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James Nalton

@jdnalton.bsky.social

Freelance sports and football writer for the Morning Star newspaper, FotMob, World Soccer magazine, Guardian US, BBC, and the Soccer Times. MLS, USL, US Open Cup, Concacaf and American soccer reverie.

9,807 Followers  |  801 Following  |  3,581 Posts  |  Joined: 05.07.2023
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Posts by James Nalton (@jdnalton.bsky.social)

Yeah, these are more "up and under" but it's all a similar idea with similar aims.

04.03.2026 12:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Tweet from February 2021 describing Everton using a high "bomb" kick at kick-off.

Tweet from February 2021 describing Everton using a high "bomb" kick at kick-off.

It's not new either

04.03.2026 12:04 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Seeing this from kick-offs now too. The high "bomb" kick from rugby which can be effective in any form of football, and showing again that these sports are closely linked and originated from the same game.

04.03.2026 11:57 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Wolves v Liverpool shot map from FotMob

Wolves v Liverpool shot map from FotMob

Wolves score in the 78th minute against Liverpool with their first shot of the game.

03.03.2026 21:54 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Crystal Palace accused of messing with Dwight McNeil’s mental health after transfer U-turn Dwight McNeil’s partner has claimed Crystal Palace provided no explanation for pulling out of a move to sign him from Everton on transfer deadline day

It was a great performance from McNeil, so he deserved the ovation regardless, but there is some more context here on why Everton fans are making an extra effort to support him. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

03.03.2026 21:25 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Standing ovation for Dwight McNeil at Bramley-Moore as he's replaced by Tyrique George. Good show of support from the Everton fans.

03.03.2026 21:19 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Everton v Burnley, team lineups etc from tonight's big game.

03.03.2026 19:09 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Everton are third in the Premier League away games table.

03.03.2026 19:04 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Brooklyn FC promo image announcing the signing of 31 year old Northern Irish fullback Ryan McLaughlin.

Brooklyn FC promo image announcing the signing of 31 year old Northern Irish fullback Ryan McLaughlin.

Brooklyn FC have signed former Liverpool academy full back Ryan McLaughlin ahead of their debut USL Championship season scheduled to begin this weekend.

03.03.2026 17:19 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
USL Championship 2026 season team previews: In-depth look at all 25 clubs With a new USL Championship season slated to start on Friday, we have unparalleled previews for each and every team.

Need to get ready for the USL Championship season? This is the place to do it.

My team-by-team preview is up now, with nearly 30,000 words covering the transfer moves, tactical outlook, and depth chart for all 25 Championship clubs.

Check in! ⬇️

www.backheeled.com/usl-champion...

02.03.2026 14:19 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
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Aidan Morris is on a good run of form

02.03.2026 22:08 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Middlesbrough team ratings on FotMob, Morris is rated 8.4

Middlesbrough team ratings on FotMob, Morris is rated 8.4

Aidan Morris with the second highest @fotmob.com rating on the night as his Middlesbrough defeat Birmingham 3-1 #USMNT

02.03.2026 22:06 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Acquiesce was the obvious Oasis track to release from those live shows, and was wondering why they didn't. Good that they saved it for something like this.

02.03.2026 21:41 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The MLS Wrap: Messi League Soccer is back! The 2025 MLS Most Valuable Player was back in the goals on Sunday night, and back leading the way as the outstanding performer of Matchday 2.

After a quiet opening weekend, Messi League Soccer was back, while the Red Bulls wonderkids lived up to the Week 1 hype, and Miami's best Busquets replacement may have gone to Minnesota. Plus more that caught the eye in Matchday 2, for @fotmob.com www.fotmob.com/en-GB/topnew...

02.03.2026 21:34 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I don't think this should be onside, which it would be under Wenger's rule.

02.03.2026 17:01 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2

We've seen some of this in recent months and will get a lot more before June, but it's surreal this morning to look at the sports pages that were justifiably critical of previous World Cup hosts and see almost no mention that the U.S. spent the weekend bombing Iran

02.03.2026 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 187    πŸ” 25    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 5

Thomas Müller responding to a Kicker question about ⚽️ in North America. (In several parts.)
β€œYou must separate 2 different things.
Football here still has no big significance in the life of the general population. It’s not spoken about in the office on a Monday morning.”

