Think we probably need one more striker and maybe another in midfield and we're pretty much ready to go for the new season, lovely to get the bulk of our business done so early too. I guess we prioritised getting Hayden out the door early so we'd be able to spend early too #boro

I might have moved thousands of miles away from Teesside, but news of Houchen being a twat can still reach me. Feels unfair IMO. Who do I talk to about this.

Well, i'll take it from a Vermont point of view, but that's a comical own goal by Flint, how's he even done that.

Poptimism from the mid-00s on was obviously incorrect and the vast majority of it continues to be irredeemable dross with a few small exceptions.

lil miss big boy@lighter.bsky.social · 5d ago

Post your hottest music take. Mine is New Order is better than Joy Division.

I'm mostly excited about this, though less so about the price. I do worry that this has shades of us committing very hard to SPL players under Strachan and we all remember how that one went. Let's hope the new lads can adapt to the league quickly.

Tom Bogert@tombogert.bsky.social · 5d ago

🇺🇸🔴 BREAKING: Middlesbrough is finalizing a deal to sign USMNT wingback Max Arfsten from the Columbus Crew, per sources - Fee up to $7.5m (incl. add-ons) - Crew retain significant sell-on % - Arfsten expected to travel to complete move in coming days/week www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...

I truly think the backlash this time is specifically to the autotune (why that's a surprise to anyone is beyond me when Julian has been fucking about with it for a decade now). Otherwise Steven nails it here, there are no bad Strokes albums, just people misunderstanding the band at a base level.

Steven Hyden@stevenhyden.bsky.social · 6d ago

OK, I'll say it: I love REALITY AWAITS! It's a v. enjoyable Strokes album! I wrote about why I feel that way, the early reactions to the record, the cyclical nature of Strokes backlashes, their current tour, and why young fans get them more than old fans. tinyurl.com/5eb2auna

Hope those absolute weapons who were waving Saudi flags around after the Toon takeover are feeling suitably chastened today. If only there was some sort of precedent for being brought crashing back to earth after selling your soul.

Absolutely correct, the fandom reaction against cultural criticism has been brewing for a while now and has moved to music too, to the detriment of everyone involved. Swifties and other pop stars going after Pitchfork, the Strokes themselves called out Fantano on a song recently!

Julianna 💎@batariangal.eurosky.social · last wk.

I’m only observing from a distance, but a lot of the discourse around that review of The Odyssey feels like another example of gaming culture seeping into the mainstream

Between this and the Welbeck news, are they trying to amortise their average squad age by buying a couple of old timers to bring it up? Deeply bizarre squad.

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com · last wk.

🚨🔵 BREAKING: Chelsea lead race to sign Jordan Henderson as new midfielder, another surprise for #CFC. Henderson can leave Brentford on a free transfer and Chelsea are ahead in race with two more clubs for England international. Former Liverpool midfielder, open to the move.

I can think of several small, rural towns here in Vermont where i've seen a yoga studio within like a half mile of the local hunting and shooting club. Knew without even looking where it was going to be on this axis.

skáld@danglinghemmie.bsky.social · 2w ago

new political axis just dropped

Alright then I guess, it really is all happening all of a sudden. Another CM, another striker, a CB, a LB and a keeper and we'll really be looking pretty good.

The Athletic@theathletic.com · 2w ago

Middlesbrough is finalizing a deal to sign USMNT midfielder Sebastian Berhalter from the Vancouver Whitecaps, sources tell @tombogert.bsky.social. More details:

Absolutely demented fee, and adds to what was already by far the largest budget in Championship history for West Ham.

David Ornstein@david-ornstein.bsky.social · 2w ago

🚨 EXCL: Al Hilal reach agreement with West Ham United to sign Crysencio Summerville. Deal for 24yo #WHUFC winger worth ~€80m & #Netherlands int’l scheduled to undergo #AlHilal medical. Long-term contract ready, pending final authorisations 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Lovely this, despite it all it’s a wonderful country. Always happy to see the massive gaps in public bathroom doors addressed, even after all these years in the US it’s the thing that baffles me the most (from a long list of baffling things).

