June football: The 'Not The Euros Thread' Thread

[Ian]

Right, so this thread is for any non- or pre-Euros stuff, whatever. Fascinating discussions about the xG of Enzo Maresca's Leicester team, the Real Madrid crowning ceremony this evening, whatever jokes Big Sir Brexit Jim gets up to next (I'm sure he's got Thoughts on the IT departments irregular email signatures.)

Then come the actual good bit of the football calendar I'll do a thread for the groups in... I dunno, a week or ten days or so? Whenever my heart tells me is the right time to do it.

Also Baz has asked me to plug this: Euro 2024 Competition - free to play (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?3197-Euro-2024-Competition-free-to-play)

[Baz]

Cheers Ian.

Speaking of non-Euros, I used ChatGPT to simulate the entire tournament based on a few factors, but mainly bookies odds.

Final stages below, spoilered in case you want to enjoy the football:

Quarterfinals
Spain vs. Germany: Germany wins
Portugal vs. Netherlands: Portugal wins
England vs. Italy: England wins
Belgium vs. France: France wins

Semifinals
Germany vs. Portugal: Germany wins
England vs. France: France wins

France beat Germany in the final.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cheers Ian.

Speaking of non-Euros, I used ChatGPT to simulate the entire tournament based on a few factors, but mainly bookies odds.

Final stages below, spoilered in case you want to enjoy the football:

Quarterfinals
Spain vs. Germany: Germany wins
Portugal vs. Netherlands: Portugal wins
England vs. Italy: England wins
Belgium vs. France: France wins

Semifinals
Germany vs. Portugal: Germany wins
England vs. France: France wins

France beat Germany in the final.

Lack of Poland there, clearly ChatGPT is wank.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sancho to win 1-0

[Magic]

Red Bull buying a slice of Leeds.

[Lewis]

I think Madrid will coast this about 3-0. Hopefully Dortmund score first to make it interesting.

[niko_cee]

Dortmund to outplay them for a bit, miss a bunch of chances and then get sunk by some ridiculous event.

There are plenty to choose from but I still think the Bayern goalkeeper diving over the ball and letting them win despite Bayern being the better side for 180 minutes of the semi was a high water mark for that. Was that the year Karius chucked them a few in in the final as well?

[Shindig]

The concussion final? Aye. Might've been the same year Bale got his bicycle kick.

[Waffdon]

Madrid never usually romp the finals but definitely always win them. Even the 4–1 against Atletico was a collapse in ET after a last minute equaliser.

That Dortmund side looks absolutely shite. Liverpool and Man Utd duds in their midfield (and wing, really) and a journeyman lump up top. Hope they do something though

[SincereTheRebel]

Wasnt there was poll game where we could use some points to make predictions on games and scores on threads? Was that this forum or another one?

[Gray Fox]

I looked at Madrids team and thought they really need a striker and they'll be grand for years, then I remembered.

Good luck beating Don Carlo now.

[Mike]

2-1 Madrid for me.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I want Dortmund to win but I'm feeling 3-2 Madrid.

[Gray Fox]

3-1 to Madrid but would be nice to see Dortmund win one.

[Waffdon]

I looked at Madrids team and thought they really need a striker and they'll be grand for years, then I remembered.

Good luck beating Don Carlo now.

Not even got their best side out. Militao, Alaba and Tchouameni would improve them I reckon

[Shindig]

The state of this stewarding. :D

[randomlegend]

The state of this stewarding. :D

He couldn't believe his luck, just wandering about unimpeded.

[Waffdon]

Courtois hasn’t been called up by Belgium? they all take 3 with them so why on earth would you not take him even if you were unsure of his fitness

[Adramelch]

Ryerson looks like he's an extra in Fight Club.

[niko_cee]

This ref has terrible decision in favour of Real Madrid written all over him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Adeyemi you plum.

He's so one footed.

[Waffdon]

Runs in a straight line there and he scores. That composure :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought that was going in.

[Waffdon]

Madrid’s defensive line is all over the gaff

[Adramelch]

He looked offside anyway.

[Gray Fox]

Nacho and Carvajal are shit scared of Adeyemi in behind so their line is all wonky.

[Waffdon]

You’d hope so considering how he got in behind with that pace of his

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Adeyemi is absolutely lightning.

[Gray Fox]

They should just let him go. He'll trip over the ball or run it out of play more often than he'll get past Courtois

[Waffdon]

Adeyemi’s first touch is dog shit

[Luke Emia]

Definitely seen this game before. One mistake from Dortmund and it will be game over.

[Giggles]

Is there no VAR or what?

[niko_cee]

Nearly managed to chuck one in there.

[randomlegend]

"Vinicius" is absolutely unbearable.

