18/19 season and went on a lengthy unbeaten streak before being awarded the full-time job, but his three years in charge brought a total of zero trophies. Amorim wasn’t even given a full season: Hired midway through the 24/25 season, fired midway through the 25/26 season. Blasphemy. Erling Haaland may have an impressive goalscoring record against United, but on Saturday, Licha and "Slabhead" kept him largely shackled And to be honest, I have zero faith in anything changing for the better at United until those INEOS leeches and greedy Glazers are far, far away from Old Trafford. 21 years of mismanagement and lining their pockets have brought this once-great club to its knees. Any straight-talking manager will just get shown the door, while puppets will stay for a few years before the Glazers decide to shift the blame, press the reset button, and shake their crystal ball in the hopes that another puppet comes along to appease the fans. So don't celebrate too early yet and keep any criticism of Amorim to yourselves. He was the only one who gave a damn, and now he's gone. This may be a huge win, but how long this feel-good factor will last is up for debate. And if, like me, you’ve been following United for a long time now, you'll know just how many false dawns we've had to endure over the years. ~ Fremont (Images from Manchester United)

Boil it down to the bare bones, and anybody can write. I mean, we all had to write compositions for our exams in primary and secondary school. And for those who have gone on to university, some projects require a hefty amount of writing and quoting peer reviewed sources (I still get Vietnam flashbacks when I see "et al"). But crafting a story with a proper flow is another skill altogether. In all honesty, who wants to read a story that may be hitting all the right points yet sounds so boring. There's no substance, no fancy wordplay, no plot twist. It’s just route one all the way. Sure, it does the job, just like Stoke City under Tony Pulis in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but who wants to see a game of constant long balls hefted towards tall, burly strikers and Rory Delap's javelin-like throw-ins? Stoke City's first season in the Premier League brought a gluttony of goals from long throws and physical matchups that had Arsene Wenger frothing at the mouth Not to take any credit away from the Potters, they did what they had to do under a limited budget, and they brought a new element of tactical nous to the Premier League, but don’t we all want to see flashes of skill? Long range thunderbolts? One-touch passages of play? Intelligent runs dragging defenders all over the place and freeing up the third man run? In a way, just as football requires a lot of skill, so does writing. And by reading stories, one can tell the penmanship and style of the individual writers. Some write in exciting, swashbuckling fashion. The intent is clear, but the buildup is fiery, scintillating, and direct. It powers through the story, leaving readers with mouths agape, gripping the edge of their seats, eyes glued, watching intently to see what happens next. Wazza and "The Drog" met in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, where the latter was sent off in extra time and United went on to win the coveted trophy. Drogba would claim redemption four years later though, with his late equaliser and subsequent winning penalty in the shootout handing Chelsea the victory at the expense of Bayern Munich Those are the Wayne Rooneys and Didier Drogbas of the writing world. Powerful strikers that run right at the opposition's defence, a mix of aggression and skill, a touch of the unexpected always in their lockers. In terms of authors, I’d say Matthew Reilly comes close. And then you have the storytellers. Writers who prefer to take their time. Dictating the flow and tempo of their creation. Controlling the tone with carefully curated words. Patiently waiting for the right moment to unleash their vision. Writing in a way that leaves readers always one to two steps behind, and when they do make their move, eliciting applause and appreciation. Those are the Andrea Pirlos and the Sergio Busquets of the writing world. Midfield maestros who have teams built around them. Blessed not with quick feet and pace, but with quick thinking and an uncanny ability to see a few seconds ahead of everyone else. Constantly scanning, anticipating, and releasing passes that baffle opposition defences, but to their teammates who train and play with them daily, just another day at the office. And as for authors, I'd say James Patterson is a close match. Two "registas" (deep-lying playmakers) who were the heart of their teams for both club and country, Pirlo won the World Cup in 2006, whilst Busquets would win it in the next edition in 2010. And over their long, glittering careers, both men would meet in the Euro 2012 final and the 2015 UCL final, with the Spaniard getting the upper hand on both occasions, winning 4-0 and 3-1 respectively And then you have the writers that are a bit of both. Capable of aggressive and exciting wordplay, but also able to control the flow of information and timing. One minute they're unleashing a flurry of information that keeps readers gripped, the next minute they're slowing things down again, much like a good action movie. These are your Steven Gerrards and Frank Lampards. All-action generational midfielders who are the heartbeat and soul of their respective teams. Who have the ability to produce moments of magic when the going gets tough, but also the ability to calm things down and control the game when it is needed. And as for authors who write like this, personally, Lee Child goes right to the top of the list for me. Sure, any Tom, Dick, and Harry can write. But storytelling is a whole different ballgame. Would you rather watch a scrappy, Sunday League game that can’t string three passes together, or an exciting clash between two heavyweights at the very top of their game in the Premier League? I'll leave how you want to spend your 90 minutes up to you, but there's surely only one right answer here. ~ Fremont (Images from Bath Time Magazine, Twitter, Getty Images, SB Nation)

