Liverpool Banter 4

11 Aug 2026 17:57:12
For heaven's sake, get Spence! Leave Lewis Skelly well alone!

11 Aug 2026 18:33:53
To be quite honest, mate, I'd rather not sign either of them. Neither of them can defend any better than our own Luke Chambers.

11 Aug 2026 18:50:04
Spence, current England international, with a point to prove, is a big motivation to succeed. Will Chambers be an England international in the future? More likely no than yes. A big improvement on Frimpong, and will Bradley last a full PL season when fit? Hopefully yes, but you still need to have competition for every place in the team, to be successful.

11 Aug 2026 19:00:44
007, being in the England squad only matters when it suits people's agenda. If I used it to argue we should re-sign Quansah or go after Marcus Rashford, I wonder what the reaction would be?

Simple fact is, Spence is not a good player. 4 successive Spurs managers were not impressed by him. He's only got any games out of sheer necessity and now they're more than happy to shift him. And not for financial reasons, but for football reasons. Spurs. He's not wanted by Spurs.



Lewis-Skelly is club trained and Arsenal are actively offering him around other clubs. Although to be fair, that might actually be for financial reasons, because being an academy graduate he would show as a huge profit in their accounts.

Neither are particularly great. I'm slightly more open to signing Lewis-Skelly after learning he is only 19 years old, but he's still not great. Certainly not a good left back, and no better than Nyoni in midfield.

11 Aug 2026 19:03:14
I think Lewis Skelly is a great wee player.

11 Aug 2026 19:05:24
Conor Bradley has only completed 9 full 90 minutes games for Liverpool, I heard the other day.

I would love nothing more than Bradley to be our right back, but I just don't think he will be. I don't think he will ever be able to stay fit and play regularly. I so hope I'm wrong.

11 Aug 2026 19:16:22
Sadly, I agree, Dhfc. It's harsh, but RB should have been a major priority in this window.

11 Aug 2026 19:19:52
Stevie had similar issues and outgrew them. Bradders is only young.

11 Aug 2026 19:24:19
I have absolutely no idea how good Lewis Skelly is, but I'd imagine it's pretty hard to compare him and Nyoni at this stage, considering both are 19 and one has 72 mins of Premier League and CL football and the other one has 3,335 minutes, a PL winners medal, CL runners up medal and 6 international caps.

11 Aug 2026 19:27:56
I wish I had as much confidence in our youngsters as you do, MK.

11 Aug 2026 19:45:38
I love Nyoni, been a cracking little player since he joined the club. But in fairness, Skelly is a bonafide Premier League player whereas we all hope Nyoni one day becomes one.

11 Aug 2026 19:45:52
Rome, I only have confidence in Nyoni, to be honest.

Pointing out that Chambers is probably better defensively than Spence (a failed RWB) and Lewis-Skelly (a failing CM) is not really much to write home about.



I'm not even confident in Rio, as we've produced several wingers down the years who started pretty decent like he has (Ibe, Ojo, K.Gordon, Kent, Wilson etc).

Nyoni is the one. Special talent, in my opinion.

11 Aug 2026 19:51:01
JK23, Just to point out that in 2022 you could've posted exactly the same thing (give or take a few minutes, and plus a few extra Domestic cup winners medals) about 19 year old Harvey Elliott.

It's an impressive CV, but it doesn't equate to actually realising potential.

11 Aug 2026 19:57:14
I've said before in our discussions about Nyoni, that I hope you're right, MK.

Regards to Rio, I agree with you there. He's obviously still a baby, but he's nowhere near ready to be starting regularly.

11 Aug 2026 19:59:58
Mk, I'm just pointing out, comparing them now, mate, with current stats. No idea what the future holds for both.

I do remember a few years ago you tipping Elliot to be a future Balon Dor winner. Come on, own up, you remember it, mate. 🤣

On a serious note though, my excitement for Nyoni has increased ten fold just from your praise in recent weeks.