[Waffdon]

Courtois went down in slow motion for that save. Looked like he could have smothered it fairly easily

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I've never really got him as a player and that was a shocking dive. Ref unsurprisingly rolled out a booking for whoever it was that pointed that out to him.

[Magic]

"Vinicius" is absolutely unbearable.

This is clearly building up to a 2-0 Madrid win against all moral judgement.

[Lewis]

The referee seems to think we've tuned in to see him.

[Waffdon]

Referee already trying to make it about himself.

Get the polish bodybuilder back

[Lewis]

'Doing a Nigel Owens' if you will.

[Gray Fox]

A bit of needle brewing here. A shame to see half time.

[SincereTheRebel]

Vini Jr nose is shaped like the front of an F1 car.

[Shindig]

This is made for a scuffy Joselu tap-in

[Lewis]

I still lol at 'Copacabana Dan James'.

[Spikey M]

Decent half. Shame the ref is a retard and Real Madrid are a deeply unlikeable set of bastards. I look forward to them scoring an undeserved last minute winner.

[niko_cee]

Didn't see the build up so this is my first view of Micah Richards' get up. Oh my.

[Luke Emia]

Probably jinx him here but how could Maatsen not get a game for Chelsea at the start of the season?

[Waffdon]

Pochettino played him right wing and refused to play Hall whatsoever.

And Chilwell left wing with Colwill at left back. Good manager though

[Adramelch]

Game feels similar to the Europa League final, just Adeyemi isn't Lookman.

[Waffdon]

Bellingham has been chasing shadows all game

[Adramelch]

He's been completely anonymous throughout the knockout phase, it should be said.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bellingham has been chasing shadows all game

Getting himself ready to play for England in the Euros.

[Lewis]

Is the bottom half-inch of Bellingham's hairline painted in?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A Reus winner would be incredible.

[Waffdon]

Why take your only out ball/pace option? Even if he has been a bit shit

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bollocks.

[Spikey M]

Wankers

[Waffdon]

The most obvious goal ever

[Adramelch]

Classic Real game this. Be shit for most of the match but win anyway.

[Luke Emia]

One and done.

[Magic]

Most inevitable thing ever.

[Waffdon]

Bellingham eh

[randomlegend]

Dortmund only have themselves to blame. They've had chances and wasted them.

[Waffdon]

44 fucking 2 with a couple of lumps up there. Mon

[Luke Emia]

Been all Madrid for the last 15 minutes. Dortmund are done.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And that's the game.

[Luke Emia]

Probably jinx him here but how could Maatsen not get a game for Chelsea at the start of the season?

lol.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably jinx him here but how could Maatsen not get a game for Chelsea at the start of the season?

Oh dear.

[Gray Fox]

Is Dortmund anywhere near North London?

[Magic]

This is clearly building up to a 2-0 Madrid win against all moral judgement.

:happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who beats this Madrid team in the future when they get Mbappe?

[Waffdon]

Chelsea :cool:

[Lewis]

Who beats this Madrid team in the future when they get Mbappe?

Their stadium looks like a licence to print money now as well. Unless they cock things up for themselves like Barcelona have you wouldn't bet against them having the next ten years like the previous.

[igor_balis]

City winning the league, again, Real winning the champions league, again. Fucking boring. Football is fucking wack at the moment.

[Lewis]

'You go through life and so many people tell you you can't do things'. I suspect he hasn't had that said to him in a sporting context since he was about nine.

[Spikey M]

City winning the league, again, Real winning the champions league, again. Fucking boring. Football is fucking wack at the moment.

Wack? Calm down, Flavor Flav.

[Gray Fox]

Who beats this Madrid team in the future when they get Mbappe?

Don't forget Alphonso Davies too.

[igor_balis]

'You go through life and so many people tell you you can't do things'. I suspect he hasn't had that said to him in a sporting context since he was about nine.

Ferguson managed to motivate his players by somehow convincing them they were the underdogs OVERCOMING and, in more modern parlance, SILENCING THE HATERS. I guess it's just an easy way for thick people to motivate themselves.

[Shindig]

I'd take this over City winning everything. Leverkusen smashed Germany and then shat the bed in Europe, Fiorentina bottled it again and Everton are SUPER, DUPER MONEY-FUCKED.

[Spikey M]

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/19327918.jude-bellinghams-surprise-links-southend-united/

What could have been :happycry:

[Lewis]

Ferguson managed to motivate his players by somehow convincing them they were the underdogs OVERCOMING and, in more modern parlance, SILENCING THE HATERS. I guess it's just an easy way for thick people to motivate themselves.

