Summary
I’m signing off now, thanks for reading and for your emails and tweets. To recap:
- João Félix is good at football.
- Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger will leave the club in the summer
- No self-respecting Sunday league player should pull their socks up past their knees.
- An important read from Jacob Steinberg on the shocking scale of racism in English football, and Barney Ronay’s take on why we should all support footballers if they decide to walk-off the pitch in protest.
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Arsenal investigate a video of fan racially abusing Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Chelsea fans were barred from Thursday’s game after ‘bomber’ chants against Mohamed Salah, which Jurgen Klopp has rightfully called “disgusting.”
- Neil Warnock has been charged by the FA for being Neil Warnock.
- Gabor Kiraly.
- Pep Guardiola thinks Ilkay Gundogan was wrong to suggest suggested that Manchester City were “too nervous” in the Champions League and also “always make the wrong decisions.”
- Adverts with footballers can be brilliant, especially ones featuring Dennis Bergkamp.
- Crystal Palace’s James Tomkins has been ruled out for the season, but the London side are in the running to sign Birmingham’s Che Adams this summer.
Have a great weekend. See ya!
Updated
In light of that from Dom, this is worth a revisit, from Ben Fisher.
The progress of the Birmingham City forward, Che Adams, is expected to prompt interest from a quartet of clubs eager to bring the striker to the Premier League in the summer. Crystal Palace, Burnley, Southampton and the current Championship leaders, Norwich City, are all monitoring Adams, who has scored 22 goals to date this term.
Southampton and Burnley both had enquiries for the 22-year-old rejected by Birmingham during the mid-winter window, while Palace will seek to add to their forward ranks given they will struggle to make Michy Batshuayi’s move from Chelsea permanent. The Belgium international earns around £110,000-a-week, with Palace to seek to reduce their hefty wage bill - the ninth highest in the topflight at £117m-a-year - last season in the summer.
Adams, who was named in the Championship team of the year, would cost in excess of £15m and Norwich will pursue their own interest in the former Sheffield United player if, as seems likely, they secure a return to the elite.
It’s Friday, it’s quiztime.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that James Tomkins has been ruled out for the rest of the season. It’s a big blow, Tomkins has started each of the last eight games for Palace, of which they have won four to climb to 12th. They are not quite out of the woods yet though, and face Manchester City on Sunday. By the end of the weekend, they could feasibly be just eight points clear of the bottom three, having played a game more than 18th-placed Cardiff.
Here’s Roy:
We lost James Tomkins in the game against Newcastle, he has been operated on, so he will miss the remainder of the season which is a major blow, coming on top of Mamadou Sakho’s injury five or six games ago. Those two have been such important pillars in the centre of our defence and helped us get where we are.
“It is a big ask now for Martin Kelly and Scott Dann, they are going to have to step into some quite big shoes, but I am confident that they can do that - and they will get their first chance on Sunday.”
Re kit being modified, Steve Foster’s headband has been mentioned BTL. And it just so happens that Amy Lawrence did an interview just last week with the Socrates of the South Coast, as nobody is calling him.
For anybody with Sunday’s Liverpool v Chelsea on their minds, this - from Scott Murray in 2011 - is well worth your time, particularly the bit about how a post-war Liverpool title triumph was in part due to American malted milks and ice cream.
Our Premier League match previews are starting to trickle through. Javier Hernandez returns to Old Trafford and will most likely start up top for West Ham, who have Samir Nasri sidelined with a calf problem. West Ham fans, has Nasri done enough to earn a deal beyond the summer?
One last round of adverts: Sam Franklin opts for an airport classic, while John Edwards declares with victory with this effort, which includes Oscar-nominee Wayne Rooney unmoved by the fact that a wine-inspired meteorite has hit the Old Trafford turf. Enjoy.
Have a go on this: Nick Miller on Bielsa and Leeds, who have come a long way since ‘the Steve Evans experience.’
Jurgen Klopp, ladies and gentlemen.
Your advert suggestions continue to roll in: Karl Gibbons reminds us all of “the range of Reebok advertisements from the 1990s where footballers had a “sliding door” moment. Bergkamp is pretty good in his Cheese-maker role...
... whilst Giggs leaves a lot to be desired in the acting department.”
There was also this one, featuring Andy Cole.
