Tweet
The Tale of Joao Neves
On a cool December morning, young superstar midfielder Joao Neves made his way from the luxury private jet to the awaiting limousine. The 20-year-old Portuguese box to box prospect had been a free agent since leaving the warm bosom of the FFO training camp in Dubai earlier in the autumn. His services were in demand. He was ready to make his first step into the world of FFO and first team football.
As part of the FFO Auction he would be suited by clubs who would then make blind bids to the FFO FA to secure the services of the player. Some reports have said that players cannot be sold for a full year, but the rule clearly stated that players signed could sold after 1st July 2025. This means some clubs sign players to develop over the next 6-7 months to then sell on, where others look to sign players, they intend to keep longer term.
Back to Neves. His limo sped away from the London airport heading so for the Southwest of the city. The club Neves would visit was Chelsea FC. The fallen giants of English football. The much-hated club hasn’t won a league title in a LONG time and with their recent recruitment of Steven K Talbot as head coach they expected that to change in quick order. El Inheritor (as some call him) had won a lot at Real Madrid but had spent his time there mocking the English Premier League.
Chelsea had finished a poor 6th last season and with the aim of deflecting from this fact, the northern based manager had been on a charm offensive with his fanbase and looking to his former club for star players that can help him move the club in the right direction.
As Neves walked into Stamford Bridge he felt an eerie gust of wind on the back of his neck. The motifs and signs everywhere were conjuring up images of a distant past but a fearful one. Standing in the away end the young star was taken aback by the club workmen installing a new sign…
This was not the only time that Neves felt the spectre of the Old Bear on the back of his neck. His tour of the stadium led him to the changing rooms where Talbot sat with his back to the team who were in for preseason training. No words were being said by manager or players but stirring music was heard playing over 1940s style gramophones.
Finally Neves was led to the managers office where Talbot say waiting for his new target. Sliding over a card with writing on, Talbot glared at the youngster. The fear was now paramount and with that, the curly haired young man ran for his life back to the limo.
As he reached the limo, the driver opened the door and Neves jumped inside only to be met with the beaming face of Norwich City manager Jon Banks.
Banks smiled and said “Come with me lad, I will protect you from the old bear”
On a cool December morning, young superstar midfielder Joao Neves made his way from the luxury private jet to the awaiting limousine. The 20-year-old Portuguese box to box prospect had been a free agent since leaving the warm bosom of the FFO training camp in Dubai earlier in the autumn. His services were in demand. He was ready to make his first step into the world of FFO and first team football.
As part of the FFO Auction he would be suited by clubs who would then make blind bids to the FFO FA to secure the services of the player. Some reports have said that players cannot be sold for a full year, but the rule clearly stated that players signed could sold after 1st July 2025. This means some clubs sign players to develop over the next 6-7 months to then sell on, where others look to sign players, they intend to keep longer term.
Back to Neves. His limo sped away from the London airport heading so for the Southwest of the city. The club Neves would visit was Chelsea FC. The fallen giants of English football. The much-hated club hasn’t won a league title in a LONG time and with their recent recruitment of Steven K Talbot as head coach they expected that to change in quick order. El Inheritor (as some call him) had won a lot at Real Madrid but had spent his time there mocking the English Premier League.
Chelsea had finished a poor 6th last season and with the aim of deflecting from this fact, the northern based manager had been on a charm offensive with his fanbase and looking to his former club for star players that can help him move the club in the right direction.
As Neves walked into Stamford Bridge he felt an eerie gust of wind on the back of his neck. The motifs and signs everywhere were conjuring up images of a distant past but a fearful one. Standing in the away end the young star was taken aback by the club workmen installing a new sign…
This was not the only time that Neves felt the spectre of the Old Bear on the back of his neck. His tour of the stadium led him to the changing rooms where Talbot sat with his back to the team who were in for preseason training. No words were being said by manager or players but stirring music was heard playing over 1940s style gramophones.
Finally Neves was led to the managers office where Talbot say waiting for his new target. Sliding over a card with writing on, Talbot glared at the youngster. The fear was now paramount and with that, the curly haired young man ran for his life back to the limo.
As he reached the limo, the driver opened the door and Neves jumped inside only to be met with the beaming face of Norwich City manager Jon Banks.
Banks smiled and said “Come with me lad, I will protect you from the old bear”