Julius Posted July 15 Posted July 15 (edited) Well, with the curtains now closed on the Euros, I figured it's finally time to get the ball rolling on the thread for the next season. And what a weird one it is lining up to be. Major Champions League changes. Semi-automated VAR coming to the Prem...but not for a few months, at least that was the plan before the Euros – maybe there's a chance it gets bumped up? And next summer there's the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup to round it all off, too. Should be a wild ride, as ever Edited July 15 by Julius 2
Hero-of-Time Posted July 15 Posted July 15 I'm not expecting anything from Liverpool for a while. A new manager means a new style of play. It's gonna be a transition year which usually means the team won't be challenging for anything.
drahkon Posted July 15 Posted July 15 The Bundesliga will be very interesting. Both first and second division. Last season was so much fun to watch/follow and I hope it'll be the same for the upcoming one Leverkusen hasn't really lost any major players so they should be competitive, Bayern has already spent quite a lot of money so they'll be up there again. Leipzig and Dortmund, as always, should be in the title race but always underperform for what they're worth. And the surprise team of last season: VfB Stuttgart. I think they will struggle. They lost quite a few good players and will play in three competitions (league, CL, German Cup). I kinda wanna follow the PL more, but I only got so much time
Julius Posted July 16 Author Posted July 16 Reminder that Mbappé's presentation at Madrid is taking place today! He'll be their new number 9, I assume waiting until Modric leaves to take the 10. It's on now: Right then, see you all in 10 years when anyone else starts to get a chance at the UCL again
Julius Posted July 19 Author Posted July 19 So, the England Head Coach job is up on the FA Careers site Brb, just going to send in some clips from my decade+ of FIFA Manager Mode saves. Just wait until they see my revolutionary 4-1-1-1-2-1! 1
bob Posted July 19 Posted July 19 I would, but the commute is just a bit too long for me. Good luck everyone else! 1
Julius Posted August 9 Author Posted August 9 Lee Carsley has been appointed as interim manager for the England team: I'm guessing that this becoming permanent hangs on how well he does in the Nations League group, which, uh...yeah doesn't really seem like a good way to gauge if this is going to work or not. Did a great job with the U21s back in 2021 (won the U21 Euros), so maybe this could be a good thing. Or maybe the FA are procrastinating on making a choice because Pep's contract is up next summer. Which would be a very FA thing to do.
Hero-of-Time Posted August 9 Posted August 9 Absolute joke if he gets to keep it full time. Regarding Pep, my mate said the same thing. I don't think I would trust Pep to be able to manage a team without the ability to spend millions of pounds.
Happenstance Posted August 9 Posted August 9 I'm starting to worry about the distinct lack of hair in this country's football managers. Research needs to be commissioned to find the cause. 1
Hero-of-Time Posted August 9 Posted August 9 9 minutes ago, Happenstance said: I'm starting to worry about the distinct lack of hair in this country's football managers. Research needs to be commissioned to find the cause. I love it. About time us baldies had strong representation.
Julius Posted August 9 Author Posted August 9 2 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said: Absolute joke if he gets to keep it full time. Definitely, I wouldn't say that a continuation of Southgate's legacy is what I had in mind after his exit following the Euros. 3 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said: Regarding Pep, my mate said the same thing. I don't think I would trust Pep to be able to manage a team without the ability to spend millions of pounds. Think it's a bit unfair to say either way considering he hasn't had to do it since, what, 07/08? And success as a manager since then from the get-go (his winning % with Barça B was already 66%, which is insane) means he hasn't had to put up with anything but some of the best budgets in European football going from Barça to Bayern to City. For me, it's much more about the style of play, because I do think we have the players to make Pep's tactics work. In the early 2010s the FA had a huge futsal push after the impact we all saw it had with Spain's domination which is exactly why so many of these more technical players have come through now, but they've been managed by people like Southgate who, well, might have experience trying to manage technical players, but by no means have that technical understanding of the game themselves. On the other hand, Pep wouldn't have the time to iron things out in the way he does with club football, and he seems like a genuine control freak. More so than having funds, it's the inability to replace players who aren't clicking with his style of play which might grate on him and his plans – but, then, he'd know what's available going in and obviously be aware that he's limited to a single nation's pool of players. For me I don't think Pep should get it purely because he's not a tournament specialist, he's a league specialist. He's one of the best managers in the world, but he's playing to his strengths when he has a long season to build up and ebb and flow through. He designs his teams around his system and anyone onboard or in line with his vision gets that attention and care, but others are shipped off. Which is why, if we're going foreign, I still think it should be Mou or Tuchel both work to the strengths of what is available and can grind out their desired result if push comes to shove, whereas Pep has shown he doesn't have that same impact in knockouts.
drahkon Posted August 9 Posted August 9 4 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said: I love it. About time us baldies had strong representation. Why are you not a manager then? 🤔
Hero-of-Time Posted August 9 Posted August 9 6 minutes ago, drahkon said: Why are you not a manager then? 🤔 I was... ...but I achieved all of my goals and retired. 2
drahkon Posted August 9 Posted August 9 54 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said: I was... ...but I achieved all of my goals and retired. 1
darksnowman Posted August 16 Posted August 16 The players to Arteta when a result doesn't go their way: "we woz robbed, innit, guv "
Happenstance Posted August 25 Posted August 25 Good win for Liverpool today. TAA coming across as incredibly petulant though after being subbed and still having a face like a smacked arse by the final whistle. I swear he rolled his eyes after Slot gave him a pep talk.
Hero-of-Time Posted August 25 Posted August 25 11 minutes ago, Happenstance said: Good win for Liverpool today. TAA coming across as incredibly petulant though after being subbed and still having a face like a smacked arse by the final whistle. I swear he rolled his eyes after Slot gave him a pep talk. Aye, decent showing from us. Could have had a few more goals if our finishing was better, which was exactly the same issue last season. Here's hoping we can carry on our good start against Man U next week. @Julius gotta be happy with Chelsea's performance today as well.
Julius Posted August 25 Author Posted August 25 4 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said: @Julius gotta be happy with Chelsea's performance today as well. Given that it was 1-1 when I headed out (based on my upstairs neighbour's celebrations I figured Wolves had equaliser) I'm well chuffed with the end result That Madueke scored a hat trick after saying what he said on socials about the state of Wolverhampton and Pedro Neto's OTT celebrations against his former club, AND a Felix goal? Excellent day to be a Chelsea fan
Hero-of-Time Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Decent first half. I don't think we've played brilliantly but we've taken what little chances we've had.
Happenstance Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Appreciating chubby faced not Ronaldo helping us out so much. 1
Hero-of-Time Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Just now, Happenstance said: Appreciating chubby faced not Ronaldo helping us out so much. Yeah, dude is terrible.
Hero-of-Time Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Hate that there's now an international break. One always seems to hit when we are in form. It's ridiculous that they happen so soon after the season starts.
drahkon Posted September 1 Posted September 1 Just now, Hero-of-Time said: Hate that there's now an international break. They're the worst... Luckily, the NFL regular season will start next weekend so at least my evenings/nights will be busy
Happenstance Posted September 1 Posted September 1 48 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said: Hate that there's now an international break. One always seems to hit when we are in form. It's ridiculous that they happen so soon after the season starts. I couldn't help but laugh at Gary Neville talking about how Man U will be happy for the break so they can regroup.....after 3 matches they need to regroup. 2
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