I read an article recently about the 115 charges. Apparently the boss of the premier league has washed his hands of it because he stated in an interview that it is out of his hands and there is nothing he can do because it is now in the hands of the judgement panel and they are the ones who now decide how long it takes to make a decision and he has to wait for the panel to makes it's decision.
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The 2025-2026 Football Thread
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We managed to sneak a point against Brighton late on. Was a good game, but again, as VAR cannot overturn a referee unless they made a "clear and obvious error", it prevented us being rewarded with a penalty.
In the Liverpool game, you say a player not get penalised for the ball bouncing off the knee, up to the underside of the arm, but they didn't then check the moments after, when the player put his hand and touched the ball with his fingers. Arne Slot was impressed with the refereeing, let's hope we have less of these 'close call's' throughout the year.
In Australia, we have a streaming service (Stan), that has just bought the rights off of a telco (Optus) to show premier league, and champions league for the next few seasons, but on top of the subscription for Sport, they make you pay for their basic content, which ends up costing around £30 a month, up from £8. So I just turn on my VPN and watch MOTD.
MOTD was better before they took Wayne Rooney on. He’s a terrible pundit.
I didn't watch him on Prime last year, and when he was evaluating the first game, I was occupied reading something else, and didn't recognise his accent. He clearly does know his stuff, but the learning curve to being a good presenter, takes time. I'm sure you remember the early days of Lineker, Shearer, Murphy and Wright.
MOTS is also free, so I'm happy to accept a little mediocrity. 😉
I remember Jimmy Hill, Trevor Brookin, Alan Hanson, Des Lynom and many others.
I don’t think Rooney will make a good presenter. His accent is difficult to hear and he tends to murmur rather than project his voice. Not a good choice imo.
I expect an Arsenal win. Not sure the game is more anticipated than any other though.
Arsenal were the much better side last year than Utd and have spent even more of their vast wealth this summer.
Actually, I never make predictions.
Instead, I follow the game, gnaw my nails, bite my tongue, and gnash my teeth.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have also spent quite a bit, and it would seem that Spurs may also be opening their wallet.
As it happens, last summer (and last winter) Arsenal's activity during the transfer window was negligible, and, even now, they tend to be reasonably prudent in their expenditure (not making a move for Eze, until there have been some further departures, for example), unlike some of their rivals.
However, I will say that it seems - at long last - as though there has been a bit of thinking, a bit of introspection and self-examination in the club's hierarchy - about some of the issues arising from last season.
This goes far further than the absence of a proper striker (and one or two other areas that could have done with some improvement), but must also have taken a close look at our poor injury record last season.
When four key players have hamstring surgery in one season, some thinking (and self-reflection) is required on the part of the club. At least, the squad seem to have sufficient depth to allow for sensible rotation to a greater degree than was the case in recent seasons.
I expect Arsenal to be too strong for what will still be a disjointed Utd side. 3-1. And Fernandes to throw his toys out of the pram because something minor doesn’t go his way.
Actually, United have improved, thus far, their front three (Cunha, Mount and Mbeumo - two of whom are new to the team) have been pretty good today - and, truth to tell, even if they hadn't made some excellent and intelligent purchases this summer - they could hardly be worse than they were last season.
However, at the moment, just heading in to half time, Arsenal lead by a goal to nil.
Arsenal - playing away, at Old Trafford, claim all three points with a one nil - and hard fought - victory over Manchester United in their opening game of the season.
A good victory.
A good victory.
Anyone that beats Utd, even Arsenal (yes I haven’t forgotten 1989), is good in my book.
Well, much though I - and many others - grumbled at our inability to score goals last season, our defence was the best in the league, and it is good to be reminded of this.
Today, we scored early, then proceeded to grimly protect our slim lead with robust defending and some superb goal-keeping, while grounding out a narrow victory (playing away, at that); others lit the league up with flamboyant displays (and a plethora of goals) this opening week-end, - and good luck to them; nevertheless, this was a good victory, one with no injuries and some intelligent (and timely) substitutions.
The new boys can cover themselves in glory some other time; for my part, I will rest content with an away victory.
Three points is three points. They all count. Will catch the highlights later.
