Premier League 2025/26 Thread

[Lionator]

31 minutes ago, Deeg67 said:

Looks like Leeds is about to close with Igor Paixão. Difference-making talent there. Their window is starting to look pretty good, and Sunderland has been surprisingly aggressive as well. This may be the year when the trampoline streak is broken for at least one of the three promoted clubs. Leeds look like the best bet to survive but Sunderland may have leapfrogged Burnley at this point.

Leeds will have the best chance. Sunderland are doing good business on paper but people forget just how poor they were at the end of last season. One may be able to do it but it’ll still need a crisis at a team already in the league.

[The Horse's Mouth]

If marinakis wasn’t forest i think id love him something so sinister about him very roger moore Bond villain era 

[davieG]

 

Amanda Staveley’s Newcastle UNITED  · 

Martin Blane ·21h ·

 

 

Let’s not forget, Alexander Isak signed a six-year contract with Newcastle United in August 2022. That deal runs until June 2028, just two months before his 29th birthday. In footballing terms, those are his peak years, and he knowingly committed them to this club.

Newcastle are under no obligation, morally or legally, to let him walk away early. If he chooses to be disruptive or push for a move, we are well within our rights to make him see out the contract from the bench. That’s not pettiness. That’s just how long-term contracts work. He and his agent were happy to sign it at the time.

As reported, Isak earns £120,000 a week. Now we’re seeing claims that he’s rejected a new contract that would have made him our highest earner, instead asking for wages the club simply cannot offer under current financial rules.

Now imagine if the roles were reversed. Let’s say Matt Targett wasn’t performing and the club tried to wriggle out of his contract halfway through. We’d be rightly criticised. But when a player does the same, it’s framed as ambition. That’s not ambition. It’s hypocrisy. Contracts should work both ways. If things hadn’t gone well, Isak would still expect every penny he was promised. So why is it unreasonable for the club to expect the same?

This whole situation is a result of the Profit and Sustainability Rules, a flawed system that punishes emerging clubs.

Newcastle United are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, one of the most financially secure organisations in world football, with assets worth over £550 billion. Yet the club isn’t allowed to invest freely. Not because it’s unsafe, but because the rules were written to prevent new challengers from upsetting the traditional elite.

Under PSR, clubs can only spend what they generate, not what their owners can afford. That might sound fair at first, but all it really does is protect historic success. Clubs like Liverpool, who have had decades of top-tier income, global sponsors and Champions League revenue, are free to operate. Meanwhile, Newcastle, who are financially stronger in real terms today, are held back by rules that ignore the present and punish progress.

This has nothing to do with financial safety. If that were the concern, Newcastle would be the last club anyone should worry about. This isn’t about sustainability. It’s about control.

And if these rules really are about keeping football healthy, how are the following allowed?

Chelsea have posted record-breaking losses and still spend freely by handing out eight-year contracts and selling assets like their women’s team and car parks to parent companies.

Aston Villa have sold infrastructure to themselves to boost income on paper.

Manchester United continue to lose money year after year and face no pressure to scale back.

Yet Newcastle, with clean books and stable ownership, are told we must sell one of the best strikers in Europe, in his prime, to a direct rival. It makes no sense.

The media won’t question any of this because it doesn’t sell papers or attract clicks. “Isak wants to leave” is a story. “Newcastle standing firm” isn’t.

They won’t challenge the imbalance because it doesn’t fit the narrative. Newcastle refusing to be bullied doesn’t generate drama, but a transfer saga does.

We’ve gone from being everyone’s second club to being treated like outsiders for daring to compete. Now, when we stick to the principles every club should stand by, we’re labelled the problem.

The system is broken and everyone knows it. They just won’t say it out loud because right now, it benefits them. The rules are built to protect the same handful of clubs that have always been at the top and to keep others in their place.

We’re being told to sell our best players to clubs we’re supposed to be challenging, not because it makes sense on the pitch, but because the rulebook demands it.

If Alexander Isak wants to leave, that’s his right. But it will happen on our terms, for the right fee, when it suits Newcastle United. Not him. Not Liverpool. And not the media.

[FrankieADZ]

2 hours ago, Lionator said:

Looking at that video, there’s no way Marinakis hasn’t threatened him with Greek mafia types if he left, he had a history after all. 

tbf it feels very "shotgun wedding" like

[Guest Bilo]

1 hour ago, FrankieADZ said:

tbf it feels very "shotgun wedding" like

 

[AjcW]

Watched a bit more of Max Dowman in a friendly today. **** me. Generational probably doesn’t do the kid justice! 🤯

[Trent Steel]

"I've got nothing to do with Notts Forest anymore, honest UEFA, I tells the truth!"

Edited 27 July 2025 by Trent Steel

[Trent Steel]

7 hours ago, Lionator said:

Looking at that video, there’s no way Marinakis hasn’t threatened him with Greek mafia types if he left, he still has a history after all. 

Corrected it for you....

[Guest Bilo]

1 hour ago, Trent Steel said:

"I've got nothing to do with Notts Forest anymore, honest UEFA, I tells the truth!"

Scenes when UEFA cite this as evidence of multi-club ownership to chuck Cycling Mikey FC out of Europe. 

[fox_up_north]

3 hours ago, AjcW said:

Watched a bit more of Max Dowman in a friendly today. **** me. Generational probably doesn’t do the kid justice! 🤯

An academy I work with sent their lot down to Arsenal to play their under 16s last year. The kid is absolutely insane. He absolutely bullied lads 3-4 years older. 