A classic Reebok advert from 1997 featuring Andy Cole as a Chip Shop Assistant. pic.twitter.com/LTQfPllcWT
— 90s Football (@90sfootball) March 24, 2015
Cheers Nick. All getting a bit Bill and Ted in here, isn’t it? Did you know there is a re-make coming out? Well, now you do. Not sure how I feel about it.
Matt Warner strides confidently into the afternoon’s debate, and with good reason. “Best footballer advert ever. Full stop. No arguing. I have won.”
Meanwhile, this might not exactly be a new low for Bolton, but it’s certainly a low.
Incredibly, it was also confirmed that Wanderers' chief scout, Tim Breacker, has not been paid for three months and can no longer travel to watch games. #bwfc
— Marc Iles (@MarcIles) April 12, 2019
Ben Blatch writes: “Surely there’s no better advert featuring footballers than this?”
Here’s some more from Pochettino on Kane and so forth.
Consider this a slapdown: after their defeat to Spurs the other night, Ilkay Gundogan suggested that Manchester City were “too nervous” in these big games and also “always make the wrong decisions”, but it’s fair to say Pep Guardiola doesn’t agree:
I don’t agree with him, absolutely not. In the second half it was under control. Our game at Tottenham was much better than Schalke. Sergio reacted incredibly well to the penalty, the team was mentally strong.
Plenty of suggestions for gloriously crap football adverts have been rolling in, and admittedly that Nutella one is one, but I was more asking for ones that are actually good. And I do genuinely think that Henderson look to camera is brilliant.
A footballer - four, in fact - in an advert now, and one I hadn’t seen before. Here’s a young Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer, Benedikt Hoewedes and Mats Hummels doing battle with a member of the service industry who is curiously protective of a jar of Nutella. As nominated by Kristof.
Dele Alli suffered an injury in that game too, and although Pochettino is more optimistic about that one, it still doesn’t sound ideal.
We need to assess him this afternoon and I am not too optimistic. It is very painful. He broke his hand in two parts. Yesterday he saw the specialist. I am more optimistic for him to be available for Manchester City in the second leg.
Looks like Harry Kane is out for the season...
...which admittedly we probably could have surmised anyway, but Mauricio Pochettino has said today it would be “difficult” for him to play after banjaxing his ankle against Manchester City. Pochettino said:
He was so upset after the game, it was a difficult moment for him. We feel so disappointed and it was difficult to accept the situation. He is now much better, he has the scan yesterday and he needs to see the specialist next week. He is in a good place because he is a positive guy. It is a little bit sad but he is looking forward to recovering as soon as possible.
He was then asked if Kane could return this season:
We’ll see, there is five weeks, it is going to be difficult. Next week we are going to see with the specialist. We are going to do everything to recover him as soon as possible but there is only five weeks of the season to recover.
And now, Klopp on football:
Jurgen Klopp on the season so far: "We have 82 points and probably a few more by the end. That's a historical season. In a lot of other seasons it would be enough to be champions."
— Andy Hunter (@AHunterGuardian) April 12, 2019
Jurgen Klopp has been named the Premier League’s manager of the month for March. He’s also been speaking about the racist abuse directed at Mo Salah and, well, lots of people. He told Sky:
It’s always a real challenge to speak about this when you’re not a native speaker, because it’s really important. What I will say is that we shouldn’t deal with it like it’s a ‘Chelsea’ case or whatever, it’s an issue we have in this moment everywhere.
There are too many moments where it happens. The only thing I can say is we really have to make sure these people get punished in the right way. They’re football supporters so they should not be allowed to watch in the stadium again.
I was really happy that three of them [the Chelsea fans singing racist songs about Salah in Prague] at least were found immediately, just to make clear the football community sticks together. We had our problems in the past and other clubs will - hopefully not, that would be the best case.
We have to make sure these people are punished, that we say “We can’t solve everything, but we can at least make sure these people don’t watch football in our stadiums.
A read, for you: the tale of the Swedish fourth-tier cub that’s stuffed with English youngsters, by Gavin Willacy. That’s the piece written by Gavin, not that he’s stuffed the team himself.
Inspired by Son’s unique interpretation of The Twist there, a riff to run alongside Michael’s niche football kit modifications: your favourite TV advert featuring a footballer, please. My nominations:
Eric Cantona’s bravura performance selling French lager.
