Liverpool banter 5

16 Jun 2026 09:08:33
Is it just me or the quality if football this world cup has just gone down?

Some of it has been so rubbish. Like kindergarten level goals being conceded?

Also this probably is worst broadcast of a WC ever!! Like nt just the football is broken, the quality of broadcast also looks like watching VHS from the early 90's

16 Jun 2026 09:45:43
The only time I'll be watching is when Argentina are playing. Only because I drew them in the sweepstake and I win £500 if they are champions. Other than that, international football is what it has been for years, insipid. Viva Argentina. ??

16 Jun 2026 09:46:39
There are 16 teams playing at this World Cup that would not have been good enough to qualify for previous editions. The standard of these early rounds is likely to suffer as a result. Hopefully, once we get to the later stages, the quality will pick up.

16 Jun 2026 09:47:48
I think it's down to the heat, and they should be looking to introduce more hydration breaks because teams are obviously fatigued. ;)

In all seriousness though, I think most teams are being cautious this first round. No one wants to lose the first match. The tempo might improve as we get further through the stages.

16 Jun 2026 10:25:47
Standard of international football has always been generally rubbish. Every now and then you get a team that properly gels, but it's not often given the extremely limited amount of time they spend training together.

16 Jun 2026 10:36:40
I enjoyed a couple of games already. The Egypt game yesterday was fun. Egypt could have easily beaten Belgium. 2nd half Holland v Japan was great. Morocco v Brazil was also a good watch. Most games this early will suck though!

16 Jun 2026 10:40:12
I agree with Westwood. The limited time that they get is very little. But I feel it has always been like that. International football is not good at all. The only team that I felt had some cohesion was Japan, even if they lack quality.



Also, you have to consider that it's hard to get 11 players or more with quality compared to the big clubs in Europe, so that's also a negative of international competitions.

16 Jun 2026 11:00:13
I think it's been fine? Sure, you could say that some teams don't 'deserve' to be there, but there were only 16 teams for 44 years, then 24 for 12 years after that; the 32 team system is only 24 years old itself. The fans going delirious from Curacao scoring against Germany and penning them in for a spell before the hydration break was quite moving, as was Cape Verde holding Spain to a deadlock.

I watched Iran vs New Zealand this morning, and it was a more than decent game. Maybe the technical quality is not always of the same high level you see in the CL or whatever, but both teams had a distinct style of playing and were fighting tooth and nail for every single loose ball, putting everything into it for 90 minutes.



You have to remember for some of these players this is the only chance they have to play on the world stage, a lot of them are toiling in the lower leagues somewhere, and some of the stories behind some of the players behind the heroics for Cape Verde, for example, are quite moving to read beyond the actual 90 minutes itself. Besides that you get to read about some of the migrant communities of countries like Iran, Cape Verde and Curacao in the US, Canada and Mexico, where they are concentrated, why they left their homes, etc. That's always an advantage of these events.

16 Jun 2026 11:00:15
I have actually enjoyed the football. It looks much more like football than what the horrific product the Premier League has served up in the last 12 months.

There is a dearth of superstars, but that is a general problem in the game at the moment.

16 Jun 2026 11:40:02
Terrible World Cup, worst in a long time, but what do you expect when there's 1,200 teams in the competition and no fans in the stadiums? Every time I check the fixtures, I'm saying who the f*** are these?! Never seen so many countries I've never heard of in one place.

It's like a drop-down menu for a shipping address.


Thristforwirtz, speaking of the broadcasts, there's been some shoddy camera work at times, definitely a few operators there, more at home filming baseball.

16 Jun 2026 11:41:00
All the games have been awful except Germany's, where Wirtz looked world class. Lad is carrying this World Cup.

16 Jun 2026 11:43:03
I'm not saying it isn't entertaining. The lack of team cohesion actually makes for more spaces, and more opportunities for attacking flair type players to show their stuff. I'm just saying, in terms of actual teamwork, it's not.

16 Jun 2026 11:44:14
Hit send by accident.
It's not a good standard. I reckon most club teams would beat many international squads.

16 Jun 2026 11:49:51
I know it's early days, but looking at the standard of goalkeeper on show,
I'd be looking at keeping Becker until he's 50!

