I would actively prefer to have a run as easy as is possible, as you said. Obviously how good any team is, thats totally subjective. In my opinion, the majority of the games we have faced have been favourable, certainly to relative to the stage of the tournament. Compare to the quarter finals we faced under Sven. Southgate regularly showed he could beat teams I personally would consider not to be top level teams. Those teams were the underdogs against us but not without some good players between them, to regularly be able to beat them earns him great credit nonetheless. When we did face a better team, we tended to fall short.

No dynamic pricing though…😉

BBC Lancs are reporting that the Women will play there home games at Clitheroe next season.

Yep. That's Mordor.

In the 5 world cups that Croatia have been a part of they have come third twice and runners up once. That was not an easy draw. Drawing Italy wasn't easy either. They were a good side and proved it too. And the same for Holland. Switzerland are a team nobody really wants to face as France found out and Spain almost found out too, only scraping by on penalties. It is not touching a nerve, it is addressing a point you make. Each and every faint praise you give Southgate is caveated with how lucky you think the draw was and that he never beat an "elite" team. Who decides who the 'elite' are? You haven't answered that one yet. None of those runs were out of the ordinary for a typical route to an international final. I don't understand why you keep repeating them - almost all international tournament winners would have faced similar teams in their route to the semi or final. What's your point? That they were seen as favourable? Maybe, but none of that diminishes in any way the achievement of Southgate, but you mention it every single time you bring up Southgate's tournament record. For me it doesn't matter one iota. I couldn't care less if we played Papa New Guinea, Fiji and Wales on the way to the Final. In all of the years before Southgate came, getting to the quarters became a success... Now we are looking at anything other than winning a tournament being a failure. That is all on Gareth Southgate. So lucky, blessed by the Gods, a tactical genius - whatever the Council of BRFC decides - he was a resounding success for the national team and the country as a whole

Barcelona teenager, Lamine Yamal, thought to be of interest to a number of championship clubs. Barcelona want at least £800m for the versatile forward. Blackburn Rovers most keen, but are only willing to do a reach around and a packet of skips.

The east end of the M65.

Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel - Bed In The Corner

He had a hard act to follow really, with Rogers Jones and then Paul Bradshaw being the previous two keepers, who were both outstanding. Let's just say, he wasn't the best and certainly caused a few butterflies here and there, when the ball was in our box.

Yeah sorry, I knew that but my brain was a few minutes behind my fingers 🤦‍♂️

The 2018 team was certainly well below the quality in the squad of the following 3 tournaments. It was arguably Southgate's most impressive work as the first tournament after the disaster at Euro 2016 and it felt like a team playing at greater than the sum of its parts, with the main threat coming from set pieces. But the last 3 tournaments have been built on a base of proven defensive players. Walker and Stones won endless trophies and played huge roles in that, now Walker has lost the pace that was his strength and Stones has had a couple of years of constant injuries and is unlikely to play much next season. Shaw was another important player who is now finished at the highest level. You go from a solid, proven top level defence to a bunch of players who you might say "hes ok" or "he could be really good in x a couple of years" and its a huge drop off. We have lots of really good attackers but they pretty much exclusively want to play in the same position. Bellingham, Palmer, Eze, Gibbs-White, Foden etc. If you squeeze more than 1 in youve got square pegs in round holes. Kane also is clearly physically declining, also wants to come deep and often hindered us at the last Euros. He will still score but as time goes on and he becomes less physically capable, he might become an undroppable burden like Ronaldo is for Portugal at times.

very good

Are we allowed to use the phrase 'oriental' in 2025? Also who are they swapping him for?! £8m is probably the total value of the squad.

He signed a new 4 year contract in 2023 - so sadly we can't even blame Mowbray for this one.

Split into North and South for the first two rounds.

The only exception to that ruling would be if the club had fewer than 23 players in their senior playing squad, in which case they would be allowed to bring in a free transfer or free loan without breaking the embargo.

Theyve numerous kits to promote. The likes of Tronstad, Hyam, Carter, Cantwell etc are also missing. Maybe theyll promoted the away kit. Also, no way is anyone paying that for him even if he does go.

Exeter away 🤞

Lashers away.

£6.50 was quite pricey for a gig ticket in 1981.

And that is with the last two figures being pence.

No chance of cash out to get Cashin

We'll have to swap half our squad

Eiran Cashin is leaving Brighton on loan apparently. Left footed centre back who they bought from Derby 6 months ago. With our relationship with Brighton, and it being a position that we need I could see us going for him. Also kicks the can down the road for a permanent signing back there which they love to do.

I don't think "Bionic" Bradshaw achieved the heights expected of him either. Died last year, only 67