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The 2026-2027 Football Thread
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Alphazoid
macrumors 65816
At least no one will say we got an easy UCL draw this season
Also I’m over the Alvarez saga now.
Also I’m over the Alvarez saga now.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Silencio
macrumors 68040
Looks like Bradley Barcola to Liverpool for £120M is a go. He's a very good player, and that's an awful lot of money. Will he be able to step up and be a — if not the — key player at one of the biggest clubs in the toughest league? Certainly a big upgrade from Cody Gakpo, who now looks set to leave.
Man Utd's own vaguely disappointing Dutch forward, Joshua Zirkzee, looks to go back to Italy on a cut-rate loan deal. I assume this means Utd has another incoming forward lined up, rumored to be Mateta from Palace.
Man Utd's own vaguely disappointing Dutch forward, Joshua Zirkzee, looks to go back to Italy on a cut-rate loan deal. I assume this means Utd has another incoming forward lined up, rumored to be Mateta from Palace.
daneoni
macrumors G5
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Liverpool currently losing to Forest.
Looks like their new owner needs to order a new player. With Prime he should get one delivered by tomorrow!
We have Watford later. We really need a league win. Hopefully the cup win in the week will help boost the confidence.
Looks like their new owner needs to order a new player. With Prime he should get one delivered by tomorrow!
We have Watford later. We really need a league win. Hopefully the cup win in the week will help boost the confidence.
daneoni
macrumors G5
£365m on 3 attacking players when there are glaring deficiencies in midfield and defence is a questionable transfer strategy at best. Incredibly myopic and naive at worst.
Although tbf to them the players have been notably underwhelming
But then again most £100m+ players are
Although tbf to them the players have been notably underwhelming
But then again most £100m+ players are
Liverpool still losing to Forest - ah, they have just clawed another goal back, and are now level at two goals apiece.
Indeed.
I think that the fact that Slot unexpectedly won the Premiership with a team that was past its best left Liverpool with a somewhat optimistic sense of what they were capable of. Then, Diogo Jota's tragic death - and the loss of form of some core members of the team - didn't help matters last season.
The best of luck.
daneoni
macrumors G5
Ah, yes.
You make some good points.
Anyway, another draw snatched almost at the death.
Indeed.
Yes, his attitude (in contrast to his clear ability) to his own club leaves a lot to be desired (a bit reminiscent of Isak's conduct at the start of last season, which left me unimpressed and underwhelmed).
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
A mixed bag at Anfield -which is exactly what I’m expecting this season. Very much Gattuso’s ‘sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe s—.’
My personal rule of thumb is two goals should be enough offense to win a match against most opponents. By that logic the defending wasn’t good enough today, through with an XG under 2 perhaps the offense also over-delivered today, which is a worrying thought. Munoz and Isak are scoring, so that’s something. Forest are a good side, I didn’t expect a win, so a draw is probably par.
Unless Liverpool are in a relegation scrap I’m not interested in jettisoning Iraola this season, but I am sure we’ll see murmurs growing from sections of the supporters throughout the season.
It’ll be a long slog, with seemingly little to show. But that’s how rebuilds work.
My personal rule of thumb is two goals should be enough offense to win a match against most opponents. By that logic the defending wasn’t good enough today, through with an XG under 2 perhaps the offense also over-delivered today, which is a worrying thought. Munoz and Isak are scoring, so that’s something. Forest are a good side, I didn’t expect a win, so a draw is probably par.
Unless Liverpool are in a relegation scrap I’m not interested in jettisoning Iraola this season, but I am sure we’ll see murmurs growing from sections of the supporters throughout the season.
It’ll be a long slog, with seemingly little to show. But that’s how rebuilds work.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
You can’t really look at the amounts anymore, because they are all stupidly high. Financial doping has permanently artificially inflated the transfer market. Every elite team is paying silly money. No sports player should ever cost nine figures. I don’t care what reason you could cook up, it’s silly no matter what. But that’s the world we live in. the market is now calibrated for whatever the most financially doped clubs are willing to cough up for the best players, and then that inflation trickles down to everyone from there.
With that being said, many fans are questioning the current transfer plan, and I can’t say I’m fully on board either. But there is a lot of talent in the squad on paper, so as much depends on form and injuries as signings.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Spurs continue their terrible start to the season. Having lost twice now.
Good win for Hull who are starting the season well with six points.
