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

I have just read Dwight McNeil's partner's SM post after his transfer to CP was pulled at the last minute.

It's so easy to forget that many of these players are still so young and vulnerable.

I agree. Think some clubs take the duty of care more seriously but the players are commodities to be bought and sold.

I know Miles Lewis Skelly's Mum has qualified for her Agent licence and she runs clinics for parents of some of these players who need advice and support.
Obviously not all-but for some the money will be beyond wildest dreams.

So these players have family pressure as well as Club pressure. There are def been family members acting as agents who ruined/scuppered players careers with poor self serving advice.
Agents who advise real estate purchases that they will benefit from and agents who target foreign players with promises of contracts that don't materialise etc.

Not an easy path on or off the pitch...

Wasn't aware of Dwight's story-very poignant-good for her for speaking out. Very little duty of care by Palace-seems they have form for this.

https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/dwight-mcneil-crystal-palace-everton-cqqjk9cxc?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqe55vf9ZVs8ifuxLfWAbFze_lr3k_T-CHGlWTWDWfm8qidIDz_WRb1z&gaa_ts=6981c180&gaa_sig=4Ltr3DYpeh0YLZk3AIhFBsmeH67WEU971hZ-y000Ve55kDYKVqFc_uy4XroZN-RDu_ac7g8YwJ9A0ggFfnjpQA%3D%3D

@MrsMitford3 I remember reading an article with Miles Lewis Skelly mum about how brutal it all is to have a career in football

I remember back in the day when I was a season ticket holder at spurs we would get a handbook that would contain all of the academy players and if my kind of age Ledley King (who would have been incredible without his knee) and then Stephen Clemence and Luke Young made it all so I remember!

I guess Rohan Ricketts but he was Arsenal first (and weirdly looking at Wikipedia is still playing)

I stand by my earlier statement.

What a thrilling finish. So happy for Kai!!!!

That was a tactical masterclass by Liam Rosenior apparently...

I know! I actually had to turn over to ITV as GN very bad for my blood pressure.

He just talks such bollocks-and his absolute hatred for Arsenal seeps in to his commentary so I voted with my feet tonight.
Thank you ITV!

edited to add I am tempted to turn back to hear when the plan is happening...

I mean if he had managed the first leg how he should have done the way he managed the second would have been a masterclass

the First half was dull, nothing there at all. sometimes Arsenal play exciting football and sometimes well they don’t

it’s like the rhyme when she was good she was very very good and when she was bad she was horrid

except horrid should be boring and dull!

and where I can see boring and dull can and should win the league surely it can’t win the Champions League

He was talking complete tosh, both my son and I were totally baffled at his comments. We didn’t need to go all out, we were winning. I usually like him but he came across as a complete arse.

I’ll take all the trophies please!

Aberdeen v Celtic game postponed tonight
Yay that delays the Dons getting cuffed.
Kilmarnock hadn't won a league game since October.
Up step Aberdeen to change that🤯
With the Dons wage bill the current bozos are a disgrace .

Kai sera sera (courtesy of The Telegraph)

Why undersoil heating is not mandated above a certain level is ridiculous. Won't stop all postponements but would reduce their number. I am sure part of the cost could be met by sponsorship.

Aberdeen do have it ,I imagine the pitch is waterlogged it's been constant rain for about a week.

Well, I guess it wouldn't be the first time the rules were changed for him...

bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy8y677z23go

we all have it in the Bundesliga, and a winter break to cut down the number of postponements, but sometimes it is still necessary

It depends on speed, quantity and general ambient temperature

The German FA (DFB) have come out and said they are not boycotting the world cup, USA isn't the only host and - and i nearly choked on my toast - politics should be kept out of football (the week after every home team got together with every away team - over 2 weeks so every club gets to do it at home - standing behind a banner saying things like "never forget" and "never again is now")

Never Forgotten ❤️

❤

I have just put @DuncinToffee's list in alphabetical order so that I can save the post:

Brefugee - Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sheffield Wednesday
Brightbluesomething - Newcastle
Burblish - Liverpool
COYS4 - Tottenham, Swansea and Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Cuwins - Brighton
DuncinToffee- Everton
Fandango52 - Tottenham
Hellohah - Manchester United
Itstheyearitstarts -Arsenal
JasonTindallsTan - Newcastle
LetsGoFlyAKiteee - Chelsea
MrsMitford3 - Arsenal
MustTryHarderAndHarder - Arsenal
Scoobydobbydoo19- Bradford City
SKYTVADDICT - Lincoln City
Tarkan- Arbroath, Rangers and West Ham
TheNewGaard - Arsenal
TheSleepingGiant - Tottenham and Gillingham
Tiswa - QPR, Arsenal, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Liverpool

Thank you!

I have added a few more names that I somehow left out in my last update.

Brefugee - Borussia Mönchengladbach and Sheffield Wednesday
Brightbluesomething - Newcastle
Burblish - Liverpool
COYS4 - Tottenham, Swansea and Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Cuwins - Brighton
DuncinToffee- Everton
Fandango52 - Tottenham
Hellohah - Manchester United
Itstheyearitstarts -Arsenal
ivyleafgeranium - Leyton Orient
JasonTindallsTan - Newcastle
Kirkbert2 - Huddersfield and soft spot for Leeds
LetsGoFlyAKiteee - Chelsea
MrsMitford3 - Arsenal
MustTryHarderAndHarder - Arsenal
Scoobydobbydoo19- Bradford City
SKYTVADDICT - Lincoln City
Tarkan- Arbroath, Rangers and West Ham
TheBabyFatmoss - Crystal Palace
TheNewGaard - Arsenal
TheSleepingGiant - Tottenham and Gillingham
Tiswa - QPR, Arsenal, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Liverpool

And we won, turned it around in the second half.

Phew. Huddersfield 2-0 down in the first half and played awfully against Blackpool but managed to come back in the second half better and nick a 2-2 draw.

Football remains shit. Being born a Newcastle supporter is a hard slog.
Also Bruno is bloody brilliant.

I don't like football today either. 😢

Apparently, Paddy Power are paying out on Arsenal winning the league.

Don't they remember 1998?