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

I can't really see beyond France. But things could change, obviously.

England will be lucky to get out of the group stages. They'll only do that if Kane, Rice, and Saka perform.

It was less serious because his heart device did its job and shocked him. I'm sure he'll follow his doctors advice when they find out what caused it.

We have now started a family sweepstake . We all have our own group to keep the interest across the globe.

If England don't get out of the groups, I will eat my hat. Ghana and Panama are just no good at all. Ghana rely on Semenyo and Panama are just dreadful all round. Spain are the world's top ranked team, so I think they are probably favourites.

I'm trying to persuade my family to take part in a prediction sweepstake. I know more about football than the rest of them, so they aren't that keen!

When I say group stages, I mean the second "group" stage. They've basically added the last round of qualifying stages to the competition in order to make more money...

If they get through the group, it goes straight to knockout. Last 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1.

I'm boycotting it

I am not boycotting but I can't be bothered too much with it all.

Will watch some matches.

Somali referee Artan has already been denied access to the US.

I'll probably fall asleep half way through most matches with the KO times 😂
Whoever I get in the sweepstake best win.

This World Cup is leaving such a bitter taste in the mouth before even a ball is kicked. This, though, made me cry in a good/bittersweet way: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/letters-that-unite-andy-robertson

It's a letter from Rute Cardoso, Diogo Jota's widow, to Andy Robertson; FIFA filmed him reading it. It references Robbo and Jota's friendship and joint dream of playing in the World Cup. Rute says Diogo will be with him in the tournament. The bit that really got me is when she says, "Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you."

Well the last two things about the World Cup I have seen is that the first ever Somalian referee has just been denied a visa and when a fan ran onto the pitch (obviously wrong) the police were incredibly heavy handed and Moises Caicedo stepped in to remonstrate about how roughly the fan was being treated.
What a bloody mess.

Although fans are now apparently allowed to bring one factory sealed plastic water bottle in to the stadium with them instead of the complete ban on fans bringing in water to incredibly hot venues.
It is getting silly now.

DS was at the WCL final last year in Lisbon and it was very hot-the queues for water were insane and people were passing out.

What a wonderful fan experience FIFA lay on...

I have seen footage of the treatment the Senegal team received on arrival and now the US has withdrawn Iran’s allocation of World Cup tickets for supporters.

DH and I just chatting about it-easy to be Captain Hindsight here but how on earth did USA even get it?

The stadiums are not easily accessible, tickets and travel expensive, visa issues, travel bans etc etc

To be honest it doesn't actually feel like they even want it-they seem to be going out of their way to be unwelcoming.

@MrsMitford3 Money talks. Sad, but true. That's how Qatar got it, and that's how Saudi Arabia will get it, too. Greedy, corrupt FIFA cronies who milk to the max the fact that they know fans will pay through the nose if that's the only choice they have (and if they don't - oh well, who needs fans in football anyway, right?).

I’m the same. But then I’ve always been Club before Country anyway.

I could just about rationalise it being in Russia because they have an established footbal culture. But it left a sour taste.

Qatar I completely ignored. I didn't even know who'd won until the other day. This one? Meh. Icanada and Mexico are also hosting. If I do watch any of it (and timings make that unlikely) it will only be a match from one of those to.

The expansion to 48 teams is part of my reason for boycotting, but it is mostly because of FUFA corruption

Benfica confirm Marco Silva as their new manager.

@DuncinToffee Starting to get close to the end of the thread-another for the World Cup or are we ignoring it and waiting for the PL??

*also it has been lovely to get so many new posters-hoping we can update the allegiance list as it is very helpful...

I am happy to continue the thread for the new season.

Someone else can do a WC one, there already is one running in Chat.

Maybe to fill up we can have a post season round up;

Signings - good or bad?
Best/worst moments?
Hopes vs expectations for the silly season?

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Zubimendi - Excellent start to the season, number of games caught up with him at the end. Hopefully he'll be able to do a full season next time.

Gyökeres - Did OK. I didn't think he was the right striker for us, but he started to get better at the end of the season. Was thrown in at the deep end with the Havertz injury, but we definitely needed someone, and the outcome was good. I suspect he won't play as many games next season, or will be on rotation as he was at the end of this.

Nørgaard - Not entirely sure why we bought him. Arteta clearly doesn't trust him.