On a related note, I would love to know how Jose Mourinho rationalises falling further and further away from where he was.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'You go through life and so many people tell you you can't do things'. I suspect he hasn't had that said to him in a sporting context since he was about nine.

They have to tell themselves this, it's pathological. I reckon they all scour social media daily looking for haters to prove wrong.

The other one is the talent vs hard work. At the elite level literally everyone is there because of talent alone. They tell themselves the opposite.

[Shindig]

On a related note, I would love to know how Jose Mourinho rationalises falling further and further away from where he was.

Easy. "I've done everything these is to do. I don't have to prove anything."

[igor_balis]

On a related note, I would love to know how Jose Mourinho rationalises falling further and further away from where he was.

I have to actively remind myself how good he was, because he just seems a bit ridiculous. Best way I can describe it is that for the last few years it feels like he's playing the character Jose Mourinho, pro-wrestler style. I don't feel that differently to when I see clips of Neil Warnock lying on youtube.

[Lewis]

You can understand Tottenham and Roma in that doing well there could have been a way back into a serious club, but he could clean up in Turkey and nobody would care. If you get to that point you might as well just chase better money elsewhere or wait for the national job. I wonder if, like an old wrestler, he's still got all the coats he used to wear during his first Chelsea stint.

[Shindig]

I mean, he is chasing the money. He does adverts for Turkish Airlines. At least this way, he can stay in Europe and get home pretty regularly. If he went to Saudi Arabia, we'd forget he exists.

[Spikey M]

Anyone not going to Saudi is a mug, really. Go there, £100 million a year for 3 years, retire on your megayacht.

[Lofty]

He couldn't believe his luck, just wandering about unimpeded.

Apparently a streamer offered £300k to anyone who did the ronaldo celebration wearing a shirt with his name on.

[niko_cee]

€150m signing on fee for Mbappe.

:cab:

Football not the winner there.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sounds about right.

[SincereTheRebel]

Save on the transfer fee. Give it to me. If your getting Mbappe for anything less than a world record fee. Its a bargain.

[Lewis]

It sounds like an accounting wheeze since he's only - 'only' - getting £250000 a week. The signing fee being spready over five years takes him up to more like £750000 a week, which sounds about right for the best and most marketable player in the world. How do signing on fees get logged on your lolnancial lol play measures?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He'd still have earned more pissing around in Saudi Arabia last year.

£700m for a year wasn't it? Bonkers.

[niko_cee]

Save on the transfer fee. Give it to me. If your getting Mbappe for anything less than a world record fee. Its a bargain.

Whilst the instant example isn't perhaps one to lose much sleep over, Qatar not getting the fee or whatever is hardly a tragedy and I don't know where any 'solidarity payments' would have gone, I'm guessing Monaco also have fairly despicable owners, but the idea of a move to a free agency system does present massive problems in terms of player development, money being kept within the game and the imbalance brought about by different national laws - most notably on tax. It can work in America as they have an entire system built around it, but if you increasingly get money departing the game in signing on fees and even more into the hands of ne'er-do-well agents etc then it's just another step away from what was [an admittedly outdated and rose-tinted view of] the heart of the game.

Going to be a sickener when Trent fucks off for nowt and in the process trousers a massive, 'untaxed' knowing Spain, signing on fee next summer.

[Giggles]

Troy Parrott :cool:
God I hope he never goes back to the wasteland that is Spurs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4437m0gkpo

German head coach Julian Nagelsmann has condemned as "racist" a recent survey that asked participants if they wanted to see more white players on the national football team.

The poll by the ARD public broadcaster said 21% of respondents agreed with the proposition.

Germans getting funny ideas again...

[Waffdon]

James Forrest starting for Scotland in 2024 :sick:

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw4437m0gkpo

German head coach Julian Nagelsmann has condemned as "racist" a recent survey that asked participants if they wanted to see more white players on the national football team.

The poll by the ARD public broadcaster said 21% of respondents agreed with the proposition.

Germans getting funny ideas again...

I'd imagine a lot of European nations at the moment would probably have higher than 21% agreeing with that, sadly.

[Lewis]

I would have voted for *fewer* white players if I could.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The bottom paragraph of that article should be the mandatory bottom paragraph of any article that mentions Germany.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scotland going well against one of their fellow home nations.

[niko_cee]

Instajinx.

[Waffdon]

Germany -1 and Swiss -1 against Scotland double 23/1. Tasty

[Spikey M]

I don't know why I put myself through heavily rotated England friendlies :yawn:

[Giggles]

Just looked at the lineup. I know I'd be out of touch with a lot of modern stuff but would normally know England players. There's 3 players on that I've never heard of at all before and another 2 that I couldn't tell you who they play for.