Exactly.
Ive seen Arsenal play beautiful football at Old Trafford in the past and ended up losing those games.
3 points is 3 points.
I'll never forget the day Dirk Kuyt scored a hat trick for Liverpool at OT and the combined distance of the three goals was maybe 12 yards. But they do, indeed, all count.
Championship living up to the billing of being one of the more even and difficult leagues in the world to play in.
Saints/Ipswich played out an end-to-end 1-1 draw in the "Battle of the Promotion Favourites".
To be fair, neither team looked amazing.
Will be interesting to see how the rest of the pack go in the Championship, as there is a gulf in riches between the top and bottom clubs, monetarily speaking.
This hasn't translated into a gulf in class, however.
Saints need a new striker, pronto. Ipswich look like they are OK there, but do they have depth?
The likes of Wrexham, Oxford and the whole city of Sheffield will either need to continue to spend up large or get astute free signings, because it's a massive season in the EFL - 46 league games plus cups is a huge season by anyone's standards and without squad depth, things can fall apart very quickly mid-season.
Saints/Ipswich played out an end-to-end 1-1 draw in the "Battle of the Promotion Favourites".
To be fair, neither team looked amazing.
Will be interesting to see how the rest of the pack go in the Championship, as there is a gulf in riches between the top and bottom clubs, monetarily speaking.
This hasn't translated into a gulf in class, however.
Saints need a new striker, pronto. Ipswich look like they are OK there, but do they have depth?
The likes of Wrexham, Oxford and the whole city of Sheffield will either need to continue to spend up large or get astute free signings, because it's a massive season in the EFL - 46 league games plus cups is a huge season by anyone's standards and without squad depth, things can fall apart very quickly mid-season.
There is plenty of financial inequality in the Championship. It just hasn't gotten as bad as the Premier league. Yet. Also, at the very elite level the price/performance curve is incredibly steep. So a Championship club, even a smaller one, has a much better chance of finding value in the transfer market than Premier League clubs IMO. Especially those competing regularly in the CL. At the elite level you must pay top dollar for everything.
What are you opinions of this? A player refusing to leave their club so the club get's no money for them but instead winding down their contract so they leave on a free. Mbappe did it with PSG and it looks like Sancho of United is now doing the same because he has refused everything the club has/is doing to transfer him out of the club.
If an employee of a company does something so egregious or they persistently under perform, their employment is terminated an told to leave the same day, in a week, a month or two months but yet if a football player behaves the same, their version of employment termination is to be put on the transfer list and yet they can refuse to leave and instead wind down their contract.
Do you think players should be allowed to do this? If they are surplus to requirements and put on the transfer list they can refuse to leave and just wind down their contract?
If an employee of a company does something so egregious or they persistently under perform, their employment is terminated an told to leave the same day, in a week, a month or two months but yet if a football player behaves the same, their version of employment termination is to be put on the transfer list and yet they can refuse to leave and instead wind down their contract.
Do you think players should be allowed to do this? If they are surplus to requirements and put on the transfer list they can refuse to leave and just wind down their contract?
I think it depends on the circumstances, but they should be treated fairly as employees, while also having the same jeopardy as a normal employee.
There’s too much power in the hands of players and agents, but by the same token, being bonded to a club if you want to leave is also a bit odd.
My understanding is that the contract can still be terminated unilaterally by the club.
However, this will most likely mean that the club will not receive a transfer fee for the player; they will be rid of the player, but will not profit - financially - from this.
Usually unless it’s gross misconduct (like refusing to play or bringing the club into disrepute) a club would have to pay the wages. So if I was paid £100k a month and had 12 months left, they would have to pay me £1.2 million to leave early.
However there is usually a settlement that can be reached. Especially if the player is told he is no longer required and won’t be playing for them. Then a player will either find a solution, or sit happily in the stands collecting his wages.
Any contract should be honoured. Everyone signed on their free will.
It isn't professional when a player doesn't show up because he has a better deal/club/whatever lined up.
The same applies to the club. Either find another club that makes everyone happy, a loan or pay until the last moment.
This if course assuming that the player trains properly and complies with any normal requirements.