Mosquera - Has done very well covering a variety of defensive posts. Superb value for money. The odd mistake (e.g. CL final penalty), but he's still young.

Hincapié - Excellent signing. Certain to be made permanent this summer.

Madueke - Not the greatest, but has given us something when Saka has been out for so long, so been useful.

Eze - Flattered to deceive. Excellent against Spurs, not so much against anyone else. Hopefully he can kick on and be more consistent next season.

Kepa - Least said...

However - what we needed above all was extra bodies to cope with the inevitable injuries and the ridiculous timetable of games every 3 days for most of the season. And that's what enabled us to get it over the line this time.

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Eze against Spurs was great fun.
Max Dowman's first PL goal was joyous.
Rice - "It's not done"
The impromptu celebrations at the Emirates when we became champions were just incredible.

Big Gabby's miss in the CL final was obviously a bad moment. But I absolutely LOVE the way the fans have responded. Proud.

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We're always linked with absolutely everyone in the silly season, and it's already started that way. Transfermarkt already has us linked with 41 players, and I don't think the window has opened yet!

I would love a marquee signing - Alvarez I think would fit perfectly, but I suspect Barca or Real are more likely.
Kroupi looks like a possibility, and would probably be a better fit than Gyökeres.
Rashford - Not sure he'd want to come, and it would depend on which version of him we get. He's obviously got talent, but doesn't always seem to be willing to make the most of it. Probably not an Arteta signing for this reason.
Morgan Rogers is being touted. To be honest I haven't watched him enough, but people I respect seem to think he'd be good.
We keep being linked with Tonali, but I think that may just be agents trying to put the price up. Good player, but I'm not convinced he'd fit.
Kvaratskhelia - Would obviously love him, but I can't see PSG just letting him go!
Barcola - Keeps being mentioned, but I think he'd be a downgrade on what we have.

I'll just post again that the EPL is corrupt, sigh

Post season round up for Huddersfield.

Shit sums it up accurately. Not good enough again and failed to get promoted back to the Championship again.

Signing of the season and he was a loan but I'm going to count it anyway. Leo Castledine. A breathe of fresh air in our midfield, creative, exciting, scored some amazing goals and I was genuinely gutted when Middlesborough came in for him and bought him from Chelsea in January.

Not impressed with much else really. Worse decision was sending Joe Taylor on loan to Wigan and I have a feeling he's going to be gone this summer which is a shame. I feel like we get some great players, don't play them to their strengths and then they go on and be amazing for other teams such as Jack Rudoni and Sorba Thomas. Joe Taylor will be the next one I think.

I can't see us making any big signings this season due to all of the money we spent last season so I imagine we'll see a few go like Taylor as I said above and will probably focus on some loans. I hope we also give some youth players a chance, especially Tom Iorpenda who was on loan with Notts County and helped them win promotion to League 1.

FC Isle of Man had a dodgy start that meant the manager resigned, but ultimately they managed to comfortably stave off relegation to stay in the North West Counties Football league.

The highlight was probably when Prestwich Heys came over to play at the Bernabowl and the game had to be abandoned due to the weather. It was hastily rearranged for the following morning, but the Heys had spent the night enjoying the Manx hospitality and so failed to turn up. Eventually the ravens were awarded the points, but both teams were safe by them.

No idea about signings, to be honest.

Season summation ...

How you all laughed at our old goalkeeper ... But now we've got Senne Lammens. I love this fella, 23 years old going on 75. He's a sweetheart. He's my hero.

We need more from the other 3 signings, but think we'll get it.

Pleased for Bruno getting the recognition he deserves (well at least from people who know what they're talking about).

Not sure about Carrick, will back him no matter what, but the football isn't much better than under Amorin, just the results. I wanted Ruben to be the one. He wasn't, think he did a lot of good in his brief tenure though.

Favourite game: beating City 2 nil (atmosphere was the best it's been in a while and we played them off the park for a full 90 minutes ... Shock horror) OR Bournemouth 4-4 ... What a cracking game that was!

Least favourite game: should probably say Grimsby but we visited the sun (aka Brighton) on the last day of the season. I have no idea what happened, I couldn't see, it was too hot, I very nearly melted.

Will miss Casemiro, the chubby cheeked little chipmunk, feel sorry for Malacia, bless him, thank the lord Sancho is off our books, the Rashford saga continues 😡

We need a good transfer window otherwise we're bollocksed next season.