The Kalamazoo Kid

FourFourTwo magazine has predicted us to finish 11th. (their top 7 are Newport, Bradford, Forest Green, Bristol Rovers, Exeter, Salford, Tranmere) Noticed that the Racing and Football Outlook paper last week was tipping Vale as serious contenders (don't know if they predicted placings tho).

Yep. I think its probably correct that Donnarumma made more saves in the penalty shootout than he had to in the entire 120 minutes of the game!

Almost a carbon copy of the Croatia Semi-Final from 2018. A fantastic start not capitalised on, and we never really got on the front foot, even when Italy were clearly tiring & seemingly content to let it drift to penalties (as they also did in their semi-final). At the end of normal time, I shouted out "Come on boys, we should be stronger than them" (.....they obviously couldn't hear me up in the top tier!) - particularly bearing in mind that they had a 70-year-old central-defensive partnership that had gone to extra-time in their previous match. We never really tested them though, bar a couple of runs from a fading Sterling. As soon as I saw that Foden was a doubt, and then confirmed to not be in the squad, my hopes dropped, as he would have been an ideal option to come off the bench, keep possession and cause them problems in and around their box. Henderson was poor when he came on, very sloppy and lacking composure in his ball retention and passing. Surely its now time for him to retire/be phased out - especially with the incredible Bellingham ready to be the box-to-box influence that we have been lacking for so long. The regular inclusions of Bellingham, Foden, Alexander-Arnold, Greenwood should improve us and make us solid contenders to go really Far In Qatar in just 16 months time.

Remember him scoring in that great 3-1 win over France in the '82 World Cup (the game where Bryan Robson scored after 27 seconds). Think he also scored the goal in a 1-0 win that ensured qualification for that World Cup. RIP

My lard mate described Whitehead :- Looks like a butch lesbian!

When Zinchenko scored for Ukraine the BBC commentator (Jonathan Pearce) said that his previous goal was against Port Vale in the FA Cup.

Good old Gareth! Tactical genius. 🤣

Predicted it months ago. That's Southgate for you - negative and over-cautious beyond belief, despite having attacking talent that could destroy most opponents. And The FA are already talking of keeping him for 3 more years!

Incredible fun :- Very Interesting Research Given In Necessity Not Ever Really Delivered

Yeah, but its all about a contextual see-saw......apparently! 🤔 🤤 😂

It makes me laugh that when a new signing gets positive comments from previous fans, some on here absolutely cream themselves about it - yet when a new player has bad comments its then a case of "what do their fans know....ignore them....remember Akpo Sodje" etc!

Indeed. No Bellingham either - but yet again he picks 2 defensive midfielders. We have an exciting group of attacking players that could be among the best in the tournament, yet are lumbered with a Championship-standard over-cautious manager.

So the season could start on Saturday 31st July with a League Cup 1st round match, if both clubs agree.

That was probably his best game for us!

Also, finishing top of the group massively reduces the travelling involved :- - finishing 2nd in the group means a last-16 tie in Copenhagen, followed by a potential Quarter-Final in St Petersburg. - whereas finishing top of our group means another game at Wembley in the last-16, with the subsequent Quarter-Final in Rome.