Whale.io 🐳 | ⚽ English Premier League Season: 2025/2026

[igebotz]

Chelsea have an excellent opportunity to add points by playing away at Leicester City as they want to remain in 3rd place behind Manchester City. Arsenal are on joint points with Chelsea and they too would want to add points when they play at home against Nottingham Forest. Away from the usual teams Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Brighton will be trying to upset the bigger teams as they try keep up their attempt to remain part of the chasing pack.

It will be an emotional game for Maresca against his old club Leicester City; I hope he is not booed by Leicester City fans; he had a wonderful season with them last season and I expect him to be warmly welcomed back home.

A win this weekend could boost our top four hopes, as anything less than three points would drop us to mid-table. only 3 points separating the 3rd and 15th-placed team on the league table. Maresca is familiar with in Leicester City players' abilities as well as their weaknesses, which I believe we can use to our advantage.

[JollyGood]

Keeping emotions aside, I think he did the right thing to quit Leicester City because they would have struggled in the Premier League even though they were fantastic in the Championship when they got promoted. Given a chance to manage a team that could be fighting all season long in the relegation zone or a team trying to finish in the top four, he did the right thing. I hope the Leicester City fans give him a round of applause and a standing ovation for how he managed them last season rather than be upset with him for resigning and taking up the Chelsea job.

Maresca has managed to bring smiles and a good feeling back at Stamford Bridge, he deserves credit. I thought his time there would be short because of the way he dropped Sterling and other big names but he is proving he was right to make drastic changes to trim the squad.

It will be an emotional game for Maresca against his old club Leicester City; I hope he is not booed by Leicester City fans; he had a wonderful season with them last season and I expect him to be warmly welcomed back home.

A win this weekend could boost our top four hopes, as anything less than three points would drop us to mid-table. only 3 points separating the 3rd and 15th-placed team on the league table. Maresca is familiar with in Leicester City players' abilities as well as their weaknesses, which I believe we can use to our advantage.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Chelsea have an excellent opportunity to add points by playing away at Leicester City as they want to remain in 3rd place behind Manchester City. Arsenal are on joint points with Chelsea and they too would want to add points when they play at home against Nottingham Forest. Away from the usual teams Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Brighton will be trying to upset the bigger teams as they try keep up their attempt to remain part of the chasing pack.

Not going to be an easy game for any of them because players are just returning from the international breaks. Contrarily to your view, I kind of found this break interesting and not as boring as others user to be.

For the AFCON qualifiers that I paid attention to, I enjoyed the games I watched and the goals came in their numbers. I didn't watch any for the European national games so I don't have anything to say about them.

For Arsenal against Nottingham I wish Nottingham can cause an upset to give us an edge in the top 4 finish. Nottingham are actually in a better form than Arsenal and Arsenal still have their injury crisis. Arsenal are already out of the title discussion for me and Arteta should just concentrate on finishing in the top 4 for next season.

[igebotz]

Keeping emotions aside, I think he did the right thing to quit Leicester City because they would have struggled in the Premier League even though they were fantastic in the Championship when they got promoted. Given a chance to manage a team that could be fighting all season long in the relegation zone or a team trying to finish in the top four, he did the right thing. I hope the Leicester City fans give him a round of applause and a standing ovation for how he managed them last season rather than be upset with him for resigning and taking up the Chelsea job.

Yeah for sure they got mad we took the only man who could have at least keep them from relegation this season.

Leicester City said in a statement: "Given the promising foundations established during his single season in charge, the club is disappointed that Enzo has decided at this stage that he no longer wants to be part of our vision. However, with Enzo’s decision made and the Board’s terms for his departure met, we wish him well in his future endeavours.

"He leaves with the appreciation of everyone at the club for his work in helping us to achieve an immediate return to the Premier League during the 2023/24 season.

Source:

Maresca has managed to bring smiles and a good feeling back at Stamford Bridge, he deserves credit. I thought his time there would be short because of the way he dropped Sterling and other big names but he is proving he was right to make drastic changes to trim the squad.

That was Poch's weakness; he tried to manage a big squad rather than trimming it down to the only players he wanted to work with; he wanted to please every  I would be lying if I said Enzo hasn't improved us since he arrived.

