Football 2025-26

[charlierc]

Just now, andyrhodes24 said:

Do Liverpool not have a better match fit centre half than Konate? Even last season he looked ropey.

Joe Gomez must be wondering what he has to do to get a start given van Dijk and Konate are both looking error prone. 

 

Hell, Robertson at centre back might be worth a go at the current rate of progress. 

[charlierc]

32 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

The only thing that’s going to improve my mood (football wise) is Slot being told to clear his desk

 

”Too good to go down?”

I think that the board at Liverpool seem prepared to give Slot time judging by recent whispers. But at some point, they're going to have to do something to justify that faith, no?

 

I still think the greater failure was by the recruitment team as I'm not sure they brought the best players to pull off a pivot from Klopp's pressing preferences to something more possession based, or the real lack of depth at centre back and left wing, but it's getting unsustainable to hide behind that when the form is truly in a downward spiral. 

[andyrhodes24]

Just now, charlierc said:

What's going on with Farke anyway? Feels like there's been an expectation of him failing to see out the season at Leeds from before this campaign even started. 

Yeah the day after we won the league people wanted him about. The main criticisms since we lost the play off final two years back was that he relies on individual quality players rather than having the tactical ability to change a game himself.

 

Everyone knows he’s been left short by a poor summer window but people also doubt his ability to get something out of the current squad.

 

I think we’re down regardless fwiw. I’d stick with him, keep him in the Championship and go again.

[pink_triangle]

Only one man capable of saving Liverpool, bring back Stevie G!

[charlierc]

9 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

Yeah the day after we won the league people wanted him about. The main criticisms since we lost the play off final two years back was that he relies on individual quality players rather than having the tactical ability to change a game himself.

 

Everyone knows he’s been left short by a poor summer window but people also doubt his ability to get something out of the current squad.

 

I think we’re down regardless fwiw. I’d stick with him, keep him in the Championship and go again.

I'm aware he found the PL difficult with Norwich City tbf. Maybe he is just one of those managers like Neil Warnock who does better in the Championship than in the Premier League. 

 

I thought Leeds did good business in the defensive area and I've seen Sean Longstaff is looking alright tbf but yeah. I've seen a consensus that they made mistakes with recruitment in attacking areas and aren't scoring enough goals. 

 

Right now, even though it's still close, I think the current bottom 3 are looking like the likeliest to fall down. But I do wonder if that speculation Leeds came close to changing manager even before the season started didn't help. 

[andyrhodes24]

38 minutes ago, charlierc said:

I'm aware he found the PL difficult with Norwich City tbf. Maybe he is just one of those managers like Neil Warnock who does better in the Championship than in the Premier League. 

 

I thought Leeds did good business in the defensive area and I've seen Sean Longstaff is looking alright tbf but yeah. I've seen a consensus that they made mistakes with recruitment in attacking areas and aren't scoring enough goals. 

 

Right now, even though it's still close, I think the current bottom 3 are looking like the likeliest to fall down. But I do wonder if that speculation Leeds came close to changing manager even before the season started didn't help. 

Everyone knew and even Farke himself said he wasn’t backed in the Prem at Norwich and that we should judge him on this season. Biggest gripe about his tactics for me is that if we’re chasing a game, he’ll very rarely make a sub before the 70th min and even then he’ll either throw all the forwards on and lose the shape or make really random subs.

 

Defensively we have made some good signings. Stach looks okay, Longstaff and Gudmundsson very good. Perri looks very dodgy, and Bijol/Borneaw have barely played. Okafor is the only danger man we have though. We seemed to have £40m ready for Muniz and £30m for Paixao but when we were left with no one the club line was ‘PSR wouldn’t let us’.

 

Yeah I agree, Wolves, Burnley, Leeds go down from here.

[thetime]

From a neutral standpoint.

 

The new format in the champions league took a lot of criticism, best thing they have done to that competition. Only thing they perhaps should remove is the play offs, make it straight top 16. 

[kaosmark2]

2 hours ago, thetime said:

From a neutral standpoint.

 

The new format in the champions league took a lot of criticism, best thing they have done to that competition. Only thing they perhaps should remove is the play offs, make it straight top 16. 

