The Next Big Thing
Chapter 116: Shocking News II

Chapter 116: Shocking News II

While David was dealing with his oven and Ole was dealing with pressure from the club’s owners, the online space was already in flames. Twitter was buzzing with reactions from frustrated fans and delighted rivals.

Gemini 🏴‍☠️ @Gemini_FCWhat the fuck is wrong with United?? Are we seriously about to lose this match? 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

WhyUnited 🤬 @WhyAlwaysUnitedEveryone, let’s laugh at United! A whole season without a trophy! 😂😂

PreciousBoy 💔 @Precious_UTDI blame Ole for this. Why the fuck would he use those players? And even in the Chelsea match, when Bailly got injured, why the fuck would he sub in a striker?? 🤡

UnitedFanFav 🔴 @Utd_FanFavAnother trophyless season. You guys will regret sacking Mourinho, lol. 😭😭

MartialUtd 🇾🇪 @MartialMagicBruno, come to Chelsea. Let’s save your career. 🙏💙

Jay 🤡 @JayTheDonWhy, United? Why do you people hate me?? 😭😭

PatrickStar 🏆😂 @Patty4ChampzCheck on a United fan. They might need your help. 🚑💀

BenNot10 👀 @Ben10ButNotUnited fans, how do you cope? 🤣🤣

While smaller accounts were venting, the big names in football Twitter were also weighing in. The reactions were brutal.

Trey 🔴⚫️ @TreyUtdWhy am I a United fan? God help me and forgive me for choosing this club. 😭🙏85.2K Likes 🔁 12.3K Retweets 💬 8.9K Comments

The Berneese 🐻 @TheBerneeseLet’s all laugh at Manchester United. 😂😂😂102.1K Likes 🔁 24.5K Retweets 💬 14.8K Comments

Troll Football 🤡⚽ @TrollFootballManchester United went another full season with no trophy... and water is wet. Guess things don’t change. 💀🤣150.6K Likes 🔁 40.2K Retweets 💬 18.6K Comments

CFC_Janty 💙 @CFC_JantyManchester United in the mud. Let’s all laugh! 🤣🤣🤣93.8K Likes 🔁 18.7K Retweets 💬 9.5K Comments

Sky Sports ⚽ @SkySportsManchester United have gone a full season without a trophy, coming up short in everything they entered:🔴 Lost to rivals Man City in the EFL Cup Semi-final🔴 Lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi-final🔴 Lost to Sevilla in the Europa League Semi-final

A tough season for the Red Devils. 🔗 [Full Report]210.3K Likes 🔁 75.1K Retweets 💬 30.2K Comments

BBC Sport 📰 @BBCSportManchester United lose again, suffering their third semi-final defeat in a row. Click the link for a full breakdown. 🔗 [Full Report]180.5K Likes 🔁 50.8K Retweets 💬 25.6K Comments

Asensil20 🇧🇷 @Asensil20What’s up at United? And this is the team my boy Casemiro is being linked to? Oh hell nah. 😂😂125.7K Likes 🔁 34.2K Retweets 💬 15.3K Comments

The screen flickered as the CBS Sports panel connected via video call, the familiar faces of Thierry Henry, Kate Abdo, Micah Richards, and Jamie Carragher appearing in their respective home setups. It was 2020, and COVID-19 had forced their usual studio debates into the virtual space.

Kate Abdo, sitting in front of a perfectly arranged bookshelf, adjusted her earpiece and smiled at the camera. "Alright, guys, let’s talk about it. Manchester United—another semi-final, another heartbreak. Where do they go from here?"

The moment she finished, Micah Richards burst into laughter, throwing his head back dramatically in his seat. "Kate, Kate, Kate... I don’t even know where to start! Three semi-finals, three exits. It’s like they keep getting invited to the big party but get kicked out before they can even take their coats off!"

Jamie Carragher, seated in what looked like a home office filled with Liverpool memorabilia, smirked. "Micah, they don’t just get to the door—they hear the music, smell the food, maybe even see the trophy in the distance. Then BOOM—the bouncer slams the door shut and says, ’Not tonight, lads!’"

The laughter between them was uncontrollable. Even Kate, ever the professional, had to stifle a giggle.

Micah wiped a tear from his eye. "And that referee today? He gave four minutes of extra time—FOUR! That’s how long United’s hope lasted before Sevilla put them out of their misery."

Thierry Henry, who had been watching with his signature unimpressed expression, finally leaned forward. Unlike the others, he wasn’t laughing. He simply shook his head. "Ah, Micah, you are something else." His voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it. "But honestly, United has a serious problem. This is getting ridiculous, and it looks nowhere in sight to ending."

Kate, sensing the shift in tone, turned to him. "So Thierry, do you think it’s an issue with the players or the manager?"

Henry sighed. "Both, Kate. The players, they are not good enough in key moments. And the manager... he keeps making the wrong decisions. Look at today—Sevilla weren’t even at their best, but they were smarter. More disciplined. United? They always find a way to lose when it matters most."

