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https://gianlucadimarzio.com/inter-mlacic-16-gennaio-2026/ If we did somehow pull this off and he chose us over Inter, an 18 year CB is hardly what we need right now. But theres a few million for SR to make when we sell him on in 2/3 years

It seems like his “friends” in the Middle East outside of Israel have persuaded him to put his TACO cap on.

This should be mailed to everyone who votes for Reform, including people who think it would be funny to vote for Reform just to wind up people on a football forum.

What a prize prick, said that at a meeting about rural healthcare with his administration having removed cover for so many of his own citizens who he couldn’t give a toss about. Russian and Chinese activity is a problem there but fucking the Danish and other NATO members over isn’t the way to do business. He’s really tanking domestically and the vast majority of the US public polled about Greenland of all perspectives are very opposed to it.

Going off the latest presser (10:30 embargo section) it sounds like Bree is going to be back at Saints for the rest of the season, might that help us play a back 4? Also sounds like we will do some more business but not lots. Surely a striker at a minimum.

Our thoughts are with Gaëtan Courtet and his family at such a difficult time. As expected, he did well coming on tonight. He's the one player you know will raise the standard when he's on the pitch. Really pleased he got the goal as a tribute.

National: "She was with me tonight," says Gaëtan Courtet after a deeply emotional goal Gaëtan Courtet, who scored Valenciennes' second goal immediately after coming on as a substitute, dedicated it to his mother, who passed away during the winter break. Like his teammates, Gaëtan Courtet didn't get carried away after the deserved victory against Bourg-en-Bresse. "We have to savor this and build on what we've achieved, but six months have passed, and they've been very difficult. We have to stay humble. I don't see why we should get carried away," he said after the match. The Valenciennes striker, who started on the bench while Charles Abi made his debut leading the Valenciennes attack, initially watched his new teammate make a successful start in Valenciennes by scoring in his very first match. Then, around the 65th minute, Courtet came on as a substitute, ten minutes after Valenciennes had conceded an equalizer. He partnered Charles Abi in a 4-4-2 formation, a system Stéphane Moulin had mentioned as a real option before the match. Less than a minute later, with his first touch after an Alain Ipiele cross was cleared straight down the middle by the opposing defense, the 36-year-old striker put his team back on track. Quick and efficient. "I'm going to try not to get teary-eyed..." "Scoring with my first touch has maybe happened once or twice in my career, but like that, after just one minute..." he breathed, his voice trailing off. It was he again, at the very end of the match, who pressed forward to set up Alain Ipiele for the third goal. Gaëtan Courtet symbolizes those substitutes who made a real difference for Valenciennes in a match that was particularly poignant for him. The northern striker, who took over the captain's armband upon entering the game, lost his mother during the international break. His celebration was understated yet deeply emotional, a true tribute. "I'll try not to get teary-eyed," he confided when recounting his performance. "But that goal and that victory are for her. She was with me tonight."

My recap of tonight's match: In a somewhat subdued atmosphere, due to the absence of supporters' groups, the fans present at the Stade du Hainaut hoped to see a better performance from their team after a difficult first half of the season. With the team's "revenge" mentality announced the day before the match, there was definitely anticipation on the pitch. Among the 11 players who started the match, the three winter signings were in the starting lineup. The first 35 minutes were evenly matched between the two teams, although Valenciennes had a slight edge. Valenciennes opened the scoring through Charles Abi, who had to make a second save after his initial shot hit the right post of the opposing goal. At halftime, Valenciennes held a one-goal lead, but they should be wary of Bourg-en-Bresse! Returning from the locker room in the 52nd minute, Bryan Passi lost possession dangerously in the center of the defense, and on one of the few shots from the opposition, he equalized 1-1... The match became more balanced, and both teams made substitutions around the 65th minute. For Valenciennes, Courtet and Ipiele entered the pitch. A minute later, Ipiele broke down the wing, and Courtet pounced on a loose ball in front of goal and fired it into the back of the net (66th minute), giving VA a 2-1 lead. The end of the match was tense, with a hint of an equalizer in the air. VA held firm defensively, and in the final minute, Ipiele scored to make it 3-1 on a counter-attack (the opposing goalkeeper made a slight handling error, in my opinion). The match ended, and I saw smiles all around me. We were going to have a good weekend; that doesn't happen often, and it was a real morale booster. But this needs to continue, the club needs to keep working, not rest on its laurels, and build real momentum that will last... Let's hope so! Go VA!

Oppressed

Quite fitting that his shirt is emblazoned with the words, 'University of Portsmouth'