[niko_cee]

Great use of VAR there. Use it to pick the clear shirt pull but ignore the clear push. Palmer building towards his first miss in a shoot out with that pen.

[-james-]

Just looked at the lineup. I know I'd be out of touch with a lot of modern stuff but would normally know Bosnian players. There's 8 players on that I've never heard of at all before and another 2 that I couldn't tell you who they play for.

[niko_cee]

Just came in on the hour, how has the Trent experiment been going, assuming he's playing somewhere odd?

[Giggles]

Just looked at the lineup. I know I'd be out of touch with a lot of modern stuff but would normally know Bosnian players. There's 8 players on that I've never heard of at all before and another 2 that I couldn't tell you who they play for.

Yeah that's the same. Petty little dipstick.

[-james-]

Yeah that's the same. Petty little dipstick.

It was just a silly little comment, I wasn't having a go :(

[Shindig]

Gordon to trip over, Palmer bags the penalties. Euros assured.

[Giggles]

It was just a silly little comment, I wasn't having a go :(

My bad. You normally are.

[Spikey M]

Lovely goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is it coming home?

[Spikey M]

No.

[Baz]

Is it coming home?How good are France?

[Manc]

Guehi and Watkins, no thanks.

[phonics]

Maresca has banned pepper.

Fraud alert.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's why Messi was great, never seasoned his food.

[phonics]

Have you seen his pizza order? It wouldn't surprise me

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/41948a86-a3dc-4ca7-8bc5-7e0f1e44dd24.jpg

[Gray Fox]

Man City are now suing the Premier League in order to remove the part of FFP that prevents clubs getting sponsorship money from a company owned by the same person/group as the club. Obviously the actions of the innocent. They have described the FFP rules as "tyranny of the majority."

They also want to change the fact that you need 14 of the 20 clubs approval to agree to rule changes etc.

It's believed for now at least 10-12 clubs are in support of the Premier League and have offered statements or evidence in their support.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Have you seen his pizza order? It wouldn't surprise me

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/41948a86-a3dc-4ca7-8bc5-7e0f1e44dd24.jpg

What the actual fuck?

[Jimmy Floyd]

South Americans commit all sorts of culinary crimes and can pass it off as 'Latin flair' or 'cool vibes' or whatever.

[Raoul Duke]

Man City are now suing the Premier League in order to remove the part of FFP that prevents clubs getting sponsorship money from a company owned by the same person/group as the club. Obviously the actions of the innocent. They have described the FFP rules as "tyranny of the majority."

"tyranny of the majority." = democracy, no? Can see why they're peeved at that

[John Arne]

If Man City don't like the rules the Premier League set, then leave and enter another competition, gimps. Nobody is obliged to take part.

[Pepe]

Argentinian/Uruguayan restaurants make top notch pizza. I do not know what the fuck that is.

[niko_cee]

"tyranny of the majority." = democracy, no? Can see why they're peeved at that

Also, FFP is clearly not the tyranny of the majority, but rather the tyranny of a minority of elite clubs.

Good sign that they're maybe starting to shit themselves. Perhaps their entirely above board and completely evidenced propriety, in the words of Pep, isn't all it seems. What a shock that would be.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Argentinian/Uruguayan restaurants make top notch pizza. I do not know what the fuck that is.

Fugazza :cool:

[Gray Fox]

It wouldn't shock me if some news about what punishments they're looking at are starting to get to them. You'd got to think with the scale of the cheating that they're looking at at least one relegation.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My people continue to assure me that they're heading for the Unibond.

[Gray Fox]

Given there are several American owners in the league, I wouldn't also be shocked to see them sued into oblivion should they be ruled guilty.

Hearing apparently set for November running into December. What a christmas present that would be to the league.

[Luke Emia]

Looks like this is heading to its inevitable conclusion then. Rich Arab man doesn’t get his own way, throws toys out of pram.

Assume as well this has either been under embargo or someone has paid for an injunction to stop the news being released until the last minute.

You’d imagine Liverpool and United would be at the front of the queue supporting the PL seeing as they are the two teams who have lost out the most over the past 10 years.

[Dan]

I'm sure we've already done this at least a couple of times, but if you're a fan of a bottom half Prem/decent Champ team, would you take a Man City style 10-15 year run where you fly to the top, win a bunch of PLs & CLs, then get relegated right to the bottom of the pyramid & have to start over from nothing?

We almost had that with Pompey & I can see why people might rather float about safely in mid-table forever, but I feel like a lot of fans would probably say yes - all those years of peak memories & then you get to enjoy cheap, grass roots football for the next couple of decades with all the plastics, VAR & corporate waffle gone.

