Whale.io 🐳 | ⚽ English Premier League Season: 2026/2027

[tokeweed]

But don't forget that Arteta was first earmarked to replace Guardiola as he was Pep's right hand man.  He was being groomed for the management role at City.  So we'll see what's gon a happen next in a few years.   Arteta might not join now but Man City could be one of his options if he decides to leave Arsenal.  It's just a matter of when.

And here's the thing about City...  Can they do Maresca like they did Pellegrini?  

Arteta will probably never manage Manchester City. Anyway, without Guardiola maybe Manchester City will go through the same transitional issues that Manchester United faced after Ferguson left the club.

Oh for sure that could happen...  And I'm starting to think that it's the reason why they chose Maresca to replace Guardiola.  If things don't work out, it'll be easy to give him the sack and find another manager.    If they got Arteta right off the bat, it'll be a disaster for both manager and the club. 

As for the English national squad, it's decent and something that Tuchel could take deep into the World Cup.  And with a little luck, they could go to the finals.

[JollyGood]

This is the moment Arteta and Arsenal are working well together. Winning the Premier League after finishing second for a few years (and after many years of trying) cannot be an easy task. Arsenal should enjoy the moment and concentrate on the Champions League final.

If the relationship deteriorated and Arteta was sacked by Arsenal, it would be because he was a failure. On that basis, why would Manchester City think about Arteta?

Oh for sure that could happen...  And I'm starting to think that it's the reason why they chose Maresca to replace Guardiola.  If things don't work out, it'll be easy to give him the sack and find another manager.    If they got Arteta right off the bat, it'll be a disaster for both manager and the club. 

As for the English national squad, it's decent and something that Tuchel could take deep into the World Cup.  And with a little luck, they could go to the finals.

[tokeweed]

^  Now you're just making up a scenario that Arteta would leave Arsenal because he 'failed'.  Lol.  What if Arteta left Arsenal on a high note and join Man City because he wants to work with Ferran Soriano and Txiki?

And from what we've seen over the last few years, Arteta has the potential to be a great manager.  So even if Arteta didn't win the EPL this season, didn't reach the UCL final and therefore he 'failed', I think from what he's shown Man City would still love to hire him.

[JollyGood]

That is precisely the issue here, you think from what he's shown Man City would still love to hire him but you are not the owner of Manchester City. If Manchester City fans wanted Arteta they would have made it known. At the end of the day, he is not Manager of Manchester City.

For me, Arteta managing Manchester City is not going to happen but for you it is something you think will happen. We can agree to disagree  

^  Now you're just making up a scenario that Arteta would leave Arsenal because he 'failed'.  Lol.  What if Arteta left Arsenal on a high note and join Man City because he wants to work with Ferran Soriano and Txiki?

And from what we've seen over the last few years, Arteta has the potential to be a great manager.  So even if Arteta didn't win the EPL this season, didn't reach the UCL final and therefore he 'failed', I think from what he's shown Man City would still love to hire him.

[tokeweed]

^  I mean Enzo Maresca was a total flop in Chelsea but Man City is still willing to hire him.    You see Ferran Soriano and Txiki don't operate like the other top brass.  When they see potential, they're willing to take risks...

It's the same with Guardiola.  An untested manager of the Barca B squad who only had potential.  It was an unpopular decision at that time but they took the risk.

[JollyGood]

I think stating Maresca was a total flop (at Chelsea) is very subjective. In my opinion, he was not a total flop, he was someone that the players respected and he was slowly but surely changing the team. Had he been given more time, he could have helped them towards the Premier League top two.

It took Arteta seven years at Arsenal before they won the Premier League. Was he considered a total flop before that?

[igebotz]

^  I mean Enzo Maresca was a total flop in Chelsea but Man City is still willing to hire him.    You see Ferran Soriano and Txiki don't operate like the other top brass.  When they see potential, they're willing to take risks...

It's the same with Guardiola.  An untested manager of the Barca B squad who only had potential.  It was an unpopular decision at that time but they took the risk.

How was Enzo Maresca a total flop at Chelsea? He won the Conference league and Club World Cup, took the club from 8th to a champions league football for the first time in 5 years and mind you he was only 5 points away from the Top 4 when he decided to leave because the owners were assholes - he wasn't sacked.

He had a successful spell and left when it was too heavy for him to bear the owners.

It took Arteta seven years at Arsenal before they won the Premier League. Was he considered a total flop before that?

It took Ferguson about 7 years to win it first league title at Manchester United - People expect Chelsea managers to perform miracles in their first season. The new standard

[JollyGood]

In my opinion, Chelsea would have been far more successful had they not created an environment where Maresca decided he was going to leave. If there was some truth to the rumour that Juventus tried to hire him and he rejected them and he used that as leverage to explain to the owners that he wanted them to back him in the transfer market, there was nothing wrong with it.

