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The 2025-2026 Football Thread

Lord Blackadder said:
They may be artificial, but only in the sense that they are human, cultural constructs. And that makes them very real. Football tribalism is linked to cultual and individual identity, which is valid for each of us in a unqiue way. For some, it's an escape from reality, or even a key part of who they are. For others it's mere entertainment.
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Are they real? Only to the extent that we say they are… They exist in the mind by agreed-upon rules only. In reality culture is a constraint, a set of expectations placed on us to confirm the mask of our identity… It’s part of the journey towards self knowledge to see behind the mask, to discover what really drives us. Know thyself, was written above the door of the Oracle at Delphi.

Football is an entertainment, more harmless than most ;)
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
The only Spurs haters I know are all Arsenal fans, but I am sure fans of other London clubs also have beef with them.
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Fulham don’t hate any club, and I think we’re loved by most! But then we’ve not won anything 😢
MBAir2010 said:
back in the 1970s Chelsea and white heart lane did not get along, I guess.
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Chelsea used to hate everyone. I was born in Chelsea, and even today, people assume I’d be a Chelsea supporter, and most people see the Chelsea of the last 15 years, and don’t remember ‘The Shed’, and the very right wing, facist movement, that existed amongst its supporters. Back in the day, when Chelsea were away, many of their supporters used to descend upon Plough Lane, the home then of Wimbledon, and start fights with the away fans, and stone their buses!

The reality is, Chelsea FC is actually in Fulham, but we were here first.
 
Bodhitree said:
Are they real? Only to the extent that we say they are… They exist in the mind by agreed-upon rules only. In reality culture is a constraint, a set of expectations placed on us to confirm the mask of our identity… It’s part of the journey towards self knowledge to see behind the mask, to discover what really drives us. Know thyself, was written above the door of the Oracle at Delphi.

Football is an entertainment, more harmless than most ;)
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I would certainly say that, yes, cultural allegiances, beliefs, and identities are very real. All culture is constructed but that does not mean it is fake, valueless, or just a superficial thing. People are willing to devote (even sacrifice) their lives to such ‘constructs.’

Is football life and death? Or an escape from those very things? For me, I would very much prefer it to be the latter, and sometimes it is, but to understand the game and its participants and the ‘why’ of events in and around the game involves history, geopolitics, culture. You can ignore those things in football, but they are still the things that shape it.

Rivalries can sometimes just be based on past competitive encounters, but often it runs deeper than that.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I would certainly say that, yes, cultural allegiances, beliefs, and identities are very real. All culture is constructed but that does not mean it is fake, valueless, or just a superficial thing. People are willing to devote (even sacrifice) their lives to such ‘constructs.’

Is football life and death? Or an escape from those very things? For me, I would very much prefer it to be the latter, and sometimes it is, but to understand the game and its participants and the ‘why’ of events in and around the game involves history, geopolitics, culture. You can ignore those things in football, but they are still the things that shape it.

Rivalries can sometimes just be based on past competitive encounters, but often it runs deeper than that.
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Football isn’t a matter of life or death. It’s more important than that - Bill Shankly.
 
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Ah, time to heave a contented sigh.

I can now relax; Arsenal (playing away) have sealed a good win, a comfortable win, a solid win, by four goals to nil, (with the added bonus that each goal, including the own goal, was scored by a different player) against Leeds.
 
You know, I used to be a bit of an Arsenal fan, in the days of Overmars and Bergkamp. I even watched them play live a couple of times, including a fabulous performance by Cesc Fabregas who came on as a substitute and turned the match around…
 
Bodhitree said:
You know, I used to be a bit of an Arsenal fan, in the days of Overmars and Bergkamp. I even watched them play live a couple of times, including a fabulous performance by Cesc Fabregas who came on as a substitute and turned the match around…
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Ah, happy days.......

...and not necessarily distorted by the glorious hazy glow of (perhaps myopic) nostalgia...
 
More and more, I am beginning to wonder; does Gyokeres seem to play 'better' when Saka isn't playing? 😳.

Then again, I guess one could argue that we as a team play 'differently', when Saka isn't playing. Thus, this in itself seems to give Gyokeres more opportunities...
 
Villa bringing in Luiz and Abrahams goes a long way to help them cement top 5. Its smart business if it works out.

Might also help them win in Europe.

EDIT:...actually maybe i spoke too soon.
 
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United DNA. Not a great match overall, but they find a way to win. I'm particularly pleased for Sesko for scoring such an emphatic winner — there's a lot to like about him even when he isn't scoring freely.

Have to say, we're going to really, really, really miss Casemiro. An absolute titan, even at his advanced age, playing in a fast, physical league.
 
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Emphatic win by Liverpool, good performances from Wirtz and Ekitike that continue a promising partnership going forward.

Szoboszlai is an able right back but he’s obviously much better used as a midfielder. The rumored loan deal for Leipzeig’s Lutsharel Geertruida, who can also play at center back, sounds like a good idea.

Second place is still very much up for grabs, assuming Arsenal stay consistent and don’t open the door for anyone else.
 
Whilst his first goal should've been chalked off, the second goal by Solanke via a scorpion kick was sublime. Another option for Tuchel.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Emphatic win by Liverpool, good performances from Wirtz and Ekitike that continue a promising partnership going forward.

Szoboszlai is an able right back but he’s obviously much better used as a midfielder. The rumored loan deal for Leipzeig’s Lutsharel Geertruida, who can also play at center back, sounds like a good idea.

Second place is still very much up for grabs, assuming Arsenal stay consistent and don’t open the door for anyone else.
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No chance. Arsenal will finish second for sure. It’s their lot in life!
 
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