CaaC (John)

Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has hinted he could leave Marseille after ex-West Ham and Sheffield Wednesday chief executive Paul Aldridge was appointed as a 'special advisor' without his knowledge. (Le Parisien - in French)

Barcelona are close to signing Brazilian midfielder Matheus Fernandes, 21, from Palmeiras for 7m euros, plus a potential 4m in add-ons. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) Barca are also monitoring the progress of 17-year-old Japanese midfielder Jun Nishikawa, who currently plays for Cerezo Osaka. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish)

Thanks, all my love John the Death/Earth Eater

Cold and blowing a gale here but still no snow.

I deleted it anyway, I put the wrong photo in, sorry

Edit: Deleted

Scottish Premiership Harry Bunn [Unattached - Kilmarnock] Free Jordan Tillson [Exeter City - Ross County] Undisclosed

@nudge, did you miss this.

Rangers' Northern Ireland defender Danny Finlayson, 18, and Scottish left-back Matthew Shiels, 19, are set for loan spells with American side Orange County. (Daily Record)

I've read the book by Stephen King and I might have seen the movie but not the mini-series.

Billionaire Aliko Dangote plots Arsenal takeover 'in 2021' Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has again declared his intention to buy Arsenal. African billionaire Aliko Dangote has sensationally claimed he is looking to buy Arsenal in 2021. Dangote, who is estimated to be the richest man in Africa, has a net worth of more than £8.5billion through his business exploits. The Nigerian has been linked with takeover bids for Arsenal, who are owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), in the past. Indeed Dangote told Reuters in 2018: “We will go after Arsenal from 2020… even if somebody buys, we will still go after in.” The 62-year-old, however, has now moved his position after explaining how he is currently focusing on a number of business projects. “It is a team (Arsenal) that yes I would like to buy some day, but what I keep saying today is we have $20billion worth of projects and that's what I really want to concentrate on,” Dangote told the David Rubenstein Show. “I'm trying to finish building the company and then after we finish, maybe some time in 2021 we can. “I'm not buying Arsenal right now, I'm buying Arsenal when I finish all these projects, because I'm trying to take the company to the next level.” Arsenal owners KSE have come under fire in recent months from sections of the club’s fan base. In the summer a number of different supporters’ groups united under the campaign ‘We Care Do You’ to lobby against the current running of the club. KSE, however, revealed in August through an interview with director Josh Kroenke that they were committed to Arsenal and guiding them back to the top of the Premier League. “It's important for them to know how passionate we are,” he told the BBC. “When I met with some of the fans' groups last season I told them that trust is earned over time and I would love for you to trust me now but unfortunately that trust has to play out over the next several years. “We're just getting started and hopefully we'll start to earn more and more trust with the more and more work we put in. “The Emirates is a place that is always going to be special to me and my family. I'm excited about being here, hopefully, a long time. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/aliko-dangote-arsenal-takeover-2021-a4333246.html

Nathaniel Phillips (Stuttgart) Loan Details https://www.premierleague.com/news/1530906

DONE DEAL https://www.premierleague.com/news/1530906 Mavropanos joins Nuremberg on loan Arsenal Media 13 Jan 2020

STIRRER

Laugh a minute @Stan, the wife did not realise that she had watched all the Series and Episodes and was trying to find series 4 until I found out and told her Netflix won't be releasing Series 4 until November, December all she would say was "Bloody hell, I've got to wait that long..." The Crown season 4: When’s it released on Netflix? What’s going to happen?

That's the wife just put it on again, Season 3 Episode 10.

Completely lost track of this compliments of the wife, she keeps watching episode after episode if I am not around and it's annoying, the episode she was watching last I noticed I presumed it was something to do with Teddy Heath as PM I think it was, I can't be sure but it looked like police battling with striking miners?

Is that you Darren? That's our son's way of talking, I keep telling him you have the League sowed up now but he said "I won't celebrate that until we mathematically win it pops", he then went into the backroom to watch Spurs v Pool and I was sitting in the lounge here with the wife and our daughter watching a show on tv when we heard an almighty YEEEEESSSSS, GET IN THERE..." the wife shite a brick and jumped, our daughter jumped and said "What the fuck did he yell like that for?", I said calmly without jumping "More than likely his Liverpool has just scored against Spurs".

Stats Centre

FIXED, them and comma added.

