#european squad rising up

[wileys-russo]

stanway x reader where r is basically the back up cdm for england, only really plays that last few minutes of games if any so when keira gets injured at the wc, r freaks out because they have to go on and then play after until keira is back. maybe have georgia trying to comfort and hype up r before and then in one of the games where r plays the full 90, r makes like a big game saving tackle and georgia is super proud and happy for r after (you’re like carrying the woso fics on this app rn so thank you!)

crucial touch II g.stanway

"babe i'll be lucky to even see the pitch this tournament, i'm the back ups backup and i know that. i knew it when i accepted the call up!" you smiled at your girlfriend who frowned back at you from where she stood at the end of your bed.

"but i'm just sayin maybe if ya just talk to sarina and make your case you could get a start!" georgia pushed, knocking your legs apart and crawling up the bed to sit herself between them looking down at you.

"are you telling me to go behind your best mates back to try and get a start over her? harsh." you whistled teasingly, panic flashing across your girlfriends face as she stammered out that wasn't what she meant.

"gee! baby relax, i'm only teasing." you laughed, sitting up and grabbing her hands to still her.

"i love you and i appreciate you going to bat for me but i promise i am just happy to be here. would minutes under the belt be amazing? of course. but is being in australia, training with the squad and being with some of my best friends and girlfriend every day also amazing? yes!" you squeezed her hands with a smile of assurance, frown still dented into her features.

"but you've had such a great season and moved to the european league baby and-" "no more buts, i'm not going out of my way to plead for minutes with sarina. i trust that she always knows whats best for the team, that was well proven in the euros and i felt so much pride even just watching from the stands." you'd torn your hamstring mid last season which had unfortunately meant you weren't fit for squad selection, but despite how hard it was at times to watch your friends and wish you were in their position you learnt a whole new set of valuable lessons.

"babe i promise i am okay." you continued when once again your girlfriend opened her mouth to argue, finally giving in with a sigh and a nod.

"georgia!" you laughed as she pushed you back down onto the bed and flopped her body on top of you. "m'tired baby, lets cuddle and have a nap." the girl patted your head as her own settled on your stomach and your hands threaded her hair tugging it out of the bun it once was.

"what happened to going to watch the sunset before dinner?" "well, it rises and sets every day doesn't it? i'll take ya tomorrow."

~

"did she just say its her knee?" you whispered to lotte who was sat beside you, eyes flashing with the same fear you knew was conveyed in your own as she nodded. "shit." you mumbled, biting your lip nervously as the medics rushed on toward keira.

your leg bounced anxiously as they called for a stretcher, your stomach falling as sarina gestured for laura to start warming up as one of the coaching staff hurried over to run her through the plays.

all of you on the bench sent smiles to keira as she was stretchered off and disappeared down the tunnel, the sub made official as laura ran on and everyone tried to shake off what happened.

"they could have given us a small break of time to reset, they're clearly shook up." you mumbled to lotte who hummed in agreement, both of you watching on with limbs locked tight in stress.

thankfully the girls scraped by taking the 1-0 win against denmark and you didn't think you'd ever held your breath as long as until that final whistle blew ending injury time and the game.

you walked in between ella and georgia as you did your lap, thanking the fans, but you could tell that despite the smiles on everyones faces nobody was thinking about the win and rather worrying for how keira was.

and in particular if the team would see yet another victim to that dreaded three letter curse.

~

despite keira thankfully not having done her acl, she was under forced rest and a careful rehab program, and wouldn't be playing in the next game against china.

knowing that your teammate was okay had eased the mounting tension within the team and after a bonding day at the local zoo everyone was in high spirits.

which was likely what lead to the following 6-1 domination over china a few days later, everyone in even better spirits that night which was filled with karaoke, dancing and cheese boards much to lottes delight.

things took a more serious turn two days later at training when laura took a rather abrupt tackle from millie and headbutted the goal post, winding up with a concussion and with keira still not cleared to play that was how you found yourself sat across from sarina in one of the hotel meeting rooms.

she informed you'd not only be getting your first minutes of the tournament but would be in the starting eleven in tomorrow nights game. you had to ask her how to repeat herself making the dutch woman laugh and congratulate you, making a point to say she'd noticed that despite not playing you had still played a very crucial role within the team lifting morale.

still slightly in disbelief and pinching yourself with a sharp hiss you exited the room, making a beeline right towards your girlfriend who was mid darts game with niamh, ella and lucy.

with a wordless shake of your head you grabbed her hand, ignoring all of her questions and your friends teasing remarks behind you as you dragged her away from the game, staying silent right until the two of you were back in your room.

"baby whats goin on? you're bein very weird has somethin happened?" georgia asked for the tenth time, taking a seat on the edge of your bed as you shook your head and paced back and forth.

"oi, sit down and speak to me love ya gonna wear a hole in the carpet." georgia grabbed your hoodie and pulled you to stand between her legs, hands on the small of your back holding you there.

"i'm starting tomorrow." you blurted out with wide eyes, georgias own bugging nearly out of her head as her grip on you tightened. "you what!" she gasped out as you nodded firmly. "yeah, coombsy's still not cleared and neither is kei." you shook your head in disbelief.

"baby! you're starting in the fuckin world cup!" the breath was stolen from you as your girlfriend lovingly slammed you down onto the bed and jumped on top of you, kissing all over your face and mumbling how proud she was as you couldn't help but grin.

"wait!" you pushed her off and sat bolt upright. "what if i get injured? or i let in a goal? or i cause a penalty? or-" all of the worse case scenarios flew through your head, slamming around and around like a pinball machine.

"hey hey, stop that." georgia frowned, grabbing your face in her hands and forcing you to look at her. "you won't. you are so so brilliant, and hardworking, and passionate. it doesn't matter if this is your first start in a world cup or another match for bayern love, you tackle it the exact same way you enter any game. with your whole heart and ya head screwed on right!" georgia gently squeezed your cheeks and placed a tender kiss against your lips as you exhaled and collapsed into her.

"i'm starting tomorrow." "you're starting tomorrow, and you are gonna smash it baby."

~

the day of the match itself you were still a nervous wreck. word had spread of your start and in small groups all of the girls came over to congratulate and hype you up.

and as much as you appreciated each and every single one of them all of their hope and praise was just adding onto your existing nerves, which your girlfriend seemed to pick up on as she gently shooed everyone away, tucking you into her side at breakfast and changing the subject.

she made sure to sit beside you on the bus and walked you around the stadium for the pitch check with your fingers interlocked tightly with hers, swinging your hands together and distracting you with kisses when she noticed your mind start to wander.

right before warm ups your phone rang and you lit up seeing it was leah, you'd played with her for years at arsenal before taking the plunge to germany when both frankfurt and bayern came knocking.

so stepping out of the room the blonde gave you a stern talking to about believing in yourself and making the most of the opportunity the situation had presented you no matter how it came about.

and with that in mind you reset your headspace and tuned in, georgia sending leah a quick text thanking her as whatever was said worked as you now seemed your confident self when walking out for the line up.

unlike last match against china the game against nigeria was anything but easy. they were a fast and agile side and came out aggressive, so you did your best as a team to meet them like that but after a brutal 90 minutes it was still deadlocked at 0-0.

mary had been putting in a shift, everyone had, and with lj earning a red card you were down to 10 when they announced there would be extra time as a break was called and everyone huddled together on the sidelines.

sarinas words ringing in your ears you sucked up how much your body ached and readied yourself to go again, vowing to leave absolutely everything on the pitch as if it was the last game you ever played.

your chance came in the 118th minute as you missed a crucial tackle and one of the strikers snuck past you. you knew from watching her throughout the game where she'd likely shoot from so you diverted tactics.

you knew it was a risk but you had to trust your gut like always and sprinting down the length of the field on the opposite side your legs burned and ached but you just used that to spur yourself on.

sure enough it was a risk that paid off as the striker slotted the ball past mary who watched in horror as it slipped beneath her thigh and she crashed to the ground.

but you were there without even a millisecond to spare, the ball clipping the edge of your studs as you slid your body across goal and tapped it out earning them a corner but preventing the winning goal.

you only breathed once the referee signaled for nigeria to take their corner, your head slumping against the ground as you took a moment to reset and marys gloved hands hauled you up off the ground.

"you are a fucking superstar for that one mate." she grabbed your face and kissed your forehead with a loud mwah, brushing the grass off of you as you grinned and everyone set in for the corner which would be the last play of extra time.

your hands falling to lucy's waist you felt millies grab yours from behind, a defensive tactic which was yet to fail you as once again a goal was prevented with mary jumping to tap it over the top of the goal as the whistle blew yet again signalling the game would go to penalties.

you watched with baited breath, squished in between beth and millie as each kick was taken. you winced as your girlfriend missed, watching her face fall but sending her a reassuring nod and mouthing that you loved her.

beth, rach and chloe were next all sinking their kicks as chloes hit the back of the net with record speed and the stadium erupted into cheers, you'd done it and you lived to see another day, you'd won.

you raced right over to your girlfriend amid the celebrations who had the same idea, jumping onto her and wrapping your legs round her waist, both of you forgetting you'd just played over 120 minutes as her legs buckled and the two of you crashed to the ground.

"i am so so so fucking proud of ya!" georgia beamed, pressing her forehead against yours as you lay on the grass tangled up with one another. you were well aware of your surroundings but in her arms and by her side everything else slipped away, the two of you lost in one anothers eyes which shone with pride.

"can i kiss you?"

your girlfriend seemed taken aback by the question and your eyes widening you went to stand but your body locked up in surprise as her hand balled your jersey and tugged your lips to meet hers, neither one of you caring for a single moment what anyone thought.

in that triumphant moment all you had eyes for was each another.

[sefaradweb]

Amsterdam bans protests after 'antisemitic squads' attack Israeli soccer fans

🇪🇸 El 8 de noviembre de 2024, tras una serie de ataques antisemitas en Ámsterdam, la alcaldesa Femke Halsema impuso una prohibición de protestas durante tres días y otorgó poderes de registro preventivo a la policía. Estos ataques, llevados a cabo por escuadrones antisemitas, se desataron tras un partido de fútbol entre el Ajax y el Maccabi Tel Aviv, cuando seguidores israelíes fueron atacados y agredidos por protestantes pro-palestinos. El presidente de Israel, Isaac Herzog, y el primer ministro Benjamín Netanyahu condenaron los incidentes, calificándolos de una reproducción de los pogromos europeos, especialmente en el contexto del 86º aniversario de la Kristallnacht. En respuesta, Netanyahu envió aviones para traer de vuelta a los aficionados israelíes a casa y el gobierno neerlandés aumentó la seguridad. La violencia refleja una creciente tensión en Europa debido al conflicto Gaza-Israel, con más de 62 personas detenidas, mientras que las autoridades investigan los hechos. Biden, presidente de EE.UU., también condenó los ataques como "despreciables" y ONU expresó su horror por los incidentes.

