Football 2025-26

[kaosmark2]

6 minutes ago, charlierc said:

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.

The Pickford error definitely had me laughing. It feels like he either has an absolute blinder or an absolute mare against us, with barely any in-between.

 

Honestly, other than the overall struggle to get an away win, the only result/performance that had me truly concerned was West Ham. We've never been good at Brighton/Bournemouth and to a lesser extent Brentford, and the Leeds game was overshadowed by the transfer window sucking. 

[thetime]

Good win for utd that, after a few dropped points in recent games. 

 

 

[charlierc]

20 minutes ago, thetime said:

Good win for utd that, after a few dropped points in recent games. 

 

 

Aye Palace are a good team and have made Selhurst Park that cliche difficult place to go and get a result. So, fair play.

 

I'd also forgot they changed the double-touch penalty rule in response to the arguments over Julian Alvarez's in the Atletico v Real game in last season's Champions League. Made me think of when Mitrovic did that in a Newcastle v Fulham game 3 seasons ago and it was disallowed.

[Skip997]

At last

 

Just hope it was a builder they got in to fix the cracks and not a decorator to paper over them 

Edited November 30, 2025 by Skip997

[lost]

I keep saying it but euro qualification does nothing for teams like Forest and Palace. As far as I can see you have to get to the semis minimum to make up more than one prem place lost in prize money. Judging by Forest and Palaces form after playing on Thursday they could lose alot more than that.

[pink_triangle]

47 minutes ago, lost said:

I keep saying it but euro qualification does nothing for teams like Forest and Palace. As far as I can see you have to get to the semis minimum to make up more than one prem place lost in prize money. Judging by Forest and Palaces form after playing on Thursday they could lose alot more than that.

I disagree. In a league full of wealthy sides, these trophies offer them an opportunity to win a European competition. I imagine for West Ham fans, that title was probably one of the greatest days supporting them.

[lost]

2 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I disagree. In a league full of wealthy sides, these trophies offer them an opportunity to win a European competition. I imagine for West Ham fans, that title was probably one of the greatest days supporting them.

 

I'm talking about the point of view of the club being a business which is what the modern game is all about.

 

West Ham, Forest and Palace are all clubs which "could" be in Leicesters position now if things dont go their way financially, obviously Leicster fans wouldn't give up their league title for that but long term it could be a detrement.

Edited November 30, 2025 by lost

[Neil]

I was just thinking Putin's Chelsea were so much better than this current lot.

[charlierc]

15 hours ago, lost said:

I keep saying it but euro qualification does nothing for teams like Forest and Palace. As far as I can see you have to get to the semis minimum to make up more than one prem place lost in prize money. Judging by Forest and Palaces form after playing on Thursday they could lose alot more than that.

It's kinda the same as it ever was tbf. Newcastle in 2011/12 had a brilliant season where we finished 5th, in the one season in 14 under Mike Ashley where we finished that high, but only came 16th the season after as struggled with so many injury and fitness problems. A run to the Europa League quarters was fun, but the Premier League stuff very much wasn't. I seem to recall Bolton, Stoke and Burnley all struggling after surprise European qualifications too. 

 

But then I think the fans want that sense of adventure, no? It's all well and good just turning up and banking the PL cheque but the novelty wears off quickly.

 

This season was always going to be interesting though given 9 Premier League teams qualified for European competitions, and there are plenty of good teams waiting to exploit the tiredness. 

 

Also, Forest don't really get that much sympathy given the unnecessary way they forced out Nuno and then the Ange debacle. They should stay up as Dyche looks to be making a decent fist of it but they didn't help themselves at all. Leicester, as you cited in another post, is a different situation - the owners are apparently lacking the funds they used to have and now seem to keep making the wrong manager and player recruitment choices. 

[lost]

16 minutes ago, charlierc said:

But then I think the fans want that sense of adventure, no? It's all well and good just turning up and banking the PL cheque but the novelty wears off quickly.

