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The 2025-2026 Football Thread
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Meanwhile, in MLS…A crazy night in Atlanta. Columbus absolutely pummeled Atlanta, scoring five in the first half. ……then proceeded to concede four unanswered goals as Atlanta, with a chance at a playoff spot slipping away, fought back desperately.
Counting all the good chances and saves this match could have ended 10-10. Madness, but Columbus came out on top 5-4. Apart from the goalkeepers, no defending seems to have taken place in this match…
Counting all the good chances and saves this match could have ended 10-10. Madness, but Columbus came out on top 5-4. Apart from the goalkeepers, no defending seems to have taken place in this match…
That’s a fun match for the neutral. A nightmare for the fans!
Glad the Crew won. I can't stand Atlanta.
Nashville lost to Cincy ... whom I also hate...
Burnley, now down to ten men, are still holding Liverpool to a nil all draw, as the game draws to a close, at the 86th minute of normal playing time.
Damn.
A penalty - a most unfortunate penalty, one of those awful, accidental hand-ball offences - to Liverpool in the 95th minute, which Salah (who has had a poor game throughout) manages to convert flawlessly.
I must say that I hate these 95th minute goals (even though I will guiltily - but with a real reluctance - take them when Arsenal play); almost invariably, and inevitably, they benefit the larger, wealthier, better resourced, and considerably more powerful teams.
And I still remember (and have neither forgiven nor forgotten) all of the times Manchester United benefitted from the application of "Fergie Time" in the 98th minute or so, of a match.
More to the point, Burnley had played well, and would have been fully deserving of a point from the game.
A penalty - a most unfortunate penalty, one of those awful, accidental hand-ball offences - to Liverpool in the 95th minute, which Salah (who has had a poor game throughout) manages to convert flawlessly.
I must say that I hate these 95th minute goals (even though I will guiltily - but with a real reluctance - take them when Arsenal play); almost invariably, and inevitably, they benefit the larger, wealthier, better resourced, and considerably more powerful teams.
And I still remember (and have neither forgiven nor forgotten) all of the times Manchester United benefitted from the application of "Fergie Time" in the 98th minute or so, of a match.
More to the point, Burnley had played well, and would have been fully deserving of a point from the game.
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Donarumma instantly gives City an edge. But that high line will be their deathknell against better teams
Utd actually haven’t been terrible. But again can’t string coherent passes between defence midfield and attack.
Amorim really is under the cosh. Can’t even see signs of improvement or an identity forming.
Utd actually haven’t been terrible. But again can’t string coherent passes between defence midfield and attack.
Amorim really is under the cosh. Can’t even see signs of improvement or an identity forming.
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Yes, it would appear that this is so.
Moreover, Haaland had an excellent game, and not just as a clinical goal-scorer, but as someone intelligently orchestrating his team's game plan.
We can but hope that this will prove to be the case.
Agreed.
They haven't been bad at all, but were still thrashed by a better City team.
True.
And if they do choose to dispense with the services of Amorin, whoever they appoint to succeed him will still face the exact same problems.
The rebuilding of United (under a competent manager with some sort of vision and sufficient flexibility to be able to avail of, to intelligently use, the players at his disposal while he sets about the business of rebuilding, reconstruction and refashioning the team) will take at least - at the very least - two seasons (and not, two transfer windows) before any real improvement will be seen.
The other problems are the owners, and the fact that, for United, almost uniquely, the global 'brand' identity (and commercial success) of the club is more or less independent of - and weirdly separate from - whether or not they win trophies as a team.
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Well...considering it's the biggest game in world football and fiercest rivalry in world sport, Saints vs Portsmouth turned into a fizzer.
I stayed up until 1am(ish) to watch that drivel.
0-0 draws can be quite scintillating. Just not this particular 0-0 draw.
I stayed up until 1am(ish) to watch that drivel.
0-0 draws can be quite scintillating. Just not this particular 0-0 draw.
Me neither. Now that Liverpool are going through a period of success, it’s fascinating to look at it from the other side.
I used to get so furious about Man Utd’s constant stream of late winners, extra stoppage time, favorable penalties, you name it.
And I do think that Ferguson bullied refs - successfully - during his reign of dominance. He’s not alone in that, but he was especially effective at it.
However, it’s also true that Man Utd were usually the better team. They often faced opponents who felt their only option was to slow the game down, break it up with stoppages, and disrupt the flow. Which often led to more stoppage time just at the moment they were exhausted.
And as a result, Man Utd were often at their most dangerous at the end of the match, when they had fresh (and very high quality) substitutes out there making runs and taking shots. Which often led to late goals and penalties.
This is what I now see happening with a lot of Liverpool’s late wins. Does it put my previous attitude towards Ferg’s Man United in a different perspective? A bit. I was younger and more tribal at the time. But even Liverpool’s recent success isn’t equivalent with Ferguson’s dominance - for that you have to go back to the Shankly/Paisley era. And for fans from back then, I have no complaints about them having a grudge against ‘Pool.
Oh, and as for the big calls in the Burnley - ‘Pool match, the sending off seemed fair enough. The handball was definitely a handball under the current interpretation of the laws - even though I agree the current interpretation is silly.
Defenders can’t have arms any more, it’s as simple as that.
Defenders can’t have arms any more, it’s as simple as that.
I watched some of the highlights from YouTube, I thought Liverpool deserved their win after 82% possession and 26 chances partway through the second half. There were quite a few narrow escapes for Burnley during regular play. Liverpool don’t seem to be as clinical as last year...