As you stated, Ferguson took years before finding success. He became manager at the end of 1986. Manchester United won the Premier League in 1993, that was after six full seasons. It took a few years to win his first trophy (the FA Cup in 1990).

Winning the Premier League is extremely difficult. Slot was fortunate, he inherited a fantastic team from Klopp therefore easily won the Premier League in his first season. His second season was difficult. He could be sacked next season at Liverpool, that is how modern football works.

Maresca was respected by the players and he deserved respect from the Chelsea owners too. Unfortunately for him and the players, he felt he had no choice but to leave and Chelsea players and the club suffered as a result.

[igebotz]

In my opinion, Chelsea would have been far more successful had they not created an environment where Maresca decided he was going to leave. If there was some truth to the rumour that Juventus tried to hire him and rejected them and he used that as leverage to explain to the owners that he wanted them to back him in the transfer market, there was nothing wrong with it.

Kinda disappointed in Enzo Maresca in some ways; some journalist are saying he was already talking to Manchester city while managing Chelsea and had some kind of pre contract in place - made me feel he did all that talking just to make him leave.

Those reports may be true because why on earth would he turned down several top jobs if there wasn't any contract in place with City?

[tokeweed]

I think stating Maresca was a total flop (at Chelsea) is very subjective. In my opinion, he was not a total flop, he was someone that the players respected and he was slowly but surely changing the team. Had he been given more time, he could have helped them towards the Premier League top two.

It took Arteta seven years at Arsenal before they won the Premier League. Was he considered a total flop before that?

Mmmmm...  Subjective?  I don't think so.  He signed a 5 year contract and he was given the sack after 18 months due to a poor run of form.  He also spent around 500m GBP on the transfer market in those 18 months...

Dunno how you could say it's not, but that really looks like a flop.  But it doesn't matter now.  As I said Ferran Soriano and Txiki operate differently than most club execs.  They see potential in Maresca and I think Guardiola had a strong say in the decision too.  Soriano and Txiki listen to him.

[igebotz]

Mmmmm...  Subjective?  I don't think so.  He signed a 5 year contract and he was given the sack after 18 months due to a poor run of form.  He also spent around 500m GBP on the transfer market in those 18 months...

Dunno how you could say it's not, but that really looks like a flop.  But it doesn't matter now.  As I said Ferran Soriano and Txiki operate differently than most club execs.  They see potential in Maresca and I think Guardiola had a strong say in the decision too.  Soriano and Txiki listen to him.

No, Enzo Maresca didn't spend anything and none of the players he requested for was given to him.

He wanted Osimhen, the directors brought in Delap and Pedro instead.
He wanted a CB, the Sporting directors recalled Chalobah from a loan move instead
He wanted Mike Maignan as first choice goalkeeper, our sporting directors refused to pay €2m more to secure a deal.

If anything, Enzo Maresca was not backed and was not sacked either. He walked.

At Chelsea the coaches have no business with players transfer; everything is carried out by the sporting directors - your job is to manage.

[tokeweed]

^  Yeah..  He 'left' while the club was obviously getting ready to sack him.  The whole thing ended with a 'mutual agreement' kind of deal.  

And Maresca knew what he was getting into when he signed up for the Chelsea job.  He knew that he gonna work under a sporting director led model rather than the more traditional set up.  He's gonna work with a sporting director too.

Some of these players were prolly Maresca's picks.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/enzo-maresca/spielertransfers/trainer/53749

But overall I agree with you guys.  Maresca is a decent manager with the potential to do great things with the right club. 

[JollyGood]

I also felt a little disappointed with Maresca because there were reports that he was talking with Juventus and Manchester City in December 2025 before he left Chelsea in January 2026. There is no evidence to suggest a deal was agreed for him to take over at Manchester City or he was told Guardiola would be leave at the end of the season.

Maresca was under contract with Chelsea therefore he would never have had discussions with other clubs unless Chelsea gave him permission. For that error of judgement, I think his legacy there has been tainted. Having said that, he performed well considering the transfer policy at the time.

Kinda disappointed in Enzo Maresca in some ways; some journalist are saying he was already talking to Manchester city while managing Chelsea and had some kind of pre contract in place - made me feel he did all that talking just to make him leave.

Those reports may be true because why on earth would he turned down several top jobs if there wasn't any contract in place with City?

[igebotz]

^  Yeah..  He 'left' while the club was obviously getting ready to sack him.  The whole thing ended with a 'mutual agreement' kind of deal. 

And Maresca knew what he was getting into when he signed up for the Chelsea job.  He knew that he gonna work under a sporting director led model rather than the more traditional set up.  He's gonna work with a sporting director too.

