sjmaskell.bsky.social

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Monday Almanac: Send Not For Whom The Bell Tolls, Michael Carrick, It Tolls For TheeAn absolute kicking at home to Bournemouth has almost certainly ended Michael Carrick’s spell as Manchester United’s head coach, but very little of what’s gone wrong at Old Trafford is his fault.

Well…

Ian King@twoht.bsky.social

On Manchester United, and the loop in which they find themselves. The reaction at Old Trafford yesterday demonstrated that the fans know exactly what's going wrong (clue: it's not Michael Carrick), but don't expect anything major to be done about it. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-monday...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Independent Football Regulator Has Some Difficult Truths It Needs Us to HearAnd this is only the *interim* report. The Independent Football Regulator has surveyed the state of football in this country and it doesn’t like what it sees.

On the IFR into the state of the game, and what a state its finances are in. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-indepe...

premierleague.comPremier League Statement: Manchester City FCAn independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.

Well. I can only say that we said it was only a matter of time. Just utterly pissed that it took them so long. Certain clubs should be looking over their shoulders right now.

Martin Calladine@uglygame.bsky.social

"The purpose of these schemes was found to have been to artificially inflate the club’s revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million." That is an absolutely massive sporting fraud. www.premierleague.com/en/news/4727...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Monday Almanac: Nature Abhors a Vacuum of Manchester City AnnouncementsWell, the Premier League haven’t said anything about it, so all there is to do is speculate into the void for what or what might not come next.

The Premier League aren't going to be able to stay silent about the Manchester City shenanigans forever. This week's Monday Almanac. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-monday...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Weekend Match: Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 Hampton & Richmond Borough - Two Human Beings and The Pellys and MeIt’s off the the fuzzy line between London and Essex this weekend, but not before we’ve done a bit of a tourist trail through the centre of the city first.

Morning one and morning all. This weekend the bairns and I were off on a bit of the tourist trail, and then off to that fuzzy area between London and Essex. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-weeken...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe FA Have Just Opened a Can of Worms That They May Find Difficult to Close AgainA dodgy penalty decision in an FA Cup qualifier has led to an even dodgier decision by a Football Association sub-committee.

An FA sub-committee have made a decision over a refereeing mistake in an FA Cup qualifier which could end up having far-reaching consequences. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-fa-hav...

We can all see this. Frustration at the inactivity of those in power is off the scale.

This post is unavailable.

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

footballleagueworld.co.ukAll 24 EFL Championship club stadiums graded from A to F for their atmosphereA good atmosphere for home matches can have an effect on a team's performance on the pitch, so here's how the 24 Championship clubs weigh up.

7 Sept

I also had to rank all 24 Championship grounds by their atmosphere. Apologies to West Ham and Blackburn fans, but someone had to come bottom. (I do enjoy writing this sort of thing. FLW is where I can give a little side-eye and be contentious.) footballleagueworld.co.uk/all-24-efl-c...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Weekend Match: Wingate & Finchley 0-0 Felixstowe & Walton United - All the World Is a Very Narrow BridgeThis week, we’re off to north-west London, where a club with a convoluted history have a home FA Cup match against a team who missed out on promotion at the end of 2025-26 by a very narrow margin.

6 Sept

It's half time, and that gives you enough time to read this. Or share it. Or do both. Actually, do both. Please. Thank you. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-weeken...

decrypt.coUK's National Crime Agency Freezes $13.6M Sent by Sorare to Premier League: Report - DecryptThe sum was the first payment under a $163 million deal with the Messi-backed fantasy card game, now facing a gambling prosecution.

4 Sept

TWENTY YEARS! For twenty years and longer we have been flagging this stuff in football.

Martin Calladine@uglygame.bsky.social

"The UK’s National Crime Agency has frozen $13.6 million (£10,024,041.33) held in a Premier League bank account under the Proceeds of Crime Act." Exciting to see the National Crime Squad and Premier League finally catch up to the money laundering potential of crypto. decrypt.co/377006/uks-n...

13 Aug

Eclipse winner. 😆

Sophie Molly@sophiemolly.co.uk

😻😻😻

apple.newsNigel Farage says he 'didn't want to resign as MP' but was 'forced' — MetroNigel Farage has claimed he never wanted to step down as Clacton’s MP and force a by-election – but the political establishment made him do it.

12 Aug

Only just thought of this one, has he? 🤷🏼‍♀️

jonnygf.bsky.social@jonnygf.bsky.social

Nigel Farage says he 'didn't want to resign as MP' but was 'forced' - Metro apple.news/A_e4Hfb8ZTO-...

12 Aug

We have a winner …

Louis 〓〓@louishenwood.bsky.social

I am not saying that Reform and Restore voters are thick, but...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comSingle Parenthood & I: ...Until We Meet Again, Some Sunny DayIt was time to say goodbye to somebody very special, so we were determined to give him the send-off he deserved.

4 Aug

Time to say goodbye. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/single-par...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Weekend Match: Newhaven 1-1 Crawley Down Gatwick - Once More in the Name of LoveThe start of the new season comes at the end of a period of big change in my life, but non-league football is one constant that helps to keep everything else in line.

