Incredible finish. Some amazing goals. Scotland finally back at the World Cup. Although after checking the ticket prices for the So-Fi, starting at $350, I'll be watching on tv. Clarke and the squad deserve a lot of credit, after the usual torrent of negativity. Brilliant.

Keep hearing McTominay has had a bad season so far. Yet he's scored two world class goals for club and country. Brilliant start for Scotland.

Always remember my first football games, watching Scotland on rainy nights at Hampden. Hoping for a victory tonight, although I won’t be able to watch it live. It's been too long since we were at the World Cup.

First in a series of short posts about my writing back catalogue... Notes from Verona. A 'must-read' account of lockdown life in Italy! www.amazon.com/Notes-Verona...

The highlights of Italy-Norway grim viewing for anyone with an interest in the Azzurri. Aside from the usual arguments about selection - Mancini and Cristante shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11 - Italy crumbled so easily yet again under any kind of pressure. Esposito took his goal well.

And if you're watching #ALBENG and interested in the story of Albanian football, you need to read Phil Harrison's book, 'Inside the Hermit Kingdom' Phil joined me on the podcast... Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/6LAX...

Ignoring the obvious defensive fragility, Scotland incredibly unlucky (as always) not to get a draw in Greece. So many big chances. Very easy to criticise, but Scotland were superb going forward in the second half. John McGinn outstanding. Greek play acting and time wasting lamentable.

Juric was an odd appointment in the first place for Atalanta. It was never going to work out. La Dea still have a fantastic squad. Gasperini a one-off. Palladino can't do any worse than Juric.

Still not entirely sure if Roma are full equipped to challenge for the title. They are definitely more disciplined and focused though. Soule, Kone and Celik all impressive as the Giallorossi defeated Udinese to go top of the league (for now). Not the real Gasperini style but effective nevertheless.

Brilliant second half display from Bologna. Absolutely deserved win. Pressed Napoli into submission. Not enough energy or movement from the Partenopei. Far too static. Strange team selections. Elmas clearly not a winger. Only one game but quite a few areas of concern for Conte.

This could be the worst season in Sampdoria's history. Despite the coaching changes the Blucerchiati still can't win games. Relegation a more realistic possibility than last season. Desperate times.

Watched South Korean gangster comedy Boss 보스 (2025) at CGV by Regency Theaters in Buena Park this week. Review on my site soon. Sad to see that CGV Los Angeles has closed down though. Went to see Yadang: The Snitch there earlier this year and it was packed.

Modena FC are taking flight @foolsrushin.bsky.social recounts a trip to see I Canarini and asks: Could they?

Legoland California, a place for kids of a certain age and not a bedraggled old Glaswegian. A light-hearted look at a unique theme park. Part of a series about living and travelling in California. #Lego #Legoland #Travel #California Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/c...

Watched Piotr Zielinski's goal quite a few times from all the various angles. A world class strike. One of the greatest goals in modern Serie A history. If it had been scored in another league (easy to guess which one) we would never hear the end of it. Wondrous.

Attilio Lombardo back on the Sampdoria coaching staff but the Blucerchiati lose again. This is almost as bad as last season which I didn't think was possible. Relegation an unfortunate reality once again. So many changes yet results stay the same.

Atalanta lose their unbeaten record at Udinese. Such an uninspired display from La Dea. Really laboured to create anything, no creative spark and misfiring forwards. Juric may have worked with Gasperini but his coaching style is difficult to watch. Zaniolo has found his home in Udine.

Short article on my thoughts on the FA Cup open.substack.com/pub/calciono...

Halloween is a very big deal here in California, and of course, across America. I wrote about it a couple of years ago, worth a look for the pictures and videos (the writing is not bad too). #Halloween #California Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2023/10/31/c...

Social media is an unending onslaught of self-promotion. In that spirit please consider subscribing to my site: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com Going to write more on football, films (mainly South Korean), travel and life here in California. A mix of humour, observation and nostalgia.

A look back at South Korean thriller Exhuma 파묘 (2024). Kim Go-eun 김고은 is spectacular as a shaman investigating a mysterious family curse. The great Choi Min-sik 최민식 plays the lead. A fitting film to watch on Halloween. Read my review here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2024/04/25/e...

Legoland California, a place for kids of a certain age and not a bedraggled old Glaswegian. A light-hearted look at a unique theme park. Part of a series about living and travelling in California. #Lego #Legoland #Travel #California Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/c...

Legoland California, a place for kids of a certain age and not a bedraggled old Glaswegian. A light-hearted look at a unique theme park. Part of a series about living and travelling in California. #Lego #Legoland #Travel #California Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/29/c...

Updated piece on Modena who lost for the first time in the league tonight open.substack.com/pub/calciono...

Anguissa proving he is irreplaceable again with a crucial goal for Napoli's victory. He's consistently been one of the top 10 midfielders in Italy throughout his time in Serie A. Such a great all round player.

Late goals deliver different fortunes for Fiorentina and Venezia, while the Serie A race hots up. Plus VAR chat (of course) and a hot off the press sacking at Juve... Listen now: linktr.ee/rigore

Seemed inevitable that Rodgers would leave Celtic after recent results and a number of questionable comments. Great for Scottish football that Hearts have made such an impressive start to the season but expect Celtic will bounce back to claim the title again.

