Lazarus

Put this in the OP.

In theory it would make it easy to identify terrorists/racists/protesters. Its an obvious slippery slope though isnt it

Is Lejuene back?

Its needed but social media websites don't exactly have a good reputation when it comes to securing data. Wasnt it the other month when over a billion social media profiles were for sale?

For me, theres a huge differrence between the emotional investment in England and Newcastle. A passionate manager and the sense of progress with the England team to a passionless manager and no progress at club level. Its a huge contrast.

I was thinking more of the ASM saga.....

Weve gone from the high of tournament football to focusing on our clubs again. Canny for some, but its a bit grim here.

I'm not sure I can see Rashford getting into politics. Club management maybe but politics, its a dirty, dirty world.

Any football on tonight? My routine after work has gone to shit.....

Bill Gates. Apparantly its too hot and hes gonna spray some stuff in the atmosphere.

If Ashley hasnt spent at least a million quid on his legal team hes got to be VERY close to it. Unless hes got De Marco on some sort of performance based retainer.....

England have the 2 central midfielders who can break forward but are mostly cautious and defensive minded. If Foden or A N Other was to play in place of one of them then surely that would have to be balanced by an even more cautious, defensive minded player. Firstly, this would obviously changed the shape of the team and leave more room in central midfield for the opposition to exploit when posession is lost. Secondly, the even more defensive minded player would have to be someone like Kante, which we don't have. The answer may be that Southgate keeps the same shape, players and tactics but the players operate, when neccesary, 20ft or 40ft or so further up the pitch.

I dont think anyones picked any French players. Bit of a change from the predictions thread, including my own

60k infections

Didnt Schick have 5 too? EDIT: Aaah - so it came down to assists. harsh

Who won golden boot?

Donnarumma must be on track to exceed even Buffon How hes so good, so young, I'll never know. I had had him as best young player - Hes won best player overall didnt he?

My thoughts: A few negatives and lots of positives. We obviously have a great squad and it clearly hasnt peaked yet - The 2022 world cup may even be too early for some of them even though this tournament wouldve been a huge learning experience. Southgates cautious approach got us to the final but it wasnt enough. Italy were there for taking but we didnt become more adventurous when needed. Southgate also needs to learn from this. His friendlies between now and Qatar 22 need to show that he can a bit more balanced between caution and attack, ie knowing when to make that change. Its obviously very delicate at tournament level but he needs to learn when to seize the day. He doesnt have to go all out Keegan/Entertainers, but fortune favours the brave. Maybe his playing career as a defender is influencing his mindset as a manager but he's still relatively young, especially for an international manager i think. The FA also have a problem in that, as far as i know, theres no pipeline of English managers coming through. I think someone mentioned this in passing earlier but the FA need some sort of process in place whereby managers are 'groomed' just like this generation of players has been. At any one time there should be half a dozen or so managers in the background who could be call upon if the current manager is sacked/leaves. I also fell in love with football again.

Jones showing Southgate how big his chopper is there.....

I think that was Figo behind Cruise and Beckham too

Wishful thinking here i know but.... Theres gonna come a moment when those involved are (hopefully!) gonna be told that the takeover is gonna be waived through. So what will be the moment when the fans find out that its being done? The announcement of completion? A leak beforehand? Or some other means like a companies house update? or Staveley leading a congo line through Byker?

Ive been looking back at our old England squads that went to various tournaments over the years. The last squad that, on paper at least, looked like it was capable of winning something was the 98 world cup squad. Every single player was in their prime. Other squads were good on paper but never fulfilled their potential. This current squad look to be peaking just at the right time, almost as if they are a club side. And of course, this squad will mostly be going to the world cup next year. Foden and Bellingham will be another year wiser, Grealish will be at a big club and will have more experience, most of the squad will still be in their prime. Even if we win on Sunday I don't think this squad has peaked in terms of overall potential. Of course if we win this thing on sunday we'll be accused on only being able to win at home, but so fuck.

Its 'First manager to be sacked post tournament'.

Ive still got 2 nominations that could come in. I also had Denmark as surprise team along with a 2 or 3 others. Nowt more surprising than a heart attack

I think Southgate has a system where the shape of the team is as important as the overall tactics. The 2 DM's are there to keep that shape and not to neccesarily bomb forward as say Foden would do, or Alice Grealish. If one of the DM's was a playmaker, the shape would be lost and the team 'unbalanced' i think Southgate hasnt i think subbed a defensive player for an attacking player, he subs like for like. Its a system weve all said was too cautious but it seems to be working. Southgate has that team playing like a club squad, not an international squad.