Football 2025-26

[thetime]

15 minutes ago, charlierc said:

 I don't know how we're still only 4 points off the top 5, but that gap is going to grow if our inability to win away matches carries on like this.

 

Leagues not at a great standard to be honest, outside the top 2. Starting to stretch out slightly more, hopefully utd will gatecrash top 5 tomorrow. 

 

You got couple of big ones against Chelsea and Utd. Lose both you could be in the bottom 5, never mind the top 5. 

 

I will be very disappointed, if Sunderland don't do Newcastles changing room type pictures. 

Edited December 14, 2025 by thetime

[charlierc]

44 minutes ago, thetime said:

I will be very disappointed, if Sunderland don't do Newcastles changing room type pictures. 

Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle: How Black Cats avenged humiliating photograph - BBC Sport

 

They had their own idea - photo on the pitch in front of the stands, aping one we did after winning in the FA Cup at their place early last year. Which, tbf, if I was one of their fans, I'd be f**king loving.

[pink_triangle]

2 hours ago, lost said:

Aside from the match, after watching the play off final against Sheff utd its very impressive what Sunderland have achieved in one transfer window.

Sunderland completely stole that play off final. I am still not sure how Sheff U messed it up. Agreed based on that game I’m amazed how competitive they have been.

[charlierc]

8 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

Sunderland completely stole that play off final. I am still not sure how Sheff U messed it up. Agreed based on that game I’m amazed how competitive they have been.

Sheffield United would blame a VAR call that disallowed a goal that would've made it 2-0 in first half stoppage time.

 

Think they might also blame some kind of weird hoodoo given they have never won promotion via the play-offs in 10 attempts or won at Wembley in any form since 1925.

[gary1979666]

14 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

Sunderland completely stole that play off final. I am still not sure how Sheff U messed it up. Agreed based on that game I’m amazed how competitive they have been.

 

What a day that was - it's going to stay with me a long time - I was camping with my 12 year old in Beccles and could only find a working men's club showing the game.  The whole place was cheering on Sunderland - it went wild when we got the winner.  My son absolutely loved it (although he's a City fan, he still supports S'land).

[gary1979666]

Sorry to the Toon fans - it wasn't a great way to win yesterday....but I'll take it.

My school friends have been quiet strangely!!

[charlierc]

6 hours ago, gary1979666 said:

Sorry to the Toon fans - it wasn't a great way to win yesterday....but I'll take it.

My school friends have been quiet strangely!!

Take what you can tbh. I'm sure if we'd won 1-0 through an own goal by your star striker, we'd be finding it something to celebrate and kinda hilarious as well. Even from a game that I think would've finished 0-0 but for that. 

 

Hearing that Burn broke multiple ribs and suffered a punctured lung is a further downer, given that's pretty brutal.

[thetime]

7 hours ago, gary1979666 said:

I was camping with my 12 year old in Beccles 

Camping in December, you guys are a different breed up there. 😂

[charlierc]

Did Man Utd and Bournemouth just not fancy defending then?

[thetime]

15 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Did Man Utd and Bournemouth just not fancy defending then?

 

Damn went to a meeting after the 4th United goal, came out its 4-4. 😒

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, thetime said:

 

Damn went to a meeting after the 4th United goal, came out its 4-4. 😒

Could've been worse - Man Utd keeper made 3 decent saves in stoppage time.

[charlierc]

Well... it doesn't make up for Sunday's rubbish, but I guess beating Fulham in the last minute of the Carabao quarters is a start. Onwards to Chelsea.

[Neil]

i hear that some people think that Rory mcilroy has a personality. 😛

 

 

[charlierc]

13 points dropped from losing positions in the Premier League this season? Yikes. I don't really get how Newcastle have become so consistent in this. Even just 6 of those would be enough to have us in a Champions League place, or at least level with the Chelsea team that just got a Christmas present.

[pink_triangle]

Just saw Liverpool got pummelled by Chelsea womens team today. I am pretty surprised a football mad city like Liverpool and they just don’t seem to give a sh*t about the women’s team. It’s pretty poor of them in my view.