Looking back on Scott McTominay's brilliant goal for Napoli against Inter. He initiates the move, makes a superb run and displays great awareness before a precision first time finish. Wonderful. I think he will equal if not better his Serie A goals tally from last season.

Review of South Korean film The Ugly 얼굴 (2025). The dark secrets of a master seal engraver emerge when his wife's remains are found after 40 years. The latest film from Train to Busan (2016) director Yeon Sang-ho. Starring Park Jeong-min. Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/t...

Brilliant team move as Nicolò Cambiaghi puts Bologna two up. Thought he was capable of playing for a bigger club after a good couple of years at Empoli. He's taken his chance and thoroughly deserved his national team call-up recently.

Really great technique from Santiago Castro to send Bologna ahead. Fiorentina's troubles continue.

Review of South Korean film The Ugly 얼굴 (2025). The dark secrets of a master seal engraver emerge when his wife's remains are found after 40 years. The latest film from Train to Busan (2016) director Yeon Sang-ho. Starring Park Jeong-min. Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/t...

Usually skip the Paramount plus after match stuff. Kept it on and listened to an entire agenda driven segment about why Billy Gilmour should have been sent off. Tedious, fan tv type nonsense. Why not break down every tackle in the game in a similar way? Rubbish.

Great way for Napoli to recover from the hammering at PSV - which was an anomaly - by soundly defeating Inter. The Partenopei were fortunate in the first half but brilliant after the break. McTominay and Anguissa with wonderful goals. Unfortunate De Bruyne injury as Napoli top Serie A again.

Another world class goal. Superb run and finish as Anguissa puts Napoli 3-1 ahead. Inter defence ripped apart. So much for needing a false 9 or indeed a proper centre forward.

Absolutely sensational McTominay strike. Power, timing and precision. So many experts wrote him off. He delivers spectaculalrly again. World class goal. #Napoli

An improved second half display earns a point for Sampdoria. Still shaky at the back but merited the point. Composed Coda finish. An obvious handball in the penalty area bizarrely denied. Nevertheless a decent enough start for Gregucci, Foti and Pozzi.

New coaching team, same outcome. It's going to take a while to fix, if that's even possible, Sampdoria's numerous deficiencies. Complete panic at any cross or corner. Frosinone hit the bar twice and should really be out of sight. Dispiriting half in an already woeful campaign.

The start of another new coaching era at Sampdoria. Angelo Gregucci, Salvatore Foti and Nicola Pozzi lead the Blucerchiati against Frosinone on @destinationcalcio.bsky.social in 10 mins. Can't be any worse than Donati, hopefully. Any type of win desperately needed.

With just 4 points from 7 games, Hellas Verona are yet to win in Serie A this season. Richard Hough, author of Verona Campione, the Miracle of 1985, reflects on some equally calamitous starts over the years. www.gentlemanultra.com/2025/10/23/n...

Italian Serie B football club Juve Stabia has been placed under judicial administration by judges in Naples due to infiltration by the Camorra. The organised crime group is believed to control security, ticketing, catering, cleaning, medical services & team transport.

An embarrassing defeat for Napoli. Ripped apart far too easily. Could be a far more challenging season than many anticipated.

Not particularly encouraged with the imminent announcement of Salvatore Foti as the new Sampdoria coach. However the return of Attilio Lombardo, and Nicola Pozzi, to the coaching staff suggests there will be better times ahead.

Torino were excellent and merited the win. Napoli's season won't be defined by one game, but quite a few subpar displays amid the injuries. Too early for any major judgements though. Easy to blurt out nonsensical criticism at such an early stage of the season.

Very mixed half, defensively vulnerable yet also very comfortable at times. You could almost hear every word from a frustrated Conte due to his proximity to the half way mic. Napoli could easily be further behind against a very good Torino side. Gilmour unlucky with the goal.

It's finally over for Donati at Sampdoria. The wrong choice from the beginning. Will Salvatore Foti really be any better? He was close to the job before Donati supposedly. Performances and results must improve immediately. Such a miserable period for a club with such incredible fans.

Review of Yeon Sang-ho's The Ugly 얼굴 (2025). A mystery thriller about the dark secrets of a master seal engraver. Starring the amazing Park Jeong-min in a dual role. #TheUgly #YeonSangho #ParkJeongmin #Koreanmovie Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/t...

Review of Yeon Sang-ho's The Ugly 얼굴 (2025). A mystery thriller about the dark secrets of a master seal engraver. Starring the amazing Park Jeong-min in a dual role. #TheUgly #YeonSangho #ParkJeongmin #Koreanmovie Read here: stephenkasiewicz.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/t...

Just when it seems like it can't get any worse Sampdoria fall to another new low. Losing 3-1 to 'rivals' Virtus Entella - who deserved the victory - is not acceptable in any way. Donati remains in his position. It's not all his fault of course but Samp are headed to C if he stays on.

What do Roberto Baggio, Daniele De Rossi, Antonio Candreva and Salvatore Bagni have in common? Find out in the latest Notes from Verona column with the @gentlemanultra.bsky.social www.gentlemanultra.com/2025/10/15/n...