And Jordan Henderson’s look to camera as he shills for anti-perspirant.
Korea’s answer to the Cornetto looks pretty good.
슈퍼콘 광고 본편ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 손흥민 춤 귀여워서 어쩔거얔ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/E6dV9heqXV
— ʏᴀɴ (@YANHTR) April 12, 2019
Good afternoon. The excellent Nick Miller here for a bit. Send your emails to Nick.Miller.casual@theGuardian.com or tweet @NickMiller79.
I’m off for a break, Nick Miller is an excellent replacement. In a bit.
Pochettino due shortly for his press conference - Spurs have what should be an straightforward game at home to Huddersfield tomorrow, without Harry Kane of course. There’s going to be a lot of pressure on Son Heung-min, who does seem to thrive when Kane is sidelined: during Kane’s more recent layoff in January and February, Spurs won all four of their league fixtures plus the Champions League last-16 first leg against Borussia Dortmund. Son scored four goals during that period. The club’s record in all competitions during Kane’s various layoffs reads: W13 D4 L4. Son has contributed a total of nine goals.
On that note, Eni Aluko has written this fine piece, for your consideration.
Updated
Never forget.
#OnThisDay in 1992 Swansea striker John Williams (aka “The Flying Postman) won the prestigious Rumbelows Sprint Challenge at Wembley.
— Proper Football (@sid_lambert) April 12, 2019
Players running 100m, in full kit, with Steve Cram co-commentating.
This is @90sfootball at its most glorious...pic.twitter.com/Ok65mLoRmC
For a bit more background info on the Sprint Challenge, read this from a recent Classic YouTube:
In 1992 professional footballers would race 100m down the side of the Wembley pitch in their respective club’s full kit and boots before the League Cup final, for the not-inconsiderable prize of £10,000. Back then the final was known as the Rumbelows Cup, and so the Rumbelows Sprint Challenge was the perfect warm-up to the main event, hosted by John McCririck and with cameos from Steve Cram and a dodgy-looking bookie. After six regional heats only eight sprinters remained, the fastest players from Hull, Notts County, Reading, Swansea, Sheffield United, QPR, Bournemouth and Mansfield taking their marks on the start line. Swansea’s John Williams – aka the Flying Postman, having recently given up the day job – prevailed, and afterwards revealed he had bet hundreds of pounds on himself.
If you read anything today, let it be this.
Jacob Steinberg has a special investigation into the racism crisis, from grassroots level to the top flight.
Barney Ronay has also written on how we must support any player that decides to walk off the pitch in protest of racism.
“Hey Michael, I always loved Gabor Kiraly´s sweat pants (he was a legend for it in the Bundesliga),” emails Kristof.
Funnily enough, Crystal Palace published an extended interview with the great man only last month. Interestingly, he says he tried to wear shorts when he first arrived at Palace from Hertha Berlin, but made an awful mistake at Chelsea in which the ball rolled through his legs, and decided that he would go back to the grey trackies. Well worth a watch.
Eeeeesh. Reading face Brentford at home tomorrow, and judging by their 2-2 draw at Norwich in mid-week, that seems very winnable. Could be curtains for the Tractor Boys.
Updated
You’ve already had a Rumour Mill on Ander Herrera, and now you get a news story, you lucky things.
Re kit modifications, my colleague Nick Miller has nominated “that strap thing Juan Sebastián Verón used to have just below his right knee.” Niche from Nick, and I’m almost certain it serves a practical purpose to support his knee, but certainly adds a bit more flair to that right leg, not that it needs it.
Sort of like how this headband added a bit more flair to Rooney’s head, not that it needed it.
Brighton’s Brazilian full-back, Bernardo, is quoted this morning on PA with some interesting thoughts on racism.
“I don’t know how it works in England, but in Brazil racism is a crime and you go to jail if something like this happens. I think it should be the same over here - maybe things would start to change.
“When one incident happens, then a second and third one, and people notice that nothing is happening, they will carry on doing it. Unfortunately you can’t change people’s minds - if someone is racist, you can’t change that, and I actually feel pity for that person. But what will stop people (being racist) is being punished. It’s been too soft, it shouldn’t be accepted and things should be more strict.”
