The 2024-2025 Football Thread

[Alphazoid]

^
Its been floating around that Sesko and Gyokeres are the top options. (Doesn't seem like anyone in europe is after Osimehn)

Hard to ignore Gyokeres with the numbers he's producing. He also has Championship experience. He also is desperate for the move even if it means sacrificing some wages to facilitate it. I'm guessing the relationship with Verandas is broken beyond repair.

Sesko is probably the better option for Arsenal's 'style'. Someone said this previously and i kinda agree. Sesko has the potential to be our Isak. Will take some time but then could become lethal

But does Arteta have the luxury of waiting...not sure

Me i'm indifferent. Just get someone in.

PS R.I.P. Jota, was LFC's best finisher after Salah. Tragic way to go.

 

[laptech]

.......

Sesko is probably the better option for Arsenal's 'style'. Someone said this previously and i kinda agree. Sesko has the potential to be our Isak. Will take some time but then could become lethal

.....

I've heard that a lot about Sesko, that he fits Arsenals system much better than all the other strikers that are on offer at the moment.

 

[Alphazoid]

He's a better team player than Gyok. He's also played in an arguably tougher league and is younger.

But maybe the numbers don't fit Arsenal's budget unlike Gyok

The caveat people always point to is the Darwin Nunez example. Did great in Portuguese league but did nothing in the EPL.

All a gamble in the end

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Arsenal fans, what do you think of this deal of the club making a play for viktor gyökeres?

Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta travels to Portugal to close in on deal

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta holds face-to-face talks with Sporting in Portugal as the Premier League club move closer towards a deal for striker Viktor Gyokeres.

www.bbc.co.uk

Do you think it's genuine or just a ploy to get Sesko's club to reduce their asking price for him if they know Arsenal are looking at another striker instead because Arsenal have been chasing Sesko for quite some time. They were never interested in viktor gyökeres.

^
Its been floating around that Sesko and Gyokeres are the top options. (Doesn't seem like anyone in europe is after Osimehn)

Hard to ignore Gyokeres with the numbers he's producing. He also has Championship experience. He also is desperate for the move even if it means sacrificing some wages to facilitate it. I'm guessing the relationship with Verandas is broken beyond repair.

Sesko is probably the better option for Arsenal's 'style'. Someone said this previously and i kinda agree. Sesko has the potential to be our Isak. Will take some time but then could become lethal

But does Arteta have the luxury of waiting...not sure

Me i'm indifferent. Just get someone in.

PS R.I.P. Jota, was LFC's best finisher after Salah. Tragic way to go.

I've heard that a lot about Sesko, that he fits Arsenals system much better than all the other strikers that are on offer at the moment.

He's a better team player than Gyok. He's also played in an arguably tougher league and is younger.

But maybe the numbers don't fit Arsenal's budget unlike Gyok

The caveat people always point to is the Darwin Nunez example. Did great in Portuguese league but did nothing in the EPL.

All a gamble in the end

Many of the commentators that I have read agree that Sesko would probably suit Arsenal's system(s) better.

Moreover, of the two players, it appears (appeared) that Mikel Arteta favoured him as well, whereas sporting director Andrea Berta is supposed to have preferred Gyokeres.

However, from what I have read, two other factors seem to have become relevant: The first is that Gyokeres is clearly very keen to join Arsenal, and the second - notwithstanding Arteta's marked preference for him - is that both Sesko and Leipzig have been markedly less enthusiastic about reaching an agreement with Arsenal.

 

[Alphazoid]

Noni Madueke for £52m, a player who was signed for £29m and lost his place to Pedro Neto. And is worse than Saka and Trossard.

I genuinely don't understand our obsession with Chelsea rejects.

Needless to say i don't see us competing for the title with that squad and recent signings. I think our best chance came in 2023 and now we'll just hang around top 4 and maybe a cup if we're lucky

 

[daneoni]

Speaking of transfers. Nottingham Forrest plan to seek legal action and make a complaint to the EPL because they feel Spurs illegally poached Gibbs-White.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

....

I genuinely don't understand our obsession with Chelsea rejects.

Neither do I, and I have yet to find an explanation - a fitting explanation - for this.