16 Jun 2026 12:07:24
Never mind the football, the pundits are truly awful. It's the World Cup, and I still have to listen to Neville and Richards. Jeez, I'd rather pull my teeth out.

16 Jun 2026 12:19:19
The biggest teams in Europe can cherry pick the best players from around the world in one team so international football is no longer the pinnacle.

I mean, seriously, Brazil's starting CF plays for Brentford. Belgium are bringing on a player from Rangers to try to win a game. Sunderland have 12 players at the World Cup.

4 more than Liverpool and 2 more than Real Madrid.

International football is dead and almost meaningless now. It's simply a money making racket. Hydration breaks? They would be so much more relevant if they didn't use the opportunity to make more money.

It's all just a big scam.

16 Jun 2026 12:21:08
I agree, ArneSlotsBarber. Those games are very, very good to watch. But, before we beat up on the WC, these are the opening games where teams are very cautious and don't wanna lose.

Now, when we get to the second round of games, things will get better, cos teams who didn't win their first game are now gonna have to play to win and take more risks, so hoping this will bring better games.

People need to relax.

16 Jun 2026 12:57:41
I'm personally enjoying it, and it's great seeing the smaller teams get their moment. Cape Verde and Curacao had moments that will be talked about for generations.

Yes, the coverage isn't the best, we are getting the American celebs plastered everywhere and even on the ITV coverage having an American in there for reasons I'm not really sure of.

The choice of pundits leaves a lot to be desired, and, obviously, the political element surrounding it isn't great either. That's before the neither commercial breaks, sorry, hydration break!

But the football and the small teams are delivering imo. Everything else can be put to one side.

16 Jun 2026 13:16:42
I was in general talking about football in the sense that there is just no cohesion, and it's every match is so slow. Also, the pitches. And then the broadcast is so pathetic. Like, how can you not shoot the goal in a live telecast and have it from behind, where you don't even understand on TV that the ball went in or not!!
And the commentators don't even hype up attacks.

In the Iran game, the guy wouldn't even call their names properly!

16 Jun 2026 14:21:56
I feel like this is a complaint every international tournament. I agree that the international games are not as good as the club games, but I've really enjoyed the WC so far and expect that will continue.

16 Jun 2026 15:23:27
WYred, I agree with you. It's just great to see teams from small island countries (how many are real professionals?) put up a good fight against professional multimillionaires from the European leagues.

But what I am wondering is whether it's because (as I wrote a few days ago) that World football is catching up to European football (well some of the South Americans were always already there), or is it, as Oli said above, the big teams are just "warming up" and will eventually get better and better?

16 Jun 2026 15:38:52
I've enjoyed plenty of games to be honest. Seeing different styles and spotting new players.

I think when you lower your expectations a bit and try to enjoy without expecting it to be a Champions League finals, then you can enjoy.

I pick what, on paper, might be interesting or countries with players I want to watch. I've watched some full games, others just a half, and others I watch here and there while doing some work.

USA v Paraguay
I was quite impressed by the US midfield. Tillman, Adams and Mackenie were great.

Korea v Czech
I'm a fan of Korea's style. They played very attacking but also organised, quite entertaining. They're a bit of a dark horse imo.

Brazil v Morocco
Entertaining from end to end. Morocco never backed down and took it to Brazil.

Brazil were actually the more boring to watch, very disjointed the first half.

Netherlands v Japan
Boring for periods because the Dutch = Sloth-ball but I always enjoy watching those quick passes and the skill level in tight spaces from Japan.

Australia v Turkey
Not the prettiest but what a win from the Aussies defending with their all and breaking fast on the counter, reminded me of Leicester when they won the PL.

NZ v Iran
Again, not pretty but both teams going at it and that Just boy had the game of his life with the 2 goals.

It should get better as it progresses, especially with teams that dropped points on round 1. They'll need to throw everything at it next 2 rounds. Round 1 is always cagey in the WC as no one wants to drop points.

16 Jun 2026 16:53:53
"It should get better as it progresses, especially with teams that dropped points on round 1."

My sentiments, exactly.

