'A definite step up in attitude and application'
Here's what some of you said:
Kieran: Fair result at a ground we have struggled at in previous seasons. Performance was miles better than what we saw in the two legs against UNA Strassen. Panutche Camara could be an early shout for POTY a midfield machine. Onto Vienna we go on Thursday
Ricky: We have to learn how to play on a plastic pitch. Every time we play on one we struggle more. Bad mistakes cost us the game, we have to be more positive and pass the ball better - it's either too long or to short.
Jim: Thought all the new players have began to bed into the team more than in past performances but worried that with injuries to Ryan Strain, Kristijan Trapanovski and Will Ferry the subs bench look a bit bare of experience.
Terry: Three games in and we are sitting with two wins in Europe and an away draw in the league opener. Hardly a crisis!
Kenny: Much better. Camara had a great game and we were unlucky not to pick up all three points. A good shift from the whole team and a definite step up in attitude and application. Two great goals!
Steve: After looking ragged despite progressing in Europe, United showed signs in Falkirk that they're settling and beginning to develop better understandings. Some good individual performances too. A decent start.
Uddy: Some really positive signs throughout the game that this new squad is starting to gel. Some of the football we played was really encouraging. Just a shame it was the basics that let us down - Falkirk's second equaliser being the perfect example. Regardless of that, I feel far more positive after this performance than I was after the matches on the last two Thursday nights when struggling past UNA Strassen. Rapid Vienna will be a far tougher test, but that's exactly what being in Europe is all about.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Reading Supporters' Trust 'disappointed' as club appoint gambling partners
Supporters Trust at Reading [STAR] have hit out at the club's decision to appoint an official betting sponsor for the new season. The relationship between gambling and football is something which has proved controversial in recent years, akin to the relationship between tobacco and alcoholic sponsors in other sports such as snooker and rugby. Premier League clubs have voted to withdraw gambling sponsorships on front of shirts as of next season, although there are currently no limitations for sleeve sponsors or advertising hoardings. Last week, Reading confirmed a new partnership with PricedUp, a UK-based online sports betting and gaming brand which will feature on training wear for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons. The club state: "As part of the agreement, PricedUp will collaborate with the club to deliver exclusive offers and rewards designed to engage and benefit Royals supporters, while also working closely with Reading FC to promote and support responsible gambling practices." However, STAR have admitted that they are 'disappointed' with the decision. "We were as disappointed as I'm sure a lot of fans were, to see that we have a new betting sponsor," Chair Sarah Turner commented in her newsletter. " [It is]Not ideal, and I'm sure we'd rather a sponsor from other areas. "I think we have to be pragmatic and think that the club are working on improving things and the costs are huge. We have banged on about wanting to be sustainable - and that means using income from sponsorship. "It is, however, positive that the press release mentions that PricedUp will be working closely with Reading FC to promote and support responsible gambling practices and we look forward to seeing how this develops." Some supporters have also been less than impressed with the decision, although many have gone on to praise the club's pragmatism. Tim Kilpatrick, Head of Commercial at Reading, commented: 'We are naturally pleased to welcome PricedUp as our Official Betting Partner – in what is an important financial agreement for the club. To work with a UK company, who are forging their own story in their industry, aligns with our own growth ambitions and we're looking forward to supporting each other in reaching our goals.'
