Latest news with #BiggerVase
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Championship playoff final is a time for heroes … and a big cash prize
This means more. Though in truth, this means more money. Probably not enough money. But a lot of money nonetheless. The long weekend stretching ahead involves English football turning its attention to Wembley and the Football League playoffs. Step forward, David Prutton, Andy Hinchcliffe and, of course, Gary Weaver, the poet laureate of portentous commentary, teeth gritted in anticipation that the very next moment could be the one that changes destiny, changes history, becomes time for heroes. Unleash the Weavergasm. First up, the big one, Saturday's Championship decider between Sheffield United and Sunderland. The cash prize most recently quoted is £170m. The most valuable game in football, they say. The target is the best league in the world™. The lucky winners trouser a load of cash by gaining entry to a competition likely beyond their capabilities. It was only this week Manchester United and Spurs were serving up their Bigger Vase turkey of a final, with the honour of getting gubbed each week in Bigger Cup's mega-group stage next season heading to Tottenham. Coincidentally, the winning manager in Bilbao, Ange Postecoglou, seemingly modelled his flamin' tactics on those of 100% Blade Chris Wilder, who will lead out his beloved club at Wembley. It wouldn't take too much to transpose Richarlison's role as chief agitator at San Mamés to a Wilder team. Not that he is without tactical innovations; who can forget those overlapping centre-backs of six years ago? Everyone thinks they know what to expect from a Wilder team, though this current group is much changed from the doomed relegation team he inherited last season for his second spell at Blades. They will give everything for the cause, run their hearts out and defend like demons. So would you if Wilder was waiting for you in the dressing room. Régis Le Bris, Sunderland's manager who sounds like he should be a high-end West End restaurateur, has proved himself the best of the Eurocrat designer coaches in the Championship. The attack-minded Le Bris commands a set of sparkling young guns, including Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham. Chat to fans of either finalist, and the excitement of playing in the Premier League is tempered by recent experience and the terrible record of recently promoted teams. 'We are really aligned, really together on the plan and we're going to attack the Premier League in our way, so it's really exciting,' roared Russell Martin, while signing a new contract following Southampton's playoff win a year ago. 'We're not going to go mental,' Luton manager Rob Edwards cheered two years back in the aftermath of victory at Wembley. 'We have to play to our strengths which is what we've tried to keep going since I've come in.' Neither went well. This means more … of the same? Ben Fisher will be at Wembley on Saturday to answer Matchday live reader questions about the playoff final in the buildup to the game. If you have a burning desire to ask him something, email Join John Brewin from 7.45pm BST for hot Serie A title-deciding clockwatch coverage of Como 0-0 Inter and Napoli 0-0 Cagliari. I get that emotions are high, you've got two teams that have got a lot at stake fighting it out on the pitch. But we as a football club can't accept somebody spitting in the face of one of our staff' – Ross County chief suit Steven Ferguson condemns the Livingston fan accused of spitting on assistant boss Carl Tremarco after the teams' Scottish Premiership playoff final first leg 1-1 draw. As a confirmed slacker who has been lazily praying for a big fat pay-off from The Man for some time now, it saddens me to see Ruben Amorim offer to leave without compensation should his employers have noticed that he really isn't very good at the job (yesterday's Football Daily). Perhaps young Ruben would like to spare a thought for all of us other hopeless underachievers out there, for whom a compensated pay-off is a goal rather than an unnecessary encumbrance' – Colin Reed. Re: Kevin Goddard's missive (yesterday's Football Daily letters), the avian description he is desperately looking for is 'C0ckerels'. Furthermore, it stands out a mile that he's not watched Spurs recently because, believe it or not, that poor final with its scrappy goal was by no means the most awful and inept performance we have had to endure this season' – Stephen Rankin. After watching the paint dry on Wednesday evening in Bilbao, I spared a thought for Harry Kane and wondered which was the lesser trophy-winning achievement? Beating the 16th-placed Premier League team in a European final of low quality, or capturing the Bundesliga with perennial underachievers, Bayern Munich (16 out of the last 20 titles, but who's counting?). Anyway, congrats Harry and Ange and Tottenham' – Che Matthews. Send letters to Today's letter o' the day winner is … Colin Reed, who lands some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed . This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, .