16 Jun 2026 03:16:56
Diomande, Nunez, Wharton, Bouaddi, Schotterback,
I would add Bowen/Rashford as Gapko replacement.
Guiterrda/Koyade as RB option.

7 incomings with 4 starting 11.
And 3 quality depth.

16 Jun 2026 04:55:57
Thanks for the post, Bahv Sred.

16 Jun 2026 05:47:10
Any Liverpool supporter wanting to sign a Manchester United player doesn't really understand the football club.

16 Jun 2026 06:20:10
Haha, that's true, but the powers in play were once close to getting Heinze from ManU to us, so the idea was being mooted in the past. I just look at footballers as paid employees of clubs.

16 Jun 2026 06:51:26
Rashford is a bad influence in the dressing room, lazy, self centred
And even worse a man United fan and player

16 Jun 2026 07:31:23
The fact that Barcelona signed Gordon and not Rashford says it all.

16 Jun 2026 07:45:45
How did Darwin get on last night?

16 Jun 2026 08:14:39
JK23, it was his first competitive start since February, and he didn't look fully fit, to be honest. He only managed 45 minutes and struggled to have much of an impact.

16 Jun 2026 09:17:07
I'm with Cookie on this, Rashford can stay well clear and should be on no wish list of any Liverpool supporter. I also don't see how Wharton improves us either. Nunez would be a good bit of business I think, as it will allow us to rotate Isak and take the pressure of rushing Ekitike back.

16 Jun 2026 10:40:16
Fatwallet
Have you ever been in the dressing room with Rashford?

16 Jun 2026 12:06:09
Loads of times, it was rumored then Irish, if that's better, he wants to play but won't drop his wages to get a move, for me he's a self centered p**** and not that good.

16 Jun 2026 12:22:53
MKS, I didn't think Darwin did well either, but if the context you explain is what it is, then no one should be surprised about his performance. It's football.

16 Jun 2026 12:30:50
JK23

By all accounts he was shocking and was hooked off at half time.
Hopefully it was down to lack of fitness. But if he's trying to put himself in the shop window he needs to drastically improve.

16 Jun 2026 15:40:42
Rashford lol.

16 Jun 2026 16:54:26
Indeed, Gregarious. Even Utd don't want him.

16 Jun 2026 01:49:22
I beg, don't be nasty to one another.

It's only footy.

Ta.

16 Jun 2026 02:38:01
Does this mean Diomande has gone to City?

16 Jun 2026 03:25:06
Where are those rumours coming from Faith as all I've found is City's interest but from a few weeks back. If Leipzig are really holding out for over £100m then I say walk away. The player is currently on 12kpw and if he's after the big bucks then again walk away. We really need players who really want to be here.

16 Jun 2026 07:13:17
Well said, Carra.

16 Jun 2026 07:39:51
I wouldn't take Rashford on a free if he worked for actual buttons.

16 Jun 2026 07:53:04
Does the be nice extend to Harry as well?

16 Jun 2026 10:41:14
It hasn't before, JK. ?

16 Jun 2026 15:26:44
JK, you're referring to him being nice to us, I'm sure. ?

16 Jun 2026 15:28:40
Irish, you know the old phrase, what goes around comes around? ?

16 Jun 2026 01:26:12
Any truth in Indy saying we want Nwaneri from Arsenal? Think the kid has high potential to be a great player so would be nice to take one from them.

16 Jun 2026 09:26:13
It's Indy. He probably reads this forum for info - I suggested yesterday that it would be a good idea to put in a cheeky bid if Arsenal were after Morgan Rogers, as it would push Nwaneri even further down the pecking order.

16 Jun 2026 11:01:27
Nwaneri did nothing of note on his loan at Marseille, started brightly, then crashed, hardly promising signs, though he did look a decent player at Arsenal. Granted Marseille were a bit of a bin fire this year.

16 Jun 2026 15:50:13
Would he offer much more than Elliott?

He's 4 years younger and quicker, (I think), so maybe there's an argument there as squad player if Elliott was being sold, but there wouldn't be a need for both of them.

Not the worst option if the price was right and Iraola thought he could get him to perform.

Could cover for Wirtz and the RW when rotation is needed.

