The 2024-2025 Football Thread

[pachyderm]

Wow, What a day Saturday was. A day I've waited 22 years for. Phenomenal atmosphere in the ground and we really did show up.

As for the game, we really showed that we can compete at this level and are here on merit. Amazed there's already a comment here saying we will struggle. While this is likely true, its far too early to write us off. It's probably the adrenaline or excitement that got us through that first half, backed by the extremely loud Portman Road but we really did cause Liverpool some problems. Liam Delap had the better of Quansah and it is a testament to how we played that Slot felt the need to change it up at half time. Omari had the better of Liverpool all game and a bit more composure when he was played in and we could have gone one up.

Second half was always going to go one way, Trent was phenomenal for Liverpool in the second half once he stepped up further forward and then the 10-15 minute spell mid way through where they scored twice, and from there they should have had more.

It's frightening though how quick Liverpool were at times especially in the second half. Being able to play through us in a split second and the quick touches in and around the box is something we're not used to. A good example was when Hutchinson was played in when we broke from Liverpool's corner, he got to the box, cut inside Trent and by that time there was already 2 covering defenders back. Last season in the Championship, he would have cut inside the defender and then been in on goal 1 on 1. But games against the top sides are not going to define our season.

Overall I can't grumble at all. The Premier League is a different beast and something we as a club will have to get used to after so long away. It felt very very different inside the stadium. A huge media presence that we aren't used to.

Onto the small test of Manchester City this Saturday... get through that and then our season can really start 😂

As for how far we have come, 7 of our starting XI on Saturday started in our promotion game from League One v Exeter in April 2023. And now their starting in the Premier League!

Uppa Towen 🔵⚪

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I'm also excited that my team lost ... 🙂

 

[laptech]

Wow, What a day Saturday was. A day I've waited 22 years for. Phenomenal atmosphere in the ground and we really did show up.

As for the game, we really showed that we can compete at this level and are here on merit. Amazed there's already a comment here saying we will struggle. While this is likely true, its far too early to write us off. It's probably the adrenaline or excitement that got us through that first half, backed by the extremely loud Portman Road but we really did cause Liverpool some problems. Liam Delap had the better of Quansah and it is a testament to how we played that Slot felt the need to change it up at half time. Omari had the better of Liverpool all game and a bit more composure when he was played in and we could have gone one up.

Second half was always going to go one way, Trent was phenomenal for Liverpool in the second half once he stepped up further forward and then the 10-15 minute spell mid way through where they scored twice, and from there they should have had more.

It's frightening though how quick Liverpool were at times especially in the second half. Being able to play through us in a split second and the quick touches in and around the box is something we're not used to. A good example was when Hutchinson was played in when we broke from Liverpool's corner, he got to the box, cut inside Trent and by that time there was already 2 covering defenders back. Last season in the Championship, he would have cut inside the defender and then been in on goal 1 on 1. But games against the top sides are not going to define our season.

Overall I can't grumble at all. The Premier League is a different beast and something we as a club will have to get used to after so long away. It felt very very different inside the stadium. A huge media presence that we aren't used to.

Onto the small test of Manchester City this Saturday... get through that and then our season can really start 😂

As for how far we have come, 7 of our starting XI on Saturday started in our promotion game from League One v Exeter in April 2023. And now their starting in the Premier League!

Uppa Towen 🔵⚪

View attachment 2407354 View attachment 2407355

The only reason why I remember Ipswich Town so fondly is because my eldest sister (a teenager at the time) had a huge crush on two of their players, Russel Osman and Paul Mariner. I was big into Subbuteo at the time and had therefore gone to my local toy store that happened to stock a large range of Subbuteo to buy the team

My sister was very happy to see mini versions of the players but was not happy when during a break for dinner, one of my elder brothers was not paying attention and walked into my bedroom where I had it set up on the floor, pitch, goals, border fencing, floodlights, the full works basically and trod on some of the figures, breaking them off their bases. My sister cried her eyes out. My father tried his best to glue the figures back onto the bases but they never looked the same again. My sister gave up on enjoying football after that lol.

 

[daneoni]

Watched Arsenal Women beat Washington Spirit with 2-1 in a friendly match.
Didn’t know they were playing but opened YouTube and up came the match, so I saw the latest 25 minutes.
Kafaji played really well in her new club, the commentator said it looked liked she played in Arsenal a few yrs. But no goal for her, but she was close. Russo made both.

Looking forward to the Miedema reunion.

I suspect City will win the WSL this upcoming season.

Unsure if Eidevall has it in him to lead Arsenal to a title

 

[Lioness~]

Looking forward to the Miedema reunion.

I suspect City will win the WSL this upcoming season.

Unsure if Eidevall has it in him to lead Arsenal to a title

Don’t know a lot about Manchester City, really, except that Miedema plays there, she’s great though.
I think Arsenal can continue to be successful - will see 😉

 

[laptech]

I think the WSL will be between Arsenal and Chelsea because both have very good teams. City and Man United will be fighting for 3rd place.

If United had not lost two key players, their goalkeeper and their captain I think United could have been challenging for the title but to lose the best goalkeeper in the WSL in Mary Earps I feel is going to hurt United.

 

[Lioness~]

I think the WSL will be between Arsenal and Chelsea because both have very good teams. City and Man United will be fighting for 3rd place.

If United had not lost two key players, their goalkeeper and their captain I think United could have been challenging for the title but to lose the best goalkeeper in the WSL in Mary Earps I feel is going to hurt United.