[Pepe]

Wasn't there some sort of lower leagues Man Utd that all the REAL FANS were going to follow instead of the top flight sellouts?

[Shindig]

I can't think of many people who would say no in that scenario. Hell, I thought we were having that scenario when the takeover finally happened. As it stands, I wonder if the faff around our Saudi benefactors has forced the Premier League to take the FFP stuff more seriously? But then you get Boehly spending absurd money so I'm not sure if there's any consistency to it.

[Giggles]

Shane Duffy and Robbie Brady starting :face:

[Waffdon]

Villa, spurs and atletico all after Conor Gallagher. Imagine him under Simeone :drool:

His dream player

[Jimmy Floyd]

Selling Conor Gallagher to Villa or Spurs would be an absolute embarrassment.

[John Arne]

Heard an interesting idea today... switch Saka back to left-back. Get Cold Palmer in a right midfield, Foden on the left. Southgate will obviously not do this, and to be fair Saka is so good on that right side, it's hard to drop him.

[Gray Fox]

On current form you should absolutely be playing Palmer on the right over Saka. Pens or no pens. Saka at LB would be an interesting option, but no way defence first waistcoat goes with such an offensive fullback option.

He should be playing Rice and Trent in a holding 2, while you have Kane up front with Jude, Palmer and Foden doing what they want in between.

[Shindig]

Is my memory off or was left-back where Saka started under Southgate?

[Gray Fox]

It's where he started at Arsenal. Has had the Gareth Bale career arc. But without all of the trophies yet.

[niko_cee]

Can we not go 4-1-4-1:



Kane

Saka Foden Bellingham Trent/Cold

Rice

Useless X Useless Y Stones Walker


Defensive duties for the wide midfielders, hence the Trent option, so Foden and Bellingham can get in each others' way trying to play the same position?

[Waffdon]

I beg he plays ‘Trent’ in a 2 man midfield with Rice.

[niko_cee]

Does seem a fairly suicidal plan so I doubt he'll do it.

Just stick him at right back and accept he can't defend, it's not like England's defence is worth relying on anyway, even without him.

[niko_cee]

I see the retained lists are out and Brighton have kept on/given another contract to Benicio Baker-Boaitey. Great name.

[Dark Soldier]

Natural growth lads
https://i.imgur.com/mgeINAN.jpeg

[randomlegend]

Solksjaer Vs Mourinho in Turkey :drool:

[Baz]

Moyes to Trabzonspor?

[Shindig]

Bruce to Genclerbirligi?

[Luke Emia]

Natural growth lads
https://i.imgur.com/mgeINAN.jpeg

I mean you can be sceptical about the Chelsea increases based on the rumours around them but those City ones are just taking the piss.

At this point it feels like this could be when football eats itself. Surely if City win when they sue the PL that’s it the competition is going to be finished you can’t just have clubs suing if something doesn’t go the way they want it to. I see there are claims that if City even get found guilty of one charge which surely they will then there are a host of clubs lining up to sue them and you have to believe Liverpool, United and Arsenal are at the absolute top of that list.

[Waffdon]

Julian Alvarez rumours. Fuck sake

[Shindig]

Lloyd Kelly's coming to Newcastle on a free transfer. Contain your excitement.

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3ggr2yee9zo

Depending on how many of those 100 are armpit offside, I fail to see the threat. An error that VAR would have corrected every 4 games? Not sure destroying the whole spectacle of the sport is necessarily worth that.

They should release stats on how many VAR reviews were conducted.

[Baz]

I just wanna go back to cheering goals as soon as you hear the net swoosh. :(

[Manc]

You could always support a local team in the lower leagues.

[John Arne]

Darwin hattrick against Pepe's boys :drool:

[John Arne]

My prediction of the 7 players not to make it.

Maddison (confirmed)
Quansah
Trafford
Jones (confirmed)
Branthwaite
Bowen
Toney

I think Wharton goes because there is literally no back-up for Rice, Gomez and Konsa because of their versatility.

[John Arne]

Jones now left the squad, too. But, looks like Dunk misses out, with Branthwaite making it.

[randomlegend]

Solksjaer stuff was guff, which is sad.

[Baz]

Maguire injured?

[Pepe]

Darwin hattrick against Pepe's boys :drool:

Send him back.

[Gray Fox]

Wolves the only club to oppose VAR. Motion defeated 19-1.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Quite clever though as now any time next season a club moans about VAR, Wolves will be able to say 'See?'

[niko_cee]

Wolves the only club to oppose VAR. Motion defeated 19-1.

Does this pass on City's proposed voting arrangements?

[niko_cee]

Maguire injured?

He and Grealish appear to be on the cut list.

Praise the lord.

[Waffdon]

Who is England’s centre backs? Guehi, Stones, Gomez and Dunk?