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Milan Mayor On AC Milan & Inter Purchasing San Siro: 'September Decisive, Sale Of Stadium A Personal Objective'
Milan Mayor Beppe Sala has confirmed that September will be a decisive month in the potential sale of San Siro. Speaking to RTL 102.5 via FCInterNewsit, he revisited the long-standing issue surrounding the sale of the iconic stadium. Of course, it's not just about the venue. AC Milan and Inter have been persistent in their effort to buy San Siro and the surrounding areas. However, the process has not gone as smoothly as the Serie A giants had hoped. Indeed, bureaucratic hurdles and political debates have significantly slowed down the progress. Meanwhile, the Milan clubs remain unfazed, looking to complete the purchase next month. Furthermore, Beppe Sala has made this project a personal mission. Though the sale is beyond his control, Sala wants Milan and Inter to succeed in their ambition to build a new stadium. He views the clubs' joint project as a necessity, especially with the 2032 UEFA European Championship on the horizon. Indeed, Italy will co-host the tournament, with San Siro at risk of being omitted as a host venue. Needless to say, it would be a disaster. Milan Mayor Beppe Sala Offers His Stance on San Siro MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 23: General view outside the stadium prior to the coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) 'We'll see what happens in September,' Sala said. 'We must go through the City Council because they must approve transactions involving public property. 'San Siro is one of my goals – not the most important, of course – but I've been working on this for years, also out of personal dignity. 'At first, we considered a lease agreement, then we explored renovation, and now we're pursuing a sale,' he continued. 'Out of personal dignity, I want to carry this initiative forward, but it must be approved by the Council. 'From my point of view, I want a clear conscience – I want to do my job to the end. Then we'll see if politics will follow this path. 'What I've noticed – as someone who has always traveled a lot and remains very curious about what's happening around the world – is that major cities usually have new stadiums. 'San Siro isn't new, and I'll stop here because I know this will spark controversy. 'But modern times must push for change. 'Milan is a city of change, so I vote in favor and will vote in favor because I too vote in the City Council. 'Then we'll see what happens.'
New York Times
31 minutes ago
- New York Times
Should Benjamin Sesko choose Manchester United or Newcastle United?
Manchester United and Newcastle United have made substantial offers to RB Leipzig for striker Benjamin Sesko. Newcastle's first bid of €75million (£65.5m; $86.9m) plus €5m was deemed insufficient but they increased their offer on Monday night to at least €80million. Then, on Tuesday, Manchester United proposed a deal worth €75million plus €10m in add-ons. Advertisement Leipzig are yet to accept or reject the latest bids but if both are deemed sufficient, it will come down to which club the 22-year-old prefers to join. Manchester United are the global giants and believe Sesko wants to join them, but they finished 24 points behind Newcastle in the Premier League last season, missing out on European football entirely while Eddie Howe's side qualified for the Champions League. Here Mark Critchley, Jacob Whitehead and Sebastian Stafford-Bloor weigh up which move makes most sense — or if he might be better off staying at Leipzig for another year. Perhaps the only compelling football-related attraction is Manchester United's stature. Even after a decade of underperformance and mediocrity, players are still drawn to the prestige of being a Manchester United player. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Manchester United's senior-level summer signings, both cited their childhood memories of Sir Alex Ferguson's sides — watching the team dominate English football or wearing a shirt with Cristiano Ronaldo's name on the back — as their reason for choosing Old Trafford. Sesko was still 10 days short of his fifth birthday on the night of the 2008 Champions League final, when United beat Chelsea on penalties, so his memories of the Ferguson era are unlikely to be as vivid. Almost two decades later, United's status as one of the biggest clubs in world football has endured, and for many players, the challenge of restoring the club to those heights is enticing. Mark Critchley The most important is Howe. Newcastle United's head coach has a track record of improving players, even big-money signings — look at the development of Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, and Joelinton. All have gone up in value since joining Newcastle — how many players can say the same at Manchester United? Advertisement Sesko is also guaranteed opportunities. Newcastle's message all summer is that Isak is not for sale but it is easy to see how Sesko's arrival could allow Isak to move to Liverpool, meaning the Slovenian's only strike rival would be the even rawer Will Osula. He could also continue playing Champions League football. Throw in the slightly lower-profile spotlight in the north east, where he would likely be afforded a few more months to adapt to the league and take on Howe's instructions, and there are far more reasons to believe