[JollyGood]

For Arsenal against Nottingham I wish Nottingham can cause an upset to give us an edge in the top 4 finish. Nottingham are actually in a better form than Arsenal and Arsenal still have their injury crisis. Arsenal are already out of the title discussion for me and Arteta should just concentrate on finishing in the top 4 for next season.

Recently things have not been going the way Arsenal would have wanted therefore it would be a huge tactical victory for Nuno Espírito Santo if he were to guide his Nottingham Forest team to a victory at Arsenal. Without doubt it will be a difficult game for both teams but of Arsenal score early on, they will probably end the game with a massive win. If Nottingham Forest get to half-time with the score level, there will be an interesting end to the game. I suppose for Chelsea fans the ideal scenario would be for both Leicester City and Arsenal to lose their games but Arsenal fans will be hoping for Chelsea and Nottingham Forest to lose

Yeah for sure they got mad we took the only man who could have at least keep them from relegation this season.

Well, it is not a foregone conclusion that Leicester City will get relegated. Right now they are just three points above the relegation zone but there are many games to go and they might end the season mid-table or better.

[Luzin]

Sunday 24th November
Ipswich Town vs Manchester United  [/b][/size]

I can't wait to see Amorim. With Nistelrooy, Man United took quite well and improved, I hope it continues. In terms of player quality, Man United should win. Ipswich are not a good team, but they will play at home. I think Ipswich will work hard to get points. I think the target of a draw for Ipswich is realistic. But for Man United I think they must get 3 points. Another problem is that currently there are many players in International matches with their countries. The small hope is that not many players are injured.

[tokeweed]

That was Poch's weakness; he tried to manage a big squad rather than trimming it down to the only players he wanted to work with; he wanted to please every  I would be lying if I said Enzo hasn't improved us since he arrived.

Was Poch given full authority to manage Chelsea like he said he wanted or did they have a football director to work with him?  I ask cos if he wasn't given full authority then it's prolly why he was forced to play the likes of Sterling or the rest of the guys as if he was given the go signal to revamp the squad, I think he'll do what he did at Tottenham.  He'll trim the fat by getting rid of the overpaid players and get younger, unknown players in.  It will be a complete and drastic make over.

[igebotz]

Was Poch given full authority to manage Chelsea like he said he wanted or did they have a football director to work with him?  I ask cos if he wasn't given full authority then it's prolly why he was forced to play the likes of Sterling or the rest of the guys as if he was given the go signal to revamp the squad, I think he'll do what he did at Tottenham.  He'll trim the fat by getting rid of the overpaid players and get younger, unknown players in.  It will be a complete and drastic make over.

He was hired as a "manager" and not a "coach," and a manager has complete control over trimming and removing players as he sees fit; he's just bad at squad management; he had the same issue at PSG. He's always reluctant to speak about underperforming players in public, and he's too gentle to manage world-class players, which I believe is why he's failed since moving from small Tottenham to a big squad with world-class players.

[JollyGood]

As short as it might have been, the van Nistelrooy era is over and Amorim is the man in taking over the manager role. If we talk only about quality then Manchester United should have won many games this season but the problem for them is that individually they might have some brilliant players but as a collective they have failed on a regular basis. In the end, Ipswich Town will have home advantage therefore they will be confident.

I can't wait to see Amorim. With Nistelrooy, Man United took quite well and improved, I hope it continues. In terms of player quality, Man United should win. Ipswich are not a good team, but they will play at home. I think Ipswich will work hard to get points. I think the target of a draw for Ipswich is realistic. But for Man United I think they must get 3 points. Another problem is that currently there are many players in International matches with their countries. The small hope is that not many players are injured.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

That was Poch's weakness; he tried to manage a big squad rather than trimming it down to the only players he wanted to work with; he wanted to please every  I would be lying if I said Enzo hasn't improved us since he arrived.

Enzo Maresca has done a lot to get our praises but let us not forget that he hasn't won us a game against the big boys. Our muscles are just getting flex against the small and mid table teams.

It'll be bad for Chelsea to be identified as a club that only plays well against small teams but can't defeat the big boys just like Palmers is being labelled a small team player as he doesn't turn up against the big 6. I know Enzo needs time but we don't have much of that on our side.

Pep is staying another session with a likelihood to extend and we'll have to watch Manchester city dominate again because whatever Liverpool is enjoying is just temporary and can't be replicated next season even though they win this one.