Bloody hell.

[Ben]

Branthwaite will make it. Might as well give us the trophy now.

[John Arne]

Aye. If Maguire is out both Dunk and Branthwaite will remain. Quansah the only defender to leave. The last two spots to go will be Trafford or Henderson and then Bowen or Toney, I suspect.

[niko_cee]

Who is England’s centre backs? Guehi, Stones, Gomez and Dunk?

Bloody hell.

There are no particularly good options, but at least biffing Maguire removes one very bad option. It's a sorry state of affairs though.

Dunk's inclusion is several years too late really if they are considering actually playing him.

Is Colwill in the squad? Konsa?

[Waffdon]

I think they’re reporting Braithwaite is out.

There can’t be many nations with such a difference in talent in centre back (and maybe left back) to any other position.

[niko_cee]

Scotland had a pretty big talent differential between leftback and the rest of the team at one point, albeit the other way around.

[Waffdon]

There are no particularly good options, but at least biffing Maguire removes one very bad option. It's a sorry state of affairs though.

Dunk's inclusion is several years too late really if they are considering actually playing him.

Is Colwill in the squad? Konsa?

Nah, Colwill didn’t get called up. Dunk is absolutely shite. I have no idea why people still rate him. Presumably because he can pass a ball forward fairly well.

Forgot about Konsa. Him and Jomez are there to fill in the blanks for each position across the back 4 I guess.

[niko_cee]

He's not shite but he isn't really starting at international level quality and not coming off the back of the best season.

Maybe Gaz is going to go fully mad and start Walker in the middle with Stones.

[Waffdon]

Scotland had a pretty big talent differential between leftback and the rest of the team at one point, albeit the other way around.

A team of full backs and centre mids and fuck all else.

But yeah, I meant the fact they have world class players (or players that walk into any side in the world) in every position from midfield and onwards (and right backs, lots of right backs)

[niko_cee]

Particularly maddening seeing as England has pretty much always had a good few top class centre halves at any given time, and now there are none.


England's reported 26-man squad for Euro 2024
published at 16:04
16:04
Here it is then folks... these are reported to be the 26 players England coach Gareth Southgate will be taking to Germany this summer.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale.

Defenders: Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton.

Forwards: Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins.

Guess it's all on who starts at the back on Friday.

10 'forwards' feels a bit batshit.

[Baz]

Should be Stones and either Guehi or Konsa, even if Maguire and Branthwaite are both available.

[Ben]

Particularly maddening seeing as England has pretty much always had a good few top class centre halves at any given time, and now there are none.



Guess it's all on who starts at the back on Friday.

10 'forwards' feels a bit batshit.

10 'forwards' but if Kane gets injured we'll only have Watkins that can actually play up front (I'm assuming Toney gets ditched).

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Bukayo Saka's a forward then I'm a scotch egg.

[Waffdon]

10 'forwards' but if Kane gets injured we'll only have Watkins that can actually play up front (I'm assuming Toney gets ditched).

Toney is going. Which is mental as he’s been utter dogshit since coming back

[Jimmy Floyd]

If someone was 100% guaranteed to score a penalty, but useless at all other aspects of football, would they be worth taking to a tournament? I reckon they might be.

Should be an 18 man squad imo. XI and seven subs. If someone falls over then call up a replacement for the next game.

[Lewis]

That centre-back selection worries me. The first decent team we come across will score at some point, which means the manager will have to respond, which he has repeatedly proven that he can't, so we're stuffed.

[niko_cee]

I would say we just need to score first, but the Croatia game and the Italy game put pay to that theory, as the plan then diverts to focusing the game on our terrible defence.

20 years since the summer of Rooney. That was probably peak England for those few weeks. Was it even that long?

[Manc]

What was Sir Gareth expecting from Grealish in that 30 minute cameo on Monday? He couldn't have looked sharper.

[Baz]

Grealish will probably get tickets and be pissed in the concourse.

[Shindig]

Watching highlights of England's run in 2021 and it staggers me how good Sterling was.

[SincereTheRebel]

I would have bought Jack. Bring him on to draw fouls in last 20 minutes.

[Shindig]

Gordon can do that but we're missing the opportunity to do that on both flanks.

[niko_cee]

:lol:

Top work all round.

[Manc]

Well then.

[Magic]

Craig Gordon. :cool:

[Dquincy]

Future folk will look back on this era and wonder how such a talented group of players got to be managed but such a clueless, limited manager that is G Southgate.

This sporting travesty will only be appreciated in years gone by.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Patterns of play. Really good structures.

