The 2025-2026 Football Thread

[Silencio]

I'm pretty tired of the ex-United pundits. I think Peter Schmeichel is the only one I can stand listening to for more than a few minutes. Scholes in particular is really bad at it.

Of all the managerial "ghosts", only Ole was a permanent manager. Carrick is a fine choice for the interim role IMO — makes much more sense than bringing Ole back again. I liked how he set up Boro.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I'm pretty tired of the ex-United pundits. I think Peter Schmeichel is the only one I can stand listening to for more than a few minutes. Scholes in particular is really bad at it.

It also depends whether they are on co-comms or in the studio. The studio stuff for the Premier League is mostly filler or 'bantz'...there are naturally some good observations mixed in but it's not really worth listening to, at least not as a primary source of information. And I don't think Roy Kean actually realizes that he's been turned into a silly cartoon / soundboard version of himself...if I do listen in it's for the accents. 🤣 🤣

On the other hand, right now Ex-Columbus striker Alejandro Moreno does in-studio Bundesliga analysis for the ESPN US feed, and while a I rarely tune in he's both observant and funny. It's all a matter of opinion...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Arsenal are the only team left in the league cup I don’t dislike, so best of luck to them against Chelsea.

 

[Alphazoid]

Kinda concerned we've stopped keeping clean sheets. Should've put the tie to bed. Now we have to hustle again at home with key players returning for them.

Work to do...

 

[daneoni]

A bit of vindication for Alonso as Madrid knocked out of Copa Del Rey by second division side Albacete

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Guehi appears to be heading to Man City. Quite frustrating for Liverpool as he was needed over the summer, and by all accounts was going to finish the season at Palace. But Man City either muscled in aggressively or had an inside steer. Such is the unforgiving nature of the transfer market.

 

[daneoni]

I think its a Pep thing vs club thing. If Pep comes calling, very few are going to say no.

It also makes sense for Guehi. Ake is on his way out. Stones is injury prone. Diaz is slowing down. Khusanov is raw.

So he basically walks into City's team. Although i'm not sure if its a smart move long term since Pep will likely leave once the current term runs out

But still City have had their rebuild effectively.

LFC will be licking their wounds. SHould've moved quicker in the summer but waited on Isak who has turned out to be an unnecessary excess in my opinion. Ekitike has been enough.

Could've used the money on a Guehi and a 6 which would've moved the needle

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Kinda concerned we've stopped keeping clean sheets.

Well, while I agree with you to a certain extent, I would argue that, firstly, Kepa was between the sticks, rather than Raya, and secondly, it was a cup competition, not the Premier League, thus, a clear victory was the desired outcome, while goals conceded would not count against us, as long as victory was secured.

Should've put the tie to bed. Now we have to hustle again at home with key players returning for them.

Work to do...

Yes.

Nevertheless, we do enter the second leg with both home advantage, and a victory already achieved against them.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think its a Pep thing vs club thing. If Pep comes calling, very few are going to say no.

True.

It also makes sense for Guehi. Ake is on his way out. Stones is injury prone. Diaz is slowing down. Khusanov is raw.

So he basically walks into City's team. Although i'm not sure if its a smart move long term since Pep will likely leave once the current term runs out

But still City have had their rebuild effectively.

Agreed.

And, if Palace didn't sell now, they could not expect to receive anything for him, as his contract is (was) set to expire this coming summer.

Hence, it made sense for Palace (who have also announced that they expect to lose their manager this summer, as Glasner has made it clear that he will not extend his contract) to cash in on Guehi now.

LFC will be licking their wounds. SHould've moved quicker in the summer but waited on Isak who has turned out to be an unnecessary excess in my opinion. Ekitike has been enough.

Completely agree.

Now, Ekitike has been a good buy.

Notwithstanding that, to my mind, Liverpool should have ignored Isak's histrionics and utterly unprofessional conduct last summer (needless to say, they still lack his services, - that lack of a pre-season proved costly, as prior to his injury, he hadn't fully acclimatised to the change of club - and, moreover, it seems likely that he will remain absent through injury for a while yet) and opted for Guehi instead.

Could've used the money on a Guehi and a 6 which would've moved the needle

Agreed.

 

[daneoni]

£20m for a 25yr Marc Guehi is ruthless business from City

Along with losing his manager. Steve Parish has been dealt a double blow there.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

£20m for a 25yr Marc Guehi is ruthless business from City

Along with losing his manager. Steve Parish has been dealt a double blow there.

City are ruthless, heartless, pitiless.

And deeply dislikeable.

Their negative response to the (perfectly reasonable) request from Exeter City (to increase the (paltry) percentage that Exeter City received from the shared gate receipts from their recent fixture) tells you absolutely everything about them.

However, given that Guehi clearly wished to depart, - plus, when City come knocking it is difficult to turn them down - and, moreover, that Palace would receive nothing for him by summer, it makes a brutal sort of sense for them to feel compelled to accept this - almost derisory, almost risible - offer for him.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I think its a Pep thing vs club thing. If Pep comes calling, very few are going to say no.

Pep may very well be gone before Guehi completes his first season at Man City.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Keane and Carrick are going at it in the media over nothing….I am hardly a Man Utd fan, but isn’t the whole Class of ‘92 and some of their descendants casting an overly large shadow at this point?

