Lush Vlad

Only seen the goals. Seemed involved in all of them and was back to his rampaging best. Still absolutely shite at finishing

Not this nonsense again about wages

Pope Trippier Schar Colo Enrique HBA Bruno Cabaye Robert Martins Asprilla Fuck defending slowest and most unathletic midfield pairing around. Wide men who won’t get back in their own half. Two strikers who don’t know what they’re going to do next. Pure chaos. Favourite XI. Clearly not the best. I think I’d hate watching the version of Martins that played for us, now. But always had a soft spot for him. Despite all the criticism. Tino is still my favourite player. Not that I was watching him every week like we can nowadays. So probably a similar view to Oba.

Seeing as no fee has been agreed. Why would they not put a ‘welcome back’ tweet up for Guehi? We could agree a fee this afternoon for all we know. Or not. Worrying.

Just to echo everyone else's sentiments. I would be annoyed if we didn't sign a RW. But if we look at our options right and left. We have the below options: Gordon, Barnes, Willock, Joelinton, Isak, Almiron, Murphy. I would argue that is a stronger group than our current CB options of: Kelly (injury prone), Burn (much better at CB, but mainly played LB), Schar (still quality but getting on in footballing terms), Botman (crocked until?), Lascelles (see Botman, also on his way out I guess) and Krafth (not good enough at CB). Guehi could well be a transformative signing in the same way Bruno and Isak have been and hopefully Tonali will be. If he signed and we start to do as well as we all hope, he could be here for the next 8-10 years, still at the top of his game and only be early-mid 30's I've probably changed my mind on it. But I think a CB is more of a priority.

Was that when he got given the runaround by DJ Campbell? Game was at Loftus Road? He was hopeless. Oddly can’t think of any in particular for games I have been at live. But Kenedy against Cardiff and Cacapa vs Pompey are the obvious ones. Not surprised to see them keep getting mentioned. I remember Wigan away on Boxing Day under Allardyce being arguably the worst game and performance from us I’ve ever seen live. Fulham away, also under Allardyce a close second. Even though we won seen some hammerings. But the football was just offensively bad. Not even League One standard. In the former. I remember Smith and Geremi being particularly woeful. Along with Viduka, who admittedly was up top on his own about 50 yards from our midfield. Still think the Allardyce stuff is up there with anything Bruce, Carver and Pardew served up.

There’s been a murder

Yep. Hard to judge in pre-season. But seem to have a lot more about them than most of our youngsters we have watched in recent years.

Only been watching since the last 5 mins of the first half. But Hall looks superb. Pre-season rarely means sod all. But we all know some of our depth options are not good enough. The same for a few first team regulars.

Whatever is Murphy up to

Wouldn’t be so bad if whoever was on the right of the 3 had quality on the ball, passing or running with it. But Longstaff and Joelinton are both more about what they do out of possession. Hopefully Tonali and Willock are available for a lot more games this season.

Would be an unreal signing. Would add a bit of speed to our otherwise fairly slow back 4. You’d imagine he’ll have better offers, though? Stock is at an all time high after a good Euros.

Looked lively on the 30 seconds of highlights I saw

He didn’t hate blaming the ref for everything or having his players bully and harass the ref at every opportunity.

Watched that earlier and had a chuckle. Poor ol Longstaff and Willock getting laughed at. Then a comment that isn’t really about their football ability

I remember in the away game against them their CB pairing looking dominant. But being more impressed with Tomori. Pretty sure he didn’t play at SJP. I was there, but I was fairly pissed. So fuck knows. I do really like how aggressive he is in that video with pressing the attackers before they have a chance to turn. Quite a few interceptions, too. At our best the last season or two. Our defenders have been like that. But for various reasons, it has dropped off. You’ll get made to look a cunt from time to time doing it and risk the odd card. But well worth it as a risk/reward most of the time. Especially if you’re more athletic than Botman, Burn and Schar. Felt a bit meh about the links. But that 2 minute clip has made me more positive hope we sign him.

Tranquillo Barnetta and Brett Emerton spring to mind.

Hasn't he been in the training pics and all?

Think it’s hideous, TBH. Could have been really good and all. Unpopular opinion, but I don’t like that old crest and never have. Looks like a kids/comic book drawing. It’s too big and all. Not sure if it was even an option. But the Adidas logo should be the trefoil and the same colour and size as the badge, at least. I actually like the colours and the texture of it. But it all just looks like a random mish mash to me.

I’d forgotten how insufferable Craig ‘No’ Hope is.

Yep. Said when Spain played France. They can get back to front in 5-6 quick, incisive passes between the lines. Whereas we go front to back from a corner in the same number of passes. Our possession is always safe and a bit pointless. A lot of our good play comes from chaos, second balls, a moment of individual brilliance. Our midfield really don’t control games. Rice in particular was terrible and a bit cowardly in possession all tournament, IMO.

This nails it, for me. Got me reinvested in England. Got rid of a lot of the negativity and noise from the media. Players seem a more connected and likeable bunch. But my word. The football is dull and also infuriating a lot of times. He has blind loyalty to certain players. I know all managers do this to a point. But it seems amplified with Southgate. The lack of subs at earlier stages or rotation so players aren’t gassed. He has gotten us further than any manager in my lifetime. So it is hard to give him too much stick. As plenty have under-achieved. But it feels like most of the while. We’ve had good runs in the knockouts against weaker teams. Then whenever we play someone decent. We fail.

Nervous as fuck now. Don’t really get like this for England games. Might go up the pub in a bit. Settle the nerves.

Absolutely not. He will be hearing from my legal team.

Again. Putin’s name dragged through the mud. That account is not me FFS