[niko_cee]

No pattern of play, no structure, no idea. Pretty much been indicative of England forever, chuck a bunch of ostensibly much better than their opponent players together and watch them fumble around fecklessly having rings run around them by every other international team imaginable, who somehow manage to coach a coherent style of play or strategic approach into their players.

Another masterclass from player of the year Foden.

The less said about his City defensive colleagues and the fucking goalkeeper the better.

[Waffdon]

Palmer > Foden

Common knowledge

[niko_cee]

Yeah, he was a rare bright spark. Will probably be permadropped now.

[Baz]

1799202990470898038

:harold:

[Manc]

We should just field a shithouse eleven and war our way to victory.

Ramsdale/Pickford - Coin toss
Walker
Gomez
Dunk
Shaw/Trippier - Take your pick
Gallagher
Trent
Gordon
Bellingham
Palmer/Bowen
Kane

[niko_cee]

Ramsdale would drop the coin.

[Waffdon]

I reckon England either win it or we have Euro 2016 all over again.

[Shindig]

All I got from yesterdays highlights is that we don't know how to deal with a resolute defence. Playing 'the right way' has become such a staunch religion that there is no plan B.

[Danny]

Steinberg :harold:

[niko_cee]

I reckon England either win it or we have Euro 2016 all over again.

Either outcome extremely off brand for waistcoat.

[Waffdon]

steinberg :harold:

1799369364975816798

:lol:

[Danny]

It’s gone.

[Waffdon]

Sorted

[Danny]

I figure it was that one but was thinking there was new nonsense from him.

[niko_cee]

What was the thesis? People saying Mainoo was out of position for the goal are racists? Was he? I didn't really notice, more that Walker was caught up the pitch, which is quite lol seeing as his attacking output is absolutely zero, and Stones then nicely shepherded the forward inside to have a shot.

On the subject of Mainoo, he looks much more adept to be a box-to-box midfielder or an 'eight' if that's the modern parlance. Expecting him to sit as Rice Mk2 isn't going to work out where he is expected to do actual defensive work and not concede possession in dangerous areas. He seems to have a good feel for an incisive flick or quick pass forward, but on the halfway line that isn't always what you want.

[Shindig]

I'm assuming one of the replies called him a stupid Jew or something.

[Danny]

He pretty much blamed him for the goal when there was 3/4 or more culpable players, then he said the reason Rice had a bad game is because Mainoo isn’t disciplined. Despite Rice being the one of the two out of position for the goal (if either of them). Just smacks of wanting to dig him out for no reason.

He also pissed a bunch of United fans off with his made up EtH is getting the sack no matter what shit before the finals. So he’s getting stick. Obviously because he’s a Jew, not because he is putting out shit.

[niko_cee]

Brighton on the cusp of appointing some 31 year old polo neck toting Americo-German. What could possibly go wrong?

[igor_balis]

He pretty much blamed him for the goal when there was 3/4 or more culpable players, then he said the reason Rice had a bad game is because Mainoo isn’t disciplined. Despite Rice being the one of the two out of position for the goal (if either of them). Just smacks of wanting to dig him out for no reason.

He also pissed a bunch of United fans off with his made up EtH is getting the sack no matter what shit before the finals. So he’s getting stick. Obviously because he’s a Jew, not because he is putting out shit.
ah yes, the Baddiel gambit

[Jimmy Floyd]

Brighton on the cusp of appointing some 31 year old polo neck toting Americo-German. What could possibly go wrong?

What is it about these people? Do they just know how to work a boardroom?

[-james-]

Brighton's track record of employing people I've never heard of is pretty good. :shrug:

[niko_cee]

Relegation beckons, although hopefully I'm wildly wrong.

[Lofty]

Thornaby FC's committee has voted to entirely remove the female section of the club effective immediately all the way from junior teams to their women's team, people going mental about it and others claiming it is too costly to run, should be fun seeing rhe outcome of this. Can the FA force a club to run those teams because it is discrimination if they don't?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The challenge with women's sport being integrated into previously men's sports clubs over the last 20 odd years has been that the women's side costs the same as the men's (in coaching hours, pitch prep/hire, kit provision etc) but generally brings in fuck all other than the subs, which are also fewer because there are fewer of them. If you're a committee member then it's easy to get drawn into that kind of balance-sheet logic.

[Giggles]

Can't they just start up their own club? I'm sure Thornaby FC haven't went as far as banning them from doing so.

[Dquincy]

Fair point by Giggles. Start up your own club, ladies.

For lower league teams, who typically srruggle to balance the books, if there is something sucking the finances out of your club then why shouldn't they be allowed to cut ties.

[Ben]

Thornaby is just up the road from me. What the publicity neglects to say about all this is that their clubhouse got burnt down so they're fucked for cash as it is due to the renovation.