Big clubs are always burdened by their own legacy, and sometimes it can be an obstacle to progress.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Keane and Carrick are going at it in the media over nothing….I am hardly a Man Utd fan, but isn’t the whole Class of ‘92 and some of their descendants casting an overly large shadow at this point?

Big clubs are always burdened by their own legacy, and sometimes it can be an obstacle to progress.

In Manchester United's case, I suspect that this has evolved far beyond having been "burdened" by the legacy of the legendary Class of 1992 and has now progressed to having been haunted by them.

Nevertheless, completely agree that they (still) cast - and are allowed to cast - an overly large (and entitled) shadow on the club nowadays.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

As a Liverpool fan, I’ve always been skeptical of ex-players as managerial candidates. It has worked (sometimes spectacularly) in the past, but, that is not really a meritocratic approach. Gerrard has never managed at a level that could convince me he is ready for the job. Yet, anyway. Alonso came closer but he is still relatively new at it, and we all knew the Real job would probably eat him up. People like Klopp and even Slot arrived with far more experience, so why should players with less be seen as equals?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

As a Liverpool fan, I’ve always been skeptical of ex-players as managerial candidates. It has worked (sometimes spectacularly) in the past, but, that is not really a meritocratic approach. Gerrard has never managed at a level that could convince me he is ready for the job. Yet, anyway. Alonso came closer but he is still relatively new at it, and we all knew the Real job would probably eat him up. People like Klopp and even Slot arrived with far more experience, so why should players with less be seen as equals?

Kenny Daglish - of Liverpool fame - is the exception that proved the rule, but, for the most part, you are completely correct.

Perhaps ironically, some of the very best managers had been pretty mediocre as players, and that is if they had even played in any way successfully as professional footballers.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And it is not just the Class of '92 that have an outsize influence and say on current happenings at Old Trafford, but the baleful presence of Sir Alex is also far too prominent for comfort.

1992 was over thirty years ago; no matter how good you were - as footballer or manager - in the immediate years that followed, the world - including the footballing world - has changed completely - and significantly - since then.

Moreover, I would also make the argument that were it not for Sir Alex's own hubris re the (subsequent) legal disputes over the ownership of the racehorse 'Rock of Gibraltar', the Glazers might not have ended up so catastrophically in charge of Manchester United.

 

[MBAir2010]

1992 was over thirty years ago; no matter how good you were - as footballer or manager - in the immediate years that followed, the world - including the footballing world - has changed completely - and significantly - since then.

Yes, very true
the only VAR I knew back then was Edward Elgar's Enigma Var.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Looking good for United. New manager bounce or is Michael Carrick the right man for the job.

 

[daneoni]

Gd on Carrick but he's basically just gone back to basics and played players in their normal position/formation.

Also helped by having certain players back.

This game illustrates why City went for Guehi quickly.

I also don't think the 4-1-4-1 formation is helping Pep

Not sure having 2 number 10s and wingers playing as fullbacks is doing the City players any favours. And Rodri is just returning, i think he still needs some help alongside him.

Its increasingly looking like Arsenal's title to win this season.

Especially considering City still have to play Spurs, Newcastle, and Liverpool. On current form, i don't see them coming out of those unscathed.

 

[MBAir2010]

Seems to me that Man Citeh lost all their creativeness lately,
as the television in my house proclaimed that Arsenal will be awarded the title on Wednesday,
parade on Thursday and Villa will be promoted to the Premier league Friday!

perhaps a new TV for the abode might be a clever option!

Speaking of which, Sutherland-Crystal Palace seems like the best option now.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Seems to me that Man Citeh lost all their creativeness lately,

In this case it’s fairly simple. Haaland hasn’t scored from open play in 6 or 7 matches, of which Man City have now drawn 3 and lost 1. He’s a phenom but they rely on him. Too much. I wish Guehi a short, disappointment-filled career at Citeh.

Excellent result for Man Utd but the cynical side of me says this is just a blip after being jogged by the Amorim sacking. They may quickly regress against the next mediocre side they face. The last 13 years have established the pattern…

 

[MBAir2010]

Excellent result for Man Utd but the cynical side of me says this is just a blip after being jogged by the Amorim sacking. They may quickly regress against the next mediocre side they face. The last 13 years have established the pattern…

before these last 13 years, United was unstoppable except for a few splashes of Chelsea brilliance.
Im still amazed that the 2008 UEFA final went to penalties.
I always smile when they show Sir Alex perched in the stands.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

West Ham have started brightly against Spurs, with an early deflected goal that literally went in off someone’s backside.

 

[Silencio]

Keane and Carrick are going at it in the media over nothing….I am hardly a Man Utd fan, but isn’t the whole Class of ‘92 and some of their descendants casting an overly large shadow at this point?

Big clubs are always burdened by their own legacy, and sometimes it can be an obstacle to progress.

Keane has had beef with Carrick and his wife for a long time. He's kind of an expert at holding a grudge, isn't he?

Pretty encouraging performance by United today. Yes, they were helped by playing people in their best positions (Bruno, Mainoo) and Maguire's return was crucial, and they took advantage of city's poor form. Let's see if Carrick can keep the team motivated against lower table teams, which has been a big problem lately. Top 4 is still within reach, shockingly enough.