As yesterday was June 6th as well, taking the decision on D-Day that you won't allow England players to visit the Somme memorial is even more bemusing. On a day where the first steps were taken back on European soil, denying the players the chance to see what would clearly have been a strongly motivating sight for the sake of a few hours on a luxurious, air-conditioned bus because it would be 'too draining' is ridiculous.
I've read some more about it now, perhaps I was too harsh on the players, who were apparently very keen. Something similar happened at the last Euros, where Roy wanted the squad to go to Auschwitz and the performance people tried to block it. In the end 7 players went, those who would not be involved in the first game. And Joe Hart, who insisted on going. Also just read that Gareth Ainsworth regularly takes his Wycombe squad to the war memorials.
We arrive in Brussels on Friday morning for 2 nights before heading for Paris and we are going to make a trip to see as many memorials as possible. Thousands of Irishmen died in these WW1 battles so it would be appropriate for us to pay our respects.
If you can be in Ieper/Ypres for the 8.00 (evening) Menin Gate ceremony, I highly recommend it, but you will be moved. Every night since 1928 (with a brief interlude during WW2) a member of the local fire brigade plays the Last Post at 8.00 sharp. The gate carries the names of 54,000 Commonwealth soldiers (just looked at a picture with the Leinster Regiment featured) who never had a grave. There is always a crowd, and I always get a lump in my throat. Plus Ypres is a very pretty town with a nice square and lots of boozers. And I think it's on the way from Brussels to Paris.
Thanks Stan. We may go to Ypres next Saturday. We also want to see the memorials at the Somme and are thinking of doing that the following week. When we leave Bordeaux, we overnight in Le Havre before heading for Ghent. I think the Somme is on the way towards Lille/Ghent from Le Havre.
The cemeteries and memorials on the Somme are magnificent, but the main town in the area, Albert, is a dump. If you are interested in seeing what the trenches were like I highly recommend Vimy Ridge, were large sections of the Canadian line have been restored, bunkers and all. I was very struck by it, despite being hugely hungover at the time I visited. My favourite (if that is the word) memorial is the Canadian one near Ypres (Passchendaele). They took the brunt of the first gas used in the war around there.
Lose our best DM to CB now - and yet somehow we have Lallana, Henderson and Milner still available in midfield. Why?
Sincerely hope England don't self destruct. A good exciting tournament by all is what we want............. ( with a Italian win and a couple of pizzas thrown in ) Hope all the travelling members have a great time. Of course, here in the backwaters of earth, highlights will be the norm for us working. Enjoy!
Nice avatar Aussie. I lack the IT skills to get a kebab onto mine. Where is DT when you need him....France I'm guessing.
Another one who has gone missing in action is Kilburn. Where the hell is he? If you read this, hope all is well with you.
Smalling apparently says he's fit. Let's hope so, because if not the lack of cover taken for that position will mean an early exit...
Ray Lewington was spotted with some charts yesterday, with lists of different player options. In every single one Eric Dier was the holding midfield player. As well as presumably CB cover. Jermaine Jenas made a surprisingly good point last night. To get the best out of them we have to play Alli and Kane in the positions they play for Spurs.