Having followed this club for more than 20 years, I'm well aware that a promising transfer window does not directly equate to an improved season. Forwards Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as Diego Leon, the young Paraguayan wing-back, have been Manchester United's signings for the 2025 summer transfer window so far. On paper, this team should have no problem challenging for silverware. On the pitch, the current crop of players finished 15th last season. While both Cunha and Mbeumo have had stellar seasons for their respective Premier League clubs (Wolves and Brentford), playing for Manchester United is, in Eddie Hearn's words, "different gravy". Wolves, or to give them their full name: Wolverhampton Wanderers, were god-awful under Gary O'Neil for the first half of last season, before the Englishman made way for Vitor Pereira 10 days before Christmas. The Portuguese sparked a resurgence in results, with Cunha playing a huge part. But he has always been a rather temperamental player, prone to angry outbursts and lengthy suspensions. Mbeumo formed a brilliant partnership with Yoane Wissa at Brentford, with the two combining to score 39 goals last season. The hope is that with these early signings, both players have more time during the preseason to get used to Ruben Amorim's tactics and carry on their rich vein of form into the upcoming 25/26 season. Fingers crossed. The biggest surprise of United's first preseason game is that Luke Shaw (bottom row, second from right) has somehow magically regained enough fitness Diego Leon is still a player very much for the future. Having only turned 18 this year, it would be unfair to expect a big impact from him. But as is the truth, unfortunately, he will have to come to terms with the fact that another injury crisis in the left-back position could see him thrust to the forefront a lot more earlier than anyone can anticipate, especially with Luke Shaw and his glass legs. In truth, United need touching up in a lot of areas. Left back remains a big issue, as is central midfield (Casemiro enjoyed a brief resurgence towards the latter half of last season, but he's not getting any younger). And for all of the glamorous signings in attack, how United have yet to sign a proven goalscorer is beyond me. Unfortunate United supporters who witnessed the travesty of the 24/25 season unfold will know that for all the chances Bruno Fernandes puts on a plate for his teammates, Rasmus Hojlund is not the answer. Perhaps I'm being unfair on the Dane. The United of yesteryear had experienced and prolific strikers helping the new, young signings settle in and take the weight of the goalscoring burden off their shoulders for the first year or two, but in this current team, it feels like pretty much every man for himself. Perhaps Hojlund could have flourished in a more stable environment, but then again, two years without any kind of improvement is saying something. A proper "number 9" has been sorely needed. Social media was awash with United supporters dreaming of a reunion between new United manager Ruben Amorim and his former player Viktor Gyokeres, a striker who is currently in the form of his life and whom the Portuguese has a good relationship with. Alas, at the time of writing this, the Swede looks more than likely to join Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. Don't ever question my loyalty or commitment, I'm a lifelong Manchester United supporter through and through Onto the midfield. Arguably the most important area in football. Legendary United gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson once said that "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles", which is largely true (Leicester City's legendary 15/16 title charge, anyone?), but without a midfield to link them both, one might as well start raising the white flag. Under Erik Ten Hag for the first half of the 24/25 season, United's midfield was continuously overrun, and embarrassingly enough, not just by the big teams. Other teams repeatedly took advantage of Ten Hag's tendency to shove all his players into the counter attack and leaving his midfield exposed. This isn't a bad tactic in itself, but without the right players to cover a large area of the pitch, every United game seemed much like a typical NBA match: Back and forth, back and forth. Amorim's 3-4-2-1 isn't that much different, with players pushing up into a 3-2-5 formation in attack. This leaves two midfielders to win the ball back and start attacks, but with almost every other team employing a three-man midfield, United's midfield were largely outnumbered and outran, which left many United supporters often groaning, head in hands. I myself am guilty of this, although I lace my frustration with a healthy and colourful string of expletives. Still holding out for a resurgence from the Red Devils this season? Don't be too overly optimistic. Let's go back to the 2021 summer transfer window. United finished second (74 points) the previous season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. A very respectable record and a strong core group of players gave many supporters much hope for the upcoming season. Two big-name signings, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, arrived from Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid respectively, as well as the experienced goalkeeper Tom Heaton on a free. But the best was yet to come. Four days before the transfer window closed, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his Manchester United homecoming, and social media went absolutely ballistic. For days, all anyone could talk about was CR7's return to the Premier League after 12 years. The Portuguese duly slammed home a brace on his second debut and United supporters dreamed of a first title win in nine years. Unfortunately, that was as high as the mood was ever going to get. Top 10 things science cannot answer: How this United team actually struggled as much as they did United capitulated, Solskjaer got the sack, and even though Ronaldo hit 18 league goals in his first season back, it wasn't enough to rescue the Red Devils from slumping to sixth. Looking back, it is to be speculated that the signing of Ronaldo severely disrupted the flow of the team, who now had a megastar to contend with. Word spread that the signing was made by the board and not the manager (Solskjaer carried the same aforementioned worries and was reluctant to break the selfless team spirit he had built) in the hopes of selling more shirts and bringing in more sponsors. A tale as old as time: United's utterly incompetent and a waste-of-DNA owners, Joel and Avram Glazer, putting their greed ahead of the team. It is worth nothing that ever since their takeover in 2005, the Glazer family has not put a single cent into United's coffers. They were more content with siphoning money out of the club into their pockets. Absolute leeches, but that's another rant for another day. With just a handful of signings and a host of deadwood to clear, United supporters would do well than to rely on blind optimism after three new signings. Been here, done that. I'm not falling for that trick again. I'll believe it when I see it with my eyes. Surely it can't be worse than last season's horror show. Hah, famous last words. ~ Fremont (Images by Manchester United)