Showed a lot of promise at some point, not sure what happened. Although, Arteta sucks, so it wouldn't surprise me if he shot his confidence.

Maybe.

15 Jun 2026 20:42:14
Robbo
If it's a case of numbers for Diomande, let him know 66 is available.

15 Jun 2026 21:49:26
Rent free.

15 Jun 2026 20:02:58
Has there ever been a less successful player who was more popular than Darwin?

Maybe Igor, because the Anfield crowd loved him.

15 Jun 2026 20:32:06
Nevada
40 goals in 143 appearances, quite a few of them not full games, is not what I would call unsuccessful. But his main assets were occupying defenders to create space for others, and his pressing, which made the midfield not look so wide open. We haven't replaced what he offered.

15 Jun 2026 20:20:04
Eric Meijer?

15 Jun 2026 20:58:08
Titi Camara?

15 Jun 2026 21:15:58
ArneSlop. The crowd loved Eric Meijer, the lad ran his nuts off. The Anfield faithful love a tryer.

15 Jun 2026 21:23:48
Darwin causes defences headaches, he is just chaos and no-one likes playing against someone that causes that. Big yes from me if we got him on a free. If it doesn't work, sell him on.

15 Jun 2026 22:50:12
Thiago? He was constantly injured, but was, and still is, highly regarded.

15 Jun 2026 23:12:16
Smicer, Camara, Sissoko, Meijer, Biscan, Klavan arguably fall into the same 'cult hero' bracket, possibly even Lucas, although he was often derided.

16 Jun 2026 06:19:10
Any defence would be ecstatic to be facing a player who missed as many chances and ran offside as often as Nunez did.

16 Jun 2026 06:23:12
Do any of the ITK's or Ed's know if this is likely then because quite a few are pining after Darwin on here.

Iraola must know a baller when he sees one. Or is it a case that he's desperate to work with him and bloody Hughes and Edwards won't put in a big free transfer bid.

16 Jun 2026 07:34:47
Evanilson was a key player for Iraola. He is far from a good finisher himself, and if I'm going to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure there are many things Evanilson can do that Nunez can't at the same or a higher level. As a backup forward, I think you really could do much worse than Darwin.

16 Jun 2026 07:47:59
Lofty, Sissoko at his peak was actually a superb player, as was Lucas, who was at one point one of the first names on the Brazil national team sheet.

16 Jun 2026 08:34:07
I miss Nunez. Last year we wanted pace due to the boring horse shoe style. If this is true, and he is available, we would be negligent if we missed out.

I understand his shortcomings and offsides yada yada. However, his endeavour got him into those positions ... to get caught offside to miss one on ones. No defenders are ever comfortable playing against players they cannot predict.

Darwin is chaos in droves. He had my out of my seat so many times. Admittedly, I sat down exasperated most of the time. But, I for one, would love the lad back. You never know, our new coach could be just the guy to turn this headless chicken into what we thought we got 4 years ago. Older, wiser, calmer.
Come on, what's the risk?

16 Jun 2026 09:52:38
Does Nunez still have chaos in droves even though he's older, wiser and calmer?
I haven't seen him play for ages, so has he changed?
What I can't get away from is that, at 26 years old, he had his contract in the Saudi league terminated after less than a season, after his club paid over £50m for him.


I could be wrong about him, but he wasn't very good when I watched him play for us, and he seems even less in demand now than he did then.

16 Jun 2026 10:20:15
El Hadj Diouf? ?

16 Jun 2026 11:18:02
Fabio Aurelio!!

16 Jun 2026 11:31:26
Nunez was part of a pl winning team. Ok, a bit part player, but he had his game-winning moments, so you can't say he was a total flop.

16 Jun 2026 15:14:05
Patrick, but he was less successful, the injury basically did for him, which was a shame.

Lucas used to get pelters from online fans. I remember being on the Team Talk forums, having a right old barney over Lucas with one guy who was almost exclusively negative.

15 Jun 2026 19:03:09
The Nunez links feel a little like pining for an ex who was great in bed but absolutely did your head in.

He struggled under pressure and is all brawn with little brain. He barely learned a word of English - something that isn't mentioned but he clearly struggled to communicate and take on tactical instructions.

