The Rolling Football Thread: Season 2025/26 - thread 2

[DuncinToffee]

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/5383976-the-rolling-football-thread-season-202526?page=40&reply=147893728

They pulled through though, didn’t they?? Shame about Brennan Johnson’s red card though :/

Gosh i miss him so much. Apart from that blip at Arsenal, where i think he was getting used to the English game and the fans, he has been brilliant everywhere. He understands the game, he is passionate, he wants to win - this works against him sometimes because he can be too into it, hence all the red cards - but after the match? good sportsmanship for the most part.

good luck for Saturday tho. (the dislike of Sunderland from my Boro supporting DH has rubbed off on me)

I'm not sure that it is a great idea to try to keep shots out at all cost when we are 3 nil up. We need to be careful that we do not get any more injuries doing that.

Records aren't trophies.

I know that and you know that but who is telling Big Gabi?

I disagree if Arsenal are finally going to win something they need the mentality of winning pretty much at all costs and not conceding once you mentality go it’s fine to let a goal in at 3-0 up it is a slippery slope and makes them seem more vulnerable.

That's a very good point-the monster mentality and pride in clean sheets is motivational to them.

Of course at some point they will concede maybe not but don't want to jinx. I am looking at you Xhaka but the team ethos is very strong and adds to the reason teams don't fancy playing against them.

The famous soft underbelly is gone.

But if players are injured then mentality means nothing.

Look at Medueke, he went all out and then got injured. Similarly, with Viktor.

Of course they should try their best, but trying to beat records can be reckless.

And it just shows his character that he agreed to stay at Arsenal after the fans turned against him. I didn't believe that he would, but he knew that he could become a hero.

Xhaka's villain to hero arc was spectacular and shows what kind of a man he is.

I agree-would have been easy to leave but he did us proud and I wish him well-except next week!!!

They are attacking players though who went all out for personal reasons not to keep a clean sheet which I do think mentally is the right approach for Arsenal

Social media/fans I think have some bearing on that it can be brutal for attacking players if you don’t get near perfect stats - all the major attacking transfers are under the same spotlight and it has got to be hard and that is what I think has caused those injuries (and I don’t think Arsenal are alone in that either)

An excellent night's work by all the English teams in the CL last night; good luck to City, Newcastle and Chelsea tonight. As it stands, that coefficient is looking very good indeed for England and an extra CL spot again next season - hope it stays that way!

i am in a dilemma. I am really tired and getting a cold. But Wednesday are 1-0 up at half time. I can only "watch" the match on FotMob - what to do?

I hope you are feeling better today.

So they drew in the end.

I was speaking to my stepson today and he said that the Sunderland owner kept ringing Xhaka until he agreed to join them. He offered him £3m a year which was probably double his salary at Leverkusen.

Much better thank you.

3 m8llion? Well worth it

Yes, it is.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that the Sunderland owner is Swiss so that probably helped as well.

So Arteta is nominated for Manager of the Month, having won every game without conceding a goal.

So it's awarded to...

Amorim!

Probably just as well though, we could do without the curse...

I wonder if he ever went after Yann Sommer. What a player he turned out to be.

I've just looked him up as I had never heard of him.

He was Gladbach's keeper for ages (we used to have a Swiss coach and still have a couple of Swiss players)

Best keeper in the Bundesliga. Then got poached away by Bayern for the 2nd half of the season when Neuer broke his leg, so he won a trophy, and he got Gladbach about 9 million euros in Transfer fees, and then he went to Inter. Where they immediately loved and appreciated him. He was dropped as first choice goalie this season and the fans protested so much he was reinstated.

And he is easy on the eye 😍(he plays guitar and used to have a cooking blog, i still have some of the really excellent recipies)

ETA: not that i fangurl over him at all

Still could I guess (or maybe someone should) as At some point Inter probably do need to replace him as a keeper!

i'm surprised he's not retired tbh.

He is only 36 - CR is 40 - surprised he is still st Inter reckon the summer might move him back - though the Bundesliga would make sense I guess

Yes, he certainly is easy on the eye . What is it about Swiss football players?

My husband says that the reason we talk about Xhaka all the time on here has nothing to do with his footballing ability and I think that he is correct!

I have always had a soft spot for Federer as well so not sure the football part is needed!