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Championship playoff final is a time for heroes … and a big cash prize
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY This means more. Though in truth, this means more money. Probably not enough money. But a lot of money nonetheless. The long weekend stretching ahead involves English football turning its attention to Wembley and the Football League playoffs. Step forward, David Prutton, Andy Hinchcliffe and, of course, Gary Weaver, the poet laureate of portentous commentary, teeth gritted in anticipation that the very next moment could be the one that changes destiny, changes history, becomes time for heroes. Unleash the Weavergasm. Advertisement First up, the big one, Saturday's Championship decider between Sheffield United and Sunderland. The cash prize most recently quoted is £170m. The most valuable game in football, they say. The target is the best league in the world™. The lucky winners trouser a load of cash by gaining entry to a competition likely beyond their capabilities. It was only this week Manchester United and Spurs were serving up their Bigger Vase turkey of a final, with the honour of getting gubbed each week in Bigger Cup's mega-group stage next season heading to Tottenham. Coincidentally, the winning manager in Bilbao, Ange Postecoglou, seemingly modelled his flamin' tactics on those of 100% Blade Chris Wilder, who will lead out his beloved club at Wembley. It wouldn't take too much to transpose Richarlison's role as chief agitator at San Mamés to a Wilder team. Not that he is without tactical innovations; who can forget those overlapping centre-backs of six years ago? Everyone thinks they know what to expect from a Wilder team, though this current group is much changed from the doomed relegation team he inherited last season for his second spell at Blades. They will give everything for the cause, run their hearts out and defend like demons. So would you if Wilder was waiting for you in the dressing room. Régis Le Bris, Sunderland's manager who sounds like he should be a high-end West End restaurateur, has proved himself the best of the Eurocrat designer coaches in the Championship. The attack-minded Le Bris commands a set of sparkling young guns, including Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham. Chat to fans of either finalist, and the excitement of playing in the Premier League is tempered by recent experience and the terrible record of recently promoted teams. 'We are really aligned, really together on the plan and we're going to attack the Premier League in our way, so it's really exciting,' roared Russell Martin, while signing a new contract following Southampton's playoff win a year ago. 'We're not going to go mental,' Luton manager Rob Edwards cheered two years back in the aftermath of victory at Wembley. 'We have to play to our strengths which is what we've tried to keep going since I've come in.' Neither went well. This means more … of the same? QUESTION TIME Ben Fisher will be at Wembley on Saturday to answer Matchday live reader questions about the playoff final in the buildup to the game. If you have a burning desire to ask him something, email LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join John Brewin from 7.45pm BST for hot Serie A title-deciding clockwatch coverage of Como 0-0 Inter and Napoli 0-0 Cagliari. QUOTE OF THE DAY I get that emotions are high, you've got two teams that have got a lot at stake fighting it out on the pitch. But we as a football club can't accept somebody spitting in the face of one of our staff' – Ross County chief suit Steven Ferguson condemns the Livingston fan accused of spitting on assistant boss Carl Tremarco after the teams' Scottish Premiership playoff final first leg 1-1 draw. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS As a confirmed slacker who has been lazily praying for a big fat pay-off from The Man for some time now, it saddens me to see Ruben Amorim offer to leave without compensation should his employers have noticed that he really isn't very good at the job (yesterday's Football Daily). Perhaps young Ruben would like to spare a thought for all of us other hopeless underachievers out there, for whom a compensated pay-off is a goal rather than an unnecessary encumbrance' – Colin Reed. Re: Kevin Goddard's missive (yesterday's Football Daily letters), the avian description he is desperately looking for is 'C0ckerels'. Furthermore, it stands out a mile that he's not watched Spurs recently because, believe it or not, that poor final with its scrappy goal was by no means the most awful and inept performance we have had to endure this season' – Stephen Rankin. After watching the paint dry on Wednesday evening in Bilbao, I spared a thought for Harry Kane and wondered which was the lesser trophy-winning achievement? Beating the 16th-placed Premier League team in a European final of low quality, or capturing the Bundesliga with perennial underachievers, Bayern Munich (16 out of the last 20 titles, but who's counting?). Anyway, congrats Harry and Ange and Tottenham' – Che Matthews. Advertisement Send letters to Today's letter o' the day winner is … Colin Reed, who lands some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. RAIN ON YOUR PARADE? Here at Football Daily Towers we usually leave the weather reporting for other Big Website departments but, given that we have to make the above subhead work, we feel obliged to update you on the forecast for the various trophy parades that are taking place over the weekend. First up, you may have heard that Tottenham Hotspur or Spurs will be dusting off an open-top