Jamie chuckled, crossing his arms. "And people were saying United were ’back.’ Back where? Back in 2017? Because that’s the last time they won anything serious!"

Micah clapped his hands, grinning. "Nah, Jamie, they’re back... back at the airport, flying home with nothing!"

The laughter erupted again, except for Henry, who simply shook his head, a small, knowing smirk on his lips. "One day, Micah, this team will surprise you."

Micah grinned back. "Thierry, I think I’ll be retired before that happens."

The screen flickered slightly, their voices echoing through the video call as they wrapped up, the mood a mix of amusement and disbelief at Manchester United’s latest downfall.

The intro music faded out, and the screen switched to a split view of Rio Ferdinand, Joel Beya, and Stephen Howson on a video call. Each of them sat in their respective setups, all wearing expressions that ranged from frustration to sheer disbelief.

Joel Beya was the first to break the silence, leaning forward into his mic. "Fam, I can’t lie, yeah? That was a shambles. SHAMBLES! I don’t even know what I just watched."

Stephen Howson, visibly frustrated, shook his head. "Bruv, I’m sick of this, man. Every. Single. Time. Semi-final comes, yeah? And these lot bottle it like it’s a charity event."

Rio Ferdinand, who had been sitting back with his arms crossed, finally sighed and leaned forward. "Nah, nah, nah. I’m actually FUMING. How do we keep doing this to ourselves? I was watching that game, yeah, and you could just FEEL it coming. Sevilla weren’t even playing well, but we handed them the game on a silver platter."

Joel clapped his hands together. "Bro, facts. Man United in these big games? It’s like they don’t believe in winning."

Howson scoffed. "It’s mental, bruv. They see a semi-final, and suddenly they start playing like they’ve been possessed by Arsenal’s early 2000s European record."

The three of them burst into laughter, but Rio quickly got serious again. "Nah, but let’s be real. What was that defending? Wan-Bissaka, bro—what was he doing? The second goal, my man’s out here tracking air. Maguire? Don’t even get me started."

Joel jumped in. "And don’t forget that midfield. Pogba and Fred, yeah? They might as well have put cones on the pitch, ’cause Sevilla just ran through them. Do you know how EMBARRASSING it is to watch that?"

Stephen pointed at the camera. "And let’s talk about the subs, bruv. Ole—why? WHY?! You see your team struggling, and your response is to bring on Dan James? Dan JAMES?"

Rio rubbed his face with both hands. "Listen, I’ve backed Ole, yeah? I’ve defended him. But tonight, nah, man. That was unacceptable. You’re telling me you’ve got Igahlo sitting on the bench, and your solution is bringing on a pace merchant with no end product?"

Joel started laughing. "Fam, it’s like Ole just rolls dice and picks random subs. ’Ah, let’s see... today’s lucky winner is... Dan James! Get warmed up, son!’"

Stephen shook his head, sighing. "And the worst part? The fanbase is gonna divide again. Some will blame Ole, some will blame the players, but the reality is—we’re just not good enough. This club has lost its identity."

Rio leaned back in his chair, looking directly into the camera. "You see, this is why I keep saying we need to fix the recruitment. Sevilla didn’t outplay us—they outsmarted us. They had a plan, they stuck to it, and they took their chances. Meanwhile, we’re out here moving like a Sunday League team."

Joel exhaled loudly. "Another trophyless season. AGAIN. And what’s next? More talk about ’progress’ and ’trusting the process’? Nah, man. I need to see results."

Howson nodded in agreement. "Facts. You know what? I don’t even want to hear ’we go again’ from these players. ’We go again where?’ To another semi-final to get embarrassed?"

Rio cracked a small smile but quickly got serious again. "All I know is, some of these players need to be moved on. Summer transfer window better be mad we need heavy buying no more of these Future players, because if we go into next season with this same mentality, we’re FINISHED."

Joel chuckled, shaking his head. "Bro, we’ve been saying this for YEARS."

The three of them sighed collectively, the frustration heavy in the air.

Rio looked into the camera one last time. "Man United fans, I feel your pain. I really do. But listen, something HAS to change. ’Cause this? This ain’t it."

The outro music played softly as the screen faded to black, leaving fans to digest yet another post-mortem of a season that promised so much yet delivered nothing.

As the debates raged on, as Twitter was flooded with memes and rants, as podcasts dissected every second of the game, something else was happening in a quieter corner of the internet.

A single post. One that was quickly gaining traction.

The username? @JamesRichards_96—a relatively small account, but one that had a history of catching on to big stories early.

The post? Simple. Just a few words.

"Have you guys seen what David Ornstein just posted? 👀"

No context. No explanation. Just the name of one of football’s most reliable insiders—and an emoji that sent the entire football world into a frenzy.

Because when David Ornstein posts... something big is coming.

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