TV pundit Jamie Carragher joined the Yellow Wall as Borussia Dortmund beat PSG in the Champions League, while the evergreen Thiago Silva said a teary goodbye to Chelsea. Gary Lemke highlights a few talking points ahead of the weekend’s football.
CARRAGHER JOINS THE DORTMUND PARTY
When I lived and worked in London I soon realised that going to the pub and drinking was as much a culture as football is a religion. What a combo. It was there, in 2000, that the-then Tory party leader William Hague told media that he connects with the ordinary citizen because, while working for his father’s delivery company as a youngster, he used to drink 14 pints a day.
This week, former Liverpool star turned TV analyst Jamie Carragher conducted an interview with Jadon Sancho after Dortmund had beaten PSG 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final first leg. “I’m slurring my words because I’ve had about eight pints in the yellow wall. I’ve got a new family, a family and friends. We all looked after each other.” Even if he spilt a bit in the celebration, a pint equals around 500ml, which means he guzzled what we know as 12 beer cans/bottles, of 330ml.
Jamie Carragher smashed after 8 pints, interviewing Jadon Sancho…
— Project Football (@ProjectFootball) May 1, 2024
CBS never misses 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/CCnsZ7ZMgA
SILVA DEPARTS WITH GOLDEN MEMORIES
There weren’t many dry eyes when Chelsea’s Thiago Silva announced he was retiring at the end of the season. The Brazilian has had a great career and signs off on a glittering career in the sport. In fact, when it comes to major trophies collected along the way, his total of 33 is second on the all-time list of players who’ve featured in the English Premier League. Others in the top 10 are Kyle Walker (16), Phil Foden (17), Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic (21), Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Rafael Varane (22) and Casemiro (23). Top of the pile? Thiago Alcantara with 35.
Four years, countless memories.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 29, 2024
A message from Thiago Silva… pic.twitter.com/f2YbB4GMXY
BOSTOCK PACKS HIS KITBAG – AGAIN
The name John Bostock might not ring any bells, built the 32-year-old was once a teenager with the world at his feet. At the age of 14, the English midfielder was offered a contract with Barcelona. Instead, he started his career at Crystal Palace, before being signed by Tottenham. He was sent out on loan to Brentford, Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon and Toronto, before signing for Royal Antwerp, and then OH Leuven, Lens, Bursapor, Toulouse and Doncaster. He has now just been released, at the age of 32, by Notts County, who play in the fourth tier of the English League system.
Once a magpie, always a magpie 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/iJNHyJItvz
— John Bostock (@JohnJBostock) April 29, 2024
SHEFFIELD UNITED IN A TON OF TROUBLE
With three games remaining it’s when, not if, Sheffield United will hit the unflattering 100 goals conceded in an English Premier League season mark. Last week we mentioned they’d already eclipsed the old “record” of Derby, who shipped 89 in the 2007-2008 season. That came from 38 League games. However, another four conceded against Burnley took their tally to 97.
They’re now three goals away from leaking 100 goals, and four away from the 101 that would constitute an EPL record number. Swindon Town conceded 100 goals in the 1993-94 EPL season – but that’s when there were 42 games. These days there are 38. Sheffield United’s last three matches are against Forest, Everton and Tottenham.
Most set-piece goals including penalties in the Premier League this season:
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 2, 2024
◉ 31 - Arsenal
◎ 22 - Newcastle
Most set-piece goals conceded including penalties in the Premier League this season:
◎ 26 - Nottingham Forest
◎ 23 - Sheffield United
◉ 22 - Tottenham
It's… pic.twitter.com/5bFnaDLdb9
BELLINGHAM LEADS BALLON D’OR RACE
The debate about football’s GOAT still continues, despite Lionel Messi playing in the USA and Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. However, neither will be awarded FIFA’s Ballon d’Or next time round. Messi has won the title eight times and Ronaldo five, with (Brazilian) Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane scooping it three times each. Come October though, there will be a new kid on the block. Bookmakers have priced up Jude Bellingham as favourite to get the award, with Kylian Mbappe second favourite. Harry Kane is the third choice. All three are still in the Champions League and will also have big roles at Euro 2024. The assumption is that whoever gets furthest at those two competitions will end up as the winner.
"This kid is 10 years ahead of his time"@ReshminTV, @GlennHoddle, and @themichaelowen discuss Jude Bellingham as he does his new pre-match tradition—taking a solo lap around the pitch 🏟️#UCL pic.twitter.com/mF7Nk0nYGS
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 30, 2024
RASHFORD TOPS UNITED’S MOST ‘VALUABLE’
The BBC (which therefore means it must be true…) have released figures from a study conducted that provides each Manchester United player’s transfer value in the event of an expected between-seasons sale. Marcos Rashford tops the list, valued at £106m, followed by Rasmus Hojlund (£83m), Alejandro Garnacho (£92m) and Antony (£63m). Others include Bruno Fernandez (£60m), Casemiro (£24m) and Harry Maguire (£14m). Johnny Evans? You can have him for free.
Marcus Rashford is Manchester United's most valuable asset...
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 2, 2024
But if you owned #manutd, would you cash in on any of these players in the summer? 🤔#BBCFootball #PL #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/4EQwtASxLf
