Football

[brad465]

explains the delay in him being announced as Palace manager!

Bookies have him at 1/20, they must think it's a done deal.

Palace are reportedly after Frank Lampard, which makes no real sense given he brought Coventry into the PL. They've also been talking with former Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller, though his odds have been lengthening recently.

Iraola was initially looking at AC Milan, but apparently they have a shockingly low transfer budget compared to what the likes of Palace and a few other PL clubs were offering.

 

[Haywain]

Palace are reportedly after Frank Lampard, which makes no real sense given he brought Coventry into the PL.

If you mean it makes no sense for Lampard, I don't agree. Palace are an established Premier League club, so at far lower risk of relegation, and can offer European football. I'd say that's fairly attractive compared to Coventry's inevitable relegation battle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2026 ==

Given the tragedy of Liverpool's pre-season I feel this is rather harsh.

I agree with you. It's easy to overlook how much impact such an incident can have on a club.

 

[AlterEgo]

There's first place or no place. Better luck next time Arsenal.

 

[JamesT]

Arsenal lose the Champions League final to PSG on penalties.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Arsenal lose the Champions League final to PSG on penalties.

Does the match statistics tell a story?

 

[AlterEgo]

The stats tell you they got pumped as anyone with any sense would have predicted. Arsenal had 25% possession and a single shot on target over 120 minutes. They also managed a single other shot which was off target. PSG's keeper didn't make a single save. Even in the shootout.

Nonetheless Arsenal clung on and made it a close run thing, and they deserve credit for their organisation and tenacity for it.

 

[Broucek]

As someone who lives in N London and is not a gooner, I am glad for how quiet everything is.....

 

[Bald Rick]

Bookies have him at 1/20, they must think it's a done deal.

betfair have him at 1/10

Although he is also 1/8 for the Palace job…

 

[Trackman]

betfair have him at 1/10

Although he is also 1/8 for the Palace job…

Only on Betfair, other bookies he's 10's+

 

[SuspectUsual]

Arsenal had 25% possession and a single shot on target over 120 minutes

PSG only had four shots on target. Possession and passing on its own doesn’t mean everything.

Both teams played to their strengths - if Arsenal had played like they generally do in the premier league they’d have likely lost more heavily

 

[AlterEgo]

PSG only had four shots on target. Possession and passing on its own doesn’t mean everything.

Both teams played to their strengths - if Arsenal had played like they generally do in the premier league they’d have likely lost more heavily

Arsenal cannot play the way they do against PSG as they do against any of the PL teams because PSG are the best team in Europe without a doubt. And that is really about it to be honest.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If Arsenal had won, noting that English clubs had already won the other two European football trophies, there would have been no end of xenophobic media gushing about how wonderful the English game is, so at least we have been spared that scenario.

 

[Minilad]

"You'll never sing that, you'll never sing that, Champions of Europe, you'll never sing that"

Unlucky Billion Pound Stoke

 

[Bald Rick]

If Arsenal had won, noting that English clubs had already won the other two European football trophies, there would have been no end of xenophobic media gushing about how wonderful the English game is, so at least we have been spared that scenario.

And in about 5 weeks time various press articles about how we (England) have the best club football in the world having won all 3 european club championships, but still get dumped out of the World cup in the quarter finals by a team we should have beaten.

 

[AlterEgo]

And in about 5 weeks time various press articles about how we have the best club football in the world having won all 3 european club championships, but still get dumped out of the World cup in te quarter finals by a team we should have beaten.

It'll happen. They will just say Arsenal ran PSG close and justify it that way.

 

[Falcon1200]

there would have been no end of xenophobic media gushing about how wonderful the English game is,

Why should people not be happy and proud of the success of English clubs in the European competitions? I am, even though I don't support any of the three in the Finals. And at least we have been spared the scenes in Paris after last night's result.

Paris riots: Hundreds arrested and dozens of police injured in France after Champions League final

Nearly 800 people were arrested after clashes with police which saw 219 people injured, including 57 police officers.

www.bbc.co.uk

A total of 219 people have been injured in clashes between football fans and police across France after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the Champions League final against Arsenal.
Eight were in a serious condition, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. Thousands of officers were deployed to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services in the capital, Paris. Fifty-seven of them were injured.
Nuñez said 780 people had been arrested over the violence - with more than 450 in custody. A person was found dead after an accident on Paris's ring road, which rioters tried to block overnight.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Why should people not be happy and proud of the success of English clubs in the European competitions? I am, even though I don't support any of the three in the Finals. And at least we have been spared the scenes in Paris after last night's result.

Paris riots: Hundreds arrested and dozens of police injured in France after Champions League final

Nearly 800 people were arrested after clashes with police which saw 219 people injured, including 57 police officers.

www.bbc.co.uk

The difference being that you speak with a mature aspect on football achievements, whereas the media seem oblivious to such considered matter of thought and speech.

 

[Falcon1200]

The difference being that you speak with a mature aspect on football achievements, whereas the media seem oblivious to such considered matter of thought and speech.

Yes, I do have to agree there!

 

[43096]

Oh dear. Not

A thoroughly dislikable player, a thoroughly dislikable manager, and by all accounts a thoroughly dislikable man

I will disagree. Not by all accounts - I have heard plenty say he's a decent bloke.

 

[JD2168]

Arne Slot:
A slight surprise but I suppose after spending £450 million on signings you would have expected better than 5th place & a long way off Arsenal. There was also frustration from the supporters about the style of play towards the end of the season. He did get plenty of credit for the way he handled things after the Diogo Jota death.

Andoni Iraola:
Would be a sensible appointment at Liverpool & it makes sense considering that some of the upstairs worked with him at Bournemouth along with Kerkez who struggled during his first season.

