You really think he’ll make it to the end of the season? Unless he turns things around quickly I can see him having a very long international break next time around
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The 2025-2026 Football Thread
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Almost all those available in fact. I think Klopp counts as unavailable, not sure who else there is. Rooney?
Seriously: Would you actually think to employ Rooney in this position?
For now, I am not so sure that this is a pressing priority for the owners of Manchester United.
No not seriously. Rooney was good at football, now that’s over I’d suggest he just rests on his laurels.
Utd were close to the relegation zone last time out, I don’t think the owners want that again. They’d probably be happy with 10-12th
I keep hearing that Amorim is being stubborn. Maybe he is being stubborn because he knows his system works. Granted such a system has not been heavily used in the premier league but it has been used a number of times though in the premier league with success. Therefore I am wondering if Amorim is being stubborn because he knows what players he needs to make his system work and how to integrate those players into the team to get the rest of the players knowing how to play the system he wants.
If INEOS got Amorim with him telling the club exactly what is required and what is expected for him to succeed and the club have not done that then I do not see why Amorim should be expected to adapt because the club would have failed to deliver on what he requested when he took on the job. He made is extremely clear to the club what he needed for this season, a striker, a midfielder and a goalkeeper, he got one of his requests. The club needed an experienced premier league proven goalkeeper, not some youngster from a different league in a different country.
Will he be at the club long enough to reach the next transfer window to get the much needed midfielder he needs? If results carry on the way they are I doubt it.
If INEOS got Amorim with him telling the club exactly what is required and what is expected for him to succeed and the club have not done that then I do not see why Amorim should be expected to adapt because the club would have failed to deliver on what he requested when he took on the job. He made is extremely clear to the club what he needed for this season, a striker, a midfielder and a goalkeeper, he got one of his requests. The club needed an experienced premier league proven goalkeeper, not some youngster from a different league in a different country.
Will he be at the club long enough to reach the next transfer window to get the much needed midfielder he needs? If results carry on the way they are I doubt it.
Victory, yes, (and a welcome, tidy victory).
However, I am struck by the fact that two players, Martinelli and Trossard - whose respective stars are not in the ascendent, who both run the risk (with good reason) of being eclipsed by more recent signings - both of whom came on as substitutes late in the game (an inspired pair of substitutions, and a strong argument for having some strength in depth to the squad) were the pair who actually scored.
Well, no complaints. And, thankfully (apart from a bandaged head for Gyokeres, which I devoutly hope does not require further attention) no reported injuries.
So I’m a little confused at how the resigned Fabianski is currently playing in a West Ham United under 21’s match. He’s 40!
That said maybe he should get a run in the first team. He couldn’t do much worse!
That said maybe he should get a run in the first team. He couldn’t do much worse!
If Ancelotti fails to win the world cup with Brazil, he’ll be available in about a year….
Is that guy never going to just buy a pair of slippers?
No.
Never.
In his mind, the very concept of retirement is anathema, while a graceful withdrawal from the football world is not to be ever even contemplated, as he probably believes that - like a fine wine - he will only become better with age.
Not enough to help Man Utd if he went there though….😝
Liverpool were lucky in the UCL, an extra time winning header by Virgil Van Dijk although really Ekitike should have made it 4-2 a minute later. I think Slot is still searching for his best 11, leaving Mac Allister on the bench and starting with a midfield of Gravenberch - Wirtz - Szoboslai is a tough call.
Yes, Liverpool were lucky, but, as when they played against Burnley last week-end, they made their complete dominance at the end of the game count matter when it mattered.
Any team - with the sort of excellent attacking players Liverpool have at their disposal - that manage to win that many corners in rapid succession after the 90th minute of a game, will, almost inevitably, score, especially as their opponents failed to clear the ball to any significant extent.
Nevertheless some entertaining matches in the UCL. What I like about this level of football is that the skill players are always worth watching, like Kvaratskhelia’s mazy dribble into the box followed by a blast into the top corner during PSG’s 4-0 win over Atalanta. I just watch the highlights of all the games and get served a smorgasbord of beautiful football moments. Great stuff!
Somewhat lucky, but they were the better team. Atleti had a lot of injuries, but I am unsympathetic, I am still remembering that COVID match from 2020 that never should have been played...
Early goals aren't a problem, late goals aren't a problem. Really it's the leaking two goals per game part that is causing trouble. It might seem odd, but as the new midfielders and defenders become more familiar and coordinated in attack, I think the defense will improve. Partially because, even under Slot, a lot of Liverpool's defense revolves around keeping the opposition off balance going forward. Set piece defending remains an issue.
As for finding a best 11, with all fixture congestion, it's more like finding two best 11s. I don't think the Ekitike/Isaak 'conundrum' is actually an issue - we'll need both.
I think if PSG can match last year’s energy level and tackling brilliance they will prove unbeatable in the Champions League, they were just so good at winning the ball back and fluent in attack with Doue, Kvaratskhelia and Dembele. It’s a tough combination to play against even for the top teams.
The tie against Liverpool last year was close, but really against the likes of Internazionale they were just dominant.
The tie against Liverpool last year was close, but really against the likes of Internazionale they were just dominant.
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A (relatively) tame Merseyside derby but Liverpool edged it. No late goal this time but a nervy final half hour after Everton scored. Grealish looked threatening in the second half in particular. Wirz is still finding his feet, but Ekitike continues his great start in a Liverpool shirt.
Not leaking two goals is certainly an improvement.
Not leaking two goals is certainly an improvement.
Ten man Manchester United (just about) defeat ten man Chelsea in an absolute deluge, (and that was the rain, not the cascade of cards, both red and yellow) a veritable torrential downpour at Old Trafford.
Man Utd will certainly take the win, Amorim badly needed it, but hard to judge performances in a bizarre match like that. Chelsea continue their abysmal form at OT.
That first goal by Gravenberch was something else… the pass from Salah arrived waist-high and he volley’ed it into the far corner of the net, from a tight angle, with a defender in the way. Great goal!
It was, and from a player who initially looked like he might not pan out as a signing. Perhaps most excitingly from a Liverpool perspective, it is Slot who gets much of the credit for finding him a role where he shines.
Tight first half at the Emirates. Haaland is an incredible player, though since his arrival Man City have tactically completely flipped into a team focused on feeding him above all else - which is a huge shift. I still think it makes them inferior to the pre-Haaland Man City, but Pep has leaned into his Norwegian giant and he certainly scores a lot of goals.
Trossard and Silva’s deliciously childish ball-throwing spat should have resulted in a pair of yellows, but Silva had already been cautioned so the ref let them off lightly. Possibly too lightly. It would have been a soft sending off but within the letter of the law. We’ll see if that becomes significant in the second half.
Arsenal are working hard and pressing Man City back well, but Man City just need one little slip up for Haaland to get in behind. It almost reminds me of Chelsea during the Drogba years. The plan is simple - but it’s hard to stop.
Trossard and Silva’s deliciously childish ball-throwing spat should have resulted in a pair of yellows, but Silva had already been cautioned so the ref let them off lightly. Possibly too lightly. It would have been a soft sending off but within the letter of the law. We’ll see if that becomes significant in the second half.
Arsenal are working hard and pressing Man City back well, but Man City just need one little slip up for Haaland to get in behind. It almost reminds me of Chelsea during the Drogba years. The plan is simple - but it’s hard to stop.