This years Sunderland?
Good win for Hull who are starting the season well with six points.
This years Sunderland?
Silencio
macrumors 68040
I don't think Hull's hot start is sustainable, but maybe they'll earn enough points on the front end of the season to stave off relegation at the end.
Tonali has looked shocking for Spurs. Needs a better partner to play alongside him, like Bruno G used to be.
Good reaction from United to batter Ipswich in the end. Great day for Bruno and Mainoo. Defense still looks worrying, hopefully Baleba will help.
Tonali has looked shocking for Spurs. Needs a better partner to play alongside him, like Bruno G used to be.
Good reaction from United to batter Ipswich in the end. Great day for Bruno and Mainoo. Defense still looks worrying, hopefully Baleba will help.
daneoni
macrumors G5
Wouldn't have mattered but Maguire's handball should've been given. And should've negated any subsequent action thereafter.
Chelsea's 3-4-3 shows promise and EMi Martinez might help them mount a serious challenge but its still messy and not sure they have enough in midfield.
Spurs and Liverpool have work to do.
Won't be surprised if all 3 promoted sides stay up actually.
Chelsea's 3-4-3 shows promise and EMi Martinez might help them mount a serious challenge but its still messy and not sure they have enough in midfield.
Spurs and Liverpool have work to do.
Won't be surprised if all 3 promoted sides stay up actually.
daneoni
macrumors G5
I did not have Gabriel Jesus to Barca in my bingo card.
Penny for Alvarez's thoughts...
Gakpo to City is another strange one, considering he's one of LFC's 2 best players right now, and directly strengthens a rival. But maybe LFC need the money.
Penny for Alvarez's thoughts...
Gakpo to City is another strange one, considering he's one of LFC's 2 best players right now, and directly strengthens a rival. But maybe LFC need the money.
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Mitthrawnuruodo
Moderator emeritus
I'm a bit nervous about this evening...
Now, Everton do need a new right back (and I'd prefer an option on left back, too), Balogun __could__ be an upgrade over Beto, and I still think Grealish is a class player, but I'd like to have him in addition to Ndiaye, not to replace him. And with so little time left, I'm relatively sure they're going to eff this up somehow, weakening the team rather than strengthening it... :/
And don't get me started on the upper management wanting to sell Armstrong...
The Guardian said:
Now, Everton do need a new right back (and I'd prefer an option on left back, too), Balogun __could__ be an upgrade over Beto, and I still think Grealish is a class player, but I'd like to have him in addition to Ndiaye, not to replace him. And with so little time left, I'm relatively sure they're going to eff this up somehow, weakening the team rather than strengthening it... :/
And don't get me started on the upper management wanting to sell Armstrong...
mrsmith1
macrumors 6502a
As a Forest fan I am pretty optomistic for the new season. We have a top class manager and the club are splashing the Elliot Anderson cash well. After a rough start in the two games against Leeds, the performance against Liverpool was top draw. We were unlucky not to beat Liverpool and now we have Spurs on Saturday.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Liverpool appear to have wrapped things up with the Barcola transfer. The biggest three still-missing items on fans’ wanted lists are a right back, right sided winger and a holding midfielder. For the latter, I’m not sure Iraola intends to play with one. The right back situation, with Bradley still injured and Frimpong simply not impressing, is unsatisfactory but the suits may simply be hoping it comes good with the existing players.
The holding midfielder situation is causing the most grumbling though. For a club that has boasted the likes of Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, and Fabinho in that position, having no equivalent feels like a major oversight. If the defense remains leaky this is a point that’s going to come up again and again.
With the Barcola purchase it is worth pointing out that Liverpool are out of non-homegrown roster slots, so the club would have to sell someone like Chiesa in order to buy.
So we start the season with plenty of attackers on paper but much depends on new signings and players coming back strong from injury.
The whole right side looks like a weak point and I expect to see all our opponents attacking down that side all season. Poor Frimpong is going to have to either step up or suffer weekly roastings.
The holding midfielder situation is causing the most grumbling though. For a club that has boasted the likes of Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, and Fabinho in that position, having no equivalent feels like a major oversight. If the defense remains leaky this is a point that’s going to come up again and again.
With the Barcola purchase it is worth pointing out that Liverpool are out of non-homegrown roster slots, so the club would have to sell someone like Chiesa in order to buy.
