KB1862

I don't think he would have been as dominant in the Premier League as most people think he would. People assume just because of his performances in the Champions League against English clubs that he would come in and do his business. But, doing it week in week out is completely different to having a game against a Prem side on the odd couple occasions. I think if he came against a tough side that get stuck in, he'd struggle in those type of games and in the English game there are plenty of those. Ronaldo did challenge himself by going to teams and leagues where he managed to keep up the competitiveness. Messi could have challenged himself more as he had the ability but as you mentioned he took the easier route. As much as he has lit up the MLS, it doesn't scream greatness given the league he's performing in. Not to discredit the MLS because they've come a long way and it has become more and more competitive but when you've got a team like Busquets, Alba, Suarez and Messi you'd expect Inter Miami to blow that league apart. There's no disputing Messi's greatness but this has certainly helped Messi on his way to greatness by being surrounded by great players who made him look world class. Ronaldo has also been a detriment to his National team. Especially in the last 2 tournaments. Portugal without Ronaldo are a better team than Portugal with Ronaldo in their team. Most of this comes down to his ego. At times it often feels like players must go through him and not be able to do their own thing. As great as Messi and Ronaldo are, I'd place Diego Maradona above both of them in terms of greatest ever.

Twitter was my go to social media platform but due to the toxic feel of the platform I decided to leave a while ago. I have been tempted to go back on it but then I realise why I left it in the first place. Just like @liampie said, there are people on there just looking for reactions and it seems like that's all they're on there for rather than discussing, debating or having conversation. Also like @Chris said, people used the platform just to gain a following and often looked down on people with lesser followers which led to them mocking them just because of the lack of followers they had. Blue Sky has caught my interest about joining but when I first heard about it, I thought it was Twitter 2.0 but after reading some of the comments on this post, I might be tempted to join. Is it still worth joining? It would be great to have a social media platform once again where you can engage with people without having the issues you quite often experience on twitter when it comes to commenting or posting.

I think Paul Mace said what he said in the way that he said it to purposely get this sort of reaction and get people excited about the possibility that Langstaff could return. It would be great to see Langstaff return to the lane but it's doubtful that it is him. As everyone else is saying it could be Etete and I think that's the more likely.

I would love Jatta to stay but maybe these comments along with the rumour of a "former Notts" striker coming in on loan could mean that there is something is in the works for Jatta to depart.

@liampie had Vardy gone for the corner, Vicario was never gonna stop it and it was still a save that needed to be made. The build up play was good to watch. Against a team like Spurs who like to play a high line under Ange this was a way to exploit it.

Got asked about Damian McCrory about a month or 2 ago by my Wife and Kids. They asked if I had heard of a footballer by the name of McCrory and it turns out he has a daughter that goes to the same school as my kids. Apparently, he's often there during pick up times. Don't think I've spotted him though, maybe I have but just didn't twig at the time.

I'm not convinced from the camera angle. It looks as though there's a genuine attempt to play the ball but the ball was knocked past as the challenge came in. Even if players win the ball with a full blooded challenge these days, it's still deemed a foul. A player could win the ball cleanly after going in full blooded but if it causes a leg break, it's automatically seen as a red card offence despite being a great challenge. (not saying that the challenge shown in the video is this but in general) Serious foul play should be a red card offence but only if there is genuinely an attempt from the challenging player to crunch another with the intentions of wiping them clean out and possibly causing serious injury.

Henry Winter has a good insight for the next England manager Jurgen Klopp - Would play high pressing football. He also took on the parent role, like Southgate did, and was adored by the fans because he embraced the culture of Liverpool. He'd continue the harmony between fans and players but would he be tempted by International football? It's less intense than club football in which he wants a break from due to the tiring nature of it. Even if he wanted International management would he rather Germany only or would England be an open position for him to take on? Poch - As in Henry Winter's post has worked with youngsters in a positive way and plays decent football. He was unlucky to be let go by Chelsea, thought he did a good job once he implemented his style. Graham Potter - Deemed to have failed at Chelsea but it was always a tough job. People forget how good of a job he did at Brighton. He had them playing beautiful football that was good on the eye and was successful at doing so. His style laid the foundations for "De Zerbi ball" which had many people raving about Brighton. Eddie Howe - Plays a type of football that would be what this crop of English players would benefit from. He's stated he'd be open to taken the reigns. Lee Carsley - Has gone through the ranks and won the Euros with the u21s. Wouldn't be a statement making appointment but could turn doubters into believers. Pep Guardiola - very unlikely but not impossible. Only has a year left on his City contract and I'm certain he's wanting International management but doesn't want the Spain job. If the FA goes about it the right way, he might be tempted. Give him the last year at City then take the reigns afterwards with an interim taking charge of qualifiers and Nations League games beforehand. We all know how exciting and attractive his football is. Would definitely be able to get the best out of the players. As good as players they were the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney shouldn't be considered but I wouldn't put it past the FA to have talks or even consider them at some point.