11 Aug 2026 20:10:42
Florian Musiala, that bonafide Premier League player, started 5 Premier League games last season. If the media hadn't sold him as the next Ashley Cole 2 years ago, there wouldn't be hardly anyone on here interested in him at £40m.

Even Arsenal have moved on from him, it seems, and he's one of their own.

Rio also started 5 Premier League games last season, by the way. Can I call him a bonafide Premier League player too?

11 Aug 2026 20:21:31
When he broke through at left back, he was getting good reviews, but maybe hasn't sustained it, and Arsenal have continued to reinforce, which has contributed to his limited game time.



We don't need a left back just yet, although Kerkez needs to up his game to convince the doubters and nail down a place.

I don't see Skelly as an answer to our midfield requirements, either.

11 Aug 2026 20:34:24
I remember saying Elliott was too weak for midfield and too slow to play on the wing, JK23. If I did say he'd win a Balon D'or, I must've been drunk that day. 🤣

{Ed025's Note - you might have meant the Exit Door MK?.. :)

11 Aug 2026 21:04:18
Elliott needs a run of games, same as Chiesa - both very capable players who are short of match fitness, more so than most of squad.

11 Aug 2026 20:58:17
🤣🤣 fair play you're a good sport Mk.

Hahahaha excellent reply that Ed0025.

12 Aug 2026 00:06:01
Skelly and Spence are the absolute bottom of what we should be looking at in order to progress. Both are at best mediocre football players. There's much much better out there than both of those. Move on.

11 Aug 2026 17:25:00
Not sure if this bears any relevance, maybe some of the ITK's can shed some light. Barcola just showed live on SSN training with the PSG squad. Clearly reports of him being ill and not joining them were off the mark.

11 Aug 2026 15:46:20
Eds or fellow reds why was Bob Paisely never knighted, same for Jock Stein.

The way they throw awards around these days it seems an utter scandal some of the great where/are not a "Sir"

11 Aug 2026 16:05:20
Maybe they didn't throw them around back then like they do now?

11 Aug 2026 16:09:29
Knighthoods cannot be awarded posthumously.

11 Aug 2026 16:17:09
I know that, Clay, but why was he not when he/they were alive, considering he achieved much more than Fergie, for example.

11 Aug 2026 16:42:16
Ed's I never got that Sir Mat Busby Sir Alex Ferguson.
Bob Paisely in 9 years won 3 European trophies and a UEFA cup and 6 league titles and then left a team good enough to do a treble. He is by far the greatest manager this country as ever produced.
Is this more then establishment going against the city because they are against them.

11 Aug 2026 16:17:28
Knighthoods are awarded by the British monarchy. That's enough reason not to want one.

11 Aug 2026 16:20:19
Who gives a flying fish about such "honours"? Outdated imperialist garbage.

11 Aug 2026 17:29:54
They should be reserved for military heroes and community heroes.

Sports people need not apply.
It's bloody stupid that Andy Murray and David Beckham have knighthoods, even some cricketers.

Yet Lou Macari hasn't got a knighthood.
Just populist nonsense.
Rolf Harris, Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall had them, no more needs to be said.

11 Aug 2026 17:29:59
Slow news day, sg!

11 Aug 2026 17:46:07
Grino, I get why you think Paisely was the best manager this country has ever produced, but Shanks built everything this club stands for & built it from nothing basically, same to a degree as Busby when UTD were on the bones of their Arse.
Stein won the European Cup with a team of Glasgow boys.
I'm going
Busby
Shanks
Stein
Can't separate Paisley & Clough.

11 Aug 2026 18:06:50
Rolf Harris and Stuart Hall were not knighted.
They were honoured but never knighted.
Savile was.
Something else to thank Thatcher for.

11 Aug 2026 16:53:22
Because the Tory party hate the working class and they particularly hated Liverpool at that particular time.

11 Aug 2026 17:46:58
We can all do are part to Knight the most "Successful" LFC manager ever by doing what I always do for starters? because he was never Knighted I always when I mention his name simply put Sir Bob as he is a Knight to the Club and us LFC supporters more importantly.

