Greetings, fellow gluttons for punishment! Yes, both the Reds and Blues contrived to lose 3-1 each on Saturday. But the manner in which they chose to do so was spectacularly different. Let’s inspect the corpses.

Despite Evan’s poignant, double-edged speculation ahead of last week’s match against United, Chelsea were good value for money in the first half and could have had a larger cushion before disaster struck. As like last weekend, Chelsea were always looking open after a game-changing instant. And former United lad Danny Welbeck popped up to take advantage. The question coming into this game was whether Chelsea could cope for 3 weeks without their talisman Palmer. But he isn’t responsible for reckless passing and rash tackles. They did manage to recover with a victory over Benfica in the Champions League. And while the 3 points are valuable, once again the manner in which they were gained will not instill much hope. Another unnecessary red card late on is also a cause for concern. A visit from a staggering but still strong Liverpool may be an indicator for which direction both teams are heading at the moment.

Manchester United. Woof. Is this the worst we’ve seen in the modern era? I (AG) can see no clear system; no intended patterns of play; no cohesiveness in positional and/or transitional play. I’m clearly not a top-tier manager, but I’m not sure that’s required to see that the “system” isn’t working, players aren’t where they should be, and letting them play would at least give them a chance. I have lost faith. They welcome a surprising Sunderland at the weekend. Another loss may be Amorim’s last.

The USMNT has upcoming friendlies with Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The USWNT has 2 upcoming matches with Portugal before facing New Zealand, all in late October.

We’ll be trying not to have DOGSO VAR decisions that contradict one another in the same game, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also 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! The international break is over, and that means the return of league and Champions League footy. How did our clubs fare after a few weeks off?

Chelsea’s start to the season has been a mixed bag. Coming off a summer run to a trophy – and the extra games and miles on legs that entailed – they have at times looked sluggish. And so it continued on Saturday, as they fell behind to Brentford in the first half. This prompted a trio of changes at halftime and the introduction of their talisman Cole Palmer shortly after. This soon paid off, with Palmer slotting home to tie it up. Alejandro Garnacho made his Chelsea debut as a sub and immediately looked lively, running at and consistently beating his man. This led to a Caicedo goal in the 85th that looked to have wrapped things up. Unfortunately, Garnacho is not quite as active and alert on the defensive end, as he let his man sneak to the back post to salvage a point for the Bees. That should not overshadow his otherwise solid outing, and he’ll hope to get into the action against his former club United on Saturday. But Chelsea must first travel to Munich without a full-strength squad and wary of what Nico Jackson has imparted to the Bayern team behind closed doors. Traveling to Munich and then Manchester (even on their current form; more on that below), is no easy task. If they manage good results from those 2, then Maresca may to be able to ring the changes against League One Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup next week.

Manchester United. Surely something has got to give. And given Ruben Amorim’s firm intention to stick with his system or be fired, it seems a change of personnel is really his only option. Despite Bruno having been United’s best player for the better part of the last few years – as well as arguably the most productive attacking midfielder in Europe – it’s obvious to all that he is not suited to the deeper lying role as part of the midfield base of 2. Kobbie Mainoo came on in the 62nd minute and had an immediate impact on a match that was probably already lost. But if he is once again left on the bench in favor of some form of Bruno/Case/Ugarte (2 from 3), then Amorim has only himself to blame. Bruno’s creativity is wasted in such a role. Short of tweaking the system, the only way United will see a different result against Chelsea will be for Amorim to put other players in from the start and give them their chance. With almost no midweek football, there is no excuse for United to not cover every blade and be well-drilled with so many days to train. Are they incrementally getting better and just ran into a rejuvenated City at the wrong time? Or is this all the more fans can expect under Amorim? Saturday is a chance to change the narrative.

Speaking of Saturday… it’s the first edition of the 25/26 season Red and Blue Soccer Chat Derby Watch Party! We’ll be rocking up to Chatham Tap Fishers for front row viewing of what will hopefully at least be an entertaining match. Join us as we get hyped with pre-match fan interviews, halftime hot-takes, and the post-game post-mortem. Friendly banter and flowing spirits will be in abundance. Come join the fun.