Daniel Storey@danielstorey85.bsky.social · 2w ago

101 things I learned from driving across the USA for the World Cup. 48 days 7,835 driving miles 28 states 34 motels 10 matches in 9 stadiums It was all for this. Grab a brew and settle in as I review...America. inews.co.uk/sport/footba...

I mean you've gotta laugh don't you.

Just checked the score, why are they like this

lol thanks for massively overpaying here, Chelsea. We'll take our large sell-on fee, please and thank you.

David Ornstein@david-ornstein.bsky.social · 3w ago

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea reach verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers⁠. Bid of £117m accepted by #AVFC & being finalised. 6+1y contract, medical Monday⁠. #AFC interested but 23yo attacker wanted #CFC; Xabi Alonso instrumental 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Among the most ridiculous sporting feats I've ever seen from Josh Kerr, absolutely sensational final 100m.

Lifetime contract for Tommy Tuches, I don’t make the rules.

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com · 3w ago

🚨 President Donald Trump on Thomas Tuchel decisions: “You have a great player in England, who I played golf with, he is Harry Kane... …and maybe England MADE A MISTAKE when they put him as a defensive player”. “They took a lead and they put their best player at defending?”

Now this is a big surprise. He must really love that club because he’s pretty much knackered his career in pursuit of staying there.

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com · 3w ago

🚨⚒️ Jarrod Bowen STAYS at West Ham and will play for #WHUFC in Championship next season. He’s signed revised contract at the club and his decision is to continue at West Ham. The captain stays. ©️

Unironically almost exists on the b-side.

Vindaloosh - Cocktail Mix

Fat Les · Vindaloo · Song · 2014

open.spotify.com

@gabbylm.bsky.social · 3w ago

Vindaloo (Minor Key, Acoustic)

This is mostly correct, even if it does feel a little strong. I do think the bigger, and mostly untouched, elephant in the room is the squad selection at the back. We got away with it right up until the moment we didn’t, not having a settled back four was the cornerstone of where it went wrong.

Daniel Storey@danielstorey85.bsky.social · 3w ago

Thomas Tuchel was appointed for that last 30 minutes. We were told that it would be different from the knockout king and we got tactical cowardice. And if he really has no regrets, he can leave now. Column from Atlanta 🔽 inews.co.uk/sport/footba...

You know it’s a bad loss when it keeps you up, truly could not have slept any worse.

I genuinely think I preferred being hospitalised with anaphylaxis

Was feeling surprisingly sanguine up until an hour or so ago and am now officially Bricking It.

France midfield have fully activated ghost mode here, need to get a grip or they’re gonna get death by a thousand passes.

Genuinely a testament to the power of the World Cup that all of this utter yank nonsense and FIFA meddling hasn't torpedoed the whole tournament.

The Times and Sunday Times@thetimes.com · 3w ago

The half-time break at the World Cup final is expected to be around 30 minutes long in order to accommodate Fifa’s star-studded show — breaching the maximum time of 15 minutes permitted under the Laws of the Game

This is interesting and I wish him all the best (except against us), but 'I made a list on my phone and finally started doing some stuff of my own accord to look after my body at age 28' does explain a lot of his past few years.

Craig Johns@craigjohnsgazboro.bsky.social · 3w ago

Really interesting Dael Fry interview... 🔴Hitting back at concerns over his injury record 🔴Learning about his body in recent years 🔴How Tom Brady and Birmingham can help further 🔴Why he chose Birmingham and tough side of leaving #Boro www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/footba...

Found this short doc about an attempt to modernise and revitalise the art of sign-making surprisingly moving and inspiring. Really really well done, would happily watch more of exactly this.

The Noble Art of NYC Restaurant Signs | NYT Cooking

YouTube video by NYT Cooking

youtube.com

Mostly a good piece by Steinberg, and I get why he doesn't do it to another fellow football journalist, but this is conspicuously missing a 'Gabriel Clarke was several steps out of order in bringing that question to Jude in that way at that time' paragraph, which was obviously the biggest issue.

Tuchel and Bellingham need to cool tension with England so close to history

The latest episode of Thomas versus Jude does not have to descend into a drama and team cannot afford to be distracted heading into the World Cup semi-final

theguardian.com

I remain unconvinced by Argentina, I think we can get at them if we are to play them.