Football 2025-26

[Neil]

c'mon bristol city - keep smashing them in!

[thetime]

I didn't see as im at Sziget. Did Palace really boo tributes to Jota? 

[Skip997]

6 minutes ago, thetime said:

I didn't see as im at Sziget. Did Palace really boo tributes to Jota? 

I missed it even though I was watching, but the commentary team mentioned it. So I guess so 

[charlierc]

14 minutes ago, thetime said:

I didn't see as im at Sziget. Did Palace really boo tributes to Jota? 

Noted Palace fan and football Twitter personality HLTCO: "It’s disgusting that anyone did.  99% of the people in our end didn’t do it.  Plenty around me made it very clear it was a disgrace. I retweeted a Palace fan this morning imploring people to observe it respectfully. Those that did do it don’t represent me in any sense."

 

So I'm guessing its the usual where some dingbats thinks it makes them edgy and hilarious rather than being a bit of a d*ck move.

[charlierc]

On 09/08/2025 at 18:41, Neil said:

c'mon bristol city - keep smashing them in!

Went slightly better for Bristol City this time than in the play-offs a few months back huh.

[Neil]

17 hours ago, charlierc said:

Went slightly better for Bristol City this time than in the play-offs a few months back huh.

winning the playoff semi did sheff no good, they're still in the same division.

[efcfanwirral]

I can't believe we've signed Grealish. Whatever level of gamble it is, it's worth it. 

[charlierc]

I'm getting bored of the Isak shenanigans now, but I will say that it feels like an impasse has been reached. Liverpool clearly don't want to spend 150mil on the guy even after the Diaz and Nunez sales and Newcastle are yet to show a willingness to compromise on that asking price. Unless a Hail Mary delivers Newcastle a superstar striker anytime soon, it's just gonna keep prattling on until the end of the window, no doubt punctuated with more comments about Isak refusing to play if he's stuck here, and arguments about whether that's a bluff. 

[charlierc]

15 hours ago, efcfanwirral said:

I can't believe we've signed Grealish. Whatever level of gamble it is, it's worth it. 

Considering a few weeks ago Moyes was complaining about a lack of signings, they're building up a decent roster now. 

 

I'm curious to see how the new stadium transition goes. It can be hit or miss how teams adjust to new surroundings and obviously it'll be strange at first to see Everton in something other than Goodison 

[thetime]

Thats James Trafford killed his career, with the wrong choice.

 

Emerson and Donnarumma ahead of you nate, even if Ederson leaves you ain't playing.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2025 by thetime

[kaosmark2]

23 minutes ago, thetime said:

Thats James Trafford killed his career, with the wrong choice.

 

Emerson and Donnarumma ahead of you nate, even if Ederson leaves you ain't playing.

I do feel for some of the young players the big clubs seemingly lie to on signing. Trafford was supposedly happy to join Newcastle but upon hearing City wanted him to actually play wanted to go back there (understandable), but while competing with Ederson for the no1 spot he can believe he'll have it reliably in 2-3 years time, Donnarumma (if it happens) is only 26, and would be on a salary that can't be left on the bench.

 

Liam Delap stands out as another young English lad this summer. Goes to Chelsea thinking he'll be the main striker, then they throw double the amount on Joao Pedro a week later, who ends up clearly ahead of him at the post/pre-season tourneys.

 

Particularly with these huge 5-8 year contracts being the trend at these clubs. With the whole PSR thing clubs find it financially preferable to let a young player rot in the reserves or go out on loan instead of sell them at a loss.

[thetime]

8 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

I do feel for some of the young players the big clubs seemingly lie to on signing. Trafford was supposedly happy to join Newcastle but upon hearing City wanted him to actually play wanted to go back there (understandable), but while competing with Ederson for the no1 spot he can believe he'll have it reliably in 2-3 years time, Donnarumma (if it happens) is only 26, and would be on a salary that can't be left on the bench.

 

Liam Delap stands out as another young English lad this summer. Goes to Chelsea thinking he'll be the main striker, then they throw double the amount on Joao Pedro a week later, who ends up clearly ahead of him at the post/pre-season tourneys.

 

Particularly with these huge 5-8 year contracts being the trend at these clubs. With the whole PSR thing clubs find it financially preferable to let a young player rot in the reserves or go out on loan instead of sell them at a loss.

 

I highly doubt Trafford was ever going to be City's number 1. 

[charlierc]

4 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

I do feel for some of the young players the big clubs seemingly lie to on signing. Trafford was supposedly happy to join Newcastle but upon hearing City wanted him to actually play wanted to go back there (understandable), but while competing with Ederson for the no1 spot he can believe he'll have it reliably in 2-3 years time, Donnarumma (if it happens) is only 26, and would be on a salary that can't be left on the bench.

 

Liam Delap stands out as another young English lad this summer. Goes to Chelsea thinking he'll be the main striker, then they throw double the amount on Joao Pedro a week later, who ends up clearly ahead of him at the post/pre-season tourneys.