@Robbie Donnarumma of Italy and Mamardashvilli of Georgia can feel unlucky not to have been selected ahead of Maignan. But I'm guessing they based it more on who got further in the tournament. No surprise to see those Spanish players in there, they fully deserve it. Especially Fabian, he was excellent during the tournament. Him and Olmo were players of the tournament for me. Kyle Walker had a good tournament, unfortunately his only bad game was in the final. Guehi can feel hard done to to have not made it in this squad, for a first major tournament and given our defence was deemed our weakest link he was solid throughout. Guehi?

@Wheelbarrow repair man The squad does look good, especially with the addressing of defensive needs, and with a few more additions for squad depth I'd be looking at finishing in the play off positions possibly pushing for an automatic position.

Wouldn't put it past the FA to do exactly this. He may be tactically inept and his in game management as well as loyalty to players can be at fault for him not being able to get us over the line but this is why I'm glad it was his decision to part ways because of, as I've mentioned previously, how he's galvanised the team from rock bottom to getting fans cheering again and having a team to be proud of. Southgate has laid the foundations for someone to come in who can actually deliver and get us over the line.

I've got this match on DVD and have watched it numerous times. It's in black and white but I feel like it's the only way to watch it. My personal preference is to watch it in black and white rather than in colour.

Both of these had a good chance to have a decent run in the team but unfortunately as you've pointed out the fee is set.

Maybe that's something for the owners to look in to. Reserve games just don't seem to be the same as they once were though even at the higher levels. But this would be a good way to integrate youth players in to the first team to see if they're up to scratch or not. Even if it's playing them in something like the EFL Trophy. I mean they have Premier League youth teams in there (which I still don't agree with) so why not give them a shot against them? It gives youth players a run out to see if they are capable and it also allows some of the senior squad some rest to focus more on the league. As for the loaning out to teams further down, in some cases it can prove beneficial because it's a tougher game. But, maybe loaning out to same level or higher would be a good idea to improve them further.

Southgate was always going to step down as England manager after the Euros whether that was going out on a high by lifting the trophy or a low by losing in the final. I am glad though that it was left to Southgate to make his own decision though. However, I agree with both @Robbie and @Wheelbarrow repair man both make very good points. Southgate just never got the job done despite falling on the easy side of the draw once again. I'll give Southgate his credit for getting us to these stages but with the squad at his disposal, we should be expected to reach these levels. The only exception was the 2018 World Cup where we over achieved. Even then it was a missed opportunity. World Cup 86 - England lost to an Argentina team with Maradona. Both goals should have been ruled out. World Cup 90 - Lost in the semi final to Germany on penalties. Euro 96 - Beat a Netherlands team 4-1 that consisted of Van Der Sar, Kluivert, Seedorf, De Boer, Bergkamp. Lost to Germany in the semi final on penalties. World Cup 98 - Took Argentina to penalties playing with 10 men for 70+ minutes and having a goal wrongly disallowed by Sol Campbell. World Cup 2002 - Lost to Brazil (R9, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Cafu) Euro 2004 - France (Zidane, Henry, Trezeguet) Lost to Portugal (Rui Costa, Deco, CR7, Figo) despite having another perfectly good Sol Campbell goal disallowed. World Cup 2006 - Lost to Portugal (Figo, Rui Costa, CR7). These teams, especially the golden generation, were considered failures. Even despite managing to go toe to toe with some of the biggest teams around. Even when you consider the level of opposition in the tournaments Sam Cunningham mentions in @Piethagoram post. Germany in 2010, played both France and Italy in 2012, Italy and Uruguay in 2014. The only inexcusable one was 2016. Southgate's England in 29 games against teams ranked in the top 10 of the World Rankings have won just 7. In the last 3 tournaments when they've come up against the bigger teams, we've lost. Italy in 2021, France in 2022 and Spain in 2024. I'm all for the media and fans praising Southgate for what he's done in terms of harmonising the squad and fans, bringing the unity back to the Nation after hitting rock bottom in 2016 and reaching the stages he has but there needs to be perspective when claiming Southgate to be the best manager since Sir Alf Ramsay. Especially considering only Sir Bobby Robson (since Alf) has managed England for as long as Southgate has. But, back then the Euros only consisted of 8 teams rather than 24 that is today. Southgate's England have not come up against top level opposition like previous teams. It's been relatively straight forward or at least easier than previous tournaments. Even so, we came close to messing that up against Slovakia.