Football 2025-26

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

 

Wolves have picked it up last month or so, not anywhere soon enough to save them.

 

But draws against Utd, Newcastle and Everton, win v West Ham. Plus 1 goal defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal. 

 

I thought you might win there today, but maybe only by a goal. You got a tough run in all comps with Villa, PSG, Liverpool and City to come. Certainly did those above you a favour today. 😃

Villa losing adds to the peculiarity of this weekend tbf where a lot of the big sides feel like they misfired at once.

 

Wolves are absolutely going to be ok as far as avoiding breaking the infamous Derby 2007/08 lowest points total goes, but for an actual improbable survival, they really needed to win today and indeed against a 9 man Everton last week.

 

Our play was just the same as its been in too many games this season - plodding, stodgy and totally confounded by a low block.

[kaosmark2]

25 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Our play was just the same as its been in too many games this season - plodding, stodgy and totally confounded by a low block.

I know Joelinton's form this last 4 weeks has been some of the best of his life, but I am a bit confused why Ramsey didn't play today, whether in place of Big Joe or Tonali. I thought we'd signed him as a player to try and help us break down low blocks in games like this. 

[Skip997]

3 hours ago, thetime said:

 

Wolves have picked it up last month or so, not anywhere soon enough to save them.

 

But draws against Utd, Newcastle and Everton, win v West Ham. Plus 1 goal defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal. 

 

I thought you might win there today, but maybe only by a goal. You got a tough run in all comps with Villa, PSG, Liverpool and City to come. Certainly did those above you a favour today. 😃

Ain't nothing tough about playing Liverpool at the moment, just employ a "low block", have at least one pacy attacker and throw in as many long throws, set pieces and corners as possible. At least on point guaranteed.  

[Skip997]

Senegal players walk off after having a goal disallowed and a soft pen given against them.

😀

[Skip997]

Penalty saved

 

😀

[pink_triangle]

That’s is the most ridiculously stupid penalty to take in that situation. Complete madness.

[Punksnotdead]

Not gonna lie - that's by far the most entertaining thing that's happened in the latter stages of a really boring tournament!

 

Oh and as I'm typing, Senegal have scored!

[Skip997]

Just now, Punksnotdead said:

Not gonna lie - that's by far the most entertaining thing that's happened in the latter stages of a really boring tournament!

 

Oh and as I'm typing, Senegal have scored!

It's among, if not the, most entertaining thing that's happened in football all season, if not longer. We need more of this comedy gold in an increasingly dull sport

[Punksnotdead]

Honestly feeling a lot more confident that Scotland can get at least a draw against Morocco - as long as we can beat Haiti we should get through the group.

[charlierc]

11 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Ain't nothing tough about playing Liverpool at the moment, just employ a "low block", have at least one pacy attacker and throw in as many long throws, set pieces and corners as possible. At least on point guaranteed.  

Newcastle can't play against a low block either so I think our meeting in a few weeks could well be two teams in a low block doing sh*t all. 

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, Punksnotdead said:

Not gonna lie - that's by far the most entertaining thing that's happened in the latter stages of a really boring tournament!

 

Oh and as I'm typing, Senegal have scored!

I thought it was a penalty ngl. Though in that situation, a Panenka is a bold choice. Maybe it's an ego thing in wanting to pull that off and be seen as a hero, which obviously makes you look like a total idiot when you don't score it. 

[lost]

A few accounts accounts are claiming the only way Mane got the players back on the pitch was agreeing with Diaz that he would miss on purpose. If true he didn't mention it to his coach as he was pulled straight afterwards.

[kaosmark2]

Yeah definite penalty IMO. While I think the disallowed goal was a little soft, the referee had blown before the the head connected with the ball to go into the back of the net, you can't overrule that with VAR because play is dead and Moroccan defenders had stopped. Honestly think it's a massive tantrum over not a lot.

[charlierc]

10 hours ago, lost said:

A few accounts accounts are claiming the only way Mane got the players back on the pitch was agreeing with Diaz that he would miss on purpose. If true he didn't mention it to his coach as he was pulled straight afterwards.

I have seen this argument, yes. I don't know how likely that is tbf given Diaz did look genuinely upset.

 

I'm guessing this headline hints the argument will still go on for a while: Morocco to pursue legal action over loss to Senegal in Africa Cup of Nations final | Africa Cup of Nations 2025 | The Guardian

[charlierc]

23 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

I know Joelinton's form this last 4 weeks has been some of the best of his life, but I am a bit confused why Ramsey didn't play today, whether in place of Big Joe or Tonali. I thought we'd signed him as a player to try and help us break down low blocks in games like this. 

Not using him at all was kind of unexpected in fairness. Unless the idea was to prioritise him for the Champions League game that's coming up. But yeah, midfield creativity has felt like a bit of a recurring issue. Tonali has looked burned out for a few weeks and could use a game or two on the bench tbf.

