Abacus

Haha, I meant Capello. I'm an idiot.

There's no doubt that Southgate has made a huge difference to the team, when you compare to the underperformance of Sven or Ancelloti. Team selections have always been controversial no matter the manager, because everyone has their own opinions even before you start looking at things through your own club's lens. The valid criticisms for me have always been the safety first approach and the lack of tactical nouse when up against better teams or better managers. Anyway, it's been done to death now. I wouldn't want him as my club's manager and I suspect that holds true regardless of club allegiance. But, he's got one last shot at proving his detractors wrong.

It's all unraveling a bit now. Really thought we'd win that before the game and that there'd be a rush on waistcoats. Saying that, some of the players need to step up in the next round, there really doesn't seem to be a leader on the pitch - sometimes you have to do it yourself.

Agreed. And if Southgate doesn't see that, then he's daft. You need someone to be honest and not just tow the party line - proud of him. Gordon should be starting, he's the breath of fresh air the team needs.

So now we've finished the safety at work seminar, on to football - let's get the ball forward to Harry Kane.

No, bcc him. We'll pick it up on it quicker that way.

Well, we've never once signed Jérémie Aliadière. Questions must be asked.

His time will indeed come. But it should be now. If Southgate can't see what he's got on his hands with the right coaching (which in fairness many of us didn't either till this season), that's on him. Can't wait to see how he develops with us.

It does take a bit of effort to think of the expiry of the clause as a negative, but we're pretty damn good at this by now.

I've thought that too, but there we are.

I'd expect to see a bit of a reaction in the Slovenia game, a bit disappointing he's only swapped in Gallagher rather than experimenting a bit more, but there you go. In isolation, it's not a bad change - at least Gallagher is playing a more familiar role and not out of position. Gordon could help him hugely but that's been said before, and better. Maybe he'll get a run in the second half. Wouldn't be surprised if England top the group easily and get through the next couple of rounds. Then, the talk will be about just having needed time to get the team to gel, coming good at the right time, the important thing being qualification etc. That's all true, and I've criticised Southgate for some things in the past without giving him credit for all the good things he has definitely done, so I don't want to be too critical. Like many, I'm just not convinced about his selections, his tactics or his ability to influence a game enough to think he's the manager to win a tournament. I think it will need a captain style player to step up and drive the team on when it gets tough. Been a bit disappointed in Rice so far to be honest - given how he plays in the league I thought he might be that player.

Stuffs Everton right up as well. He seems a really promising prospect - hope he does well.

Good job certain clubs were acting in good faith when they proposed the ESL then.

Bit of a coincidence Ratcliffe is trying to get Branthwaite for a knock down fee, knowing Everton would have been in trouble.

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. All in one thread, it's the FFP way.

I could see a newly promoted team taking a punt on an experienced striker who might give you the 10 goals that will keep you up for a season, and to be a positive influence in the dressing room, even for those times when he can't play. Genuinely could/should have been an England regular.

And this why it's impossible to fairly value players with the inflated prices paid by the Saudi League. He's been in the England squad and a champions league team for a league wanting to raise it's profile, so there's logically that. But then we'd still have to prove it. West Ham apparently showing interest at those prices might be interesting, then.

As a hypothetical, Wilson just on pure finishing and leadership. But, he's 33 so it would probably have been one last hurrah for him next year in any case. On the other hand, if roles were reversed and DCL was guaranteed to stay fit for the season, you'd pick him instead for sure. As it stands, you'd guess there's more chance they're both out for a decent or equal amount of time. But at least if DCL has a good fairly injury free season, there's more chance of then wanting to keep him, or being able to move him on with willing buyers. With Wilson, sadly, his race looks run - and a damn good one it's been.

Ah, you might be right then mate. I can't see anything official either now you say it and I'm sure you'd have been on it if there was, PauloRomanoGeordio

His contract has been paid up, hasn't it? I.e. no more years.

Probably a bit - we'd have had a bit more money and it would have counted in this year, but if the gaps guesstimated at by Swiss Ramble are close to accurate it's unlikely to have gone the whole way had we survived another round or two (not to even get into coefficient payments and all that). Maybe Tonali was ironically a bit of a gamble in that respect, hoping for a bit of further progression in the CL and the PL. Pure guess, but we may have been thinking of a couple of low level sales of fringe players in Jan more than CL progression as a back up, if we were likely to be at the edge or slightly over it. But then nobody could have guessed at what happened or our injury crisis either, meaning any fringe sale would become an even greater risk. Minteh seems a talent alright and if so I'd hate not to be able to give him a chance, but so did Kuol and, without wanting to write him off already, I'd guess this was always part of the strategy too.

The more he talks waffle, the more he sounds like a grandiose Ashley. As even Pardew said, Ashley didn't really understand how football works, and Ratcliffe admits being confused about elements of football being so different to how he's used to working. Tough m8. Thing is, I remember being quite happy right at the start of Ashley's time about how he was cutting out unnecessary waste, not overspending, that we weren't being taken for mugs, driving hard bargains in the transfer market etc. Didn't take too long for that to go badly. If it was a mistake us appointing Ashworth, at least we're not making one in how he is going. Really don't think Ratcliffe has taken on the right club to try and play hardball with in public

If he goes, I assume it's an FFP/PSR thing. Particularly if he goes to Everton, as was rumoured in the DCL thread and we end up getting him back in return. I jokingly said that kind of deal might happen between clubs at their limit in the FFP thread. But anyway I don't suppose it matters too much where he ends up if the monetary outcome is the same. It'd be a huge shame if he has a real chance of making it obviously, especially if it was going to be with us. On the other hand, I'd console myself with this. Either, we've been watching his development while he's on loan and perhaps we don't think he fits our team or the PL. Or, maybe we think he could make it with the right coaching but still have to sell him anyway for FFP reasons. In that case, at least there's the silver lining that we don't have to sell one of our established stars instead. I guess we'll know which of those it is if he gets sold before or after 30 June.

I think that's probably true. The Danes look well drilled and would have a system to play those weaker players of ours in, they'd know their role so they would collectively look better than the sum of their parts. A bit like we have had under Howe when a few championship level players have suddenly shone in the PL in a defined role. The problem for me with these last couple of England games has been that I'm not sure what system, identity or style is being played. It looks like there are probably several players being shoehorned in because the manager wants to include his biggest names, rather than giving them a clear plan and dropping a few of them if their skills don't quite fit the plan. Sure he'd then be criticised for not having the vision to have a system to fit player X,Y or Z in, but better to have a plan and use the best ones that fit it, even if they're seen as less talented.

"Goodness me this is tense." Is it fuck.