However. with a Spanish speaking coach, a high pressing style that can suit him and as a short term contract on a free. I guess I could get back into that bed one more time.

15 Jun 2026 19:34:17
The way I see it, is we judged him against his status in the squad. If you cost £85m and were signed to be the main man, wearing the number 9 shirt, then the expectations are higher from the club and the fans.

However, we sold him for such a wedge that he damn near recouped most of what we paid. So to now get him back for free everything changes this time around. He is no longer the £85m main man.

He's no longer Liverpool's number 9, with pressure to replicate Torres, Rush, Fowler, Firmino, Liddell, St John etc.

He'd effectively be the new Origi, Babel, Maxi, Minamino, Shaqiri, Kuyt etc. A loveable cult hero squad player who has no huge price tag to pay back and will occasionally score important goals for us. It's perfect for him. He loves us. We love him. Bring him home.

15 Jun 2026 19:55:49
MK, not sure on the whole love in for Nunez, didn't he down tools to force through a move, and then pretty much fail to tear it up in Saudi?

Also, personally, I wouldn't list him as a cult hero because he didn't actually do anything? People seem to have forgotten how absolutely shocking he actually was as a footballer.

15 Jun 2026 20:14:56
Completely agree, MK, context is everything! We brought Chiesa in as cover, and the lad has done nothing of note, but has a banger of a tune and is loved by the fans. Nunez came in for a big fee and was supposed to put Haaland, if he is happy to come in and be a utility man in attack and doesn't cost a fortune in wages and signing on fee, then it's hard to argue with the signing.

Not 100% this rumour has legs, but I can see the logic for sure.

15 Jun 2026 20:19:09
Stuie, I get what you're saying but hasn't the whole team basically downed tools under Arne Slot, he mismanaged the squad so badly, he's made quite a few players want to leave, which definitely wasn't the case 18 or so months ago.

It was poor attitude to being used poorly and I think now on reflection, I can sympathise with him a little more. The move was definitely necessary, and this wouldn't even be a conversation if Ekitike and Isak weren't injury prone players that showed any level of consistency last season. They didn't, Isak is still yet to show any signs coming good for us whilst being injured for long spells and Ekitike, whilst impressive at times, is injured until the end of the year.



Are we then to rely on injury prone Isak that hasn't shown anything in a red shirt yet? Or, god forbid, Gakpo who is trash through the middle? Or do we shell out another £40mill on a back up striker who probably has the same stats if not worse than Nunez in the PL? I think it's a no brainer in terms of the transfer itself from a business stand point, so long as it's not us using that as an excuse not to bring in 2 wide forwards.

For arguments sake: Isak, Ekitike, Nunez, Rio, Diamonde and one of Bowen or Barcola

That's a very strong attack if you ask me, much better than what we started this past season with. Chiesa, Gakpo and Salah off the books.

15 Jun 2026 20:32:19
Scored some important goals in a league winning season, that's enough to make him a cult hero for me.

15 Jun 2026 20:56:06
Cult hero full stop.

15 Jun 2026 20:57:13
He is on a free transfer for a reason.

15 Jun 2026 22:01:11
MK, yes, the transfer makes sense from a business point of view: getting a player familiar with the city, club etc to act as cover, but I feel like there are a fair few rose tinted glasses on here at the min.

The Nunez I remember watching just ran around like a bit of a headless chicken, and just didn't seem to improve at all.

Maybe it was the weight of the expectation, who knows.

And to answer some of the others, I think Chiesa is a bit of a tongue in cheek cult hero because he just can't seem to get a game, whereas Nunez was just a bit rubbish.

15 Jun 2026 23:18:06
Nunez back heel goal v Madrid. He wasn't crap, he just never scored when expected. Unlucky, with a good few hitting woodwork or keeper saving. I'd rather watch him than what I had to endure last season.

16 Jun 2026 04:41:45
I don't think Nunez downed tools to force a move. If anything, he let his head droop a bit when he came on as a sub in one game. In hindsight, and given newer context from last season, I would be more inclined to blame that on Slot's poor man management skills than on Nunez's attitude, especially since that was very uncharacteristic of him.



