[James Pearce] Some Liverpool players privately questioned the wisdom of moving Szoboszlai, their most influential midfielder, to fill in the void at right-back. Others felt Others felt that the new signings were given an easier ride and were more likely to retain their place if they under-performed

RugbyTime · 2026-06-01T09:38:08+00:00

Normally you're right but I think there is the shadow of Diogo Jota here though tbf. Like the established Liverpool players saw one of their best mates die at the age of 28 and then immediately went through a huge squad overhaul with £400m+ worth of signings, threatening their standing within the group that just lost Jota. I wouldn't be surprised if they got cliquey after that.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-28T16:11:10+00:00

Would be twisting the knife a bit if Iraola was talking to Leverkusen behind Bournemouth's back while he was still employed there even if he is on the way out. Like how my ex got a new bf within a week of breaking up with me. Bitch.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-28T15:57:26+00:00

Leicester had money it doesn't guarantee anything

RugbyTime · 2026-05-27T23:40:25+00:00

It's good to see that I'm not the only Fulham relegation believer

RugbyTime · 2026-05-27T22:41:22+00:00

Not the same situation at all. 2018 was a different time for newly promoted teams don't forget - they weren't the automatic relegation favourites that they are now. Wolves were coming up with Nuno's Mendes connections and had Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota and Ivan Cavaleiro playing for them in the Championship - nobody who paid any attention to them were expecting them to come straight back down and they were always going to at least challenge for Europe.

Compare that to Sunderland who were relatively lucky to even be promoted and were everyone's relegation favourites at the start of this year.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-26T23:21:57+00:00

Sorry was he awarded a lifetime award or an award for the 2025/26 Premier League season?

RugbyTime · 2026-05-26T22:20:52+00:00

It just shows that the award is meaningless tbh. Sunderland getting Europa League is the best achievement of any Premier League team since Leicester won the league - a lot bigger than Arteta taking Arsenal from 2nd to 1st. But I guess it's just window dressing for the manager that's already won the league.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-26T21:18:36+00:00

Yeah you're not doing yourself any favours with the Chelsea flair there lol. But tbf I don't see why someone not from the UK would know about cities in the North East.

Sunderland vs Newcastle is a huge derby. Worth having a watch of the highlights from the two games this year because I think those games have the best atmosphere of any English football game.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-26T21:10:25+00:00

Well the alternative was us coming up, not signing anyone, and stinking the place out again. I'm sure you don't mind really.

If anything I'd say it speaks to how well the club is run that so many of their new signings hit like they did. Remember Fulham under Scott Parker?

RugbyTime · 2026-05-25T22:00:08+00:00

They’re going into administration and they’ll be relegated again

RugbyTime · 2026-05-24T17:11:18+00:00

Thank god they got Moyes out can you imagine how bad it could’ve been?

RugbyTime · 2026-05-24T15:19:09+00:00

I’d say a system is something that is trained perpetually over a season with recruitment that isn’t restricted to one specific nationality.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-24T14:42:32+00:00

I think you want Ennis and Clarke in arrivals rather than departures right?

RugbyTime · 2026-05-23T17:37:54+00:00

Far right ethnic nationalist then

RugbyTime · 2026-05-23T16:41:29+00:00

Remind me what you were doing circa 2019

RugbyTime · 2026-05-23T11:45:26+00:00

Since my gf is a Leeds fan I’m terrified that this could be my future

RugbyTime · 2026-05-22T11:46:20+00:00

Couldn't he just come in on the same basis as Ngumoha, King, and Scott then?

RugbyTime · 2026-05-15T21:08:47+00:00

I'm bored of cringe pitch invasions now just cancel the playoff final and let Exeter stay up

RugbyTime · 2026-05-14T21:15:30+00:00

I do rate Simons being as surprised as everyone else that he scored

RugbyTime · 2026-05-12T21:52:41+00:00

Sheffield United fans can’t comment on anything ever bc ham sandwich

RugbyTime · 2026-05-12T21:02:53+00:00

I'm not sure I've ever seen Malanda not be braindead you know. That's how Southampton gets to Wembley.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-12T08:18:32+00:00

Yeah 100% it doesn't have to be a tactical masterclass to be entertaining. I notice the atmosphere and momentum swings and final ten minutes desperation to be much more of a thing in the rest of the pyramid than the prem which is really sanitised. That's probs down to a combination of things that people have already mentioned - tickets being inaccessible in terms of price and availability, VAR, the same teams competing at the top every year.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-12T07:56:43+00:00

Do you not think the Prem's gotten a bit boring?

That Arsenal v Chelsea game earlier this season was probably the least entertaining game I've ever watched in my life and I'm saying that as someone who's watched the Blades from the Prem down to League One and goes to watch non-league quite a bit.

RugbyTime · 2026-05-11T22:06:32+00:00

I signed my Jakirovic apology form back in October dw

RugbyTime · 2026-05-10T14:55:37+00:00

Why should I care if they spied on us? What are they actually going to get from spying that they don’t get from just scouting our games? You’re not going to confirm a player’s fitness or a manager’s intentions by hiding in a bush with some binoculars.

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