Yes, this post was made a mere two days after Manchester United’s statement win over defending champions Liverpool on their home turf, our first since 2016. Yes, I’m still basking in the afterglow of a much-needed victory. And yes, like everything concerning my beloved club, Twitter has been awash with the usual dross of dreamers, realists, and pessimists. Seriously, I saw a few tweets and comments saying that we could win the league. Really? With a midfield leakier than Rebekah Vardy’s mouth? I’d say dream on, but I think these folk need to wake the heck up. Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after his first minute goal threw a spanner into Liverpool's gameplan A 2-1 victory at Anfield gave Ruben Amorim his first back-to-back league wins after taking over the helm in November 2024. And of course, you wouldn’t be amiss to question why a manager who has only now managed that feat to still be in the hot seat. But bearing in mind that this is the Portuguese’s first full season, and with restricted finances due to Financial Fair Play, the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules, and two decades of mismanagement by the incompetent Glazers, I still think it’s too early to fully judge him. And yes, I am aware we splashed the cash to sign Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. All big statement signings. And you would also be right to question why the midfield wasn’t given an upgrade, seeing as that has been United’s Achilles heel ever since Michael Carrick’s retirement. As the saying goes, control the midfield and you control the game. Carrington graduate Kobbie Mainoo can't contain himself after Lord Maguire's late winner But with transfer prices at an all-time high, Jim Radcliffe’s cost-cutting measures, and clubs knowing that they can bleed United’s wallet due to years of overpaying (€100m including add-ons for Antony, anyone?), the Old Trafford hierarchy will have to be savvy with their funds. What could’ve been if Sheikh Jassim showed a bit more leeway. There has also been a rise of managers willing to live and die for an idea. Think Russell Martin at Southampton or Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham and most recently, Nottingham Forest. Amorim is no different, stubbornly sticking with a 3-4-2-1 in a world of 4-2-3-1s and 4-3-3s. Instantly, the mismatch is evident. A two-man pivot will always be outrun and outnumbered by a three-man midfield. It takes a certain kind of ball-winner to perform the role Amorim wants, and with the Red Devils defending in a 5-2-3, our midfielders might well be in the stands, joining the United faithful in bated breath and silent prayer. Harry Maguire's redemption arc is one for the history books Casemiro, bless his soul, has these qualities but, at 33, lacks the legs to chase the ball around. Mainoo and Bruno have a tendency to push upfield, leaving the backline exposed. And according to some sources, Amorim has told Ugarte that he “is not the player he was at Sporting”. Chat, how cooked are we? But to his credit, Amorim is trying to address this issue by quite simply ignoring it. When starting attacks, United bypass their midfield entirely. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens goes long 99% of the time. So do Leny Yoro, Mattheus de Ligt, and Luke Shaw, who are usually the left- or right-sided central defenders. United are more interested in passing combinations along the wing instead of risking it in midfield, although someone forgot to tell Bruno Fernandes the memo on Sunday. We finally have a keeper that sticks to the basics, commands his box well, and claims aerial balls with ease. I could cry So, going back to the Twitter dross: Is it possible for United to win the league? Theoretically, why not? Leicester City did it despite odds of 5000/1 in the 15/16 season. But they had an assured spine of dependable players, a goal machine in Jamie Vardy, a magician in Riyad Mahrez, and the magical touch of Claudio Ranieri. What do we have? A beleaguered backline of Shaw, Maguire, and de Ligt constantly under siege. A striker in Sesko that gets little service because our wingbacks are vampires, i.e., afraid of crosses. And a midfield with more holes than Swiss cheese. It would be an embarrassment for the league if this current United team won the title. Then again, recent history proves that a win against Liverpool can signify a change in fortunes for Manchester United, even if its not an unlikely title charge. Erik ten Hag’s maiden tenure in the 2022/23 season got off to a rocky start, with a 1-2 home loss to Brighton and a 0-4 away drubbing by Brentford. Then came Liverpool in Gameweek Three. Against all odds, United won 2-1 at Old Trafford and never looked back, clinching a third place finish and silverware in the form of the Carabao Cup by the end of the season. Ultimately, that was as good as we got under Ten Hag, but that’s beside the point: Revival after beating Liverpool is possible. Then again, with four out of our next five opponents being Brighton, Tottenham, Everton, and an in-form Crystal Palace team, don’t get your hopes up. ~ Fremont (Images from Twitter)

