ARSENAL COULDNT SIGN ROGERS, ARE STRUGGLING TO SIGN BRUNO OR ALVEREZ SO NO WAY WILL THEY SIGN VINNIE, HIS WAGES ARE AS MUCH AS HAALANDS, IN FACT I RECKON WE ARE DOING A HUSH HUSH DEAL TO SIGN BRUNO, AND IF THAT HAPPENS THEIR SUPPORTERS WOULD GO INTO MELT DOWN

17 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Would love Vini Jr to end up at Arsenal, he’d destroy that locker room in seconds and be found it in the Prem in no time.

Got Nicolas Pepe version 2 written all over that transfer.

I would hope we stay well away from this, if only half the stories about him at Madrid are true then hes toxic as f**k.

Suddenly, 117m for Rogers doesn't sound so terrible.

I truly hope Liverpool breaks another record with Barcola. Talented young player, but there is a lot of 'madueke' in him.

20 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Would love Vini Jr to end up at Arsenal, he’d destroy that locker room in seconds and be found it in the Prem in no time.

Got Nicolas Pepe version 2 written all over that transfer.

it will take them till Christmas to make a credible offer.....yawn

What a mess.

BBC Sport

English football agrees trial to end goalkeeper tactical...

English football is set to implement a radical trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

Trial looks to end goalkeeper tactical timeouts

Image source,Getty Images

Image caption,

Leeds United fans regularly booed a goalkeeper getting treatment last season after Manchester City's Gianluigi Donnarumma went down at the Etihad

By

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

• Published

  3 hours ago

• 676 Comments

English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

If clearance is received by the Ifab in time, the first game to feature the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday, 1 August.

BBC Sport understands that the Australian A-League will trial a variation with the captain always having to leave the field.

The tactic of gaining a timeout as the keeper is treated has become increasingly common and controversial in recent seasons.

It has not been uncommon for the goalkeeper to sit on the turf and signal for the physio, with all the other players rushing to the technical area for a team talk. As soon as the coach has delivered their instructions, the keeper gets up to play on.

Goalkeeper treatment has also been used to disrupt the opposition's momentum when they are on top.

In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" and break up play.

Measure intended to be proactive as a deterrent

At the Ifab's AGM in February, head of referees Pierluigi Collina said that finding a solution to stop the goalkeeper tactical timeout was a priority.

At the 2026 World Cup, Collina told his officials to prevent players from going to the technical area on all stoppages.

The effectiveness of the measure is open to debate, as the three-minute hydration breaks in each half created a natural opportunity for a team talk.

In its own discussions, English football felt that merely stopping players going to the technical area would not deter coaches from using goalkeepers to break up play.

English football chose this trial as it follows the logic applied to outfield players, who must themselves leave the field for one minute if the physio comes on.

It is intended to be proactive as a deterrent rather than reactive to a team talk as it happens.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy suggested last season that lawmakers could act to close the loophole in this exact way.

"I think they can change it really quickly," Murphy said. "If a keeper goes down injured, instead of him having to go off, one of the outfield players should go off then it's fair all round.

"It's a little change that makes a world of difference."

Officials will not prevent players from visiting the touchline as an injury is treated but it is hoped the prospect of playing with 10 players for a minute will act as an adequate disincentive.

This is especially the case in the final minutes of games, when teams trying to hold on to a result would use the goalkeeper to kill momentum. Now they would have to play with 10 players.

There are a few exemptions when a team-mate will not have to go off.

• Where a goalkeeper says they do not need the physio and they have not caused play to stop

• The goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided

• If a goalkeeper is fouled and needs immediate treatment

• If a goalkeeper is bleeding

• If there is a serious injury (has to be substituted) or concussion.

There have been some concerns that a requirement to leave the field for one minute could lead to players, both goalkeepers and outfield, attempting to play on with an injury.

The results of the trials will be assessed by Ifab at its meetings throughout the seasons, and this could lead to a permanent law change globally from 2027-28.

20 hours ago, Boyne said:

BBC Sport

English football agrees trial to end goalkeeper tactical...

English football is set to implement a radical trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

Trial looks to end goalkeeper tactical timeouts

Image source,Getty Images

Image caption,

Leeds United fans regularly booed a goalkeeper getting treatment last season after Manchester City's Gianluigi Donnarumma went down at the Etihad

By

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

• Published

  3 hours ago

• 676 Comments

English football is set to implement a trial to try to eradicate the goalkeeper tactical timeout this season, BBC Sport can reveal.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women's Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

If clearance is received by the Ifab in time, the first game to feature the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday, 1 August.

BBC Sport understands that the Australian A-League will trial a variation with the captain always having to leave the field.

The tactic of gaining a timeout as the keeper is treated has become increasingly common and controversial in recent seasons.

It has not been uncommon for the goalkeeper to sit on the turf and signal for the physio, with all the other players rushing to the technical area for a team talk. As soon as the coach has delivered their instructions, the keeper gets up to play on.

Goalkeeper treatment has also been used to disrupt the opposition's momentum when they are on top.

In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" and break up play.

Measure intended to be proactive as a deterrent

At the Ifab's AGM in February, head of referees Pierluigi Collina said that finding a solution to stop the goalkeeper tactical timeout was a priority.

At the 2026 World Cup, Collina told his officials to prevent players from going to the technical area on all stoppages.

The effectiveness of the measure is open to debate, as the three-minute hydration breaks in each half created a natural opportunity for a team talk.

In its own discussions, English football felt that merely stopping players going to the technical area would not deter coaches from using goalkeepers to break up play.

English football chose this trial as it follows the logic applied to outfield players, who must themselves leave the field for one minute if the physio comes on.

It is intended to be proactive as a deterrent rather than reactive to a team talk as it happens.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy suggested last season that lawmakers could act to close the loophole in this exact way.