The Manchester derby, I was impressed by Haaland’s play, as a target man, finisher and all-around playmaker, and I thought Donnaruma looked like a definite upgrade in goal. Some good flashes by Doku too. Overall a thorough City win.
The Manchester derby, I was impressed by Haaland’s play, as a target man, finisher and all-around playmaker, and I thought Donnaruma looked like a definite upgrade in goal. Some good flashes by Doku too. Overall a thorough City win.
Sunday evening I kept hearing the same thing from numerous United fan social media channels and that is Amorim is sacking himself because he is unable to use the players he's got in a system he want's to use. The analysis from these fan channels is spot on in my opinion with regards to the issue of Sesko, Cuhna and Mbeumo not scoring goals because they are now in a team that does not provide them service. All 3 of them succeeded in their previous teams because the team they were in was able to give them service. They have now come to a team that struggles to give them service hence why they are not scoring goals. As one well known fan channel put it, they cannot pull goals out of their backside, they need to be given service and the United team just do not know how to do it. Question in point is Hojlund, a young up and coming striker from Atalanta, comes to United and struggles because the team is unable to provide him service.
What's worse for United is that bookies are putting down United as one of the teams that could get relegated this year.
What's worse for United is that bookies are putting down United as one of the teams that could get relegated this year.
...and who scored, and - per Sofascore - was man of the match this weekend for Napoli:
Agreed, the handball was definitely a handball under the current rules, which really need to be interpreted more intelligently, or flexibly, for it was clear (not least from his anguished reaction) that Hannibal's handball was anything but deliberate.
I would have had no quarrel with a penalty for Liverpool (so late in the game) as a result of a deliberate handball, or foul, but this wasn't that, and I would have liked to have seen Burnley rewarded with at least a point for their sterling defence.
In any case, I have long hated Fergie Time, and his brutal - and sustained - bullying of referees.
Now, I take (entirely) your thoughtful argument about how such late goals are often a reflection of sustained dominance and deeper resources - such as the sort of squad strength in depth that the introduction of late (high quality) substitutes (with fresh legs and exceptional footballing ability) could bring to a game.
I did not watch the derby yesterday. Losing away to city at this point won't raise alarm bells on its own, but that's the best they could do with extra time to prepare during the international break?
Amorim's stubbornness in playing some of his players in ill-suited positions is going to cost him. Mazraoui is not a wingback. Maybe Shaw could be a competent LCB, but he was dreadful yesterday. Stop playing Bruno as an 8. He can't do it — certainly not with the available options at the 6 (Casemiro and Ugarte). In Amorim's system, his best position is one of the 10s. For this, I'll blame INEOS for buying two 10s this summer and not prioritizing the midfield (and GK).
Play Casemiro and Mainoo as your midfield two. I'd rather see Ayden Heaven at LCB for now — a hugely promising prospect. Play Bruno in the front 3 and don't start Sesko for now.
Guess we'll see if they can kick on. The next four fixture are make or break — and they're not easy matchups, either.
Amorim's stubbornness in playing some of his players in ill-suited positions is going to cost him. Mazraoui is not a wingback. Maybe Shaw could be a competent LCB, but he was dreadful yesterday. Stop playing Bruno as an 8. He can't do it — certainly not with the available options at the 6 (Casemiro and Ugarte). In Amorim's system, his best position is one of the 10s. For this, I'll blame INEOS for buying two 10s this summer and not prioritizing the midfield (and GK).
Play Casemiro and Mainoo as your midfield two. I'd rather see Ayden Heaven at LCB for now — a hugely promising prospect. Play Bruno in the front 3 and don't start Sesko for now.
Guess we'll see if they can kick on. The next four fixture are make or break — and they're not easy matchups, either.
Funny that you mention about Bruno being put as a number 8. When Amorim came in the one thing I kept on hearing from many United fan channels on social media is 'Where does Bruno fit into Amorim's system' because apparently the way Bruno plays is not suited to the system Amorim uses and I keep hearing this time and time again.
I think these are the two fundamental problems. Amorim just won't be pragmatic with his tactics. INEOS brought in Amorim and, for some reason, has not added players that will help make Amorim's system work. So they made a bad choice and are further undermining it.
ten Hag was probably promoted above his competency level. INEOS may have made the same mistake with Amorim. But INEOS may themselves be lacking in the know-how needed to improve things on the pitch. The only thing they are good at is miserly cost-trimming, but that money is now being wasted. So Sir Jim's arguments look pretty empty. Maybe he's promoted himself beyond his level of competence....
How may more games do you reckon they’ll give him? Patience definitely seems to be running out now.
This depends on whether or not they believe that removing the current manager is in the best interests of the club, or, the owners' of the club.
At this stage, how many managers have United devoured, digested, and spat out since the departure of the legendary Sir Alex?
In its current incarnation, I'm not sure who else would be capable of turning around the project of making Manchester United a serious team again in anything under - at the very least - two full seasons.
For whom?
For fans and commentators, perhaps, but, in the case of the owners, the Brand of Manchester United remains extremely profitable and lucrative, and is - bizarrely and inexplicably - somehow divorced from the actual fortunes of the football team on the football pitch.
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Although they will never admit it, I think the Man U owners take the fans’ view seriously. That’s not to say they value the fans’ view but once the disgruntled clamour reaches a certain level they react.
Whether or not there is a suitable candidate doesn’t really seem to come into it. There appears to be a certain number of “elite” clubs and a roughly equal number of managers. Would Utd take another punt?