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The 2025-2026 Football Thread

Mitthrawnuruodo said:
I was thinking him and/or Solskjær as interim manager(s) at United... :D
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Lord Blackadder said:
OGS and Mou as joint managers FTW. 🤣 That would be gold for everyone - apart from the fans.
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Irresistible.

@Apple fanboy, George Simms (in the Observer) has a very interesting - a piece well worth reading - piece on West Ham, entitled "Graham Potter is struggling but West Ham’s failings run much deeper".
 
After watching the Chelsea vs Fulham game, I can only surmise the death of competitive football as we know it, and look forward to the referee review, where they admit their mistakes, regardless that it won't change the result. The cost to a club, losing 3 points, can run into the millions come the end of the season. In Australia, we call match officials maggots, but sadly that is too tame for those who referee EPL.
 
Madonepro said:
After watching the Chelsea vs Fulham game, I can only surmise the death of competitive football as we know it, and look forward to the referee review, where they admit their mistakes, regardless that it won't change the result. The cost to a club, losing 3 points, can run into the millions come the end of the season.
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I think that this "the death of competitive football" is over-stating the case.

However, there does seem to be a case where rulings may sometimes favour (even if, sometimes, simply subconsciously) the richer, more powerful side, especially if they are playing at home.

Nevertheless, I would argue that the problems of football far surpass any mistake made by poorly paid (in comparison to almost everyone else in the game) match officials such as referees and linesmen.

Having said that, I would have liked to see Fulham claim at least a point from the game, and the two key decisions that went against Fulham do seem to have been especially unfortunate.
Madonepro said:
In Australia, we call match officials maggots, but sadly that is too tame for those who referee EPL.
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There is neither excuse nor justification for such name-calling.

The problems of football - or, any organised sport - far exceed any mistakes made by match officials, who have been threatened, insulted, bullied, harassed, all of which - to my mind - are inexcusable.
 
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Madonepro said:
After watching the Chelsea vs Fulham game, I can only surmise the death of competitive football as we know it, and look forward to the referee review, where they admit their mistakes, regardless that it won't change the result. The cost to a club, losing 3 points, can run into the millions come the end of the season. In Australia, we call match officials maggots, but sadly that is too tame for those who referee EPL.
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Usually I’d say “Get over it, you can’t change it now”. How’s I watched the first hour or so and the two decisions I saw (disallowed goal and penalty) were absolutely shocking. With a replay the game would have just continued (goal, no penalty). Even with the replay for the penalty to then ignore the first handball 🤯
 
Madonepro said:
The cost to a club, losing 3 points, can run into the millions come the end of the season.
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It can happen, though 1) the refs see less of the money in football than anyone; so maybe they should be paid more, and 2) I think this is just a symptom of too much money in the game rather than refs having a negative impact.

I don’t know why anyone would want to be an elite ref these days (especially, by the sound of it, in Australia!). Nothing but abuse, public exposure, and hard work, they get very little for it.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
It can happen, though 1) the refs see less of the money in football than anyone; so maybe they should be paid more, and 2) I think this is just a symptom of too much money in the game rather than refs having a negative impact.

I don’t know why anyone would want to be an elite ref these days (especially, by the sound of it, in Australia!). Nothing but abuse, public exposure, and hard work, they get very little for it.
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Elite ref? I’d much rather referee a PL game than a kids game! Those parents can be brutal!
 
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Fascinating reading the commentary about why Amorim isn’t getting results at Man Utd. I was not aware he was such a tactical stick-in-the-mud, I myself would be a better manager than that!
 
Chelsea sign Garnacho, sell Nkukwu, and loan Jackson to Bayern. Leaving them with 2 strikers in Pedro and Delap.
But Delap injured his hamstring today leaving them with one striker. As a result they decide to cancel Jackson's loan move to Bayern just as he was about to undergo his medical. Jackson is understandably aggrieved and is refusing to return to London

Meanwhile LFC look set to get their way with Isak and Guehi. NUFC have overspent on Woltemade in a scramble, and Parish has no choice but to accept £35m for Guehi who is in the last year of his deal.

Fair to say NUFC and Palace will have a newfound disdain for LFC after raiding them of their best players. Palace will likely have the same energy for Arsenal.

Penny for the thoughts of Glassner and Howe who have to pick up the pieces.

Obtaining Guehi and Isak will go a long way towards helping LFC retain their title and maybe even win the UCL.
 
Not sure either CP or NUFC can feel aggrieved at LFC. Compared to some, Liverpool have been quite restrained on both players. CP must have known that an international in the last year of his contract and a release clause in said contract would attract attention. I think NUFC will direct their ire at Isak, he’s the one who has played them and if Liverpool don’t sign him he’ll look a bit silly.
 
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martint235 said:
Not sure either CP or NUFC can feel aggrieved at LFC. Compared to some, Liverpool have been quite restrained on both players. CP must have known that an international in the last year of his contract and a release clause in said contract would attract attention. I think NUFC will direct their ire at Isak, he’s the one who has played them and if Liverpool don’t sign him he’ll look a bit silly.
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Agreed.

Eze has already played for five years with Crystal Palace, conducted himself professionally throughout the transfer negotiations, and while he made it clear that he wished to join Arsenal, he also made clear his affection and respect for Palace and their supporters; thus, he left Palace without rancour.

I'm not so sure that the same situation applies to Isak.
 
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martint235 said:
Will United scraping a win save Amorim though? Does he actually want to be saved?
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I think the Amorim project may already have reached the point in a relationship where breakup is inevitable; all that’s left to do is find the right timing/excuse for the separation. Do they keep him to take the blame for this season and then move on? Who else is available as a replacement?
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
I think the Amorim project may already have reached the point in a relationship where breakup is inevitable; all that’s left to do is find the right timing/excuse for the separation. Do they keep him to take the blame for this season and then move on? Who else is available as a replacement that’s not already had a go!
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Corrected that for you!
 
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martint235 said:
Not sure either CP or NUFC can feel aggrieved at LFC. Compared to some, Liverpool have been quite restrained on both players. CP must have known that an international in the last year of his contract and a release clause in said contract would attract attention. I think NUFC will direct their ire at Isak, he’s the one who has played them and if Liverpool don’t sign him he’ll look a bit silly.
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No clubs have any issues raiding less wealthy clubs for their best talent. NUFC has no compunction about it either; they do it as much as anyone else. It’s business, and that’s what football is. Liverpool didn’t make a stink in the press about it, all the noise was on Newcastle’s side. The part that stings for Newcastle is that despite their Middle Eastern wealth they’re still getting poached. I’m not convinced the Isak deal is the best idea (the mind boggles at the sums involved), but he is a good forward, proven in this league. Geuhi is a much more pragmatic move; there is a shortage in defense when considering league, cup, and European commitments plus Konate’s situation and Gomez’s injury history.

Clubs on the receiving end of these bids are in a difficult situation. If they hold the line and refuse to sell the player may be unsettled. If they try to hold the line and fail, they may find themselves in the last week of the transfer window trying to buy a replacement for a key starter when everyone knows they have money and are desperate. And such players don’t grow on trees.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
I think the Amorim project may already have reached the point in a relationship where breakup is inevitable; all that’s left to do is find the right timing/excuse for the separation. Do they keep him to take the blame for this season and then move on? Who else is available as a replacement?
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That would be cruel. But not beyond Ineos/Glazer
 
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