25/26 Football thread DEAD, USE A NEW ONE

[Devon Malcolm]

Aside from Ekitike, have any of Liverpool's new signings done anything impressive so far? They're an absolute mess, I don't understand why a club spending that much constantly has players playing out of position. Slot should be sacked if he doesn't win the Premier League with that squad, regardless of what he did last season.

[SuperBacon]

10 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

Aside from Ekitike, have any of Liverpool's new signings done anything impressive so far? They're an absolute mess, I don't understand why a club spending that much constantly has players playing out of position. Slot should be sacked if he doesn't win the Premier League with that squad, regardless of what he did last season.

They've looked dreadful in every game I've seen this season, it's bizarre. Players take time to bed in, but this lot look like they've never played top flight football before.

It really is one particular teams to lose this year, and that manager should probably be sacked if he doesn't win the league with that squad, and with the other top teams in rebuild or disarray, as well.

 

 

[JLM]

The team is having to carry Wirtz as he settles in and it’s definitely taken away the balance and control from the midfield. The rhythm we had last season isn’t there at all; the Galatasaray game in particular was a slog to watch. Ekitike has started brilliantly but hasn’t been fit enough to play more than 70 mins. The stupid red card he got in the league cup was also costly as there is absolutely no way Isak was starting that Palace game if he’d  been available. 

Kerkez is playing in a very different set up that honestly doesn’t seem to play to his strengths. He feels like the biggest concern, though hopefully he is young enough to still be moulded into what slot wants him to be, as he has the physical and technical tools in spades.

 

At right  back there have been issues with Bradley not being fit enough to start every game, Frimpong also adapting to a new role (he was more of a wingback at Leverkusen) and Szoboslai filling in with mixed results. Konate has taken a ton of criticism and has definitely had some shockers, but the back four as a whole hasn’t had any chance to become a unit as it keeps changing and the partnerships aren’t there. Same thing with the links between the full backs and the forwards. There isn’t the chemistry that the Mane/Robertson or Salah/Trent pairings had and it will take time to develop that. 

Isak is not at full match fitness or sharpness and also has barely had any minutes to develop and understanding with the other forwards. 
 

I also think the loss of Diaz is being felt. Gakpo has always been more effective is a substitute than a starter as he is quite predictable and doesn’t have the little bit of chaos in him that Diaz brought. 
 

To be fair to Slot, I don’t think he’s been able to field the team or make the substitutes he would want to in any of the games this season. We were EXTREMELY spoilt last season, expecting a season of transition and instead walking the league. This time it’s a new back four, a new midfield, a new attack with them all at different fitness levels, adapting to a new league and/or playing in a new role. This is the transitional season. No matter how great and expensive the signings are, it would have been miraculous if it just started working immediately. Isak has signed a looong contract, Wirtz is an exceptional talent but is still only 22 and has moved to a much more demanding league.  I’m not at all surprised it isn’t clicking yet and I’m nowhere close to getting hysterical about it. I am excited by the frankly absurd squad that’s been assembled and I’m excited to see it start firing properly, 

 

Edited October 5, 2025 by JLM

[Nexus]

Gibbs-White and Ndoye are far too casual when they get the ball to their feet. It causes us so many issues, and whilst it was probably a foul, it was Gibbs-Whites poor touch that led to the goal. 

 

I actually think we looked alright for a lot of the first half, but it's a good job Sels is a great keeper. 

 

Feel really bad for Anderson, giving away the penalty. 

 

Also not sure how Joelinton escaped a booking for the majority of the game. 

 

Ange needs to go. He hasn't got a fucking clue. He doesn't know his best team, but it definitely does not and should not involve Morato. 

[Wretch]

Fucking hell, Forest. A few bits:

Gibbs-White really doesn’t want to be here does he? 

We’re selling loads in January.

I cannot for the life of me see what everyone else does in Hutchinson, Sangare, and McAtee.

Stating the obvious, but we’re really missing Murillo and Aina at the mo.

I can’t wait to spunk money up the wall for Porto and Leeds tickets next week. I hate this fucking club.

[Mr_Danger]

Funny if Newcastle finish above us and Woltemade out scores Isak.

[Tim Healys Chutney Spoon]

Big Ange sacked from Forest already. Seems like the owner wants immediate success and won't back the manager....

[Wretch]

Good riddance Ange, you great big charlatan. The only highlight of an otherwise poisonous atmosphere down the City Ground earlier.

Can’t say I’m over the moon about Sean Dyche, but he may be perfect for the relegation battle we’ve cornered ourselves into.

[SuperBacon]

Can't not win a trophy in your second season if you don't get a second season.

[Nexus]

2 hours ago, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Big Ange sacked from Forest already. Seems like the owner wants immediate success and won't back the manager....

Somehow making us from one of the best defences in the league to one of the worst defences in the space of 39 days doesn't deserve any backing, to be fair.

[SuperBacon]

The blame should be solely with Marinakis, getting rid of Nuno and appointing someone that was never, ever gonna work.

What on earth did he think would happen? He's an absolute prick.

[TheBurningRed]

Ange is best off going the Rodgers route and head back to Celtic when he gets the chance. Easy way to win a few titles, less pressure. Suitable for him. 

[Devon Malcolm]

52 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

The blame should be solely with Marinakis, getting rid of Nuno and appointing someone that was never, ever gonna work.

What on earth did he think would happen? He's an absolute prick.

I think Postecoglou's talents are widely overstated but you could have put any manager trying to play his style in that role after Nuno and they'd have struggled. Especially a couple of weeks into the season with no time to put together his own squad. Getting rid of Nuno was fucking stupid in the first place but everything that's happened since even stupider. And now they're going to have Sean Dyche as manager. From the brink of Champions League to the anti-woke route 1 merchant. If there aren't protests against Marinakis then I can't think why.

[I Bent My Wookie]

59 minutes ago, TheBurningRed said:

Ange is best off going the Rodgers route and head back to Celtic when he gets the chance. Easy way to win a few titles, less pressure. Suitable for him. 

You can fuck right off with that suggestion. Still having Brenda is bad enough, I don't want that gobshite back as well.

[I Bent My Wookie]

Never mind. Let's have Ange back after all.