ponsaelius

Yeah was gonna say and link them - but I know not everybody subscribes. Good stuff.

Italy's main problem is the lack of a reliable striker (at international level) and not a lot of game-changing pace out wide. For that reason I'm pretty surprised Kean didn't make the cut as a wildcard - especially over somebody like Raspadori. The latter is promising - but it seems a stretch at this stage of his career to expect a lot at a major tournament. Another player who is unfortunate to miss out is Matteo Pessina of Atalanta, who unfortunately plays where the team is strongest. I also think Manuel Lazzari would have been a shoe-in for almost any Italy team of the last 10 years where back threes were in-vogue. One of those who is a great wing-back, but cannot really play in a back four at all. Will otherwise be very interesting to see how form under Mancini transfers to the tournament. Not just a case of being 27 games unbeaten, but they have been generally very entertaining to watch over the last 3 years.

3 players from non-UK clubs is interesting. Only time we've had more than 2 before at major tournament is Euro 88. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_England_national_football_team_World_Cup_and_European_Championship_squads

I think England have often indulged in taking loads of out and out strikers for no reason. If you only play with one through the middle there's not really any point taking loads - better off taking players who are more flexible. Seem to remember in 2014 that Klose was literally the only proper CF they took - but they obviously had the likes of Podolski and Mueller who could have moved up front if push came to shove. Main weakness for me in that squad is the goalie and CB options which will probably be why we won't win it. But there's nobody who's been left out to remedy it.

Walker can play in a back 3, TAA can play in midfield. It's a 26 man squad so you can pretty much indulge a bit tbf. I think that squads pretty much fine. Other than being a bit shocked Lingard hasn't gone I don't think there's any ridiculous omissions.

Wouldn't say I completely agree with that. I think the very rare times Argentina showed any fluency in the last decade was usually when they connected on the pitch. It was the other constituent parts which never seemed to function.

Might be tempted by York as I've only been to their old ground. As ever a crying shame it's miles out of the city compared to Bootham Crescent which was easily walkable from the centre.

Aye. Was in my last trip pre-lockdown! I posted photos here - should still be on there. It's one of my all-time favourite grounds. It's at the very tip of Venice proper, which is interesting in itself as it is very residential and outside the tourist hubbub. I walked there then got the vaporetto back to Maestre station. Almost slightly disappointed they're probably gonna be back in Serie A, as I'll now wish I had waited. But will be great to see them back up if they do. Cittadella would also be interesting - especially since Padova are languishing in Serie C.

Yeah I think Suning have basically said your budget is zero. Possibly even a big sale somewhere to settle things. Conte clearly not interested in that. Bit weak though.

Conte leaving Inter. Spalletti to Napoli. Gattuso to Fiorentina. Proper merry-go-round.

I would definitely play it again like. Only tweak I'd make is perhaps shimmy the easy questions up to medium to make it more accessible and get some ridiculously easy ones for passbacks as I don't think anybody will reasonably do that. That will encourage and reward people who go for the more ambitious/harder questions. A timer too would perhaps be good although I get that it's just another thing to micromanage for you during the game. Maybe only bring that in towards the end to avoid timewasting.

I thought that was brilliant tbh Really clever and good questions.

What a strange (yet successful) career Renato Sanches has had so far.

It's shocking for Napoli to to finish 5th really with their squad. Very settled team. A big signing in the middle of the park and a proper manager has them pushing for the title.

Just realised we've got a game tomorrow and there's no match thread

To be fair, I'm absolutely astonished that Wyke has scored the goals he has this season. I remember seeing him years ago when he was on loan at Hartlepool and back then would have been amazed he even made a career in the Football League.

League titles for Eriksen and Trippier. No wonder Kane wants out

Real equalise. Could get interesting.

Atletico 1-0 doon.

Ramsey isn't on 400k a year. He's on 134k after tax. Ronaldo is on 600k after tax. Undoubtedly a terrible signing. But they probably thought if it didn't work out they'd just flog him back to a PL club at a 'profit' - like they did with Can to the Bundesliga. Free transfers like this one have been terrible for squad building, no doubt. Signing players because they're a 'market opportunity' rather than actually a good idea for the team is one of the major reasons for their decline.

That's just not true. Maybe in the long term, if it had led to CL success, more signings of the same ilk and eventually an established global brand you could quantify that it was ultimately and eventually worth the outlay. If they end up in the Europa league next season you can categorically say that hasn't and won't happen. It's a gamble that basically hasn't paid off. And it has fuelled their sheer desperation for a Super League.

Don't get me wrong it's certainly not anywhere near the only bad decision they've made. But on the defenders front. Bonucci they didn't actually buy for 35 million - it was a straight swap with Mattia Caldara who was ludicrously also valued at 35 million (with Higuain also farmed out on loan), and even that was less than they sold him to Milan for a year earlier. Cancelo they sold for more than they bought him for. De Ligt if they were to sell on the open market tomorrow they'd get their money back and possibly more - even taking into account Covid depreciation. That is the difference with the Ronaldo signing. It's a 250 million euros sunk cost that is never coming back. If this was PSG it wouldn't matter - but Juventus are not PSG. They have an economic reality to deal with. They're a big club but one that has always built teams by buying and selling. And the buying and selling aspect of that team building has had to shift for the worse in part because of what the Ronaldo signing did to their short-medium term finances.