TheBrownBottle

Honestly, that’s fair enough - I just disagree, though not vehemently or owt. English football has a long history of overrating its GKs and CBs I think - though I do think Ferdinand was a superb defender

I’d have been tempted to play him LB - but I thought Walker was possibly England’s MOTM

He was hilariously bad mind. There’s always at least one of those ref performances at a WC. It made it entertaining to me, but if I was Dutch or Argentinian I’d have been apoplectic

Ferdinand is better than any of England’s current centre halves, Cole was a world class LB, and Scholes was a superb midfielder - though of course badly used by England. But I think Foden, Bellingham etc are more technically gifted attacking mids than Gerrard or Lampard, and I’m one of those who thinks Terry’s flaws were exposed playing for England when he didn’t play in that superb Chelsea team - protected by a world class holding midfielder, defenders and GK I’m ok with anyone disagreeing on this (it’s not a ‘football hill’ I’d die on ) but it’s my honest view

Howe isn’t taking that job even if offered, neither would Potter. They’re both young, and they might take it in future. But this might be both of their chances to do something special at club level.

I’ll blow my top if that’s the team mind. They’re all out of the WC now, more than enough recovery time for the proper football. We’ve got to view this as a chance of a trophy

Easy to list the worst vs the best like We’ll need to agree to disagree on this one mate - I think this is a technically gifted group of players, and I think the likes of Lampard’s and Terry’s deficiencies were masked at club level by the standard of players they played with, as well as a superb manager in his prime knowing exactly how to maximise their strengths. The UEFA rules re ‘home’ players always means that some English players will figure in our best club sides

Aye, it’s a corking header

Lee Carsley it is then

You’re right that I would be far less amenable to those calls re NUFC. The foul on Kane was outside the area so couldn’t be brought back - so I wouldn’t be as upset about that. I’d be just as annoyed with Henderson and Walker for that first goal as anyone else

You should’ve seen Mrs BB’s reaction first time she heard Shola interviewed. Weirdly, she knew he was a Nigeria international but not where he’s from (Mrs BB isn’t a Geordie)

You’re a card Pards

No doubts there for me - but he won’t leave even if offered. Same for Potter at Chelsea. I’d be sorely tempted to see if Pochettino or Tuchel would take it

‘Hendo’ ?

Agreed - the only time France really looked flustered was the first 15 mins of the second half

Hahaha fuck me

They are - but Sterling has been out of form for some time.

I’m going to get pelters, but I thought the ref was alright tbh. There was a consistency to his approach, he tried to let the game run, and England were constantly looking for fouls and flung themselves to the deck at every opportunity.

Fair enough. Sterling has been shit for England for over a year.

Yeah, that was insanity

Yep, France’s biggest weakness was their injuries pre-tournament. But he’s a reactive manager - despite the fact that c.70 mins you could see the momentum swinging the other way, he waited for France to score to change it. Small ‘c’ conservatism at its finest. The likes of Howe makes those changes around the hour mark

I thought Walker handled Mbappe well, tbh. Trippier struggles with pace, though when Rashford stood over that ball I went to make a cup of tea, knew where that was going

I can’t see Southgate resigning to take over at yo-up stodge. The Norwich job can wait, I’m sure

I didn’t see England batter anyone there. France didn’t look particularly uncomfortable - two unnecessary penalties is what kept England in it.

Ah well, that’s that. I still think France will win it, but would love to see a new name on it England huffed and puffed, they just look a bit toothless to me. Pisspoor defending for the winner didn’t help either mind. They did show how to deal with Mbappe England’s record of losing to the first decent side they play continues unabated - though I suspect that’s pretty much it for my lifetime re England’s chances of winning it. This generation has been wasted on the true face of middle class middle England - small ‘c’ conservatives who like making sad faces at bad things - embodied in the manager. Too timid, too defensive, too late More importantly, Eddie’s WC mags all come home uninjured