Nobody should turns down an upgrade in life or you won't achieve greater things. Enzo coming to Chelsea was rhe right decision.

[JollyGood]

Manchester City fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Guardiola decided to sign a contract extension but that does mean he will guarantee success. Next season maybe one or more from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and maybe even Manchester United under Amorim will make it difficult for Guardiola and his team. As for Chelsea, the fans have every right to be optimistic but Maresca has not won anything and was probably not expected to do much in his first season but he has done better. They are genuine contenders for a top four finish and he made the right move to leave Leicester City.

Pep is staying another session with a likelihood to extend and we'll have to watch Manchester city dominate again because whatever Liverpool is enjoying is just temporary and can't be replicated next season even though they win this one.

Nobody should turns down an upgrade in life or you won't achieve greater things. Enzo coming to Chelsea was rhe right decision.

[tokeweed]

Was Poch given full authority to manage Chelsea like he said he wanted or did they have a football director to work with him?  I ask cos if he wasn't given full authority then it's prolly why he was forced to play the likes of Sterling or the rest of the guys as if he was given the go signal to revamp the squad, I think he'll do what he did at Tottenham.  He'll trim the fat by getting rid of the overpaid players and get younger, unknown players in.  It will be a complete and drastic make over.

He was hired as a "manager" and not a "coach," and a manager has complete control over trimming and removing players as he sees fit; he's just bad at squad management; he had the same issue at PSG. He's always reluctant to speak about underperforming players in public, and he's too gentle to manage world-class players, which I believe is why he's failed since moving from small Tottenham to a big squad with world-class players.

Afaik he was working along side a couple of sporting directors in Chelsea which made the final decision not always what Poch wanted.  But yeah, some talented managers prolly don't have the crucial management skills to steer a huge club to success.  How many managers since Mou left went in and out empty handed?  Lol.  

On top of my head there was the Italian guy who smoked a lot, Lampard, Tuchel then Poch.

Anyway, I'm really liking City -1 at 1.73.  What do you guys think?

[igebotz]

Enzo Maresca has done a lot to get our praises but let us not forget that he hasn't won us a game against the big boys. Our muscles are just getting flex against the small and mid table teams.

I wouldn't mind if we lost to all of the bigger teams and took maximum points from the smaller teams to meet our season objective of finishing in the top 4. I'm not getting carried away; it's still early to go up to the moon, but for the time being I'm satisfied.

It'll be bad for Chelsea to be identified as a club that only plays well against small teams but can't defeat the big boys just like Palmers is being labelled a small team player as he doesn't turn up against the big 6. I know Enzo needs time but we don't have much of that on our side.

He had 8 G/A against the top six teams last season, and everyone remained quiet; it's too early to start paying attention to talk like this; we still have second legs. Nothing has changed with his game this season; the only difference is that he is now being man marked in every game.

[Woodie]

Manchester City fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Guardiola decided to sign a contract extension but that does mean he will guarantee success.

The team has lost some valuable players to the transfer
market especially those that filled those missing gaps, and some injuries of the starting players has contributed  & really left a mark such that Guardiola isn't rotating players like he use to...and I feel bad for Pep because there was a game that he lost at the Etihad and his own supporters booed him..which was a sorry sight but I think should he leave the team at the top...this time around he will leave to avoid denting his reputation.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

I wouldn't mind if we lost to all of the bigger teams and took maximum points from the smaller teams to meet our season objective of finishing in the top 4. I'm not getting carried away; it's still early to go up to the moon, but for the time being I'm satisfied.

That mentality won't win us the league and don't tell me that Enzo Maresca shouldn't aspire the team for such goals, that it's too early. We had being in similar worst situation, sacked our manager, got a new one and won the league before so it won't be a new thing or doesn't look impossible. We shouldn't be thinking about only maximum points against the small teams but also against the big boys, because that's what put us on the map. Our next fixtures are all against mid table teams, let see how many points we get from them.

Ps: Rúben Amorim: the most hyped Premier League newbie since 2016. How true do you think this article is? Is he the most hyped manager in such a long time?

