Reds and Blues, we are finally back after an extended hiatus. There’s much to catch up on. So let’s dive right in.

Chelsea now sit in sixth place, 1 point behind City and 2 behind Newcastle. A top-four finish is still possible. But the immediate focus is on progression in the Conference, where they take a 3-goal lead into the Bridge on Thursday. Take care of business and advance in a tournament they are heavy favorites to win. A trip to tricky Fulham awaits at the weekend. With a seemingly safe cushion, will Enzo rest some players in anticipation of Sunday’s match?

Manchester United’s up-and-down season (mostly down) continues apace. There is no consistency, but they have risen to the big moment at times this season. And Thursday will be another chance to do so as they take what should have been a lead back to Old Trafford against Lyon. A late goal means they must win at home to advance. And that is no longer as straight-forward as it once was. But as their last real hope to salvage anything from this season, it must be their priority. Wolves await at the weekend.

The USMNT, still licking their wounds from losses to Panama and Canada, does not return to action until June with 2 friendlies to prepare for the Gold Cup. The USWNT split 2 friendlies with Brazil. They will play China in a friendly in late May.

We’ll be trying to get up to game speed as quick as possible, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. We continue to not be on Facebook Live due to technical issues outside of our control, so look for us on YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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Reds, Blues, GFOPs! A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March. Set our clubs before us; let us see their form.

Chelsea’s fifth-place standing is both blessing and curse. It’s probably enough for future European exploits regardless of Thursday’s trip to Scandinavian shores. But it hides an inconsistency that may be their undoing. They have conceded 5 and scored 4 in their last 3 matches. They could win or lose by similar margins tomorrow and no one would be surprised either way. With only 4 games in March – 2 of which come in the Conference – the margins grow ever thinner.

Manchester United are even worse in the consistency stakes. Wins are not convincing; draws feel like small victories. Falling to Fulham on penalties is just the latest in a season-long string of underwhelming performances. A trip to Real Sociedad beckons the last chance of silverware and salvage for the season. While relegation seems unlikely, the fact it’s even a discussion is a testament to just how far they’ve fallen in such a short period of time.

The USMNT resumes competitive action later this month against Panama in the Nations League. After 2 solid wins for the B (C?) squad, Poch will be hoping for a healthy A-list to continue the march toward regional dominance. The US women were shocked by Japan in the final of the SheBelieves Cup. It was the first significant loss of the Emma Hayes era. They have a month to think on it before a friendly with Brazil.

We’ll be side-eyeing soothsayers and senators alike, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. We will not be on Facebook Live due to technical issues outside of our control, so look for us on YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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Welcome back, Reds and Blues! January flew by, and our absence has done the same with February. We have a lot to catch up on, so let’s dive in!

The ongoing inconsistency of Manchester United continued this weekend as they fell to Spurs away. United entered February on a 3-game winning streak. But an incredibly limp performance against Palace brought them back to earth. That was followed by another unconvincing win against struggling Leicester in the FA Cup, before this weekend’s turgid affair with Spurs. It was hoped that finishing in the top portion of the Europa table – and the 2 weeks off from mid-week games – would provide some breathing room to advance Amorim’s vision. But injuries, loans, and just the general malaise have all conspired against them. United face a resurgent Everton away this weekend before resuming mid-week competition against Ipswich. Amorim and his squad need to build some sort of momentum as they head into the spring run-in. Languishing in the bottom half of the table may take more than a cup run to save them all from further criticism.

Chelsea’s only positives at the moment are that they aren’t Manchester United, and their first half of the season form has placed them in good stead in the table. But 2 losses in a row to the same team – the most recent of which was a 3-0 mauling – have put a dent in their confidence. Injuries and loans are proving problematic for Chelsea as well, with no true striker healthy at the moment. A trip to Villa Park is probably not what they would be hoping for right now either. Maresca’s concerns are growing.

The biggest transfer news for each club was United sending Rashford on loan to Villa and Chelsea shipping Felix to Milan on loan as well. Both clubs brought in young and as-yet-untested talent. Dorgu has been tossed into the deep end of the pool due to mounting injuries, and he has shown glimpses of young talent. It remains to be seen if he’s a long-term answer.

The USMNT took care of business against Costa Rica, 3-0. 6 goals and a clean sheet over 2 games will have Poch feeling positive. Meanwhile his overseas players continue to impress. The CONCACAF Nations League beckons them in March against Panama. And our US women are preparing for the SheBelieves Cup, with Colombia their first opponent on Feb 20.

We’ll be hoping to avoid serious injuries, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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BRRRR, Reds and Blues! We hope those of you enduring this Midwest cold blast are managing to stay warm and safe. England is also suffering at the hands of the Snow Miser. Let’s see how our teams are handling it.