[Skip997]

I guess strictly speaking Senegal should have forfeited the game. 

[kaosmark2]

5 hours ago, Skip997 said:

I guess strictly speaking Senegal should have forfeited the game. 

Agreed. I think at minimum every player that walked off (everyone but Mane?) should have been booked.

[charlierc]

13 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Agreed. I think at minimum every player that walked off (everyone but Mane?) should have been booked.

Maybe this is one of the factors that is behind Morocco launching this legal action. I get that Senegal got angry with a lot of things that had happened over the preceding days, but it feels like they took their irritation too far. 

[kaosmark2]

3 hours ago, charlierc said:

Maybe this is one of the factors that is behind Morocco launching this legal action. I get that Senegal got angry with a lot of things that had happened over the preceding days, but it feels like they took their irritation too far. 

I think Senegal getting banned from next AFCON for that would be very fair.

[kaosmark2]

Well that was more fun than watching us having a turgid time trying to break down a low block in the PL.

[pink_triangle]

Champions league league stage looks a bit different this season compared to last. I checked last year and dimano Zagreb were eliminated on 11 points, looks like some team will go through on 8 this time. Also looks like top 8 will be 1 or 2 points lower.

[kaosmark2]

30 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

Champions league league stage looks a bit different this season compared to last. I checked last year and dimano Zagreb were eliminated on 11 points, looks like some team will go through on 8 this time. Also looks like top 8 will be 1 or 2 points lower.

I don't think more than 1 team will go through on 8, I suspect 24th place will be on 9.

 

6th through 13th all on 13 points, with inter/Juve on 12 just behind them.

 

I was really hoping PSG would win yesterday so they'd be in the top 8 for sure and maybe slacking off so we could maybe nick a point, but that's looking unlikely. Hard to think we're good enough to beat them in Paris when it matters for them. Still delighted to get through though.

[charlierc]

5 English teams in the top 8... maybe the rest of Europe had a point questioning if the Premier League is now the de facto European Super League.

 

Obviously I'm delighted with Newcastle's performance and impressed as to how we seem to be holding our own in this. 3 home wins in a row and 4 overall is certainly a happier return. Indeed, for my scepticism of the convoluted nature of this format, it's just nice to see us winning games in Europe. Villa will still be a challenge on Sunday, even if I gather they're starting to have injuries and will be coming in from playing in Turkey tonight.

 

The odd one out of the 6 English CL teams that isn't in the top 8 being Man City is kinda funny tbf. I know they beat us in the Carabao but the air seems to be seeping out of the balloon over there. Maybe its just their turn to have the rut in results that a lot of teams who went to the Club World Cup seem to be having this season - PSG, Real and Chelsea all seem to have had their moments of being in a funk.

[thetime]

50 minutes ago, charlierc said:

5 English teams in the top 8... maybe the rest of Europe had a point questioning if the Premier League is now the de facto European Super League.

 

Obviously I'm delighted with Newcastle's performance and impressed as to how we seem to be holding our own in this. 3 home wins in a row and 4 overall is certainly a happier return. Indeed, for my scepticism of the convoluted nature of this format, it's just nice to see us winning games in Europe. Villa will still be a challenge on Sunday, even if I gather they're starting to have injuries and will be coming in from playing in Turkey tonight.

 

The odd one out of the 6 English CL teams that isn't in the top 8 being Man City is kinda funny tbf. I know they beat us in the Carabao but the air seems to be seeping out of the balloon over there. Maybe its just their turn to have the rut in results that a lot of teams who went to the Club World Cup seem to be having this season - PSG, Real and Chelsea all seem to have had their moments of being in a funk.

 

I think there is a lot of exaggeration on city's demise. They just have a lot of injuries at the back. Once they are back, as well as getting Guehi they will be fine. 

 

3 league defeats in 5 months isn't to shabby either, especially in this nuts of a season. 

 

Champions league table will look a bit different next week I would imagine. Top 8 will be Arsenal, Liverpool and City. With Spurs, Newcastle and Chelsea in the play offs. 

[kaosmark2]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

I think there is a lot of exaggeration on city's demise. They just have a lot of injuries at the back. Once they are back, as well as getting Guehi they will be fine. 

 

3 league defeats in 5 months isn't to shabby either, especially in this nuts of a season. 

 

Champions league table will look a bit different next week I would imagine. Top 8 will be Arsenal, Liverpool and City. With Spurs, Newcastle and Chelsea in the play offs. 

Agreed. I just think this City team is a very good team with a bunch of injuries right now. Just because they're not a 95-point runaway amazing team doesn't mean things are awful there.

 

Agree on CL table as well. Nice as our position is right now, unless we win at PSG somehow we need to help that least 3 of Barca, City, Athletico, Inter, Juve f**k up winning their games, and even then we'd probably need a draw.