ManU 1 (Varane) - Wolves 0 (EPL - Home) With the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, it was new-signing Onana in goal, Rashford supported by Ganarcho, Bruno and Antony with new-signing Mason Mount and Casemiro in midfield and the back four consisting of Shaw, Martinez, Varane and AWB. It was Wolves in the front foot with more intensity and attempts at goal and us only coming to life after the 35th minute but resorted to robust play with Martinez and Shaw booked. New signing Mount was not inspiring, having lost possession and control of the ball few times. A dismal first half in the first game of the season. A change for Martinez with Varane at the start of the second half was followed by Eriksen and Sancho for the ineffective Mount and Ganarcho. A lob by AWB found Varane at the far post for him to nod in a goal in the 76th minute, with Mctominay replacing Rashford to defend the slim lead. Goalie Onana has an excellent game and new-signing Hojlund was in attendance pending his start form an injury. With DDG and Fred out, not much in terms of ETH's expectations for new players, due to the buy-high and sell-low predicament we have found ourselves in.

Since Ruben Amorim accepted the responsibility of attempting to restore the fallen Mancunian giants back to their glory days, he has taken charge of seven games so far. Today, we break those seven games down, what went wrong, positive signs, and any other factors worth mentioning. First game: Ipswich Town 1-1 Manchester United (Premier League) 4/10 Amorim’s tenure kicked off with a game against newly promoted Ipswich Town who, at the time, only managed one victory in their last 11 fixtures. On paper United should’ve coasted to a comfortable win. The match proceedings were anything but. Marcus Rashford smashed the Red Devils ahead after just two minutes, but Omari Hutchinson levelled things a few minutes before half time. In truth, the home side had the better chances and should’ve scored a few more, but for Andre Onana’s heroics in the United goal. An ageing midfield pairing of Casemiro and Eriksen proved detrimental against a young Ipswich side who ran through the midfield with relative ease. However, United were playing with panache and a style of play seemed to be forming. A young Ipswich Town team overran United's midfield but struggled to find a way past Andre Onana, who won save of the month in this game Second game: Manchester United 3-2 Bodo/Glimt (Europa League) 5/10 European fixtures are never easy. Just ask Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City side, prior to this game, were trounced 4-1 by Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon side in the Portuguese capital. Chopping and changing his starting XI was to be expected, as the new man sought to figure out his best eleven. Rasmus Hojlund put in a sterling performance: his pressing forced the keeper into an error, which Garnacho duly converted for the opener. A well-taken double followed to hand United all three points. Third game: Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Premier League) 7/10 As of 16 December 2024, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and United’s Andre Onana are joint top for clean sheets (six). Years of mismanagement and debt accumulated under owner Farhad Moshiri have seen the Toffees slide down the table, which nearly cumulated in relegation in the 21/22 season. Under Sean Dyche and with first choice England keeper Pickford in goal, they have built a reputation for having a watertight defence. Against United’s swashbuckling attack, it turned out to be a one-sided affair. Rashford and new summer signing Joshua Zirkzee nabbed a brace each, with Amorim’s usual 3-4-2-1 formation in full flow. Amad Diallo, very much a peripheral figure under the previous manager, was at his scintillating best. Typically a winger but playing as the right wing-back, he was given license to roam and grabbed it with both hands. One minute he’s tracking back and making tackles, the next minute he’s marauding up the pitch, ball at feet, eyes always scanning for the best possible option. What’s even more impressive is that he played the full 90, and not once did his standards drop. Mentality monster. Still only 22-years-old, the future looks very promising for the Ivorian. Joshua Zirkzee does the gunfingers celebration a la Robbie Keane, just without the forward roll Fourth game: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (Premier League) 4/10 This was Amorim’s first real test at United. Runners-up for the past two seasons, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side have a reputation for having one of the meanest defences in the league, and also for set-piece goals. The latter was clearly on show that day, with Arsenal’s two goals coming from set-pieces, headed in by defenders Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for United: promising signs such as players looking sharper and confident, clear on their instructions and roles on the pitch. Set-pieces remain a weakness, as it was under the previous manager Erik Ten Hag, but one mustn’t forget, this is only Amorim’s fourth game in charge. A transitional period is to be expected. Fifth game: Manchester United 2-3 Nottingham Forest (Premier League) 2/10 In fairness, Nottingham Forest have been flying this season. With the impressive Chris Wood leading their attack, and pace and creativity in midfield, and a robust defence with different skillsets, Nuno’s men are proving to be tough opponents. Still, at Old Trafford, one would expect United to get a result at their home ground. Forest scored after just two minutes, another set-piece goal. Hojlund equalised soon after. All square at half time, but the visitors came bursting out of the blocks as the second half kicked off. A long-range effort caught Onana, so promising in recent games, flat-footed. Chris Wood (who else?) added a third, and suddenly United were in danger of letting the game run away from them. Captain Bruno Fernandes pulled one back, but it was not to be. A second consecutive loss for the Red Devils. Cold picture. Results-wise? Absolutely steaming Sixth game: Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Manchester United (Europa League) 6/10 Last year, United goalkeeper Andre Onana endured an error-strewn first season, with