 

Yeah I get that and things may change when we move on from FFP. As I said though you just have to look at Leicester, Euro qualification I think early 2020's, then a drop in placing/ finance. A fire sale including schmeichel the following year and relegation. Now looking at a points deduction and fans thinking they may hit the first divison. I think ipswich too were relegated the year they qualified for europe?

 

FFP has completely ruined the league for the also rans and how many pints they sell in bar after the match seems more important than an exicitng cup run.

[kaosmark2]

5 hours ago, charlierc said:

Also, Forest don't really get that much sympathy given the unnecessary way they forced out Nuno and then the Ange debacle. They should stay up as Dyche looks to be making a decent fist of it but they didn't help themselves at all. Leicester, as you cited in another post, is a different situation - the owners are apparently lacking the funds they used to have and now seem to keep making the wrong manager and player recruitment choices. 

Don't forget how they kicked off about Palace's multi-club ownership while doing the same thing themselves to get themselves up a tier of competition.

[charlierc]

On 01/12/2025 at 08:22, lost said:

 

Yeah I get that and things may change when we move on from FFP. As I said though you just have to look at Leicester, Euro qualification I think early 2020's, then a drop in placing/ finance. A fire sale including schmeichel the following year and relegation. Now looking at a points deduction and fans thinking they may hit the first divison. I think ipswich too were relegated the year they qualified for europe?

 

FFP has completely ruined the league for the also rans and how many pints they sell in bar after the match seems more important than an exicitng cup run.

Leicester I think had different problems. In a way, it's kind of like what happened to Leeds - over extended themselves financially to keep up with those at the top, missed one season with an 8th in 21/22, couldn't sell players on high wages, Brendan Rodgers stayed on a season too long and it just collapsed. But even then, I didn't think it helps their owners are not as wealthy as they used to be thanks to covid hitting the tourism market they make their money from. 

 

Ipswich is an even longer ago example - that was 2002, I think? About a decade before FFP became a thing. 

 

I'm aware of the prioritising of the bottom line at the expense of sporting success being a factor tbf. That's basically all Mike Ashley did at Newcastle for his last decade. 

Edited December 2, 2025 by charlierc

[charlierc]

22 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Don't forget how they kicked off about Palace's multi-club ownership while doing the same thing themselves to get themselves up a tier of competition.

There was a degree of craftiness there, yes. But they seem to be having a go at being outspoken and using methods to get an advantage. Remember the moaning about the VAR being a Luton fan?

[charlierc]

Dammit. Should've beaten Spurs, had the chances to, concede to their only 2 shots on target, 1 of which seemed to just drift in from an overhead shin-kick. How annoying.

[thetime]

On 01/12/2025 at 08:22, lost said:

 

FFP has completely ruined the league for the also rans and how many pints they sell in bar after the match seems more important than an exicitng cup run.

 

Has FFP really changed anything, if anything the league overall is more exciting and unpredictable. 

 

Cup runs? Teams have put out weakened teams in the cups for decades. 

 

Look at the league now, anyone from 3rd all the way down to 14th is in with a shout of European football. 

[balti-pie]

11 hours ago, charlierc said:

Dammit. Should've beaten Spurs, had the chances to, concede to their only 2 shots on target, 1 of which seemed to just drift in from an overhead shin-kick. How annoying.

 

I hate moaning about VAR because its so boring and pointless, but that genuinely was the worst penalty decision ive seen in years - 'he's not looking at the ball' 

no, because he's been put in a bloody headlock ffs! Surely anyone with even a slice of functioning brain would say well, the pair of em are at it, lets just ignore it, but no - penalty, because . . . then everyone can moan tomorrow night when this happens ten times a match and none of them are penalties.

Consistency, in that its all horseshit 😄 Couldnt even celebrate the equaliser because i was still simmering over the penalty ffs! I'm just leaning towards bollocks to the top flight, i cannot be arsed with the created controversy. Non-league is where its at. 

[lost]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

 

Has FFP really changed anything, if anything the league overall is more exciting and unpredictable. 