Amsterdam bans protests after 'antisemitic squads' attack Israeli soccer fans | Reuters

🇺🇸 On November 8, 2024, after a series of antisemitic attacks in Amsterdam, Mayor Femke Halsema imposed a three-day ban on protests and granted preventive search powers to the police. These attacks, carried out by antisemitic hit-and-run squads, occurred after a football match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, when Israeli supporters were attacked and assaulted by pro-Palestinian protesters. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the incidents, calling them a reproduction of European pogroms, especially in the context of the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht. In response, Netanyahu sent planes to bring Israeli fans home, and the Dutch government ramped up security. The violence reflects rising tensions in Europe due to the Gaza-Israel conflict, with over 62 people arrested, while authorities investigate the events. Biden, U.S. President, also condemned the attacks as "despicable," and the UN expressed its shock over the incidents.

[calacuspr]

Calacus Monthly Hit & Miss – Gareth Southgate

Every month we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the last few weeks.

GARETH SOUTHGATE

It has often been said that being the England men’s football manager is ‘the impossible job’ given the levels of expectation that come with the role.

The England men’s team have only won a solitary international tournament – the 1966 FIFA World Cup staged on home soil, with that legendary 4-2 win in the final at Wembley against arch rivals West Germany a rare triumph.

Since then, ‘It’s coming home!’ is a regular theme for England teams who reach the latter stages of tournaments, the groundswell of expectation giving way to despair and heartache when defeat ultimately occurs.

While the influence of the mainstream media may have waned in recent years from the lamentable era when managers such as Graham Taylor had his head super-imposed on a turnip, the pressure still weighs heavy on whoever takes the job.

Big name coaches such as Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello came and went without lifting trophies, the success of the Premier League adding undue hope that this time, things will be different.

After England’s disappointing exit at the hands of Iceland at EURO 2016 and the short-lived tenure of Sam Allardyce after a scandal, what England needed was a safe pair of hands, someone to give the pride back to the Three Lions.

Former international Gareth Southgate, a quiet and under-stated former international defender, was promoted to coach the senior men’s team after a spell in charge of the England under-21 team.

Seen at the time as an underwhelming appointment, especially after his young charges finished bottom of their group in the 2015 European Championship, Southgate inherited a national team who appeared to need dynamic re-invention.

Perhaps his greatest achievement has been to make the team a success without the swashbuckling pizazz that many demanded.

Seen as a light touch, particularly given some of his reactions in-game, Southgate did far more to reinvigorate the men’s team than he is often given credit for.

Football management is a results game, and Southgate took England to the FIFA World Cup semi-final, which they lost against Croatia; before two Euro finals, losing first to Italy on penalties and then to Spain earlier this summer.

It’s important to note that Southgate won nine tournament knockout games during his tenure, as many as England had ever won in major men’s tournaments before his reign.

Some might argue that having worked with one of the more talented of England squads, he should have won a major trophy, but there was far more to his success than just winning games.

Southgate oversaw the England job during a turbulent period in England’s history, with the nation having to endure the drama of Brexit, five Prime Ministers, rising living costs and culture wars which stoked division among society.

That’s where Southgate’s strength lay, acting as a calming influence but also one who was not afraid to take a stand and do what he considered to be the right thing.

During his tenure, there was little to no scandal, such were the standards Southgate expected and secured from his charges.

But he was also brave enough to face down criticisms for the sake of social causes, encouraging his players to take the knee before games as a protest against racism, despite criticism from some of the fanbase, who had found themselves stoked up by populism.

It was fitting that the first game where this took place was an England match in Middlesbrough, where Southgate had played for many years, steadfast despite the mixed reaction from fans before the game.

He was not afraid, either, to address issues such as the rainbow captain’s armband when the decision was made not to wear it under threat of sanctions in Qatar, a conservative state where the FIFA 2022 World Cup took place.

Southgate explained: “I think we are supportive of the LGBT+ community. A large number of the team on the staff have either relatives or friends from that community, so it’s a relationship and a situation that we’re very conscious of.

“We have tried to be supportive, but I also accept that members of that community felt let down by the World Cup, but I think you have to live your life as you see it.

“I do know that we’re in a position where there might be a feeling we haven’t done enough in certain situations and if that’s the case we have to accept that criticism, but it’s not intentional that we would let down any of our fans, but these are all very complex situations that we’re trying to do our best at navigate.”

Qatar was a rare case of Southgate being caught in external political crossfire, but within the camp, he was a master of creating harmony.

Mindful of the factions that had hampered England before, during and after his player career, Southgate had also set about creating unity where there had previously been division, removing ego and selfishness for the selflessness which came naturally to him.

Players reported a good atmosphere during training camps and call-ups, the pressure of representing England being replaced by a calm environment in Southgate’s image, which allowed players to thrive.

That ability to manage egos, to meld players who spent the majority of their lives competing against each other, is one of his greatest legacies. It helped that he brought through players from different clubs who had played together at youth level for England, the bonds of camaraderie already established.

For example, Phil Foden, Marc Guéhi, Conor Gallagher and Jadon Sancho were all part of the England side that lifted the under-17 World Cup in 2017, while Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer played in the winning England under-21 Euros team in 2023. Having come up through the England ranks together, these footballers had an existing relationship that made them likely to form better bonds in the senior team, despite spending most of the year with their different clubs.

When three black England players, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bakayo Saka, received racist abuse online after missing penalties which contributed to England’s defeat in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, something Southgate experienced himself in 1996, the coach was a reassuring figure looking to protect the youngsters from the bellowing external criticism.

He said: "For some of them to be abused is unforgivable really. It's just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.

"We have shown the power our country has when it does come together and has that energy and positivity together.”

The decency and kindness which Southgate exhibited so often has been such an contrast to the aggression and petulance many other coaches show on the sidelines.

It felt like a bond had been built between England players and fans that hadn’t existed for a generation.

Even when ‘fans’ were throwing plastic beer glasses onto the field after a dour 1-1 draw against Denmark, Southgate retained his dignity and humility and faced down his critics, proving that decency is something to invoke inspiration; a strength, not a weakness.

There were criticisms, based around his tactical approach, that he was often too cautious and lacked a clear style of play.

But instead of being seen as the kiss of death, England became adept at winning penalty shootouts, not to mention the progress he made at the business end of tournaments.

Regardless of his failure to lift that elusive trophy, Southgate made the England men’s team contenders again. Where fans often crowed with misplaced pride, he gave them something to be proud of – not only becoming a football force again, but as ambassadors for the English game.

Perhaps it’s fitting that Southgate’s last act as England manager was to publish a letter on the Football Association website confirming that the defeat in Berlin was his last in the role.

“As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.

“We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be.

“I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can.

“Thank you, England – for everything.”

As Rory Smith says in the New York Times: “No other England manager has spoken as much or as convincingly as Southgate. No other England manager has so successfully articulated a sense of what the England team is meant to be about, what it stands for and why it matters.”

[elmaestrostan]

@protect-daniel-james ahh, just remembered I meant to try and do this the other day. If you haven’t jumped the paywall already here’s that adorable Andoni interview from The Times:

Andoni Iraola: Noir novels, beach football and life in top flight

An hour into our conversation, in his open manner, with his easy smile, Andoni Iraola says something I’ve never heard before. “I suffered more as a player than as a manager,” he admits. It’s startling. In my 28 years of interviewing football people, managers have only said the very opposite.

But Iraola is differently wired; a relaxed and road-less-travelled guy. He was the boy raised in a Basque hotbed of the game, whose family actually weren’t that into football; the young man who embarked on a law degree because he didn’t envisage a sporting career.

If he wasn’t a manager he reckons he would be running a bookshop. “I have read all of Murakami,” he tells me. Mike Bassett, he is not.

His wife and children aren’t football fans either; they don’t come to the stadium, watch games or talk football at home. “I open the door and sometimes they don’t even know who I’ve been playing against,” he grins. “For me, that is very valuable.”

His alternative ways are powering a revolution at Bournemouth, where he has instilled belief that a small team can play as high and intensely and boldly as any big one. Those qualities had Rayo Vallecano and Mirandés, the underdog Spanish sides he coached, reaching beyond their expected limits. His Rayo beat Barcelona and Real Madrid, his Mirandés reached the Spanish Cup semi-finals for only the second time in their near 100-year history.

Lack of fear is key to his rise. Iraola, 41, had it from his first (and successful) management posting, in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca. “You can only learn by making mistakes and I wasn’t afraid of them because I wasn’t clear coaching was my future,” he says. “My attitude was, ‘Let’s try — if it works, it works’. Things went from one adventure to another adventure, and here we are.”

His parents still work where they’ve always worked and where they met: in the offices of a company which sells marble in Usurbil, a town of 5,000 near San Sebastián. An only child who excelled at school, they encouraged his studies and he was three years into a law degree at university before giving up because he was starting every week for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga and his football schedule made it difficult enough to get to classes, let alone undertake the work placement in a legal practice his degree required.

It hadn’t dawned that he might be good enough for a playing career until he was 16 or 17. As a boy, he played on San Sebastián’s famous La Concha beach with Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso and then for the same youth club, Antiguoko. From kicking a ball on the sands as children, the three have grown up to be among the best young coaches in the world. How? Iraola shrugs. “I always say football-wise, when we were young, Mikel was the best, but overall none of us were great athletes and all of us had to use our understanding of the game to be successful, even as players,” he says.

We talk about what he learned from a playing career that encompassed more than 500 games for Athletic Bilbao, where he was their right back and captain, a year in midfield for New York City FC, and seven caps for Spain — hard won, in a period (2008-11) his country were world and European champions.

Even training with that squad (“nobody ever lost the ball!”) was an education in what the highest football standards look like. In New York, where the manager was Patrick Vieira, fresh from five years playing and coaching with Manchester City, he learned the concepts of positional play.

At Athletic he was exposed to some significant managers, including Marcelo Bielsa and Javier Clemente, but the biggest influence was Ernesto Valverde. “I had him at all the levels,” Iraola says. “When I went to Athletic Club at 16, he was my first coach. He was my coach in the second team and the guy who put me in the first team. Then at the end of my career, my coach when he came back from Barcelona.

“His style is the club’s style. Athletic Club is the most English team in La Liga. We like to attack fast, use the width of the pitch, overlaps, a lot of crosses, high press. And that is how I have learned to play.”

From long ago, he was drawn to England. He loved visiting for mini-breaks — London, Manchester or wherever there were good flights from Bilbao. He knew plenty about Bournemouth. “Eddie Howe visited when I was at Rayo and it was a club I had already studied for set pieces — they were pretty famous for those [under Howe], for their offensive routines,” he says. “But only after I arrived [in June] did I analyse the players, the area.”

Bournemouth made a bold decision to replace Gary O’Neil, a clearly talented upcoming manager, who performed wonders in salvaging their 2022-23 season and was popular with media and fans. The owner Bill Foley, chief executive Neill Blake and technical director Richard Hughes just believed the opportunity to hire Iraola — further along in his upward trajectory than O’Neil — was too big to pass up.