A Knight is a man of "Honour", Sunderland gave Sir Bob a trial to be a player for them, they turned him down in their words for being too small, realised weeks later they had made a grave mistake, and offered him another football trial, Sir Bob had the offer of a trial with LFC also, but despite never having had the actual trial with LFC.

Said to Sunderland "No", Liverpool Football Club have generously asked me to have a trial at Anfield and I will honourably accept that kind offer gladly, it would be very wrong for me to reject that LFC kindness, Sir Bob could quite easily have took the easy way out and gone back to his boyhood club Sunderland, but he was a man of "Honour" and integrity, and the rest they say is just magnificent history, and a winning legacy that has lasted fifty years so far when winning his first European Cup in Rome 1977.

I was there as a 22 year old all because of Sir Bob being a loyal servant to the Club. He should have been Knighted also for serving six years in a Tank Regiment in World War 2, my own father was the same he spent six years away from home serving his country in the same second world war, a lot sadly never came back from that war.

To those LFC supporters who have never visited Liverpool, if you ever do visit the city, take the 75, 76, 78 bus service to Woolton Village for two pounds and a circa half hour journey, and make your way to St Peters Church at the top of Woolton Hill, Sir Bob is buried there in the graveyard, his gravestone simply reads; Robert Paisley OBE " an ordinary man, amidst extraordinary achievements", nothing is mentioned on his gravestone to who Sir Bob actually was just a small football 3 inches in diameter at the bottom of his grave stone, his son Graham is Rector of the Church he is there most days takes the Sunday service sometimes, he will tell you all about his dad Sir Bob, but not football tales just ordinary Sir Bob.

Eleanor Rigby's gravestone of the Beatles famous hit is also in the same graveyard, Woolton Village has many other famous links to the Beatles, Strawberry Fields, John Lennon's home growing up, where the Beatles used to first play in a Village Hall, it's a most enjoyable tour for currently two pounds each way.

11 Aug 2026 18:11:27
Maybe they turned them down.

11 Aug 2026 19:02:08
How can you say Busby is the best ever British manager, when what Sir Bill Shankly built, Liverpool Football Club, is and has been the most successful club ever in English history? Surely the more trophies you have won than anybody else gains the elite position of LFC being the most successful English club ever, "second to none" is the LFC motto.

YNWA 97 and 20.

11 Aug 2026 19:11:15
Where's Steve McMahon's knighthood then, droopybalz?

11 Aug 2026 19:25:39
I haven't posted in years so had to re-register just to say thanks to 007 for that post about Sir Bob. Really lovely words about a giant of our club. I'm from Ireland, but I'm taking his advice about heading to Woolton next time I'm over to pay respect.

12 Aug 2026 00:10:14
@007, Shanks was nowhere near the level of manager that Paisley was. Nowhere. If you want to win things, Bob is it every time. Zero debate.

11 Aug 2026 14:24:04
Hi Ed001 where can i find your podcast?

{Ed001's Note - I will post a link up for you.

11 Aug 2026 19:35:53
I like watching your podcasts Ed001, some special guests from the site might be fun though. Just a random poster every week (not Harry)

{Ed001's Note - that is a good idea. If anyone is interested.

11 Aug 2026 20:19:41
I'll even wave my usual fee 2 packets of Toffo. 👍

11 Aug 2026 22:55:29
Yeah, I nominate Barry. Haha.
You could even invite Harry one day again and have when Harry met Barry?

11 Aug 2026 23:41:46
Love it, Mikey. 😂

11 Aug 2026 12:34:37
Anyone know which clubs are interested in taking Ndukwe on loan. Apparently he needs to earn 15 points and the better the league the more points he amasses. Apparently the club are looking for loan with option to recall in January once he has the 15 points.

He's looked great in preseason and if he can cement a place between January and May with us we would be going into the following season with Ndukwe, Leoni and Jacquet and potentially Arujao.

