Ian Darke

TV football commentator for ESPN. Views probably safely ignored - like most others on here.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@RRankinen Early form can be misleading , but I’d say this squad looks a little stronger, though need Marezi to get 12-15 goals ( big ask ). With injury record of some individuals , need another centre back and defensive midfielder. kamara and Murphy will add pace out wide when ready.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

Argentinian and Mexican FAs supporting Infantino. On what possible basis ?

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@fifamedia FIFA appears to be tone deaf. This righteous indignation is laughable bearing in mind the deception of the President and the scorn of his own closest staff.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

Bright encouraging display from Pompey at West Ham despite the defeat. Rocco Shein looked the best player on the pitch in the first half. Has a touch of class and swagger. Good cameo from young Kenny, too. Hammers more clinical, though.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@paulwrbeard54 Or the Concacaf media ? Or Asia? or Infantino’s own staff ? Or Luis Figo? or Arsene Wenger ?

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@rjaltmann1 It really isn’t…. though that incident proved again how Infantino does not read the room.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

Infantino apology is not going to wash. It is just a desperate attempt to get off the hook. FIFA will hit a new low and lose all credibility and trust if they re-elect this man.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@N037NY does he get in ?

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

The idea that Vinicius would leave Real Madrid for Arsenal always looked a very long shot. Now we know it was. That Real front 4 of Diomande Bellingham Vini and Mbappe looks a bit tasty.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

Malaga looking slick in attack on eve of return to La Liga with a 4-2 win tonight over Al Araby at @MarbellaFCenter . Will be good to see them back where they belong. First 2 away games -Atletico and Real Madrid !!

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@fifamedia There is nothing “ constructive or positive” about FIFA right now. It is a sorry mess and this storm will not subside if Infantino stays.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

Indeed, any federation from any country which votes for Infantino next March needs to be held to account and to explain why they back such a discredited man. The only answer could be financial.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@geronimo2497 The 211 members ARE FIFA.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@Guillaumemp These pictures are amazing. You can feel the deep love of those Milan fans for Franco Baresi.

[AC Milan @acmilan]

Milan, Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
Our last goodbye to Franco Baresi 6️⃣♾️

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@ClaygateCricket John Bethell , second right on second row wearing sun glasses, hit 1000 runs and fook 100 wickets in five different seasons ! Claygate’s Ian Botham.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@MetherellTaylor @PompeyNewsNow You’d hope that as he matures , he will strengthen up and be less injury-prone. Who knows how he might develop given a run of games. But impossible to get into rhythm when you are only fit for 4/5 games at a time.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@timsleppy There won’t be any. This project died yesterday .

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

Who would invest anyway in a World Cup without Spain, Italy, England, Germany, France ? That project is dead in the water.
It was never FIFA’s to sell. The question now is whether Infantino can extricate himself from this self-made mess with his job intact. He may not.

[Ian Darke @IanDarke]

@rnliii you sure ?