[kaosmark2]

Anyone else watching AFCON?

 

Was gutted for Zimbabwe yesterday evening. Had been a masterclass in counterattacking football and not letting a team with possession get shots away for 60 minutes. Marmoush goal absolute quality and inevitable Salah late goal.

[Dan R]

On 21/12/2025 at 16:39, pink_triangle said:

Just saw Liverpool got pummelled by Chelsea womens team today. I am pretty surprised a football mad city like Liverpool and they just don’t seem to give a sh*t about the women’s team. It’s pretty poor of them in my view.

I generally think FSG are great owners but they are awful with the women's side. A relatively small bit of money invested could do wonders but they don't want to put a penny in by the look of things. 

Would also help if they played in Liverpool.

[pink_triangle]

7 hours ago, Dan R said:

I generally think FSG are great owners but they are awful with the women's side. A relatively small bit of money invested could do wonders but they don't want to put a penny in by the look of things. 

Would also help if they played in Liverpool.

It’s a drop in the ocean. It’s pretty embarrassing when Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea (admittedly with some financial shenanigans) can take it seriously. Even to take it as seriously as Man U would be progress.

[Skip997]

On 14/12/2025 at 19:21, thetime said:

On 14/12/2025 at 19:06, charlierc said:

 

 

Leagues not at a great standard to be honest, outside the top 2. Starting to stretch out slightly more, hopefully utd will gatecrash top 5 tomorrow

It’s ridiculous. Lost 6(?) games by Christmas and still only 10 points off top

🤔

[thetime]

Good win that for utd, considering the lineup at the start and end. 

[charlierc]

I didn't watch it live as was elsewhere but I've seen a consensus in our fan circles that we fell behind then treated a low block to be essentially unbreakable. Again.

 

It does feel like we don't have the rotation option to play the way we want on a Sat-Tue-Sat-Tue cycle and everyone's burned out. A worry given we have midweek games from now until mid-February, with another 2 to come if we get into the Champions League playoff rounds. 

[thetime]

8 minutes ago, charlierc said:

I didn't watch it live as was elsewhere but I've seen a consensus in our fan circles that we fell behind then treated a low block to be essentially unbreakable. Again.

 

Pretty much accurate, although Newcastle didn't trouble Lammens to much. Newcastle hit the crossbar, so did sesko in the 2nd half. 

 

Utd finishing the game with 4 players 20 and under, Newcastle should of been running riot. Especially the centrebacks 19 and 20. 

 

Plus appearences from Malacia and Zirkzee. 

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, thetime said:

 

Pretty much accurate, although Newcastle didn't trouble Lammens to much. Newcastle hit the crossbar, so did sesko in the 2nd half. 

 

Utd finishing the game with 4 players 20 and under, Newcastle should of been running riot. Especially the centrebacks 19 and 20. 

 

Plus appearences from Malacia and Zirkzee. 

Yeah I've seen that injuries and AFCON have left Man Utd without options. But game state can be a thing where sometimes, those in the pitch can be galvanised to meet the moment.

 

Well that or it's just yet another game in a season where our attacking play has been so poor. It's one thing we're having our own injury trouble - 6 defenders out meaning we're having to crowbar Miley into a right-back role, while Ramsdale has very much failed to be an adequate stand-in for Pope. But we are so easy to defend against. Put a low block in front of us and you're about 85-90% of the way there. 

 

For all Amorim still gets jabs about tactical inflexibility, Howe is really lacking a Plan B right now. I remember seeing us at West Ham a few weeks ago and it was still 4-3-3 but with square pegs in round holes everywhere. There is absolutely scope in trying to play Wissa and Woltemade together but we seem to lack the imagination to try it. Same with dropping Gordon, whose form all season has been disappointing.

[Skip997]

Amorim is doing a good job with that squad.

 

Newcastle need Isak back, Liverpool need to get rid, maybe something can be arranged 

[thetime]

9 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

 

 

Newcastle need Isak back, Liverpool need to get rid, maybe something can be arranged 

 

Can't see Newcastle welcoming Isak back. 

Edited December 27, 2025 by thetime