His brief? “The club was coming from a very successful two seasons,” he says. “First season, promoted. Second season, you keep your spot in the Premier League. Changing coaches wasn’t an easy decision to make. They were talking to me because of how we played in Rayo and wanted to implement the things we were doing in Bournemouth.

“I think those things are pretty clear. We like to play in a high rhythm, to be as vertical as we can whenever we recover the ball and try to play in the opposition half.

“The players, now with all the information [out there], already before I arrived knew my ideas. The culture is different [in England] and sometimes we’ve had to adapt to each other and it’s been a process. Training sessions, I take them myself. I always say I am more of a coach than a manager.”

After nine games, Bournemouth were second bottom and yet to win. With difficult opening fixtures he and the club expected a tricky start, but scrutiny was mounting. Iraola found himself topping that pernicious betting market — “next manager to be sacked”.

Did he have doubts? “A lot of times,” he says. “I always say intelligent people have doubts. Otherwise, you don’t make questions to yourself. There were moments I was watching the players and they were trying, they were doing all the things we were telling them [and still losing].

“I remember the game against Spurs [a 2-0 home defeat in August]. For me, we played really well and got them in difficult situations, but they had [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, [Destiny] Udogie, making amazing plays from very disadvantaged positions. And you say, ‘Woah, we’re doing what we want to do, we’re getting them into the places we want, and even then they’re finding ways to get out and counter’.

“It was the moment I said, ‘Oof, we have to be really clinical if we want to compete in this league’. But also, ‘This is why I am here’. Because you want to face the best coaches in the world, the best players in the world.”

Perhaps the lowest point was game 11: a 6-1 defeat away to Manchester City. Iraola changed from his standard 4-2-3-1 to 5-4-1 and learned a valuable lesson. “I didn’t like that game. Even in the first 30 minutes when we didn’t concede, we were very passive. Very low. It’s not the way we want to play.

“I talked to Pep [Guardiola] after the game and I should have played one midfielder doing the role of a defender. Because the message for the team was maybe not the correct thing. I thought we needed five in the last line to match the [attacking formation] City use, but I should have used a midfielder getting lower rather than a defender — the message would have seemed more positive to the players, even if we took the same positions.”

Bournemouth won the next match, against Howe’s Newcastle United, sparking a run that found them top of the Premier League form table, with 19 points from seven games, going into the new year. “I was lucky because the players kept pushing and believing and you could see that when it wasn’t working, it wasn’t because they weren’t giving their part,” he says. “That meant I had to improve on the tactical side. I’m thankful for the players.”

What did he do? “Fixed small details . . . sometimes at this level it’s just a question of changing a position two or three metres and things start to click.”

And the biggest difference? “I think we’ve changed not so much our style or our offensive volume, we’ve improved defensively. Especially when defending lower and defending crosses and set pieces. We’ve improved how we defend in our box, we’re better at defending one-on-one situations, at forcing the opposition onto their weaker side, blocking crosses, blocking shots, going to the second balls. It is work on the training ground on small basics that were costing us a lot.”

Two players have been crucial. Dominic Solanke and Ryan Christie — whose move from No 10 to a deeper position suddenly balanced the team. “I’m sure every coach who has had him loved Ryan because he understands not only his position, but what the team needs to do and, playing lower, he’s able to organise,” Iraola says. “He doesn’t look very strong, but wins the ball because he’s very good at reading situations.

“Dominic? He has all the qualities. He is unique as a No 9. He can play in a low block because he is fast enough for all the counters, and he can play in a very offensive team because he’s good enough in the box. And out of possession he’s the first one that gives the intensity to the press.”

Both fit Iraola’s philosophy that modern footballers have to be “complete”. “I think we demand nowadays everything from the players,” he says. “You can’t have a No 9, any more, who scores but doesn’t press, and even the keeper has to be complete.

“I have always loved gegenpressing [counterpressing] and the German coaches. The Bundesliga is where the idea players have to be complete started, because coaches were very demanding out of possession.”

Some of his principles are, indeed, very like Jürgen Klopp’s. Like an avowed preference for “chaos over organisation” and love of lightning attacking. “It’s a matter of how much do you want to risk the ball. I tell players whenever you recover it, your first look has to be not even to the No 9, but the ’keeper. Can you score?”

He seems to share Klopp’s worldview that football is the “most important of the least important things” and his ability to switch off from it belies the ferocious intellect and seriousness he brings when at work. A chat about statistics, for instance, shows how deeply and originally he thinks about things. “I like a lot of stats, but don’t show the players too much,” he says. “You should choose the three or four things that are most important to the game and remember sometimes they mislead you and that, always, every stat has a story behind it.

“xG [expected goals]? I use it but think it has to improve. Because it only takes into account the shots. Sometimes there is a big, massive chance, where you go against the ’keeper one-against-one, the ’keeper takes the ball from you and this is ‘xG zero’. So, for one game, it can be misleading. After 38 games, yes, normally it is a reflection, but you have to read more than the xG.”

In their 3-0 away defeat of Manchester United, Bournemouth covered more than 115km as a team. That’s quite a lot, I say. “Maybe too much! More important than the total distance are the expensive metres, the high-speed running,” Iraola says.

“They are expensive because not everybody is able to give you a lot and those metres are what make the difference. Sometimes you run a lot because you’re not seeing the ball and your total distance is high because you’re not playing well. Whereas normally, when you’re playing well, you’re having more high-speed metres than the opposition.”

When he came home from Old Trafford his wife, son (who is three) and daughter (who is eight) did expect a good mood. They know enough about football to know hammering United, as manager of Bournemouth, is a decent result.

“A few weeks before, we played in Manchester and lost 6-1 and the kids were thinking, ‘No, not another 6-1!’ so they were pleased,” he says. “Usually, they know our result, but not how it has gone and the question is, ‘You played well?’ and what they are really asking is, ‘Are you happy or not happy?’ ”

Their real interests are school, toys, games, Disney stuff. They’re normal kids. On days off, he likes nothing better than family trips exploring outdoor corners of Dorset. Like any Basque, he loves scenery and the sea.

Books? “I always liked to read. When you’re a player you have a lot of time travelling, and reading is good relaxation. Now I’m a manager, I’m reading less than ever. It’s impossible. I don’t have time.

“Normally, I read novels, noir novels. Detectives. I loved The Alienist by Caleb Carr when I was younger and the Kurt Wallander books are among my favourites. Many I read are Spanish, but the American writer, Don Winslow, is very good. Also, James Ellroy and Jo Nesbo.

“Noir novels are easy to read. They’re fast and you finish them quickly. I try to mix them with something more difficult. [Haruki] Murakami is not easy, but I love him — 700 pages and he’s talking about dreams . . . but I’ve been to Japan on holiday and I could understand him better.”

The return match with Spurs on Sunday is a good opportunity to gauge how far Bournemouth have come. Perhaps Ange Postecoglou is another of Iraola’s kinsmen. Like the Australian, he takes jobs without bringing assistants with him (they can’t protect you; you live and die by results anyway, is his take) and “as a football fan I love Tottenham’s style”.

Like Postecoglou he leads without ego and without that sense, which many managers project, of the job being burdensome. I ask about career plans and Iraola just smiles. “I don’t really know. I don’t like to do plans because it doesn’t make sense as a coach. You have a bad run, your situation changes so quickly.

“I think . . . I want to prove myself. ‘Let’s see if I’m able to do this’. But it’s more about challenging yourself than anything else. There might be a moment when I find I’m not good enough for this level. It can happen. And for sure it will happen one day. But until then, I want to see how far I can arrive.”

[lone-sk]

Hey, so! I thought it would be fun to do a tier list of all the games I played for the first time this year, and discuss my thoughts on them. Tiers are unordered, thoughts below the cut.

Super Meat Boy -

Just a fun ass time. Excellent platforming, a great difficultly curve, fun level gimmicks, and a solid amount of content. Basically as flawless as a video game can get.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth -

I've never played a roguelike where each run felt so unique. All the different shit you can do with ability synergies and items is insane, the skill ceiling for this game is practically infinite. This is what the roguelike genre has the potential to be, and every other roguelike is now worse because they aren't this good.

Dark Souls Remastered -

Yeah, the combat is improved in later entries, but the level and world design here is unmatched. Each segment flows together so seamlessly, combined with the top notch atmosphere and aesthetic for an unforgettable experience.

Psycholonials -

A really exceptional visual novel that talks about the pandemic, the internet, and just kinda what its like being a young adult nowadays. Captures a lot of weird and intense feelings. It makes you feel so emotionally drained after every chapter, and I mean that as a compliment.

Persona 5 Royal -

There are so many interconnected systems in this game, but they're all so balanced and intuitive. The developers thought of everything, and every time you get complacent, they pull another trick out of their sleeves to keep you on edge. Masterclass of pacing. Plus, the visual style is leagues above anything else out right now. The RPG mechanics are even somewhat manageable as well. It just feels good to play, and never really fumbles.

Class of 09 -

A visual novel that is both really funny, and really profound. Kinda similar to MTV's Daria, with a lot more edge. I do appreciate that there is a message - several really - at the core of it's various endings, and it's not just being edgy for the sake of it. The voicework really caries the experience, especially in contrast to the inconsistent artstyle. I get that they want to go for the shitty deviantart anime style, but some of the endcards just look bad.

Class of 09: The Re-Up -

Pretty much a direct improvement in every way. More scenes are hand illustrated now, and the artstyle looks a lot more palatable now. The voice actors are given more challenging scenes, and they absolutely rise to the occasion. There are less endings, and less content overall, but it's higher quality.

Cruelty Squad -

Everyone seems to talk about this games art style, but honestly, I just really liked the gameplay. Lots of high skill movement mechanics, paired with challenging level design, and a dash of immersive sim mechanics make for an engaging experience.

Melty Blood: Type Lumina -

A fighting game that combines the mobility of a platform fighter, with the combos and depth of a traditional fighter. Takes the best of both genres with none of the cons. I only wish the netplay was better.

Shenzhen I/O -

A puzzle game that involves programing and arranging circuits. Fun, but very challenging. Or maybe I'm just dumb.

Pentiment -

Disco Elysium but set in a 15th century European monastery. It's well written, and has cool art, but doesn't really have the memorable, interesting characters of Disco. Plus, it asks the player to learn a lot about medieval history. Like a lot.

Dead Cells -

A fun enough roguelike, but it runs out of steam pretty quickly, faster than you'd expect for this genre. After a while, you run out of good long term progression unlocks, and the difficultly curve really spikes. I got stuck at a point where I could beat through all of the stages easily, but then the end boss would wipe me out really quickly.

Hotline Miami -

Lots of visceral, gory gameplay. The aesthetics and art direction are on point as well, more so than normal for one of these games that was clearly made for a gamejam. The controls do kinda suck though, the lock on mechanic is especially unintuitive. It's almost impossible to play on controller.

