Lush Vlad

Yo. Absolutely not. Don’t slander Putin’s good name with accusations like this.

Hasn't he climbed the corporate ladder in football because of his good work as a scout? Surely he would be implementing processes and strategies within the department he heads up, would have a say over who is scouting for the club, sign-off on players etc. The Contrarian Deadbeat looking for a negative slant yet again. I for one am shocked.

It's not really anything to shout about. I think we all knew what he was going to do and it's his only way of making a noticeable change. Reminds me of Pardew or Bruce changing formation week to week after yet another bad result

Not sure what this is in relation to. But what a fucking tune. Also happy with the Paul Mitchell news.

Teams have perfected the low block and coaching and analytics have turned a lot of football games into robotic, snoozefests.

How bad were the Slovenian penalties? All the perfect height, not in the corner and telegraphed. Yet another terrible game at this tournament.

Slovenia win on pens with Ronaldo missing another would be the icing on the cake

Fucking hell this tournament has been shite.

Mental decision to keep him, IMO. As great as he has been for us. It’s the last chance to get some money for him and he’s never fit. I also think his pace and sharpness has noticeably dropped off recently. Like others have said. I hope we get someone in that can play wide and through the middle. As Isak will need someone to deputise for him now and then and Wilson can’t be relied upon.

I think they might be looking to shift him? Otherwise if his shoulder goes again, we have two 3rd choice keepers and barely 4th choice in Gillespie as back ups. It still seems risky with another starting keeper, TBH. As they could still get injured or suspended and we'd be struggling without them. Unless they have a lot of faith in Ruddy or we did actually scout this lad from Forest and it isn't purely a PSR tat for tat favour. Then it seems risky whatever way you look at it.

I still can't quite get my head around how bad we were/are. We peaked after half an hour or so against Serbia in the first game. I said after that game that the concern was that we won't build on that and grow as the tournament goes on and that we will stay the same. But we've somehow managed to get worse with every game How he persists with the same 'tactics' with the only change seemingly the one centre mid spot next to Rice, is baffling. Every fan, pundit, coach, pro, animal, vegetable and mineral can see it isn't working. The possession is so slow, ponderous and meaningless. Rice and Bellingham want too many touches. We play it safe all the while, scattered in with Pickford booming it long. Players in the front 4 and the midfielders pushing on all get in each others way. We have elite level players looking like League One standard on a regular basis. There is one constant here. They can't all be having bad patches of form at the same time. It's too coincidental. The lack of ideas when we went a goal down was really bad and all. Shunning the hard pass to try and get through the lines, not looking for the early or long shot until really late on with Rice. Then suddenly going from our possession based approach, to panicking and chucking in aimless cross after aimless cross in every minute or two. I'm hoping with Trippier possibly missing out through injury and with Guehi suspended. That we might go to 3 at the back. I'm not a huge fan of it. But it feels like the only way we will make any meaningful changes to the team. Just to get some width and a naturally left footed player at LB/LWB would massively help for a start. Our attacking outlet from full back has been woeful all tournament. Trippier won't go down the line and teams know that. Walker has been playing like he's pissed and has never been great on the ball or in the attacking third, anyway. Saka at LWB and Trent RWB is what I'd go with. Not massively thought about it and I'm trying to second guess Southgate here. But something like the below is what I think we might go with and wouldn't be that upset with. Although I think we could look to play Watkins or Toney up top if we did go 3/5 at the back: Pickford Walker Konsa Stones TAA Rice Mainoo Bellingham/Foden Saka Foden/Bellingham Kane

It was passive, sideways, meaningless passing for the most part. Then aimless, desperate crosses to nobody when we needed a goal. Still not sure how we won that.

I thought the last game was bad. But this was even worse. Obviously chuffed that we are through. But we deserved fuck all. A moment of magic and sheer brilliance saved us. Southgate is a disgrace, IMO.

If I was sat at home. I’m not sure I would have watched the last two games. I go to the pub. As I get to catch up with mates who I rarely see anymore. It ends up being a social more than anything. As the football is turgid and frustrating as fuck. Seems like most the pub are similar after 10-20 minutes

I was thinking we would be paying over the odds for Murillo, Dominguez, Elanga or even the pipe dream of Gibbs-White. Instead, it’s a 3rd choice keeper I’ve never heard of. Fucking hell modern football and this PSR/FFP thing is brutal. Need more than my C in GCSE Maths to keep up with all this accountancy shite.

The last two games. He has just got in the way. Wants loads of touches when it’s not on. Drifts into space where Saka or Kane are or where Foden wants to be/should be, then dives when nothing is on. He is top class. But like plenty in this team. He has been shoehorned into a position that clearly doesn’t work. Just because he plays there for Madrid.

That could be the worst game of football I’ve ever seen. We watched Sounness, Allardyce, Pardew and Bruce ball. Yet this is worse

Gallagher is not going to bring the quality on the ball we have been lacking to get us up the pitch. He isn’t going to be picking those passes into feet and we’ll still have nobody to go in behind. Save from maybe Gallagher himself getting beyond Kane from time to time, or Rice. But then Trent would have been the one playing those balls in the current setup Such a safety first, shit decision. Gordon and/or Wharton should be coming into the team.

Yeah. I know fans often become amateur psychologists with players and their body language and actions. But something has definitely been off with him this season. I actually thought he came back strong after he had that horror run of games. Then got the longer term injury and looked miles off it when returning. Along with just generally not seeming like such a leader and big character.

Szob hides? If anything, I would understand people criticising him for trying to force it. Too many touches, over running it, shooting from mad angles, low percentage passes etc. As that is what I’ve noticed at times. But to say he hides is madness IMO.

Whilst I agree with the club before country bit. I’ve loved the last few tournaments. 3-4, whatever it is. Just an excuse to get up the pub with a load of mates. Usually everyone supporting the same team and to coin a Yankism ‘FREE FOOTBALL’ (Baseball) in the off season. Hard to be excited by the style of play and international football is often slow and cagey. Especially in the knockouts. But for all his flaws and I do think he should have gone already. Southgate did get me interested and engaged in the national team again. So I’m grateful for that, at least.

Said I didn’t want him here. Stand by that to a point. I’m sure he could be a good keeper in time. So the club could be viewing it the same as Tino and Hall last season. But £15-20m for a back up who currently, IMO, isn’t very good. Seems mental to me. Especially when we have starting positions and depth in other areas that need addressing more urgently. If all the FFP stuff is true. It feels like a waste of money for the here and now and like we could have got a number 2/competition for Pope for less money as a more short to mid term solution. Not a long term prospect and a bit of a gamble at a big price. But if we signed him. He’d get my full support and if the club rate him. That’s good enough for me. They have been very good with most of their business so far.

Yeah. That’s Castro / CASISDEAD. Best UK rapper by miles and just happens to support the Toon. Was at the PSG game with Sam Fender and Chabuddy G / Asim Chaudery (sp). Wears a mask all the while when performing or in the media and stuff. So that ‘people don’t recognise him when he’s buying a loaf of bread.’ Or words to that effect

Don’t even particularly like the shirt. But that ad is unreal. Isak with the dog, Shola, Cas Superb.

“That’s just who we are mate.”