 

Particularly with these huge 5-8 year contracts being the trend at these clubs. With the whole PSR thing clubs find it financially preferable to let a young player rot in the reserves or go out on loan instead of sell them at a loss.

A story I heard is that Newcastle were close to agreeing a deal with Burnley before the Club World Cup at a time when Man City weren't arsed, but then the Toon tried to haggle and by the time a compromise was reached, Man City decided they now were bothered after all.

 

I'm assuming the original idea was for Trafford to challenge Ederson this season with Ortega going then supplant him as Ederson seems to have been trying to exit for a little while. Donnarumma turning up, if it happens, changes the equilibrium quite a bit.

[kaosmark2]

2 hours ago, charlierc said:

A story I heard is that Newcastle were close to agreeing a deal with Burnley before the Club World Cup at a time when Man City weren't arsed, but then the Toon tried to haggle and by the time a compromise was reached, Man City decided they now were bothered after all.

 

I'm assuming the original idea was for Trafford to challenge Ederson this season with Ortega going then supplant him as Ederson seems to have been trying to exit for a little while. Donnarumma turning up, if it happens, changes the equilibrium quite a bit.

I heard this as well. A lot of slow movement and hesitation early in the window costing prime targets.

 

I do however think that, sulky strikers aside, this is now looking like a decent window for us. Proven RW with pace who can score goals, strong pacey CB, improved competition at goalie, and if Ramsey is as much of a done thing as the rumour mill is saying, a good upgrade on Longstaff for midfield rotation (Bruno/Tonali/Joelinton can't all play 50 games this season).

 

Everywhere also seems to think Gordon will play centrally at the weekend, although I personally feel Elanga would fit better? Hard to say, and I'll be in a field so probably won't know the score until Monday.

[thetime]

Having badges for league cup winners, is so sh*t. Who thinks of these shite things.  

 

https://www.efl.com/news/2025/august/12/new-sleeve-badges-in-honour-of-carabao-cup-legacy-unveiled

 

 

 

[rock_on]

Here we are then. Finally at the first day of the new Premier League season. Think Liverpool will win comfortably over Bournemouth this evening to kick us off before attention turns to Villa Park to see what Newcastle look like without a striker. 

[charlierc]

On 14/08/2025 at 00:39, thetime said:

Having badges for league cup winners, is so sh*t. Who thinks of these shite things.  

 

https://www.efl.com/news/2025/august/12/new-sleeve-badges-in-honour-of-carabao-cup-legacy-unveiled

 

 

 

The Premier League and FA Cup do this as well. Clearly they just wanted to be popular.

 

If they're doing this for the EFL Trophy in whatever guise it's currently being named, that would feel even more lame.

[Gnomicide]

Never in doubt.

[charlierc]

On 15/08/2025 at 22:11, Gnomicide said:

Never in doubt.

Well the main thing I learned from Friday is that Semenyo is a superb footballer. Which I can't exactly say was learning anything new given that Newcastle wanted to sign him as he often has our left backs on toast when we play Bournemouth.

 

I will admit Ekiteke looked good through gritted teeth.

Edited August 17, 2025 by charlierc

[charlierc]

Main observation from Newcastle yesterday is that 10/11 positions looked decent but the striker position was the missing link. Shock. Although it's technically an improvement on the 4-1 loss we had at Villa Park at Easter.

 

Probably says something about the weirdness of this summer that I gather both sets of fans in the crowd had a bonding moment in singing "f**k PSR" together. And this given Villa & Newcastle fans have had a bit of tension with one another in recent years.

[thetime]

Big improvements from utd, should of got a point at least. United was never going to be fixed on 1 window. 

 

Observations from weekend. City will be a lot closer to Liverpool than last season, Arsenal will be nowhere near a title. Newcastle are f**ked without Isak. 

 

United will finish around 6th-10th. 

 

[charlierc]

If Man Utd can beat Fulham next weekend, there's definite progress there. I think those were the kind of games tripping them up last season. That and figuring out the keeper would help. They were very unlucky not to score yesterday tbf. 

Edited August 18, 2025 by charlierc

[thetime]

42 minutes ago, charlierc said:

If Man Utd can beat Fulham next weekend, there's definite progress there. I think those were the kind of games tripping them up last season. That and figuring out the keeper would help. They were very unlucky not to score yesterday tbf. 

 

Utd failed to win in 27 league games last season, there was an awful lot of tripping up. 

 

For me I dont see a GK or number 6 until next summer. 

[gary1979666]

Well Sunderland are a quarter of the way to my personal target for them - want them to end the season with more points that Saints did this year.  An encouraging start!

[thetime]

@newcastlefans

 

You are all upset at the way Isak has down tools at Newcastle. How its outrageous the way he is treating your club.

 

How you feel about the Wissa situation and Brentford? 

 

Edited August 18, 2025 by thetime