EPL 2025/26
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@KiwiPie said in EPL 2025/26:
World Cup Draw
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Qualifier
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Qualifier
Group
Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group
USA, Australia, Paraguay, Qualifier
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Qualifier
Group G: Belgium, IR Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Qualifier
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Qualifier
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, GhanaIs that about as good a group as the All Whites could have hoped for? Looks to me like one that you could at least dream about qualifying from as the 4th seed, unlike say, the German or Brazilian group.
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'Gutting and frustrating' - Chris Wood undergoes surgery
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There was a reason Bournemouth fans shouted "stop the comp" when we reached second.
Some key players already prepping for their new summer teams. Bees always a bogey team, but confidence is down, Evanilson cant hit anything, Petro is a shadow of himself, hoping Dennis is called in and Paulsen called back from loan. Senesi and Semenyo already playing for their new sides. If anyone wants Tav happy to see him go. Thankfully 2 teams already looking like they're down and suddenly we're back in the third race
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Enzo Maresca and Chelsea have parted company:
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/club-statement-enzo-maresca
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The new owners at Chelsea are a shambles.
All of the tumult and churn at the manager position as under Abramovich but nothing close to the level of onfield success. And in not talking in terms of trophies, 2025 Chelsea is just not a team that can grind out wins, rain or shine like even the most average squads with Abramovich could do. There is no winning mentality.
Same thing applies to the playing staff - too much churn, you can't be successful if every season you are turning over a decent percentage of your players.
Nicholas Jackson might have been rough round the edges but Delap has been no upgrade. They just dont retain enough players to be able to build continuity.
They talk in terms of sustainability and long term but to do that you have to create a core and build around it.
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Next permanent Chelsea manager odds (via Sky Bet)
4/9 - Liam Rosenior
9/1 - Oliver Glasner, Roberto De Zerbi
12/1 - Cesc Fabregas
14/1 - Andoni Iraola, Filipe Luis
16/1 - Unai Emery, Xavi
20/1 bar
Odds correct at 13:30 (01/01/26)I'd be amazed if Unai Emery left Aston Villa, where he has a brilliant relationship with the owners and only answers to them, mid-season to a club 9 points lower in the league and where successive managers seems to have limited control.
Rosenior's coaching pedigree and CV are nothing special. De Zebri and Fabregas have already said they aren't interested.
Glasner and Iraola look the only two realistic candidates but will need to be bought out of their Palace or AFC Bournemouth contracts.
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@sparky said in EPL 2025/26:
Next permanent Chelsea manager odds (via Sky Bet)
4/9 - Liam Rosenior
9/1 - Oliver Glasner, Roberto De Zerbi
12/1 - Cesc Fabregas
14/1 - Andoni Iraola, Filipe Luis
16/1 - Unai Emery, Xavi
20/1 bar
Odds correct at 13:30 (01/01/26)I'd be amazed if Unai Emery left Aston Villa, where he has a brilliant relationship with the owners and only answers to them, mid-season to a club 9 points lower in the league and where successive managers seems to have limited control.
Rosenior's coaching pedigree and CV are nothing special. De Zebri and Fabregas have already said they aren't interested.
Glasner and Iraola look the only two realistic candidates but will need to be bought out of their Palace or AFC Bournemouth contracts.
Agree on Emery and the days when the Chelsea job would have been looked at as definitively more desirable are probably over. He has a good thing going on at Villa - why interrupt that?
Its a harsh reality but the days when Chelsea could attract the absolute cream of the crop managers (world cup and champions league winning type coaches) are probably over.. Again, i put that on the new owners, ever since inheriting Tuchel and firing him weeks into the 22/23 season they have built a reputation as coach killers. Accomplished coaches and even up.and coming coaches are going to view the Chelsea job warily.
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Cherries 1 up v Arsenal. Hopefully they show the same resolve as against Chelsea a few days back.
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This is the clearest indictment of Chelsea's managerial woes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calum_McFarlanePast interims/caretakers were Ray Wilkins, Steve Holland, Graham Rix and the like..... This lad has never coached or assisted at senior professional level. A non league/underage coach.
How do you even get to the point where this is the calibre of coach you have in charge for a Premier League match v Man City? They want supplicant yes men, they have gutted the club of everyone with tenure, who knows Chelsea and the game. This is one step above having the kitman in charge.
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@nonpartizan said in EPL 2025/26:
Cherries 1 up v Arsenal.
An entertaining game. Bournemouth are a difficult team to play, and you know there will be goals - at both ends.
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@Bovidae said in EPL 2025/26:
@nonpartizan said in EPL 2025/26:
Cherries 1 up v Arsenal.
An entertaining game. Bournemouth are a difficult team to play, and you know there will be goals - at both ends.
at least we dont play boring football no wins in 11 though which isnt good but Arsenal were too good on the night
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Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager. No surprise after his recent comments to the press.
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An awful appointment who shouldn't have gotten the job in the first place.
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Both Maresca and Amorim's outbursts about the respective clubs have been rather damning.
Maresca will come again I feel, unsure if Amorim will however. Amorim just screams AS Roma as his next club or something before sliding down the ladder.
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Darren Fletcher, an ex Man Utd player, an Alex Ferguson favourite (a teetotal Scot) and their Under 18 Head Coach, has been appointed in charge for the Burnley game on Wednesday.
Then they will appoint an interim Manager until the end of the season. Gareth Southgate's allies seem to be touting him for that position, but I suspect it will be Fletcher.
