Infinitely Content

Not for me, both Ben Arfa and Beardsley share the art of subtlety and elegance, the feints, slaloms etc, but there was a fire and thunder to Ben Arfa's game too, and, I don't know, just an added something. In any given match, he could do whatever he wanted to whomever he wanted. When I watch Beardsley clips it's as though every one is playing in slow motion. Ben Arfa would have dismantled those defences with ease. Hatem is King.

Is it too late to get him a loan move to Hearts? Need to build his confidence ahead of his move to Sparta Prague.

Wash your mouth out.

I will never be moved from the opinion that in his era, he was second only to Lionel Messi in terms of talent and beauty on a football pitch. Watching Ben Arfa clips on YouTube is life-affirming.

Rashford and Madueke on the wings is pure Turkish league premonition stuff. Besiktas 2028.

Lee Dixon on Anderson: "I watched him last week and he was brilliant in that position for Newcastle against Leeds". Honestly man... commentary muted, The Waterboys on.

I like that about it, it feels elevated and sanctified, up-on-high, where one must climb to reach it. Much prefer that feeling than some walk in from street level shopping-centre-esque shite.

I do like the Anderson - Rice - Eze midfield trio. No sign of Bellingham is a real delight.

James Guehi Burn Skelly Anderson Rice Madueke Eze Rashford Kane According to the BBC. Just waiting for the rest of the nation to catch on to the fact that both Livramento and Hall are twice the player of Lewis-Skelly.

Looking forward to seeing Florian Outskirts at Galatasaray in a year or two.

They'll be dancing on the streets of Lunik 9 tonight.

That Strelec kid who just bent one into the top corner Wissa style plays for Boro apparently...

jedno pivo prosím

The Germans ought to be cast out onto the backstreets of Frankfurt Crackfurt for a night of reflection after this first half showing.

From what I've seen for both Liverpool and Germany, he drops too deep too often a bit like Odegaard, which to me suggests it's a trait of his rather than instruction. For a player of his supposed excellence, I'd expect him to be braver and stay in the space between the opposition midfield and defence. Not very impressed by him thus far and think the often compared Musiala is the far more courageous and incisive player.

I love the German national team coaches song The Rat with his seminal group The Walkmen.

Howay big Nick, Havertz is watching you.

Tino will lock him down easy.

He sacked the graphic designer and updated the font to times new roman yet?

This cunt on gardening leave yet?

But get this Mike, in my petty hours sometime post cup final I attempted to edit it to that myself citing "reputable" sources who labeled him as one of the best in the world, BBC, Athletic, ESPN etc. and it was removed within an hour. Apparently he's become one of the best in the world over a summer of doing fuck all other than laying in the Sociedad sun.

On a somewhat petty note, I couldn't help but notice Isak's wikipedia page which for the duration of his time with us stated plainly "is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Newcastle United", and the second he signed for Liverpool it's changed to "...he is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world". Same would be true of Livramento, Tonali and Bruno if they ever moved I imagine. Nonsense, the favour these clubs get and as a result the contempt and disparagement of any who aren't of royal blood is so ingrained.

I didn't say that. It's of course speculating in response to KI's question, as based on the conditions mentioned in my previous comment, it could be an area that needs a lot of attention before long. And imo, Botman is getting close to write-off territory. I almost don't factor him in when thinking of squad depth or best 11's at this point, same as Willock. He's played 25 games in two seasons, and he's already took a knock this season after just 1 game.

Depending on how Thiaw and Ramsdale get on, it could be that we're looking at heart of defence surgery next summer, at centre back and goalkeeper. Schar and Burn will both be 34, and Botman could be written off by then if he can't prove his fitness and availability this season. I'm not sure though, Schar and Burn could still have one further season in them as the starters, or of course Thiaw could take Schar's position but he'd have to be performing exceptionally to do so.