The Rolling Football Thread: Season 2025/26 - thread 3

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/5429011-the-rolling-football-thread-season-202526-thread-2?page=40&reply=150096583

NOOOOOOO! Benny Blanco can't go!

I haven't seen anything about that, will a look on the forums later.

Dd is currently in a Liverpool gym & lots of people are shouting at their phones. Salah is leaving.

It has just been announced

I can't find much on Ben White but Lewis-Skelly has been mentioned as a rumour

To be fair I thought he checked out a while ago.

I agree- love him!! ❤️

Own goaL FFS

Say it aint so, Mo!

I know this was expected but even so, still did a little yelp when I saw the news. Liverpool and Salah were made for each other...

Mo Salah, our Egyptian King - we will miss him. I'm sorry his glorious time at Liverpool is ending on a low note with the bizarre season we (and he) are having. He is the reason we are the reigning champions, though, and he has been absolutely glorious for us. He is guaranteed to always have a warm welcome at Anfield.

there is supposed to be a "rule" in Germany (because the fixture list is set by the German FA not TV) that there is a limit to the distances that fans should have to travel except for the Saturday 15:30 matches.

Some of the fixtures are nearly 800kms apart. Even on the autobahn, and even without the matchday traffic at the stadium - it's 8.5 hours for Hamburg fans when they play Bayern München. That is ridiculous on a friday night, or a Sunday.

It has happened for so many Easters given HS2 construction that the FA cannot say they weren't warned in good time, and could have arranged the quarter finals for another weekend. Regardless of scheduling over Easter weekend in any case.

Yes, being over Easter weekend means we’ve had to reschedule 2 matches instead of just one.

I’ve booked a hotel so we will drive down on Good Friday.

tangential news, but news nonetheless. The Trainer of FC St Pauli Under 19 trainer has come out as gay.

So while we still don't have a top-level out gay player (i know it is nobody's business, but the reasons they don't come out is what concerns me) i feel that the Bundesliga may have one or two soon. (having said that: a referee who was invited to do something at Köln proposed to his boyfriend on pitch, and 2 weeks later severely beaten up. In Köln which is a very liberal place. So maybe my hopes are too high?)

Interesting @Brefugee it is so sad there is still so much stigma in the Men's game. The whole "manly man/bloke/lad" stereotype I guess

It's a big thing even if it is back room staff because it does help pave the way for acceptance.

The women's game however is a whole different matter and just so open and accepting/embracing. Viv and Beth were very open about their relationship in the documentary and it was lovely to see.

Aren't male footballers encouraged to settle down with kids at an early age?

I vaguely remember reading about it.

But is is such a weird thing that homosexuality is still a taboo in mens football.

Utterly pathetic that you can be a domestic abuser, tax dodger, assaulter of other players inc teammates, animal abuser, deadbeat dad, general dickhead and a criminal in other ways, and you will still be accepted in men's professional football. But you can't be gay. It's just insane, isn't it.

a lot of them do seem to marry and have children young

Liam Manning has been granted compassionate leave from Huddersfield until the end of the season. Personal issues relating to losing his baby son in 2024.

Suddenly it doesn't matter at all that we've dropped out of the play offs. Hope we can do him proud for the remaining games.

It must be devastating. I don't think he's had a proper break in that time so I hope he is able to take the time he needs, and receives whatever support he needs. I'm glad the club have been supportive of him too.

I think he thought he was ready to dive back in again but taking on Huddersfield is such a big task with the high expectations and recent downfall and I know he mentioned that his wife and other son weren't moving closer immediately so it must have all got on top of him.

I almost lost my son in 2024, almost. Not actually and that was traumatic enough. I can't imagine the strength it takes to just carry on every day and even attempt to go back to such a high stress career after actually losing a child.

I'm glad we are giving him the time that he clearly needs, even at this stage of the season but as I said, the actual football doesn't matter now. What will happen will happen and we'll see how he feels at the end of the season.

Sorry you had such an awful time. I hope you are getting the support you need too.

Oh lordy, both Rep.Ire and Wales conceded 86th minute equalisers in their semi-finals playoffs, and both ties have now gone to penalties. Please let them both get through! (Commiserations to N.Ire on their loss to Italy).

I am watching Wales and am following Ireland via live text

@DuncinToffee Ditto! Going well for Wales so far...