The FIFA Club World Cup is not going anywhere, its actually growing in size. More on that in a moment. Arsenal throw away their bid to go seven points clear, are they throwing the title away? More on that in a moment. More on plenty else as well. Issue 75. Go.

Turns out last summer’s new iteration of the FIFA Club World Cup was a success, or at least it was in the mind’s of FIFA themselves. Plenty of money made through ticket sales, that money going to those who entered the competition. What’s not to love?

Well nothing but those who were not invited to the inaugural party in 2025. Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona three clubs that had to make do with watching from the outside. What about us, they may have privately said.

Passing through? Play a pass to this subscription link

Which in FIFA’s path of thinking means ‘clubs like the FIFA Club World Cup, let’s give them more of it’ and that is exactly what they plan to do. Not more in terms of its frequency but more in terms of teams that will compete.

Because with the next edition schedule for 2029, reports suggest that 32 will grow to 48 - just like this summer’s Men’s World Cup. Room for every giant in European football - nobody gets left behind.

An increase of 16 teams, 16 of the 48 set to come from UEFA. An increase that Europe’s governing body are happy to oversee, any previous friction between themselves and FIFA now seemingly a thing of the past.

A much cosier relationship between Gianni Infantino and Alexsander Ceferin - the reason being FIFA’s stepping down when it comes to biennial scheduling. A deal that suits both parties and especially now that Real Madrid are now fully in from the cold.

The last vestiges of any European Super League breakaway plan now dead in the water after Los Blancos jumped overboard last week, all the European powerhouses like the idea of also being crowned the genuine best club in the world.

While at the same time, it also feels like the least worst option for every involved. Let’s be honest, the Club World Cup is going absolutely nowhere. It being scheduled every two years would have stretched the football calendar to near breaking point.

That same calendar is already straining under massive tension but if the $$$ are plentiful enough what is a little bit more tiredness between those involved. They find another source of prize money, FIFA’s club crown jewel does nothing to disturb UEFA’s.

Carving up enough space between the two, so that the respective club competitions can operate within the same orbit but not undermining each other at the same time. Great news if you are one of those 16 clubs, bad news if you cannot get on the extended guestlist.

As mentioned in the previous issue

What direction will this weekend’s pendulum move in?

One win in 15 for Crystal Palace, their Europa Conference League draw in Bosnia on Thursday would have been the recent nadir for manager Oliver Glasner were it not for the Eagles’ defeat to Macclesfield in the FA Cup Third Round.

Those who watched their draw with Zrinjski in person far from complimentary when it comes to the efforts of the Austrian. Those who took to social media after the final whistle hardly positive in tone either.

To the point where ‘news’ was circulating of Glasner’s likely departure before Premier League action on Sunday. Why wait until the end of the season for his departure when the season has already petered out in South London.

At the time of writing, the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager is still in charge at Selhurst Park but even with no change in the Palace status quo, that did not stop a flurry of betting activity on Friday afternoon.

Activity that came with backing Robbie Keane to be the next permanent boss of Palace. Odds that were 25/1, subsequently being driven down to 2/7 - people seemingly betting their houses on the Irishman getting the keys to Selhurst.

So much activity that Bet365 decided that they had to pause activity on the market as a whole. Insider dealing? Someone with more than a hunch? Whatever it is, watch what happens in SE25 these next few days.

The football world would have seen the events unfold in Lisbon in midweek. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr scoring the only goal of the Champions League tie at Benfica, the Brazilian then suffering racist abuse moments after celebrating.

That in itself was abhorrent, Gianluca Prestianni’s action of hiding his face with his shirt was far from accidental. Acts like that have no place in the game, or society as a whole for that matter.

Jose Mourinho’s comments after the game were nothing short of brainless, borderline incendiary if you want to go further. To suggest that Vinicius is his own worst enemy has made an enemy of the former Chelsea boss. Indignation following across the globe.

The reference to Eusebio, the verbal equivalent of making things far worse than they already are. Tone-deaf springs to mind if you can believe that Mourinho still has one, gaslighting for sure.

