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

[tokeweed]

^  And as you already told me before, Arteta seems like he doesn't trust the other players much to rotate them to make guys like Saka to take a break.

Unless...  Arteta thinks low of Moyes and Everton that he does rotate his squad.  But then again it could play into Moyes' hands as Arteta is playing a weaker squad.  Hmmm...

[igebotz]

^  And as you already told me before, Arteta seems like he doesn't trust the other players much to rotate them to make guys like Saka to take a break.

Unless...  Arteta thinks low of Moyes and Everton that he does rotate his squad.  But then again it could play into Moyes' hands as Arteta is playing a weaker squad.  Hmmm...

No way, Arteta rotates if the boys are available to play; his head is already on the slaughter table waiting to be chopped off if he fails to deliver the league title this season. He doesn't mind, he put out his best for every games. Be rest assured he's coming into Everton game with his strongest lineup

This is not the time for too many experiments and gambles.

[tokeweed]

Yeah true...  Esp not against the genius Moyes.  Lolol. 

Anyway this is somewhat off topic but still regarding Arsenal.  What do you guys think of Arteta's chances to win the UCL?  I mean I guess they're leading the pack but what of Bayern Munich and Barca?  Those two could prolly has a better chance of getting to the finals when push comes to shove right?

I can't rely on the bookies' number on Arsenal for this one.  They got them as the favorite to win it.

[Sandra_hakeem]

^  And as you already told me before, Arteta seems like he doesn't trust the other players much to rotate them to make guys like Saka to take a break.

Unless...  Arteta thinks low of Moyes and Everton that he does rotate his squad.  But then again it could play into Moyes' hands as Arteta is playing a weaker squad.  Hmmm...

No way, Arteta rotates if the boys are available to play; his head is already on the slaughter table waiting to be chopped off if he fails to deliver the league title this season. He doesn't mind, he put out his best for every games. Be rest assured he's coming into Everton game with his strongest lineup

Ohh Botz, you're saying this now??  It's good that you now lean towards my previous thought. At this point, it's totally a whole lotta job to maintain the balance in the squad, which is like 'living on the edge', in the hope of winning this title race this time around. Infact, it's in these type of scenarios that they'd fall off the edges, all of a sudden. Arteta is fighting tooth and nail to not let that happen, and that equals pressure-- Oh also, he doesn't want to get booted from his position.

is is not the time for too many experiments and gambles.

Exactly! Let's expect more wear and tear after this.

[tokeweed]

^  Yo JollyGood where's your UCL thread?  I tried asking the same question in one of the UCL threads...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5545447.msg66500753#msg66500753

I went back in after a day and it's 7 pages deep after my post.  7!  And it's mostly spammy slop in all those pages.  Lolol.  

[igebotz]

Ohh Botz, you're saying this now??   It's good that you now lean towards my previous thought. At this point, it's totally a whole lotta job to maintain the balance in the squad, which is like 'living on the edge', in the hope of winning this title race this time around. Infact, it's in these type of scenarios that they'd fall off the edges, all of a sudden. Arteta is fighting tooth and nail to not let that happen, and that equals pressure-- Oh also, he doesn't want to get booted from his position.

is is not the time for too many experiments and gambles.

Exactly! Let's expect more wear and tear after this.

Fatigue is already crawling in, they're been underperforming in recent games, the goals are drying up but they are still getting results which to them is the most important thing in this phase of the season but at the same time it means; they're also on the edge of the clif and if care is not taken, they'd start fumbling and start losing points - hope it happen soon enough.

I went back in after a day and it's 7 pages deep after my post.  7!  And it's mostly spammy slop in all those pages.  Lolol. 

Reading and writing on that thread could reduce IQ 

[JollyGood]

The FA Cup. EFL Cup, Europa League and Champions League threads need updating.

I will give them a bump with the latest fixtures and results. Having a self-moderated thread really does a good job keeping the signature spammers and attention-seekers away even if means having just a handful of regular participants

^  Yo JollyGood where's your UCL thread?  I tried asking the same question in one of the UCL threads...

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5545447.msg66500753#msg66500753

I went back in after a day and it's 7 pages deep after my post.  7!  And it's mostly spammy slop in all those pages.  Lolol.  

[tokeweed]

^  Yeah.  Lol.  Can you please post the UCL thread in here?  I can't find it.

