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The 2026-2027 Football Thread

Scepticalscribe

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
Original poster
With the World Cup having come to a close, (with the reputation - and presumed value - of some players considerably enhanced as a result, while the reputation of others has suffered a shredding, and yet others have returned from the tournament carrying injuries of varying severity), and activity in the summer transfer window developing a degree of greater urgency, it seems appropriate to think of starting the coming season's football thread a little earlier than usual, not least as it seems that there will be little pause - let alone a break, or proper holiday - in the world of football.

Herewith, then, welcome to the 2026-2027 Football Thread.
 
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Well I see we have already seen the British transfer record smashed with Rogers leaving Villa for £117 million.

Is he worth it? I’m not sure he is that good tbh. But then Chelsea never shy away from spending a few quid are they?
 
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New season, but some might be in trouble over last season's shenanigans:

www.theguardian.com

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert charged with misconduct by FA over spygate scandal

Southampton’s manager, Tonda Eckert, is facing a lengthy suspension after being charged with three counts of misconduct by the Football Association
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Eckert has sent his interns to spy on more opponents than the three they've admitted to...
 
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Apple fanboy said:
Well I see we have already seen the British transfer record smashed with Rogers leaving Villa for £117 million.
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An example of the ludicrous inflation found increasingly in football.
Apple fanboy said:
Is he worth it?
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No, I don't believe that he is, and, it is pretty clear that Arsenal didn't think he was worth it, either, as they (sensibly) withdrew from the bidding war when his price went above £80million.
Apple fanboy said:
I’m not sure he is that good tbh.
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Agreed.
Apple fanboy said:
But then Chelsea never shy away from spending a few quid are they?
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No, profligacy is still a feature of their purchasing habits.
 
Reports suggest that the back injury sustained by William Saliba at the World Cup (during the semi-final defeat of France, which they lost to Spain), is sufficiently serious which means that he will be - or, is likely to be - absent from the team for several months; this is a big blow, as he is one of our best and most important players, and was, in fact, a key player in our excellent defence of last season.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Ex-Red Devil Eric Bailly has just joined Columbus Crew.

We are enduring a terrible season at the moment so any boost is welcome. We’ll see how he does.
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There was an outstanding player in there somewhere, perpetually hampered by major injuries. Should be fun watching him in MLS, if he can stay fit.

Apple fanboy said:
Well I see we have already seen the British transfer record smashed with Rogers leaving Villa for £117 million.

Is he worth it? I’m not sure he is that good tbh. But then Chelsea never shy away from spending a few quid are they?
Click to expand...

Rogers is not worth that kind of money.

I wonder if Chelsea and Villa had a trade/package deal in mind, as Alejandro Garnacho is going the other way for £42m, a valuation that he is definitely not worth.

Villa has become a rehab center for United's bomb squad with Rashford, Sancho, and now Garnacho.

Speaking of Rashford, it feels more and more likely he will come back to United, due to a lack of suitors willing to pay his sky high wages for a forward who doesn't track back. He shouldn't start ahead of Cunha, but there will be plenty of matches available. I'd rather have his wages gone TBH.
 
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Summerville had gone for £60 million. Yes I’d rather have kept him but that’s a good price I think.
Al Hilal being the winners of his signature. Roma weren’t willing to spend more than £40 million.

Just glad he didn’t go to Spurs or Chelsea tbh.
 
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Rumour is we’re trying to sign Vini Jr. I’ll believe it when i see it. I think this is Vini trying to get more money for a new contract. And for Arsenal i think it’s a smokescreen to appease fans after the fallout from the Rogers deal.

Saying that, Madrid may also be thinking of offloading him and using the money to pay for Diomande.

Time will tell i suppose
 
Alphazoid said:
Rumour is we’re trying to sign Vini Jr. I’ll believe it when i see it. I think this is Vini trying to get more money for a new contract. And for Arsenal i think it’s a smokescreen to appease fans after the fallout from the Rogers deal.

Saying that, Madrid may also be thinking of offloading him and using the money to pay for Diomande.

Time will tell i suppose
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Quite possibly you are more than correct to suggest that reported approached for Vini Jnr are a smokescreen, but I don't buy the "appeasement" argument re Rogers, as Arsenal quite simply refused (and quite rightly, to my mind) to go above their valuation for the player, which was £80m.
 
Some of the European competitions have already started play. Ajax is playing in the Conference League this year, after the disastrous 2022-2023 season when the directors demonstrated how not to handle a transition where the head coach, technical director and many key players leave in the same season. They are still trying to recover…
 
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Noting with some concern that Jurrien Timber seems to have acquired (yet) another injury in preseason training, this time a groin injury.

A terrific player, but his injury record does give rise to some concern.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Noting with some concern that Jurrien Timber seems to have acquired (yet) another injury in preseason training, this time a groin injury.

A terrific player, but his injury record does give rise to some concern.
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I'm available but can't promise any sort of decent football. Quite the opposite.
Jonnod III said:
Watching it with interest. It looks like FIFA are legally bribing the smaller members, and it only needs a simple majority to vote things through. I wonder if UEFA have the balls to say they won't take part in future World Cups etc. if this goes ahead.
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UEFA hasn't got the votes but it does have the large majority of interesting teams, both national and clubs.
I do hope they hold their ground and also invite any association that wants in.
 
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Infantino has been spending a lot of time with Trump lately, and has photocopied his playbook- if you rush insane changes through quickly enough, by the time the dust settles you’ve (temporarily) gotten what you wanted in all the confusion.

Infantino is destroying FIFA as we know it and reconfiguring it as a moneymaking scheme. And so far nothing has been done to stop him.
 
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Mitthrawnuruodo said:
I didn't see this coming... now, that is. I expected Howe to get the boot much, much earlier this Summer, but once he didn't I guess I thought him "safe":

www.theguardian.com

Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle United after almost five years in charge

Eddie Howe is to part company with Newcastle United after almost five years in charge, following a 4-1 friendly defeat to Bristol City
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
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I must say that I didn't see it coming, either.

Actually, I had also assumed that Howe was one of the managers whose position was reasonably secure, but the reports I have read in the media seem to suggest that "he left", (inferring that this was by choice) rather than "he was fired/sacked". Of course, his departure and the fact that "he left" could very well have been preceded by a gentle push.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
I must say that I didn't see it coming, either.

Actually, I had also assumed that Howe was one of the managers whose position was reasonably secure, but the reports I have read in the media seem to suggest that "he left", (inferring that this was by choice) rather than "he was fired/sacked". Of course, his departure and the fact that "he left" could very well have been preceded by a gentle push.
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Yeah, I also assumed it was more of "an offer you cannot refuse" rather than an outright firing. I'm guessing Howe walks away with quite the severance package...

And "coincidentally" the Saudi owners just happened to have the replacement ready in one of their Saudi clubs...
 
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