theAnticlough

A team of destiny? Or just a very talented team and a tough nut to crack. This is kind of the early decades of the women's team, so Leah Williamson is the female Booby Moore. Everyone involved deserves a tonne a credit, but Williamson is a SPOTY candidate. If not her, Hammond - her story is inspirational

Looking forward to today's final. It'd be great if we could finally beat Spain in a major football final. I don't think we're favourites though. Our defenders, Hemp and Walsh are outstanding and Agyemang is a real threat. But Spain have strength all round too and then have the real ace to play - Bonmati. I watched most of the knock-out games and they were usually tight affairs. The deadlock in Spain's matches was broken by pieces of magic, which is what major international competitions should be all about. Who else would play the back-heel pass to break the deadlock against the the hosts? Then in the semi against Germany, the focus would be on her finish from the really narrow angle, but it was the trick to throw off the big German defender which made the goal. Pretending to be flat-footed, letting the ball roll thru her legs beat the defender all ends up and despite being twice the size of Bonmati she never made up the ground. Two flashes of genius got Spain to the final, and that's what we're up against.

Me too. I think adjusting to age-appropriate activities is very important as you get older. Because of injuries, more than age, I decided to give up football about twenty years ago. Trouble is I got so old and so much time passed that I forgot about this important decision and started playing 5-a-side again (with work colleagues but with some in their early 20s too). In the second game I lasted 10 seconds before my calf went ping. I'd scored a nice one the week before, so I'll go out on that and go back to my age-appropriate activities rule. Walking, all types, is on the top of my list - love it.

Yeah, I'm with you. Despite being soulless (can't argue with @liampie over that) the side-on view and low level noise really helps you concentrate on the game. An exception was the 'Welcome back, Dan' game - even the Pavis was up for that one, the atmosphere was electric.

Looking forward to today's final. It'd be great if we could finally beat Spain in a major football final. I don't think we're favourites though. Our defenders, Hemp and Walsh are outstanding and Agyemang is a real threat. But Spain have strength all round too and then have the real ace to play - Bonmati. I watched most of the knock-out games and they were usually tight affairs. The deadlock in Spain's matches was broken by pieces of magic, which is what major international competitions should be all about. Who else would play the back-heel pass to break the deadlock against the the hosts? Then in the semi against Germany, the focus would be on her finish from the really narrow angle, but it was the trick to throw off the big German defender which made the goal. Pretending to be flat-footed, letting the ball roll thru her legs beat the defender all ends up and despite being twice the size of Bonmati she never made up the ground. Two flashes of genius got Spain to the final, and that's what we're up against.

I don't think progress comes about all that often by players 'stepping up'? It's more usually thru your good players continuing to be good and adding other players to them (although@NottsTastic gives a fantastic example in Chicksen and how LW unlocked him to help towards our promotion). When you've seen players like Gordon, Grant and Edwards for a season (albeit limited games for some) that's probably all you're going to get. I don't have any hopes in these cases. But I think MP might be able to help with these Palmer - he had a recovery season. Maybe he really needed that and maybe Paterson can get him out of the rut he got into with overly safe, negative passing Traore - he couldn't be any worse, could he? He has to be able to offer more, surely? Tsaroulla - if he adds end product to his really positive play, he'd be among our very best players Jones - 2024/25 was a write-off for him, he'll want a bounce back season Hinchy - I think he's on an upward cure, still improving If 2 or 3 of those happen, some of Iorpenda, Cotter, Norburn, Aljofree, Roos, Dennis do well and Platt & Bedeau maintain their levels, we will have a lot to look forward too. But most agree that we need another striker and attacking midfielder anyway, we don't have quite enough goal threat as it stands.

Long lie-in today, I just couldn't get out of bed. Putting on a podcast guarantees that I'll go back to sleep and so it worked. Can't make it today, I have to go in the opposite direction and attend a gig. As with all pre-season games, I don't give a toss about the result but I suppose we need a decent showing or clear signs of it for the season opener. COYP

Enjoy your holidays @Blake, sounds like you've earned them

Very nice indeed. White socks though, please.