many supporters questioning the unceremonious departure of club legend David de Gea by the board and manager. On the night, he did his doubters no favours, with an underhit pass handing the Czech side the lead. Enter Ramus Hojlund. The Danish international was immense in the previous European fixture, and today was no different. A double, including a late winner, handed United all three points in their bid to qualify for the next stage of the competition. Seventh game: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United (Premier League) 11/10 Be real guys, we all knew this was coming. And get ready for a long-ass piece. The best game under Amorim so far. Reigning champions City, winless in their last 10 games in all competitions, were still a force to be reckoned with. A few hours before kickoff, it emerged that Amorim had left Garnacho and Rashford out of the travelling squad completely. Whether it be the rumours of alleged United lineup leaks before the embargoed timing by members of the squad or simply performance-related, United had bigger worries on their minds. Two wounded giants, one led by a serial winner albeit cheating scum (115 charges, we see you) and one led by an up-and-coming manager. No United manager had won their first Manchester derby since the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson in 1986, so the odds were stacked against Amorim. But, as club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once said, “Mountains are there to be climbed.” A cagey first half, in which United poked and prodded at the City defence without much effect, saw City take the lead, once again from the result of a set-piece. For the most part, the Red Devils sorely missed the runs in behind by Garnacho and Rashford, which would’ve stretched a typically compact City side. Sloppy passing and indecisiveness almost led to more goals for the home side, but Haaland and co found Harry Maguire in scintillating form. Harry Maguire channeling his inner prime Paolo Maldini on Sunday The second half saw United adopt the same style of play: a patient buildup, prodding and testing the City backline, trying to exploit any gaps, not rushing things. The away support increased their volume to try and galvanise their team on, wanting to see some form of attacking intent. Bruno Fernandes missed a golden chance to put his team level, and a collective groan echoed around the Etihad. United had been guilty of squandering chances in the past and not killing off games, and it looked like a recurring theme, until one man decided enough was enough. Enter Amad Diallo. Capitalising on a sloppy back pass by Matheus Nunes, Amad raced towards the City goal with only Ederson to beat. Realising the angle was narrow, he attempted to cut the ball back and was duly hacked down by a recovering Nunes desperate to make up for his mistake. Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. Penalty for United. Bruno Fernandes stepped up, took a deep breath, and sent Ederson the wrong way. A roar of delight reverberated around the stadium. 88 minutes gone, United were finally level. City were wounded and hurting. The home fans knew it. The away fans were baying for blood. United smelt it, and duly went for the jugular. In the first minute of stoppage time, barely two minutes after Fernandes levelled proceedings, Lisandro Martinez picked up the ball, and with no City players immediately pressing him, scanned the vicinity. Amad, now inverted, made a run in between the opposition defence. Martinez picked him out with a lofted ball, and Amad dinked the ball past an onrushing Ederson, before directing the ball into the net from a tight angle. Cue euphoria. Amad Diallo sprinted to the away fans to celebrate. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, two unused substitutes, embraced the Ivorian, wide smiles plastered on the faces of the United players. Ruben Amorim pumped the air with joy, whilst Pep Guardiola collapsed in his seat, head in hands. The City players looked at each other, baffled. The home fans were silenced. For the first time in four years, United had triumphed at the home of their crosstown rivals. Post-match celebrations saw Amorim declare to a reporter, with a wry smile, that “Manchester is Red.” Similar Instagram posts by United players appear to take the mick out of City, all in good fun of course. Banter is a vital part of football rivalry, as long as the line isn’t crossed. My personal favourite? Rasmus Hojlund’s post (shown below) aimed at Kyle Walker, who comically fell to the floor in the hopes of getting the United player sent off, following a confrontation between both men after an unsportsmanlike barge from the latter. Walker is 34 by the way. Kyle Walker is no stranger to cheating, just ask his ex-wife A long way to go Hopefully United will take this as a sign that things are clearly working out, and to push on with the aim to improve instead of resting on their laurels. Amorim is clearly doing something right, but admittedly I said the same thing about Ten Hag in his first season. But the major difference between both men is that Amorim has repeatedly stressed that his tactics and formation will be decided by the players at his disposal, meaning that despite all the talk about his staunch refusal to budge from a 3-4-2-1, it does not mean the Portuguese is not willing to adapt to the game conditions. United currently sit 13th in the table, which sounds bad until you realise only six points separate us from fourth-placed Nottingham Forest (yes, you heard me right). The chase to the top four is on, in a bid to bring back Champions League football to Old Trafford. With a young manager at the helm – Ruben Amorim is only 39 – and a young team brimming with raw talent and massive potential, United have the best springboard to capitalise on, and with actual brains heading the football aspect (instead of the waste of space that are the Glazers), the future looks bright. Also, if it wasn't already blindingly obvious, I am an ardent Manchester United supporter, so expect a dash of biasedness and a splash of unseriousness except about everything that is and will be mentioned about the absolute parasites that are the Glazers, who really should carry a potted plant around to replace the oxygen they waste. - Fremont - Photos from Twitter (@utdscope)

