12 Sep 2026 17:50:40
Well that Hull result makes us look like a right set of mugs.

1.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 18:24:33
Sorry, genuine question: based on the past two seasons, mugs because?

2.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:07:49
Maybe a tad harsh from Staffs, but only a tad.

Hull gave Chelsea's billion-pound squad a right good scare, and could have won. Whereas Leeds United folded like a deck of cards, getting thrashed by Chelsea.

Hull have been very impressive so far, and those predicting them to accumulate a record low EPL points total have clearly misjudged them.



It's very bad news for some other EPL teams, including Leeds United, if not only Hull, but Ipswich too, have strong seasons and stay up.

3.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:22:31
Mugs, because we folded like a deck of cards, having spent how many millions on new players. Result was a disgrace.

4.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:39:08
There's a long season to go yet, and Hull will probably get found out eventually, but if they don't, it won't really surprise me. Blades have done it with Wilder, and us with Marcelo in the first season up.
The sad part is, though, when you do get found out, you drop like a stone.

Leeds United are no mugs, mate. Was your mouth out.

5.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:41:52
I'm not sure it's very bad news for us if Hull and/or Ipswich stay up.
If we're good enough, we'll stay up. If we go down, it'll be because we deserve to go down. Good on 'em if they manage to stay up (hopefully not at our expense) .

I think Coventry are for the drop. Palace and Fulham look poor. Fulham have lost two six-pointers already vs. Palace and Sunderland. Sunderland have had an alright start (Ipswich defeat was poor, Brentford point excellent) . They and Palace have Europe starting soon, which will be hard to juggle if they get sucked in.

Palace already have Henderson and Disasi at least injured and suspended when they face us.

Any more defensive issues from Europe on Thursday, and they'll start to look thin. An excellent chance, irrespective of the Newcastle score, for us to put some distance between us and Palace.

Ipswich have looked competitive in all their games for £171m they ought to. Hull had a similar, very vibe-y start under Phil Brown, beating Spurs and Arsenal back in the day and survived by the skin of their teeth that year. Not saying it'll happen the same way, but maybe they'll be 'found out'.

We've had a very solid start. Keep it up and we'll be fine.

6.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:50:45
Hull are so far pretty tight at the back and even more surprisingly scoring goals against good teams.

But it's a pretty long seez .. see how it goes in next 10 matches.

7.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 19:55:25
Fair points, Ealing.

Yes, it looks like an opportune time for Leeds United to play a somewhat weakened Palace team, who are also busy with a European tie before our match with them.

8.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 20:03:35
If we're good enough to stay up, then we will, irrespective of what others are doing. Personally I think it's great that (most) of the promoted teams are bloodying some noses. It would be great if all three stay up and we get some real fresh blood in the EPL.



We seem to have another weird EPL developing, with established teams, like Villa and Spurs not playing to expectation.

9.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 20:26:55
Conversely, Ani, in the 23/24 season, Forest were pretty woeful, but stayed up by default because the 3 promoted teams were absolutely.

10.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 20:42:49
I agree. Very embarrassing to ship 6 to Chelsea in 35mins when they couldn't even beat Hull with their full strength team. Needs sorting out, and fast.

11.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 20:55:46
That's all as maybe, but I'll make a wager with you now that Hull City finish the season in the bottom half of the table, maybe even fighting to avoid relegation.

12.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 21:03:56
Don't mind Hull and Tractors staying up, Ani, but won't be able to suppress a giggle if Fat Frank & co straight back down.

13.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 21:05:43
That would be a good seez for Hull JR.

14.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 21:32:36
Only if the possible fight to avoid relegation is successful, that is, Baz.

15.) 12 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 22:10:13
What I do think is that, though we might be ok if our first three games are anything to go by, I think the league will be tight in terms of points. We could be 14th and only 6-7 points clear again. I think the way that Hull and Ipswich have come out of the blocks says they're going to at least fight.

I predict Fulham to be this year's West Ham - the established team that sinks quite far.

They've staked their survival on Arbeloa and signings like Palacios, Garcia, Charles, Affengruber and Larsson. It's a big unknown because none of them have prem experience. Not a negative, necessarily, just an unknown.

Remarkably, according to Transfermarkt, our net transfer spend is lower than Fulham's for this window. And yet they feel like a much weaker team.

16.) 13 Sep 2026
12 Sep 2026 22:48:24
Villa and Newcastle also have had the hearts of their teams ripped out this summer, and may struggle this season. Villa especially have also got to fit in at least 6 Champions League fixtures with their depleted squad, and are my tip for an established team that may flirt with relegation.

17.) 13 Sep 2026
13 Sep 2026 08:04:46
Stubs, totally different game, cup to league, two different teams. First half they were excellent; second half, a different game with 5 different players. Come Monday our full team will be out and we are going to win 2-1. Everyone will be happy again, you will see. We are Leeds.

18.) 13 Sep 2026
13 Sep 2026 13:28:31
Regarding Newcastle and Villa.

I think Newcastle will be fine. Howe did well with Newcastle but it looks like they either bought the wrong players for his system or he forced the wrong system on the players he told them he wanted. Look at Elanga and Wissa. Reborn, using their pace for counter-attacking. Pardo will be interesting as a new forward. They have a youngish squad that will probably get better with enough knowhow from Elanga, Wissa, Schar, Botman, Hall etc. Either Jaissle happens to play this system or is just fluid enough to play to the squad's strengths based on early evidence. Either way, fair enough.

Villa bought well, but arguably not enough. They have Maatsen out for what sounds like a long time according to Emery.

Pau Torres' hamstring went, Grade remains to be seen. Cash was absent with a minor knock. But it means Mings is back as a starting cb for a while right now. He's past his best by a ways now. Their back line still looks competent, but no depth if there's one more injury. If it's a bad hamstring for Torres, they'll struggle. In midfield and forward areas they seem fairly stocked. Manzambi is an excellent young player to replace Rogers, Mbaye could be. Jackson is a marginal downgrade on Watkins. The new keeper looks pretty decent. They have Joao Gomes and Goreztka integrating to solidify that midfield in the absence of Onana. Weaker than last year, but still around 12-14th I reckon.

19.) 13 Sep 2026
13 Sep 2026 16:00:47
Villa have lost Martinez, Digne, Konsa, Tielemans, Rogers and Watkins, all top internationals. Torres and Onana may both be out for months, Maatsen a bit less, Mings is past his best now, and Jackson is nowhere near as good as Watkins imo. The new keeper is Ok, and Manzambi looks promising, but what with the additional demands of Champions League football, I think they may really struggle.


Newcastle are not as badly off, but with Guimaraes, Tonali, Gordon and Woltemade gone, their engine room is much depleted. The improved form of Wissa and Elanga gives them some hope, but I see them as mid table at best.