I enjoyed it last season after being unsure initially. Quite happy with it this season as well.

 

I think I like having the playoffs as it means teams can't win 5/6 then stop caring for the last 2. There's something to compete for until the last week unless you're literally very bottom or very top.

[pink_triangle]

4 hours ago, charlierc said:

I'm aware he found the PL difficult with Norwich City tbf. Maybe he is just one of those managers like Neil Warnock who does better in the Championship than in the Premier League. 

 

I thought Leeds did good business in the defensive area and I've seen Sean Longstaff is looking alright tbf but yeah. I've seen a consensus that they made mistakes with recruitment in attacking areas and aren't scoring enough goals. 

 

Right now, even though it's still close, I think the current bottom 3 are looking like the likeliest to fall down. But I do wonder if that speculation Leeds came close to changing manager even before the season started didn't help. 

Is it a case of finding the league difficult or the fact these managers are always in the bottom 3 in terms of finances, so relegation is always kind of par.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, pink_triangle said:

Is it a case of finding the league difficult or the fact these managers are always in the bottom 3 in terms of finances, so relegation is always kind of par.

Tbf Sunderland seem to have found something that is working in this division, and with a manager who never managed in English football before rocking up there. 

 

I'm aware that we were in danger tbf of there being an established PL 17 banking all the cash plus 3 guest stars. At least the Championship is still producing unexpected things, whether it was Luton in the PL for the first time in over 30 years, Ipswich getting back to back promotions and right now Coventry just demolishing everyone.

 

At least next season looks like it'll avoid having another season of the same 17. Not that it'll be a consolation to Wolves fans given this has felt like a real misjudgement from their owners. 

[andyrhodes24]

1 hour ago, pink_triangle said:

Is it a case of finding the league difficult or the fact these managers are always in the bottom 3 in terms of finances, so relegation is always kind of par.

Our (Leeds) finances apparently weren’t great. We ended up with a summer budget of £100m, think they were aiming for closer to £150m but didn’t get the sales they wanted so PSR became an issue.

 

You have to be so smart with your recruitment these days, don’t think anyone really did 10/10 business in the entire league this summer. See how Sunderland get on when half their squad goes to Afcon.

[andyrhodes24]

15 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Tbf Sunderland seem to have found something that is working in this division, and with a manager who never managed in English football before rocking up there. 

 

I'm aware that we were in danger tbf of there being an established PL 17 banking all the cash plus 3 guest stars. At least the Championship is still producing unexpected things, whether it was Luton in the PL for the first time in over 30 years, Ipswich getting back to back promotions and right now Coventry just demolishing everyone.

 

At least next season looks like it'll avoid having another season of the same 17. Not that it'll be a consolation to Wolves fans given this has felt like a real misjudgement from their owners. 

I love the Championship, anyone can beat anyone and the jeopardy is massive because the stakes are so high. I’ve said so many times since we got promoted that I’d like us to win the league but stay down. The journey is better than the destination.

[Ryan1984]

3 hours ago, charlierc said:

Tbf Sunderland seem to have found something that is working in this division, and with a manager who never managed in English football before rocking up there. 

 

I'm aware that we were in danger tbf of there being an established PL 17 banking all the cash plus 3 guest stars. At least the Championship is still producing unexpected things, whether it was Luton in the PL for the first time in over 30 years, Ipswich getting back to back promotions and right now Coventry just demolishing everyone.

 

At least next season looks like it'll avoid having another season of the same 17. Not that it'll be a consolation to Wolves fans given this has felt like a real misjudgement from their owners. 

Got to see how Sunderland navigate their missing players during the Africa Cup of Nations… don’t think relegation is settled just yet.

[pink_triangle]

8 hours ago, charlierc said:

Tbf Sunderland seem to have found something that is working in this division, and with a manager who never managed in English football before rocking up there. 

 

I'm aware that we were in danger tbf of there being an established PL 17 banking all the cash plus 3 guest stars. . 

It feels to me like Sunderland is the exception rather than the norm. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out.

