Football 2025-26

[rock_on]

Thought I'd post this here for those who don't follow new threads that are made. Football Prediction contest up for the 2025-26 football season covering all the major competitions.

[charlierc]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/01/morecambe-fc-fans-to-lose-everything-without-takeover

 

I'd done some reading on this a week or two ago and Christ this is such atrocious mismanagement. I'd like to think a solution could be found but it feels out of reach. The fact their fate is dependent on somebody who is banned from being a director of a UK company is pretty wild. 

 

And no I don't think the solution is get Morecambe resident Tyson Fury to buy it. He's had plenty of chances. 

 

Sheffield Wednesday could get be an even bigger fish to fall. Lord knows what the hell has happened there but headline after headline after headline of crisis from someone who clearly can't afford to run the club anymore and looks way out of his depth sounds like a nightmare. 

[charlierc]

9 hours ago, thetime said:

 

People forget what a huge name United is, biggest club in England not matter where they are in the league. If utd can afford him, (which I'm not sure) they get him. If it was a champions league club like Liverpool or Arsenal, then probably not.

 

Newcastle the competition for his signature? Unless you are a geordie, you are not turning down United. 

 

The one that doesn't get Sesko, gets Ollie Watkins? Can't say I watch Leipzig, so no idea on the class of Sesko. Wouldnt mind Watkins though, would fit in. Although age, wages and fee villa will want is putting people off. 

 

Donnarumma is a red herring one presumes. 

I thought Donnarumma to Man City was possible given Ederson could yet be on the way out and they still have Pep. Guess we'll see on that one.

 

I'm not sure why Villa would sell us Watkins and leave themselves with no striker ahead of an opening day match between our two teams at Villa Park. I like him but I don't see them doing that. Sesko felt attainable until Manchester Red came in, even if there's questions about whether they can meet Leipzig's fee structure. 

[rock_on]

How the hell did the guy who owns Morecambe pass the fit and proper persons test?

 

Anyway the first match of the Football League season ends with a 1-0 win to Luton courtesy of an own goal from Ryan Johnson in the 85th minute. 

[charlierc]

12 hours ago, rock_on said:

How the hell did the guy who owns Morecambe pass the fit and proper persons test?

 

When Worcester Warriors rugby club, which he also owned, went bust in 2022, taking down one of the biggest names in that sport, and he himself was banned from being a company director, the idea that he was somehow still fit and proper after that is genuinely perplexing.

[charlierc]

20 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

It's hard to really know what's going on in the squad. The literal phrase used about Isak is "explore options of a move from Newcastle", which suggests to me he won't be that unhappy to stay, he'd just prefer to move to a bigger club and double his wages.

 

I do vaguely think that if we'd done decent business earlier and given him a big contract offer early in the summer, he wouldn't be kicking up a fuss. Impossible to know of course, but I think it's a combination of his agent being in his ear, and the insane unprofessionalism of our 'board' (that basically doesn't exist).

 

Our squad just doesn't look ready to compete on 2 fronts. Our 1st team (if you include Isak) I do think is CL quality, but there's no depth anywhere except the wings. Sort of at centre-back, but that's including Botman and all his injuries, and 3 who are over 30.

 

On the market as a whole, I feel there's a few chain-reactions to come. Spurs supposedly holding onto Son until after finishing this pre-season tour in Asia, then he's off to MLS and they'll presumably spend that wage budget somewhere. You've also got Palace having not done anything selling or buying yet. Half the league has been linked with either Eze or Guehi, and plenty of those clubs also with Wharton. There's also all the deadwood at both Manchester clubs, and while I can see a fair few of them going abroad, I suspect there might be some late loan deals.

We were there in 2023/24 though when last in the Champions League and misjudged squad depth quite badly. So to return to the Champions League with the same possible error feels like trouble already. Centre-back is definitely the worst - Schar and Burn are over 30, Lascelles has barely played in a year and Botman's injuries now feel like an existential problem. But centre-mid too feels like a headache in waiting given Willock is already out for 6 weeks, Longstaff joined Leeds and Joelinton does have recurring injury problems. And that's to say nothing of Isak leaving meaning that, as it stands, Osula would be our only striker. Even that front is confusing given some sources are saying Liverpool won't bid again and others are saying they might yet try their luck again down the line.

