ponsaelius

https://twitter.com/helenasamila/status/1015994306627358720 Let people enjoy it all however they want imo

The Canadian Freddy Adu

Hopefully with an option/obligation to buy.

Sterling was very good today and we’re a far worse team without him on the pitch.

Definitely the only one. Very few have won titles with two clubs anyway.

No? It'll be Caceres and Laxalt at full back, same as Portugal game.

Italy conceded 2 goals in 7 games at the 2006 World Cup. It was hardly jammy, Grosso penalty aside (no guarentee Australia would have won anyway). That side would piss this World Cup.

HTT bringing his nuanced assessment of national identity and dual citizenship there.

I don't think he's ever going to be a fit for the way Rafa wants to play, so for that reason getting £20 million for him is good business.

It's quite a big blow that Schaer and Lichtsteiner are both suspended, so I would make Sweden favourites. Should be close though.

Yes, I'd agree with that.

Looks like we'll see some movement now, if this is the case.

Would still need a couple of fullbacks and a CB to replace Mbemba.

Would be shite but depends on the buyback fee. If it's double what we're buying him for it'd be acceptable.

As always the argument with this is if Aberdeen were in English football, they'd have more money and be a better side considering they're quite a big club. Same goes obviously for Celtic and Rangers. However purely comparing quality across the divisions as it stands there is a huge gulf. I'm stunned anybody who watches Scottish football would deny it.

I think Kenedy was better than Townsend was (and also has far more potential), but broadly agree with that assessment. I'd happily see the back of Ritchie to get more pace and quality on both flanks.

There is far more crossover between Scottish Football and the lower divisions in England, in terms of agencies representing players across both systems, and the movement of players between the leagues. There is also absolutely no barrier in terms of culture and style of play for players moving between the two, and they are essentially one and the same. It is not comparable with that of PL and France/Germany where of course wages are hugely inflated. Like I said, the likes of Adam Rooney, Mark Reynolds, Niall McGinn have tried and failed in League One before returning to Scotland. These are key players for Aberdeen. If they were good enough to play in the Championship, and earn significantly more money in doing so, they'd be there.

Grim.

Average weekly player wages for Scottish clubs: Celtic £14,135 Rangers £6,338 Aberdeen £2,623 Hearts £1,837 Hibs £1,676 Dundee £1,152 Thistle £1,119 Ross County £1,085 Killie £1,060 St Johnstone £923 Motherwell £820 Accies £798 That puts Aberdeen as a good League One side, Hearts and Hibs as mid-table League One sides, and the rest League Two/National League. Considering the amount of crossover of players moving between English and Scottish football, i'd say wage bills would be a pretty accurate assessment of quality. There's absolutely no way the likes of Hearts or Hibs would be pushing play-offs in the Championship when the likes of Boro, Fulham, Derby probably spend more on one key player than they do their entire squad.

Actually, Korea have Son and a solid goalie. How about another merger, oldtype?

I think it's unfair to say Japan aren't talented. Most of their players have excellent first touch and close control, and most of them play at a decent level in Europe. They just have a lack of variety in the kind of players they have and lack physical attributes of other teams to be a genuinely dangerous team. In many ways that probably sharpens their focus towards what they're good at, so it's probably a good thing, but watching them you really wish they could find a competent goalkeeper and imposing forward from somewhere.

No chance, not even close. Aberdeen finished 2nd and their star players are failed Championship/League One players like Adam Rooney and Niall McGinn. They'd be a basement battler with their current team, and that's being kind.

SPL is not Championship level. It's League One with a smattering of Championship players and one bottom half PL side.

What a great game. Why did Shearer only seem to praise Japan for being hardworking and having a great attitude? Their football was superb. Belgium basically turned it around by getting the big lads on and getting it in the mixer.

No chance. Brazil will do them in the quarters.