I agree with MK that on a free transfer, it is a no brainer to bring him in, especially since we have other areas of the squad we need to prioritise. Nunez can cover both CF and LW and that's huge for us. Granted, I don't think he'd come back to us purely because of Edwards' ego.

16 Jun 2026 07:03:40
He was ineffective against Saudi last night, as said we are remembering what we remember through red tinted glasses. He's not good enough, bombed in the Saudi league for God's sake.

It's getting embarrassing people wanting this, Salah to stay, regretting Robbo going even though most said his legs have gone.


Quansah resigned, Kella bought back.
Can't we just move on and see who we get in who hasn't played for us before, let Andoni look at what he has.

16 Jun 2026 07:38:31
Now Darwin appearing to down tools in a game is Slot's fault too? Slot was perfectly right in publicly saying Darwin had to try harder off the ball in those two games.

Darwin is an emotional and a temperamental player. He would be difficult for anybody to manage. Let's hope that if he comes back to us somebody can help him with that side of the game.

16 Jun 2026 08:00:40
Klopp also dropped Nunez, so we can't just blame Slot and create the context for him not performing in his last season.
If he's available on a free and a relatively low salary, then someone else might offer him the chance to start regularly and a longer contract.


I hope they do, because he's not good enough for us and we don't need to fill the squad with cult heroes.

16 Jun 2026 10:28:38
Name me a better player we could get for free.

16 Jun 2026 12:27:11
Westwood666, that is the question no one or even any of Darwin's detractors wants to answer.

16 Jun 2026 15:38:27
I don't know who is available on free transfers, Westwood. Is the obsession with Nunez because he is free, then? Sorry, I don't get it. We got rid of him once, so what's changed?

Oh, I've thought of a player.
Mo Salah is available on a free, I would think.

16 Jun 2026 23:02:24
Slot got rid of him because he didn't fit the style of play, which was fair enough given Slot's status at the time. So what's changed is Slot isn't here anymore.
All I'm saying is, I don't think he is anywhere near, literally not even close, to the very poor player he is being made out to be.
Everyone says about his 40 goals in over 100 appearances, but many of those were sub appearances. His minutes per goal for large parts of his final season with Slot were actually pretty good.
But his main quality for me, other than the one game where he didn't look bothered (again being made out like he properly downed tools when he didn't), is that he never gave up, always harassing, always disrupting and pulling defenders all over the place.

I'd have given my left arm to watch a bit of that after last season's bore off.
He's rapid, strong, he's a target in the box, can play left and through the middle, he knows the club, he's freely available, most fans like him (there's a reason the fans in the stadium sing his name), and there's no risk. If it doesn't work out under a more attacking transitional approach, where he excelled before coming to us, then he can sell him again for more profit once Ekitike is back partway through next season.
So no, I'm not obsessed with the bloke. I simply see literally no downside to giving him another opportunity as second choice striker behind Isak while Eki is out.

15 Jun 2026 18:06:46
With the Nunez links coming in, I took a look at how long an Achilles rupture takes to heal. Says online for high intensity sports 9-12 months. So we won't really see Ekitike until 2027 at the earliest.

Premier League Injuries has him at October 2026, but I am sure the club won't rush him. Bradley also isn't due back until Jan 2027, so we need a RB as soon as the Diomande deal is done.

15 Jun 2026 18:46:13
Indeed, Keegan. I have seen NFL players get this injury, and not only does it take up to a year (or longer, depending on the gravity/seriousness) to come back to the pitch, you are simply not the same player anymore for the most part, so Eki may have that hill to climb over.

So if we are looking at Darwin (or a player like that on a free) cos we don't wanna spend precious funds on a back up striker cos we have a lot more holes we need to fill than, that may be the viable option esp.

since the likes of Will Wright (too young and severely inexperienced) and Jayden Danns (injured for almost a year now) are not options now.

15 Jun 2026 19:14:04
Keegan, I was under the impression Conor was aiming to be back fr Sep/Oct, where did you read Bradley wasn't back until '27 mate?

Agreed, RB is imperative, and there's absolutely no chance Ekitike is back for October.

