Tiresias

Their left winger looks pretty decent, sign him up! Haha Stuart Piece "sammy sammy get on yer bike!"

For me CB cover is most important right now, followed by forward. Another fullback (either side considering Santon can play both) would be nice too. After that it's just squad strengthening, and actually buying more midfielders would be harsh on players hoping to break through, unless a bargain or an amazing player is available, or tiote leaves, I wouldn't want to buy any more midfield players who weren't expecting to just be cover. I'd welcome Maiga now, much less than start of season though, where I was optimistic about Ba but not about Best really...so welcome, not impressed by his attitude to moving, let's hope it's symptomatic of being in french league rather than just goign to agitate to move to a 'bigger' club once here if doing well. Still even if for less time than hoped for absolutely welcome.

Yeah this is a concern, doubt he'll be long term signing if he is coming, and if he is good. Doesn't mean not worth it anyway.

I think the Gerrard Lampard mess was as much to do with the lack of a player who could sit deep in midfield and pass it well and dictate pace and attacks. They didn't work great together, both really want to be going forward and want someone behind them who can spread play etc.

While all the coming hubris is going to be painful and ridiculous, we played best we have in a while and spain didn't play well for them at all, before everyone condemns any claim that England are any good completely...that was a pretty solid performance. We do this before every tourney of course, look alright and collapse under pressure, but the young players looked alright, though the fawning over Jones is pretty obscene. We did alright, stuff to build on, and please let this mean Terry is pushed out the squad by the Euros? It's not a coincidence we look better in defence without him.

Spain have more gears to go up one suspects, but dunno if they will. Could finish 0-0

I bet the spanish kid mascots could beat our team

am I alone in thinking this is about as good as one could expect (from selected squad). Lampard suspect is central and ahead of parker and jones rather than level. Two holding players to stop us from getting murdered through middle, and quick wingers to carry counter attacks. Reasonably sound in theory imo, we're just going to get murdered due to the gulf in class, or spain won't bother very hard and we'll get a load of undue praise for getting a boring draw Milner quick? OF SQUAD AVAILABLE I SAID. Though he has been alright for Man City to be honest recently.

am I alone in thinking this is about as good as one could expect (from selected squad). Lampard suspect is central and ahead of parker and jones rather than level. Two holding players to stop us from getting murdered through middle, and quick wingers to carry counter attacks. Reasonably sound in theory imo, we're just going to get murdered due to the gulf in class, or spain won't bother very hard and we'll get a load of undue praise for getting a boring draw

Was not I alone then in thinking Fifa had a point, if poppy is on shirt players have to wear them, it's a totally empty gesture if there's no player choice on it anyway. Exactly, although I don't think that was FIFA's reasoning though. Their reasoning was that if we get to wear poppies other nations, like ones in the balklands might demand to wear contentious memorials that could stir up trouble. Which isn't unreasonable imo considering that we get to wear armbands, have a minutes silence, lay a poppy on the ground first, have military attending etc etc to have a memorial.

Was not I alone then in thinking Fifa had a point, if poppy is on shirt players have to wear them, it's a totally empty gesture if there's no player choice on it anyway.

Well it's a good job that Cole and Johnson are so good at defending and not leaving loads of space behind them against Inesta / villa / silva... Oh wait this is going to be brutal.

by 'we need to compete' I assume this in the special 'clubs run by dicks' league.

He just got here, doesn't sound like he fancies leaving, lets shut up, far more worried about Tiote

god hope he's not out that long

Spurs are loaded, we are not, we also have mike Ashley a man with a price for everything. Oh I know. I'm expecting to be pretty pissed

Ok ignoring FIFA being dicks, here's radical formation Hart Johnson Terry Jagielka Cole Barry Parker Milner Lampard Walcott Bent

I'd be pretty pissed if we didn't hold on to him no matter how much offered, like Spurs managed with Modric.

Excellent for them, excited by them, want them to get some game time

you're missing an 'if' in that sentence

Suspect he's not being offered 'much' because they anticipate that he'll be backup to Santon if they buy a new left back or something

Obcviously very happy his form from last season has carried over, and nice interview, crediting 'Gabby', Jonas, and Best. Wonderful player for us this season, wonderful player to have got on a free. For a player who has been considered mainly an injury waiting to happen he probably deserves more plaudits than he gets.

In that Marveaux can put in big crosses and isn't just going to try and make a beeline to the goal? Oh...wait