Manchester United have once again signalled a restart with the sacking of Ten Hag, and just days later, announced the appointment of Ruben Amorim, who will join midway through the first half of the current season from Sporting Lisbon. Back to square one yet again for the Red Devils who, despite being one of the most successful clubs in England and biggest clubs in the world, have not won a league title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Since then, they’ve gone through a whole host of managers with varying degrees of success. My exact reaction to Ten Hag's early dismissal, after the United hierarchy publicly backed him in the summer and gave him a new contract 2013 to 2016 - David Moyes was Sir Alex’s immediate successor, lasting just 10 months as United trudged to seventh place. His replacement was three-time Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal, who won the FA Cup but faced the sack two days afterwards. 2016 to 2022 - Jose Mourinho, arguably the biggest name on this list, won the Europa League and the League Cup in his first season, but fell out with certain players and members of the board, and bade United goodbye a week before Christmas in 2018. Club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stepped up and lasted the longest despite not winning anything, but was dismissed just five weeks shy of three years at United. Ralf Rangnick was brought in as an interim coach for the rest of the 21/22 season. 2022 to 2024 - Erik Ten Hag came from Ajax and despite winning the League Cup in his first season and the FA Cup in his second, was shown the door ten games into the 24/25 season after a poor run of results despite signing a new deal in the previous transfer window. The last Portuguese manager to manage United, and in my opinion, the best hire since Sir Alex's retirement However, with the investment of INEOS and its owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, himself a proclaimed United supporter and who assumed the responsibilities of the footballing aspects of the club, the club moved fast to snap up Amorim, who reportedly has been on their radar for quite some time. This marks a positive change of United identifying and signing targets that would benefit the club in the long run, much unlike when the Glazers, United’s majority shareholders and much-hated owners (with good reason), simply threw fat, lucrative contracts at big stars whose light were fading, clearly to boost shirt sales. Having been poorly run for the last eleven years, and one might argue even before Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the future looks bright for the Mancunian club. Gone are the days of signing has-beens. United’s past few transfers have been with the future in mind – think Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee – and many academy graduates have been promoted to the first team and have had a big impact – think Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. A young and vibrant United team overcame current title-holders and city rivals Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final, with academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo (not in shot) scoring the winner Given new gaffer Amorim’s track record at Sporting Lisbon, winning the club’s first league title in two decades and repeating the feat three years later, and going toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite in the Champions League despite having a significantly lesser budget, he will presumably have a lot of credit in the bank, even with the ficklest of United supporters. With the Old Trafford faithful yearning for an exciting style of play and the pacy, counterattacking football of the successful United teams of yesteryear, the Portuguese manager seems like a good fit for the fallen giants. Only time will tell if he can reap long-term success and bring back the glory days or end up as just another failed United project. - Fremont - Images from Twitter