 

Well for a start I don't think it achieves what it was put in place for. Rather than stopping clubs getting into financial difficulty by over spending, the firesales and points deductions we've seen are more likely to damage clubs via loss of revenue and potential relegation. The league only feels exciting and unpredictable for me because Liverpool and Manchester Utd have spent badly rather than had their spending reigned in.

[kaosmark2]

1 hour ago, balti-pie said:

I hate moaning about VAR because its so boring and pointless, but that genuinely was the worst penalty decision ive seen in years - 'he's not looking at the ball' 

no, because he's been put in a bloody headlock ffs! Surely anyone with even a slice of functioning brain would say well, the pair of em are at it, lets just ignore it, but no - penalty, because . . . then everyone can moan tomorrow night when this happens ten times a match and none of them are penalties.

Consistency, in that its all horseshit 😄 Couldnt even celebrate the equaliser because i was still simmering over the penalty ffs! I'm just leaning towards bollocks to the top flight, i cannot be arsed with the created controversy. Non-league is where its at. 

I said at the time, I've seen harsher tugs not given this season (particularly on Woltemade), but also lighter ones given. I wasn't going to complain about it because bias but I know I'd be fuming if it were given against us.

 

We have a real inability to kill games off this season though. Weak sauce pen and we still end up drawing.

[charlierc]

2 hours ago, balti-pie said:

 

I hate moaning about VAR because its so boring and pointless, but that genuinely was the worst penalty decision ive seen in years - 'he's not looking at the ball' 

no, because he's been put in a bloody headlock ffs! Surely anyone with even a slice of functioning brain would say well, the pair of em are at it, lets just ignore it, but no - penalty, because . . . then everyone can moan tomorrow night when this happens ten times a match and none of them are penalties.

Consistency, in that its all horseshit 😄 Couldnt even celebrate the equaliser because i was still simmering over the penalty ffs! I'm just leaning towards bollocks to the top flight, i cannot be arsed with the created controversy. Non-league is where its at. 

I didn't think it was a penalty, but I didn't think Burn had Bentancur in a headlock either. There was a slight shirt pull that leads to the pair of them grappling and falling, but in the moment, I didn't think much of it. Burn wasn't exactly screaming at the ref to get it given either, and for that matter, I don't think a majority of our players were either. Hell, I actually think there was more something in Romero pulling Thiaw's shirt just before his second equaliser. 

 

But hey. I'm aware debating individual baffling calls is a difference to the actual greater problem of VAR making it up as it goes along. 

 

Curious moment for me tbh was getting a text from a Spurs fan pregame saying he wanted us to win so it would get Frank fired. Talk about impatience. 

[Neil]

Liverpool are sh*t again tonight.

[gary1979666]

11 hours ago, Neil said:

Liverpool are sh*t again tonight.

Back in May, never did I think Sunderland would get a point at Anfield, let alone think there was potential for 3!

 

[thetime]

58 minutes ago, gary1979666 said:

Back in May, never did I think Sunderland would get a point at Anfield, let alone think there was potential for 3!

 

 

They were easily the better side as well. 

[charlierc]

43 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

They were easily the better side as well. 

I've not seen the full highlights but I heard Chiesa had to make a big defensive block in added time to stop a likely Sunderland winner. Which, crikey. 

[thetime]

Just now, charlierc said:

I've not seen the full highlights but I heard Chiesa had to make a big defensive block in added time to stop a likely Sunderland winner. Which, crikey. 

Yeah, that block was unfortunate. Don't watch Liverpool to much, but they were dire.

 

Only aspect thats saving them this season, is a lot of teams are equally as bad. Or lets say most of the teams are competitive, to put a positive spin on it. 

 

Liverpool are only 1 point from a likely champions league place (5th).

 

I can't really see much change from 3rd to 13th, a lot of teams dropping points regularly. Villa are on a nice run, but arguably a nice run of fixtures. Even utd who haven't been great, can be in 5th tonight. 

 

Its certainly no vintage year.

[thetime]

Nearly spat my coke out. 🤣

 

Perhaps start winning multiple leagues and champions leagues first. 

 

Edited December 4, 2025 by thetime