Question for fellow posters or the Ed's i remember we bought three very young CBs earlier in the year and we have seen Ndyia but who was the other and why haven't we seen him in pre season?

The above two have already impressed me but curious to know who the other one is and why haven't seen him.

11 Aug 2026 12:41:47
Don't recall the name, but I think the 3rd one is even younger, so was unlikely to feature.

11 Aug 2026 12:47:03
Ndukwe has really impressed in all his appearances. Could it be that we bought a young gem to shape into the next Virgil??

11 Aug 2026 12:55:17
It might be, depending on how it works out for him this season, that Araujo/Jacquet/Leoni/Ndukwe may be our core CB options up to 2030.

11 Aug 2026 12:55:55
RJ, the third centre-back, was Noah Adekoya, who we signed from Burnley, though he hails from Toxteth. Two years older than the other two.

11 Aug 2026 13:05:37
Unless we have an injury or are looking to sell in January, it makes more sense for him to have a full season on loan somewhere, than coming back to limited game time (potentially).

11 Aug 2026 13:40:10
It's a careful balance from what I read.

If he can get a loan to either La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1, then he can get the points required to get a WP faster as they are the top leagues.

However, if he isn't played as much in those teams, then it will slow him down accumulating the points.

A clickbait I read earlier mentioned there are offers in from Portugal (it may have been reporting that Fabrizio said that), but that isn't a top league.



As long as he is playing regularly, I think we don't bank on him coming back in Jan with the points required (as that sort of loan could be tricky to sell to another club who would lose, hopefully, one of their top performers as the season comes to a close), so most likely he will form part of the post-VVD planning.

11 Aug 2026 13:40:28
Adekoya is the last of the three and he's actually the oldest among them. I think he's 20 years old this year. Not sure why he has not featured, though, but the Liverpool site did list him as being part of the U21 set up.

11 Aug 2026 14:19:40
I'm guessing that Adekoya is behind the other 2 in terms of his 1st team readiness. Hopefully he can kick on in the U21s this season.

11 Aug 2026 14:19:07
Zed everyone knows the German league isn't a top league. It's a farmers league mate.

11 Aug 2026 15:17:29
Thanks, Mytton.

11 Aug 2026 15:35:30
That's right, JK, my sarky friend! However, the people who allocate points don't know that.

So, sshhhhhh, keep it under your hat.

11 Aug 2026 15:43:02
Tell him to open up a vape shop, then he'll be able to get a visa.

11 Aug 2026 16:28:22
Shhhh, Zed. I don't think many people know I'm Sarky.

11 Aug 2026 16:42:04
Nor do they know that I am Hutch.

Shhhhhhh.

11 Aug 2026 16:49:48
Am I right in thinking that we bought another young lad from Celtic who's also a very promising CB although he is only 16 or 17 or did I dream that?

11 Aug 2026 17:24:57
I think that was early this window, WDW.

11 Aug 2026 17:56:54
Hello Mytton,

If he hails from Toxteth, then me being from the same Toxteth area can vouch he is of very good stock!

Although, now these days I am a Wirral Squirrel in posh Burton. I'm very lucky my 7 bed house does not have a number just its name on the front gates.

11 Aug 2026 18:00:35
Yes WDW, we did. Scottish U16 captain, I seem to remember.

11 Aug 2026 18:01:47
His agent said today they are looking at non top clubs in Denmark.

11 Aug 2026 20:49:49
Dara Jikiemi is the young lad from Celtic, just 16 years old, so definitely one for the future.

I like the tactic, buy 6 promising CBs, hopefully at least 2 of them establish themselves in the future.

11 Aug 2026 12:13:21
Barcola is done.
You're welcome.

11 Aug 2026 14:04:12
Again?

11 Aug 2026 14:08:31
Barcola has been done more times than Katie Price.

11 Aug 2026 14:00:40
Hope you are right, Fat Jesus, otherwise I can see you getting crucified on here.

Ah! There's the exit...

11 Aug 2026 15:13:20
No, he hasn't, JK. Come on.

There's a few more to go yet to hit that level of done.

