ponsaelius

I think predicting one of our youth players will make a career for himself in the Football League is a fairly optimistic post to be honest.

Or we're potentially short of bodies with Hayden's situation.

That's the average rating from their matches throughout the tournament I assume. 7 is a very good average score the way they do it It's not though, it's slightly above average I guarentee there's barely an 8 or a 9 among any of those players' individual match scores. It's a nonsense. The idea of 5 being the average is a great one in principal if you use the entire spectrum, but they don't.

He'll never be PL standard like. Should make a decent Football League career out of himself though.

Doesn't surprise me. Know a few lads who've packed theirs in. Was tempted to get mine back up until the last couple of weeks, purely for Rafa, but won't be bothering now. Sad that the club won't give me even the slightest bait. Got a few new away grounds to tick off in the new year, so I'll just be grabbing tickets where I can and doing them instead.

Their rating system is stupid. There's no point in a rating system of 1-10 if you never give players a high score. The whole team is rated slightly above average. Nonsense.

Vrsaljko had a great tournament, better than Trippier in open play. More than an acceptable pick at RB. Agree with CBs.

This happens every year. Most Italian clubs warm up with early friendlies against what are essentially pub/village sides near where their training camps are, and run up huge scores. There's nothing dodgy about it, but it is a largely pointless exercise other than for fitness. I'd imagine the side Everton played are basically the team in the neighbouring village to their training camp.

I disagree having watched him a lot and in person for Genoa. He's an impressive player although certainly more suited as a wing back. The quoted price is absurd, mind. You could have got him for a third of that before the World Cup.

Fuming at that ffs. The Belgium love in is sickening.

I'm going.

He's absolute shite and an arsehole. Wouldn't touch with a bargepole.

I'm still heartbroken

Absolute drivel.

Came to post that. Great article.

Get a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I remember we're playing.

Belgium were immense in that first half against Brazil tbh. Lucky against Japan I agree. On the counter their front 3 was good. But if they don't get that bit of luck from a corner they get easily beaten. Watching them today and Fellaini is the one with the free role in a team with De Bruyne and Hazard

Belgium are a total myth for me. Inferior team against Japan and Brazil, and pure shite for most of that.

As good as their midfield is, Modric and Rakitic have been playing too deep all tournament, and have looked a bit leggy in all the knockout games. It's an aging side. We have to keep the team the same, and push them back with the pace and running we've got, rather than try and adjust in fear of their technical quality. Do that and we'll win IMO.

Playing their first friendly the night of the World Cup semi final? Grim times.

I'm glad to see so many people had such a great time. I liked Russia when I went and can imagine it being an even better place to visit during the unique time of a World Cup when a lot of that cultural frostiness has melted. Really sad I didn't have the time or financial means to go, was just really bad timing in terms of this stage of my life otherwise I absolutely would have done.

Missed this at the time. Amazing. Pure goosebumps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X559KTOhGHs

As with any club like this, you can't guarentee anything. What might look good on paper just as likely to not click see them tumble. I think whatever they bring in they'll struggle to be as good as they are with Mahrez, but on paper they've made some nice signings.

On a more positive note, I live in Elswick, and there's a bunch of kids in the street playing football made up of all the colours of the rainbow. And they're all shouting about England.

O-Nut, closet Leicester fan.