[pink_triangle]

8 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

I love the Championship, anyone can beat anyone and the jeopardy is massive because the stakes are so high. I’ve said so many times since we got promoted that I’d like us to win the league but stay down. The journey is better than the destination.

As a Wrexham fan I’m loving my first season in the championship. So many new grounds to visit and like you say really competitive. It actually doesn’t seem as high stakes to me, but I don’t have any particular desperation to get up to a league where the dream is to come 17th!

[andyrhodes24]

24 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

As a Wrexham fan I’m loving my first season in the championship. So many new grounds to visit and like you say really competitive. It actually doesn’t seem as high stakes to me, but I don’t have any particular desperation to get up to a league where the dream is to come 17th!

It seems like a really open division this time, Ipswich and the other promoted sides always likely to get their acts together but it’s great to see the likes of Stoke, Preston, Bristol City, Millwall giving it a good go.

 

I know there’s a lot of rhetoric around Wrexham buying their way up the divisions but unless you do a 2017/18 Wolves you can’t buy promotion from the Championship as Brum are finding out. Hope your side do well in all honestly.

[Neil]

On 22/11/2025 at 11:54, thetime said:

Will probably have a big impact for TNT sports more than anything. Will people pay 30 odd quid for a 12:30 premier league game and the other sports they show. 

i pay about a tenner pm for mine!

[charlierc]

13 hours ago, Ryan1984 said:

Got to see how Sunderland navigate their missing players during the Africa Cup of Nations… don’t think relegation is settled just yet.

Aye that's true. I wasn't aware until a few weeks ago that they're the team who stand to lose the most players to that tournament, which is even more of a factor than usual with it taking place over Christmas. An 8 point gap can be bridged in that time.

 

Wolves may well be hoping a gap can be bridged given they're somehow 9 points off safety already. 

[charlierc]

17 hours ago, andyrhodes24 said:

I love the Championship, anyone can beat anyone and the jeopardy is massive because the stakes are so high. I’ve said so many times since we got promoted that I’d like us to win the league but stay down. The journey is better than the destination.

It's a wild ride. It's an interesting one because I do like watching it from afar as the Championship is usually very close and exciting, but both times Newcastle have been it over the last 15 or so years, I've found it crazy stressful. We won the league despite losing 10 games last time we were there, including home and away to a Blackburn side that got relegated. 

 

I'm actually liking what I'm seeing so far as none of Leicester, Ipswich or Southampton with their parachute payments have it sussed and behind a very impressive Coventry, it's still looking up for grabs, although Ipswich and Southampton are starting to both look more coherent in recent weeks. 

[gary1979666]

9 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

It feels to me like Sunderland is the exception rather than the norm. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out.

 

As a Sunderland fan, I'm not holding my breath - it could turn very quickly.  But we're nearly ahead on points of the 3 teams who were relegated last year, so an achievement in itself.  V happy with how it's going, but nowhere near complacent.  

[Ryan1984]

14 hours ago, charlierc said:

It's a wild ride. It's an interesting one because I do like watching it from afar as the Championship is usually very close and exciting, but both times Newcastle have been it over the last 15 or so years, I've found it crazy stressful. We won the league despite losing 10 games last time we were there, including home and away to a Blackburn side that got relegated. 

 

I'm actually liking what I'm seeing so far as none of Leicester, Ipswich or Southampton with their parachute payments have it sussed and behind a very impressive Coventry, it's still looking up for grabs, although Ipswich and Southampton are starting to both look more coherent in recent weeks. 

I went to Charlton v Southampton last weekend and Saints were on fire. Their no. 13 whose name I can’t remember (he’s Brazilian) ran the show.

[kaosmark2]

On 26/11/2025 at 19:16, charlierc said:

I did wonder at the West Ham and Brentford games if we were overplaying Tonali and Bruno as one of the reasons in the make-up for that troublesome day, and if it's the case that Tonali looked off it, that may add to that theory. Feel like we should be using Lewis Miley a bit more imo.

 

I'm aware Pope's error is one many keepers can but I guess having felt he could've done better with the goals conceded at West Ham, it isn't really helpful. Some of it is overblown, but I think if he keeps on making errors, his position between the posts has to be reviewed by default.