Singapore returned to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying action after more than 18 months on Thursday (Jun 3) with a 4-0 loss to Palestine. The second round of joint qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in China has resumed after a lengthy delay caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Palestine raced to a three-nil lead in the first half at the King Fahd International Stadium, prompting Singapore head coach Tatsuma Yoshida to make a double substitution at the break. But he admitted his match decisions had not gone the way he wanted. “The boys tried, but in the first half, they were a bit nervous,” he said after the match. “I am really disappointed (as) they can do more (and) that we could not show our full potential. I think if we played to our potential, maybe the result would be changed … I am very sorry for the Singapore fans. “I feel big disappointment, big pain … But it’s not on (the players). It’s because of my management and it’s on me.” The three goals Palestine were scored in a span of about 10 minutes and included two penalties by Tamer Seyam either side of an Oday Dabbagh strike. Yaser Hamed completed the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the game. The result means Palestine overtake Singapore in the Group D standings on goal difference, having played a game more. The match saw the international debuts of Ilhan Fandi and Saifullah Akbar, while Lions stalwart Baihakki Khaizan notched his 138th Singapore appearance, taking him to joint second on the country’s list of most-capped players. The Lions sit fourth out of five teams in Group D after six games. Their remaining ties in the group are against Uzbekistan on Jun 7 (kick-off at 2am on Jun 8, Singapore time) and Saudi Arabia on Jun 11 (kick-off at 2am on Jun 12, Singapore time). Saudi Arabia lead Group D on 11 points with Uzbekistan in second on nine. The sides have played five games apiece. All remaining Group D matches are being played in the Saudi capital. The top team of each of the eight second-round groups and the four best runners-up will progress to the third round of 2022 World Cup qualifying. They will also qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup. The remaining teams will continue to compete for places at the 2023 Asian Cup in subsequent rounds of qualifiers. Singapore kicked off their campaign for Qatar 2022 and China 2023 in September 2019, picking up seven points from five games before qualifying was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Elsewhere in Asian qualifying on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates beat Malaysia 4-0, Australia won 3-0 against Kuwait and Iran picked up a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong. Bahrain drubbed Cambodia 8-0 and Nepal beat Taiwan 2-0 while Qatar, who have already qualified for the 2022 World Cup as hosts, edged out India 1-0. Thailand and Indonesia played out a 2-2 draw, with Bangladesh and Afghanistan also sharing the points in a tie that finished 1-1.

For those who kpkb at Lions, the Tiger lagi on the bola!

Turf City closes on 31 December 2023. Been visiting Turf City since it became a commercial mall, first batch of tenants included Mcdonald's and Watsons. Over the years, tenants have included Giant, Jack's Place, Owen Seafood, Tung Lok etc and of course the massive car mart. Used to meet up with friends just to walk along the rows of cars. Reckon Turf City means different things to different people given the variety of activities available; makan, cars + accessories, sports, grocery shopping, furniture shopping, child enrichment etc. Perhaps share share Turf City stories here ?

Bidding farewell to the legends... Benzema leaves Real Madrid... Joaquin retires from football... Messi and Ramos leave PSG...

ManU 1 (og) - Brighton Hove Albion 2 (EPL - Home) With Eriksen as striker flanked by Rashford and Sancho with Bruno behind, it was Brighton who drew first blood when they scored twice in the 29th and 38th minute, taking the lead in a disastrous first-half for ETH. The midfield of McFred were ineffective either in attack or defensive mode from the marauding Brighton players helmed by our ex-player Danny Welback. Both Rashford and Sancho were not making their mark and Eriksen was playing too deep to be effective as a striker. With CR7 introduced 2 minutes in the second half, things looked brighter and it was in the 67th minute that we pulled one back during a goalmouth melee when Dalot put their goalie Sanchez under pressure. There were three decisions that many fans could not understand ; when ETH subbed Fred for CR7 instead of Mctominay who was yellow-carded and on par with Fred on performance, introducing Elanga, Garnacho and Malacia late at the 89th minute to expect a change of fortune and allowing Eriksen to usurp Bruno's play-making role. Although it is still early days, much more will be expected of ETH's tactical nous if this first game of the season is anything to go by.

