*** The official 2025/26 Premier League thread ***

[Bedfordspurs]

Is this the team the media experts told us they had the league in their pocket before a ball was kicked? I've even read Isak ain't that good.

Then brought quality players but the fit for that team did seem off…

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

I think it's fascinating how the game is evolving in England. I don't particularly like it but it's very interesting. For many, many years Charles Hughes and POMO were pretty much derided as a relic of the past and football-kryptonite. Now, some of the principles he advocated for are being embraced again.

Admittedly, I haven't looked at Hughes' theories in too much detail and I do detest the sort of long ball football that was very prevalent in the 80s and early 90s. That said, it would seem to me that passing around aimlessly is one way not to score goals - it's got to be quick, incisive and primarily forward. Knocking it back around or sideways, as we saw on Sunday and under Conte for the last months of his reign, just results in the opposition getting back into shape and us being unable to break them down.

Systems rule, players appear to be drilled to follow the plan slavishly, when their opponents come up with a way of nullifying their tactic the players appear clueless and cling to possession as a safety blanket.
I understand all teams need some sort of formation but it should allow freedom for the players to express their skills.
Virtually any game you watch now is similar with few exciting moments except from a rare flash of clever play or mistakes.
The players have become pawns in a game of chess, the only thing that matters is not losing.

 

[DeanoAustin]

Systems rule, players appear to be drilled to follow the plan slavishly, when their opponents come up with a way of nullifying their tactic the players appear clueless and cling to possession as a safety blanket.
I understand all teams need some sort of formation but it should allow freedom for the players to express their skills.
Virtually any game you watch now is similar with few exciting moments except from a rare flash of clever play or mistakes.
The players have become pawns in a game of chess, the only thing that matters is not losing.

I watch a fair bit of underage football over here as my lad is at that age. Skills are coached out of players in a lot of instances. The collective groan and shouts of "pass it" whenever a lad takes the ball on. It's like taking a risk and losing the ball is the gravest offence on a pitch these days.

I'll sound old but I love watching players like Gazza, Waddle, Dembele, Ginola...lads who would take a player on and beat them. I don't know if there is space in the game for many players like that these days.

 

[fernadez]

Seems to be that it's now managers proving how clever they are by vritue of their system as well. Any deviation or adaptation is like some personal affront to them. This way also takes agency away from the players, 'yeah I know this is your skillset but now you do xyz'.

People like Redknapp and Fat Sam, Carlo at a much higher level have the ability to look at what they have and mould thier ideas to it. I'm hoping that Frank continues to show this with us. That's why pragmatic was top of my wants for the new manager, I see it as the ability to adapt rather than only playing one way regardless of skillset, players and opposition. Fergie wasn't above man marking Pirlo but Amorin won't change from wing backs even without any wingbacks.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

I watch a fair bit of underage football over here as my lad is at that age. Skills are coached out of players in a lot of instances. The collective groan and shouts of "pass it" whenever a lad takes the ball on. It's like taking a risk and losing the ball is the gravest offence on a pitch these days.

I'll sound old but I love watching players like Gazza, Waddle, Dembele, Ginola...lads who would take a player on and beat them. I don't know if there is space in the game for many players like that these days.

Totally agree except from the version of Ginola we got, he was not content with beating his man once he had to fanny about, lost count of the number of times a forward would make the run for early ball and have to start again.