This is why a top experienced managers will never accept our job because they can't operate as a head coach and just sit on the sidelines without having a say in what players to recruit and which to let go.

Most clubs operate the sporting directors model and it still works, we had it before this administration and it worked fine. The problem is the owners and the project they're running.

Maresca was under contract with Chelsea therefore he would never have had discussions with other clubs unless Chelsea gave him permission. For that error of judgement, I think his legacy there has been tainted. Having said that, he performed well considering the transfer policy at the time.

No more respect for contracts; clubs used to get fined for talking to other club's players without permission nowadays it sucks.

[tokeweed]

^  Yeah, it is what it is.  A manager would be lucky to have a sporting director who actually listens and he really wants to work with the manager.  Btw...  Xabi Alonso is Chelsea's new manager.  It should be an interesting season.  I'll try watching the EPL again and see if I stick around more closely this time. 

I tried for the last couple of seasons and I end up stopping after a couple of months.  Pretty satisfied just reading the news and looking at the results every week.

[igebotz]

^  Yeah, it is what it is.  A manager would be lucky to have a sporting director who actually listens and he really wants to work with the manager.  Btw...  Xabi Alonso is Chelsea's new manager.  It should be an interesting season.  I'll try watching the EPL again and see if I stick around more closely this time. 

I tried for the last couple of seasons and I end up stopping after a couple of months.  Pretty satisfied just reading the news and looking at the results every week.

I'm more interested in seeing how the new managers compete with Arteta next season; for the first time, we won't be worried about Pep and Manchester City. It's still refreshing to know that Pep won't be here next season, but I'm also concerned that Arteta will dog walk these new managers to the title and dominate before they've settled in.

What's your thoughts on Iraola to Liverpool? We know Anal Slut was unbelievable bad but still qualified the club to the champions league regardless
 

[JollyGood]

Chelsea might not have to worry about Guardiola at Manchester City but they need to look at themselves and improve as a team. They are talented as individuals but need cohesion as a team. I think Alonso can bring that mentality to the club and push Chelsea towards a top four finish (and with that, a Champions League spot).

I think sacking Slot was extreme because as you stated, Liverpool qualified for the Champions League. He won the Premier League 12 months ago with a team that Klopp left behind but he was the manager. Isak was injured throughout most of the season and Liverpool did not play with their chosen striker after paying a record fee. I think Slot deserved to stay another season.

[tokeweed]

^  Yeah, it is what it is.  A manager would be lucky to have a sporting director who actually listens and he really wants to work with the manager.  Btw...  Xabi Alonso is Chelsea's new manager.  It should be an interesting season.  I'll try watching the EPL again and see if I stick around more closely this time. 

I tried for the last couple of seasons and I end up stopping after a couple of months.  Pretty satisfied just reading the news and looking at the results every week.

What's your thoughts on Iraola to Liverpool? We know Anal Slut was unbelievable bad but still qualified the club to the champions league regardless
 

I mean yeah...  We obviously liked what we've seen of him at Bournemouth with the high press and the Klopp-esque gegenpress.  The play style might be almost the same as the 'heavy metal' football Klopp is known for.  Can't wait!

Damn, I might actually be watching 2026 - 2027 season more closely.  Lol.  The EPL has gotten a lot more interesting without Guardiola.

[JollyGood]

Nobody seriously believes the new Manchester City manager will win the league in his first season after replacing Guardiola. The question then becomes a fairly simple one: can Manchester City finish in a Champions League position next season?

On current form it is safe to conclude that with Arsenal and Manchester United probably occupying two of the four Champions League spots it leaves Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa as probably the main teams that will lead the pack for the final two positions but nothing is certain.

Also I expect Fulham, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth to remain in (or near) the relegation zone now that their managers have departed their respective clubs.

I mean yeah...  We obviously liked what we've seen of him at Bournemouth with the high press and the Klopp-esque gegenpress.  The play style might be almost the same as the 'heavy metal' football Klopp is known for.  Can't wait!

Damn, I might actually be watching 2026 - 2027 season more closely.  Lol.  The EPL has gotten a lot more interesting without Guardiola.

[igebotz]

Nobody seriously believes the new Manchester City manager will win the league in his first season after replacing Guardiola. The question then becomes a fairly simple one: can Manchester City finish in a Champions League position next season?

On current form it is safe to conclude that with Arsenal and Manchester United probably occupying two of the four Champions League spots. Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa are probably the main teams that will leads the pack for the final two positions but nothing is certain.

Manchester United made a good call to give  M. Carrick a permanent contract, he deserved it and he'd be an amazing manager for them; he has done some really good work. He has a good team and I hope he doesn't become another Anal Slut after getting in some new players in the summer..

New additions could help the team or destroy the existing chemistry in the team- it happened with Ole and Anal Slut and could happen again with Carrick if he makes the wrong move.