Exa Punks -

Another fun programming puzzle game. The gimmick of having little robots you give commands to is fun, and kinda reminds me of those websites that teach coding in similar ways. The only problem is that the objective of levels can be unclear.

Watch Dogs 2 -

I'm surprised a Ubisoft sandbox is this high, but this game really grew on me. The gameplay is mostly similar to the stuff you can do on the hacking skill tree in Cyberpunk 2077, but more fleshed out and intuitive, really fun stuff. The story, too, is surprisingly pretty good. They also push the messaging pretty far, nothing that's proper like, anti-corporation or anything, but it's pretty anti-silicon valley, anti-walled garden tech, stuff like that. Shattered my incredibly low expectations, good job guys.

The Coffin of Andy and Leyley -

Overrated as fuck in my opinion. It starts out strong, but the pacing gets flattened by the end of chapter 2, and it feels like the developers don't know where to go from here. There are so many little bits and pieces of the story, with the cult, the demons, the weird shit to do with blood types - and I don't think there's any way to take these ideas, build on top of the story so far, and have something cohesive, or satisfying. And if you're just here for the incest, it's only in one scene at the end of one of the possible endings, so what the hell was even the point.

Shadows of Doubt -

A procedurally generated detective game, which gets points for letting you do pretty much everything. Like it's an admirable level of detail, you can do shit like break into the phone lines in order to trace someone's call. It just doesn't really click with my brain, I guess. Like it could be tutorialized a bit more, so the player has a better idea of what they can do. Plus after a while, you exhaust all the different cases there can be, and they all get predictable and formulaic. I do hope there are more content updates in the future, this is a great base to build off.

Psychonaughts 2 -

The world and characters in this game are all really good, but the story is really a drag for me. The first game had this goofy, silly vibe to it, but the story here is so overly focused on like, acknowledging how fucked up it is that you can go into people's minds and change their personality like that, which I always thought was kinda the joke of the original. Plus the gameplay is like, just okay, although a lot of the levels are too long, which feels like a weird complaint, but I ended up getting bored a lot.

Pseudoregalia -

Excellent platforming with dogshit level design. Once I left the tutorial stage, I was constantly confused about where I needed to go, and what I needed to do, and even where I was. Just some of the worst game design I've ever fucking seen. Abysmal shit. But, the movement is pretty spectacular, so I did end up finishing it. I hope people find out how to mod level packs in, that would be hype.

Pizza Tower -

I had the same issue with this game that I did with Mario Odyssey. The main character has such a distinct and refined moveset, so why am I spending half of most levels as someone who is not the main character? I don't understand this focus on captures. I still had a lot of fun, but it's frustrating as fuck, when you want to play as the fun character with the deep, high skill ceiling moveset, and the game does not want you to do that for some reason.

TIS-100 -

Another puzzle game for smart people, which is brought down a bit from not really having an art style. I dunno, I get wanting to be minimal and cool, but at least give me background music, come on guys.

FAITH: THE UNHOLY TRINITY -

I do respect the commitment to the Atari 2600 art style, but if anything this just proved why most "retro"style games went for the style of later console games. The gameplay is literally almost nothing, and I have a hard time getting into any story that's told in 90% text logs. The style makes for some effective horror, outside of that I had a hard time getting anything out of this.

ALAN WAKE II -

I feel like the devs did not consider the combat system here. Like the entire point of making combat clunky and resource - dependent is to force the player to pick and choose their battles. It falls apart when you're constantly forcing them to kill enemies. That, and the corkboard puzzle sections don't really require any thinking to solve, you can just brute force them. They aren't very intuitive either, it's such a transparent way to just, progress the plot instantly. I did like the story though, for the most part, and the visual style is pretty fantastic. Lots of eerie, abandoned scenes, I love it.

Hotline Miami 2 -

Whatever improvements to the art style and gameplay are negated by the terrible level design. Lots of wide open spaces, where an enemy off screen will shoot you, and you have to duck out of cover, spraying at them with an SMG that has random spread. Lots of glass, lots of levels that only really have one route, lots of getting killed by random enemies you didn't even notice. Just really frustrating stuff.

Teardown -

The tech used here is really cool, I just wish they used it in a better way. The levels are barely passable, there's no real difficulty curve, or ideas that get expanded upon. It still feels like a tech demo.

Hiveswap Act 1 -

It's a perfectly inoffensive point and click adventure game. The art is well made, I like the story, and I thought Joey and Xefros were cute together. It's just missing something to really bump it any higher. It's short, and the puzzles are all either obtuse as fuck or super easy to solve. I also have a hard time figuring out who this is for. I don't know if Homestuck fans or point-and-click adventure fans would get a lot out of this.

Yakuza 0 -

I had a hard time getting into this one. The main story is just too soap opera for me. So many characters with complicated relationships, so many dramatic declarations and cutscenes. The combat is also just okay. The side content is really great, but it's hard for that to carry the entire experience for me. What a weird game.

Critters for Sale -

It's difficult, because I think there's a lot of cool techniques here that would help push visual novels as a medium forward. Lots of cool visual effects and fun mini games. Being very clear and upfront about how many endings and routes there are. Good menu and UIs. But the stories are just, not very good? Like I can remember maybe one or two individual moments, but most of the game I've totally forgotten about. Except for the Death Grips storyline, what the fuck was that?

Far Cry 3 -

Everyone gasses up the main story on this one, but lets be honest, it kinda sucks. Vaas is great, but who gives a shit about any of Ethan's friends? Or Ethan himself? Plus, the gunplay and exploration were both so generic. They were probably impressive like a decade ago, but now? I can get this same experience in 20 other games, do something interesting with it, or get out.

Not for Broadcast -

A game that really had me, and then really lost me. At first, the gameplay is mostly basic video editing stuff - keeping the camera on the person talking, censoring curse words, stuff like that. Ok, makes sense, it's fun. But they slowly add more gameplay that's just busy work, and the story really goes off the rails, and I couldn't take it seriously anymore. It basically turns into watching Monty Python skits while solving a Rubik's cube.

Gunfire Reborn -

A roguelike fps that just kinda sucks. The "roguelike" elements don't change anything massive about your run, just enemy placement and weapon pick ups. And it runs on like, Borderlands progression, where you're just looking for stuff with the bigger number. The combat feels shitty too. Shitty movement, abilities and guns that don't feel satisfying to use, what a terrible experience. I hate how every FPS makes "difficult" enemies by just adding more HP.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch -

Boring as fuck. The story was boring, the combat was boring, the world was generic, I feel like I've played this game twenty fucking times already.

Jedi Fallen Order -

Dark Souls if it sucked. You can always tell if a game was made in Unreal Engine if it has shitty, floaty movement, and for a soulslike, not having precise movement really fucks with the entire experience. There are also too many ranged enemies, which is a problem when your character is melee focused. The levels suck, and the story is shit. Fucking Star Wars fans will buy anything.

Bastion -

It's Hades, but everything is 1% as good. I guess it was interesting to see the roots of certain ideas, but everything is just slower and not fun. Literally no reason to play it now outside of some historical curiosity.

City of Gangsters -

There are so many interesting systems here. You can set up specific routes for your crew to perform at specific times, down to the location, and action, but honestly, it just doesn't scale well. In video games that revolve around storing shit, the complexity ramps up much faster than it does in most games, and if you don't provide the player the tools for handling it, it's just overwhelming. I appreciate the ambition, but this needed like, another half year of dev time, minimum.

Outcore -

I've never played a game that was this self conscious. You can skip pretty much all of the gameplay, although it's not like it offers a lot outside of rip offs of better games. So much could have been done with this concept of a desktop buddy coming to life, but instead, I am presented with a rip off of the Flowey fight from Undertale. Guess it's not plagarism if you frame it as an homage. Get the fuck out of here.

Clone Drone in the Danger Zone -

It needs more. More upgrades, more enemies, more weapons, more arena designs. As it is, it feels like a gamejam game.

Hiveswap Act 2 -

Oh my god the story is so terrible. Imagine thinking that it's a good idea to introduce 30 characters in a 4 hour game. Barely any of them are interesting, either, and even if you do end up liking one, it's not like they can be a significant part of the story, because we've got 29 more of the fuckers to introduce. Plus there's an Ace Attorney segment like halfway through which is really hard to get through if you've never played one of those games. I don't see anyone enjoying this, outside of the really hardcore Homestuck/troll fans, and even then, do you know how much fan fiction for this series exists? And how much of it is really good?

[eriksvn]

nikolai eriksen >> hitman >> joel kinnaman

tw: death mention, abuse mention, military

— BASICS.

Name: Nikolai Ivar Eriksen

Nickname: Nik, Niko ( just dont ) , any bad adjective, Eriksen

Age / D.O.B.: 43 / December 20, 1980

Gender, Pronouns: Cisman. He/Him

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Ethnicity: White

Hair Color: Light Brown

Eye Color: Green

Height: 6 ft 2½

Hometown: Oslo, Norway

Residence: Downtown

Occupation: Hitman ( Firestorm squad member )

Affiliation: The Enterprise

Education: N/D

Languages: Norwegian, English, Russian, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Icelandic, Portuguese

Relationship Status: Single

Children: None

— STATS.

Personality Type: INTJ

Moral Alignment: Lawful Evil

Positive Traits: Dutiful, Strategist, Eloquent, Assertive, Cunning, Dominant, Bold, Resilient, Resourceful, Self Disciplined, Confident, Brave

Negative Traits:  Malicious, Manipulative, Cynical, Arrogant, Emotional Detached, Methodic, Volatile, Competitive, Vengeful

Mental Health: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Depression. Anxiety

Fears: Himself

— FAMILY .

Father: Vidar Eriksen ( mafia boss; deceased )

Mother: Synnøve Larsen ( deceased )

Siblings: Alina Eriksen

Uncle: Ulrik Eriksen ( mafia underboss; deceased )

Cousin: Mattias Eriksen ( hitman; deceased )

Notable Relatives: Lydja Volkova ( fiancé / russian assassin, former bolshoi ballerina; deceased )

— BIOGRAPHY .

Nikolai was born and raised in Oslo, being part of a powerful family in Norway that built their empire through illegal business, mostly weapons production. His father was the boss of the biggest local mob called “Fólcvíg". Extreme military training, emotional abuse and violence were the methods applied to turn him into a weapon. The perfect soldier.

Grew up according to plan, receiving his position in the organization when he was old enough, becoming a great ally of his father, who needed someone he could trust to watch all the business closely. Being a sharp shooter and having deep knowledge of weapons, Nik took his role as a caporegime, having the authority to manage the weapons production and trading process. The business grew and expanded well, mainly through European territory, giving rise to new alliances.

The Volkov family was a great support network for many years, making it opportune for both to officiate the alliance in a more solid way. That's how Nikolai met Lydja, who would become his fiancée in a not-too-distant future. The couple lived in Moscow during their quick engagement. Their relationship became genuine, and he found a companion in Lydja, the only moment when he found himself touched by the emotional side.