So we start the season with plenty of attackers on paper but much depends on new signings and players coming back strong from injury.
The whole right side looks like a weak point and I expect to see all our opponents attacking down that side all season. Poor Frimpong is going to have to either step up or suffer weekly roastings.
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Alphazoid
macrumors 65816
Job done yesterday…albeit not vintage. Saw a crazy stat. That was the 16th time in the last 5 seasons that we didn’t have a shot on target against us in an EPL game. Double that of the next team (LFC 8)
Similar to LFC not making a serious attempt to fix the DM role I’m equally confused how we’ve let 4 attacking players go without making plans for adequate replacements
I’m glad we’ve replaced Noorgard and covered for Saliba (and now Mosquera) with Konsa.
And i ultimately agree with moving on Nelson, Jesus, and Martinelli but yesterday shows how much we’re now lacking on the left. Nwaneri on his way out too.
Martinelli was our top scorer in Europe, Jesus helped us beat a few teams, and Trossard’s record speaks for itself. All of them now gone without replacements.
Calafiori has been great but he rarely goes a season without injury and if Tzolis gets shot down we start relying on midfielders.
Alvarez isn’t coming, we’ve walked away from Rodger’s (rightly so) and now Fofana too.
What is the plan? Going into the season as is will mean we are even weaker in attack which is the opposite of ideal.
Similar to LFC not making a serious attempt to fix the DM role I’m equally confused how we’ve let 4 attacking players go without making plans for adequate replacements
I’m glad we’ve replaced Noorgard and covered for Saliba (and now Mosquera) with Konsa.
And i ultimately agree with moving on Nelson, Jesus, and Martinelli but yesterday shows how much we’re now lacking on the left. Nwaneri on his way out too.
Martinelli was our top scorer in Europe, Jesus helped us beat a few teams, and Trossard’s record speaks for itself. All of them now gone without replacements.
Calafiori has been great but he rarely goes a season without injury and if Tzolis gets shot down we start relying on midfielders.
Alvarez isn’t coming, we’ve walked away from Rodger’s (rightly so) and now Fofana too.
What is the plan? Going into the season as is will mean we are even weaker in attack which is the opposite of ideal.
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A happy Gunner after a fixture that has given us trouble in recent seasons.
In any case, I think that this transfer window was about trimming the team, releasing players who hadn't made the grade, and who were never likely to make the grade.
Am pleased that both Nelson, and Vieira have (finally) left the club, and I also think it was well past time for the gifted, if injury prone, Gabriel Jesus (and his salary) to be taken off the books of the club.
Both Trossard and Martinelli were extremely good players, (and Martinelli's work ethic and commitment went a long way to compensate for his evident short-comings as a player) but neither was excellent, - not at the very top level - and I cannot imagine that (last season) the continued reliance on both left many Arsenal fans (certainly, not I) comfortable.
Personally, I'd love to offload Kepa as well, - actually, I'd replace him at the drop of a proverbial hat, despatch him on a free - as his (lack of) judgment bothers me, and is a cause of considerable concern - and I remain underwhelmed by Madueke (actually, I'd love to see an end, a complete cessation, a terminal full stop to our ridiculous habit of happily taking on Chelsea rejects).
Agreed that we rightly walked away from Rogers, and also never thought (for all of the gullible and unthinking whinging in the fanzines and the wider media) that there was ever anything serious to the Vínicius Júnior saga (beyond, that is, the player and his agents - floating - using the idea of a potential transfer to Arsenal to negotiate a better contract at his current club, Real Madrid).
Tzolis, Konsa and Guimarãres are all excellent - or, potentially excellent - additions to the team.
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daneoni
macrumors G5
Man City agree to buy Enzo Fernandez for £125m.
His transfer to Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 was worth £105m
So he's cost £230m in his past two moves
Crazy
His transfer to Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 was worth £105m
So he's cost £230m in his past two moves
Crazy
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
That's the word. There's something about nine-figure transfer fees that just feel utterly insane. No human athlete should 'cost' that much.
Which is why discussions of value just don't really mean anything anymore at the elite level. Each goal they score now 'costs' their club tens of millions. Winning a Premier League or Champions League is bad value in terms of how much it costs to get there. But football finances are bonkers, corrupt, irrational, and people will keep watching.
I remember someone claimed a few years ago that the first billion-Euro/Pound footballer has already been born. It sounds less farfetched with each passing year.