Full-back Bernardo, who was born in Sao Paulo, recalled an incident during a match in South America which resulted in direct action against racist abuse.
“If you (racially) offend me on the street in Brazil and I go to the police office, nothing happens, but if it happens on a football pitch with cameras and the whole media covering it, it’s jail.
“I was at the stadium for a Copa Libertadores game between Sao Paulo and an Argentinian team - the camera saw the Argentinian player offending the Brazilian player and at half-time they had the images. The second half didn’t start, they went and arrested him on the pitch and took him to jail.
“The guy spent one day in jail and then flew back to Argentina, but the image of a football player being arrested on the pitch for being racist is so powerful and impactful. I see it as a crime and something that should face a punishment - maybe not years and years in jail, but you should be punished and embarrassed.”
Here’s Jacob Steinberg’s interview with Bernardo from the start of this season. He seems like an intelligent, self-aware and humble bloke.
Updated
This is a special kind of shithousery.
Twitter remains undefeated I am creasing pic.twitter.com/sXeuZXZA5A
— Will Lenney (@Will__NE) April 11, 2019
Warnock has been charged with three offences by the FA, following the comments he made after Cardiff’s controversial defeat to Chelsea.
Here’s the FA statement:
Neil Warnock has been charged with three breaches of FA Rule E3. It is alleged that comments he made in a post-match interview with the BBC, and a post-match interview with Sky Sports, following the Premier League game against Chelsea on 31 March 2019, were improper in that they questioned the integrity of the Match Official and/or implied bias. It is further alleged that comments he made in a TalkSport Radio interview on 01 April 2019 constitute improper conduct and/or bring the game into disrepute. The Cardiff City manager has until 18:00 on 16 April 2019 to provide a response.
Neil Warnock at the referees 😂pic.twitter.com/we2s5zdlhx
— footballnews (@footynews34) March 31, 2019
Updated
“I think your cousin Ben is forgetting the Terry corollary, which is that, as cool as over-long above-the-knee socks might have been when Thierry Henry did it, once it was copied by John Terry, it immediately became naff and terrible,” emails Dara O’Reilly.
This is a valid point. As somebody that continues to play football regularly to a very low standard, I can confirm that there are still plenty of players still rocking the look. Almost exclusively ‘tricky’ wingers.
Updated
Just in case you don’t know, Arsenal beat Napoli 2-0, with goalscorer Aaron Ramsey one of the stand-out performers.
... which has caused Leibowitz to ask:
Can’t comment on the Ramsay article, so will say it here:
Was Arsenal’s decision to keep Ozil and let Ramsay go for nothing the worst footballing decision of 2018/19?
Here’s some more breaking news. You can maybe forget that thing I said at the top of the show about football softening the blow of whatever else is going on in the world.
Updated
It’s a big weekend for Cardiff, who face fellow strugglers Burnley away on Saturday. Neil Warnock been talking into a microphone this morning, mercifully not about Brexit or referees. He think they need 10 points from their final six games to stay up.
We are running out of time and points. We need 10 points, really, to have any chance whatsoever.
Cardiff’s fixtures are as follows:
Burnley (a)
Brighton (a)
Liverpool (h)
Fulham (a)
Crystal Palace (h)
Manchester United (a)
It’s do-able, although their away form has been atrocious (two wins, two draws, 11 losses). If they realistically want 10 points, you’d think they would have to take at least four from the next two games.
“Ruggedly stylish”
@michaelbutler18 Kyle Walker's modification to his kit by cutting holes in his socks is both ruggedly stylish and helpful in the prevention of injury to his calf muscles due to the tight nature of new socks. Maybe Robben can make this trend if he plays for Bayern again? pic.twitter.com/pimCacKweL
— Abhijato Sensarma (@ob_jato) April 12, 2019
Updated
Re kit, an email from somebody who may or may not be my cousin, Ben Butler.
“Hi Michael, It’s got to be Thierry Henry’s knee high socks. People have tried to emulate it, but no one looked as cool running with the ball at 90mph with yellow socks up to his shorts.”
Saints fans, what do you make of that? Under his stewardship, Southampton finished 8th, 7th, 6th, 8th, and 17th, made it to the League Cup final and the group stages of the Europa League, had (by my estimation) a £32m net transfer surplus, and also lost excellent managers Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman in the process.