Actually, I find it rather peculiar, especially as many, if not most (granted, not all) of the aforementioned Chelsea rejects have been pretty poor - some have been downright dreadful (the dismal example of Sterling, who was not just awful, but actually atrociously bad comes to mind) - when transplanted to Arsenal.

Needless to say i don't see us competing for the title with that squad and recent signings.

Actually, I'm not all that concerned about the purchase of Martin Zubimendi - whom I think could be a very good addition to the team, although I'd rather he wasn't injured either before the season starts during training, or, in the first game or so (as had earlier happened with Merino and Timber, respectively).

Likewise, I think that Kepa - a Chelsea cast-off, agreed - could be a decent no 2, or stand-in, as goal-keeper; goalies tend to be able to play well into their thirties and beyond, and he is experienced at the top level and didn't cost much.

And Christian Norgaard - an intelligent player - could turn out to be a very good buy.

However, the wooing, the courting, the seeking out, of Noni Madeuke does leave me scratching my head in baffled bewilderment.

Perhaps I am wrong.

I think our best chance came in 2023 and now we'll just hang around top 4 and maybe a cup if we're lucky

A few decent strikers (to my mind, Kai Havertz is not a striker, - yes, he can play well in support of strikers), the purchase of even one decent striker, wouldn't go amiss.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hm.

Crystal Palace have been banned from the Europa League and demoted to the Conference League; now, granted, this is to do with ownership issues, (clubs owned by the same individual cannot compete in the same competition) rather than (alleged) breaches of the FFP rules.

However, it does serve to make one wonder why we have yet to learn anything more - not least, such as when a decision, a verdict, may be announced - about the outcome of the 100 plus charges that Manchester City currently face.

 

[martint235]

Hm.

Crystal Palace have been banned from the Europa League and demoted to the Conference League; now, granted, this is to do with ownership issues, (clubs owned by the same individual cannot compete in the same competition) rather than (alleged) breaches of the FFP rules.

However, it does serve to make one wonder why we have yet to learn anything more - not least, such as when a decision, a verdict, may be announced - about the outcome of the 100 plus charges that Manchester City currently face.

I don’t think they expected Lyon to win their appeal against relegation otherwise the owner could have put his shares in CP in a trust.
UEFA have at least given CP leave to appeal to CAS.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Hm.

Crystal Palace have been banned from the Europa League and demoted to the Conference League; now, granted, this is to do with ownership issues, (clubs owned by the same individual cannot compete in the same competition) rather than (alleged) breaches of the FFP rules.

However, it does serve to make one wonder why we have yet to learn anything more - not least, such as when a decision, a verdict, may be announced - about the outcome of the 100 plus charges that Manchester City currently face.

It’s a real shame for the Crystal Palace fans. But I suppose the Conference might be better suited to their team after the greedy six have picked over all their star players

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It’s a real shame for the Crystal Palace fans.

Agree that it is a real shame for Palace fans.

I don’t think they expected Lyon to win their appeal against relegation

Agreed.

otherwise the owner could have put his shares in CP in a trust.

Indeed.

UEFA have at least given CP leave to appeal to CAS.

At least, that is good news.

However, this issue of multiple club ownership was going to arise sooner or later, even if it is a terrible pity that Palace are the team that fell foul of these rules.

 

[laptech]

I agree with the point @Scepticalscribe is making, Lyon was demoted, numerous clubs have been fined by UEFA, Crystal palace have been demoted to a lower competition, leagues and federations are taking action against clubs before the start of the new football season and yet there is nothing about the 115 premier league charges against Man City.

Why is it the premier league seem incapable of releasing their judgement against City whilst others in other countries and other areas are able to do so.

Could it be that @Scepticalscribe and others were right, the premier league are holding back their decision because they know it would cause a media bombshell regardless of which way the decision goes and thus overshadow the final of the CWC and the FA's charity shield. Wait till both competitions are over, let the media post articles revelling in their glory for a couple of days and then release their findings a few days before the start of the new season.

