McCormick

He’s twice the player Sterling is, and I rate Sterling. Just seems so strange that one of the best players in the world has been given only 10 minutes in this competition. Madness by Southgate, it really is.

Sancho would start for any other team in the competition besides France. So annoying that’s he’s had zero minutes thus far…

Eh? I mean we probably won’t because It’s England/ Southgate picking the wrong teams and tactics. But England have one of the top 3 or 4 squads in the competition on paper.

@et tu bruteThere are already sports direct stores in KSA, although I believe the one in Jeddah has closed down. It’s reasonably easy to set up a sports shop here, getting the backing of the government seems a bit overkill

Despite being so accustomed to it for the last 2 years, Southgate’s playing down our expectations and talking up other teams is absolutely infuriating.

Rashford is awful down the middle.

Ugh. Southgate is joke.

Sancho, Reece-James and Grealish in the first 11 and this is an easy game IMO.

Just realized Sancho isn’t even the bench. Madness… Reece James (who, IMO is one of the best right-backs in the world) not starting was a massive mistake.

Not a great team selection there by Southgate tbh, but 5 subs means we can hoy on the right players at some point, so no biggie.

@DokkoAbsolutely right, the planning in KSA is absolutely woeful and it would be terrible for the PL brand to accept their offer. Also the fact that PIF still owes billions to European construction consortiums would make it a pretty risky proposition; nothing to do with backhanders (imo) in this particular instance.

Can see someone taking Lejeune for 4m and Muto for about 3. Maybe 5-8 for Gayle? But yeah, not much.

Gayle, Lejeune (unfortunately) and Muto will go for max 15 mil l guess. Wouldn’t be surprised if we accept a 12 mil plus add-ons/ sell-on percentage for Woodman too... yay.

Tomori not even getting a look-in is a bit weird. Think he’s one our best options at cb, considering the season he’s had.

I’ve watched quite a bit of both this season and, while Trippier has impressed me and is arguably the best performing rb in La Liga, I think TAA has bags more natural and physical ability. For Trippier I just think his progress is result of being drilled by a very good defensive coach in a slower league.

Why though? Speed: TAA >> Passing:TAA > Crossing: TAA > Big game experience: TAA> Defending: probably about the same Just don’t see what Trippier brings to the table over Trent tbh, even as wingback.

Picking Trippier over TAA is absolute madness from Southgate.

Celtic mate was saying he wouldn’t go for less than 20 mil, “15 at a push because of Covid finances”. From what I gather he’s very very highly thought of and can play in a number of different positions. He’ll be gutted at 6 mil

My apologies guys, seeing my posts back to back like that in ShearerGol's post is genuinely enlightening. Really didn't realize that all I've been doing is shitting on this for months

OK. I'm gonna add you to the list of people who pretend to be ITK. Thanks. feel free.

Shouldn't have said "dead in the water" tbh, as it was a bit of an exaggerated/ emotive take on what I've been hearing. From what information I've been privvy to, PIF do not see this as a 'priority deal' and their interest in this is wearing very thin. A quick and successful arbritration result may help of course but the general impression is that this deal is highly unlikely to go ahead.

Dead in the water, so I've been told

Looks shite on paper but if we're continuing with the high press there's, at least theoretically, enough "legs" in that side to carry it out. Absolutely no goal threat though and, as usual, it seems we're giving the opposition way too much respect.

I think most people are overestimating the importance of this deal going through for PIF.

Edit: Wrong thread.