That’s some very strong work. Southampton might be struggling this season, but they are much improved under Ralph Hasenhüttl, are five points clear of the drop zone and have a very winnable game tomorrow at home to Wolves, who may well be deflated after their FA Cup semi-final disappointment last weekend. Danny Ings is also ready to return to the starting XI, after his missed Southampton’s last game against his parent club, Liverpool.
Breaking news: Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger to leave the club
Southampton have released the following statement:
Following recent talks with shareholders Mr Gao and Katharina Liebherr, it was agreed by all parties that Ralph’s contract would not be extended beyond its end date of June 30th.
The shareholders and everyone involved with the club would like to put on record their thanks for Ralph’s leadership, dedication and hard work over his six years with Southampton.
At the end of the season the club will release more information about the future leadership structure. However, for now, all our efforts and focus are on a strong finish to the season and remaining within the Premier League.
Mr Gao said: “Ralph represented our club with honour and integrity, and followed The Southampton Way with great passion. We thank him for the foundations he has helped to build and wish him well for the future.”
Katharina Liebherr added: “Ralph laid the foundations for the Saints to be a sustainable team that put pressure on the top sides in the Premier League. He was a true leader who fully embodied The Southampton Way, a culture which will live on strongly beyond his time as Chairman. I, along with my family, will always be grateful for all that Ralph has done for the club.”
Ralph Krueger said: “Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. It is the journey in-between that I will treasure. Thank you Southampton Football Club for the journey.”
Krueger has been at the club since 2014, here’s an interview we did with him shortly after his appointment.
Rumours are in!
Talking of kit, if anybody wants to be Newport County’s new kitman, here’s the job description. The role requires somebody that “displays a high level of discretion and maintains strict confidentiality” so I’m afraid I’m out.
The Argentinian George Boyd.
Best thing about this is the goalscorer's sock game pic.twitter.com/2iK7ZfEQrV
— James Dart (@James_Dart) April 12, 2019
As James suggests, excellent socks there.
What is your favourite footballer that modified his/her kit? I’ll start with Joe Cole’s untucked shirt, Tim Flowers’ upturned collar and Rui Costa’s tiny shin pads. Do email or tweet me, if you fancy: michael.butler@theguardian.com or @michaelbutler18.
Staying with the Europa League, young João Félix of Benfica had quite the night, three goals and an assist against Eintracht Frankfurt, who are no mugs. They knocked out Inter in the last round. Felix was already being tracked by Europe’s biggest clubs before last night, so I imagine his agent’s phone is blowing up right now.
• Real Madrid
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 12, 2019
• Man United
• Bayern Munich
• Liverpool
• Barcelona
All are reported to have an interest in Benfica's rising star Joao Felix...
The 19-year-old bagged a hat-trick and an assist against Frankfurt 👀
What a talent! pic.twitter.com/C1NH9VYzKO
The Premier League’s game of the weekend is unmistakably Liverpool v Chelsea, a Sunday afternoon kick off. Chelsea were in action last night in the Europa League, and eked out a 1-0 win at Slavia Prague, that away goal should be enough to see them through to the Europa League semi finals. There was also this story, disheartening that we are still having to report on this, but encouraging that something is at least being done.
Hello everyone! It is quietly reassuring that you can always rely on the prospect of another weekend of football to soften the blow of whatever else is going on in the world: today, for example: Judy Murray buying £4.50 donuts and botched penis enlargements. Rest assured, we’ll be staying firmly on the footy side of things. This is a safe space, so feel free to email me michael.butler@theguardian.com or tweet me @michaelbutler18. You can also head below the line and I’ll do my best to include some of your comments.
For starters, get your teeth into 10 things, and I’ll see you in a couple of minutes.
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I know anything outside a very gilded cage is a bit verboten, but it's worth mentioning that, unless Ipswich beat Blues tomorrow, they are down.
And even that might not be enough if the three teams on 41 points all win (albeit Wigan and Millwall are against top three teams).
The Tractor Boys have been in the top half of the League since 1957. They're also £95m in debt, having been losing £6-7m p/a for most of the last decade. This is on a wage bill of just over £18m, so it's not as if they're big spenders, but income for Championship clubs is, in comparison to losing every PL game, appalling.
To give an idea, 2% of Ipswich's income last season was from FIFA for having two players at the World Cup.