Yeah, I was guessing at something like this when I wrote about Prem GKs pecking orders for when a bunch would be made available for loan. I suppose our situation was too critical and we couldn't afford to wait around any longer for that - and Kelle Roos fitted the bill for our No.1. I wouldn't be surprised if a different lower-ranked GK loanee came in as a back up and an outfield Prem loanee sometime in the next fortnight.

I can relate to that BT. I'm as frightened of that pet carrier box as my cat is. I dread it! Last month she managed to jump on my chest and dug in tight, writing off one of my favourite t-shirts. It looked like I was a Dracula victim - a blind dracula that can't tell a chest from a neck.

Alassana might be this season's Crowley, he might not, but I have more faith(!) in him giving his all on his contract, not sulking, and not going to a L2 rival eventually. If I could make a small request to the club (I can't of course 😊), it would be not to use the phrase 'match our valuation' and use 'exceed' instead and to actually follow that as a selling policy.

It's getting worse if anything, but where there's a will there's a way. I personally think it's bound to be tackled sooner or later, for this mass viewing age it's just too annoying and unwatchable to be tolerated indefinitely. Or maybe the physio coming on for a playactor will be the cue for ad breaks ;) I thought it was crazy last season to hear our ex-coach admit that 'Bassy' went down to stop the game. There's 10K+ who have paid to watch football and 1000s more on streams. I wish more people would think 'hey, it's my time your wasting as well! Just through that I'm going to get home at 5:35 instead of 5:30 and that's just the start'

One day a cheating team may figure out all their antics are counterproductive. England were not creating chances. I genuinely believe that if Italy had just played and tried to get to the final whistle as quickly as possible (instead of as slowly as possible through time wasting) they would’ve got through. All the extra time allows the opposition to strategize, the subs to acclimatize. Without the stoppages, England wouldn’t have figured it out and equalized IMO.

Yeah watched it all. I’m almost as happy to see Italy lose as England win. One day football will have to do something about the time-wasting and acting, but tonight though the good gals won. Super impressed by players like Hemp, Walsh and the girls at the back - absolute class

The rest of L2 should start figuring out how they’ll expose him for pace and on the turn - he’s 36 now

After reading up, this seems like a good signing. I was expecting a loanee tbh, so having our own player on contract (and save something for other acquisitions, as it’s on a free) is a real bonus. Experience, capable with the ball at his feet, played in many big games and we get his 33 to 35 years at least. Seems like a good piece of work from Rob Gag and co!

I wonder when Prem clubs finalize their GK pecking orders for the upcoming season. Will it all be done by now? Or maybe a bunch will come on the loan market anytime now? GK is the number one priority, but ACM isn’t far behind. Get just one of those and we won’t be equipped for a promotion challenge

You wouldn’t swap your lawn for mine,@Fan of Big Tone is there a product call ‘weed, kill and starve’? Still on holiday myself, going to have a lazy day after a very busy weekend. Craving some transfer news - hopefully today

@Fan of Big Tone, glad you enjoyed it, great idea for a getaway. I was in the Peak District myself yesterday - did Curbar & Froggatt Edges onto The Grouse Pub. Everything excellent, despite the bad weather

Sure is, might finally get a good night’s sleep tonight

Yeah, it’s pretty clear we moved to that system under the bros. Bradford were an even more obvious case last season. I support it, it’s good for morale. If there’s no standard way of counting and declaring crowds in the EFL that’s a surprise. You’d have thought the FA would have guidelines to follow

Tubs may serve you, she may not. Be ready to back out quickly and go the co-op instead! That particular view, from the shop down to the village, isn’t there. And Hadfield is a bit disappointing unless you’re intrigued due to TLOG. You can quickly decamp to Glossop though.

Always wanted to go there, it's on my list Last year, I went to Chapel-en-le-Frith for the first time - I was a bit disappointed. Glossop is good, you can take in Hadfield/Padfield where The League of Gentlemen was filmed, which is not from from Hyde the stomping ground of our infamous ex-fan. On second thought, best where you are Big Tone, that other area is a bit creepy!

@Fan of Big Tone,yes and the penalty shoot out was unbelievable, what was it 12 pens and 7 misses?