The previously mentioned Argentina goals: Good header from Romero and a nice finish by Lo Celso. Really nice, new kit too, apart from the stripe on the shorts.
I didn’t even notice he was fit again. His last chance he didn’t take. Maddison being injured really should have been his time to show Ange he could be an option. If Barca can afford him then I’d take any bid for him.
I think he was injured for most of the time that Maddison was, annoyingly. Had a few good games when he's started, but most of them have been 10-15 minute subs. Never fit enough to force his way into the team and doesn't do much from the bench. Barca can't afford anyone, but I'm sure we could work something out. Swap him for de Jong or something...
If Paratici pulled that off then we should build a statue of the bloke. Name a stand after him too. It’d be like swapping a McD’s hamburger for a Kobe steak.
Did anyone bother with England last night? I wish I hadn't totally bereft of anything and I have been reasonably supportive of Southgate (compared to many here), but I think last night was the worst we have played under him and probably the worst since Iceland in 2016. England miss Kane more than Spurs ever did, without him we look unlikely score or create and last night we did neither. I know that a couple of other starters were missing Saka being the main one, but the only player who may have slightly improved his chance of being starting XI at the Euros was Gallagher who at least looked interested. I think that Watkins blew his chance and if Toney has a half decent game against Belgium he will go as Kane understudy, Bowen is another who just doesn't look a good fit for international football in my opinion and I would also leave him behind and take both Gordon and Palmer who have a better and longer future ahead of them.
England without Kane are toothless. Watkins is a decent striker but not anywhere Kane’s level. For all the hype over the squad, it’s not as strong as many make out. Last night you had Maguire, Chilwell and Gallagher starting who aren’t good enough. Gordon did ok but unproven. They’ve still got a chance of winning it but it’s not as clear cut as some say.
I started to watch the game but gave up after 20 mins , I still think with a fit squad Eng stand a chance of winning the Euro's but without Kane Eng will struggle
Well no, me and LadyC were at the cinema watching The Holdovers and then retiring for cocktails Also, that third Moscow Mule may have bit a bit much...
I don't understand the hype personally. The squad is a mix of a handful of players who are actually among the best in the world in their position (Kane, Foden, Saka, Rice, Bellingham and Walker), while the rest are painfully average.
6 players world class in one team. What the **** do you expect! When we won the world cup we had 3 world class players and one of them was not picked. To have 6 in one team is incredible and that's why many of us think Southgate is literally a waste of space because he manages to reduce riches to the mediocre. Greece and Denmark won Euro's without any world class players. Only Holland and Brazil in the 70's had almost complete world class teams.
I agree. Southgate is the biggest problem. If you lack top class players in key positions, you need a manager who understands how to build the rest of the team around the strengths of his genuinely good players. E.g. playing a relatively defensive press when we lack a single top drawer CB or GK in the entire country is suicide.
Kane and Jude are WC. Walker IMHO used to be. The rest may appear to be so to some purely due to playing at a club with several greater players in their squad.