15 Jun 2026 19:24:11
Going into next season, would people be happy with the following attacking options, Gakpo, Isak, Rio, Wirtz, Ekitike (Jan 2027 return), Diomande and Darwin? I'm assuming Chiesa will leave. Whilst I see the sense in bringing Darwin back, I still think we would be light of option. Ekitike is essentially written off for all next season, Isak is returning from a serious injury and Rio is very young and physically not ready to be a mainstay in the team. With Iraola's style of football, intensity and much bigger fixture schedule, our squad needs numbers! Not a massive fan of Gakpo, but there is no way we should be considering a sale this summer.




Our priorities need to be

RW- Diomande
CF cover - Darwin
LW or fluid forward who can cover both sides
DM/CM - Bouaddi/Baleba/Camara/Sangare
RB- Kayode/Vanderson
CB- Schlotterbeck (eventual Virg successor)

If we sell more players such as Macca and Jones then these would also need to be replaced.

15 Jun 2026 19:49:53
Chewy, a website called Premier League Injuries. Has all the clubs, who's out and estimated time back. Bradley was Sept/October I believe until his recent setback. The return date, I feel, is when we expect them back to full fitness and in the squad.

15 Jun 2026 21:53:09
I'm expecting to see a fit and firing Ekitike ready for the 2027/28 season. Anything before that is a welcome bonus.

15 Jun 2026 23:14:27
I'd be considering not registering either of them until January, as even if they come back early, we shouldn't be pushing them too hard to get back.

15 Jun 2026 17:20:56
What does everyone think of these hydration breaks? I saw VVD's comments on this and I totally agree with him. If referees are making all kinds of calls over 90 minutes, why can't they make a call just before a game starts? Use readings on current temperature and humidity levels and follow prescribed norms. Decide to have the breaks or not. It can't be that difficult.

As they are now, they're a supreme annoyance to both the viewing fans and probably to the players too. They break the flow of the game, and the rhythm of the players too. World Cups have always been played in summers. Did they just discover high temeperatures?

15 Jun 2026 17:41:05
Absolute joke.

15 Jun 2026 17:42:18
As Klopp said, they are just an opportunity for TV to show more ads.

15 Jun 2026 17:43:49
I think it's a good thing, however making it into a timeout team talk is a bit too Americanised for me, especially when restarts have been delayed for adverts. I'd rather water be handed out onto the pitch by someone neutral, quick drink and back on with the game.

15 Jun 2026 17:43:41
Americans can't go 45 minutes without being told they need to buy something.

15 Jun 2026 17:53:40
The notion that a professional athlete can't go more than 20 minutes without a drink is beyond ridiculous. The fact that they get 3 whole minutes, which is the perfect amount of time to run a handful of ads, is just a blatant slap in the face. Next we'll have players doing live ad reads in the middle of the game.

What good about it, No.8?

15 Jun 2026 17:59:28
Re-hydration, Chewy, I agree it's handled poorly, but a quick drink isn't a bad thing.

15 Jun 2026 18:11:11
Absolutely correct about the commercials.

They wanted this for the '94 World Cup and it was rejected as a ludicrous idea by FIFA back then. This time around, I don't think Infantino needed much convincing.

These days so much of the game is about money.

15 Jun 2026 18:15:35
I agree, it completely upsets the flow of the game. Most of the time, it takes a team ten minutes to find their feet and get into it. Then ten minutes later, you've got a water break.

Football used to have no subs.

Then that changed to one, then three, then convid came along and they were given five. Now you need a break every 20 minutes, and get sent off if you pull someone's hair. I mean, honestly.

15 Jun 2026 18:22:14
No. 8, it defeats the purpose of what the sport is supposed to stand for. On the one hand, they are going after time wasting, targetting throw-ins, GK time wasting, player substitutions, and what not.

Ostensibly to speed up the game. And then they put in these 3 minute breaks, as if it's risking these athletes' lives. How about pauses during heavy rain? They could catch pneumonia.

15 Jun 2026 18:31:18
I think what I've said has come across wrong. A drink of water in hot, humid conditions = good. Stopping for a 3 minute commercial break and team talk = bad.