Hopefully UEFA hand out the necessary punishment to Benfica’s Prestianni, he himself best get ready for the second leg of the tie at the Santiago Bernabeu. You get the feeling that he is walking into the lion’s den and everyone is waiting for him to get savaged.

Obviously there is nothing good to come from what we witnessed in midweek but at least, the backlash towards Benfica’s villains has been rather unifying. Bayern boss Vincent Kompany with the perfect admonishment in his weekend press conference.

As always, you would think racism in football would be eradicated by now. Unfortunately, it seems as the uphill struggle continues.

A look at the main talking points as we head into the upcoming Premier League weekend schedule.

Arsenal’s downturn in league form, may have just let Aston Villa back in the title race. Still the outsiders in what is considered a three-horse race but still keen to have their say as to where the trophy ends up - especially as they play fellow rivals Manchester City on the final day of the season.

However, if they are to take it to the final day, they have to deal with the business that is right in front of them. The visit of Leeds is on Saturday’s agenda, Daniel Farke’s men coming back from 2-2 down at Chelsea in their last league outing. Tottenham and Nottingham Forest hoping for new manager bounce, Daniel Farke’s men can’t relax yet.

The database derby is what they are calling it. Ok it is what I’m calling it, whether it catches on or not, who knows but what I do know is that Brentford are playing themselves into genuine candidacy for European football next season. Keith Andrews’ men start the weekend in seventh, a win over Brighton would take them sixth for at least 24 hours.

As for the Seagulls, it is no win in six in the league. It is also just one win in their last 13. If data underpins the two opposing clubs, Brighton’s seems to be rather corrupt at present. Fabian Hurzeler under attack from some quarters of the fanbase, the German attacking the club’s recruitment policy - things are getting interesting on the South Coast.

Chelsea cruised through to the FA Cup Fifth Round last weekend but they were caught out by cruise control in their last Premier League outing. Two points dropped, the opportunity to go fourth in the table spurned by Liam Rosenior’s men. Looking up to Manchester United, looking over their shoulder to Liverpool, the Blues welcome Burnley to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Scott Parker may have been celebrating after witnessing his side’s impressive comeback win at Crystal Palace. No such mood when Mansfield knocked them out of the FA Cup at the weekend. That in itself may have put more pressure on the Clarets’ boss, how much pressure can they withstand before the board say that actually it is time for a change?

West Ham’s purple patch has been underwritten by Crysencio Summerville these past few weeks, the former Leeds player cannot stop scoring. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo will hope he does not stop before the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday. The Hammers playing a day before Nottingham Forest, they will aim to go level on points.

Not a given considering the form that Bournemouth find themselves in. They arrive in East London having gone unbeaten in each of their last six league matches - the second longest current streak in the division. Andoni Iraola’s men start the weekend in ninth and once again have their eyes on Europe. They will want to avoid last season’s late dip in form.

Is it all coming together for Manchester City. It might by Sunday evening but before whatever happens in North London, Pep Guardiola’s men have to do their bit. That bit is getting the better of Newcastle on Saturday night. Should they manage to tick off this task, the Etihad outfit will have temporarily narrowed the gap at the to two points.

Standing in their way is a Newcastle side that were nothing short of rampant in midweek. Their 6-1 win over Qarabag in the Champions League all but giving the first team the night off for the second leg. The current mood is optimistic after three successive away wins in three different competitions but will a fourth successive game on the road takes its toll?

Vitor Pereira’s stint at Nottingham Forest may end up being a short one but it at least got off to a perfect start on Thursday. A comprehensive win against Fenerbahce placing the City Ground outfit closer to the Europa League Round of 16, now the same team will look to place themselves further away from the relegation zone.

Sunday afternoon sees them play host to a Liverpool side that made light work of Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend, days after getting the better of Sunderland in the league. That slender 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light was their first away league win in four attempts. They may have their tails up but they may have also met Forest at the wrong time.

Sunderland and Fulham are both safely in mid-table and although both sides can consider themselves on the outskirts of the European mix, there is also a feeling that by and large neither side has anything left to play for. A win would boost those continental hopes, anything less than three points and the deckchairs are out for the rest of the campaign.

