KB1862

@BromPie

Agree. The only tweets I believe as truths before official confirmation are those made by Fabrizio Ramano as he is well informed and what he's tweeted or mentioned get officially confirmed days or weeks later. I know that's slightly off topic from the Brooks situation. On the loan front you've mentioned, how many more loans can we send him out for before he's given a chance or it's time to sell up as he's constantly out on loan? He most definitely should be considered as a future asset. 

Gutted if it is the case that he's departing Notts. Been saying for a couple years now that he deserved some sort of opportunity at Notts especially last season given our goalkeeping woes. Even if he doesn't play regular football and is used as a back up, it would still be useful to have for that just incase moment of a red card, injury or even replacing an out of form keeper. 

I've been keeping a close eye on this "PSR deadline" situation that's been going on and honestly I don't see an issue with it. 

Clubs make a pure profit on selling their young players so if a club comes in to buy one of them and is willing to pay an inflated price then it's not the problem of the selling club. 

I think it's a good thing that clubs like Villa, Newcastle and Everton who are involved in this situation have managed to find this loophole. Newcastle and Aston Villa, despite making the Champions League (Newcastle last season, Villa this season), were told they must sell players to be able to sign players. It seems like a very unfairly flawed situation that clubs can achieve such things only to have to sell their best players to avoid breaking FFP rules. 

The Premier League has been so much for this whole Profit and Sustainability rulings so if this loophole clubs have found allows them to maintain financial security avoiding breaking rules and making losses then why should they be concerned with it and intervene? The fact that the Premier League have come out and said they will impose a block on transfers if they believe the fee is inflated is ridiculous. As I mentioned earlier in this post, if a club wants to pay an inflated price then that's down to them. It should be the decision of a club and it's owners not by the Premier League.

It seems like the Premier League are starting to show their colours and favouring the "big 6" by investigating this. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx724w5v641o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5111jg2r3yo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj7dk73p441o

As well as that article @Piethagoram posted about, here's a few others.

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

Problem for England during the last dozen matches or so is the propensity to go defensive then for the defence & midfield to go deeper & deeper, after we have scored a goal. 

We did it against Slovakia after Kane had scored early in extra time, & for the next 25 minutes England were on the back foot.

We just can't do that against the better teams like Switzerland, otherwise England will be punished.

I don't know where this tactic came from, but ultimately, Southgate has to take responsibility.

It is now certainly ingrained into this current team, & it will be very hard to remove it.

Precisely this, we need to get out of the mentality of soaking up pressure when we go a goal ahead. Serbia and Denmark we became second best in both games after going 1-0 up, should be looking to build momentum and go for goals 2 and 3 secure the game. In the past this strategy has cost us. 

As for the other point about where the tactic come from, it has to be a Southgate instruction. Now I'm not saying this to blame Southgate as such but if it was a one off situation where England went 1 goal up and then dropped so deep to defend and soak up pressure than I'd say the players have taken it upon themselves to do that but considering it's happened on 3 occasions like the extra time against Slovakia you mentioned despite going ahead early in extra time, it has to be down to Southgate instructing this. 

@Chris

I've heard quite a few of the players mention Luke Shaw and reporters have all been asking the question about him. Agree we shouldn't be pinning all our hopes on him. Personally, I don't think we should be thinking about including him from the start considering he's not played since Feb and now we're at a Quarter final stage. If he had played 20 mins in previous games during this tournament, I'd see a case for it. 

@Chris

Yeah, I remember reading it and thinking he's wormed his way out of that one with an unconvincing lie. I still find it hard to believe how he could have gone his whole life without knowing exactly what that meant. 

Before the tournament began if you had said England will play Switzerland in the Quarter final, I'd have said we'll take that. However, given how we've performed this tournament it's going to be a tougher game than expected. Given the players we have, if the team performs the way they can and issues of the previous games are rectified then we should be able to get through this game.

Switzerland have shown that they will be no pushovers after their displays against both Germany and Italy but also got to remember that Scotland managed to hold them to a 1-1. 

I'm doubtful of Southgate making necessary changes but I hope I'm wrong about that. The golden generation had an issue with Sven not changing tactics and formation, it could be the same with this group. 

I would like to see him change up the formation and go 3 at the back. Guehi has been exceptional this tournament but with him now suspended, we may need to restructure. 

