THE CAPTIVE VOID OF NOBLE RAGE
“We were so close … At the end of the day, really, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse … It shows where we’re trying to aim for the club … There has been a lot of stuff written in the papers that you have to take on the chin I’m afraid – they should be talking about how well the England cricket team are playing at the moment.” Words said not by Mikel Arteta about Arsenal missing out on Vinícius Júnior after the Brazilian megastar signed a new Real Madrid contract, but by Glenn Hoddle in 2002, as Tottenham missed out on signing … yes, Rivaldo. That last sentence was probably a dead giveaway. Tottenham’s solution to the Brazilian-shaped hole in their transfer ambitions was to sign Robbie Keane to his boyhood club. What might Arsenal do next? Eye up Cristian Romero, you say?
Arsenal’s unrequited chase for Vinícius brought to bear the fantasy world that fans reside in when the transfer window is open and no actual competitive football is being played. Just imagine what he might have done to defences in Our League. In that netherworld of reverie there are no wet Tuesday nights at Stoke, nobody gets knacked, nobody fails to settle, they just score a gazillion goals and outperform their xG. Imagine football heaven, it’s easy if you try.
There is a flip side. Transfer business, or lack thereof, can also lead to a summer of angst. See the social media disgrace wails of certain vocal fans at Liverpool and their exasperation that Virgil van Dijk, 73, is the sole senior Red Men centre-back. Perhaps the balm of signing Bradley Barcola will soothe, though that is not yet a DONE DEAL. Arsenal fans have already consoled themselves with the imminent addition of Bruno Guimarães; who needs Big Vin when the other Brazilian can supply passes to, er Gabriel Martinelli?
Each summer includes a deal that unlocks others. In a sign of the times, Madrid ponying up for a mega Vinícius deal rather than his doing one will likely shift tectonic plates. With him set to stay, Rodri whose winning of the 2024 Ballon d’Or caused an almighty strop from the Brazilian and his club, lest we forget, is now highly unlikely to head to the Bernabéu. With Kylian Mbappé already on silly money, and now Vinícius too, thus there is no room at the inn for the Spain captain. Instead, Manchester City’s main man and the Geopolitics World Cup’s very best player is said to want to join Barcelona, which would be a huge loss to his current club and Our League. Such is the transfer window, where it is far better to have loved and lost than never to have signed anyone at all.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
It’s Friday night. It’s Littlewoods Cup time. Join Billy Munday for updates from Middlesbrough 0-0 Wrexham (1-0 on pens) from 8pm BST.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We have been worried consistently and there has been one more step in [a] worrying direction every year, every part of the year. The trust is now gone for us, there is no way back for Infantino” – Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness calls on Gianni Infantino to do one, although the civil war engulfing Fifa has deepened with Mexico and Argentina backing him.
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FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Mikel Arteta said after Arsenal’s 3-1 loss to Betis that ‘sometimes it’s good to create even more fire in the belly’ (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). Having the squad eat American lettuce would probably be faster in that regard” – George Ronczy.
Re: commemorative days of the year (yesterday’s Football Daily). According to the website, 7 August is International Beer Day, with (appropriately) 8 August being International Hangover Day. That’s well planned” – Mark Jones.
You claim to have an ever-forgiving reader (yesterday’s Football Daily). That is some claim. Can you let us know who this poor, deluded sap is? That might go some way to proving it. It would also help the rest of us help to show them the error of their ways” – Peter Holford (no, I’m not the ever-forgiving reader).
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … George Ronczy. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.
EUROPEAN CORNER
Who remembers Colin Chisholm? Who remembers the Scottish Premiership becoming the centre of the known universe in late May? Fast forward to early August and Scottish fitba has become a seething pit of self-loathing and back-biting, just as we previously remembered. The brain drain from Hearts to Rangers in the afterglow of last season has so far been underwhelming for both parties. Hearts, shorn of manager Derek McInnes and main man Lawrence Shankland, followed up losing 6-0 in Bigger Cup to Sturm Graz by losing their Bigger Vase first leg 6-1 to Benfica. What of Rangers in the same competition? Following a 1-1 league draw at Dundee United, they lost their first leg 2-1 to Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland. McInnes could soon be under the pump. Better news: Motherwell drawing 1-1 at HJK Helsinki and Hibernian beating Shkendija of Macedonia in Tin Pot’s qualifiers.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Al-Ahli and England forward Ivan Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm after an incident at a nightclub in London last December. Toney is due to appear at Westminster magistrates’ on 24 September.
It can be revealed that a deal worth at least $1bn in secured income over eight years was abandoned by Caf because it decided to switch Afcon from a biennial to a four-yearly event.
Leeds United have made James Trafford the fourth-most-expensive goalkeeper of all time, bringing him over the Pennines from Manchester City for around £40m. “I know my own abilities,” he bragged. “I go out and try as hard as I can and have as much fun as I can.”
Cristian Romero looks like spoiling the Mill’s fun, with Spurs in talks over selling him to Atlético. Micky van de Ven is due to land a new deal, though.
Mark van Bommel is the new steward of Belgium’s Golden Generation™, having jumped at the chance instead of hanging about for the Netherlands gig. “Did I want to wait for the Dutch national team? No, not at all,” cooed the former midfield enforcer. “I didn’t even think about that. I am very happy to be here. It is different from coaching a club, but this challenge suits me well.”
And Bristol City are already out of the Coca-Cola Cup, going down 1-0 at home to League Two outfit Walsall. “Clearly there were encouraging signs,” cheered boss Lee Grant. “The collective effort was outstanding.”
STILL WANT MORE?
Dan Jackson’s new book details Jackie Milburn’s Ashington upbringing, his shyness and the work ethic that set him apart. Have a peruse of this extract.
Portsmouth will take 9,000 supporters to West Ham on Saturday but will David Sullivan be present? John Brewin reports on the shadow hanging over the Hammers’ new season.
Keep up with the latest major men’s and women’s transfer moves with our summer window interactives.
And take on our sport quiz of the week. Go on, you know you want to.
MEMORY LANE
This season will mark the 100th anniversary of Newcastle United’s last league title. This is what St James’ Park looked like going into that 1926-27 campaign. Shearer’s Bar yet to be built, obviously, which was for the best given that you wouldn’t have been able to keep Hughie Gallacher, who contributed 36 goals in that title campaign, out of it.
REBRANDING AS A ‘GEN-Z WHISPERER’