I wish I was there and Ole, shhh, none of this shit, please, "We are a family and I can only say from my time here I have been backed by the owners and backed by Ed. They are supporting me so we have to stick together." you might like them weasels but I don't like them, like a lot of other United supporters. Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says club must 'stick together' amid fan protests Manchester United must "stick together" following fan protests against the club's owners and Ed Woodward at Old Trafford, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The protests occurred during United's 4-0 win over Norwich on Saturday. Red Devils supporters in the Stretford End loudly chanted "we want Glazers out" and sang profanities against executive vice-chairman Woodward. "I am not sure if the players got it. I noticed it, yeah," said United manager Solskjaer. The sentiment spread to other parts of the stadium during the second half and some anger was directed towards Woodward by fans exiting at full time. "As a club, we have got to stick together and be united," added Solskjaer. "We are a family and I can only say from my time here I have been backed by the owners and backed by Ed. They are supporting me so we have to stick together." Fans waited until going 3-0 up in the 54th minute before expressing their frustrations against the club's hierarchy and it was not for the first time this season. Before the game against Liverpool in October, supporters marched outside the ground with a banner which read "Glazers out, Woodward out. £1bn stolen from MUFC," while a plane was flown over the ground with a banner reading: "Ed still failing, Woodward out." The thrashing of Norwich was United's first victory in four games after being beaten by Arsenal in their last league game, a drab showing in a goalless draw at Wolves in the FA Cup and being outclassed in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg at home by rivals Manchester City. Solskjaer's own position is constantly under question because of inconsistent performances, but the Norwegian pointed out: "We are in all competitions, still in the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, we are fifth in the league, have improved our position from last season, and we have the Europa League. "So the fans have to believe me when I say I feel we are doing loads of good things behind the scenes, we are going in the right directions. "You saw the attitude, effort and work-rate, that is the core of the group that will go forward." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51079707

Tortoise with species-saving sex drive returns to Galápagos VIDEO A giant tortoise whose legendary libido has been credited with saving his species from extinction is to return to the wild on the Galápagos Islands. Diego was among 14 male tortoises selected to take part in a breeding programme on Santa Cruz Island. The programme has been a success, producing more than 2,000 giant tortoises since it began in the 1960s. Diego's sex drive was said to be one of the main reasons. The 100-year-old tortoise has fathered hundreds of progeny, around 800 by some estimates. The programme has now finished, and Diego will be returned to his native island of Española in March, the Galápagos National Parks service (PNG) said. Fireworks banned on the Galapagos to protect wildlife New tortoise species found on Galapagos The iguanas heading home He will join a 1,800-strong tortoise population, at least 40% of which park rangers believe he has fathered. "He's contributed a large percentage to the lineage that we are returning to Española," Jorge Carrion, the park's director, told AFP news agency. "There's a feeling of happiness to have the possibility of returning that tortoise to his natural state." The park service believes Diego was taken from the Galápagos 80 years ago by a scientific expedition. Around 50 years ago, there were only two males and 12 females of Diego's species alive on Espanola. To save his species, Chelonoidis hoodensis, Diego was brought in from California's San Diego Zoo. Diego is currently in quarantine before his triumphant return to Española, considered one of the oldest parts of the Galápagos. The Galápagos Islands, 906km (563 miles) west of continental Ecuador, is a Unesco World Heritage site renowned worldwide for their unique array of plants and wildlife. The indigenous species found on the Galápagos, including iguanas and tortoises, played a key role in the development of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Tourists across the globe travel there to see its biodiversity. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-51073620

Hadrian's Wall fort gifted to England's historic sites collection SLIDES - 1/4 A Roman fort at Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland, built around 122AD and which housed a garrison of 500 soldiers from Gaul, has been given to the nation. English Heritage has announced that Carrawburgh Roman fort has joined sites such as Stonehenge, Tintagel castle, and Eltham Palace, in the national collection of historic sites and properties following its gift by a landowner. Carrawburgh is one of 16 forts along Hadrian’s Wall, a boundary line that stretches 73 miles. It accommodated soldiers, first from the south-west of France and later southern Belgium, as part of the Roman effort to defend the imperial frontier and repel tribes from the north. The fort sits between the Roman cavalry fort at Chesters and the infantry outpost at Housesteads. Nearby is a Roman temple built by the fort’s soldiers and dedicated to Mithras, an eastern god who, according to legend, captured and killed the primaeval bull in a cave. Today sheep are more likely to be grazing on the grassy mounds which largely cover the remains of the 1.4 hectares (three and a half acre) fort. English Heritage said that compared to other sites on the wall Carrawburgh had undergone very little archaeological excavation, which meant it had many secrets and stories to be explored. The site has been looked after by the family of Jennifer Du Cane since 1950. She said: “It has been a great privilege but also a serious responsibility to own Carrawburgh Roman fort. The time has come to pass on this amazing site as a gift to the nation.” Carrawburgh is the first site of its type acquired by English Heritage since the body was made a charity by the government in 2015. Kate Mavor, English Heritage’s chief executive, said: “This is a great start to the new year, not only for English Heritage but for the nation who will get to enjoy this wonderfully evocative site on what was once the edge of the Roman empire.” Legal ownership of the site was transferred to Historic England, the government’s heritage advisor, and it will be cared for by English Heritage as part of the national heritage collection, which comprises about 420 sites, many free to enter, that together tell the story of England. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “We are enormously grateful for this generous gift. Hadrian’s Wall is one of England’s most important historic sites and Carrawburgh makes a really valuable addition to our national collection of historic properties. “The fort represents a key part of the Roman frontier and is of outstanding archaeological significance. It has the potential to contribute significantly to our knowledge of the Roman empire and to visitor enjoyment of the wall.” https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/offbeat/hadrians-wall-fort-gifted-to-englands-historic-sites-collection/ar-BBYMaFg