With regards AC Milan, Glasner & Pochettino have also been linked with the job.

Champions League final:
A good start for Arsenal but the rest of the game was dominated by PSG but without them creating too many chances. The penalty that was given was correct, the penalty not given was fair, I have seen them given & not given. The shootout was interesting, a good save by Raya but on some others particularly the winning one he moved pretty early making the players mind up. Credit to Marquinhos of PSG who instead of celebrating immediately went & consoled Gabriel

 

[brad465]

Something I've noted ahead of this World Cup, is England and Argentina have not met at all since 2005, which means if we don't meet in this tournament, we will never have had to face Messi, assuming he retires after this one. Looking at the knockout stage structure, assuming both teams get out their respective groups, both teams would not meet till the semi-finals at the earliest, bar a bizarre situation where both teams qualify having been third in their groups (that would enable a Round of 16 meeting).

Of course England know all too well what facing his effective predecessor was like (Maradona).

 

[Trackman]

And in about 5 weeks time various press articles about how we (England) have the best club football in the world having won all 3 european club championships, but still get dumped out of the World cup in the quarter finals by a team we should have beaten.

and they'll blame it on the heat.
Great being an England supporter I suppose, no expectations.

 

[DarloRich]

The stats tell you they got pumped as anyone with any sense would have predicted. Arsenal had 25% possession and a single shot on target over 120 minutes. They also managed a single other shot which was off target. PSG's keeper didn't make a single save. Even in the shootout.

Did the really get "pumped"? - it didn't look like that in the game. Did you watch it? It was a different game live than the numbers suggest.

I KNOW modern football is all about "stats" and especially the possession statistic but the reality is PSG didn't look like scoring until they got a penalty. They had 4 shots on target according to the BBC. The Arsenal keeper made 3 saves. 3 saves against the best side in the world. Is that a pumping?

Yes, PSG had a lot of the ball but Arsenal were happy to let them have in thier own half and PSG seemed to have no idea how to break Arsenal down when they crossed the half way line. They also couldn't put a cross on a pools coupon they were so poor with balls in! Arsenal doubled up on the wide players every time they tried to go down the line and did a "mob defence" with anyone coming through the middle.

Nonetheless Arsenal clung on and made it a close run thing, and they deserve credit for their organisation and tenacity for it.

I thought thier tactics were spot on frankly. I know it wasn't the modern pep ball that PL fans demand but it was a superb display of organisation and game plan that nearly worked. I don't think Arsenal could beat PSG on the same terms so they played to thier strengths. Sensible to me. it wasn't a classic by any stretch though!

The penalty they gave away was tiredness and there was a good argument for a penalty for Arsenal at the other end. It was a "seen them given" type. Mind the same could be said for PSG in the first half!

 

[AlterEgo]

Did the really get "pumped"? - it didn't look like that in the game. Did you watch it? It was a different game live than the numbers suggest.

Yep, I watched the game, Arsenal created almost nothing at all. One shot on target and one off target all game, a very poor return against a side which has shipped 23 goals in the competition this season. PSG on the other hand had 21 shots and a few decent chances.

Arsenal were forced to play the way they did because the team they were facing was considerably superior.

I KNOW modern football is all about "stats" and especially the possession statistic but the reality is PSG didn't look like scoring until they got a penalty. They had 4 shots on target according to the BBC. The Arsenal keeper made 3 saves. 3 saves against the best side in the world. Is that a pumping?

Arsenal didn't look like winning other than by way of a penalty shootout, and then bottled that. Raya started moving for the final penalty in the last moon phase.

What I will say in Arsenal's defence is they've displayed a top attitude in defeat; it will hurt, but they appear poised to immediately bounce back. I am confident Arteta will tweak Arsenal's style following some business this summer. From his perspective, winning the League and getting to the European Cup Final is a superb success given the limitations his team has. I don't actually think they're that good, you see, beyond an excellent centre half pairing and Rice (who is player of the year in my view). We haven't seen the best yet from Eze or Madueke, and their expensive must-have centre forward in Gyokeres hasn't turned up this year. Arteta has made marginal improvements to the side every year which are now having a cumulative effect and next year will be very interesting indeed.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

PSG didn't look like scoring until they got a penalty. They had 4 shots on target according to the BBC.

Sorry for returning to "stats", but how many goal attempts were made by both teams?

 

[DarloRich]

Sorry for returning to "stats", but how many goal attempts were made by both teams?

PSG: 21 shots. 4 on target
Arsenal: 7/1

PSG XG: 1.77
Arsenal XG: 0.44

PSG AG: 1
Arsenal AG: 1

 

[Haywain]

Rob Edwards has been sacked by Wolves, and Kieran McKenna has left Ipswich. I don't think there's any sort of connection between these events.

 

[SuspectUsual]

So they recruited him because of his experience in the championship and then sacked him before they've played a single game at that level. Madness. And there hasn't been a change of ownership has there?

McKenna has said he's taking a break as there were rumours he was off to Fulham. We shall see

Surely with Wolves the normal response at times like this is to appoint someone Portuguese?

 

[Haywain]

So they recruited him because of his experience in the championship and then sacked him before they've played a single game at that level. Madness. And there hasn't been a change of ownership has there?

Agreed, utter stupidity. I can't help thinking that Wolves will continue their downward trajectory.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2026 ==

Surely with Wolves the normal response at times like this is to appoint someone Portuguese?

Rumoured to be one Cesar Peixoto.

 

[Tetchytyke]

So they recruited him because of his experience in the championship and then sacked him before they've played a single game at that level. Madness. And there hasn't been a change of ownership has there?

Law of averages says there must be one Chinese football club owner who isn’t a crook, an imbecile, or both, but I’ve yet to find them.