06 Aug 2026 08:08:53
I hope our players are also "fuming" after the Leeds loss, just like the Gooners players after their defeat yesterday.
??????????
06 Aug 2026 08:49:35
It's always been the Liverpool winning way:
"To get ye own house in order first"
Jealousy gets you nowhere?
06 Aug 2026 08:58:09
I've really enjoyed oppo fans trying to banter us about that Leeds result. If you look at the team that finished the game, it's not going to be remotely reflective of the team that plays for us next season.
GK Mamardahvili - will play >20 games next season.
RB Ramsay - probably will leave.
CB Ndukwe - will leave on loan.
CB Ndiaye - will play >10 games next season.
LB Tsimikas - probably will leave.
CM Jones - probably will leave.
CM Gravenberch - his first minutes back from holiday.
AM Elliott - probably will leave.
RW Scanlon - an actual LB, who will probably leave.
ST Chiesa - probably will leave.
LW Koumas - probably will leave.
Mama, Ndiaye and Gravenberch are probably the only 3 on the pitch who will play for us next season and one will be 2nd GK and another will be 5th or 6th CB. Gravenberch is the only one I was concerned about.
06 Aug 2026 09:16:26
Who cares about training matches?
06 Aug 2026 09:37:31
Whilst I agree with the principle, Adam. But realistically, we won't be losing 7 of that team, in my opinion.
I think individuals who then get drafted into the first team over the season because of injuries etc won't be quite as exposed with lots of first teamers around them.
06 Aug 2026 09:50:22
Anyone who allows themselves to be wound up by opposition fans after losing a training match where we literally had one potential first team player on the pitch needs to give their head a wobble.
It didn't even point to a lack of squad depth. Some of those on the pitch were 5th choice or worse.
Take it for what it is and move on.
06 Aug 2026 10:22:40
I think we will, Zedd. The way I'm looking at it is we will sign another 3 or 4 players and most of them are academy kids who were filling in for senior pros. Tsimikas is the only one I was debating to myself, but I think Chambers has done enough to be the new back up for LB/CB. Even, if you take out those 8 players I said won't be here, this would still be the 28-strong squad with 4 new signings.
GK: Alisson, Mama, Jaros, Woodman.
RB: New, Frimpong, Bradley.
CB: Jacquet, Leoni.
CB: Virgil, Gomez, Ndiaye.
LB: Kerkez, Chambers.
DM: New, Nyoni, Endo.
CM: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch.
AM: Wirtz, Morrison.
RW: New, Munoz.
ST: Isak, Ekitike, Wright.
LW: New, Rio.
(Hopefully Kounde, Camara, Mbaye and Barcola).
If any of Ramsay, Ndukwe, Tsimikas, Jones, Elliott, Scanlon, Chiesa or Koumas are still here when the window closes, I'll be staggered. Ndukwe aside, they've just not done enough in pre-season, in my opinion, to justify keeping them; and Ndukwe can't get a work permit.
06 Aug 2026 10:25:35
Btw, even that is assuming Gakpo and Mac Allister leave on top of those 8 I listed.
06 Aug 2026 10:27:21
More worrying thing is we seem to be doing pre-season matches for non first-team players.
We all saw last season what the importance is of a pre-season, and with the WC and players yet to sign, the best case scenario is some first-team players might get minutes in our last 2 pre-season games, and worst case 1 or none prior to the season starting.
Realistically I'd imagine all top leagues would like to see a later season start after World Cups etc.
{Ed025's Note - i agree JK..
06 Aug 2026 10:59:38
I agree with that in principle, JK, but I would say that players coming back from a World Cup have still maintained their fitness until late July.
Last season we had players clocking off in late April after we'd won the league and then coming back to the devastation of a lost team member and friend.
Like Robbo said, they just didn't feel like playing football, so any preseason we might have had would not have been conducted at full intensity.
It's just a totally different scenario than this season and so shouldn't be compared as if it's the same thing.
06 Aug 2026 11:05:01
If Infantino manages to keep hold of his job and he gets his way for a 64 team World Cup, it'll rake months to stage the tournament. The following season won't start until Christmas !!
06 Aug 2026 11:19:29
Couldn't give the slightest toss about pre-season results. Good or bad.
06 Aug 2026 11:43:11
1jj, people who have some sense.
06 Aug 2026 13:46:18
We were cack in the 2019/20 pre season. That didn't turn out so bad.
The real game to be looking at is Newcastle.
06 Aug 2026 14:09:58
Exactly, Lofty1979. Anyone losing their ship over a preseason game is doing his/her own head in.
The rest of us don't have to participate in their own madness.
06 Aug 2026 15:32:55
Bp, I suppose it depends on when they were knocked out of World Cup, I suppose, mate.
Dutch lads we've seen Grav get minutes but not Virg or Gakpo.
You agreed in principle and then argued against it lol. Always good to debate with you.