McCormick

Christ.

No, I agree for sure. Putting the onus on Southgate though. A proper tactician makes it work.

Unchanged squad isn’t terrible imo. The best players are on the pitch, he just needs to make it work tactically. Hopefully Southgate can do it.

I don’t think our defense is as bad people are saying. Argentina won the World Cup with less impressive defenders. Walker is incredibly good defensively, Stones is one of the best ball-playing cbs in the game, Guehi is very solid (just lacks a bit of areal prowess) and Trippier is a great all-round player that can definitely do a more than serviceable job at lb. Our issues are off the ball in midfield (defending more so but going forward as well) and attacking patterns of play. There needs to be more purpose to how we play and, unfairly or not (arguably you have that much time with players before a tournament), that’s on Southgate.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be Gordon, Eze would have been a decent option as he actually takes on players. Based on this performance, I’m hoping we can Man Utd our way to a way to a Euro win.

Looks like Gordon is third choice on the left here.

Sounds blasphemous but Gordon on the counter here instead of Foden would help us get up the pitch.

This’ll be the Maddison transfer saga heartbreak of this summer. Can’t see a world where he picks us over the other teams in for him. Hope I’m wrong.

Ah ok, don’t mean to be a dick but when you said retreating I thought you meant he was backtracking on the fact that a deal was close.

What’s he said?

Calling him a “tap-in merchant” is particularly harsh as it’s basically just saying “he only reports things when they’re actually happening” . That’s solid journalism isn’t it? Would people prefer speculative sensationalism instead?

He’s the Spanish Rashford. Unplayable when he’s on it but disappears too often for chunks of the season. Price seems good but out of the two I’d go for Raphinha if that’s anywhere near realistic. Screams Villa iyam.

Can’t really complain about this one on a free. I mean, some people can I suppose. At worst a very useful squad option when fit.

It’s way worse than the Championship imo.

I think the narrative that TAA is a bad defender is a really overblown one. I think he’s a decent defender, all things considered; it’s Liverpool’s tactics and the fact that he’s up the pitch contributing to attacks a lot that can sometimes leave him exposed.

“Member of the Saudi Royal family” is so vague. Could be anyone from a billionaire to- like a mate of mine who’s also a member of the Royal family- a primary school teacher. No disrespect to primary school teachers btw.

No Feyenoord fan I’ve spoken to rates him particularly highly. We’d be mad not to sell for 40m imo.

They’re just trying to spend what they want and going through every loophole to do it. It’s not pretty but you can’t hate what Chelsea are doing but still want to kick off our own PSR shackles at the same time.

Thought the rumoured number was like 6 odd million, no?

We’ve so many great players that could play in that 10 position. He’s amazing when on form but the lack of versatility has cost him a place here.

Yep. Bad one.

Gonna say Shrewsbury so all the old-head forumites think I’m hip.

He was world-class and decided to join a nigh-on relegated club in January, taking a pay-cut. Saved us, was a great leader and played a massive part in getting us into the UCL Yes he’s had a wobbly few months but it sucks that fans scream for players like Bruno etc. to show us some loyalty yet the moment a player falters a little bit we’re so quick to try to bury them and move on. Despite his age, he’s still got so much to offer us imo.

Literally the best right-back I’ve ever seen play for us and it’s not even close. Only a few months ago he was rightly being argued as being the best right-back in a league with the best right-backs in the world.

Christ.