 

I went back in after a day and it's 7 pages deep after my post.  7!  And it's mostly spammy slop in all those pages.  Lolol. 

Reading and writing on that thread could reduce IQ 

Lmao.  I didn't bother tbh.  I just skimmed through the next page and I'm like, I ain't reading all this bs. 

Anyway, looks like City is started to falter both in the EPL and in the UCL.  Real Madrid is a tough nut to crack.  But I do think Bayern could take the trophy even if Arsenal looks to be the favorite rn.

[igebotz]

Lmao.  I didn't bother tbh.  I just skimmed through the next page and I'm like, I ain't reading all this bs. 

Anyway, looks like City is started to falter both in the EPL and in the UCL.  Real Madrid is a tough nut to crack.  But I do think Bayern could take the trophy even if Arsenal looks to be the favorite rn.

Bayern honestly deserve it this season and I hope they get it - people seems to not know how good they're because the pressure is on Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid. Anyways it's a good thing for Bayern that they're not getting too much attention from the media.

I watched Olise recent games and I was "wow" and yet nobody talks about him, all we hear is Yamal this, Yamal that while Olise who is a more better player isn't getting enough PR.

Manchester City disappointed most of us tbh. 

[JollyGood]

^  Yeah.  Lol.  Can you please post the UCL thread in here?  I can't find it.

Here is the link to my Champions League thread: UEFA Champions League 2025/26

Manchester City disappointed most of us tbh. 

Even though they are still a very good team when it relates to the domestic league, Manchester City are not able to dominate the big teams in Europe. They are not the same team of recent years because Guardiola has not replaced players and rebuilt teams. He has brought in some fantastic players but they have not been able to have the consistency that he expected.

It takes me back to what Ferguson achieved at Manchester United. He first built that team and then rebuilt it several times over 26 years and that was how they stayed at the top in the Premier League. I doubt Manchester City will win the Premier League, Arsenal will probably be champions. Will Guardiola leave at the end of the season? If he stays, will he win the Premier League again?

[tokeweed]

Lmao.  I didn't bother tbh.  I just skimmed through the next page and I'm like, I ain't reading all this bs. 

Anyway, looks like City is started to falter both in the EPL and in the UCL.  Real Madrid is a tough nut to crack.  But I do think Bayern could take the trophy even if Arsenal looks to be the favorite rn.

Bayern honestly deserve it this season and I hope they get it - people seems to not know how good they're because the pressure is on Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid. Anyways it's a good thing for Bayern that they're not getting too much attention from the media.

I watched Olise recent games and I was "wow" and yet nobody talks about him, all we hear is Yamal this, Yamal that while Olise who is a more better player isn't getting enough PR.

Manchester City disappointed most of us tbh. 

Mmm..  I'm not really disappointed with Man City tbqh.  I didn't expect anything much from them in the twilight of Guardiola's reign in the club.  I'm looking forward to the next era.  So the question is, what is Vincent Kompany's contract situation is at Bayern Munich?  Will the City brass be able to poach him away from Germany and take him back to Manchester..?

But what if Kompany is perfectly happy at Munich?  Decisions decisions... 

[igebotz]

Will Guardiola leave at the end of the season? If he stays, will he win the Premier League again?

The league is already boring and the younger managers are dominating so yeah, we could be seeing him for the last time this season. He looked out of place again in recent games. I personally want to see a new face leading the Manchester City team.

He could snatch one of those league cups for a perfect goodbye.

So the question is, what is Vincent Kompany's contract situation is at Bayern Munich?  Will the City brass be able to poach him away from Germany and take him back to Manchester..?

But what if Kompany is perfectly happy at Munich?  Decisions decisions... 

Their current manager was poached from Bayern  Kompany would be coming to a more quality squad, unlimited money, big pay cheques, club Legend, more exposure and many more- I think he'd consider it, if the offer comes in..

[tokeweed]

^  Yeah seems like Kompany is being groomed to be the next Man City manager.  And here's the huge thing...  As you already said, he's a club legend.  An immortal.  That's like the same status as Guardiola had at Barca.

Man oh man, if Kompany actually becomes next Man City manager I'll prolly start watching the EPL more closely again.  But I guess they want Arteta too.  Don't think they'll be going hard for anybody else but those two.

[igebotz]

^  Yeah seems like Kompany is being groomed to be the next Man City manager.  And here's the huge thing...  As you already said, he's a club legend.  An immortal.  That's like the same status as Guardiola had at Barca.

