Michael Cox
@zonal-marking.bsky.social
Liverpool: Fulham were really drab at Everton. I thought they'd go well this season. But 11 games in they haven't really played well once, and their top scorer is own goals. They're clearly not terrible and shouldn't get sucked in, but this isn't the season to be bad.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Fulham’s top scorer is… own goals. They are in trouble
The Premier League has gone all 1990s — an era where Fulham weren’t in it — and they are struggling to compete
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Liverpool: Fulham were really drab at Everton. I thought they'd go well this season. But 11 games in they haven't really played well once, and their top scorer is own goals. They're clearly not terrible and shouldn't get sucked in, but this isn't the season to be bad.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Manchester: really seems like Guardiola has reinvented himself, potentially in the most dramatic way left. Doku the big beneficiary. Article only makes sense if you're into Sudoku.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Pep Guardiola has solved another tactical challenge – and Jeremy Doku is the answer
Why Manchester City's Belgian winger symbolises a potentially significant tactical shift from the most revered manager of the modern era
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Manchester: really seems like Guardiola has reinvented himself, potentially in the most dramatic way left. Doku the big beneficiary. Article only makes sense if you're into Sudoku.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
I have really given the new version of The Observer a good go but I just don't know what they're trying to do. For example: what is this article? What's it trying to be? Who's it for?
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
The audit: Brentford | The Observer
As part of our occasional series, we examine a Premier League club in detail
observer.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I have really given the new version of The Observer a good go but I just don't know what they're trying to do. For example: what is this article? What's it trying to be? Who's it for?
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
If it took 96 games to get to the round of 16 before, and now it’s 160, then by very definition the individual games matter less.
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
If it took 96 games to get to the round of 16 before, and now it’s 160, then by very definition the individual games matter less.
This confused me too. I assumed that was the case until the draw for the round of 16
November 5, 2025 at 9:52 AM
This confused me too. I assumed that was the case until the draw for the round of 16
yeah agreed that was great. Obviously England the main story (from my perspective at least) but the Scotland/France/Italy group was mad too
November 4, 2025 at 9:47 PM
yeah agreed that was great. Obviously England the main story (from my perspective at least) but the Scotland/France/Italy group was mad too
I disagree. You knew what was happening in each group. That involved some of them being foregone conclusions, granted. But following eight groups of four, two through from each, was fine. One league of 36, when the key question is who comes 24th instead of 25th...a struggle.
November 4, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I disagree. You knew what was happening in each group. That involved some of them being foregone conclusions, granted. But following eight groups of four, two through from each, was fine. One league of 36, when the key question is who comes 24th instead of 25th...a struggle.
Yeah I didn't mind that feature either although seemed to be the only one (aside from you!)
November 4, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Yeah I didn't mind that feature either although seemed to be the only one (aside from you!)
Well yes but (a) the league season hasn't suddenly replaced a much quicker/shorter format, (b) no league has 36 sides, which is just far too many to keep on top of
November 4, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Well yes but (a) the league season hasn't suddenly replaced a much quicker/shorter format, (b) no league has 36 sides, which is just far too many to keep on top of
yeah if they're going to do a seeded playoff round then make it one leg at the home of the seeded side
November 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
yeah if they're going to do a seeded playoff round then make it one leg at the home of the seeded side
Well yeah, I think you're underestimating the "it isn't immediately clear" part there. And again, if you are just following one club this stuff works.
November 4, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Well yeah, I think you're underestimating the "it isn't immediately clear" part there. And again, if you are just following one club this stuff works.
Yeah. And while it's interesting for your club if they're seeded in the playoff round, as a neutral I just can't care if a side finishes 9th-16th or 17th-24th, it doesn't matter as they'll all be in the next round. So all of that part of the league means nothing to me.
November 4, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Yeah. And while it's interesting for your club if they're seeded in the playoff round, as a neutral I just can't care if a side finishes 9th-16th or 17th-24th, it doesn't matter as they'll all be in the next round. So all of that part of the league means nothing to me.
Yeah it's basically just really bloated until it gets to the bit that...is the same as before
November 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Yeah it's basically just really bloated until it gets to the bit that...is the same as before
Yeah. And then there's the playoff round. So it's just 10 matchdays to get to the round of 16 rather than 6. It goes on for ages!
November 4, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Yeah. And then there's the playoff round. So it's just 10 matchdays to get to the round of 16 rather than 6. It goes on for ages!