Pre-Season 2025/2026 thread

[HCZ_Reborn]

Young English players do get overhyped but this kid looks like an elite talent, generational talent if he continues to develop. At times he was walking around the Newcastle players like a Prime "Messi", honestly unbelievable to see, but I am so happy we have talent on our hands like this.

He is definitely ready to contribute now but I guess we will ease him in. I think by this time next year he will be starting games similar to how MLS & Nwaneri were introduced.

Yeah 100% agree with all that

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Seeing Dowman and Nwaneri start in the Carabao games will be fun.

I assume Dowman can play in that.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Seeing Dowman and Nwaneri start in the Carabao games will be fun.

I assume Dowman can play in that.

He can play in the league, only competition he won’t be able to play in is champions league (until January)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ah because he'll be 16 by then presumably. If we get through the league stage of course.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Gyokeres doesn’t start

[HCZ_Reborn]

Raya lobbed again for a goal, clearly a problem for us

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I mean. Who cares, really?
I'd forgotten this was on tbh (although I did talk to a colleague based on HK about it earlier)
He's a Spurs fan and couldn't get a ticket for L nor M.

You obviously aren't serious about this comment.

Like I said earlier, I wonder WTF we were thinking booking this as a friendly.

There has been absolutely nothing "friendly" about the challenges and its a miracle we don't have a player seriously injured yet.

Spurs are deservedly ahead as they've hit the post like 3 times thanks to embarrassing defending when it comes to attacking crosses.

We've probably been the better team but we've not made their keeper work at all (my stream has been a bit unreliable so I might be wrong).

Same old Arsenal for now, though we've lost our superiority in the air, both when we're attacking and defending.

We'll only probably get back into this game due to some sort of cockup from them or they relax a bit and actually start playing like it is a friendly.

[HCZ_Reborn]

You obviously aren't serious about this comment.

Like I said earlier, I wonder WTF we were thinking booking this as a friendly.

There has been absolutely nothing "friendly" about the challenges and its a miracle we don't have a player seriously injured yet.

Spurs are deservedly ahead as they've hit the post like 3 times thanks to embarrassing defending when it comes to attacking crosses.

We've probably been the better team but we've not made their keeper work at all (my stream has been a bit unreliable so I might be wrong).

Same old Arsenal for now, though we've lost our superiority in the air, both when we're attacking and defending.

We'll only probably get back into this game due to some sort of cockup from them or they relax a bit and actually start playing like it is a friendly.

What do you think is behind the lack of aerial security? Not having Gabriel?

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

What do you think is behind the lack of aerial security? Not having Gabriel?

The funny thing is that Kiwior is probably as good with his head as Gabriel, but his ability to sniff danger or set the tempo when it comes to defending is seriously lacking.

I think both he and Saliba are to similar in their lackadaisical attitude to danger and this is where we are missing Gabriel and even Caliafiori...even though the latter is probably the weakest in the air.

As for the attacking during set pieces and corners, definitely missing Gabriel and Merino. The others have always been crap with their heading abilities.....though it must be said the set piece play has been pretty poor throughout this tour.

[Letters]

You obviously aren't serious about this comment.

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley

Like I said earlier, I wonder WTF we were thinking booking this as a friendly.

There has been absolutely nothing "friendly" about the challenges and its a miracle we don't have a player seriously injured yet.

Well yes, this is a reasonable point. I don't care about the result but having this sort of game as a friendly is probably a bad idea. I do care about us getting injuries.

Pre-season has long since stopped being about preparing for the upcoming season, it's all about money generation and fanbase building now.