The Rolling Football Thread: Season 2025/26 - thread 4

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/5481141-the-rolling-football-thread-season-202526-thread-3?page=40&reply=151472506

Yes, I still am! As HK isn’t at Spurs anymore, that’s why I’m saying my username feels out of date haha!

https://www.threads.com/@now.afc/post/DYmd98pCrAY?xmt=AQG0xkaherJAMVesCjwFxd8JuP8wErYMwetjgoj_6VA4FsiZ2LxDn6XTILhcBgF998sJhxU&slof=1

The Beeb are reporting that Southampton's head coach, Tonda Eckert, expressly sanctioned Spygate - oh dear. They also report that junior members of staff were pressured to go along with it.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdepxek43gyo

I expect Southampton will sack Eckert and any other staff involved. I also expect the FA to ban Eckert from football for a while - unlikely to be a permanent ban, but it should be measured in months, possibly years.

I can confirm I'm not selected for the England squad and my mum will be tweeting shortly.

😉😂

We are still waiting in hope for DS-

He plays in goal for his work 7 a-side team and a very promising talent.

🙏

Similarly, I have also not been selected. My dog and cat might be - just waiting to hear for certain. You’ll all be the first to know either way!

ETA: Actually, as my username, I have been selected <preens>

How on earth did Ivan Toney make the World Cup squad? I know we're not exactly blessed with a glut of quality English strikers right now, but...really? ETA: I'm seeing lots of speculation that it's because Toney is so good at penalties, so Tuchel wants him on the bench in case of penalty shootouts.

This comment made me laugh

No idea why Tuchel is getting all the hate over his squad selection. Toney's experience playing in half-empty stadiums under an authoritarian regime could prove invaluable

palace news, they can’t change the date of their Arsenal game so fear they will be disadvantaged in conference league.

🤣🤣🤣

Lewis Hall missing out is an absolute mystery. He’s been one of Newcastle’s best players at LB and absolutely pocketed Lamine Yamal when we played Barca at home twice.

Particularly given the inclusion of Djed Spence?!

Pep Confirmed as leaving

Some of the more cynical posters have likened it to a rat off of a sinking ship...

So he won't be there if!!! anything comes of the extensive charges 🙏or anything else unsavoury...

Harry Maguire may be someone who should have been in the England squad, but he lacks any class judging by his reaction. Alongside the Greek episode when he did the 'do you know who I am' to try to be let off for unacceptable behaviour.

At least he could have waited until the announcement.

Starting all last fixtures same time same day is a given. After the several occasions that Coventry stayed up by having their final fixture last, the Argentine-Peru game in 1978, and Leeds being robbed of the title in the early seventies, this policy should remain.

I think Arsenal will play the Gunnersaurus, Win the dog and Gabriel Arteta (U16) as first names on team sheet. They have a CL final to think about. It’s a dead rubber.

I think we all expected Pep's announcement, but it's still sad to see such a seminal figure leave the Premier League. Absolute legend of a coach, whatever happens with the 115 and all that (prediction: they will get away with it, because they're monied Man City, not Everton, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton etc).

With Carrick staying at Man Utd, Slot staying at Liverpool (for now...), Alonso in the Chelsea hotseat (again, for now...), Maresca likely to succeed Guardiola at City, I wonder where Glasner and Iraola will end up? Bilbao is no longer an option for Iraola. I wonder if somewhere like Ajax might look at Glasner (especially as Slot is not an option for them presently).

For those of you who have twitter, and Harry Maguire's Mum if you are here...

This is brilliant. Lord Haw Haw 😂

https://x.com/BasilTheGreat/status/2057762486481273115?s=20

I suspect you’re right and they will get away with it, which will make a mockery of the whole system. If they do if I was one of the clubs already penalised for similar offences I would look to challenge it somehow. They cannot have one set of rules for everyone else and a different set for City.

Chelsea already got away with their charges.

A very happy Villan here. Didn’t make it to Istanbul but watched it at the fan park at Villa Park and then went to the parade yesterday. What an amazing few days! Still on cloud 9.

The players looked half cut on the parade bus, they were brilliant entertainment and absolutely deserved to let their hair down but god knows what team we’ll be putting out against City on Sunday. It’ll be a mixture of the under 18s and Prince William at this rate. Pep may be getting a big score for his final game!

That is great to hear, congrats!

On London with Boro supporting DH so we apparently have to talk to a lot of complete strangers about team selection. 😂

I'm boycotting the world Cup (unless Germany or England get in the final. Then I may watch)

I'd have Glasner at Gladbach. Indeed: there's my campaign slogan for it.