They returned to Oslo, where the wedding would take place, being greeted with high expectations of a successful union, but it was far from a happy ending.

The night before the wedding, the family was surprised, an ambush led by none other than their Russian allies, driven by the hunger for power. The bloodthirsty attack was successful, annihilating the mob and Eriksen family.

Due to Nikolai's skills, the then twenty-four year old man's life was spared, being sent to Russia, where he was kept on a tight leash under the vigilant eyes of his enemies.

He was the mind behind the army's weapons production, later becoming their main weapon as a hitman. Each perfectly completed task earned the man recognition and trust from his abductors. He obtained information of what had happened to his family, discovering that another member was also still alive; his younger sister. Driven by revenge, Nikolai killed the organization's leaders, leaving Russia.

— TIMELINE .

december 20, 1980 nikolai is born

october 23, 2011 nikolai and lydja’s wedding night, the ‘fólcvíg mafia’ massacre happened and nik is taken away to russia

november, 2011 he started producing weapons for the russian army

end of december, 2011  nikolai is sent to a russian assassin training facility

march, 2015 became a trainer at the Red Winter Ops program

february, 2017 he leaves the facility and starts working as a hitman

mid december, 2022 finds out the truth about his sister

end of december, 2022 completes his 530th hit by killing the mafia leaders. leaves russia

january, 2023 he met baris kaplan

may, 2023 nikolai moves to tonopah valley

july, 2023 reunites with his sister alina

— HEADCANONS .

Master of hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. Master skills in the use of military weapons.

He has become very close to Baris, and has a great sense of respect and loyalty to him and the Firestorm squad, often acting like a second-in-command.

He acted as a spy for Russia for a while, before breaking free from the mob.

His emotional side is nonexistent for him, which prevented him to create any romantic bond with anyone after the death of his fiancée.

His entire family is dead, with the exception of his younger sister.

Still keeps Lydja’s engagement ring.

Strong accent.

Has a Rottweiler named 'Fenrir'

Shooting range is his favorite place

Reunited with his sister

[andiessoccerblog]

Group F Breakdown

Expected to move on: France, Brazil

Expected to exit in group stage: Jamaica, Panama

France

FIFA Ranking: 5

Reputation:

France is one of the rising European powerhouses, but they’ve never fully...risen. They can hang with the best, but they’ve never finished better than 4th place in a World Cup and 5th in the Olympics. Their style of play is very European--smooth and skilled--but they are also known for their vengeful fouls, especially against rival teams Germany and USA. The players mostly play  together in the French league Division 1 Féminine, with about half the squad playing on the same team: Paris Saint-Germain, a total powerhouse in European and International Club football. 

Player Pool: 

Captain Wendie Renard is a 6’2” defender, who is known for headers at both ends of the pitch–she has 44 goals scored for France, despite her position at centerback. However, it was a question if she would even play in the World Cup, as she heavily protested the previous French coach Diacre. The only other player with more caps and goals than Renard is forward Eugenie Le Sommer, who will manage the offensive line, including Kadidiatou Diani, Viviane Asseyi, and Grace Geyoro.

2019 WWC performance: 

France dominated group play in an impressive fashion, and plowed through a not-so-easy  round of sixteen game against Brazil before being eliminated by the eventual champions, USA. They were unfortunate to come up against the USA as early in the knockout round as they did; many people believed it would come down to USA v FRA in the finals. As it was, the game against the USA was a very close match, and through the whole tournament, they showed they were one of the more dominant teams in the tournament.  Wendie Renard, a defender, led the French team in goals and led the defense, but also scored an own goal that almost sank the French team.

Brazil

FIFA Ranking: 9

Reputation: 

I will stand in front of the world and defend women's soccer as less theatrical than men's. However, Brazil makes that hard. They are dirty and aggressive players, but they go down like a toothpick at the gentlest touch.  That's not to say they are not supremely talented, as many of them are, and they are one of the few countries where their  women's team is as fearfully imposing as their men's. The ladies of Brazil can dance around their opponents, but also can shoot balls so hard they break wrists. They are known as a team that is consistently difficult to beat, and have successfully integrated talented young players with their more veteran standouts to maintain their high level of play.

Players:

 There is one player on Earth who has won the FIFA world player of the year five times, and it's not Lionel Messi. Keep an eye on Marta, a fantastic all around player in her fifth World Cup, who I would like more if she flopped less. If anyone can fill her shoes post-retirement, it is Debinha, a crafty midfielder with a killer shot. The aforementioned youngsters of the team, Bruninha (20), Geyse (24), and Kerolin (23), might start, but can also provide a spark off the bench after the veteran players have worn down opponents.

2019 WWC performance:

Not bad! They played strongly, and although there was a lot of individual brilliance and skill, they couldn't come together as a team in the most important moments. They made it through to the knockout round, but didn't progress past the first round, falling to host France.

Jamaica

FIFA Ranking: 43

Reputation:

After their first World Cup in 2019, Jamaica confidently qualified for their second by beating Haiti, Mexico, and Costa Rica to finish third behind the USA and Canada in the qualifying tournament. They have really been building on their 2019 experience, and have climbed ten points in the FIFA rankings since then. Many key players that were in college in the 2019 World Cup have graduated and joined professional teams in the USA, England, and France, gaining even more experience in top-level soccer. 

Player Pool:

This team is made up of super talented college students, with one or two 30 year olds thrown in for good measure. Their qualifying run was made possible by their goalie, 19 year old Sydney Schneider, and scoring machine Khadija (Bunny) Shaw. Joining the team for this World Cup is Drew Spence, a midfielder who had made senior appearances for England, then took a period of mandatory leave from the international game so she could join the Jamaican side. 

2019 WWC performance:

For their first World Cup, not a ton was expected of them. They gave it their all and got valuable experience to build on moving forward. They pretty much got run over in the group stage, ending with a three game goal differential of -11. Still, it gives the nation something to build on and be proud of.  

Panama

FIFA Ranking: 52

Reputation: 

This is the first World Cup for Las Canaleras (The Canal Girls), who finally qualified after narrowly losing a spot in the 2019 World Cup to Jamaica, their rival in this group. Panama hasn’t played many games against world-up level teams since the 2022 qualifications, but played Colombia in June just before the cup, earning one loss and one tie . With a very young team, it will be difficult for them to get out of the group stage. Teams like Panama are the exact reason why the World Cup expanded to 32 teams–so that more lower-ranked squads can get experience and make the game more competitive on the whole.

Player Pool:

Goalkeeper Yenith Bailey splashed onto the scene, winning Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the 2018 Concacaf tournament, only one year after she switched from a midfielder to goalkeeper. It has been six years since then, and other goalkeepers have joined the squad, but Bailey has the most experience. For goalscoring, Las Canaleras will look to midfielder Marta Cox, and Riley Tanner, a young offensive player that is the only woman playing professionally in the USA.

2019 WWC performance:

Did Not Qualify

[fixpacknl10]

Lazio, ora tocca resistere senza Ciro Immobile

Lazio faces a challenging period as they prepare to continue their season without their iconic striker, Ciro Immobile. The 33-year-old forward has been the backbone of Lazio’s attacking force for several years, consistently delivering goals and providing leadership on the pitch. His absence, due to injury, places the club in a delicate position as they try to maintain their form and competitiveness in Serie A and Europe.

Immobile’s role at Lazio cannot be overstated. As the club's all-time leading scorer, he has been pivotal in guiding Lazio to numerous successes, including their recent return to the Champions League. His experience and instinct in front of goal have made him one of Italy’s most reliable forwards, and his ability to lead the line has provided Lazio with a focal point in attack. Without him, the team faces not only a void in terms of goals but also leadership and inspiration. Lazio, ora tocca resistere senza Ciro Immobile

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri now faces the task of reshaping the team’s offensive approach. While Immobile’s natural goal-scoring ability is irreplaceable, Sarri has a range of attacking options to experiment with. Felipe Anderson, Mattia Zaccagni, and Pedro could take on more responsibility in the final third. Additionally, young talents like Taty Castellanos could step up and prove their worth in Immobile’s absence, offering fresh energy and dynamism.

Despite the attacking depth, Lazio's challenge will be to maintain consistency and effectiveness without Immobile’s relentless work rate and positioning. The team will need to adapt quickly, relying on Sarri's tactical nous and the collective efforts of the squad. This period will be a true test of Lazio’s resilience and ambition.

As Lazio navigates through a crucial part of the season, the focus will be on enduring this setback and continuing their push for top-four finishes in Serie A, while also remaining competitive in European competition. It is a time for others to rise to the occasion, ensuring that Lazio’s campaign does not lose momentum.

[trendingsports08]

Breaking News "Luis Diaz" Liverpool Colombian Soccer Player Parents Kidnapped

In a shocking and distressing flip of occasions, Liverpool's famous person winger, Luis Diaz, is grappling with a non-public disaster that transcends the realm of soccer. The 25-12 months-vintage Colombian soccer player has needed to face the nightmarish truth of his dad and mom being kidnapped, sending shockwaves through the footballing community and past. In this weblog put up, we no longer only provide you with the cutting-edge Latest Football News information however also delve into the heart-wrenching incident related to Luis Diaz's family.

Luis Diaz: A Rising Star in Liverpool

Before we delve into the troubling information surrounding Luis Diaz's own family, allows take a second to understand the footballing expertise that has taken Liverpool and the Premier League with the aid of storm.

Luis Diaz, a local of Barranquilla, Colombia, arrived at Liverpool FC in January 2022 from FC Porto. Known for his electrifying pace, dribbling competencies, and eye for goal, Diaz has fast turn out to be a fan favorite at Infield. His performances have been pivotal in Liverpool's pursuit of Premier League and Champions League glory. Diaz's adventure to the top of European football is one among determination, difficult paintings, and incessant ambition.

The Kidnapping Incident Luis Diaz Parents

On the night time of October 25, 2023, at the same time as Luis Diaz changed into away with the Liverpool squad preparing for an upcoming suit, his family in Barranquilla changed into faced with a scary ordeal. Armed men broke into the Diaz own family home and kidnapped his dad and mom. The purpose at the back of the abduction stays doubtful, and it has sent shockwaves during the footballing global and Colombia.

Liverpool FC and the global soccer community were rapid in presenting their aid to Luis Diaz at some point of this hard time. The club issued a statement expressing unity and presenting any important help to the player and his own family.

Luis Diaz's Response

In the face of this coronary heart-wrenching incident, Luis Diaz displayed first-rate strength and resilience. In a heartfelt social media publish, he thanked anyone for his or her support and expressed his unwavering dedication to peer his parents safely again. The footballing community rallied at the back of him, sending messages of encouragement and desire.

Latest Football News

While the kidnapping of Luis Diaz's mother and father has understandably ruled the headlines, we additionally want to offer you with the state-of-the-art Latest Football News and sports activities updates from round the sector.

Premier League Updates

The 2023-2024 Premier League season is in full swing, with interesting fits, lovely goals, and extreme rivalries. Keep updated with the brand new scores, transfers, and managerial modifications.

UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League is a pinnacle of European football. Stay tuned for fit previews, evaluations, and updates on your preferred groups' development on this prestigious competition.

International Football

International soccer offers a one-of-a-kind form of exhilaration, with important tournaments and qualifiers shaping the destiny of the game. Stay knowledgeable approximately upcoming furniture and countrywide group information.

Player Transfers

Transfers are a consistent source of intrigue within the football international. Find out which players are making actions to new clubs and the way these modifications might impact the sport.

Injury Updates

Injuries can considerably affect a team's overall performance. Get the cutting-edge information on participant injuries and their anticipated go back dates.

Managerial Changes

The managerial landscape in soccer is ever-converting. Stay updated on which golf equipment are making modifications at the helm and the capability impact on their strategies and performance.

Conclusion

The plight of Luis Diaz's parents serves as a stark reminder that even inside the world of sports activities, actual-lifestyles tragedies could have a profound effect on the lives of athletes. Our mind and prayers are with Luis Diaz and his family as they navigate this difficult time.

While football keeps to provide exhilaration, pleasure, and a sense of cohesion to enthusiasts round the arena, we must additionally keep in mind the human element at the back of the athletes we admire. Stay tuned to the modern football news and sports activities updates, and allows desire for a brighter destiny for Luis Diaz and his family.

[gamedaychronicle]

Josko Gvardiol's Summer Saga: The Pursuit of Manchester City

As the summer transfer window heats up, football clubs around the world are busy strengthening their squads. One name that has been making headlines is Josko Gvardiol, the talented Croatian defender. Among the interested clubs, Manchester City stands out as they pursue this rising star. In this blog, we will delve into the details surrounding Gvardiol's potential move to Manchester City and what it could mean for both the player and the club.

Manchester City's Defensive Reinforcements:

Manchester City's pursuit of Gvardiol comes as no surprise. After a stellar season, where they clinched the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final, Pep Guardiola is keen on bolstering his squad further. With Young world class center-backs on the rise like Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji who can hold down that defensive line when they come in to play but it would be even stronger, bringing in a more young talent is on the agenda.

Potential Impact on Manchester City's Defense:

Bringing in Gvardiol could be a significant move for Manchester City's defense. With his composure on the ball and ability to initiate attacks from the back, Gvardiol could be a perfect fit for Guardiola's tactical system. His presence alongside the likes of Ruben Dias and John Stones could create a formidable defensive unit for the club.

Gvardiol's Ambitions:

As the transfer rumors swirl, it is essential to consider Gvardiol's aspirations as a player. Moving to a top-tier club like Manchester City could offer him the chance to compete at the highest level of European football regularly. Additionally, playing under Guardiola's guidance could further enhance his footballing skills and development.

The Transfer Fee:

One crucial aspect of this potential transfer is the transfer fee involved. RB Leipzig values Gvardiol highly, and negotiations between the clubs may play a pivotal role in determining whether the move materializes. Given the current market conditions, the fee could be a crucial factor in sealing the deal. Manchester City is ready to present a €100m (£86m) bid for the RB Leipzig ace, Manchester City is poised to make Josko Gvardiol the world's most expensive defender.

"Josko Gvardiol: The Awaited Announcement"

As the summer transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on the developments surrounding Josko Gvardiol's potential move to Manchester City. The young Croatian defender's talent and the interest from top European clubs make this transfer saga an intriguing storyline to follow. For both Gvardiol and Manchester City, this move could shape the future and open new possibilities in the quest for footballing glory.

[livefootballscore]

Understanding the Growth and Success of Azerbaijan Football League: A Comprehensive Analysis

1. Overview of Azerbaijan Football Live Match League

The Azerbaijan Football League is the top professional football league in Azerbaijan. It is composed of ten clubs, each competing for the coveted title of league champion. The league has seen consistent growth in stature and popularity in recent years, with the quality of football on display steadily improving. In this article, we provide an overview of the Azerbaijan Football League, including its history, format, and top clubs. Whether you are a football fan looking to learn more about the league or a sports enthusiast wanting to discover more about Azerbaijani football, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the league.

2. History and evolution of the Azerbaijan Football League

The Azerbaijan Football League had its beginnings in 1992, in the aftermath of the Azerbaijan national football team gaining independence from the Soviet Union. The first season saw only six teams competing, with Dinamo Baku coming out as the inaugural champions.

Over the years, the league has seen its ups and downs, with political instability and financial difficulties sometimes causing problems. However, the quality of football on display has continued to improve, thanks to investment from both local clubs and foreign investors.

In recent years, the league has gone through a period of change, with the introduction of new rules and regulations aimed at improving the standard of football in the country. These changes include the introduction of a salary cap, as well as a requirement for clubs to have a certain number of homegrown players in their first team squad.

Despite these challenges, the Azerbaijan Football League has continued to attract quality players and rise in stature. The league has also seen its teams make an impact in European competitions, with Qarabag FK famously qualifying for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in 2017/18.

With the league continuing to evolve and improve, the future looks bright for Azerbaijani football, both domestically and on the international stage.

3. Teams in the Azerbaijan Football League

The Azerbaijan Football League currently consists of 8 teams, each vying for a chance to qualify for European competitions and ultimately, claim the league title. Here are three teams to watch out for in the Azerbaijan Football League:

1. Qarabag FK - Based in Agdam, Qarabag FK has been the most successful team in the Azerbaijan Football League, winning the league title a record-breaking 8 times. Qarabag FK is also the only Azerbaijani team to have qualified for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

2. Neftchi Baku - One of the oldest teams in Azerbaijan, Neftchi Baku has a long and storied history. The club has won the league title on 6 occasions and is known for its passionate fan base.

3. Gabala FK - Based in the city of Qabala, Gabala FK has become one of the top teams in the Azerbaijan Football League in recent years. The club has qualified for European competitions on multiple occasions and finished as runners-up in the league in 2014/15.

While these teams have had success in the past, each season brings new challenges and surprises. With the league continuing to evolve and attract quality players, it will be interesting to see which teams will come out on top in the future.

4. Top players and their impact on the league

The Azerbaijan Football League has seen some remarkable talent over the years, and it is no surprise that many players have made a significant impact on the league. Here are four top players and their impact on the Azerbaijan Football League:

1. Afran Ismayilov - A winger for Qarabag FK, Ismayilov has become one of the most important players in the league. With his pace and dribbling skills, he has been a constant threat to opposition defenses and has helped Qarabag FK to numerous titles.

2. Richard Almeida - A midfielder for Gabala FK, Almeida is widely regarded as one of the best foreign players in the Azerbaijan Football League. His technical ability and eye for a pass have made him a key player for Gabala FK.

3. Giorgi Loria - An experienced goalkeeper, Loria has been a crucial player for Neftchi Baku. His shot-stopping skills and commanding presence in the penalty area have helped Neftchi Baku to numerous victories.

4. Dino Ndlovu - A striker for Zira FK, Ndlovu has been one of the most prolific goalscorers in the Azerbaijan Football League. His physicality and finishing ability have made him a nightmare for opposition defenses, and he has helped Zira FK to climb up the league table.

These players and many others like them have helped to shape the Azerbaijan Football League and make it a competitive and exciting league to watch. As the league continues to grow, it will be interesting to see which new talents emerge and make a name for themselves.

5. Current season updates and standings

The current season of the Azerbaijan Football League is underway, and there have been some exciting developments and changes. Here are some updates and standings:

1. Qarabag FK is currently at the top of the table with 57 points. They have won 17 games, drawn 6, and lost only 2.

2. Gabala FK is in the second position with 49 points. They have won 14 games, drawn 7, and lost 4.

3. Neftchi Baku is in the third position with 44 points. They have won 12 games, drawn 8, and lost 5.

4. Zira FK is in the fourth position with 42 points. They have won 12 games, drawn 6, and lost 7.

5. Sumgayit FK is in the fifth position with 39 points. They have won 10 games, drawn 9, and lost 6.

6. Sabah FK is in the sixth position with 38 points. They have won 10 games, drawn 8, and lost 7.

7. Keshla FK is in the seventh position with 35 points. They have won 9 games, drawn 8, and lost 8.

8. Səbail FK is in the eighth position with 31 points. They have won 8 games, drawn 7, and lost 10.

9. Zirə II is in the ninth position with 15 points. They have won 4 games, drawn 3, and lost 16.

10. Keşla II is in the tenth position with 12 points. They have won 3 games, drawn 3, and lost 19.

It is clear that Qarabag FK is a strong contender for the title, but the competition is still open. The remaining games will determine the final outcome of the league. Fans can look forward to some exciting matches in the coming weeks.

6. Challenges faced by the league

Despite the current success of the Azerbaijan Football League, there are still several challenges that the league faces. Here are some of the major challenges:

1. Financial Constraints – The majority of the teams in the league struggle with financial constraints. This results in a lack of investment in the players, infrastructure, and facilities, limiting the potential for growth and competition.

2. Lack of Quality Players – To compete in international competitions and raise the standard of the league, the Azerbaijan Football League needs a regular supply of quality players. The lack of development programs and scouting facilities make it difficult for the league to attract and retain top talent.

3. Limited Fan Base and Marketing Opportunities – The limited interest and investment in the league results in a small fan base and limited marketing opportunities. This makes it difficult for teams to generate revenue and gain recognition on a global level.

4. Poor Refereeing Standards – Refereeing standards in the league are generally below par, leading to inconsistent decisions on the field. This creates a lack of transparency and fairness in the game, ultimately damaging the overall image of the league.

5. Infrastructure and Facilities – Most of the stadiums and training facilities in the Azerbaijani Football League are outdated and in need of renovation. This puts players at risk and hampers the development of young players.

6. Lack of International Recognition – Despite the league producing some talented players, the league remains largely unrecognized on an international level. This makes it difficult for players to secure contracts with international clubs, limiting the potential for growth and competition.

Despite these challenges, the Azerbaijan Football League is still making progress and has the potential to become a force to be reckoned with in the world of football.

7. Future prospects for the Azerbaijan Football League

The future of the Azerbaijan Football League looks promising, with several initiatives in place to address the challenges faced by the league. Here are some of the prospects for the league:

1. Investment in Infrastructure – The Azerbaijan Football Federation has plans to invest in infrastructure and facilities to provide optimal conditions for players. This will include the construction of new stadiums and upgrade of existing facilities. In addition, the federation is also investing in youth development programs to attract and retain young players.

2. Focus on Marketing and Branding – The league is working towards increasing its fan base and marketing opportunities. The focus is on creating a strong brand identity and promotion through social media and other digital platforms. This will help in generating revenue and increasing the overall recognition of the league.

3. Collaboration with International Clubs – The Azerbaijan Football League is exploring opportunities for collaborations with international clubs to provide players with exposure to global-level competition. This will help in attracting and retaining talent, as well as increasing the international recognition of the league.