[igebotz]

That mentality won't win us the league and don't tell me that Enzo Maresca shouldn't aspire the team for such goals, that it's too early. We had being in similar worst situation, sacked our manager, got a new one and won the league before so it won't be a new thing or doesn't look impossible. We shouldn't be thinking about only maximum points against the small teams but also against the big boys, because that's what put us on the map. Our next fixtures are all against mid table teams, let see how many points we get from them.

It's not about mentality; it's about recognising what you have before talking about winning the league. Our current squad lacks the necessary squad depths to start competing for the league; our defence is abysmal, and our goalkeeper is among the worst in the league. If you want to compete in the league, you must have a strong back line. The manager understands this, which is why he stated that the team is not ready to compete for titles. You can't compare the group Conte inherited to win the league in 2015/16 to what we have now.

You won't always beat the big guns; you'll win and lose some, but capitalising on the smaller team is what everyone does.

Ps: Rúben Amorim: the most hyped Premier League newbie since 2016. How true do you think this article is? Is he the most hyped manager in such a long time?

No doubt....

[nelson4lov]

~Snipped

Ps: Rúben Amorim: the most hyped Premier League newbie since 2016. How true do you think this article is? Is he the most hyped manager in such a long time?

Haha. Wasn't this how Man Utd and their fans mega hyped ETH when his appointment was first announced? It's not the same as Ruben but it's super close if you ask me. I believe part of the reason for the hype is due to the fact that Ruben used team outside the top 5 leagues (Sporting Lisbon) to disgrace Man city in the biggest football tournament. Why that win was significant for United fans is because of their rivalry with their Manchester neighbors.

Too early to conclude. I'll wait to see the outcomes all these hypes after his first game and later first season + second season at the club.

[JollyGood]

If there is one thing we have learned over a period of time regarding the Premier League, it has to be there is nothing certain. No other league in the world has the hype as well as the skilful players or the money generated. If there are a string of defeats it would put a huge amount of pressure on players to perform but managers carry the burden with their jobs on the line.

If Amorim has a bad start to his tenure in his first full season (2025/26) then the media will be discussing his departure until it finally happens. The same for Slot and others. If it is not the media then it is the fans that hype managers then bring them back down. Ten Hag was a classic example.

Too early to conclude. I'll wait to see the outcomes all these hypes after his first game and later first season + second season at the club.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

If Amorim has a bad start to his tenure in his first full season (2025/26) then the media will be discussing his departure until it finally happens. The same for Slot and others. If it is not the media then it is the fans that hype managers then bring them back down. Ten Hag was a classic example.

Yeah the media is also one of the biggest problem in the premier league, the media hype the players too much and too are responsible for the downfall of players or managers when they're not getting the job done. The media influence the fans and they start acting up.

A perfect example is Cole Palmer, he's good alright but sometimes he gets over hyped and that's bad for him as it can put him in a situation that he won't be able to outperform the expectations of him but when he under perform then it becomes an issue.

Where did Erik ten hang go wrong that's what I asked myself always and I think it all started from when he began having issues with Ronaldo. He wasn't a bad manager when he took over but he didn't just get United to that point that the board expected.

[JollyGood]

The media has to carry the burden here because they are effectively playing with the careers, livelihoods and mental wellbeing of managers. Even when managers get sacked and receive a huge compensation deal, they suffer from the trauma they were put through by constant media invasion over a prolonged period. The media definitely sensationalises headlines in order to influence the fans and even the club owners.

Regarding Palmer, whenever I have seen him play he seems to be playing as best as he can without the weight of expectation behind him. I cannot recall the media or fans targeting him.

As for Ten Hag, he was praised by the media and commentators and even some fans for the way he handled the situation with both Ronaldo and Sancho especially when he delivered short-term success with the FA Cup win but it was always going to end sooner or later.

Yeah the media is also one of the biggest problem in the premier league, the media hype the players too much and too are responsible for the downfall of players or managers when they're not getting the job done. The media influence the fans and they start acting up.

A perfect example is Cole Palmer, he's good alright but sometimes he gets over hyped and that's bad for him as it can put him in a situation that he won't be able to outperform the expectations of him but when he under perform then it becomes an issue.

Where did Erik ten hang go wrong that's what I asked myself always and I think it all started from when he began having issues with Ronaldo. He wasn't a bad manager when he took over but he didn't just get United to that point that the board expected.