Hanshithispantz

Yeah, there was a definite sense of comrade to those Chelsea and Inter sides (some of his Inter team still hate Rafa to this day as he was his replacement there). He looked to have completely lost the plot by the time he'd returned to Chelsea - he looked permanently sick of his life and there were regular reports of dressing room unrest.

Not watching, are Brazil being blow away by the dynamic midfield duo of Eric Dier and Jake Livermore?

His manager has literally said he's fit and that he wants him in the England side. "Personally I think he is ready," said Wenger. "He was not three weeks ago but he is today. I have the same problem [as Southgate], he is competitive for me as well. "In every competition he is ready to play. I would encourage him to do it. "I personally think that with a super-fit Jack - I don't know how you can keep him out of the English squad." "For the last three weeks he has been treated completely like any other player."

Good opportunity to get him some pitch time then. Wenger has already said he's fit.

Might be. Let iz fume anyway

I'd say Wilshere and Shelvey are statistically more likely to be at the 2020 Euros and the 2022 World Cup than Cook like given that they've actually shown themselves to be of atleast Premiership quality Both should obviously be ahead in the pecking order for Russia so completely ignoring them in preparation games to instead hoy out token call-ups and utter shite like Livermore is, imo, completely fucking weird.

We'll probably be looking to maintain possession in atleast 2 of our group games, and perhaps the Last 16 if we get there. If we are playing on the counter against the top sides though then we'll still need a player who can damage them when we have the ball. Look at Shelvey against Liverpool.

I know Merino is going to be out for a while, but Atsu will hopefully be back after the International break. I guess how you deal with the absence of Merino will be key. Some very important - and tough - matches coming up. Failing to get at least one win from Watford and West Brom will be a problem. Who replaces Merino? If you struggle without him then you've just got to strengthen in January. Be pretty hard to get proper back-up for Merino tbh, from what we've seen of him anyway. We need a proper attack so that our problems in midfield aren't as punishing imo. Hayden & Shelvey isn't a bad partnership for a bottom half Premiership side (going with the assumption we'll be in a relegation battle - which I don't think we will be tbh). Joselu and Perez ahead of them is the problem.

I'd hope that Atsu's injury means that his forced replacement is better like. It's hardly a sure thing and it might be really bad, but Atsu's contribution has basically been that once every 3 or 4 games he'll look possibly effective while still not doing anything, turn a fullback inside out, or make a clever run through the middle for a ball, yet still just win a corner, force a save, or float a ball into the keepers arms. The rest of the time he does even less.

Atsu is utter shite though.

What's clever about calling up young players who aren't anywhere near good enough yet though? Calling up Winks was 'clever' because Winks is now good enough to be playing regularly in Pochettino's side. Loftus-Cheek looks promising and already capable of having a decent season in the Premiership. The other three though have done nowt, like literally nothing. I completely forgot about Hart tbh If he's first choice when Russia comes I give in like, it's irredeemable at that point.

What type of player is Winks anyway, I missed to Madrid game and cannot remember seeing much of him?

Jake Livermore is 27? "x is the future" is a phrase to indicate that something is great and everyone needs to get on board (obviously I was being sarcastic). I didn't mean it to suggest I think Jake Livermore is 19 My problem with his selections, mainly in midfield, is that unless he plans on playing Loftus-Cheek as part of a deep midfield 2 we're only going to have Harry Winks potentially offering us anything going forward in that role. I think we should be playing one of Dier or Henderson (probably Dier) with the other in reserve, taking either of Livermore or Cork to the World Cup seems like a massive waste of time. Calling up the likes of Solanke, Cook and Gunn just seems like he's trying to be a clever cunt giving everyone their first taste of international football.

Is he even that good, Gameiro? His record is canny average in Spain.

Why would we sign a 3rd choice striker? Think he's just emphasising how pointless a signing it would be.

Such a lazy link. 2017 Torres as a loan striker would be absolutely pointless.

There's no outrage if yous read like, it's utter bewilderment of his selections. 3 defensive midfielders, 2 of which are completely pointless, and then calling up Lewis Cook for no reason at all. He's 'trying something different' though so it's sound. Jake Livermore is the future.

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/gareth-southgate-reveals-why-he-didn-t-call-up-newcastle-s-jonjo-shelvey-1-8852172 “He plays deeper, plays almost in the quarter-back position for his club. We were needing something a little bit different for these games.” We needed something a little bit different, so I've brought 3 defensive midfielders. The bloke is an absolute plum.

Lewis Cook ahead of Shelvey and Wilshere ffs

It's Leon Balogun, he's just light skinned. He has a German mother and Nigerian father. I thought the same when I saw it so had to dig deeper

Don't think they've gave the pricing too much thought like

How do they plan on addressing language on social media?

Would hope it wasn't his son, like.

Souness is one of the better pundits tbh. I think he went through a period of bitterness towards us but whenever I've seen him recently especially he's been really good.

Is there anything at all to back up Maradona being anywhere near Messi's level like? Stats wise it's not even close, and watching Messi it's hard to imagine anyone better. It just seems like nostalgia and/or a want to elevate history above the the present. I'm fine with it to a degree like, modern players will always have an 'advantage' as training methods and fitness improve etc, so there has to be some perspective there. But it just seems massively disingenuous to watch Messi now and be like "Nah, Maradona was better".