4. Improvement in Refereeing Standards – Efforts are being made to improve the quality of refereeing in the league. This will lead to more consistent decisions and a fairer playing field, ultimately improving the overall image of the league.

5. Investment in Sports Science and Technology – The league is embracing technology and scientific advancements to improve the performance of players. This includes the use of data analytics and sports science to optimize training methods and enhance player performance.

These initiatives, along with the passion and dedication of the league stakeholders, provide a bright future for the Azerbaijan Football League. With consistent growth and development, the league has the potential to become a leading force in the international football arena.

8. Conclusion

In conclusion, the Azerbaijan Football Live League is on the cusp of a new era. The promising future prospects suggest that the league is heading in a positive direction. The initiatives to invest in infrastructure, marketing, collaborations, refereeing standards, and sports science and technology are instrumental in attracting and retaining talent, increasing revenue and recognition, and improving the overall image of the league. With passion and dedication, the Azerbaijan Football League can become a dominant force in the international football arena. As fans, stakeholders, and supporters, let us look forward to the bright future of the Azerbaijan Football League.

[papirouge]

Gamerbro will always be more accepting of Japanese characters because most of those games are japanese and also Japanese are honorary White people (see my previous post).

But even Japan has this habits of shoving japanese characters in non fantasy/realistic games/manga (supposed to be in a White setting)... because they can. For example Shadow of Hearts: Convenant is supposed to happen around World War II in France and yet, there's a Japan samurai in it 🥴 Same for Shingeki no Kyojin that's set in a very (titans apart) conventionally European/germanic medieval world, and yet, Mikasa, the last Japanese alive, is here lol

Gamerbro have no issue letting these overbearing stunt pass because they're 🌟japanese🌟 but they refuse to let that fly is Western (so multiracial) studio do the same¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

I think Final Fantasy main characters have always been dubbed by gamers (even for FFVII that's a fans' favorite, Sephiroth seems more popular (?)), and I think it got worse when Square Enix transformed the serie as a gigantic cash grab (bc of the Final Fantasy movie flop) with unecessary sequels (it started with FF X-2), several part games, FF VII desperate neverending milking (remake + movies), releasing an unfinished game that you had to PAY to get the actual ending/finished/fixed version...(hi FF XV). Wasn't FF XV unanimously clowned for its awful chara design (at least the main squad looking like an outdated camp vkei band)? The Final Fantasy serie lost its luster since a while already so I understand the gaming community clowning it... But yeah, men loooove complaining about how male mental health isn't taken seriously, and then call 'pussy' entertainment soft bois.

And yeah, manga/anime censorship isn't new and every scrote seething about PC culture has no idea of what they're talking about. I'm from France and my country was one of the earliest to import anime/manga. Dragon Ball came out on our screen in the early 90s. This anime a censored like crazy. Kame Sennin peeping (underage) Bulma butt, Goku touching Bulma genitals, extreme violence....all of this was edited out by the producers of the CHILD PROGRAM that was broadcasting it 🥴 THEY ALSO BROADCASTED HOKUTŌ NO KEN WHICH HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENR ANIME OF ITS GENERATION and they literally had to change dialogue and edit out like mad the 'worst' scenes (this shit was still violent nonetheless 🥴)

Same in Ranma 1/2 with Happōsai stealing girls panties and in the french dub they called them "tissues" 💀

And even for Dead or Alive 2 they censored Ayane and Kasumi age because they were canonically 16 years old but since they were highly sexualized in the game it didn't fly for the Western version so their age got switched to "Unknown" for those local version💀

Those scrote screeching about SJW culture have no idea how DEFENSIVE parents were against that anime trash when it first got imported her. If what we have today is SJW, I have no idea what they would have called what happened in the mid 90s .... If anything, society has become more lenient an open to the rEsPect cUltUrEs crap that's made us more enabling of straight up pedo bait bs. If anything we need more censorship. There's a literally rise of pedo sexual assault in Japan. Any person trying to say iT's fIcTiOnAl is either an idiot or a pedo. Pedophilia is going rampant on society and anime culture has totally a part in it.

you are right, "woke" has truly lost all meaning as a term... one of my new favorite games has a very basic and positive message to it but because the localization inserted some nonsense about a nonbinary character it got labeled as "woke SJW trash" even tho the rest of the script is pretty accurate to the original Japanese

I also saw comments about how just including a gay relationship in this game is "agenda-pushing" like I really don't get that tbqh. it just reminded me of people complaining that the new Zelda game is "woke" because it has a few characters who aren't lily white and Zelda has short hair lmao

LMAO Dying at the "woke" Zelda bc some characters are Black. Isn't that a fantasy game? like, with magic, talking trees, trolls and shit but Black people existing is a reach?? (they did the same for Lord of the Rings TV show)

I think the reluctance of these folks to see non White people in fantasy content is bc White people want to gatekeep fantasy as a 'White only' genre. Which is funny because White people have no problem reappropriating foreign genre for their own gain 🙃

Funny how these woke hunter always forget those Hollywood movies adaptation of foreign stories where the studio ALWAYS need to shove a WHITE hero for some reason or purposely use a story where a White character can outshine others?

Remember the samurai movie with Tom Cruise? 7 years in Tibet? Also Mulan love interest was supposed to be a White man initially, but people complained and it's been scrubbed off. There are whole think piece exposing how the Whites LOVE inserting themselves into POC stories to elevate themselves as heroes. Even woke storyline don't go that far with their non White characters ; they are always confined as side kick and minimum screetime (is it true that all the dark skin characters of the house of dragon ended up dying after the first season?? lmaoooo)

And I always said that the issue wasn't non White people being shoved in "White people story" because when Black Panther happened their were still mad and were seething about that movie catering to Blacks (but don't you dare saying movies featuring mostly White people are catering to White, it will make you an awful wokester lmao). Whites will always feel entitled for other races to relate to their stories, but never the other way around. There's a post floating around cathblr with Catholics raving about Arabs discovering the Lord of The Ring and enjoying it a lot. And I couldn't help but think: would those catholics turn the favor and rave about an Arab movie with islamist undertones...? 🙃 lmao.... Those people are soooooo transparent 💀

Everything is woke if you try hard enough, anyway. Scrotes are seething because they consider some video game female characters are purposely made ugly (like Aloy from Horizon Dawn. A scrote was coping bc the mocap actress was much more beautiful and he couldn't wrap his hand as of why they would change her face to make her look more 'rough' ...when he's just too stupid to grasp that this choice is actually pretty coherent with the storyline since homegirl is nomad WARRIOR.).

I also remember when they made a revamp of Mortal Kombat chara design and changed characters body proportion to become more realistic, scrotes got mad lmao It's hilarious how they think they're really doing something 'counter-culture' but they only show how porn fried they are. There's no way to think this

...is better than that

Btw, all those ANTI praising Japan for being anti woke are up to a very hard wake up call. Many japanese celebrities are vocal LGBT+ supporters, a significant amount of online stars are gay/queer (Ryuchell, Peey, Kemio...). Even recently a member of AAA (a famous pop band) came out as gay 😬 there's a huuuuge push for LGBT visibility into the Japan entertainment right now, so it's obvious they have no idea of what they're talking about... The other day on Twitter I've seen a post summing up why Western conservartard scrotes love Japan

This post was in a thread about nuclear bomb and American burgers saying it was oKay tO kIlLs thOusaNd of CivIlIanS bEcAuse jApan wEre tHe bAd GuYs 🤡

The USA humiliated Japan in the non threatening " tech/anime obsessed pacifists". Unlike other countries that still have a minimum of pride and honour, Japan doesn't remind the USA how bad they are and the unchecked harm they done to them. They are also completely economically submitted to the USA (there are still American base out there.....). So the USA give them a cookie and constantly elevate them as the perfect non White country 🙃

[desticuleconfessions]

I went to bed at 6am on sunday because I was catching up with y'all's posts on european time. like I literally partied too hard at the deancas wedding and had to drag my bleary-eyed ass to the library the next day as a result

‎

[football-and-fanfics]

National team - Frenkie de Jong

Who: Frenkie de Jong Request: 21 , frenkie de Jong Prompt #21: Getting called up for the national team for a big tournament. Requested by: @maximeevansblog Warnings: none

Everyone knew that the national squad announcements for the upcoming European Championship would be any day now. With the Dutch national team qualified, the tension was rising for Frenkie. He had had a very successful season with Barcelona, and it would be strange if he would not get a call-up, but the anticipation was thick in the air all around him. Finally, that afternoon around 2 o'clock, Frenkie's phone rang. The two of you looked expectantly at the screen and saw this was the call he had been waiting for. Frenkie answered it and retreated to the other room to handle it in some privacy, but from what you could hear of the call, it sounded positive. "And?" You looked hopefully at him when Frenkie strode back into the living room. A wide smile immediately broke over his face. "Yep." He nodded happily. "I'm going to the Euros." "I'm so proud of you!" You jumped up to hug and kiss him. "Oh, my god..." Frenkie pulled out of your embrace after a few seconds, now looking positively frightened. The full realization of what he had just been told now sinking in. "I-- I'm going to the Euros..." He stammered, absolutely thunderstruck. "Yes, you are," you smiled, pressing another kiss to his lips, "and you totally deserve it." Tags: @glam-khal, @evie-pr, @gryffinwars, @auawdo, @meteora-fc, @stonesys, @prettystones

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Political economy vs inflation

As Biden lays out ambitious plans to stimulate the US economy and fight inequality with new money creation (spending) and money destruction (higher taxes on corporations, capital gains and the right), a firing squad of economists assembled to issue dire inflation warnings.

They're repeating the economic doctrine of the pasty 40 years, an austerity doctrine that focuses on the inflationary risks of "deficit spending" (when governments don't tax as much money out of the economy as they inject in the same year).

It's a doctrine that made a pretense to being a science, going to far as to create a fake "Nobel Prize" in economics in a bid for scientific credibility (the Nobel administrators eventually folded the economics prize into its administrative remit).

The "neoclassicals" used abstract equations to "prove" a bunch of economic truths that - purely coincidentally - made rich people much, much richer and poor people much, much poorer.

Tellingly, the most exciting development in economics of the past 50 years is "behavioral economics" - a subdiscipline whose (excellent) innovation was to check to see whether people actually act the way that economists' models predict they will.

(they don't)

It's this vain, discredited and shambolic group who have assembled behind leaders like Larry Summers to decry Biden's stimulus spending plans, insisting that we are flirting with hyperinflation and the collapse of the USD as a global reserve currency.

But economists aren't the last word in understanding stimulus and inflation. If you're trying to figure out whether Summers is right and inequality, poverty and crumbling infrastructure are the price of American stability, it's worth checking out the *political* economists.

Here's a great place to start: Brown University economist Mark Blyth's interview with The Analysis, available in audio, video, and as a transcript:

https://theanalysis.news/interviews/mark-blyth-the-inflated-fear-of-inflation/

Blyth doesn't dismiss Summers' inflationary fears out of hand, but he does say that Summers is vastly overestimating the likelihood that stimulus spending will trigger inflation - Summers says there's a 1-in-3 chance of inflation, while Blyth says it's more like 1-in-10.