Also I learned last week that if my (amateur) cricket club gets promoted this season, then we NEED to have a girls team otherwise the ECB can deny our promotion. We haven't even got one female cricketer signed up, never mind 11.

[Lofty]

Yes there were similar daft requirements for our American Football team that could barely field a team some weeks, we were expected to have a women's team, a flag team and a junior team. The governing body stipulating that currently tying itself in knots over trans players, even dafter given the 'mens' game is actually unisex it's just there are women only leagues that they want to play in.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cjmmrwk4nz0o

They see Everton as a "sleeping giant" of English football with potential to secure a place "at the top of world football again" through the new stadium being built on Bramley-Moore Dock.

lol.

[Spikey M]

Fuck sake. I really thought we were going to finally see them relegated.

[Dquincy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c888v0lwxy2o

Not to continue my far right views, but this is mental to make such a fuss about. Seeing Saka in the article makes no difference at all. They probably used it as it had a shot of Southgate in deep conversation with one of his players.

[Spikey M]

Does anyone even care about the loss? It was a friendly against Iceland and the players chief concern was not getting injured. You'd have to be an absolute fanny to be bothered.

[Lofty]

Half the Thornaby FC board stepped down.

[niko_cee]

Fuck sake. I really thought we were going to finally see them relegated.

Do unnamed members of middle eastern royal families ever actually pan out?


London-based businessman and lawyer Vatche Manoukian is leading a bid alongside an unnamed Saudi royal and families with a high-net worth from the United States.

Couldn't really sound more dodgy.

[Shindig]

Sounds like one of the many phantom buyers Mike Ashley courted until some lass from Yorkshire kicked his door down.

[randomlegend]

Ten Hag STAYS.

Juve after Greenwood.

[Gray Fox]

Talk of him getting a new deal is silly, but this should be his prove it season. Buy the players he asks for and judge him properly for it.

[Lofty]

Wasnt the problem so far that he kept asking for players from Eredivise that are wank?

[Shindig]

Asking someone who's won two trophies to 'prove it' is a bit late in the day. I get it, the league form has been all over the shop but he's got them silverware.

[Lofty]

The problem is it's not just poor form, aside from the cup final he's had United set up in a way that lets any half competent team bypass their midfield and take unlimited potshots at goal.

No evidence this wont happen again next season.

[John Arne]

Qatar's goal last night, which effectively knocked India out of World Cup qualifying.

1800593736633839856

[Shindig]

That looks out but I need an overhead angle to really be sure.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My heart bleeds for them.

Some fun stuff in African qualifying. Nigeria, managed by Finidi George, with their pretty star-studded team as these things go, have made an absolute horlicks of it so far, and after 4 games find themselves behind not only South Africa in their group but also Rwanda, Benin and Lesotho.

Senegal have also made a slightly ham-fisted start and find themselves in a 3-way race with Sudan and Dr C.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That could well be in.

Japan/Spain vibes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

De Zerbi to Marseille. Absolutely here for him holding court at some dive bar off the Vieux Port as a race riot happens in the background.

[Boydy]

Why'd he leave the premier league to go to fucking ligue un?

[Ben]

I dunno but I get the impression he'll fit right in there.

[Giggles]

Why'd he leave the premier league to go to fucking ligue un?

League aside, they're massive compared to Brighton. Plus you get to live in France.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

League aside, they're massive compared to Brighton. Plus you get to live in France.

HUGE negative.

[Shindig]

Okay, plus you get to live closer to Italy.

Better?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Winner.

[Spikey M]

The only good thing about France is that it's a buffer-state between us and Italy.

[niko_cee]

I think De Zerbi and Brighton came to the conclusion that they should just see other people, their worldviews were not aligned.

Marseille are much better positioned to match his ambition, ie playing in the champions league and maybe competing to win things. More historic club and much better place to live as well.

[Giggles]

I think De Zerbi and Brighton came to the conclusion that they should just see other people, their worldviews were not aligned.

Marseille are much better positioned to match his ambition, ie playing in the champions league and maybe competing to win things. More historic club and much better place to live as well.

But France lol.

[Jimmy Floyd]

South of France on a big salary is a more or less unbeatable lifestyle, if you can put up with the absolute snakepit that is OM politics.

[Dan]

It'll be an interesting race to see who gets into a fight first between Antonio Conte & Aurelio De Laurentiis at Napoli, De Zerbi & basically anyone in Marseille or Mourinho & everyone in Turkey that isn't Fenerbahce.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If there isn't some kind of doc crew following Jose around I'll be disappointed. Exactly the kind of low-level shitfest that he will thrive in, at least in delivering his aesthetic if not necessarily in success.