SINGAPORE – Local football’s Young Player of the Year Ilhan Fandi is ready to fly the coop to further his development as a player. After scoring 20 goals in 27 Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup matches for Albirex Niigata in 2022, Ilhan confirmed he will not be playing in next season’s SPL. But he was coy when asked about his next destination. He told The Straits Times: “I think I had a good season this year, and my goal has always been to go overseas and test myself even more in a different environment. I feel it’s best to make the move now, and everything will be finalised soon.” The 20-year-old forward is with the national team in Chiba, Japan, for their Dec 1-12 training camp in preparation for the Asean Football Federation Championship, which kicks off on Dec 20. ST understands that Belgian second-tier club KMSK Deinze is the likelier of two options for him. Deinze are eighth in the 12-team Challenger Pro League with six matches left. After a rough start this season, they have suffered just one loss in their last seven games and are the only non top-flight club in the last 16 of the Belgian Cup. This is their third season in the second tier after they gained promotion in 2020 by winning the Belgian First Amateur Division. Interestingly, Deinze were taken over in January by Singapore-based investment fund ACA Football Partners, which is hoping to make the club the centre of its multi-club ownership model. It is aiming to play in the top tier when it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. Ilhan’s other option is Austin FC’s second team in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Next Pro league in the United States. The American side will launch their Next Pro team in 2023 to play in the second season of what is effectively the third tier of the US league system, below the MLS and United Soccer League Championship. Once Ilhan commits, he will become the first Singaporean footballer to ply his trade in the country he picks. He will also be following in the footsteps of his family members who had ventured overseas. His famous father Fandi Ahmad played for Dutch side Groningen (1983-1985) among other foreign teams, while older brothers Irfan and Ikhsan Fandi are now with Thailand’s BG Pathum. Ikhsan had also featured for Norway’s second-tier teams Raufoss (2019-2020) and FK Jerv (2020-2021). https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-singapore-starlet-ilhan-fandi-set-for-overseas-move?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Son wanna buy football boots and brought him to Changi City Point yesterday. Surprisingly Nike, Adidas, Puma, Asics, Royal Sporting House all dun sell boots now. Only New Balance has a few pairs of old model, and doesn't have his size... wonder why now nobody sells football boots... Decathlon also got no size for adults (11.5 - quite big), all out of stocks... Anyone knows where can find some boots. Am hoping to get a pair today for him to wear tomorrow, and figured trying physical pair is better than buying online as dunno the various brands/models' cutting... (provided got stock)...

As requested by Akula ... Starting a new thread for 2020/21 season "Defending The Tittle"

New season, new thread..............may the best team win the EPL!!

A group of the world’s richest soccer clubs, including Manchester United and Real Madrid, announced plans for a European breakaway league starting in August, a project that could herald the sport’s biggest shakeup in decades and make elite teams even wealthier. The marquee names -- six from England, three from Italy and three from Spain have signed up so far -- would play each other midweek as an alternative to the prestigious UEFA Champions League, according to a statement early Monday. In addition to what will be 15 permanent teams, another five will qualify each year for the so-called Super League. Establishing a new elite tournament in Europe would effectively end the Champions League’s decades-long reign as the world’s premier club contest, and revolutionize the sport’s structure. It would also funnel billions of dollars into the game’s upper echelons, following a year in which revenue has dropped as matches take place in largely empty stadiums. The 15 founding teams would share an upfront payment of 3.5 billion euros ($4.2 billion). Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez will be chairman of the group with Juve’s Andrea Agnelli and Manchester United’s Joel Glazer as vice-chairs. “We will help football at every level and take it to its rightful place in the world,” Perez said in the statement. “Football is the only global sport in the world with more than four billion fans and our responsibility as big clubs is to respond to their desires.” By creating a system in which five places a year are available through a qualification process, the organizers are seeking to head off criticism that the competition is closed -- as with the National Football League in the U.S. and the National Basketball Association in North America. The group also pledged “solidarity payments” to European soccer of more than 10 billion euros. But even before the plans were announced, national leagues from England, Spain and Italy, plus the sport’s governing body in Europe, hit back at what they called a “cynical project” founded on self-interest. In addition to considering legal action, their joint statement raised the prospect of throwing teams out of their domestic leagues. Under the new project, any club would remain in its domestic league but pull out of the Champions League. FIFA, the global governing body and organizer of the World Cup, weighed in last week, saying it would ban players who took part in the breakaway. That could potentially throw next year’s World Cup in Qatar into chaos. Political heavyweights also chimed in, with leaders from U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to former Italian Premier Enrico Letta voicing their concern. French President Emmanuel Macron praised French clubs for not signing up so far. The proposed league also comes as UEFA, the European ruling body, tries to push through a controversial program of its own this week. It wants to expand its tournament to 36 teams, giving each team 10 pre-knockout group matches compared to six now, an increase that irked some teams complaining the season already has too many games. The Super League’s plans: An August start with clubs in two groups of 10, playing home and away matches The top three in each group automatically qualify for the quarter finals. Teams finishing fourth and fifth will compete in a two-legged play-off for the remaining quarter-final positions. A two-leg knockout format will be used to reach the final at the end of May, which will be staged as a single fixture at a neutral venue. A women’s league will be also be launched “as soon as is practicable.” Proponents argue the new Super League would create a more exciting competition because the top teams would play each other more often. It would also be lucrative for them, with permanent membership removing the uncertainty of the Champions League, whose teams must qualify annually or risk losing broadcasting and sponsorship revenue. But the idea of creating a competition that removes the drama of a smaller team such as four-time champion Ajax winning the trophy or of a bigger club having to qualify in the first place, has angered supporter groups and former players. Fans of Chelsea, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, highlighted what they regard as the greed within soccer. Gary Neville, who won eight Premier League titles as a Manchester United player and now works for Sky Sports, said he was “absolutely disgusted” with the move. The idea that teams could take part in a league and never be relegated from it was, he said, an “absolute disgrace.”