 

I think Paul Mitchell has to go down as a terrible appointment as Sporting Director given he fell out with everyone then resigned literally the week window opened. If even League 2 or National League clubs have recruitment headed by those now, we're certainly out of sync if we're making Howe do all the recruitment. Throw in the bizarre fact it's taken 10 months to replace a CEO undergoing cancer treatment when he said he would only be able to work in a reduced capacity while he served his notice, or arguably the idea that the board needs someone as forceful as Steveley (criticism of her methods or otherwise) and it does leave the feeling of a power vacuum at that level. That's going to have to be sorted out pretty quick.

 

Son has just confirmed today he will leave Spurs this summer, likely after their game against us in Seoul tomorrow. It's nice he got to a win trophy to cap off a pretty solid decade there, mind. You suspect Spurs will be more active in the window, something they arguably should've been already given they had a real lack of CB depth. Throw in the fact Everton, Palace and West Ham all want new players and you suspect there'll be a bit of movement to come. And probably a lot of panic buys.

Edited August 2, 2025 by charlierc

[thetime]

Thats a strong Sesko bid from Newcastle. 

[rock_on]

An unusual delay in the Newport v Notts County match following the stadium being evacuated to allow and air ambulance to land in the stadium for a fan who had become unwell in the stands. Don't think I've seen that one before. Hopefully the person concerned makes a recovery. 

[rock_on]

On 01/08/2025 at 16:49, rock_on said:

Thought I'd post this here for those who don't follow new threads that are made. Football Prediction contest up for the 2025-26 football season covering all the major competitions.

 

Last time I'll ask as I don't want to spam this but is anyone else interested in partaking in this prediction competition? No real point running it if I'm the only one entering it 😄. 

[charlierc]

23 hours ago, thetime said:

Thats a strong Sesko bid from Newcastle. 

Might need a few more million judging by the rumour this morning. But I guess the note of intent is there and given Man Utd might need to sell a few to get the cash to bid, this could have some distance left to run as a saga.

 

Should be used to the idea of these things being stretched out into multi-arc dramas by now, mind.

[charlierc]

On 01/08/2025 at 08:55, thetime said:

Donnarumma is a red herring one presumes. 

There was a one-off rumour last week of Nick Pope to Man Utd tbf. I guess the confirmation Newcastle have signed Aaron Ramsdale means that at least one of our other 5 keepers is bailing. Even if I thought that one would be Dubravka or Vlachodimos.

[rock_on]

7 minutes ago, charlierc said:

There was a one-off rumour last week of Nick Pope to Man Utd tbf. I guess the confirmation Newcastle have signed Aaron Ramsdale means that at least one of our other 5 keepers is bailing. Even if I thought that one would be Dubravka or Vlachodimos.

 

I thought Dubravka was the one that was leaving? 

[thetime]

16 minutes ago, charlierc said:

There was a one-off rumour last week of Nick Pope to Man Utd tbf. I guess the confirmation Newcastle have signed Aaron Ramsdale means that at least one of our other 5 keepers is bailing. Even if I thought that one would be Dubravka or Vlachodimos.

 

To be fair Utd get linked to 100 players every window. 

 

 

[thetime]

22 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Might need a few more million judging by the rumour this morning. But I guess the note of intent is there and given Man Utd might need to sell a few to get the cash to bid, this could have some distance left to run as a saga.

 

Should be used to the idea of these things being stretched out into multi-arc dramas by now, mind.

 

Seems a lot of cash for a player who isn't prolific yet. Lasy 2 seasons 1 goal pretty much every 3 games, they are talking 80m plus add ons. 

 

I would prefer utd go for the safe option and get Watkins and keep Hojlund. Rather than another high risk young striker. 

 

He might be awesome, but a big risk. 

Edited August 3, 2025 by thetime

[charlierc]

5 hours ago, rock_on said:

 

I thought Dubravka was the one that was leaving? 

There was a rumour of Dubravka being a makeweight in the deal to sign James Trafford with Dubravka going to Burnley when that was the intended plan before that went south. It is worth noting he didn't go on the Singapore/South Korea tour. Saudi, Italy, Germany or still possibly Burnley are all current rumours.

