Lazarus

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.

Someone on the buying side has GOT to have rang the PL 'off the record' and asked what theyve got to do get this thing passed. We all know money talks. The PL, for example, are underpaying the football league their share of the tv money by hundreds of millions if i remember rightly.

On the contrary - we know that its definately ON and that the consortium never walked away.

Third. But it originally started in the twitter thread.

Who is Chiellini going to chin on Sunday? Im guessing Sterling.

Isnt he one of those 80's footballers from the twitter thread?

Takeover will be done by page 142. Thats my prediction.

If i was a shithouse agent id be negotiating a 'takeover bonus' into the contracts.

I made this argument months ago. Under UK company law, a person is a separate legal entitity to the company, even if they are both Director and sole Shareholder. Under Saudi law......things may be different. The waters are starting to get very muddy as to why the takeover stalled I feel. Different reasons are being quoted by different sources (and I don't mean the ITK twitter bollox crowd).

Piracy. It was always about the piracy.

If ever there was anything that proves we need a takeover, its that.

Thats great

Morata was Shola-esque there