[Fear Of The Fox]

1 hour ago, Bilo said:

Scenes when UEFA cite this as evidence of multi-club ownership to chuck Cycling Mikey FC out of Europe. 

Have you watched the new blockbuster? 

The GodUEFAther. 

They're all part of the Mafia. 

[FrankieADZ]

 

Ill have whatever his smoking, cos they always "win"

 

bottle the champions league and havent won a trophy in 35 years

 

*minus the play off final

 

god I hope palace win their appeal 

[Dan]

Their insecurity is brilliant.

[LCFCJohn]

If they are adamant Palace can’t be in, kick Forest out as well and let Brighton in.

 

Its amusing by how Forest fans are taking the moral high ground, convincing themselves they are the model club and Palace deserve what they get for not sending an email and Spurs are awful for speaking to MGW without having an offer accepted (which happens all the time and no doubt Forest do it).

 

Yet they have a known match fixer who is clearly in charge and are the up there as the worst along with Chelsea for the transfers that are essentially cheating PSR.

 

That on loan Forest player who scored the last minute own goal for Strasbourg that got Lyon into the Europa League needs checking as well. Clearly another match fixing episode by the fat Greek.

 

They are just a vile club.

[fox_favourite]

11 hours ago, Trent Steel said:

"I've got nothing to do with Notts Forest anymore, honest UEFA, I tells the truth!"

Just look at this picture. How unnerving is this? MGW doesn't look comfortable at all. And why is someone who definitely doesn't have anything to do with Forest in terms of ownership posing having interviews with a player on a pitch? 

 

This all sounds really dodgy and Forest fans are kidding themselves if it's anything else. 

 

This also screams " I have no direct vested interest in Forest" look about it....not!!

Edited 28 July 2025 by fox_favourite

[fox_favourite]

7 hours ago, FrankieADZ said:

 

Ill have whatever his smoking, cos they always "win"

 

bottle the champions league and havent won a trophy in 35 years

 

*minus the play off final

 

god I hope palace win their appeal 

That could come across as threatening behaviour as well, but I don't know the context of the whole interview. "We always win", isn't a great thing to clip, especially knowing his alleged history. 

[fox_favourite]

16 hours ago, FrankieADZ said:

tbf it feels very "shotgun wedding" like

Interesting body language. When he talks about the owner, he looks down and what's around him on the floor.

 

When he talks about the fans, wanting to do well for them he makes eye contact with the interviewer, like he actually means it. 

[AyewJoking]

13 hours ago, AjcW said:

Watched a bit more of Max Dowman in a friendly today. **** me. Generational probably doesn’t do the kid justice! 🤯

Seems to have a fifa thing going on where no one is allowed to tackle him.

 

Unreal for his age.

[AyewJoking]

12 hours ago, Trent Steel said:

"I've got nothing to do with Notts Forest anymore, honest UEFA, I tells the truth!"

Looks like hes got Elanga bundled up under his t-shirt too

[kenny]

17 hours ago, FrankieADZ said:

tbf it feels very "shotgun wedding" like

Not selling players like this are their most hyped was the start of the downfall for us. Hanging on to MGW rather than cashing in seems like a good idea at the time  (Brendan) but ultimately the player still wants to go to a bigger club and you eventually bankrupt yourself with PSR.

 

You would think clubs would look our mistakes and learn as its easy to get drawn in as Forest are right now.

[FrankieADZ]

19 minutes ago, kenny said:

Not selling players like this are their most hyped was the start of the downfall for us. Hanging on to MGW rather than cashing in seems like a good idea at the time  (Brendan) but ultimately the player still wants to go to a bigger club and you eventually bankrupt yourself with PSR.

 

You would think clubs would look our mistakes and learn as its easy to get drawn in as Forest are right now.

tbf i dont really expect forest to do much this season, 

i cant see the likes of Selz and Wood putting in numbers they did last season tbh

[Trent Steel]

all MGW white does is say "Mr Marinakis" this "Mr Marinakis" this...

 

the clubs as bent as as bishops crook.... Forest really are beginning to be the club everyone hates

 

Apprantley the ownership has been reversed ? So he is in charge again ? What ? how can that be legal ?

 

Edited 28 July 2025 by Trent Steel

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, kenny said:

Not selling players like this are their most hyped was the start of the downfall for us. Hanging on to MGW rather than cashing in seems like a good idea at the time  (Brendan) but ultimately the player still wants to go to a bigger club and you eventually bankrupt yourself with PSR.

 

You would think clubs would look our mistakes and learn as its easy to get drawn in as Forest are right now.

Was my thought - he's ended up with a year extension on more money and the release cause is removed. The higher wage now sets the pattern for every other player at Forest. 

[Trent Steel]

2 hours ago, kenny said:

Not selling players like this are their most hyped was the start of the downfall for us. Hanging on to MGW rather than cashing in seems like a good idea at the time  (Brendan) but ultimately the player still wants to go to a bigger club and you eventually bankrupt yourself with PSR.

 

You would think clubs would look our mistakes and learn as its easy to get drawn in as Forest are right now.

Forest will never get done for PSR, "they always win" and their crook of an owner will manage to balance the books using his other teams

Edited 28 July 2025 by Trent Steel

[jammie82uk]

1 hour ago, Trent Steel said:

Apprantley the ownership has been reversed ? So he is in charge again ? What ? how can that be legal ?

Apparently they stipulate clauses, Forest didn’t make champions league so the blind trust is not needed so control goes back to him, interestingly tho there is a co-owner (Sokratis Kominakis), who was installed onto the board when the blind trust was activated