It’s safe to say that Manchester United are struggling to find themselves. While they are able to get up for the big rival matches, they continue to have problems with teams they should historically be beating. But recent history is full of inconsistency and frustration, and that trend continues. Despite putting in a terrific performance and gutsy display to endure with 10 men for over and hour to ultimately defeat Arsenal on penalties, the other version of United showed up against Southampton. They were second best for 80 minutes before Amad stepped up to save their blushes. A twelve-minute hat trick overshadowed a very worrying performance. And that worrying came to further fruition against B&H, with a reversal of the same 3-1 scoreline against the Saints. Once again outplayed for the majority of the match on home soil, United very much look like a team in crisis. And Amorim has acknowledged as much. He will hope that a change of competition can shake their malaise, as they face Rangers in the Europa on Thursday. Fulham’s recent good form will be a concern on Sunday before another trip to Europe to follow. Surely they must begin to build some momentum. But in which direction?

Chelsea has a similar if not quite so dire issue of consistency themselves. Though they handily dispatched Morecambe in the FA Cup, they required some late heroics from their captain to gain a point against Bournemouth. A 3-1 scoreline over Wolves was perhaps somewhat flattering given the latter’s commitment. So it’s on to Saturday and a trip to Manchester City who appear to be regaining their early-season dominance. Chelsea will need a full 90 display to take any points, and that is something they have struggled with this season. A confident display against City would bode well as they head into February and a quick succession of matches against teams with similar ambitions as their own.

The USMNT’s mostly domestic-based squad showed good commitment and desire in their 3-1 win over Venezuela. They will hope to continue to impress their new boss this evening against Costa Rica. While many fans scratch their heads at the purpose of the off-cycle friendlies, it does provide an opportunity to younger players trying to muscle their way into the senior squad.

Emma has called in a mixed group for the January camp in preparation for the SheBelieves Cup in February. Their first match is Feb 20 against Colombia.

We’ll be hoping not to drop the ball at the feet of an attacker, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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Happy Holidays, Reds and Blues! It’s that time of year, and we are definitely in the midst of the Festive Fixtures. Games are coming thick and fast, so let’s see how our clubs are faring.

MANCHESTER. IS. RED. Yes, it was against a City side that appears to be in free-fall, but United haven’t exactly been setting the world alight with their performances either. Despite playing well for long stretches against Arsenal and losing to 2 well-run set pieces, their follow-up effort against Forest was well below par. A mid-week win away to Plzen in the Europa (thank you, Rasmus!) improved the mood prior to the cross-town trek to City. But most fans were probably expecting to see their side huff and puff but ultimately lose. And that seemed in the cards after playing just well enough but conceding to a header from a deflected cross on a broken corner kick routine. United made the running in the second half, though, and were rewarded for the endeavor of Amad. He latched onto a lazy back-pass from Nunes, and then had the patience to dummy the goalie before fishing Nunes into a bad tackle for a pk. Bruno neatly dispatched, but it was the next minute that decided things. Martinez can go from butcher to beauty in a second, and he did just that by floating an enticing ball into Amad. And it may have been a mis-hit, but not a single Red will care. 2-1 to United away at the Etihad. United will face another struggling side in Spurs on Thursday before returning home to face a tricky Bournemouth side on Sunday. Wolves away on Boxing Day and Newcastle at Old Trafford round out December for the Reds.

Chelsea’s December has gone about as well as any Blue could have hoped. 7 wins on the bounce since the 1-1 draw with Arsenal. 21 goals. And now firmly in 2nd place in the EPL table. Maresco has quickly found the winning formula. And he’ll believe his side can keep up their run of good form for the remainder of December, as they face Shamrock Rovers at the Bridge in the Europa before finishing up December with 3 straight EPL matches against Everton, Fulham, and Ipswich. Fixture congestion can be tricky, and any of those sides can be a banana peel, but the odds currently favor Chelsea. Liverpool have a game in hand and a 2-point lead. Could Chelsea give themselves an early Christmas present?!

The USMNT is off until mid-January when they’ll face Venezuela and Costa Rica in friendlies, while the US women are off until February and the SheBelieves Cup.

We’ll be singing the 12 Days of Cantona and busting out the ugly sweaters, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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Happy New Year, Reds and Blues! We hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. The Festive Fixtures are winding down. How did our clubs close out the year and kickoff the new one?

“Chelsea’s December has gone about as well as any Blue could have hoped.” That’s what I wrote just a few weeks ago. But the mid-December form that had some folks talking up a title challenge has disappeared into the wintry mix that has overtaken England. A comfortable win over Irish side Shamrock Rovers in the Conference has been followed by 2 draws and 2 losses. The capitulation against Ipswich is most concerning (though their recent form indicates perhaps The Tractor Boys aren’t quite as bad as we all thought), but having led against Fulham and Palace before conceding late on to lose and draw, respectively, is indicative of fatigue both mentally and physically. Becoming and remaining a Top 4 side requires incredible focus, and that seems to have slipped for the Blues recently. 3 home fixtures in a row is a positive, but after Morecambe there is the unpredictability of the Cherries and Wolves. Enzo will hope to have taken maximum points before rocking up to Manchester City to round out January. Seasons – and trophies – are won and lost in the dark winter of England.

