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The 2025-2026 Football Thread

Lord Blackadder said:
Szoboszlai is an able right back but he’s obviously much better used as a midfielder.
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He reminds me of Micheal Essien for his defensive skill and goal scoring prowless today.

As for Villa, they lost in the USA TVs as I don't know how they did in GB (prob 7 back now)
to a 10 man unheard of club from who knows where and if they are even are a reaL club of actual humans
as maybe we saw a match totally of AI and VAR as they might have taken over the sport here?
 
C. Ronaldo is ‘on strike’ at his Saudi club in protest against the PIF. Has he finally developed a conscience about human rights? No, no he hasn’t. He’s having a tantrum over the way the PIF splits funding amongst its various sportswashing shills - erm, I mean Saudi league clubs. In other words, he wants even more money. Anyway, moving on…..

A fairly dull end to the transfer window. Liverpool have bought a promising young center back but the deal is for the summer. If I were being cynical I’d say the suits are avoiding panic buys (good) but leaving the team thin (less good) and assuming Slot will take the blame for the short term consequences (nefarious).
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
C. Ronaldo is ‘on strike’ at his Saudi club in protest against the PIF. Has he finally developed a conscience about human rights? No, no he hasn’t. He’s having a tantrum over the way the PIF splits funding amongst its various sportswashing shills - erm, I mean Saudi league clubs. In other words, he wants even more money. Anyway, moving on…..

A fairly dull end to the transfer window. Liverpool have bought a promising young center back but the deal is for the summer. If I were being cynical I’d say the suits are avoiding panic buys (good) but leaving the team thin (less good) and assuming Slot will take the blame for the short term consequences (nefarious).
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Oh dear. Is there a go fund me page where we can donate to help Ronaldo get by?
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
A fairly dull end to the transfer window. Liverpool have bought a promising young center back but the deal is for the summer. If I were being cynical I’d say the suits are avoiding panic buys (good) but leaving the team thin (less good) and assuming Slot will take the blame for the short term consequences (nefarious).
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You may very well be right. I think Liverpool are still a top team, with a bye in the Champions League to the last 16, and in the hunt for a top 4 finish in the premier league this year. Winning the league every year is a crazy expectation.

The thing that I wonder about is that the very best teams — Arsenal, PSG, Man City in years past — have a kind of solidity to them, where midfielders can play as defenders or as attackers, making an excess of bodies in either attack or defence, depending on whether you have the ball. They don’t carry a lot of pure attacking players. And much though I think the Liverpool forward line of Gakpo, Ekitike, Salah have much potential going forward, in defence I don’t think they are as strong. This whole business of leaking two goals a game will get you in the end.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the Champions League turns out this year. The latter stages are a Cup competition and there can be upsets.
 
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Enough with the side to side and back passes. Just lob the ball over the high line and let Gyok or Martinelli run ffs

EDIT: Didn’t think it needed to be that difficult but at least got the job done.
 
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So happy for Kai.

AND

IMG_1264.jpeg
 
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The mouthy Arsenal fan that must have been sat by the microphone really was doing my head in during the match. In the end the commentators apologised for his (and others) language. Match was a bit blah for the neutral.
 
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I can forgive the huffing and puffing, and note that we are missing Mikel Merino (to a rare, but serious, long term bone injury), and that Arteta may have wished to rest other players who might have been at risk of exacerbating an existing "niggle", or "tweak".

However, we won. Even a nil all draw would have seen us advance, but a victory is better still.

Moreover, at least, this time, we advance to an actual final instead of stumbling at the semi-final stage.

Good.
 
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Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Hmmm... just found out Apple's Sports app has become available in Norway at some point...

So, how is it for following matches in Premier League (and the Championship)?
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I didn't even know this app existed...I have used FotMob for a number of years, and it works pretty well for looking at matches by league, and whether they're on TV (and what service is broadcasting them). Their news aggregator is also reasonably good.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I didn't even know this app existed...I have used FotMob for a number of years, and it works pretty well for looking at matches by league, and whether they're on TV (and what service is broadcasting them). Their news aggregator is also reasonably good.
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I didn't know about it either. I tend to use the SkySports Football app, BBC Sport or West Ham's own app.
 
Newcastle have been underwhelming. I know Howe has credit in the bank for winning the EFL cup

But he's also spent £220m in the summer and they look worse than last season. Midfield looks unbalanced, granted they have injuries and the 2 forwards have gone quiet.
 
Tbf to Newcastle. Europe has stretched their squad. It’s the conundrum of the top 8 teams that aren’t Liverpool, City, Arsenal.

Typically they have a solid first 11 that manages to get into Europe only to be overstretched by the increased number of games.

And if you don’t bulk up your squad sufficiently, you’ll struggle. Since the original first 11 that got you into Europe will start to drop like flies from overload

You can argue Howe has recruited poorly but I think his team is just knackered. They are playing 4 comps in Feb.

It’s happening to Villa too which is why they scrambled in the Jan window. Chelsea too since they’re managing Palmer, James etc

It’s also why we fell away against LFC last season.

You need squad depth or you’re done for.

I already dread what’s coming next season given this is a World Cup year.
 
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Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Hmmm... just found out Apple's Sports app has become available in Norway at some point...

So, how is it for following matches in Premier League (and the Championship)?
Click to expand...

Hey, you’re right, it’s available in the Netherlands too now. I have been using Forza Football, and while it is ok I’m not a huge fan of it, it makes looking up league tables a hassle. Will try out Apple Sports.
 
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Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Hmmm... just found out Apple's Sports app has become available in Norway at some point...

So, how is it for following matches in Premier League (and the Championship)?
Click to expand...

I find that it alerts me to goals at least a few seconds before I see it on TV / streaming, so I can spoiler alert any friends I'm chatting with while watching a game.

In general, it's more streamlined / convenient than using the PL or ESPN apps for live updates.
 
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Silencio said:
I find that it alerts me to goals at least a few seconds before I see it on TV / streaming, so I can spoiler alert any friends I'm chatting with while watching a game.

In general, it's more streamlined / convenient than using the PL or ESPN apps for live updates.
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FotMob does the alerts too, I turned most of them off so as not to spoiler myself while watching. They also do a play-by-play commentary.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Leicester City docked 6 points for financial irregularities.

Manchester City just continue to avoid any such punishments.

Who says money can’t buy you freedom from following the rules?
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Man City have almost certainly financially doped more flagrantly than anyone else ever has. And they’ll never be substantially punished for it. Because they’d have to forfeit trophies and the league will never do that, no matter what.
 
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Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Hmmm... just found out Apple's Sports app has become available in Norway at some point...

So, how is it for following matches in Premier League (and the Championship)?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately this is not available in Australia, it is in my Hidden Purchases list, from when I was in UK, and I've 'unhidden' it, but it has not appeared yet in Purchase list.
Apple fanboy said:
It’s a travesty. But entirely expected.
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The whole system penalises the non wealthy clubs, and those that come up, and down.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Leicester City docked 6 points for financial irregularities.

Manchester City just continue to avoid any such punishments.

Who says money can’t buy you freedom from following the rules?
Click to expand...
Regardless of what is or isnt happening with Man City, Leicester having been dodging the rules for so long and desrve everything thats coming to them.
 
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