bus to show off Bigger Vase down Tottenham High Road (18C, cloudy) at 5.30pm (BST). The 17-year-wait for silverware has made the victory lap such a big deal that the offspring of some Football Daily employees have been sent home early from school despite living six miles away. On Monday Liverpool will finally set off on their eight-mile schlep through the city (14C, rain) to show off a league title trophy for the first time since 1990 (the bus was kept in storage in 2020 due to Covid). Many fans will be playing spot Jürgen Klopp, with the former manager having said in March he will be attending. But perhaps the most eye-catching celebratory bus trip will be that taken by Crystal Palace (17C, rain) to show off the first major trophy in their history. It promises to be short, sweet and incredibly loud as the bus cruises down Whitehorse Lane to Holmesdale Road. The playoff finals mean there could be even more parades on Monday (and maybe even Tuesday) with Sheffield United (14C, rain) Sunderland (14C, rain), Charlton (17C, rain), Leyton Orient (17C, rain), Wimbledon (17C, rain on Tuesday) or Walsall (14C rain on Tuesday) possibly joining the hit parades. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Former Manchester United player Brandon Williams has received a suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving after he reached almost 100mph before crashing his car in Handforth, Cheshire. Advertisement Ivan Toney and Trevoh Chalobah have been included by Thomas Tuchel for England's matches next month, but Harry Maguire, Marc Guéhi, Dominic Solanke have not received the call/WhatsApp. Full squad here, but still no recall for Morris Danc [Snip – Football Daily Ed]. Phil Foden has also been left out, but Pep Guardiola thinks a change [of summer plans] may do him good. 'For us he's a baby, a baby boy from the academy,' sniffed Guardiola. 'That's the most important thing. He needs rest and it's going to happen now, after Sunday.' Xabi Alonso is poised to be announced as Real Madrid boss after the club finally confirmed Brazil-bound Carlo Ancelotti's exit. And Craig Gordon, 78, has signed on for another season as Hearts' goalkeeper and says he is 'determined to make it better than the last'. ROAD TO HAMPDEN It's Aberdeen v Celtic in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday and Dons boss Jimmy Thelin is using Oliver Glasner's Wembley shock as a template for success. 'Does Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup last weekend show what can happen? Yes!' he bugled. 'A final is always a final. If you go into the game in the right [frame of mind] … the possibility is always there.' STILL WANT MORE? Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola gets his chat on with Ben Fisher about his record-breaking season, his love of the south coast and, erm, birdsong. Advertisement For the final time this season, all together now, 10 things to look out for in the Premier League this weekend! And Ben McAleer picks out 10 players who may be heading for the big top flight door marked Do One this summer so you don't have to. Podcasts, ITV, Fox? Gary Lineker transfer speculation swirls after his BBC exit, writes Michael Savage. John Ashdown on how watching Sheffield United in playoff finals has been a lifetime of hurt. 'It is my favourite place, my lucky place, and it stays with me all the time.' Jerzy Dudek tells Andy Hunter how the 'Miracle of Istanbul' changed his life. Suzanne Wrack notes that Alessia Russo has hit another level – but will it be enough against Barça? Advertisement How bad was Spurs v Manchester United in comparison to other European club finals? Michael Butler investigates. And Jonathan Wilson reckons United face an urgent dilemma: ditch Amorim or revamp the squad? MEMORY LANE It's playoff final weekend: with Charlton and Sunderland bound for Wembley in the League One and Championship deciders, respectively, our minds inevitably drift back to one of the all-time greatest games in May 1998. But to get there in the first place, Charlton needed to see off Ipswich Town in the semis, which is precisely what Mark Bright and co did with 1-0 victories in either leg. The vanquished opposition for Sunderland in their semi … Sheffield United. ANOTHER BANK HOLIDAY, IS IT? SEE YOU AGAIN ON TUESDAY
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Come Dine With Ange: Tottenham's tasty prophecy
LADS, IT'S UNITED You won, [Ange]. Enjoy [Bigger Vase], I hope it makes you happy. Dear lord, what a sad little [final]. You ruined my night completely so you could have [Bigger Vase] and I hope now you can spend it on lessons in [tactics] and [recruitment]. Because [your team] had all the [season] of a reversing dump truck without any tyres on. So Ange, take your [Bigger Vase] and get off my [TV screen]. Advertisement Watching the Bigger Vase final might have been more painful than Charlie Nicholas' Sky Sports News b@nter, but you have to hand it to Ange Postecoglou. In one swoop, with one absolutely abysmal goal, the Australian has won Tottenham Hotspur's first trophy in 17 years, secured Bigger Cup qualification and delivered on his promise that he 'always wins a trophy in my second season'. Being bold and coming good on a footballing prophecy is bada$$, whichever way you cut it. We loved Brian Clough for his bravado and brash quotes but only because he could back it up. When José Mourinho announced he was 'the Special One', shortly before laying waste to the rest of the Premier League, we all nodded along afterwards with a begrudging respect. Heck, even when Sean Dyche suggested on co-commentary for this year's FA Cup final that Crystal Palace should 'hit it up to the big man' to beat Manchester City's press, 10 seconds before they went long to Jean-Philippe Mateta who set up their winning goal, Football Daily sat back in awe. So fair play to Big Ange. 