Pickford. Ever present, there's no faulting Pickford as England's number 1. 

Back 3 of Walker Stones and Konsa. Stones would be able to bring the ball out from defence as he'll have Walker as a recovery defender which is one of his strengths as he's shown in games gone by for England. Konsa is good option moving out left. 

Trent at Right Wing Back and Saka at Left Wing Back allowing for attacking threat down either side as Southgate mentioned after the Slovakia game about width and wing play. Trent is one of the best crossers and passers of the ball in this England squad so that would be a strength pushing up and Saka gives the balance of a left footed player on that side getting down the wing.

Bellingham and Rice in the centre allowing Bellingham to make runs forward and Rice can cover the space needed. 

Foden playing in the 10 role to show what he can really do and how effective he can be in that position.

Kane up top with Watkins or Toney. Preferably Watkins as with Kane dropping as deep as he does, he's capable of passing the ball in behind defences to which Watkins can do what he does and get in behind the defence. Kind of like an old fashioned big man little man strike partnership. 

3 hours ago, Chris said:

I don't think Jude Bellingham should have made the gesture, but it's being blown out of proportion

100% agree with this. Shouldn't be blown up as much as it has but I suspect with it being someone like Jude Bellingham, an English player making moves, that's played a part in making it as big as it is. 

21 hours ago, Blake said:

I remember reading about two players in Italy doing the Nazi salute. I don't know if they got banned, but what's worse?

Wayne Hennessey made a Nazi salute but got cleared because he didn't know what the salute was. There's plenty of political/provocative gestures during games in the past some go punished some get cleared. 

Hopefully Jude learns from this. 

Save of the tournament. It's definitely up there and in the conversation for one of the greatest match saving saves of all time. It's remarkable how some people are now re-analysing it and downplaying just how good the save was in the importance of the occasion. 

As far as comparing it to Gordon Banks v Brazil, I see where people are coming from but wouldn't put it in the same category myself. 

Austria v Turkey last night was quite possibly the best game of the tournament so far. Given how they have both played throughout the tournament I was expecting a lot from the match and it didn't disappoint. It was a highly energetic match that made for a great watch. Plenty of attacking football, both teams gave it their all and the referee helped the game by telling players to get on with it allowing for a flowing game. 

Gutted to see Austria go out as they've been a breath of fresh air in this tournament and have been really great to watch with their well organised high pressing displays. Ralf Ragnick and Austria certainly gained a lot of respect in this tournament. 

29 minutes ago, Super_Danny_Allsopp said:

You'd hear worse from the stands. 

Agreed with this. When I took my daughter to her first Notts game, the first thing she said when we left the stadium was "there's a lot of swearing at football". 

It's a bit extreme to think about banning him. It doesn't look great when seeing the videos of the incident but it could well be a gesture made as an inside joke like he says it is. Unfortunately that's easier said after the condemnation of the gesture. He has to be cut a little bit of slack, he's still a young lad who had just scored a 95th minute equaliser to keep his nation in the Euros.

Bellingham has a lot of arrogance but that's to be expected from a player as good as he is at a young age. While this arrogance can be a good thing at times, it will land him in hot water like this incident may have done but it's still a learning curve and maturity will come as he goes on. He had an incident against the Serbia game when he decided to barge a Serbian for no apparent reason. Experienced players round him will help him channel that arrogance in a positive way. 

20 hours ago, themightymagpies said:

which three do we start with?

Walker Stones Konsa (Guehi when returned from suspension)

@Piethagoram  

Very good article to read. Highlights what Southgate is lacking in managerial terms and how the win was more fortunate than deserved.  

Slowly more pundits and journalists are starting to question his managerial ability when it comes to tactics, in game management and selections which has been a problem for a number of years now. 

23 minutes ago, Robbie said:

Portugal have to think of their future without Ronaldo

Portugal are a much better team without Ronaldo in their squad. Unfortunately, given his reputation and who he is he'll always remain a part of the squad for as long as he desires. Their last manager, if I'm right in thinking this, was sacked due to considering dropping Ronaldo. 

I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again. There is no consistency with English weather. Last week, it was all t-shirt and shorts weather with windows wide open during the night, fans blowing and waking up at 5am to temperatures of 16 degrees. Then it all changes, rain falls weather drops and away with the shorts. There's still a warmness but not as much as there has been. 