11 Aug 2026 15:14:37
How are you defining 'done', JK?

11 Aug 2026 15:30:53
LOL JK!

11 Aug 2026 16:53:23
In the spirit of banter - thanks for all your efforts on getting that one over the line @FJ. 👍

11 Aug 2026 17:30:49
Done as in "career over". What a pity.

11 Aug 2026 16:59:11
He's nailed on, fat Jesus

11 Aug 2026 18:49:28
Don't say that to the OP, Fatwallet.

It may be triggering for him.

11 Aug 2026 11:56:16
I’m not ITK but I believe the Barcola deal is done and announce will only happen when PSG do their business replacing him.

11 Aug 2026 14:47:34
It's not done until the registration of the player is transferred to LFC.

They can pull out at any time, so it's essentially not done.

11 Aug 2026 14:56:16
Liverpool FC are as weak as urine if they allowed PSG to dictate when we can announce Barcola purely to satisfy and appease their own fans.

11 Aug 2026 15:36:10
Dunno about your urine, shug, but mine on a Sunday morning is pretty strong.

11 Aug 2026 16:46:42
Indeed, Zed.

11 Aug 2026 18:40:36
Fat Jesus and the resurrection of Macca. What more do we need to believe, people?

11 Aug 2026 19:05:22
Is that as a result of your homemade asparagus wine, Zed?

11 Aug 2026 09:57:04
Morning all, first time poster here and more of a question to the Eds and people in charge

Do you think Barcola is worth the money being discussed? or do you think it would be better off spending that Money on a CDM and right back and another right winger to make the squad more complete and solid rather than blowing all the money on a marquee signing?

out of curiosity who would you pick for right back, cdm and a right winger if you could? Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - I have not seen enough of him to judge, but nothing I have seen suggests he is worth going for. I would much rather concentrate on getting the defence and midfield sorted personally.

I would like to see Sadiki in midfield, Rayan on the right wing and probably Kayode behind him.}

11 Aug 2026 10:58:08
Well said Ed001. Recruitment the last 12 months seems to be based on my Football Manager 1999 efforts - chase/buy lots of attacking talent and don't bother with a solid core/base. £100m on a quality RB and a DM would complete this team, instead we're trying to spend the same amount on one player who will do nothing to improve our porous midfield/defence.

It's fantasy football stuff.

11 Aug 2026 11:10:04
Athletic is now reporting that Macca will stay.

The dream of a half-decent DM is vanishing for the 5th summer in a row.

11 Aug 2026 11:11:56
Those 3 would be fantastic additions and that's the truth of it. We'd be motoring then!

11 Aug 2026 11:13:16
I'm not sure if he's worth the kind of money being talked about. Makes sense if Gakpo is going for, hopefully, equally silly money, though. Not a lot of great LW's around, and Barcola looks like one of the best options we could realistically get.

11 Aug 2026 11:47:17
I agree it's a huge amount of money. I'd imagine Iraola is very much in this conversation, so if Barcola is the man he wants, then hopefully let's have faith in him.

11 Aug 2026 11:51:22
No, he isn't worth the fee being talked about.

Do we want him enough to pay it, or close? Different question, and that's for the club.

I don't want him enough to pay that.
I'd rather keep the current group, and add to it with a Mbaye type.

11 Aug 2026 11:58:17
I do trust the respected ITK accounts, but I have to admit the prospect of pursuing Barcola above the types of additions mentioned above does boggle my mind a bit. The lack of a DM, more than anything else, is so obvious, and I'd be bitterly disappointed if we didn't strengthen in that area, regardless of who else comes in.
If we do get Barcola, where does that leave Gakpo? Is he covering CF with Isak until Eki is back? Unlike many, I really like him as a player, but I doubt his stock and value will be higher in future than it is right now, but talk of him leaving seems to have gone quiet.

Same with Jones, Macca, Endo etc.
Really hope to see some movement in the next couple of weeks to this effect before the season starts.