Sunderland come into this game having lost each of their last two in the league, Fulham having lost each of their last three. Their recent dip in form could already be the early signs of going down through the gears. Even if that were the case, there would be few complaints from supporters, the remit secured for another season. Job almost done.

Crystal Palace return from Bosnia as they prepare to welcome Wolves to Selhurst Park on Sunday. The managerial situation already referenced above, failure to come out on top may accelerate Oliver Glasner’s departure once and for all. His bid to increase his stock mid-season has backfired dramatically, elite managerial status seemingly in the bin.

While Wolves will certainly be buoyed by their comeback performance on Wednesday. All they can really do now is be a nuisance for the remaining teams that they go up against between now and the end of the season. The problem when teams assume this status, is that they have nothing to lose - point proven after hampering Arsenal in midweek.

The short-term Tudor revolution starts on Sunday, as Tottenham cannot waste anytime when it comes to their survival bid. They have played their final hand in appointing Igor the former Juventus boss, will the gamble pay off? There is a lot of money riding on the outcome of the next 12 Premier League matches. Hero or villain, we shall see.

He will certainly be afforded hero status if he can play a part in further denting Arsenal’s title bid. This could be the worst time for the Gunners to meet their local rivals. Were it just a couple of weeks prior, this one had all the hallmarks of an away win. Now it has all the hallmarks of a fascinating chapter of the North London derby. Hold on to your hats.

Everton share the Monday Night Football slot this week as they welcome Manchester United to the blue half of Merseyside. The Toffees losing their last Premier League outing on home soil, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth seeing David Moyes’ men lose ground on the European hopefuls above - that also resulting in a first defeat in six.

While the visitors were foiled in their bid to make it five Premier League wins in a row. Their last outing being the 1-1 draw at West Ham and now all the background noise surrounding someone’s hair is dialled back down for the next few weeks, Michael Carrick’s men will look to continue to keep the pair of Chelsea and Liverpool at bay.

Leicester City have announced that they are planning to appeal their recent six-point deduction by the EFL. They feel the punishment is too harsh. Problem is, the Premier League do not feel it is harsh enough.

They are also planning to appeal in a bid to get more than six points shaved off Leicester’s table. This could be further good news for the Foxes’ relegation rivals. One way or another, a decision will be made before the end of the season.

All the talk of the Men’s FA Cup being behind a paywall, not as much regarding plans to change the format of the female counterpart. Plans that thankfully have been shelved for now because they were so bad.

A 32-team bracket with the semi-finalists of the previous year not meeting each other to at least that stage (on the basis they all get through again). No surprise, but this has been kicked into the long grass.

Not just the North London derby this weekend but also the Sheffield one. Two teams that were in the Championship relegation zone at the start of the season, within the next week or so, Wednesday are likely to be relegated.

Relegated in February is brutal but all their fans are worrying about is whether they will have a team to support next season, the league itself is immaterial.

Celtic’s bid to reach the Europa League Round of 16 is up in smoke after their 4-1 loss to Stuttgart on Thursday night. Kasper Schmeichel coming in for plenty of criticism from his own support - a lot of it merited if you watched the game.

A player that looks more interested in Denmark’s World Cup tilt rather than the Scottish Premiership, I would not be surprised if he hung up his gloves in the summer. I’ve seen Oak Trees fall to the ground quicker than some of his recent attempts to save a ball

The FPL is on the horizon this weekend. Deadline is 11.15 am (UK time) a lie in really.

Right, that’s the end of issue 75 as word continues to spread around the football world.

This isn’t a newsletter that follows the crowd. It sets the lens through which you see the game and more than 180 subscribers are now viewing it through that lens.

If you’re serious about understanding football, staying ahead of the stories, and cutting through the noise, keep this in your inbox - send it to your friend’s inbox as well.

Issue 76 drops Tuesday and I’ll be back with another round of insight, analysis and trends that matter. Any feedback or comments on this issue, contact me below:

[email protected]

Follow me on Twitter (x) - https://x.com/dantracey1983

Follow me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dantracey/