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The 2025-2026 Football Thread

Amorim was an expensive mistake. Better to get rid sooner than later, but INEOS has burned almost all their credibility in the process.

Short term, I expect Darren Fletcher or whatever interim manager will be able to get a bit more out of the squad, but the long term plan is as muddled as always.
 
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If i was Utd i'd make a serious play for Emery or Glassner in summer. Even though Glassner is currently playing 3-4-3 he's the first to admit its because of the state of his quad. And is flexible to change as required.

When all players are fit Utd have a decent squad, certainly a top 5 squad and fact is Amorim was notably underperforming.

Personally i don't understand the contemporary plague of managers being stubborn and sticking to a 'style' even when they keep losing games because of it. Part of being an elite manager is being able to adapt to opposition and current squad attributes

Pep did it to finally win the UCL, Fergie did it anytime a new challenger came or his squad changed, Emery does it every week. Arteta won an FA Cup with a squad that wasn't his own then slowly moulded his own team

But Ange (who ironically adapted to win the europe trophy), ETH, Amorim, Martin etc seem to think stubbornly sticking to something is virtuous even when its not working. To me it just makes come across as rigid and thick. At best its mildly detrimental, at worst its outright self-destructive.

Amorim was appointed 4pts away from a top 4 finish. All he needed to do was assess his squad and play the players according to their strengths and get into Europe or win a Europa trophy. That way you get credit and funds into the club and have more of a leg to stand on.
He remained stubborn, finished 15th and lost a Europa final. Still got backed with £208m but no change and started mouthing off.

At least Maresca had more of a leg to stand on by actually delivering something.

I don't think i've ever experience this much manager turnover in the EPL (and SPL apparently). And clubs are literally running out of managers to pick.

I wonder if Nuno or Parker will be next...
 
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daneoni said:
........

I don't think i've ever experience this much manager turnover in the EPL. And clubs are literally running out of managers to pick.

.....
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Well, it is evidently easier to fire one person (though it is abundantly clear that Amorim was practically sitting up and begging to be fired) than to fire eleven...
 
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Madonepro said:
I watched the highlights on MOTD, here in Australia (refuse to pay for the crap that is STAN). Liverpool seemed not to be able to work out a Fulham side play deep, and 5 back. I guess, with Liverpool down so many strikers, that only have one up front didn't help. Sadly highlights, are as they say on the tin, highlights. Much was made of Liverpool second goal, and I can't believe so many fans/pundits, trust how a groundsmen cuts the grass, than the technology.
Reed's goal at the end was outrageous, well executed, and just one of those moments, where 99 times out of 100, misses.

Fulham have become quite the counter attacking team of late, but we need are in the same boat as Liverpool, we need to strengthen our defence, and spend some damn money.
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Agree on Reeds goal. It was a cracker.
 
Silencio said:
Amorim was an expensive mistake. Better to get rid sooner than later, but INEOS has burned almost all their credibility in the process.
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That sums it up quite succinctly.

Most of the money spent by INEOS has been wasted at this point on a failed vision, so their entire argument about getting the finances sorted out has turned out to be...incorrect.

They are not some lean, mean, business machine. They are just as clueless as most other business consortia at running a football club. All those employees were essentially fired for nothing, and Sir Jim should not be let off the hook on that.
 
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No Longer Theatre Of Dreams.

IMG_0990.jpeg
 
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Seems City are now looking to sign Guehi with Gvardiol and Dias getting injured.

Will be interesting to see what he does now that Pep has come calling.
 
I quite like that picture of ex coaches of Man Utd, very atmospheric, although I only recognise Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer, Ten Hag, and Amorim. It’s an interesting array of talent, young and old.
 
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Bodhitree said:
I quite like that picture of ex coaches of Man Utd, very atmospheric, although I only recognise Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer, Ten Hag, and Amorim. It’s an interesting array of talent, young and old.
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The interims are included (Giggs, Carrick, Rangnick, and RVN).

Transfer-wise, INEOS has spent pretty well IMO. Zirkzee and Ugarte are not PL quality, and Sesko hasn't exactly hit the ground running, but every other signing has been good to excellent, and all are playing for reasonable wages. (Buying three forwards and no midfielders last summer can and should be questioned, though ditching Amorim's system may be a boon to the existing midfielders in the squad — especially Mainoo.)

Getting the Manag—uhhh, Head Coach right is the big trick. A penny for Dan Ashworth's thoughts right now.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
I was going to say 'somebody has spent too much time on this Photoshop' - but let's face it, it's all AI slop now. 🤣
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Unfortunately you'd have to get the paid version of Chat GPT to create the same for Chelsea. 😂
Lord Blackadder said:
That sums it up quite succinctly.

Most of the money spent by INEOS has been wasted at this point on a failed vision, so their entire argument about getting the finances sorted out has turned out to be...incorrect.

They are not some lean, mean, business machine. They are just as clueless as most other business consortia at running a football club. All those employees were essentially fired for nothing, and Sir Jim should not be let off the hook on that.
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Does make me wonder, if Sir Jim is angling it this way, so as to get the Glaziers out, and become the Major shareholder.
 
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Silencio said:
The interims are included (Giggs, Carrick, Rangnick, and RVN).

Transfer-wise, INEOS has spent pretty well IMO. Zirkzee and Ugarte are not PL quality, and Sesko hasn't exactly hit the ground running, but every other signing has been good to excellent, and all are playing for reasonable wages. (Buying three forwards and no midfielders last summer can and should be questioned, though ditching Amorim's system may be a boon to the existing midfielders in the squad — especially Mainoo.)

Getting the Manag—uhhh, Head Coach right is the big trick. A penny for Dan Ashworth's thoughts right now.
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Well Man Utd have been in rebuilding mode for a number of years now. I think they should be honest about what they are aiming for. Every major new head coach hire has immediately been subject to inflated expectations of winning the premier league, while in reality just finishing in the CL places is already a big step forward. Build the squad first, then get the right head coach to make the most of it.
 
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Former Columbus boss Wilfried Nancy has already been sacked by Celtic, just days after the Crew appointed their next manager. He lasted just eight games.

Celtic are a club with a gigantic self image and zero patience. I feared something like this might happen, but never imagined it would last only 8 matches.
 
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To be honest, it’s rare these days that a club displays loyalty to the manager. The days of Sir Alex are long gone, these days the first response to an underperforming team is to sack the manager.
 
Bodhitree said:
To be honest, it’s rare these days that a club displays loyalty to the manager. The days of Sir Alex are long gone, these days the first response to an underperforming team is to sack the manager.
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Not quite.

Rather, it depends on the club, and the wider footballing culture it fosters, - or, is fostered by.

Impatient (and entitled) fans - their voices amplified by the 24/7 sports news cycle not to mention social media - don't much help the cause of stability, still less the cultivation of old-fashioned virtues such as patience.

Manchester City have been very supportive (with good reason) of Pep Guardiola, as have Arsenal of Mikel Arteta, (and before that, of Arsene Wenger), and, I would also argue that Liverpool have been very supportive of both Jurgen Klopp, and of Arne Slot.
 
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