Man oh man, if Kompany actually becomes next Man City manager I'll prolly start watching the EPL more closely again.  But I guess they want Arteta too.  Don't think they'll be going hard for anybody else but those two.

There's literally nothing no the market and Kompany seems like the real deal right now if Pep should leave and also there's Enzo Maresca without a job, waiting patiently since he got contacted before for the job while he was still at Chelsea.

Did you watch Pep's interview after the game against Real Madrid? He said he's going to see out his remaining contracts, he doesn't sound like someone who's ready to leave and he's not someone you sack hahaa

M. Arteta isn't going to leave the best team in the league to try his luck at a dejointed club.

[tokeweed]

^  See out what's remaining in his contract actually sounds like he's ready to leave and he's not signing for an extension.  But City isn't keen on extending me thinks...  Ferran Soriano and Txiki will respect Guardiola's wishes and let him leave the club finally.

The guy needs another year long or longer break.  Lol.  He already worked hard enough to get where the club where it is.  And not just talking about the trophies.  But also working closely with the club's youth squad and its academy.  Guardiola has been running City like how Barca as a club was run.  This wasn't so before he arrived.

Pep wanted tactical integration so that the academy and the youth squad would have the same philosophy.  The long term vision is for City's academy and youth squad to produce good players that could be integrated in the first team just like what Barca does.

[igebotz]

Pep wanted tactical integration so that the academy and the youth squad would have the same philosophy.  The long term vision is for City's academy and youth squad to produce good players that could be integrated in the first team just like what Barca does.

To sell them off the next season for profits? Is that how Barca has been running their businesses? The only reason Barcelona started selling their home assets was because they went broke but City? I can't say the same;

Two seasons ago was Palmer, last season was Bob, James McActee after gaining some tractions in the main team- they're using Pep to flip these guys for profits; we all know what their project is all about..

[tokeweed]

^  At the end of the day, some of these players from the academy and the youth squad can't be integrated in the first squad.  So yeah, some of them will be transferred or loaned to other clubs.  And they'll be needing to play the transfer market to rely less on the financial engineering stuff the club has been doing.  Lolol.

Anyway, I change my mind about Bayern in the UCL.    They're facing Real Madrid next!  That's gonna be a tough one.  Arsenal on the other hand is getting it easy.

[JollyGood]

I could be wrong but it seems as though he is no longer looking as animated as he was and he is not scratching all over his face now. He seems to have lost his passion either for football in general or for the club.

If I had to guess I would probably see a scenario where Manchester City will finish second in the Premier League, will not win the FA Cup but will beat Arsenal tomorrow in the Carabao Cup. Guardiola will probably announce his resignation after the season has ended.

The league is already boring and the younger managers are dominating so yeah, we could be seeing him for the last time this season. He looked out of place again in recent games. I personally want to see a new face leading the Manchester City team.

He could snatch one of those league cups for a perfect goodbye.

[Sandra_hakeem]

Chelsea is in big trouble and I just can't ignore it-- In 5 matches, they have incurred 3 losses and 1 draw, what's left of this season for them, at least so they can find themselves a good position? They got kicked out of the UCl title race by PSG last week. I thought that was consolable thus, expected something different in the Premier League, but losing against Everton is a shame.

I heard some conspiracies surrounding Liam Rosenior's prolonged contract with the club. Awarding a 4-year contract to a manager from Strasbourg, that ended the season in the 7th position is beyond naivety!

[MRY]

Chelsea is in big trouble and I just can't ignore it-- In 5 matches, they have incurred 3 losses and 1 draw, what's left of this season for them, at least so they can find themselves a good position? They got kicked out of the UCl title race by PSG last week. I thought that was consolable thus, expected something different in the Premier League, but losing against Everton is a shame.

I heard some conspiracies surrounding Liam Rosenior's prolonged contract with the club. Awarding a 4-year contract to a manager from Strasbourg, that ended the season in the 7th position is beyond naivety!

It has been devastating to see the Chelsea in this season that has seen the club lose the champions league to PSG. The loss to Everton was more of an tip of the iceberg of the very internal issues they were facing. And all that remains physically available is to simply pursue a European position, assuming that they can come out of this slump very fast. In the case of Liam Rosenior the four-year contract would be too ambitious and unsafe to a manager whose success has not been put to the real test.