The USMNT held 2 friendlies during the international break with South Korea and Japan, respectively. South Korea truly played the US off the park, with their very own star man Son grabbing the headlines. But a regrouped side turned things around against a weakened Japan side. Alejandro Zendejas and Flo Balogun put themselves into the WC26 roster mix with a goal apiece, and Captain America Pulisic looked like the player that has been tearing it up for Milan for the past season. It seems the “rift” with Pochettino is perhaps more smoke than fire. They have friendlies scheduled for October and November with Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay, and Uruguay coming up. A rumored match against Ronaldo’s Portugal is on the horizon after the new year.

The...

Hey Reds and Blues, the Premier League is back! The first weekend of matches is in the books. Neither side got off to the start we/they had hoped for, but each club showed signs of what may lie ahead. Let’s see how things have gone so far.

Chelsea’s long and successful summer run at the Club World Cup ended in a trophy, but it may have come at a price. Many Chelsea players looked a bit tired and off the pace, with a plucky Palace side showing why they’ve been a thorn in many sides in recent months. The lack of a full pre-season also seemed to be a contributing factor, as Chelsea simply didn’t click. Josh Acheampong, though, looked solid on his debut, but Jamie Gittens struggled to make an impact. A short trip to West Ham may be the tonic to get things going, as the Hammers sputtered out of the gates with a 3-0 loss in their opener.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim got the full pre-season they needed, and it was nominally successful with multiple wins and good showings from their new signings. But an opening fixture at home to Arsenal is not exactly how anyone would have wanted to ease into the season. But the performance spoke for itself. United outplayed the supposed title-chasing Gunners for long stretches and were denied goals by a post and some terrific saves from David Raya. Once again, the new signings looked lively from the off. Matheus Cunha was direct in his dribbling, and Bryan Mbeumo was always an outlet and subsequent threat on the wing. Benjamin Sesko didn’t have many opportunities, but that should as they all learn one another’s movements. A trip down to Fulham, who earned a solid point in their opener, is up next for United.

The USMNT has upcoming friendlies with South Korea and Japan in September, while the USWNT is off until late October and 2 friendlies with Portugal.

We’ll be looking for the last pieces of the transfer window puzzle, so join us at 7pm live at Chatham Tap or online through Facebook Live and hopefully YouTube Live. You can also 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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Hey Reds, Blues, and all soccer fans! We are finally back and ready to once again give our local take on the global game. Who has had the better transfer window? Will these signings have an immediate impact? And who will be lifting the trophy several months from now? Let’s jump in and find out…

Chelsea theoretically splashed the cash this summer, though most deals are listed as “Undisclosed”, so full amounts are yet to be known. What is known is their intent. Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, and Joao Pedro have been brought in to bag the goals that were missing last season, while the latest signing of Jorrel Hato from Ajax is meant to keep them out. The list of outgoings is perhaps just as telling, most notably Noni Madueke heading across town to Arsenal. Goalkeeper remains a potential question mark, but these signings combined with the momentum gained from winning the quasi-inaugural Club World Cup show Chelsea’s clear intent: Top 4 or bust.

Manchester United have been slightly quieter during the window, though they have landed 2 of their main targets in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Diego Luna may be one for the future; time will tell. Another striker, deep-lying midfielder, and goalkeeper also remain necessary gaps to fill, but United’s slow business model may see them start the season as-is. Their summer tour has shown glimpses of what fans will be hoping to see more of: free-flowing passing, actual dribbling at defenders, and a confident team taking more chances in front of goal. Last season’s dismal final standing, and the ignominious loss to Spurs in a final that could have secured European competition this season need to be left in the rearview if this newly gelling group can find success. Top 4 is probably way too much to hope for but landing somewhere in a European spot rightly be seen as improvement.

The USMNT endured a tough summer. After losing out in the Nations League they brought what can only be considered a “C” team to the Gold Cup. The fill-ins performed admirably, though, with a few names (Luna, Tillman, Agyemang, McGlynn) making a case to be considered for the upcoming World Cup. The furor came over the names that were missing, with several obligated to the CWC. Most notably, though, Christian Pulisic asked to skip the Gold Cup to recover from his break-out season with Milan. This has divided fans, but a healthy, goal-scoring Captain America will soon have them forgetting it all if he can lead these young eagles deep into a tournament run.

We’ll be shaking the sand out of our shorts and getting amped for this weekend’s impending Community Shield – the unofficial kickoff to the EPL – so join us live from Chatham Tap Fishers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. We should be on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, and we’ll be sure to update as the evening approaches, or you can 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 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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