"I think they can change it really quickly," Murphy said. "If a keeper goes down injured, instead of him having to go off, one of the outfield players should go off then it's fair all round.

"It's a little change that makes a world of difference."

Officials will not prevent players from visiting the touchline as an injury is treated but it is hoped the prospect of playing with 10 players for a minute will act as an adequate disincentive.

This is especially the case in the final minutes of games, when teams trying to hold on to a result would use the goalkeeper to kill momentum. Now they would have to play with 10 players.

There are a few exemptions when a team-mate will not have to go off.

• Where a goalkeeper says they do not need the physio and they have not caused play to stop

• The goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided

• If a goalkeeper is fouled and needs immediate treatment

• If a goalkeeper is bleeding

• If there is a serious injury (has to be substituted) or concussion.

There have been some concerns that a requirement to leave the field for one minute could lead to players, both goalkeepers and outfield, attempting to play on with an injury.

The results of the trials will be assessed by Ifab at its meetings throughout the seasons, and this could lead to a permanent law change globally from 2027-28.

About time.

On 27/07/2026 at 18:12, Sconnie Blue said:

What a mess.

Italian football is mess. The have reappointed Mancini as coach, who is just there for the paycheque

15 hours ago, markpitts said:

Italian football is mess. The have reappointed Mancini as coach, who is just there for the paycheque

The ultimate poisoned chalice. Italian football needs a root and branch overhaul starting with somehow encouraging clubs - the bigger ones, especially - to develop young talent instead of buying in short-term foreign fixes.

Eddie Howe been sacked by Newcastle.

The way they are selling their top players, he's probably well out of there. If TT wasn't England Manager would give it to Howe now.

Has he been sacked or has he walked?

Odd about Howe, saw they got battered 4-1 in preseason but this feels like something more… potentially a bust up over the impending departures of half the first team?

I do feel for them, having all that (dirty) money suddenly and being handcuffed with how they can spend it. Just a few years too late.

44 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Has he been sacked or has he walked?

I suspect, technically, the former but he's probably glad to be out. The departures this season are gutting the team and who knows how they're going to be replaced after last season's shambolic recruiting (some of it down to Eddie).

1 hour ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Odd about Howe, saw they got battered 4-1 in preseason but this feels like something more… potentially a bust up over the impending departures of half the first team?

I do feel for them, having all that (dirty) money suddenly and being handcuffed with how they can spend it. Just a few years too late.

Eddie out, Matthias Jaissle in from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli owned by PIF. Liam Rosenoir Mk 2? Best of luck.

Newcastle could have pulled some "Chelsea - Villa"-like PSR type of movements last summer and be safe now from an exodus of players, but they really banked on another UCL season that they did not eventually qualified for. Eddie Howe resigning tells me that Guimaraes is most definitely going to Arsenal now and that Newcastle have no plans to invest that much in the squad either. Which is not a bad thing as it's a rival less in the fight for a UCL spot. Hopefully the English clubs do well in Europe and once again the 5th place gets unlocked for an extra UCL spot.

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

Eddie Howe been sacked by Newcastle.

The way they are selling their top players, he's probably well out of there. If TT wasn't England Manager would give it to Howe now.

Id love to see him get the England job.

He did brilliantly at Newcastle initially, handled the new ownership well, even did ok when they were losing players to the FFP nonsense but it looks like the owners are backing right out and hes probably sick of the whole thing.

Can see Tottenham & Crystal Palace needing a new manager half-way through the season, maybe in the latter stages, Howe can just camp out until then. Possibly even the Man Utd job also.

On another note, Everton’s Ndiaye is being linked with Saudi, only 26 years old potentially wasting his talent there. Surprised more clubs aren’t after him, absolute quality player, 2nd most take-ons in the Premier League last season, only behind Doku.

Howe lasted nearly 5 years with Newcastle. He won them silverware and got them into the Champions League several times so he did well overall.

I always thought he was the ideal fit for the England job, but seems the FA are backing Tuchel.

5 hours ago, Jezz said:

Howe lasted nearly 5 years with Newcastle. He won them silverware and got them into the Champions League several times so he did well overall.

I always thought he was the ideal fit for the England job, but seems the FA are backing Tuchel.

Given that they extended his contract before the WC, they have no choice. Apart from a massive pay out.

23 hours ago, dkw said:

Id love to see him get the England job.

He did brilliantly at Newcastle initially, handled the new ownership well, even did ok when they were losing players to the FFP nonsense but it looks like the owners are backing right out and hes probably sick of the whole thing.

FFP is successfully protecting the usual few clubs from anyone doing a "Chelsea" and challenging their stranglehold on English football.

Since we won it in 2017 the title has gone to either Citeh or Liverpool, and just once some other club .

Edited July 31Jul 31 by The Rising Sun
Info

People will call me a hater but Vini is painfully overrated. I actually hope Arsenal throw away their wage structure for him, he'll ruin their dressing room and Arteta won't know how to handle him.

Bruno G fits what they do and need a lot more.

Apparently Arsenal have agreed to pay Vini what Real have refused to do so, 625k a week!

Rock Nation, on behalf of Vini, set to talk to Real, so says Hand of Arsenal.

On 30/07/2026 at 12:10, petre ispirescu said:

Newcastle could have pulled some "Chelsea - Villa"-like PSR type of movements last summer and be safe now from an exodus of players, but they really banked on another UCL season that they did not eventually qualified for. Eddie Howe resigning tells me that Guimaraes is most definitely going to Arsenal now and that Newcastle have no plans to invest that much in the squad either. Which is not a bad thing as it's a rival less in the fight for a UCL spot. Hopefully the English clubs do well in Europe and once again t

Edited August 1Aug 1 by The Rising Sun
Info