Weekend Football

[Winston Biscuit]

Fastest 5 players to 3 PL hat-tricks:

E Haaland - 8 games
M Owen - 48 games
R Van Nistelrooy - 59 games
F Torres - 64 games
A Cole - 65 games

[Franchise FC]

Fastest 5 players to 3 PL hat-tricks:

E Haaland - 8 games
M Owen - 48 games
R Van Nistelrooy - 59 games
F Torres - 64 games
A Cole - 65 games

And he was substituted with 12 minutes left having scored twice against West Ham, so may have done it quicker still

[Winston Biscuit]

Tom Cairney wtf?!
https://twitter.com/FulHambone/status/1576455362110140417

[Sanguine]

Fastest 5 players to 3 PL hat-tricks:

E Haaland - 8 games
M Owen - 48 games
R Van Nistelrooy - 59 games
F Torres - 64 games
A Cole - 65 games

40 players in total have three PL hat-tricks. 26 have reached four hat-tricks, and just 14 players have got to five. He's going to break all sorts of records - if he sticks around. City fans will probably already be wondering after his Dad basically put Real Madrid on alert for 2026.

One global record he might threaten, which would be spectacular, is most goals scored in all competitions before turning 23. (Fat) Ronaldo is well clear here on 194, with Raul reaching 145, and Messi 127. Haaland has 172 so far, albeit 38 of those were for Molde. Haaland doesn't turn 23 until next summer.

[Winston Biscuit]

With his goals so far Haaland would be joint 3rd in the 04/05 golden boot, 'and he has only played 8 games'

[Winston Biscuit]

[Ascotexgunner]

I'm finding Forest pure comedy. Their fans were so convinced they were the suprise package. Now it seems the panic button may be soon pressed by the owner.

On another subject htf is Madison not playing for England? Real quality player.

[Hendo]

Forest are a joke.

[leon]

Forest are a joke.

Absolute shit from what I’m seeing. Dreadful

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Seems like this is turning into a bit of an ugly season for Forest already. Can see the logic in trying to buy better quality into your team, particularly when it desperately needed it, but there is absolutely no continuity and I wonder how much of their business was done with any sort of strategy in mind.

A lot of signings seems like they've hit the panic button.

[LUX]

Pleased for Leicester tbh.

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

Seems like this is turning into a bit of an ugly season for Forest already. Can see the logic in trying to buy better quality into your team, particularly when it desperately needed it, but there is absolutely no continuity and I wonder how much of their business was done with any sort of strategy in mind.

A lot of signings seems like they've hit the panic button.

Not sure they hit the panic button as they bought most of those players before many games were played. I rather suspect they're planning on making sure they get straight back up from the championship next season. By becoming a yo-yo club they can at least count on both premiere league cash and parachute payments for the foreseeable. Having a lower premiere league squad maximises their chances.

[Franchise FC]

Pleased for Leicester tbh.

Me too, but by God Leicester were pretty poor too

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Seems like this is turning into a bit of an ugly season for Forest already. Can see the logic in trying to buy better quality into your team, particularly when it desperately needed it, but there is absolutely no continuity and I wonder how much of their business was done with any sort of strategy in mind.

A lot of signings seems like they've hit the panic button.

Not sure they hit the panic button as they bought most of those players before many games were played. I rather suspect they're planning on making sure they get straight back up from the championship next season. By becoming a yo-yo club they can at least count on both premiere league cash and parachute payments for the foreseeable. Having a lower premiere league squad maximises their chances.

Haven't looked extensively so could be wrong but are they not changing the way both FFP and parachute payments work in the next couple of years? Or was it just an idea being discussed re parachute payments potentially being lowered in the future?

[Sanguine]

On another subject htf is Madison not playing for England? Real quality player.

Harry Kane the only English player with more total goals and assists since the start of last season than Maddison. It's madness that he can't get in the side. I have been a big fan of Southgate but his rigidity in selection is really beginning to grate.

For what it's worth I'm with Harry Winter on the TAA stuff too - he should be in the side, and we should find a way to play to his strengths. He is one of the best full-backs in the world.

[paultheroyal]

On another subject htf is Madison not playing for England? Real quality player.

Harry Kane the only English player with more total goals and assists since the start of last season than Maddison. It's madness that he can't get in the side. I have been a big fan of Southgate but his rigidity in selection is really beginning to grate.

For what it's worth I'm with Harry Winter on the TAA stuff too - he should be in the side, and we should find a way to play to his strengths. He is one of the best full-backs in the world.

Agree on TAA - get him in the side - stop with this rigid nonsense and with an extra player being added to the squad it has to be Maddison - literally no debate.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

It's strange because it seems like TAA would actually suit a 3-4-3 as well as his only real vulnerability is the defensive side of his game, but you put either Walker or James (the latter preferably) as part of the back 3 and that should theoretically shore up that side.

Maddison should certainly be in the squad as well without doubt, worst case scenario he gives us another attacking option and, whilst not quite at JWP's level, he is a threat with his set pieces as well.

[Royal Rother]

We need a Baz Ball style attack attack attack reset.

Our strengths are in attack so play a team and with an approach that gives us the best chance of scoring goals.

Naive? Maybe, but we don't have world class defenders so we can't really fix that.

Doesn't have to be stupidly gung-ho but take the bloody shackles off and play to our strengths which are formidable, as shown in that 15 minute spell against Germany.

[South Coast Royal]

We need a Baz Ball style attack attack attack reset.

Our strengths are in attack so play a team and with an approach that gives us the best chance of scoring goals.

Naive? Maybe, but we don't have world class defenders so we can't really fix that.

Doesn't have to be stupidly gung-ho but take the bloody shackles off and play to our strengths which are formidable, as shown in that 15 minute spell against Germany.

I think most would agree with you but it won't happen-it's not in Southgate's DNA.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Southgate can't win can he. Gets absolutely slaughtered for playing an out of form Maguire who has rarely let him down, especially in tournaments. Then gets absolutely slaughtered for not playing an out of form Alexander-Arnold who has rarely if ever put in one of his Liverpool performances for England even when he's been in form. I really don't think TAA's form this season has warranted him getting into the team, his defensive frailties have been all too obvious this season. In an ideal world you'd build your team around getting the most from him but can you risk doing that at the moment when he's clearly struggling? If some of the lesser Premiership teams are targeting him as the weak link in Liverpool's defence do you really think international teams won't do exactly the same.

I think I'd be taking Madison to the world cup if his form continues as it is. Maybe not as a starter but at the moment I'd have him over Ward-Prowse. Its always good to have an in form late comer in the squad.