From the highs of the derby win to crashing down to Earth for the next 4 games in which they were thoroughly outplayed (and kept scoreless in 3 of them), most Reds were probably wondering just how many Liverpool might hang on them this time around. But while United are struggling with a new system and finding consistency, they are still able to get up for the big ones. Call them a “cup side” if you want, but if treating these games as the quasi-championships they have so long felt like, then maybe that’s the mindset to take. United looked a completely different side from the previous 4 games, and at times they appeared to take the fight directly to Liverpool. Clearly working to expose TAA, United put on a tactical masterclass and caused problems down the flank all day. Frankly, either side could have won it, with Harry getting one last half-chance at the death. But on current form, a point away at Anfield on the back of a full team performance is a good result. They face another stiff test away to Arsenal in the FA Cup this weekend before 3 straight at Old Trafford. None should be taken for granted. But if they can find a way to reproduce the effort, intensity, and tactical nous they’ve shown against their biggest historical rivals, it should bode well for upcoming results. Fingers crossed.

The USMNT will gather mid-January for off-cycle friendlies with Venezuela and Costa Rica in Florida, while the US women are off until February and the SheBelieves Cup. It’s likely doubtful that our biggest names for the men will be made available, but the current form of Captain America et al in Italy and across many other leagues show what we’re going to be looking forward to in upcoming competitive matches. For the women, Emma will look to build on the past year’s successes and new blood in the squad.

We’ll be explaining fouls and penalties to Ange and Mikel, respectively, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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And we’re back! We hope you enjoyed the additional week off for Thanksgiving, America’s oddest holiday celebration. And we’ve made it through the final international break of 2024. How did the USMNT fare in their 2-leg Nations League encounter? And how did our clubs do upon their return from the break? Let’s dig into the leftovers!

Chelsea returned from the break with an away day at faltering Leicester, and they seemed hungry from the start. Chelsea dominated for the most part, with only a late pk to spoil their clean sheet. A slightly comfortable win away to Heidenheim keeps them atop the Conference League table, and that was followed up on Sunday with a rousing 3-0 victory over the wobbling Villa to keep them firmly in third in the PL standings. Things are beginning to get congested as they always do in December. Chelsea will travel to Southampton in mid-week before making the short passage across London to face a Spurs side that is unpredictable at best. Chelsea’s form has them in good stead as the year comes to its clogged-up ending. More of the same will be the manager’s talking point for now.

The Ruben Amorim era started with a bang that quickly fizzled back into United’s recent form as they scored within 90 seconds against Ipswich only to yet again cough up a soft goal. And it appeared that would carry over to the Europa league as they once again scored early before somehow being opened up for 2 goals in quick succession. But a newfound resilience gave the manager a bounce with Hojlund scoring 2 either side of halftime to spare the new manager’s blushes. A 4-0 thrashing of Everton – who indeed could have scored early themselves – has United fans feeling optimistic heading into the Wednesday fixture against a flying Arsenal before hosting Forest at the weekend. Any positive result away to the Gunners will be welcomed, but it may be too early a test for Amorim’s new formation and strategy.

Poch took his young eagles to Kingston and got the sort of grind-it-out result that is so often needed in CONCACAF before coming home to St. Louis and showing what this team is capable of. 1-0 away and 4-2 at home showed that this team can put in the hard running when needed, has the attacking tools to take control, but still has some work to do to keep the opposition out. Poch now has a blueprint and the insight to see what this group needs moving forward. Less than 2 years out, can he find a way to solve those issues?

We’ll be making leftover sandwiches for days, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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Welcome back, Reds and Blues! We’re at yet another international break, but both clubs have seen some positive results in recent weeks. Let’s look at what they’ve done, and what we can expect from the new USMNT manager as he takes on Jamaica in the Nations League.

Chelsea goes into the break on a relative high. They followed up the away draw at Old Trafford with an 8-0 trouncing of Armenian side Noah in the Conference. Then came the big test against Arsenal, and it’s fair to say they got a passing score. It was a tense affair with both teams having similar possession and similarly few shots. Chelsea showed resilience after going behind, and their new signing Neto rewarded their faith with an equalizing goal. The break will hopefully allow a clearly sore and tired Cole Palmer to get back to full fitness before facing Leicester in 10 days. They round out November against Heidenheim in the Conference before beginning a breath-taking run of 9 games in December.

Manchester United completed a run of 4 games under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who unshackled the squad and saw them win 3 and draw 1. But Ruud has also departed, and new rising star manager Ruben Amorim has taken charge. He’ll have 2 weeks with a majority of his squad to figure out how to begin his new era, and his first matches in charge appear favorable as first they visit Ipswich before hosting Bodo/Glimt in the Europa. United will also play 9 games in December, with Arsenal, City, and Spurs all to come.

Poch will lead his Eagles into Kingston to face Jamaica before returning to St. Louis for the return leg in the CONCACAF Nations League. There may be some question marks in specific positions (ahem, goalkeeper), but the form of Pulisic, McKennie, Musah, and Tillman should make other decisions very easy. We’re all too aware of recent slip-ups against Caribbean sides, so Poch should be prepared to get the best out of his squad to alleviate fans’ fears.

We’ll be feeling some type of way, so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, follow along on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, or catch us at your leisure on our other platforms listed below. Please like, subscribe, and comment wherever you choose to find us. CHEERS!

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