11 Aug 2026 12:48:59
I think he's the best winger available this window. Someone with his pace is very difficult to come by.

He reminds me a lot of Salah when we signed him, ridiculous pace, but questionable decision-making and finishing.

Like Salah a few years ago, if this guy plays a full 90, he can probably find 5 clear-cut chances for himself and miss 3 of them.



The only real difference between him and Salah will be whether he has the same mentality and desire to improve. The only way to find that out is to give him the opportunity with a bona fide starting position and see what he can do.

11 Aug 2026 12:59:50
Well, in a perfect world I also wish we had gone for players like Sadiki or Kone for CM and Kayode, Palestra or Kounde for the back, plus a RW, but all the noise seems to be around Barcola so I don't concern myself with those thoughts.

We haven't been linked to a CDM at all, and didn't try to get Palestra or Kayode before they moved clubs / signed a contract extension respectively, which is super odd to me.

In terms of RW, not a lot of options to be honest.

I'm not an ITK but I'd guess we wasted too much time on Diomande and then didn't chase Rayan because Bournemouth don't want to sell, hence not enough time in the window for all the back and forth? Not sure, just guessing here really.

I think Hughes, plus all the wasted energy and time with Edwards sticking his nose in transfers before leaving, was just super detrimental and I can't wait till they're both gone (one down, one to go).

11 Aug 2026 13:18:36
Yeah, I can't fathom why we haven't moved for Kayode, Premier proven and a stand out right back. Ditto Sadiki. Clubs' moves in the transfer market have been odd - Barcola continues that trend - if changes behind the scenes are true, hopefully it results in a more cohesive transfer plan. This summer has been pretty woeful so far, and the squad looks very fragile.

11 Aug 2026 12:54:14
Ed01 re: Barcola, I have never rated him as high as some on here have and I can deduce some over-glazing of his ability as well which is fine as it is just an opinion.

Now if he is the one the club is going for then, what can one do but accept it and support him to do well. Indeed, we could sign other players in other areas of need in defence (already being sorted with Araujo, hopefully he steps up) and in midfield so I'll just wait till the end of the window and then, we can assess things.

11 Aug 2026 14:49:12
Barcola is a strong addition but probably the least needed if the plan is for him to play LW. If the plan is to buy him for RW, then we are nuts!! We couldn't conceivably pay upwards of £100m to play the lad out of position. If we do buy him for the LW then we still need another winger for the right??? I'm not as concerned about the midfield, because I think the coach can get a tune out of Szob, Grav and Macca, but surely we need to move on Jones and upgrade to more DM type midfielder.

Defence is a priority for me. Araujo is a good addition but we need more for the RB and LB position. I'm a massive fan of Kerkez (mainly based on his Bournemouth days) but can't deny he struggled since joining, and hoping Iraola can get him back to his best. Desperately need a Tzimikas and Bradley upgrade!

11 Aug 2026 16:49:08
Dow-ney, if Mbaye comes in along with Barcola, then we would need another wide man cos Rio and Vic are there.

The question will be, in that scenario, what happens to Gkpo cos he would wanna start games if he doesn't wanna be a backup to the back up at LW or the backup CF to Isak?

11 Aug 2026 17:04:11
Didn't Kayode sign a contract extension a while back?

11 Aug 2026 17:18:43
Barcola can play through the middle as well.

11 Aug 2026 17:19:06
I think Sadiki or Kone might improve us slightly but Barcola improves us massively.

We have one of the deadliest strikers in the world in Isak but he's a striker who needs the chances to be created for him. He will score the odd screamer but more often than not it's the ones like he scored on Sunday. Clever running from others to create the space, he fills the space, ball played through, touch, bang.

That's Isak.

Barcola will provide pace and clever running, especially in behind, which in turn will pull defenders about, as the CBs need to come across on the cover, which gives Isak more space to score.

If we can get Isak firing, we have a real chance of winning a lot of football matches. Barcola could be the key to that happening.

11 Aug 2026 08:52:27
Morning ed001,

Are you looking forward to the new season?

