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“King Kenny for PM. I will hear no counter-argument.”
Oligarchic calling in the big guns here. Keep letting us know who’d be in your dream cabinet, consisting only of football managers past or present. Who’d be a good chancellor for that matter?
“If we’re getting into xG talk, yesterday’s 3.96 xG was the second highest Spurs have had against them since the stat came into use 14 years ago. Only the 3-6 fiasco against Liverpool in 2024 topped it. So you can make a case that this was not just “more of the same” but a good deal worse, defensively speaking. Clearly there is massive work to do at the back.”
The comments and emails are really spoiling us today. below or email in here.
Will a post-Pep Premier League lead to a shift in style? And if so, what might that look like?
It’s all hypothetical. But I like hypothetical. We are all nothing, if not professional speculators.
R.I.P. possession football?
Really like this from Phil Grey who’s emailed in.
“Fascinating to see that in the post-Pep Premier League all 5 teams that won yesterday had less of the ball than their opponents.”
Now don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure that there’s a stat that QPR (my team) won 16 matches last season. And had less than 50% of the ball in all 16. Aka…as long as we don’t have the ball we’re alright.
One for the United and Spurs fans to get into here…and also the xG army.
“No eggs in either basket, but on xG Man U ‘won’ their game 1.8 to 1.3, i.e they were unlucky, whereas Tottenham lost theirs 4.0 to 0.5. I think Tottenham have got a lot more to do really.”
TODAY’S TASK
We’ve had a few in touch already. The task is to build your dream cabinet, consisting only of football managers.
A comment from stooze can get us underway:
“Jurgen Klopp as PM, with Kevin Keegan prominent too....That’d be a start most people might get on board with.”
Email in here with your thoughts or drop a comment below…
And last but not least, Leeds snatched a one-nil win away to Forest.
Another match with late drama to kick-off opening weekend. This time the excellently named Anton Stach doing the snatching/statching.

Also enjoyed this snippet from Sam Cunningham’s report from Portman Road.
It would be fascinating to know which algorithms or eagle-eyed staff in Ipswich’s recruitment department spotted the potential in Emersonn to score the goals to keep them in the Premier League. Thirteen games, no goals and a serious knee injury at the Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense; two league goals in 17 games at Turkish side Goztepe; then six in 28 at French side Toulouse. A modest return and not one that screams he would be ready to break down doors in the English top flight.
It would be fascinating to know which algorithms or eagle-eyed staff in Ipswich’s recruitment department spotted the potential in Emersonn to score the goals to keep them in the Premier League.
Thirteen games, no goals and a serious knee injury at the Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense; two league goals in 17 games at Turkish side Goztepe; then six in 28 at French side Toulouse. A modest return and not one that screams he would be ready to break down doors in the English top flight.
And more good news for the promoted teams as Ipswich got off to a winning start against Sunderland.
A 90th minute winner for the Tractor Boys on their return to the big leagues. How could it get any better?
That could be one of our #themesoftheday actually. Build your dream cabinet consisting only of football managers. Can be past or present. I’m having Neil Warnock as my Prime Minister, with Clint Hill as his chancellor. I also reserve the right to a second go.
here!
Andy Burnham was in town to watch his beloved Everton beat Crystal Palace two-nil.
And here’s a fun fact. Burnham is seven years younger than David Moyes. Which is actually quite a bit less than I’d have anticipated. On the other hand, it would be a cabinet meeting I’d be interested in watching however. A true meeting of minds.

Brentford good; Tottenham bad. Check out Jacob Steinberg’s report from the Gtech yesterday where despite it being a new season, it was the same old story for Spurs.
Hull City provided the shock of the weekend, as they cruised past Manchester United two-nil upon their return to the Premier League.
After the result, United gaffer Michael Carrick has told everyone to stay calm! Which I’d argue is one of those things you don’t want to have to hear your manager saying on week one.

That’s what we’ve got coming up, but first things first let’s run through the five fixtures we had yesterday…
Today’s Premier League fixtures
Brighton v Aston Villa (2pm)
Manchester City v Bournemouth (2pm)
Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm)
Well, well, well. We’re back again. New season, same fun. Firstly, Spurs fans, I’m very sorry. And secondly, how is this happening again? And Man United fans don’t you look anywhere. I’m talking to you guys well. It’s better to get these things all out in the open so let me know your thoughts by emailing in or posting a comment below.
As well as having all the reaction from yesterday, we’ll also be building up to today. A feast that includes three Premier League matches: Brighton v Aston Villa (2pm), Manchester City v Bournemouth (2pm) and Alexander Isak’s return to Tyneside, as Newcastle host Liverpool at 4.30pm. Barcelona and PSG are in action as the European leagues click into gear too. Let’s get into it.