 

I would be deeply surprised if Vlachodimos stuck around given I don't think he actually played in the Asian games and the back-up to Pope ended up being John Ruddy. Although PSR considerations means probably just a loan exit given the ludicrous £20m fee Forest got us to pay means we have to make some of that back somehow. Sevilla is the current link, possibly as part of their reset after how it's gone south there of late.

Edited August 3, 2025 by charlierc

[charlierc]

5 hours ago, thetime said:

To be fair Utd get linked to 100 players every window. 

 

5 hours ago, thetime said:

 

Seems a lot of cash for a player who isn't prolific yet. Lasy 2 seasons 1 goal pretty much every 3 games, they are talking 80m plus add ons. 

 

I would prefer utd go for the safe option and get Watkins and keep Hojlund. Rather than another high risk young striker. 

 

He might be awesome, but a big risk. 

No signing is a guaranteed success imo - we've all seen sure things in football go wrong. Just like how signings aren't done until the club has confirmed it. 

 

I like Watkins but as said before, I don't think Villa will sell him to us before we play them on the opening day, or at least not with another £15-20mil on the asking price this close to it.

 

I wonder if Leipzig are moving the goalposts if they said they'd accept 75 million Euros but now want 80. Gives me flashbacks to how Crystal Palace changed the asking price for Marc Guehi 5 times last year before we gave up.

[rock_on]

Chelsea sign Jorel Hato from Ajax. 

Everton sign Dewsbury Hall from Chelsea.

[thetime]

23 hours ago, charlierc said:

 

I wonder if Leipzig are moving the goalposts if they said they'd accept 75 million Euros but now want 80. Gives me flashbacks to how Crystal Palace changed the asking price for Marc Guehi 5 times last year before we gave up.

 

How i see it.

 

Newcastle are going to bid more than utd, sesko wants utd. Which will delay things somewhat.

 

Can't say id be gutted if urd didn't get him. 

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

 

How i see it.

 

Newcastle are going to bid more than utd, sesko wants utd. Which will delay things somewhat.

 

Can't say id be gutted if urd didn't get him. 

This feels like the stand-off. It's just guesswork as much as anything but I think Sesko would be ok joining us, just wants Man Utd more, however Man Utd need to sell to meet the payment structure Leipzig want, meaning its slowing down this move because it creates a stand-off. New rumour is we might bid for PSG's Goncalo Ramos, although that might be a Hail Mary move as much as anything actually tangible.

 

Maybe there's an argument for closing the window before the season starts so this doesn't drag on for the opening games.

[charlierc]

On 04/08/2025 at 18:35, charlierc said:

This feels like the stand-off. It's just guesswork as much as anything but I think Sesko would be ok joining us, just wants Man Utd more, however Man Utd need to sell to meet the payment structure Leipzig want, meaning its slowing down this move because it creates a stand-off. New rumour is we might bid for PSG's Goncalo Ramos, although that might be a Hail Mary move as much as anything actually tangible.

 

Maybe there's an argument for closing the window before the season starts so this doesn't drag on for the opening games.

Sure enough, latest speculation is that Sesko clearly did decide to be another one to look at Man Utd with the "I can fix them" eyes. 

 

This summer's getting boring with just how poorly Newcastle have managed it. 

[rock_on]

Anyone watching Real Betis v Como? Da Cunha scored a brilliant goal unfortunately overshadowed by a mass brawl broke out just before half time and two red cards shown. Situation where VAR really could have done with being used even in pre-season friendlies as there could have been a dozen red cards off that one and it looks like the parties given one are innocent. Looking at this can see VAR being used for friendlies next season. 

[thetime]

Bit embarrassing for Newcastle.

 

Offer the highest bid, but player wants to join the team in 15th.

 

Power of utd. 

[charlierc]

5 hours ago, thetime said:

Bit embarrassing for Newcastle.

 

Offer the highest bid, but player wants to join the team in 15th.

 

Power of utd. 

Feels like we were strung along by Sesko's agent just to get Man Utd to bid. But that feels in keeping with our window given how much of a debacle it's turning into.

[rock_on]

Dreadful transfer window for Newcastle continues. 

 

Anyway - Port Vale must be wondering how the hell they didn't score against Cardiff tonight with so many nearly moments. 

[Neil]

well done to saints for coming back against Wrexham for the win.