'All I've done in my career is win,' roared Postecoglou, as he channelled the vibes of Carlo Ancelotti atop a rooftop bus, wearing sunnies and smoking a cigar. 'Even Daniel [Levy, Spurs' chairman] said: 'We've gone for winners [in the past] and now we have Ange.' Mate, I'm a winner. All I know is I'm going to go back to my hotel room, open a bottle of scotch, have a couple of quiet ones and prepare for a big parade on Friday. I don't feel like I've completed the job yet, we're still building. The moment I took the job, I wanted to win something. We've done that. It's the toughest thing I've ever done.' Watching that final was genuinely one of the toughest things Football Daily has done, but at least the celebrations and shenanigans were worth staying up for. James Maddison had a lovely pop at Roy Keane in his post-match interview. Archie Gray showed exceptional ball knowledge by doing the Ronaldinho/Bigger Cup anthem lip-licking meme (Gray was three when Ronnie originally did that). You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be touched by Son Heung-min sobbing uncontrollably into the shoulder of his father and renowned taskmaster, Dad Heung-min Son Woong-jung, after the final whistle with the first club trophy of the South Korean's career. Just as they have been all season, Manchester United were dreadful and deserved nothing from the contest, with Ruben Amorim admitting afterwards his head was on the chopping block. 'I have nothing to show to the fans,' shrugged the Portuguese. 'If the board and fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation, but I will not quit.' Football isn't always the beautiful game. Sometimes you just need to win, and that's what Spurs did. Congratulations to them and good luck next season in Bigger Cup. Based upon whatever that was in Bilbao, they might need it. QUOTE OF THE DAY 'Obviously it's hard for everyone. Our season was sh!t. We didn't beat anyone in the league. We lacked a lot of things' – Alejandro Garnacho brings some understatement to his funky analysis of Manchester United's season. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS Re: yesterday's Football Daily letters. It doesn't seem to have occurred to your other 1,056 readers that, far from making the Premier League a laughing stock, the fact that that the 16th and 17th 'best' in the Greatest League in the World™ competed in the final for the second best Euro trophy shows the strength in depth and talent within that league. In fact, if one wants to be unkind, you could say that all of the other 'European' clubs in the competition must have been rubbish if they couldn't prevent this from happening' – Martin Bleasdale (and no others). Someone please give me the Manchester United manager job please. If I do nothing, absolutely nothing, they will still finish better than this year. And I get to watch 38 games from the dugout, chewing gum, throwing tantrums, fighting with the officials, gesticulating wildly, giving interviews. And I am ready to take 20% of Ruben Amorim's salary. That is a huge amount saved for Big Sir Jim' – Krishna Moorthy. For Spurs, a trophy. For United, atrophy' – Mark McFadden. Not sure if I've been in an alternate dimension, but bravo to the Magpies, Eagles and now the, erm, C0cks on ending their respective avian trophy droughts. Special mention to Spurs (and Manchester United) for their part in the most awful, inept match I've seen in some time. As someone watching Luton all season (and thus being a connoisseur of such things) that's quite the achievement' – Kevin Goddard. Advertisement Send letters to Today's letter o' the day winner is … Martin Bleasdale, who lands some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. RECOMMENDED LISTENING The Football Weekly pod squad are back for an extra dose of aural entertainment as they pick over Bigger Vase final. SHRIMPLY THE BEST A year ago, Southend United seemed trapped in a years-long doomloop of winding-up hearings, financial crisis, failed stadium projects and footballing decline. Then in July salvation finally came when a consortium led by the Australian IT millionaire Justin Rees completed a takeover from the long-distrusted Ron Martin. Fast forward 10 months and the Shrimpers are off to Wembley for the National League playoff final after squeaking past Forest Green on penalties at the New Lawn on Wednesday. Having led through Ben Goodliffe's header early in the second half, Southend found themselves staring at defeat after Ryan Inniss scored to take the tie to extra time and Emmanuel Osadebe promptly put Forest Green ahead on 94 minutes. Step forward Jack Bridge, who levelled with four minutes remaining after a neat move to set up penalties. Gus Scott-Morriss then proved the match-winner, keeping his cool after two missed Forest Green penalties to slot home and seal a 4-2 shootout win. It was all a rich reward for Southend's manager, Kevin Maher, who has been in charge since 2021 and stuck with the club through numerous crises. Not that he saw the winning moment. 'I watched most of [the penalties] but I couldn't watch the last one,' he exclaimed. Maher's side will meet Oldham, another club who have emerged from financial crisis in recent years, on 1 June in what could be one of the season's more feelgood finals. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Five Valladolid fans who abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior have been given suspended prison sentences, in what La Liga described as a landmark ruling that condemned racist insults hurled in a stadium as a hate crime. Advertisement You had one job dept: Uefa has offered its 'sincerest apologies' after Aleksander Ceferin ran out of medals during Spurs' ceremony. Three players, including captain Son Heung-min, had to wait to receive their baubles later on. Ruben Amorim will be handed almost £100m to rebuild Manchester United, although most of that could be spent on signing Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha and striker Liam Delap from Ipswich. It's no Mickey Mouse competition – but Women's Bigger Cup will be shown live on Disney+ from next season in the UK and across Europe. Police and hospital staff in Liverpool have urged fans not to bring flares to the club's title parade, after a number of children suffered burn injuries following the victory over Tottenham last month. Advertisement AFC Whyteleafe have been crowned champions of the Combined Counties Premier South, despite finishing third in the table. Whyteleafe, who lost the FA Vase final earlier this month, earned top spot and promotion after Jersey Bulls and Redhill were both docked three points for fielding an ineligible player. And TV's Jeff Stelling has resigned as honorary president of Hartlepool United in protest at owner Raj Singh's handling of negotiations to sell up. The club issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday evening in which they claimed an agreement with one potential buyer was reached in March, but that proof of funds for next season had yet to be deposited, while also revealing a plan to poll season-ticket holders over whether or not Singh should resume control. 'Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner,' sniffed Stelling. 'Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over … I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best.' MOVING THE GOALPOSTS Barcelona are big favourites to beat Arsenal in the Women's Big Cup final, but this season hasn't been all plain sailing. Alex Ibaceta has more in this extract from the latest edition of Moving the Goalposts. STILL WANT MORE? What happens to a one-man team when that player goes missing? Jamie Jackson reflects on a miserable night for Bruno Fernandes in Bilbao. Advertisement Meanwhile, Max Rushden soaks up a Tottenham trophy from the other side of the world, Jonathan Wilson looks back at a baffling final and David Hytner casts his eye into the future for Ange. 'When I got the diagnosis they asked me how many footballs I headed': Dean Windass talks to Nick Ames about dementia, charity work and his most famous goal. Extremely loud and incredibly scouse: a contender for headline of the year, and an enjoyable long read on Jamie Carragher's rise to the top of the punditry pyramid. Smoke cannons! Rolling substitutions! Goals, goals, goals! Tom Garry was in Estoril to see World Sevens kick off in a big moment for the women's game. Advertisement And what's at stake on the final day? Andy Hunter outlines the race for Bigger Cup places, a complicated twist and how 10 Premier League teams could be in Europe next term. Nurse! MEMORY LANE It's that victory parade time of year, so here's a glimpse back to May 1987 as Coventry fans use the Lady Godiva statue as a vantage point while awaiting the team's celebratory jaunt around the city following their famous FA Cup win. POOL LOOPY
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Come Dine With Ange: Tottenham's tasty prophecy
You won, [Ange]. Enjoy [Bigger Vase], I hope it makes you happy. Dear lord, what a sad little [final]. You ruined my night completely so you could have [Bigger Vase] and I hope now you can spend it on lessons in [tactics] and [recruitment]. Because [your team] had all the [season] of a reversing dump truck without any tyres on. So Ange, take your [Bigger Vase] and get off my [TV screen]. Watching the Bigger Vase final might have been more painful than Charlie Nicholas' Sky Sports News b@nter, but you have to hand it to Ange Postecoglou. In one swoop, with one absolutely abysmal goal, the Australian has won Tottenham Hotspur's first trophy in 17 years, secured Bigger Cup qualification and delivered on his promise that he 'always wins a trophy in my second season'. Being bold and coming good on a footballing prophecy is bada$$, whichever way you cut it. We loved Brian Clough for his bravado and brash quotes but only because he could back it up. When José Mourinho announced he was 'the Special One', shortly before laying waste to the rest of the Premier League, we all nodded along afterwards with a begrudging respect. Heck, even when Sean Dyche suggested on co-commentary for this year's FA Cup final that Crystal Palace should 'hit it up to the big man' to beat Manchester City's press, 10 seconds before they went long to Jean-Philippe Mateta who set up their winning goal, Football Daily sat back in awe. So fair play to Big Ange. 'All I've done in my career is win,' roared Postecoglou, as he channelled the vibes of Carlo Ancelotti atop a rooftop bus, wearing sunnies and smoking a cigar. 