This long wait by the premier league does not bode well in City being heavily punished because if they were to be found guilty of many of the charges and hit with multiple points deduction, City could then have a legal basis that they have been treated unfairly because it would not given them enough time to asses the damage before the new season starts. For instance, would they have bought the players they did if they knew they would get massive points deduction which would put them at the bottom of the league because clubs plan for the new season, what their expectations are and how to achieve them. If City are hit with a massive points deduction so close to the start of the season they could argue that it has had damaged the club's preparations because they would have acted differently if they knew they was going to start the season with a massive points deduction.

The premier league would probably argue that they did not release their decision for not wanting to overshadow other competitions taking place but City will say that is irrelevant and that the premier league should have released their decision earlier so as to allow City to asses the damage and act accordingly. Releasing the decision so late would have adverse affects on City of which City would be able to claim was unfair.

This is why I think City will not be hit hard because if they was the premier league would have released their decision by now. The premier league would be obligated to give City every chance to deal with the situation in a timely manner because if they don't they are opening themselves up for more legal challenges by City.

 

[decafjava]

I had heard about Diogo Jota's tragic death but didn't think to post here as I have been insanely busy, really awful news. It seems so random too, just a tire blowout???

I am curious as to whether anyone is following the UEFA Women's Euro? I can't avpid it as Switzerland is hosting. I did watch the start of the Germany-Sweden match on the giant screen at the Geneva fan zone on the lakeside. Sweden cleaned up by the way.

 

[daneoni]

If Chelsea win the CWC, can they be considered one of the best in England...maybe even the best in London. Since they would've won all available club trophies in their division 🧐

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If Chelsea win the CWC, can they be considered one of the best in England...maybe even the best in London. Since they would've won all available club trophies in their division 🧐

Personally, I very much doubt it (and not just because my heart lies with another club in London).

As of now, the CWC is not taken very seriously by many commentators.

 

[martint235]

If Chelsea win the CWC, can they be considered one of the best in England...maybe even the best in London. Since they would've won all available club trophies in their division 🧐

Best club in London? Knock yourself out. Other than that I’m not sure anyone else takes it seriously. Liverpool did but that was because they held it at the same time as the PL and CL. On its own not sure the CWC counts for much.

 

[Apple fanboy]

CWC doesn’t count as a competition at all let alone a serious one. If Chelsea win it, I doubt I will even notice.

 

[laptech]

I bet if we was to go look at social media post from Chelsea fans when the CWC first started the majority of posts would be about it being a pointless competition but now they have won the CWC, the social media posts have changed to 'We are the best team in the world'.

It is a pointless competition and no one should be supporting it or praising their team when they win it.

 

[pachyderm]

If Chelsea win the CWC, can they be considered one of the best in England...maybe even the best in London. Since they would've won all available club trophies in their division 🧐

Crowd booing frump was priceless.

 

[laptech]

Crowd booing frump was priceless.

It will certainly make people wonder what will happen at the 2026 World Cup. Will he stand on the podium celebrating with the World Cup winners just like he had done with Chelsea when they won the CWC, he was on the podium celebrating with them, much to the annoyance of many Chelsea fans.

 

[martint235]

It will certainly make people wonder what will happen at the 2026 World Cup. Will he stand on the podium celebrating with the World Cup winners just like he had done with Chelsea when they won the CWC, he was on the podium celebrating with them, much to the annoyance of many Chelsea fans.

As far as he is concerned he won the CWC and he played a BEAUTIFUL game. Absolutely beautiful. Best game. Ever.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Didn’t see it. I only watch actual competitions. Not invitationals for the select wealthy few.

I suspect all those teams that played will regret it around November when they start complaining about all the games and injuries…..

 

[decafjava]

I am curious as to whether anyone is following the UEFA Women's Euro? I can't avpid it as Switzerland is hosting. I did watch the start of the Germany-Sweden match on the giant screen at the Geneva fan zone on the lakeside. Sweden cleaned up by the way.

Well I guess I have my answer, mind while I enjoy football I would call myself a very casual fan, big championships are fun though.

 

[pachyderm]

As far as he is concerned he won the CWC and he played a BEAUTIFUL game. Absolutely beautiful. Best game. Ever.

You're not wrong.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well I guess I have my answer, mind while I enjoy football I would call myself a very casual fan, big championships are fun though.

I am reading about it, - as I did with Wimbledon - but am not watching any of the matches.