15 Jun 2026 18:39:40
It's all down to Infantino, he's the most corrupt bloke in football, needs investigating.

15 Jun 2026 18:45:29
It's just the American adverts money making scheme in disguise....

I'm pretty sure soon enough we'll hear of the stories about how expensive it's going to be to air an advert in the WC Final...apparently, the Super Bowl is known for being the most expensive when it comes to adverts during the breaks...I fully expect USA to milk it in the final as well.



Just a load of BS with Infantino happily bending over for his mate Trump and his cronies.

15 Jun 2026 18:46:47
When the US had the WC in 1994, they proposed splitting the game into 4 quarters to introduce more add breaks. I guess this time around they offered more money.

If at all, hydration breaks should be conditions (temp) based. Not every game.

15 Jun 2026 18:48:43
I don't have an issue with it cos this is being done with player health in mind. It may be poorly executed. But it is a very good thing, imo.

Btw, this process has existed on and off for 25 years esp. during preseason friendlies, hence, this is not that strange.

15 Jun 2026 18:49:59
It's not about cooling. It's about grabbing more money from advertising.

15 Jun 2026 19:03:12
To be honest, I don't mind it and much prefer this "break in play" than the constant rolling around time wasting that usually disrupts a game.
The refs seem to have a grip on all the nonsense stuff in the WC so far. I'm far more happy with that and can only hope the PL introduce some of those measures this coming season.

15 Jun 2026 19:08:40
A cooling break in an indoor stadium where it's 20 degrees isn't because of player health, it's for money. I'm fine with breaks if it's hot, 30+, but not every game. It should be on a game by game basis.

15 Jun 2026 19:19:23
The Americans wanted quarters for ads. They got quarters (water breaks).

We now have terms like quarter back used for players who can hit a long pass.

We are obsessed with stats and key interventions.

Video replays slow the game down without adding much value.

We are owned by US billionaires.

Like it or not, the IS influence is real and there is no turning back.

15 Jun 2026 19:26:50
No. 8, I'm struggling to comprehend the 'necessary rehydration' claims. Have we not been playing football for hundreds of years with just the one break at 45 minutes? Isn't there usually plenty of opportune moments for thirsty players to have a quick sip with all the 'injuries' that happen? Even if it's a must on hot days, 3 minutes? 5 seconds for a throw in, 8 seconds for a goal kick, 10 seconds to make a sub, but 3 whole minutes for a sup of water?! ? Pretty sure the water is the one that actually takes the least amount of time out of all the above.

15 Jun 2026 19:46:00
I was in Lake Placid in 1980 when the Winter Olympics were on. The Ice Hockey final was between USA and Russia. It was the equivalent of England in a World Cup final over here. I was watching the game on television, not really interested, but was aware of the importance of the game to the locals.

Anyway, the game was going on and they just cut to an advert. I couldn't believe it, but the locals never even batted an eyelid. When it cut back to the game, the commentator casually remarked that, while we were away, the US had scored.

We weren't away at all. We were still there. It was them who took the game away from us. If that had happened with a Liverpool game, I would have been apoplectic with rage.

I can well understand Infantini not having the balls to stand up to Trump, but we must never let that sort of thing in here, plus adverts on the grass like you see in rugby and cricket.

The more the USA get involved in 'soccer' (another pet hate), the more they will try to contaminate our beautiful game with rule changes, adverts etc.

15 Jun 2026 20:28:16
I've not been on the pitch, chewy, where these games are being held, but if we take our cynical caps off it can't be a bad thing to get some water to the players, as I keep saying, I think the 3 minute break is too much, a blatant cash grab essentialy breaking the game into quarters (cynical cap back on).

For me, just keep the players on the pitch, send a neutral on with 22 bottles, have a minute, then crack on.

15 Jun 2026 21:58:01
Last World Cup they had breaks at the referee's discretion and guidance from whoever the medical people were.

Qatar is a lot hotter than America, Canada and Mexico.

The only answer is that this is America.

15 Jun 2026 23:07:42
I think it is down to a lack of concentration span in America.

Or, more seriously, perhaps it's FIFA picking up the revenue from advertising brought in for the 'time outs' during the matches?

15 Jun 2026 23:17:27
Favourite memories of 94 were Houghton scoring against Italy and Aldo and Big Jack having a full on barney with the officials vs Mexico.