'Even Daniel [Levy, Spurs' chairman] said: 'We've gone for winners [in the past] and now we have Ange.' Mate, I'm a winner. All I know is I'm going to go back to my hotel room, open a bottle of scotch, have a couple of quiet ones and prepare for a big parade on Friday. I don't feel like I've completed the job yet, we're still building. The moment I took the job, I wanted to win something. We've done that. It's the toughest thing I've ever done.' Watching that final was genuinely one of the toughest things Football Daily has done, but at least the celebrations and shenanigans were worth staying up for. James Maddison had a lovely pop at Roy Keane in his post-match interview. Archie Gray showed exceptional ball knowledge by doing the Ronaldinho/Bigger Cup anthem lip-licking meme (Gray was three when Ronnie originally did that). You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be touched by Son Heung-min sobbing uncontrollably into the shoulder of his father and renowned taskmaster, Dad Heung-min Son Woong-jung, after the final whistle with the first club trophy of the South Korean's career. Just as they have been all season, Manchester United were dreadful and deserved nothing from the contest, with Ruben Amorim admitting afterwards his head was on the chopping block. 'I have nothing to show to the fans,' shrugged the Portuguese. 'If the board and fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation, but I will not quit.' Football isn't always the beautiful game. Sometimes you just need to win, and that's what Spurs did. Congratulations to them and good luck next season in Bigger Cup. Based upon whatever that was in Bilbao, they might need it. 'Obviously it's hard for everyone. Our season was sh!t. We didn't beat anyone in the league. We lacked a lot of things' – Alejandro Garnacho brings some understatement to his funky analysis of Manchester United's season. Re: yesterday's Football Daily letters. It doesn't seem to have occurred to your other 1,056 readers that, far from making the Premier League a laughing stock, the fact that that the 16th and 17th 'best' in the Greatest League in the World™ competed in the final for the second best Euro trophy shows the strength in depth and talent within that league. In fact, if one wants to be unkind, you could say that all of the other 'European' clubs in the competition must have been rubbish if they couldn't prevent this from happening' – Martin Bleasdale (and no others). Someone please give me the Manchester United manager job please. If I do nothing, absolutely nothing, they will still finish better than this year. And I get to watch 38 games from the dugout, chewing gum, throwing tantrums, fighting with the officials, gesticulating wildly, giving interviews. And I am ready to take 20% of Ruben Amorim's salary. That is a huge amount saved for Big Sir Jim' – Krishna Moorthy. For Spurs, a trophy. For United, atrophy' – Mark McFadden. Not sure if I've been in an alternate dimension, but bravo to the Magpies, Eagles and now the, erm, C0cks on ending their respective avian trophy droughts. Special mention to Spurs (and Manchester United) for their part in the most awful, inept match I've seen in some time. As someone watching Luton all season (and thus being a connoisseur of such things) that's quite the achievement' – Kevin Goddard. Send letters to Today's letter o' the day winner is … Martin Bleasdale, who lands some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. The Football Weekly pod squad are back for an extra dose of aural entertainment as they pick over Bigger Vase final. A year ago, Southend United seemed trapped in a years-long doomloop of winding-up hearings, financial crisis, failed stadium projects and footballing decline. Then in July salvation finally came when a consortium led by the Australian IT millionaire Justin Rees completed a takeover from the long-distrusted Ron Martin. Fast forward 10 months and the Shrimpers are off to Wembley for the National League playoff final after squeaking past Forest Green on penalties at the New Lawn on Wednesday. Having led through Ben Goodliffe's header early in the second half, Southend found themselves staring at defeat after Ryan Inniss scored to take the tie to extra time and Emmanuel Osadebe promptly put Forest Green ahead on 94 minutes. Step forward Jack Bridge, who levelled with four minutes remaining after a neat move to set up penalties. Gus Scott-Morriss then proved the match-winner, keeping his cool after two missed Forest Green penalties to slot home and seal a 4-2 shootout win. It was all a rich reward for Southend's manager, Kevin Maher, who has been in charge since 2021 and stuck with the club through numerous crises. Not that he saw the winning moment. 'I watched most of [the penalties] but I couldn't watch the last one,' he exclaimed. Maher's side will meet Oldham, another club who have emerged from financial crisis in recent years, on 1 June in what could be one of the season's more feelgood finals. Five Valladolid fans who abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior have been given suspended prison sentences, in what La Liga described as a landmark ruling that condemned racist insults hurled in a stadium as a hate crime. You had one job dept: Uefa has offered its 'sincerest apologies' after Aleksander Ceferin ran out of medals during Spurs' ceremony. Three players, including captain Son Heung-min, had to wait to receive their baubles later on. Ruben Amorim will be handed almost £100m to rebuild Manchester United, although most of that could be spent on signing Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha and striker Liam Delap from Ipswich. It's no Mickey Mouse competition – but Women's Bigger Cup will be shown live on Disney+ from next season in the UK and across Europe. Police and hospital staff in Liverpool have urged fans not to bring flares to the club's title parade, after a number of children suffered burn injuries following the victory over Tottenham last month. AFC Whyteleafe have been crowned champions of the Combined Counties Premier South, despite finishing third in the table. Whyteleafe, who lost the FA Vase final earlier this