I think Chelsea will be more successful now with their new coach actually, not sure where the whispers come from and if they are true, but we'll see.
Otherwise I'm keeping some attention on the City Lionesses, that Michelle Kanng bought up, and have engaged some good players too. Sweden's national team captain is among them for instance.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/aug/18/london-city-lionesses-owner-michele-kang-this-is-a-serious-investment#:~:text=London%20City%20Lionesses'%20owner%20Michele,This%20is%20a%20serious%20investment'

 

[MBAir2010]

what a breathe of fresh air, Vardy scores
and in the 61st minute, a maybe PK was ignored and they played on!
this is much better game flow than the VAR snooping days of just several months ago!

 

[daneoni]

Much better from Leicester who were non-existent in the first half.

 

[MBAir2010]

jeez.....look at a physical fit Pepe and then a Postefastso, who would you sacrifice for more?

 

[Lioness~]

Gotham FC - Chelsea - International Friendlies, starting on YT now, if anyone wants to watch.

 

[laptech]

Old man Vardy, 37, still knocking in goals at the top level. Most players could only dream of that because the huge majority of them retire at 35 or before.

I wonder if England's new manager will give him a call up? hehe (not to be taken seriously)

 

[Apple fanboy]

Old man Vardy, 37, still knocking in goals at the top level. Most players could only dream of that because the huge majority of them retire at 35 or before.

I wonder if England's new manager will give him a call up? hehe (not to be taken seriously)

For many of us on here I can assure you 37 does not sound old. More of a distant memory!
Billy Bonds played into his 40’s. I think Teddy Sherrigham did to, although not in the top flight.

 

[Lioness~]

I really liked what I saw from Chelsea yesterday, and the influence Bombpasor have on them.
She have discipline on the players. Hayes never had any of that at all.
Fun to watch them again, and the Swedish Rytting-karneryd made the initial 2 goals in a game that ended 3-1. Good game!

 

[laptech]

I really liked what I saw from Chelsea yesterday, and the influence Bombpasor have on them.
She have discipline on the players. Hayes never had any of that at all.
Fun to watch them again, and the Swedish Rytting-karneryd made the initial 2 goals in a game that ended 3-1. Good game!

Hopefully Chelsea will not dominate the WSL again, it get's boring after a while seeing Chelsea win nearly everything hence why I said 'nearly'

Even with all their might I do not think we will see another Arsenal type domination again where they did the quadruple. What was more impressive they never lost a game doing it either.

 

[daneoni]

Looks like Ikay Gungogan the prodigal son will be returning to City after being let go by Barca. He joins Joao Felix and Cancelo as Barca signings that haven't worked out after a single season.

Joao Felix looks set to sign for Chelsea on a 7yr contract for £45m

 

[Lioness~]

Hopefully Chelsea will not dominate the WSL again, it get's boring after a while seeing Chelsea win nearly everything hence why I said 'nearly'

Even with all their might I do not think we will see another Arsenal type domination again where they did the quadruple. What was more impressive they never lost a game doing it either.

I hope for a good battle between Arsenal and Chelsea - I like both team, at least now when Chelsea have a good leader. Let them have a good fight 🥳💥

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

Looks like Ikay Gungogan the prodigal son will be returning to City after being let go by Barca. He joins Joao Felix and Cancelo as Barca signings that haven't worked out after a single season.

Joao Felix looks set to sign for Chelsea on a 7yr contract for £45m

Yay, just what Manchester City need, more star power ahead of Saturday 😂

 

[daneoni]

Looks like the Merino saga is now concluded and Arsenal have got their Left 8.

Ugarte looks close for Utd

And Newcastle look set to get Guehi (probably more effort after Schar incident)

I worry for Glassner who looks set to lose two of his first choice defender, having already lost a first choice midfielder

 

[pachyderm]

vs

........08/023/2024 2:00

 

[MBAir2010]

Enjoy the Match Everyone!

​

 

[daneoni]

Arsenal have done a job on Villa here, who edged it for majority of the game. But Arsenal take home the points with some imperious defending + Villa's profligacy.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Arsenal have done a job on Villa here, who edged it for majority of the game. But Arsenal take home the points with some imperious defending + Villa's profligacy.

Well, you take your chances - most of them, anyway, Arsenal could have scored a third - and ride your luck.

Unlike Arsenal, Villa failed to put away their chances, Raya was brilliant, while Martinez, for Villa, was also excellent (and I have long regretted selling him to Villa, he is a superb keeper), but remains a pretty nasty piece of work, (which, I suspect, may have been one of the reasons Arteta accepted the sale when Villa offered for him)

I'm very mindful of the fact that Villa won both games last season, whereas today, we defeated them while playing away.

That is a good victory and your humble scribe is a happy Gunner this evening.

 

[pachyderm]

vs

........08/023/2024 2:00

and we lost

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well, you take your chances - most of them, anyway, Arsenal could have scored a third - and ride your luck.

Unlike Arsenal, Villa failed to put away their chances, Raya was brilliant, while Martinez, for Villa, was also excellent (and I have long regretted selling him to Villa, he is a superb keeper), but remains a pretty nasty piece of work, (which, I suspect, may have been one of the reasons Arteta accepted the sale when Villa offered for him)

I'm very mindful of the fact that Villa won both games last season, whereas today, we defeated them while playing away.

That is a good victory and your humble scribe is a happy Gunner this evening.

I’m sure. Watkins missed a couple of sitters in the first half. Unlike him.

Happy Hammer here as well. A good victory against Palace away from home.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I’m sure. Watkins missed a couple of sitters in the first half. Unlike him.

True, Watkins missed some serious sitters, however, Raya had a superb game, and Arsenal won away from home against a team that had thwarted them - twice - last season.

Happy Hammer here as well. A good victory against Palace away from home.

Yes, an impressive victory.