Stottie

I hate to greet promising signs of good news with a FFP/PSR comment, but maybe there is an unexpected bonus coming from Saudi for Trippier.

For context, the Tokyo Verdy vs. Brighton game got 22,500 and that was at the weekend with Mitoma playing and at the National Stadium. We're playing there on Saturday. Its in Shinjuku, so central Tokyo. Its the Olympic Stadium, so there's a running track For Japanese locals interested in the Toon and not Urawa Reds, their stadium is quite far out of Tokyo. It is magnificent but a bit of a pork barrel thing built in what was the middle of nowhere for the 2002 World Cup. The Reds themselves get an average attendance of around 35000, which isn't a sell out. I dunno how many fans the Reds normally get paying on the day, but there were flash floods in nearby parts of Saitama from the rain that fell pre-game.

I think the telling one here is that Liverpool will need a Salah replacement soon and also have the guy who managed Minteh last season. They could have easily afforded the fee had they wanted to pay it for Minteh as their next RW. They may even have the luxury of bedding him in if Salah stays one more year. If Liverpool and Slot do not see Minteh as an absolute steal, I presume he must not be. The NUFC player Liverpool seem interested in is Anthony Gordon, who plays in the same position as Luis Diaz, who is in no apparent need of replacing.

THE EVENT HAS ENDED GO TO HOME Err, no it hasn't. I also had a look at the official Twitter after the subs just for confirmation and it reported a save by Pope that took my feed at least 3 minutes to catch up. Other than broadcast gripes, lots of positives on the pitch there from the first half. Looking forward to the 31st against Urawa.

Hall looking very assured in the middle and yes, moving it forward like Bruno does. Hull were seventh in the Champo and will be deeper into their prep, because they start a week earlier than us. Fewer players away for summer too.

fwiw, Isak was the most expensive player ever signed by a non-Sky 6 club.

On the "sell to who?" issue, the answer would be to a team who wants 10 goals a season from a striker, which could make all the difference in them not being relegated. Many teams from midtable downward will not use a high press. They will sit in a mid or low block and eke out what they can. Survival means taking their chances, something Wilson is very good at. Wilson's last injury last season, the chest one, was from harrassing the opponent's center half in the opponent's box in the closing minutes. That was pretty stupid for us and could be completely unnecessary for his new club. Something akin to Bruce-era NUFC Wilson is still an asset. Someone who doesn't run much or touch the ball very often, but finishes that one decent cross or pinball mayhem you manage to create once or twice a game. Someone on here had to tell me, but the Saudi transfer window only opened a few days ago, so we may hear more of talk of players heading there from now on.

He was poor at the Euros. As were the Poles.

Spain scored both goals from their left hand side, one with their left winger at the back post and the other with a dangerous ball from their LB way up the pitch. I don't think England scored from the left once all tournament. The Foden offside goal and the Kane missed header from the free kick are the only chances I can remember coming from the left. I understand Rashford, Grealish, Chilwell etc. having difficult club seasons and the Shaw injury created selection problems for that side, maybe Colwill too, but the solution chosen was not a very good one. LW ended up as an excuse to crowbar another #10 in the team.

Worst pen award since PSG's.

England have gone six competitive games since they last scored twice in 90 minutes. That game was a 2-0 win against Malta.

Bowen's had 30 starts for seven straight seasons! Availability is the best ability yada yada.

If Wilson is going, that's DCL's money right there. Sorry to go back to Bowen yet again and the "low risk" aspect, but if we don't do well this season, the bigger risk is we lose some combination of Bruno, Isak, and Gordon next summer. Oh, and Howe himself if the big bosses in Saudi are unhappy. The people directly managing the club are unlikely to have the final say. Eight points off Villa, who finished the season W3 D4 L3 with a minus goal difference in those 10 games, and now face CL No Poch at Chelsea, who were improving No Klopp at Liverpool. Maybe no Salah too. ten Hag retained in spite of whatever pathetic goal difference they managed Hang onto Bruno and Isak and strengthen where we need to and we should be back up there. With Bowen, genuine competition for Pope, and reasonable injury luck, I think we'd be up there.

DCL is a pretty good match to Callum Wilson when we bought him. Same age, very similar stats, very similar injury, quite similar build with DCL taller. A striker who's a #9 and doesn't really do any of the #10 stuff. Decent goalscoring record in a mostly failing team. Wilson had just been relegated in Howe's Bournemouth. Wilson never greatly overperformed xG when at Bournemouth. He's way more clinical now and full credit to him for it. Wilson when bought was simply someone who'd done average-y in a not-so-good team, which means there was upside potential when placed in a better environment, even if it was initially just quite good players (ASM etc.) managed by that fat lazy lump. If we paid 20M for Callum Wilson four years ago and DCL is now 25M or so, that makes him a moneyball type signing. I don't care about DCL wearing a skirt etc. but it sounds like Howe is genuinely hard on players, and the main question would be is DCL up for working as hard as Howe demands.

Just on Bowen but he's started 30 league games in 7 straight seasons. Availability is the best ability and all that. The fee will be very big, but his injury record on top of his league record make it about as low risk as they come. vs. Arsenal 4G 2A in 10 games, vs. Liverpool 3G 3A in 10 games, vs. Man City 2G 0A in 9 games, vs. Chelsea 1G 3A in 10 games. That's a superb record considering West Ham lost 2/3 of those games and won't have had much of the ball. If he fits our system, which is the crucial question, I wouldn't baulk at a perceived 25m premium over someone else or worry about resale value. If money is there I'd buy him. It is probably a smokescreen, but Botman was signed after a lengthy and public pursuit, so they don't all come out of the blue.

Deschamps set up France poorly, so much unused talent, and they are a poor watch, but Upacameno, Hernandez and Mbappe himself all had clear chances. I like being entertained and want entertaining football to triumph (not necessary for NUFC), but this gives me visions of Spain conceding to Weghorst, VVD, or one of our big lads in the final.

All set up now for a drab semi where we lose to a goal from Wouty WegWeg.

England 5/5 and win!

Nice one Saka!

Foden off, Eze to #10, Gordon left is the move.

What's England's xG so far? My guess is under 0.5.

I hope Anthony Gordon can take a penalty. Because it might be his only hope of getting on.

Great cross from Fab.

No, 10g + 10a is elite and scoring against every Top 6 team is super elite. First time since Vardy in the title winning season.

Fab needs to go down injured for a rest.