I thought we looked sharp at time in the first half on Sunday, certainly more direct, more energy, with more players getting forward when we attacked. Wirtz already looks like a different player, tracking back, movement, I think him and Isak will be like new signings.

Defence is a bit of concern, conceding easily again but with the new fella for Barca and Jaquet set to probably start against Newcastle, I'm optimistic.

It will be a highly charged game and hopefully a fitting tribute to the great man Kevin Keegan.

Cheers
Drogie

{Ed001's Note - very much looking forward to it. It might take a bit of time for the players to build up their fitness, but the footie will be enjoyable to watch and we actually have a boss who gives a toss.}

11 Aug 2026 10:53:32
I'm still not sold on Iraola myself. I just think he's missing that charisma that the top level managers have. That being said I'll reserve judgement until he gets his feet under the table properly and gets the team playing how he wants.

I wouldn't read too much into us conceding goals in preseason though. 2 of the goals on Sunday were down to Virgil who has only just come back and the other was a set piece when we had Chambers and Endo at CB and Marma in goal.

I have to say Ed1 you were absolutely right about Marma. He is nowhere near the level of goalkeeper we need. If we have to rely on him for any length of time like last season we will struggle.

The long throws against Leeds were conceded with none of our first choice CBs on the pitch and again with Marma in goal.

End of the day it's just preseason, let's see how it all pans out.

11 Aug 2026 11:13:30
Bob Paisley was hardly bursting with charisma, Rio.

11 Aug 2026 11:39:18
Surely Araola has to be given a chance before the pitch forks come out.

He's coming into a squad that can field a very good strong 11, but certainly has holes in the squad that can be improved upon.

He's looking at incorporating a whole new way of playing, and has already admitted, and quite evidently visible, the players aren't fit enough to carry out (currently) for 90 mins.



I very much expect this season to be a season of ups and downs, but managers are judged on results.

He's only signed a 2 year contract and I'd like to see him given those 2 years to see what trajectory the club is then on.

Hopefully the club back him with what he needs in the transfer market otherwise he's got his work even more cut out.

11 Aug 2026 11:40:50
Neither was Rafa.

11 Aug 2026 11:47:57
Iraola, not Araola. Bloody autocorrect.

11 Aug 2026 11:53:51
I can see us having a similar season to Bournemouth's last season. Start off slow and come on strong in the second half of the season. Regardless, the football will be much more enjoyable to watch. I also think we will have a very strong Champions League.

11 Aug 2026 12:00:22
I am cautiously optimistic. I look forward to the style being implemented, but I am so concerned by our midfield primarily. An efficient high press system will alleviate some of that, but we are still missing a DM imo.

11 Aug 2026 12:49:32
I'm full 2 feet in behind this fella. Managers can dramatically change things, like Klopp did to many others, like, hmm, Shankly? Even if Macca stays, he will be a better Macca for when we do sell him. Give hope until it's taken. Many backed Slot like Jurgen without knowing anything about the blagger. Basquescouse ball will be the new PSG. ;)

11 Aug 2026 13:04:27
Missing one of those for a number of years now, Westwood, which is crazy to me.

11 Aug 2026 12:58:22
I agree, Ed. It's going to be a slow burn at the start of the season, as preseason is showing already. I am excited about the season as a whole because it's a new manager, a new system and of course, a new voice that the players need to impress once again.

We just have to persevere with Doni and the players and not quit on them early on because things aren't getting great fast enuff. But as some has said, the real rewards may come down the road like in Feb/March next year. The question will be where we are in the table when that happens.

11 Aug 2026 13:20:05
The football will be good, as long as it's enjoyable watching us again. I'm happy.

11 Aug 2026 16:50:00
Agreed, Seano.

11 Aug 2026 17:02:42
We've got any easy start, Stone, relatively speaking. Whilst pre season suggests we may get off to a slow start, with the run of fixtures we have, we should be top after ten games, and then maybe fall away when injuries kick in and lack of squad depth bites around November.