that St James' Park represents a greater chance of success than Old Trafford. Jacob Whitehead Sesko needs only to look at last season's Premier League table. Manchester United's 15th-place finish was their lowest in 51 years. Combined with losing the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, they will be without European football this season for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Newcastle can offer top-tier Champions League football this season, yet it is far from guaranteed that Ruben Amorim's side will return to Europe's elite soon. If Sesko picks Old Trafford, he will be signing up to a project that has shown scant evidence of sustained progress, under a head coach who has little margin for error and has publicly entertained the prospect of leaving. An optimistic mood and some positive performances on Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States suggest all that could still change for the better. Amorim will spend his first full season in charge with time to work with his squad on his 3-4-2-1 system. For a young striker, these are uncertain times to walk into a turbulent club. Mark Critchley Recruitment has been difficult for Newcastle this summer. Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have joined but several other high-profile targets have publicly turned them down. An already thin squad will face more matches in the Champions League, leaving concerns over whether Newcastle have the depth to compete on multiple fronts. Manchester United's larger revenues also mean they can afford higher salaries than Newcastle, helping explain why Mbeumo spurned the chance to move to the north east. Newcastle's strict wage structure limits their top-end dealmaking and the commercial profile of playing for Manchester United offers more money-making opportunities. Jacob Whitehead The centre-forward who has performed best under Amorim is undoubtedly Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 43 goals in 50 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign at Sporting CP, their only full season together. Plenty of those goals came via Gyokeres latching onto through balls and using his speed in the channels to dart behind defences. Advertisement Possessing a rare blend of size, speed and athleticism, Sesko could perform a similar role and make the most of Bruno Fernandes' direct, ambitious style of playmaking. That said, Amorim has repeatedly insisted he wants United to learn how to play slower and with more control during this pre-season, so Sesko would also need to be comfortable dropping to link up play. Mark Critchley Ultimately, Sesko is not Isak. Howe had his perfect striker already. Sesko works well out of possession and has the versatility to split wide in attack, traits that the head coach admires. Like Isak, the raw physical traits are there — the doubt is whether Sesko can unlock them. Howe has previously demonstrated the ability to polish this type of player. His main focus would be increasing the number of 'scrappy', poacher goals, which was the major development in Isak's game over the past two years. Jacob Whitehead If the club's size and stature remain a pull factor, those factors go hand-in-hand with a level of scrutiny matched by few other sides in world football. Sesko would likely replace Rasmus Hojlund as Amorim's first-choice striker, only two years after he joined from Atalanta for a similarly large initial fee of £64.2m. After showing some early promise, particularly in Champions League games, Hojlund suffered several barren spells in front of goal and by the end of last season, his confidence was sapped. He scored just four times in the Premier League last term. Sesko would not be doomed to the same fate but the spotlight on whoever is playing as United's No 9 is bright and unforgiving. That can prove difficult for young strikers, but it is a challenge Sesko will have to rise to if he decides to accept it. Mark Critchley There are competing kinds of pressure at play. At Manchester United, the size of the club and the scale of the rebuild are imposing, but joining Newcastle would also present challenges, especially given he would very possibly be cast as Isak's replacement. He might not be expected to immediately reproduce Isak's 27 goals in all competitions from last season but even reaching 15 goals would be a significant ask. At Newcastle, his signing would have to work, while Manchester United's financial superiority means they can eat failures and move on without torpedoing entire summers of spending. Advertisement It is natural for a player to back their own ability — but it is a flight of fancy to imagine that Sesko will be eased into any situation. Jacob Whitehead Very much so. Sesko is still developing and while he performed reasonably in the 2024-25 season, he has not proved he can really dominate the Bundesliga. Partly, that's owing to the team around him — Leipzig have endured a difficult, transitional few years since he joined — but it also reflects that he has work to do individually. He needs to develop physically, score more frequently and could benefit from a further season at a lower level. Leipzig are confident for the season ahead. Ole Werner has been appointed as head coach and has impressed everyone during the summer, while the additions of Johan Bakayoko and Yan Diomande have reshaped a squad that Sesko could do worse than to be part of.
