desperado

There’s an element of truth in what both of you are saying IMO. It’s very hard to quantify the quality per se, of both teams and players playing in the SPL. You can have players who can potentially be champ/prem standard or not even be L2 standard. So then it comes down to quality scouting… and luck. Even then there’s the massive unknown aspect which no amount of scouting can eradicate; how do they transition, how do they settle, does their personalities/character fit, will their skills and attributes flourish at a higher level? No recruitment is ever bullet proof, we’ll win some and lose some. Let’s hope there’s more Dalby’s and Kenny’s on the horizon as opposed to the Taylor’s and Baccus’

I’m not sure about that. Very much off memory than fact, as I’m not sifting through, but there were some cracking group games (on average over 3 goals per game?) And some of those final games that we anticipated being damp squibs were not, as the extra 3rd places created a bit more excitement in terms of being able to qualify, and the minnows certainly brought this period alive. And this is from someone who very much was dubious about this World Cup; the location, the format, tickets, corruption etc. Didn’t you say you didn’t watch much of the group stages? Getting up in the morning, not knowing the score and watching those highlight packages on iPlayer was great and not often was I disappointed. For balance I do think it dragged on too long and I too concur with the opinion that the Americanisation of the game is very concerning. And the whole Infantino/Trump smooching was just embarrassing. But on the whole, combined with England going deep into the tournament, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed World Cup 26. Bring on the home Euros in 2028!

Anyone going to Oldham tomorrow? I’m tempted…

I gave it 24 hours after the semi. After hearing the 100th person repeat the same message, while trying to sound more intellectual/passionate/controversial, I knew it had nothing else to offer.

Well.. speechless TBH it’s more entertaining than the game

Well that was a bit rubbish

Yeh, completely agree. The wasted opportunity angle is the most frustrating aspect of it, hence the anger and disappointment is magnified. I’m watching this now thinking we could be causing Spain more problems than Argentina are doing.

I clearly meant in the current situation!

Good stuff I’d dismissed this as Twitter talk, it looked like he was performing at too high a level for us to tempt him, so fantastic if it comes off. RW and RWB is the talk on Twitter.

Speculation still about this Gaizka Larrazabal fella

Agree Also agree - that last 30 mins was mental. I think that’s debatable. I’m not of the opinion that TAA, Foden, Macguire, Palmer and any other key noticeables are making the difference. Depends how you pick out and interpret his comments. I’ve clearly heard him say he’s happy to take the blame and responsibility as head coach Completely agree with this bit. As I said before we are very close and not far off. This next step will be the hardest though. At least we’re not in Italy’s, Germany’s and Brazil’s shoes - their efforts and performances fall well below ours this tournament 😊

I think he has a point. I keep putting the caveat in, that he got it badly wrong on Wednesday - there’s no justification for how he went about seeing that game out. But we also saw what happened when we went toe to toe with France in the 2nd half yesterday, we should have conceded about 8! 😂 Of course a bit of balance and something different was needed Wednesday. But it’s a valid matter of opinion, that yes we might be close and in the mix, but the next step is the hardest, it would have been a miracle in my opinion if we’d have taken the massive step to winning it this year. I genuinely think that despite the managerial decisions we are not quite there yet, not far off, but some more improvement to be made yet.

I think Bolty has a point. I think Italy, Germany, Brazil, Netherlands and France fans may disagree. Even previous England managers have had some real shockers. Graham Taylor, Roy Hodgson and Steve McClaren spring to mind. I make no excuses for how bad Wednesday was by the way just that there’s been plenty more matching/beating it. Time to move on I think.

I’m personally still on the fence. That game hasn’t really sent me one way or the other. I’m just dealing with the reality that TT will probably stay and I’m just trying to look at the alternative opinion that that might not be the end of the world for English football which will result in us never winning anything. Stan probably sways more into Deeane’s “being hoodwinked” category, but another interesting alternative view from someone that’s played the game and worked in the media. That’s not my opinion by the way. Just something different to the torrent of repeated opinion which has said the same thing a million times over since Wednesday and will no doubt be repeated again until TT leaves his job.

It’s football debate - our greatest pastime! It will inevitably lead to discussion. And regardless of the gravity and context of the game, folk will take bits from it to embolden their opinion.

That was never going to be a game to come to any of those conclusions.

There will be two extremes here; those who will, as you say, be hoodwinked by last night. And those who’ve now made their mind up on TT and will go around till he goes with their hands over their ears unwilling to give him a chance. There’s a balance. In no way am I comparing our last two games. But I also believe there’s contextual credit to be given for how they handled yesterday and performed. There’s plenty of credible (debatable if you don’t agree) opinion out there, that gives some credit, acknowledges the positives and talks of moving on with TT at the helm.

It was the perfect response after what happened Wednesday. I talked of a lose lose situation before the game, but I hadn’t considered an outcome like that - One where the players, detached from the reality of an incomparable game, put on a real show of courage, passion and quality, in circumstances that were strange and offset from the real tournament. And they did that on the back of the broken hearts that Anthony Barry referenced at HT. Rightly or wrongly the management will take some credit for creating a team-spirit that has stood out these last seven weeks. Using AB’s words - “The team spirit over the last seven weeks has been a privilege to watch” I’m not sure many will be as quick to move on as I’m suggesting. But the chances are now TT will stay on. We need to take the positives of what’s happened this World Cup and hope that we can learn from the mistakes.

After what we heard at half time, you can’t be anything but really happy for the players after that. It’s a small consolation, but one which can put a few smiles back on their faces. Glad I stayed up to watch that, brilliant game.

Between Jed Spence or Saka (obviously) for MOTM

It’s been a great game.

A Emotional HT interview there. Fair Play 👏

Think I need to engage the inner negative in me a bit more 😊