To understand the difference, it's useful to first understand what we mean by inflation: "a general, sustained rise in the level of all prices."

It's not a short-term spike (like we saw with GPUs when everyone upgraded their gaming rigs at the start of the pandemic).

It's also not an asset-bubble. House prices in Toronto are high, but that's not inflation. They're high because "Canada stopped building public housing in the 1980s and turned it into an asset class and let the 10 percent top earners buy it all and swap it with each other."

For inflation to happen in the wake of the stimulus, the spending would have to lead to too much money chasing not enough goods. Blyth gives some pretty good reasons to be skeptical that this will happen.

Start with the wealthy: they don't spend much, relative to their income. Their consumption needs are already met (that's what it means to be rich). You can only own so many Sub-Zero fridges, and even after you fill them with kobe beef and Veuve Cliquot, you're still rich.

What rich people do with extra money is *speculate*. That's why top-level giveaways generate socially useless, destructive asset bubbles. Remember, these aren't inflation, which is good, because everyone agrees that inflation is hard to stop once it gets going.

They're speculative bubbles. We have a much better idea of how to prevent bubbles: transaction taxes, hikes to the capital gains tax, and high marginal tax rates at the top bracket.

Okay, fine, so the rich won't be able to spend us into inflation after a broad stimulus, but what about poor people? Well, the bottom 60% of the US is grossly indebted, suffocating under medical debt, student debt and housing debt. A *lot* of that will disappear.

That will transfer a lot of stimulus money from poor people to rich people (who own the debt), which is why we need high capital gains and top-bracket taxation. But it will also sweep away a vast swathe of the financialized economy.

The point of long-term debt isn't to get paid off - it's to generate ongoing cash-flows that can be securitized and turned into bonds. Securitization converted "advanced" economies into shambling, undead debt-zombies.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/02/innovation-unlocks-markets/#digital-arm-breakers

It's securitization that led to the 2008 financial crisis, and it's securitization that sustains Wall Street's speculative acquisition of every single-family dwelling for sale in America as part of a bid to turn every home into an extractive slum.

Blythe explains that if the rich have nothing to buy and the poor use most of their stimulus to get out of debt, it will likely reorient the US economy to useful things: creating jobs to make stuff that people want to buy.

But what about the dollar's status as a global reserve currency? Won't all that stimulus send other countries scurrying around for another form of national savings? Blyth's answer is pretty convincing.

First, because there aren't any great alternatives: the European economy is growing at half the rate of the US. The Chinese economy is booming, but if you buy Chinese assets, there's a good chance you'll never be able to get them out of China.

Gold? Bitcoin? Leave aside the deflationary risk of pegging your currency to an inelastic metal or virtual token, leave aside the environmentally devastating effect of cryptocurrency (cryptos consume enough energy to offset the entire planetary solar capacity!).

Instead, think of the volatility of these assets, with their drunken, wild swings - countries that dump USD due to inflationary fears are hardly likely to switch to a crypto that can lose 20% of its value in a day.

And remember how much of that volatility is driven by out-and-out fraud, with major crypto exchanges and gold schemes imploding without warning, taking hundreds of millions of dollars with them. This is not a stable alternative to the dollar!

Beyond the lack of an alternative, there's another reason to believe that the USD will remain a global reserve, as Blyth elegantly explains.

Think of a Chinese company supplying the US market. Chances are, that's actually US company's subcontractor, getting paid in USD.

These end up swapped with the Chinese central bank for Chinese money, because Chinese companies need to pay salaries, rent, and other expenses in Renminbi, not dollars. The Chinese central bank holds onto the USDs, using them as a national savings, a reserve currency.

If China were to dump all its USD holdings into the world economy, it would tank the US dollar - which is to say, it burn China's own national savings. China's central bank needs to do something with those dollar savings, so they buy 10-year US T-bills.

Same goes for Germany - net exporters depend on a net importer to buy their stuff, and primarily that's the USA. They are stuck in a form of "monetarily assured destruction," and a crisis of confidence is unlikely "because you’ve got nowhere else to take your confidence."

Next, Blyth takes up is the proposed increase in the corporate tax rate, and he says that investors are actually surprisingly okay with this - he reminds us of Buffett's maxim, "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked."

A hike in the corporate tax rate has the potential to reveal which of the "great" firms "are just really good at tax optimization" rather than efficient production. It'll smash those unproductive firms to pieces that can be bought by good firms for pennies on the dollar.

The final issue that Blyth takes up is an excellent one for this May Day: the relationship of higher wages to inflation. When the US had large, centrally managed industries with large, centralized unions, there was the risk that higher prices would trigger higher wages.

But the US doesn't have a unionized workforce with guaranteed COLA inflationary rises - there's no "wage-price spiral" risk of higher prices leading to higher wages and then higher prices.

The neoclassical theory of wages is based on the "marginal productivity" and "higher than outside option" theories: wage-levels are the product of how much money they stand to make from your work, and how much someone else is willing to pay you to work for them.

But economists like Suresh Naidu describe how high-tech surveillance can disrupt this equilibrium: you can spy on workers instead of paying them more, can impose onerous conditions on them that wring them of everything they can produce.

This kind of bossware was once the exclusive burden of low-waged, precarious workers, but thanks to the shitty technology adoption curve, it is working its way up the privilege gradient to increasingly elite workforce segments.

Digital micromanagement went from the factory floor to remote customer-support reps to office workers who are minutely surveilled by Office 365, all the way up to MDs and other elite professionals:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

This has led to increased profits for firms - firms now take a larger share of their productivity gains, and workers see stagnant or declining wages. That excess profit represents slack in the system.

It means that even if companies' costs go up, they can hold prices steady - all they need to do is reduce their retained profits.

We've had 40 years of price stability at the expense of a living wage for working people.

Higher wages are only inflationary if we assume that the 1% will continue to extract vast sums from their investments and use them to kick off destructive asset bubbles.

Image: badsci https://www.flickr.com/photos/7941730@N06/8625213990/

CC BY-SA: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[eruditio-et-doctrina]

Genghis Khan, a fierce reign, a renowned warrior

Since the dawn of mankind, numerous empires have conquered immense lands, devastated countries and their people, and acquired a name, which was synonymous of carnage and apprehension. However, none of them achieved the level of might and success such as the Mongol Empire. Indeed, during the 13th and 14th century, a ridiculously vast amount of territory was dominated by it, representing the largest contiguous land empire of all time.

Stretching from Eastern Europe, while possessing several Central Europe locations, to the Sea of Japan, one cannot help but gape in awe in front of the manpower capable of such colonization. As impressive as such military force might be, it is also important to consider the fact that the Mongol Empire did not always mean power, prestige and fear. A man, known for his irreplaceable leader qualities and ferocity, managed to start a new, revolutionary era for the Mongols. May it be by bringing together nomadic tribes and appropriating considerably large Asian and European lands, impregnating an impressive amount of women, or again by promoting religious tolerance, Genghis Khan imposed his reign like no one else before or after him. Let’s have an overview of some of the events, phenomenons and lessons that polished this fascinating man’s being and pushed him towards unprecedented success.

Power to who deserves it.

"Meritocracy" is defined by the holding of power by individuals who were chosen on the basis of their ability. In a world in which dirigeants were chosen in function of their bloodline, a Meritocratic way of organizing the government was particularly innovative. By eliminating aristocracy, while conserving hierarchy, Khan was able to develop a terrific advantage, even in comparison to European countries, where such an ideology was out of question. The emperor managed to rule his empire efficiently, by taking advantage of highly skilled people, regardless of their age, their sex, their religion, etc.

Loyalty, bravery and honour were all deemed extremely valuable attributes, and were considered fundamental qualities in the Mongolian hierarchy and politics.

A reign based on terror.

Under Genghis Khan, Mongols deployed vile psychological manipulations, that were primarily meant to force their enemies into obeying them, imposing a frighteningly inhumane way of controlling their victims. Torture was more than often used to make their foes surrender, or even end their lives.

We can notably acknowledge this phenomenon during the Mongol conquests, that happened during the 13th century, and that resulted in the annihilation and the massacre of millions of people, including their cities and villages. These massacres are documented as being the most murderous genocides of human history.

Khan established the following principle, which he was notorious for: “surrender or die". He believed in offering his enemies a chance to surrender, or a death sentence if they persisted. This Mongol tactic was proved extremely efficient, as many chose to give up, and were then guaranteed protection under the Khans.

Psychological warfare was a technique largely employed by the Mongol Empire to assert its dominance, and make itself feared among the other nations and people. Its excellence was proven, as today again, we still remember how strategic the Mongols were in the psychological manipulation of their adversaries.

A religious tolerance.

Genghis Khan offered what is called a "Religious Freedom", in which the people of a conquered nation have the right to keep and practice the religion of their choice, whether it be Buddhism, Islam, or some branches of Christianity.

Mongols, being Tengerians (a form of shamanism), could however practice other religions. Genghis Khan was particularly interested in other religions and beliefs, and as such, he realized that giving his people the liberty to choose them, he notably ensured a more submissive and agreeable Empire. Mongols were generally very tolerant of religions different to theirs, at the point where their leaders invited religions leaders to simply discuss their spiritualities and talk about their points of view concerning the religious aspect. Many of Genghis Khan’s descendants were married to spouses from different religious beliefs.

Strategic mindset.

The military strategies and organizations were known for their remarkable efficiency, as they permitted the Mongol Empire to seize almost the totality of Asia, including some European parts. Genghis Khan, his generals and successors established these tactics that took down even larger armies.

Soldiers fought in units, each unit having a name and a specific number of soldiers in them. In a higher position, we could find the Keshig unit, a group of elite soldiers being members of the imperial guard of the Mongol Empire. Subutai, a powerful general, was a notable member of this squad.

Mongol soldiers were skilled horsemen, archers, on top of being strategic warriors. Their formation was full of discipline, however without being too straining. The Mongols, along with the Chinese, used gunpowder in some of their weapons, primarily as an incendiary compound.

The Pax Mongolica.

The "Pax Mongolica", Latin for "Mongol Peace", is defined as being a period of peace and stability in Eurasia during the 13th and 14th century, under the Mongol Empire.

This period had a significantly positive impact on the Mongolian economy, as it enabled the transport of merchandise and goods between Europeans and Asians, in a pacific environment.

However, this exchange did have negative effects, as it caused a rapid propagation of the bubonic plague.

The Mongols managed to rise and build a forever legendary Empire, by cultivating a clever, insurgent hierarchy based on merit, allowing a religious freedom, establishing a remarkably efficient military organization, on top of taking advantage of psychological manipulation. An ingenious way of handling their economy and peace was another prominent factor that played a role in their immense success.

Despite his heavily controversial character, and the harshness of his ways, Genghis Khan will forever be remembered as an example of leadership.