month, earned top spot and promotion after Jersey Bulls and Redhill were both docked three points for fielding an ineligible player. And TV's Jeff Stelling has resigned as honorary president of Hartlepool United in protest at owner Raj Singh's handling of negotiations to sell up. The club issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday evening in which they claimed an agreement with one potential buyer was reached in March, but that proof of funds for next season had yet to be deposited, while also revealing a plan to poll season-ticket holders over whether or not Singh should resume control. 'Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner,' sniffed Stelling. 'Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over … I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best.' Barcelona are big favourites to beat Arsenal in the Women's Big Cup final, but this season hasn't been all plain sailing. Alex Ibaceta has more in this extract from the latest edition of Moving the Goalposts. What happens to a one-man team when that player goes missing? Jamie Jackson reflects on a miserable night for Bruno Fernandes in Bilbao. Meanwhile, Max Rushden soaks up a Tottenham trophy from the other side of the world, Jonathan Wilson looks back at a baffling final and David Hytner casts his eye into the future for Ange. 'When I got the diagnosis they asked me how many footballs I headed': Dean Windass talks to Nick Ames about dementia, charity work and his most famous goal. Extremely loud and incredibly scouse: a contender for headline of the year, and an enjoyable long read on Jamie Carragher's rise to the top of the punditry pyramid. Smoke cannons! Rolling substitutions! Goals, goals, goals! Tom Garry was in Estoril to see World Sevens kick off in a big moment for the women's game. And what's at stake on the final day? Andy Hunter outlines the race for Bigger Cup places, a complicated twist and how 10 Premier League teams could be in Europe next term. Nurse! It's that victory parade time of year, so here's a glimpse back to May 1987 as Coventry fans use the Lady Godiva statue as a vantage point while awaiting the team's celebratory jaunt around the city following their famous FA Cup win.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
High-concept farewells and the eye of the beholder
LEAVING DOS AND DON'TS In the Selhurst Park stands on Tuesday, a celebration of Crystal Palace's historic FA Cup win was awaited. It was duly delivered, after Eberechi Eze completed a 4-2 win over Wolves with one of those goals only he can score, all grace and precision, off-the-cuff football played with south London swing. To the final whistle then, and a chance for the FA Cup to be run round Selhurst, hopefully with a bit more care than when Graeme Souness and Liverpool chums were lobbing around the old Football League Championship trophy like they were Orrell back-row forwards. The silverware took a while to arrive but when it did, it was in the arms of Joel Ward, making his final appearance as a Palace player, his 364th game. So long, Joel, and thanks for all the fish. Advertisement But instead of another FA Cup beano, a club that had waited 101 years to win anything, give or take the ZDS Cup, launched a celebration of … Joel Ward. You know, Joel Ward, played 364 times for Crystal Palace, defender bloke, been there 13 years. Chairman Steve Parish was beside himself, wiping a tear when the player was subbed off in the 71st minute. 'You've been a rock star,' he sobbed. Now, not even his better half, at pitch-side holding their baby, born just last Thursday, can believe Joel Ward, a man who has, beyond Croydon perhaps, been able to live life as incognito as the rest of us, is anything like Nick Cave or Ozzy Osbourne, let alone Billy Idol. Perhaps, though, in football, those who survive long enough deserve the tearful send-off. After all, as Liverpool's psychodrama over Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure suggests, football loyalty is in the eye of the beholder. Trent, by the by, runs a foundation for those, unlike him, who never made the grade and felt the cruelty of a profession that breaks hearts harder than any rock star. While Ward was being deified, at Eastlands a high-concept farewell was being bade to Kevin De Bruyne, a true Manchester City great, the best midfielder of the last decade in the Premier League, perhaps second only to Colin Bell in club lore. Thing is, De Bruyne has been making noises that he would have preferred to stay. Ward, 35, meanwhile has featured in just three matches all season. Both have been cut from wage bills and given the soft landing of a leaving party at the closure of their employment contracts. Talking of which: Pep Guardiola, who stopped short of sobbing 'he is so nice' of King Kev as he once did when jibbing out Sergio Agüero, was busy throwing the blue door marked 'Do One' wide open, having spent £200m in January. 'I don't want to leave five or six players in the freezer,' he roared of his expensive squad-fillers. 'I don't want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay. It's impossible for my soul.' OK. Right. Does Jack Grealish get a leaving do? LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Scott Murray from 8pm BST for hot Bigger Vase final minute-by-minute coverage of Tottenham 0-1 Manchester United (aet). QUOTE OF THE DAY 'The celebrations went on a long time. We had a few Jägerbombs and were up pretty late! The buzz has been amazing over the last few days. I've pretty much been crying ever since we won' – Palace fan Nicola Webb talks to Ed Aarons as he catches up with the non-stop party in south London. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS May I be the first of 1,057 to point out that yesterday's tea-time email contained line after line of unreadable coded text. There was also something wrong after the letters section' – Joseph Brown (and no others). Can I be one of 1,057 pedants to suggest that in order not to make a laughing stock of the Greatest League in the World™ by the quality (?) of their play, maybe Spurs and Manchester United should agree to go straight to penalties?' – Richard Hirst (and no other pedants). A doff of the cap to The Knowledge for this wonderful comparison on the Bigger Vase final (aka: two bald men fighting over a comb): 'Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, who meet in Bilbao … are 17th and 16th in the Premier League, respectively … equivalent to Oldham Athletic playing Southampton in the Uefa Cup final of 1992'' – Noble Francis. Advertisement Send letters to Today's letter o' the day winner is … Joseph Brown, who lands some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. RECOMMENDED LISTENING The latest Women's Football Weekly podcast has a very special guest in the shape of new Chelsea treble winner Lucy Bronze. Listen now. There's also a new edition of Football Weekly fresh out of the box. BE THERE THEN The Gallagher brothers have been responsible for much, from hardened/fake Manc accents, that groin-thrusting gait that passes for a walk and phrases like 'our kid' and 'mad fer it'. Last year, after 15 years of hurling abuse at each other over the airwaves and social media abominations, they seemingly introduced another unwelcome concept to the Great British Public. Those wanting to relive the mid-1990s at Oasis reunion gigs found themselves being charged multiples of what was already agreed to be a steep face value. 'Dynamic pricing', this was known as, 'surge pricing' being another term. An 'absolute bloody rip-off' its most common description, as witnessed at Wembley last weekend. So hurrah for the reports that next year's Air Miles World Cup will see fans offered tickets along 'dynamic' lines, prices variable according to supply and demand. Fifa declined to confirm its plans, a spokesman telling the Times: 'Ticket sales for the Fifa World Cup 2026 are expected to begin in Q3 of 2025 via the Fifa website.' NEWS, BITS AND BOBS AFC Wimbledon midfielder Sam Hutchinson has revealed he had a heart attack during the game where his goal helped seal a League Two playoff place. 'It happened in the sixth minute, I carried on and played the full 90,' he said. 'The specialist in London has told me there's no problem with playing football again, so I'm happy.' Advertisement Blackburn have confirmed their withdrawal from the WSL2 and will re-enter at least two tiers lower, with the owners unwilling to fund meeting the division's new minimum licence requirement. England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will not be handed automatic qualification for Euro 2028 … although a back-door route to the finals will be offered to the two best-ranked hosts who don't make it. Crystal Palace are hopeful they won't fall foul of multi-club ownership regulations if both they and, as seems likely, Lyon qualify for next season's Bigger Vase. Lyon's owner, John Textor, also owns 45% of Palace through his Eagle Holdings company. Uefa suits will examine Palace's situation but the club are confident that the fact that Steve Parish (the chairman), David Blitzer and Josh Harris own an equal stake to Tex … we lost you after the last sentence, didn't we? Chelsea are determined to keep Real Madrid's mitts off Enzo Fernández amid the standard-issue media noise in the Spanish capital about them targeting the Argentina midfielder. Madrid are also sniffing around Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Larsson and Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi. Advertisement And Oldham are one game from returning to the Football League after winning 3-0 at York in their National League playoff semi-final. They face the winners of Wednesday's match between Forest Green and Southend in the final. STILL WANT MORE? Nick Ames delivers this special report from Kyiv on how amputee football is helping Ukraine's war-wounded. Do read. Tom Sanderson and Josué Seixas wonder whether Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil could be a glorious, perfect match. We've got hot Bigger Vase content coming out of our ears: Jonathan Wilson's preview tells us why this much-mocked final matters, Daniel Harris bigs up Ruben Amorim's emotional intelligence, David Hytner senses Ange Postecoglou is resigned to his fate whether Spurs win or lose, and you can test your knowledge of English clubs in European finals with our matchday quiz. Advertisement What are the worst European finals based on finalists' domestic position? Yes, the Knowledge knows. And in the Premier League race for Europe, check out who's in, who's out and who could yet shake it all about. MEMORY LANE Celtic fans in Seville get their heads down wherever they can after the 2003 Big Vase final defeat by José Mourinho's Porto. An estimated 80,000 Bhoys supporters descended on the city for their first European final since 1970, many without either tickets or hotel rooms. Martin O'Neill's side lost an absorbing, spiky final 3-2, Henrik Larsson twice equalising before Derlei settled it in extra time. Porto, and Mourinho, would go on to win Big Cup the following season while Celtic fans could at least find small consolation in winning Fifa's 2003 Fair Play Award for their festive, convivial behaviour in Andalusia. 'WE DON'T LIVE IN THE SAME WORLD …'
