SEE YOU IN STRASBOURG
Strasbourg, official seat of the European parliament, the jewel of the Alsace region on the west bank of the Rhine. Important historically, geographically and politically. One of the city’s most famous sons, Arsène Wenger, as a boy, was so embedded that his first language was Low Alemannic German, not French. To use a word Wenger brought to the English football vernacular – footballistically – Strasbourg was never too much of a hub. The club reformed after liquidation as recently as 2011, having won just one French title back in 1979 when Wenger was a fringe player already embedded in coaching. In defence was the future France coach Raymond Domenech, the keen astrologist in charge when a very Gallic bust-up ravaged Les Bleus at the 2010 World Cup.
Until now, though it is more correct to say Strasbourg has become a football trading hub. As the summer transfer window SLAMMED SHUT on Monday, Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace became a rather regular destination. In 2023, RC fell into the hands of BlueCo. Name familiar? The same US-based company had bought Chelsea from a sanctioned Roman Abramovich the previous year, beginning one of those multi-club arrangements causing untold trouble this summer. Like Girona with Manchester City, there is something of a familiar look to Strasbourg’s squad, pretty large for a club in the Conference League.
Within the squad are Kendry Páez, an Ecuadorian teenager; Mamadou Sarr, French defender; Mike Penders, Belgian keeper. All are young players loaned by Chelsea. Diego Moreira, a young Belgian wing-back, signed from Chelsea last year. Mathis Amougou, a young French midfielder signed from Chelsea this summer. Ishé Samuels-Smith, a young English defender signed from Chelsea in the summer, has joined Swansea on loan, On Monday, Ben Chilwell, a not-so young English full-back, arrived from Chelsea for a two-year deal. Raheem Sterling is presumed to have refused to become a Eurostar loyalty card member.
Thus, RC have become a repository for talent either too young or not good enough to play for Chelsea. Fans of the actual football club, rather than a warehousing facility, are unhappy and protesting. Until BlueCo swanned in, RC had enjoyed a fan-centric culture under the former West Ham player Marc Keller, chief executive since 2001 and a local hero who took the club from fourth tier to Ligue 1. After selling to BlueCo, Keller is now portrayed among some militant fans as the traitor to the collective. Last season saw goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic and winger Andrey Santos come to Strasbourg and go back to Chelsea. Similar traffic has followed, footballers reimagined as commodities bought and sold like pork bellies and frozen orange juice. Modern football is rubbish.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
We’re all captivated by the journey of Wrexham. It’s been amazing for Welsh football and hopefully now in a number of years we’ll see young players coming through … There isn’t similarities to how I play to how Wrexham play. It’s different ways, no right or wrong way for this” – Craig Bellamy, the Wales manager, praises Wrexham’s rise under the co-ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Despite his newfound diplomacy, let’s assume the former Cardiff forward isn’t entirely sold on a style of play focused on 6ft 5in striker Kieffer Moore.
I have always been puzzled by the content-less headline at the end of your teatime emails. But yesterday’s ‘We should have sat in a car park’ rubbed salt into a wound. My wife and I sat in the Select Car Leasing Stadium car park on Saturday awaiting rescue of our stricken vehicle by the AA. Except for a ripple of applause in the 66th minute we could have heard a pin drop, suggesting your sentiment was spot on for the other 12,624 who went to watch Reading 1-0 Port Vale” – Alan Giles.
Whatever Football Daily goes on to achieve, it will always be remembered for ‘even the stadia are in tiers’ [yesterday’s Daily] – Rich Johnson.
Just before the transfer window closed, Charlton fans were delighted to learn that James Bree was joining on loan from Southampton. Many think that he compares favourably with Ben White of Arsenal. Personally, I think they’re chalk and cheese” – Phil Hearn.
I am certain I will be one of 1,057 to point out that Mr Clough was clearly waving a badminton, not a squash, racket around [the jury’s out – FD Ed] … I assume you oversight is because you, like everyone else in this country, have been inculcated into the Padel Cult?” – Patrick Brennan (and 1,056 others).
In this window’s competition for least enthusiastic new signee, the prize must surely go to Piero Hincapié, seemingly ambushed at night outside someone’s garage and made to wave an unwieldy tifo flag” – Charles Antaki.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Alan Giles. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.
RECOMMENDED BOOKING
On Thursday 11 September, join Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and Football Weekly favourites Jonathan Wilson, Nicky Bandini and Jonathan Liew for an evening of unfiltered football punditry at Troxy in London. The pod will also be livestreamed globally. Book now.
RECOMMENDED LOOKING
David Squires, cartoon and cake specialist, focuses on VAR this week after yet more decision-making chaos in the Premier League.