@Piethagoram 

That's why Bellingham needs to be in there rather than playing as 10. He has the ability to chase the ball down, recover possession, bring the ball forward. I think playing in the 8 role, we'll see the best out of him something we haven't this tournament. 

Mainoo has been a breath of fresh air with the appearances he's made taking on that role. 

Alternatively, allow Stones to do the job he does at Man City by bringing the ball out and playing almost as a CDM with midfielders like Rice pushing forward. 

1 minute ago, Blake said:

There are many headaches for our next game. I hope Luke Shaw is ready to join in. The suspensions will mean changes. I hope England adapts.

Personally, I think Luke Shaw should be sent on the plane home. Hasn't played since February and not played a part in the previous 4 games. We can't be bringing in a player who's had a lack of football like he has into a quarter final match. We've already been underperforming without a semi fit left back.

On 27/06/2024 at 22:19, Robbie said:

I would rather see Kane up the field leading the attack and not being in his own penalty area half the time.

England are supposed to have World beating midfield players, so why is the Manager giving Kane, what amounts to be a free role.

Cloughie would say " Young man, I pay you to stick the ball in the net so get up that pitch and do just that, or I'll pay someone else who will"

Fully agree. Let the midfielders do their thing, focus on your own job being up top and get the goals. Shearer has wrote a column on the fact Kane should be staying forward. It's annoying to see how deep he drops. 

There's been a few comments about how England don't provide enough for him but it's hard to provide a striker who's never in the box to receive the balls. 

Southgate should be strictly instructing him to stay up and avoid dropping deep but the fact that he drops deep every game speaks volumes that Southgate is allowing him to do this. 

Either instruct him to stay up top or bring someone like Toney or Watkins to partner him so he can drop deep leaving one player up. 

@Chris I think it'd make sense to switch to 3 at the back with Saka playing as a LWB. Gives him the opportunity for balance on that side rather than relying a right footed playing LB. It would be more beneficial than having him fill in at LB. 

7 hours ago, Robbie said:

England have a great opportunity here. They will never have a better opportunity to get to a major final. Southgate has to be bold and brutal with his England selections against Switzerland.

This has been the case in Southgate's previous 3 tournaments in all fairness. The only exception to this was the possibly the 2022 World Cup when England came up against France and lost. Even that was a winnable match tbf. 

Would have loved Musiala to have selected England over Germany but unfortunately Germany offered him the opportunity where as England didn't do that. He's a world class talent that's able to showcase his ability for them, I'm not sure he'd have gotten a look in with the England set up as it stands. He'd probably be like Cole Palmer with the ability but only enough to see him sit on the bench and look on. Unfortunately, he probably made the right decision. 

France have been underwhelming this tournament. Expected more from them. Still Spain and Austria are the only 2 teams that have impressed me so far. Germany have been good but I think when they play Spain, they'll be brought back down. 

Emotions run high in those situations. But, for me, I see it as a waste of beer. Live by the saying "Drink Responsibly, Don't Spill It". Good for The Nest because those who chucked beer will go back up to get another. 

@thommo I remember when I turned 18 that whenever you went Rock City you never went with brand new trainers or white trainers cause they'll be wrecked by the floor. Not to mention walking on the floor works your muscles as you have to battle with the sticky floor ????

Another game, another poor England performance. I understand the whole thing about "play poorly but still get the win" but against Slovakia we should not be having to wait until the 95th minute to grab a goal let alone our first shot on target. 

I thought Slovakia deserved more than we did through the whole game. They outplayed us in quite a few parts of the game. Somehow we even managed to almost concede from our own free kick. 

Despite grabbing the goals, both Bellingham and Kane deserved to be subbed off. Saka didn't do much in the game. Game management was completely off, at half time subs were needed didn't happen. Toney came on way too late, the game was slowly slipping away and Southgate decided to make an attacking sub like Toney with just 1 minute to go. 

I'll be honest, I mentally switched off from the game because it wasn't good enough. Normally when England score late goals like that or even grab the goal to put us in front, I'm up celebrating, cheering and shouting with goal but neither Bellingham or Kane's goal got me off my feet.

In truth, I'm glad they got the job at hand done eventually but it was embarrassing.