3 Aug

This weekend's opening match of the season was a post-funeral trip taking in rainbows, a fort and a BLOODY MASSIVE BOAT. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-weeken...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comGrand Theft Futbol 2: Count Ianface's ManifestoIf Gianni Infantino's position is set to become available, it's time to put my manifesto forward to replace him.

31 July

Morning. There's going to be a vacancy at the top of FIFA soon, and here's my pitch to replace him. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/grand-thef...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comGrand Theft Futbol: Why Infantino's latest heist may be his European Super League momentThe announcement of a decision to to sell off a chunk of the World Cup to his mates has been met with a furious response, and this hubris might even effect much-needed reform.

30 July

The direction of momentum is clearly travelling away from Infantino, and this could yet turn out to be his European Super League moment. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/grand-thef...

23 July

THERE IS NO POINT HAVING A £2 BUS FARE CAP IF THERE ARE NO BUSES RUNNING WHERE YOU LIVE. #Burnham #buses

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comKevin Keegan: A Career Defined by LoveThe first true British 'superstar' in a modern sense, Kevin Keegan was a trailblazer, both as a player and a manager.

21 July

On Kevin Keegan: unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/kevin-keeg...

19 July

Thank you, Spain. #thatisall

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Dirty Cup: Tainted LoveThis World Cup has been fundamentally tainted by a series of decisions which have little explanation that makes sense which doesn't involve someone pressing their thumb down on the scales.

13 July

I really resent being made to feel like a conspiracy theorist over a World Cup, because that's really not my natural inclination, but FIFA really have administrated this tournament abysmally. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-dirty-...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

Count Binface

@countbinface.bsky.social

On my way, Clacton.

What happens if NO ONE stands in a by election?

Ian Caveney@iancaveney.bsky.social

The more stories come out like this even Farage might think twice before standing in a by-election he just caused for himself. Great reporting.

theguardian.comRevealed: Farage’s £5m gift reported to UK crime agency over money laundering concernsExclusive: Latest Guardian revelation about gift from cryptocurrency tycoon comes as Reform UK leader forces byelection

Well. Isn’t that what crypto’s for? 🤔 #hidinginplainsight

Jessica Elgot@jessicaelgot.bsky.social

EXC - The £5m gift to Nigel Farage by a cryptocurrency billionaire was reported to the National Crime Agency by bankers who were concerned it may have been laundered money, the Guardian can reveal. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

The Author, Séamas O'Reilly

@seamas.bsky.social

Hang it in the Musée Magritte.

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Dirty Cup: Will Infantino's Corrupt Overreach Ultimately Cost Him the Top Job?FIFA's decision to let Folarin Balogun play for the US against Belgium has opened a can of worms which they may find difficult to close again.

6 July

Holds barred = none.

Ian King@twoht.bsky.social

This afternoon on UD, on the Balogun scandal and why Gianni Infantino may have opened a can of worms that he'll find difficult to push back closed. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-dirty-...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Dirty Game: Middle-Aged Man Who Denies The Allegations Scores Inevitable PenaltyTen-man Portugal overcame Croatia after stoppage-time, with FIFA's video goblins giving them a helping hand through a very late disallowed goal.

3 July

Yesterday at the World Cup. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-dirty-...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Dirty Cup: Doctor Congo Struck OffEngland edged through against DR Congo, but if they haven't learned lessons from another deeply flawed performance this time, they will suffer in the next round in Mexico City.

2 July

On England and DR Congo last night. Onwards and (literally) upwards now, to Mexico City. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-dirty-...

1 July

O FFS RASHFORD.

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Dirty Cup: The Neuroses of the Former ChampionsCape Verde have now held two former World Cup winners to a draw, and have given themselves an incredible chance of getting through to the knockout stage of the competition.

22 June

A round-up from yesterday at the World Cup. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-dirty-...

8 June

So … the sleazy porn baron has turned out to be …… a sleazy porn baron. 😱

theguardian.comDavid Sullivan: how did the pornographer rise so high in modern football?Sullivan hoped football could legitimise him but claims about historical conduct have led to his resignation from West Ham

7 June

Sportswashing. If you ever have to wonder why someone wants to own your club… www.theguardian.com/football/202...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comDavid Sullivan Leaves West Ham, As Fast As His Little Legs Can Carry HimJust like that he's gone, and with an extraordinary statement which threatened the entire media, as well about reminding us - as if we didn't already know - about his 'colourful' past.

6 June

David Sullivan, then. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/david-sull...

2 June

Is this sign of a man whose platform is slipping? (Ooer missis!)

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social

Telling that Farage's "address" his morning is just that. A one-way self-filmed speech with no journalists present and no questions taken.

thetimes.comAndy Burnham would rip up asylum hotel contracts if he were PMAllies of the Labour leadership hopeful say he is committed to ending the use of private companies to source asylum accommodation

30 May

Meet Andy. He promises to keep doing everything the same as it is now.

Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social

Andy Burnham will rip up the multibillion-pound asylum accommodation contracts that have led to thousands of migrants being housed in hotels if he becomes prime minister www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

theguardian.comTony Blair tells Starmer and rivals: abandon net zero and move closer to TrumpIn highly unusual intervention, ex-PM says his party’s ‘almost infinite capacity for self-delusion’ makes it likely to lose next election

27 May

Well. Who’s paying him? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comIf Spygate 2 proves anything, it's that no one football match should be "worth" £200 millionSouthampton have lost their Spygate 2 appeal, but there are questions to be answered about why that temptation is there in the first place.

21 May

This farce will run and run … Southampton have done a Titanic! 🍿

Ian King@twoht.bsky.social

Southampton losing their appeal over Spygate 2 wasn't a surprise, but all this does raise questions over whether it's healthy for the game to have one match a season worth this amount of money. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/if-spygate...

20 May

🤭

Ashley Lawrence@ashleyslawrence.bsky.social

Hull have expressed concern as their playoff final preparations have been focused on playing Southampton and they now have limited time to prepare for Middlesbrough instead. However, Southampton have kindly offered them a detailed dossier on Middlesbrough they just happened to have lying around.

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comOh When The Saints Go Staying DownThe EFL have reacted with righteous fury over the Spygate 2 charges, and now Middlesbrough will be going to Wembley on Saturday. They just don't know... when, on Saturday.

20 May

No laughing matter? This is true. But #Pompey fans are probably already working on the chants for next season. The Universal problem of an unbalanced system …

Ian King@twoht.bsky.social

On the subject of Spygate 2. Perhaps, just perhaps, having one match which is worth £200m to the winners is only going to encourage some clubs to act in an underhand way. Appeal to be heard this morning, and Southampton will beed to be *persuasive*. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/oh-when-th...

theguardian.comSouthampton kicked out of Championship playoff final and docked four points for spyingMiddlesbrough are to face Hull in the Championship playoff final after Southampton admitted they spied on Boro and two other opponents

19 May

What not being owned by a despot or an oligarch gets you … But … I can find something ironic to laugh at here…

Sachin Nakrani@sachinnakrani.bsky.social

Holy - and I can not stress this enough - fuck. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

YouGov

@yougov.co.uk

13 May

NHS staff increasingly believe Wes Streeting is doing a bad job as health secretary and that the Labour government is handling the NHS badly Streeting as health secretary Good job: 22% (-3 from 19-28 Feb 2025) Bad job: 53% (+13) Labour handling of NHS Well: 24% (-6) Badly: 66% (+13)

11 May

😱🤣🤣🤣

Brexit Bin 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇩🇪@brexitbin.bsky.social

#RefUKkers

10 May

Why we need to abandon FPTP.

Owen Winter@owenwntr.bsky.social

The Greens won a ward in Birmingham with less than 21% of the vote

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

Carol Hedges

@riotgrandma.bsky.social

10 May

Replying to @aloner.bsky.social

Elderly British Jew here, Alona. Lost my zaide and bubbe in the Holocaust. ANY Jew cheering the deputy leader of Reform is deluding themselves.

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comSpygate 2 Proves To Be The Biggest Drama From The First Leg of the Championship Play-OffsHull City, Millwall, Middlesbrough and Southampton couldn't manage a goal between them in their Championship play-off semi-finals, but that doesn't mean that there hasn't been drama surrounding them.

10 May

Too much football, not enough excitement, so Southampton devise a side-show!

Ian King@twoht.bsky.social

Spygate 2 has turned out to be the most exciting aspect of the first round of Champo play-off matches, and the EFL's decision over what to do about it will offer some insight on how seriously they take this sort of thing. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/spygate-2-...

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comCaptain, leader, appreciator of deporting all immigrantsThe former captain of the England national football team has outed himself as a supporter of the far-right end of the political spectrum, yet he's still about to buy a League Two club.

30 Apr

An interesting candidate for the ‘Fit and Proper’ test …

Ian King@twoht.bsky.social

On John Terry being even more of a POS than he was years ago, and whether buying a League Two football club ight be an admission that no-one in the Premier League will touch him with a ten foot bargepole any more. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/captain-le...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

unexpecteddelirium.substack.comThe Weekend Match: Carshalton Athletic 1-0 St Albans City - No Glory to be Hunted HereThere's a lot of excitement to be had on the final normal weekend of the non-league season, but I'm eschewing that, in favour of a group of supporters saying farewell to a disappointing season.

27 Apr

This weekend's match took us to Carshalton, where the game was terrible but there was at least a glittery beach ball. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/the-weeken...

sjmaskell.bsky.social reposted

footballleagueworld.co.ukNew Sheffield Wednesday takeover revelation may worry Owls fansThe prospective new owner of Sheffield Wednesday has said that the club are in 'deep distress', and this will worry fans of the club.

17 Apr

AND ANOTHER ONE! A piece on Storch statement about the state of Sheffield Wednesday. Yesterday was, for a Thursday, a very Wednesday-heavy day for me. footballleagueworld.co.uk/david-storch...