02.03.2026 10:16 β€” πŸ‘ 78    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
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#PlayYourKids hits new heights, Quakes get their star & more from Matchday 2

Including a canary in the coalmine giving a big, big warning about the Union's bad start to their Supporters' Shield defense.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/playyourkids...

02.03.2026 04:21 β€” πŸ‘ 70    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Set-piece power drives Liverpool past West Ham Liverpool 5-2 West Ham

It seems that for Liverpool in the Game of Set Pieces, there is no middle ground. Report from Anfield on Saturday for the Morning Star newspaper is now also online. morningstaronline.co.uk/article/set-...

02.03.2026 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Morning Star front page, March 2, 2026. Headline reads "Stop Trump's Criminal War"

Morning Star front page, March 2, 2026. Headline reads "Stop Trump's Criminal War"

Morning Star back page, March 2, 2026. Main stories on "relegation fears deepen for Spurs," and Man United "fans display 'proudly colonised by immigrants' banner".

Morning Star back page, March 2, 2026. Main stories on "relegation fears deepen for Spurs," and Man United "fans display 'proudly colonised by immigrants' banner".

Monday's Morning Star front and back pages #tomorrowspaperstoday

01.03.2026 22:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Manchester United fans at Old Trafford raise a flag with the message "MUFC proudly colonised by immigrants" ahead of their game against Crystal Palace.

Manchester United fans at Old Trafford raise a flag with the message "MUFC proudly colonised by immigrants" ahead of their game against Crystal Palace.

Banner at Old Trafford today with the message "MUFC proudly colonised by immigrants", in response to Man United owner Jim Ratcliffe's comments complaining that "The UK has been colonised by immigrants." Photo by Martin Rickett.

01.03.2026 16:05 β€” πŸ‘ 93    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 5
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As journalists working today many of us are taught to recognise disinformation when we see it and fight back against it.

Unfortunately there are some who willingly seek it out and put it on their front pages. A disgrace to the profession.

01.03.2026 06:35 β€” πŸ‘ 4018    πŸ” 1070    πŸ’¬ 237    πŸ“Œ 84

Paxten Aaronson created eight chances for Colorado in this game.

01.03.2026 00:16 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Colorado 2, Portland 0, 82 mins played, scoreline graphic from FotMob

Colorado 2, Portland 0, 82 mins played, scoreline graphic from FotMob

Looks like Matt Wells' Colorado Rapids will win this latest battle of the English managers in MLS, vs Phil Neville's Portland Timbers.

28.02.2026 23:23 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

So excited for anyone who doesn’t know today’s scores and sees Burnley v Brentford is first up on Match of the Day.

28.02.2026 22:35 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

What a match. What a deciding frame. Viva Lisowski. Viva snooker.

28.02.2026 22:33 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
ICE OUT NOW.

ICE OUT NOW.

ICE OUT NOW #mnufc

28.02.2026 21:44 β€” πŸ‘ 284    πŸ” 53    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 3

Don't know much about this award or what specifically it's for, but some of the High Flying Birds stuff is really good, songwriting wise. Each album has a few really good songs.

28.02.2026 21:47 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Adri Mehmeti heatmap vs New England. Coverage throughout midfield. Graphic from FotMob

Adri Mehmeti heatmap vs New England. Coverage throughout midfield. Graphic from FotMob

New Yorker Adri Mehmeti was named the Man of the Match per @fotmob.com ratings in New York Red Bulls' 1-0 win vs New England Revolution.

28.02.2026 21:41 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Mehmeti is the real deal. Only 16 and running the midfield for New York Red Bulls in MLS. Gets an assist here from a header at a set piece. Mentioned in my @fotmob.com roundup last week, and no doubt mentioned in many more of my articles going forward!

28.02.2026 21:18 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0