 

Guess its onwards to Everton and seeing if we can learn from recent misfortune on the road.

Well Miley was excellent today I though, very composed. Team counter-attacked well in the 1st half to go in with a good lead, then controlled possession nicely in the 2nd half. Gorgeous goal from big Nick as well.

 

Ramsdale being involved in passing and build up play is a positive sign, although probably makes it hard for Pope to get back in when he's fit again.

 

I imagine Tonali will play midweek after just getting some token minutes today. Hopefully the rest has done him some good.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, kaosmark2 said:

Well Miley was excellent today I though, very composed. Team counter-attacked well in the 1st half to go in with a good lead, then controlled possession nicely in the 2nd half. Gorgeous goal from big Nick as well.

 

Ramsdale being involved in passing and build up play is a positive sign, although probably makes it hard for Pope to get back in when he's fit again.

 

I imagine Tonali will play midweek after just getting some token minutes today. Hopefully the rest has done him some good.

There was definitely a very good dynamic on display today. Seemed like the lads understood the gameplan and were able to execute it very well.

 

I was kinda surprised by Everton tbh. They played well for a bit between our first two goals, but other than that, were a definite step below what they offered against Manchester United with 10 men the other day. Pickford making a fumble for the second goal, against the team he wants to beat the most, also feels noteworthy.

 

But yeah. We had to win somewhere away from home eventually so hooray that we did it quite convincingly. Onwards to Spurs, who judging by the currently in progress game against Fulham aren't preparing for us in good health.

[kaosmark2]

14 hours ago, charlierc said:

There was definitely a very good dynamic on display today. Seemed like the lads understood the gameplan and were able to execute it very well.

 

I was kinda surprised by Everton tbh. They played well for a bit between our first two goals, but other than that, were a definite step below what they offered against Manchester United with 10 men the other day. Pickford making a fumble for the second goal, against the team he wants to beat the most, also feels noteworthy.

 

But yeah. We had to win somewhere away from home eventually so hooray that we did it quite convincingly. Onwards to Spurs, who judging by the currently in progress game against Fulham aren't preparing for us in good health.

Wrt Everton, I think matchups and scoreline play a big part. Man U attacked them, but not with full numbers, and they could sit back and manage the game. We invited Everton to try and attack us, but didn't let them get shots away, and counter-attacked sharply. And because we had the lead, Everton couldn't sit back and play an organised game, they had to look for opportunities. They're a decent team with weaknesses that our team if on-form naturally exploits in a way Man U couldn't.

 

League is so tight anyway. 6 points from 3rd to 15th, 1 point from 7th to 14th. You've got a bottom 5 starting to form and Arsenal have a bit of a gap, but it's insanely close. Great competition.

[charlierc]

2 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Wrt Everton, I think matchups and scoreline play a big part. Man U attacked them, but not with full numbers, and they could sit back and manage the game. We invited Everton to try and attack us, but didn't let them get shots away, and counter-attacked sharply. And because we had the lead, Everton couldn't sit back and play an organised game, they had to look for opportunities. They're a decent team with weaknesses that our team if on-form naturally exploits in a way Man U couldn't.

 

League is so tight anyway. 6 points from 3rd to 15th, 1 point from 7th to 14th. You've got a bottom 5 starting to form and Arsenal have a bit of a gap, but it's insanely close. Great competition.

It's possible, yes. Game state is one of those things that football data nerds go on about but it is a fair one when there is so little between teams, especially this season where it does feel as though everyone can beat everyone. Obviously yesterday, we created a game plan that Everton had no answer for, and ended up damaging their plan. I think the error by Pickford for Miley's goal helped change the flow as Everton had been better between our first two goals, but from then on, they had no answer. The ban for Gueye may have helped tbf as stand-in Iroegbunam had a bit of a nightmare. But yeah, can only beat what's in front of you, we had a game plan that worked - bish, bash, bosh.

 

Gotta keep it going now. These two upcoming PL games look like great chances to get more points on the board, as although Spurs have been better away, yesterday hinted they are in a bad place with one another (plus we beat them recently so know how to), and Burnley look limited. But again, can only beat what's in front of you.