National: "Everyone was waiting for this," three goals, one victory, the simple pleasures of victory in Valenciennes. By scoring three times for the first time this season, Valenciennes dominated Bourg-en-Bresse (3-1) and rediscovered the simple joy of winning. Not without a few scares, but the year begins with a smile. This obviously needs to be sustained over time, and no one in Valenciennes intended to get carried away after the deserved victory against Bourg-en-Bresse. There was no question of getting ahead of themselves after only their fifth win of the season, but since victory had been a rare commodity until then, the Valenciennes players savored it for what it was. There was also the relief of securing three points for the first time since the end of October and after a December that was complicated in many respects. “Everyone was waiting for this, we needed it because we’ve had some tough matches and it frustrated everyone,” confirmed a beaming Samir Belloumou, who finally got to play a full match in a Valenciennes shirt. Abi, Courtet, Ipiele scorers The other good news of the evening was the three attacking players who scored: Charles Abi in his first match, Gaetan Courtet with his first touch, and Alain Ipiele for the first time this season. Three goals for VAFC is unprecedented this season and certainly helps in winning a match. The equalizer from Bourg-en-Bresse’s first shot on target (52nd minute) and Jean Louchet’s goal-line clearance immediately afterward (55th minute) served as a reminder that all is not yet settled at VA. “We’re going to stay calm.” “At that moment, you feel like things could change, but we didn’t give up,” said Stéphane Moulin. “I’m also very happy to see what the substitutes brought; I saw a united and tenacious group. We’re going to savor this because it hasn’t happened to us very often. But I’m not fooling myself, we’re going to stay calm.” Because it will take more than that to win back a supporters’ section that had deserted its stand and created a very subdued atmosphere at the Hainaut stadium. The atmosphere certainly warmed up when Valenciennes secured the victory in stoppage time thanks to Alain Ipiele. Goals and a victory that bring relief: sometimes, football can also be a simple pleasure in Valenciennes. Valenciennes – Bourg-en-Bresse: 3-1 (1-0) 4,745 spectators Goals: Abi (35'), Courtet (66'), Ipiele (90+6') for Valenciennes, Cissé (52') for Bourg-en-Bresse Yellow card: Cissé (90+2') for Bourg-en-Bresse Valenciennes: Louchet; Airhivabere (Coeff 64'), Landre, Passi (Wahib 77'), Koum; Belloumou (captain), Marechal (Ipiele 64'); Rouai; K. Diomande (Courtet 64'), Abi, El Hadary (Takaoka 88'). Foreign coach: Stéphane Moulin Bourg-en-Bresse: Boulhendi; Do Marcolino, Lacour, Vitre; Laspalles, Bodmer, Slimani (Touray 53rd), Meyer, Pembele (Guel 70th); Cissé, Boumaaoui (Logbo 82nd). Coach: David Le Frapper

Watched WBA vs Middlesbrough, a good game with a 90 th minute winner. But the first goal for Middlesbrough was a Charlie Taylor own goal, and it was a classic, rebound off the post that he cleared into his own net.

Some of my football tickets. Daily express tournament Saints got to final once. Went with school, also Wembley 78. Some match tickets £2.80. Luton Town away first bar code which dint work, typical IT. Some Fratton tickets, in Pompey end for cup Moran goal game there were a few Saints in home end. Cup tickets with round and the two teams in replay printed. london Saints away party after Dellhurst player there too. Saints v Hamburg hone and away, Bucharest away. England away v France, Germany. Cup vouchers needed stamps to get later rounds. ZDS final v Forest lost 2-3 but massive Saints following and red flares set off each time we scored. Should have 15 tickets for each best bands seen since 77, Sabbath, Hawkwind, Motorhead, Rush. Plus Let Zep, Clash, GBH, Dammed, UK Subs, Reading 80, 83, Glastonbury 84, Knebworth 79 but lost them. Been to few Saints games then gigs after . Much better than e tickets !!

Ok "Sir Ralph", which player are you, really.

That's big worry how can skates find a better player than us.

Starting to think Edozie could make a difference. Someone to run at the opposition and create openings. Anyone who can run and take on players should be given a chance. But thars been decided to be not part of ouf great promotion plan.

There is no one at all capable of making a tackles through out 35 mins or even run enough so its looked a real wild card, but turned out joker.

West Brom turning it around v Boro. 0-2 down, now 2-2. Great game to watch..... Finally.

What a difference having a target man makes. I felt for Courtet not starting, as Moulin went with 1 up front again. However, there was more shape to the formation. Abi worked a central area, ahead of the rest supported in numbers from midfield. VA had a decent tempo too for a while. On 20 they headed onto the post. On 27 the visiting keeper saved off the line with his feet. The breakthrough was on 35. A poor defensive pass was intercepted by Abi. He spotted a gap between the defender in front and the keeper. The ball hit the post, but Abi was first to a kind ricochet back in his direction. Diomande tried hard to also provide an outlet. He'll be disappointed with a couple of tame efforts. Bourg-en-Bresse had offered little more than a scuffed effort from range. But VA didn't push on, and the visitors came back into it. While Abi had a memorable debut, Passi did not, losing his man on 52 mins, and allowing a crisp shot for the equaliser. He was at fault a few minutes later as Louchet had to save as Passi allowed an effort to go across goal, for what was nearly a second. Moulin made changes on 65, going two up front. Only a minute later, having attacking options paid off. An excellent run on the wing from Koum resulted in the ball going in towards Abi in the box. The opposition defence were drawn to stop the target man, allowing the deflected ball to be rattled in by Courtet. A good goal involving good play from 3 VA players, finally having decent outlets in the side. Although Abi was the target Courtet, bright for not having had to run himself into the ground for a change, took down a lovely throw from Louchet. He was also instrumental in the third, doing enough to get between the defenders and get the ball to Ipiele, who also looked lively from the bench, to slot home a third. The visitors had tried to push late on, with Louchet making sure of one, without being too troubled. There was always a little tension of losing a very late equaliser, but the third finished it. Our Rento came on with a few minutes left. He got involved in some attacks, intercepted to concede a throw in, and couldn't stop his man going past him to create a late attack. Mixed, but we'll see where, and if, he's going to fit with Abi's arrival. A solid win, in a quiet stadium. A fair amount still to work on, but a start and some hope of more attacking, dominant football.

I apologise. I thought he’d do well. After watching Barry Bannan dominate our midfield, I figured that the championship level was really low and so Romeu would be fine. Turns out it’s actually our midfield that was a really low level and made Bannan look like Rodri

Still better than Damion Downs

Desperately trying not to sign for them isn’t he ?

He obviously learnt more here than I thought he did.

It’s a cry for help.

No chnace they want that idiot