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Welcome to the Nutmeg, each week, you can expect: Exclusive previews of major football events – Spotlight features on top football creators – In-depth analysis of trending football culture.
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ULTRA UPSET

Bayern Munich fans are staging a boycott of their upcoming Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, and it's all about ticket prices.

Shakhtar Donetsk, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has been hosting their "home" games in various European cities. For the December 10th match against Bayern, they've chosen the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. You'd think this would be a win-win for Bayern fans—an away game that's practically in their backyard. But it’s not quite turning out that way.

Shakhtar decided to implement a dynamic pricing system for this match. So the more in-demand the game is, the higher the ticket prices go. Well, it was pretty in-demand. Prices for a seat reached €105 and €52 for a standing spot. When Shakhtar played Atalanta, tickets started at €28, and for Young Boys, they were €31.

Enter the Südkurve München, Bayern's ultras. They weren't having any of it and called for a boycott, urging fans to cancel their tickets in protest of what they see as unfair pricing. Their call definitely worked.. Initially, there were 55,000 ticket requests from Bayern supporters. After the boycott call, that number plummeted to 19,000.

Bayern fans are known for standing up against what they perceive as exploitation. They argue that football should be accessible to all, not just those willing to pay top dollar. The dynamic pricing model, especially when it leads to such steep increases, feels like a slap in the face to loyal supporters.

On the flip side, Shakhtar might argue that hosting games away from home incurs additional costs, and facing a high-profile team like Bayern could justify higher prices. But for many fans, this feels like taking advantage of the situation.

The match will go on, but the stands might be missing a sea of red Bayern jerseys. This boycott sends a clear message: fans won't be taken for granted, and they're willing to put their money where their mouth is—or, in this case, not put their money where they feel it's being unfairly demanded.

BEING A MANAGER IS HARD

After hanging up his boots, Stevie G swapped his captain's armband for a clipboard, diving into coaching with Liverpool's youth teams. He then took the reins at Rangers in 2018, where he worked some magic, leading them to an unbeaten league title in the 2020/21 season.

But the Premier League came calling, and Gerrard couldn't resist. In November 2021, he took charge of Aston Villa. The honeymoon period was short-lived; after a series of lackluster performances, Villa showed him the door in October 2022.

Not one to stay down, Gerrard ventured to Saudi Arabia in July 2023, becoming the manager of Al-Ettifaq. However, the desert sands haven't been kind. With the team languishing in 11th place and fans voicing their displeasure, Gerrard's position is on shaky ground.

Some say Gerrard's tactical approach hasn't evolved, while others point to the challenges of transitioning from player to manager. Whatever the reason, it's clear that the managerial game is a tough nut to crack, even for legends. Just ask Gary Neville.

ANDY CARROLL’S COMEBACK

Remember Andy Carroll? The towering striker who once graced the Premier League with his aerial prowess and, let's be honest, a few too many injury spells? Well, he's back in the headlines, and this time, it's not for a new hairstyle.

In a plot twist no one saw coming, Carroll has signed with Bordeaux in mid September. Yes, the same Bordeaux we wrote about not too long ago–the French club who won a Ligue 1 title then lost their professional club status.

Since donning the Bordeaux jersey, Carroll has proven the gap between washed up Premier League strikers and semi-pros. He's netted all six of their goals in the last 4 matches. Not only that, but they hadn’t won a game thus far in the season. Now they’re sitting at 8 points out of a possible 12.

But it's not just his goal-scoring that's grabbing attention. Carroll's passion and commitment have endeared him to the Bordeaux faithful. He's been seen celebrating wildly with fans, bringing a much-needed spark to a club that's been through the wringer.

All this while reportedly earning less than his rent.

Other news you shouldn’t let slip through your legs:

🔵The Blue’s blues. The unshakable Manchester City has hit a rough patch, losing three straight games for the first time since 2018. The recent skid includes a 4-1 Champions League loss to Sporting CP, following defeats to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League. Back in April 2018, City faced a similar slump, losing to Liverpool twice in the Champions League and once to Manchester United in the league.

🔁Getting their money’s worth. Real Madrid is reportedly shifting gears to make Kylian Mbappé the centerpiece of their project, even if it means sidelining Vinícius Jr. Since Mbappé's arrival, the team's attack and results have been simply bad, and the club is keen to get their €180 million man firing on all cylinders. This move could see Mbappé taking over the left wing, a spot currently held by Vinícius and moving Bellingham up the field more.

🤔Safe from Ten Hag. With Ruben Amorim taking the reins at Manchester United, whispers are swirling about a potential Cristiano Ronaldo return to Old Trafford. Former United striker Teddy Sheringham believes Amorim would welcome CR7 back, possibly in a non-playing role.Given their history with the Portuguese national team, this reunion could be a match made in football heaven.

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