Right - forgetting the bent bidding process and the conditions of the migrant workers building the stadiums - does anybody else agree that a Nov/Dec competition has the potential to be ace?

 

Firstly because it will take up most of the traditional Christmas bullshit season so we'll all be talking about football and not festivities. Secondly just for the novelty factor. And thirdly because we can see whether or not our well worn excuse about our players being tired stands up to scrutiny.

24 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Why would he leave Newcastle at the moment?

He wouldn’t. Certainly not for the England job but don’t let that ruin the fantasy 

14 minutes ago, Eddie said:

He wouldn’t. Certainly not for the England job but don’t let that ruin the fantasy 

He definitely would. 

Any English manager would leave their current role for the big seat

Unless your winning the league every year

Edited December 4, 20223 yr by L/H White

He's only 45 and has a blank cheque at Newcastle, it's hardly going to be his last chance at the job.

1 minute ago, L/H White said:

He definitely would. 

Any English manager would leave their current role for the big seat

Unless your winning the league every year

Can’t tell if you’re being serious or not?

I’d be very surprised if any youngish club manager who is doing well would take the England job.

A load of bollocks but I had a look at the odds:

Pochettino fav

Rodgers 2nd fav

Tuchel 3rd fav

Howe, Potter, Steve Cooper next

Then shite like Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney

 

 

3 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Can’t tell if you’re being serious or not?

I’d be very surprised if any youngish club manager who is doing well would take the England job.

Of course he would. 

Especially with the current crop of players 

2 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Can’t tell if you’re being serious or not?

I’d be very surprised if any youngish club manager who is doing well would take the England job.

There'd be plenty who would but not the ones like Howe who are at a big club with a lot of money to spend.

He doesn't need the platform.

Howe will be at Newcastle as long as they want him 

If he gets them on an upward curve, but falls short of the league and CL, he'll be replaced 

In my view…Southgate has done well because he’s come out of the FA central set up, working with many of this team through the age groups. Perhaps continue with that process and choose the next in line, who will have been groomed?

29 minutes ago, globaldiver said:

In my view…Southgate has done well because he’s come out of the FA central set up, working with many of this team through the age groups. Perhaps continue with that process and choose the next in line, who will have been groomed?

There's probably something in that. And that international football and club football offer different challenges.

(And we've also benefitted from, and taken advantage of, some relatively easy draws in recent tournaments)

1 minute ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

There's probably something in that. And that international football and club football offer different challenges.

(And we've also benefitted from, and taken advantage of, some relatively easy draws in recent tournaments)

Subject to everything; probably not in this one!

Senegal

France

Spain

Brazil

Win those and we’d be rightful champions! 
 

The other half of draw looks distinctly less difficult.

 

Just now, globaldiver said:

Subject to everything; probably not in this one!

Senegal

France

Spain

Brazil

Win those and we’d be rightful champions! 
 

The other half of draw looks distinctly less difficult.

 

Without a doubt.

Japan did us no favours qualifying in the way they did. We really could've done with them beating Costa Rica and then losing against Spain.

I'm just hoping our experience of getting to the latter stages in the last two tournaments stands us in good stead this time. I've always thoughti the lack of that experience has held us back.

5 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Without a doubt.

Japan did us no favours qualifying in the way they did. We really could've done with them beating Costa Rica and then losing against Spain.

I'm just hoping our experience of getting to the latter stages in the last two tournaments stands us in good stead this time. I've always thoughti the lack of that experience has held us back.

Good; plenty of quality options

Bad; does he know his best starting X1?

2 hours ago, globaldiver said:

In my view…Southgate has done well because he’s come out of the FA central set up, working with many of this team through the age groups. Perhaps continue with that process and choose the next in line, who will have been groomed?

The next in line is Lee Carsley, having managed the U20s and now the U21s. Still keen?

Edited December 4, 20223 yr by jmjhb

2 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

The next in line is Lee Carsley, having managed the U20s and now the U21s. Still keen?

Perhaps Southgate could be asked to stay in a bit longer

Should be 1 up here the jam rolls 

 

Done well Poland. France started brightly, but they have come into it strongly. Should be a goal up after that melee.

Didn't deserve to go behind there 

 

I’m seeing nothing to worry about here if we go through 

Mbappe's pace is always a worry

They do seem susceptible at the back though

1 minute ago, jmjhb said:

Mbappe's pace is always a worry

They do seem susceptible at the back though

Walker is no slouch 

For a young lad, Mbappe doesn’t seem to put a shift in

1 minute ago, globaldiver said:

For a young lad, Mbappe doesn’t seem to put a shift in

🤣😂🤣🙂🤣

Does he really need to

Saka for Rashford only change