Leon Watson

A Timeline of Political Football Matches Politics and football mix. I’ve put together a chronology of some of the most significant matches in history, plus some historical milestones for context.

Over on Substack, I've posted a timeline of political football matches

Football and politics shouldn't mix, some say, except they always have and always will...

Have a read 👇🏼 open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

Your success will probably depend on whether you want to steadfastly refuse to pick Arsenal players, like me, or whether you want to win.

Also, beware how it can split your loyalties. When you find yourself cheering a goal that adversely affects Spurs in some way, it's gone too far. That happens.

Gutted that England lost. Build a statue for Woakes anyway.

But test cricket is just magical.

There's nothing like it in sport.

Awww cute.

Also I think you're forgetting about Romero. World-class player, just doesn't have the profile he does elsewhere.

We were spoiled with Kane. Not just generational, the best in the club's history.

We have superstars-in-the-making. Bergvall this year will become one.

Son Heung-min: Tottenham captain to leave this summer after 10 years at club Tottenham captain Son Heung-min says he will leave the club this summer after 10 years.

Forever a club legend.

Thank you for the memories, Sonny!

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Whoa!!!

10-year-old breakout genius Bodhana Sivanandan has just been drawn in R1 against the BRITISH CHAMPION Gawain Jones.

What a matchup tomorrow! #britishchesschamps

We need Thomas Frank.

Oh, we've got Thomas Frank.

Happy with the manager. Happy with the squad building.

Happy.

Yes.

Grit, leadership and experience. Exactly what we've been missing for a very long time.

Revolution Chess.

The tactics remain the best.

The British Chess Championships are underway at the magnificent St George's Hall in Liverpool!

Winners gonna win!

When's the parade? #COYS #thfc

🎵 Herbalgy Cup winners, you'll never sing that...

#COYS

Ooo, I shall investigate...
Thanks for the tip.

Home We are pleased to announce that this year’s British Chess Championships will be held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool and the Liverpool Holiday Inn, with events running from 31st July to 10th August 2...

The British Chess Championships start today in Liverpool but this glorious event is tinged with sadness as the news that FM Gavin Wall has died.

Gavin was a lovely guy and a well-known figure in UK chess. RIP Gavin.

More on the British here: share.google/7xTPGUnrriuB...

Wouldn't worry too much - signings will come. The MGW thing may have been a massive bummer, but at least we can safely say we've 60 big ones burning in our pocket.

You mean, at best you've stood still.

Maybe I should have put WEAKER (but not by much).

5 players out, 1 in. Willian, who I've always thought was pretty useful, has gone.

Younger players developing applies to all clubs, and relative improvements are impossible to guess at.

Everton - STRONGER (marginal)
West Ham - WEAKER (and poor)
United - STRONGER (but lost a few)
Wolves - WEAKER

And with Kudus and Romero staying...

Spurs - STRONGER

CONCLUSION: work to do, yes, but look around and we are not doing badly. It's definitely not the binfire people think it is.

Newcastle - WEAKER (significantly if Isak goes)
Villa - WEAKER (they've done f-all!)
Forest - WEAKER
Brighton - WEAKER
Bournemouth - WEAKER
Brentford - WEAKER (significantly, partly due to us)
Fulham - WEAKER
Palace - WEAKER (only have 17 outfield players!)

Looking ok, right?

To put our transfer window into a bit of context, here's my quick take on how the Prem clubs from 24/25 are doing going into 25/26:

Liverpool - STRONGER
Arsenal - STRONGER
Chelsea - STRONGER
City - STRONGER (but no KDB)

All quite painful for Spurs fans. But...
#COYS

I'm not pretending it's not gutting to miss out on MGW. He is a quality player.

But ultimately it was his choice. What irks me is the way fans interpret failure as being the club's fault and stick the knife in.

Why? I think it's agenda-driven.

But yeah, we'll have other irons in the fire.

You realise when the Premier League restarts everyone starts with 0, right?

New manager. New methods. New players.

No two seasons are the same.

If you want us to strengthen more, so do I. But I'm not ready to start howling at the moon yet.

I just prefer not to spend my life being angry and frustrated.

I also prefer to judge our transfer windows when they finish, rather than halfway through.

Negativity is a mindset and a choice. Or, perhaps, just a lazy, sheepish acceptance that you'll follow other people's opinions and not create your own.

The window has only been open for 30 days. We're not "going into a season" without anything yet.

Be positive. It'll speed up. We'll do what we can