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The 2025-2026 Football Thread

Might need to also consider those that show as being on the US side, but are actually British, like me. I just live in the US now.

Now, onto more important things. I am so scared and nervous about the Champions League final today.

Obviously I want us, Arsenal, to win. At the same time, I am almost scared to watch the game live. Alas, this is probably a second in a lifetime game, and I need to not miss what happens, live.

LET'S DO THIS. COYG... 👊

PS: It has been mentioned that Henry will be bringing the trophy in, before the game. Surely this is a sign for us, no?
 
Broke the news to my son and his reply in caps lol.

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Lord Blackadder said:
Slot is gone. Liverpool are truly in full rebuild mode now.
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I wish Arne all the best. I don’t think he had the kind of perspective on team building that Liverpool need, and they probably did the right thing by making a move. It’s a shortcoming of many Dutch coaches, that they don’t really have a broad view of worldwide talent.
 
Bodhitree said:
I wish Arne all the best. I don’t think he had the kind of perspective on team building that Liverpool need, and they probably did the right thing by making a move. It’s a shortcoming of many Dutch coaches, that they don’t really have a broad view of worldwide talent.
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I hear the ex Man Utd manager(s) are available….

Could you imagine how that would go down!
 
Something about sacking a manager a season after a title win just feels very ‘modern football’ in a bad way.

The club hierarchy have obviously retrospectively concluded Slot won the league with a Klopp team and has failed to push on with his own approach.

Injuries definitely hampered the league campaign, alongside Jota’s tragic passing and Salah’s form dropping off a cliff. But the higher-ups are probably also looking at this season as one where the bar was lower than average in terms of points totals. Could more have been done? It seems that way.

Slot’s departure could be laid to his underperformance. But really it now puts big pressure on Michael Edward’s and Richard Hughes. If slot had to go now that means his initial hiring was a failed project. The suits made a mistake but unlike managers they get several mulligans.

I’m not upset about ‘missing out’ on Xabi Alonso. While he appears to be a genuinely good manager I still do not think he is sufficiently proven at the top level to be seen as a ‘must have.’ I don’t want to sound cynical but he got the job at Real as much through emotion, politics and nepotism (the Real Way) as through sheer merit. The same sentiment underlies the desire by some to bring him Liverpool. He could be good enough. But that is still unknown and however much I loved him as a player in our shirt, this is is a different challenge.

I would not say I’m excited about Iraola either. As with Slot, obviously a good manager. But frustrating big teams with Bournemouth is one thing. Breaking down the Bournemouths of the world on a weekly basis, and contesting four competitions is another. Again, different challenge.

I do, however, appreciate Liverpool not just lunging at whatever biggest managerial ‘name’ happens to be unemployed at the moment. I don’t want the club to be run that way.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Something about sacking a manager a season after a title win just feels very ‘modern football’ in a bad way.

The club hierarchy have obviously retrospectively concluded Slot won the league with a Klopp team and has failed to push on with his own approach.

Injuries definitely hampered the league campaign, alongside Jota’s tragic passing and Salah’s form dropping off a cliff. But the higher-ups are probably also looking at this season as one where the bar was lower than average in terms of points totals. Could more have been done? It seems that way.

Slot’s departure could be laid to his underperformance. But really it now puts big pressure on Michael Edward’s and Richard Hughes. If slot had to go now that means his initial hiring was a failed project. The suits made a mistake but unlike managers they get several mulligans.

I’m not upset about ‘missing out’ on Xabi Alonso. While he appears to be a genuinely good manager I still do not think he is sufficiently proven at the top level to be seen as a ‘must have.’ I don’t want to sound cynical but he got the job at Real as much through emotion, politics and nepotism (the Real Way) as through sheer merit. The same sentiment underlies the desire by some to bring him Liverpool. He could be good enough. But that is still unknown and however much I loved him as a player in our shirt, this is is a different challenge.

I would not say I’m excited about Iraola either. As with Slot, obviously a good manager. But frustrating big teams with Bournemouth is one thing. Breaking down the Bournemouths of the world on a weekly basis, and contesting four competitions is another. Again, different challenge.

I do, however, appreciate Liverpool not just lunging at whatever biggest managerial ‘name’ happens to be unemployed at the moment. I don’t want the club to be run that way.
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So who would you like to see appointed?
 
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Having won the Premier League title, - which was my priority all season - I am surprisingly relaxed about the Champions League Final; merely to reach the final is a huge achievement, and is only the second time Arsenal have actually managed to do this.

To actually win the game, would, of course, be a fantastic bonus, but, no matter the outcome, the season has been a wonderful success.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
No, I don't much care for the stuff, - and usually decline it when I am offered some - irrespective of its reputation as the perfect expression of celebration.

No, I expect that it will be a beer (preferably Belgian or German), a lager perhaps, or a - when home - maybe a glass (or two) of Chablis.


Thank you.
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Same tbh. I’d much rather a beer or in this weather a cider.
 
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I don't want to tempt fate by alluding to the fact that our defence has been pretty good in the first half of the Champions League final, despite PSG fiercely hammering away at it.
 
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