I am not going to show Chaddy's annoying multi-quote but this is to him. We were in the Championship with Rhodes where he scored 'when he wants'. His PL potential irrelevant as Bowyer failed to get us back there. King was still embryonic at Rovers and whilst fast ran blind alleys and his shooting pathetic. Good on the lad for developing so well away from Ewood. Our top strikers at that time were Rhodes and Gestede.

Lots of talk about Sterling - Alli has been worse for me (he doesn't look fit). I'd leave Sterling in and put Loftus-Cheek in for Alli, who I think has been good when he's had the chance. Maybe Rashford if we really want to have a go at the Swedes. Oh, and how come no-one has mentioned Ashley Young? He's been very poor IMO - nothing good, either offensively or defensively has come down our left side - and the set-pieces he's taken have been very hit and miss (mainly miss). We've got two vastly superior options in Rose and Delph both fit and ready, one of them deserves a chance.

Pure and simple corruption by those who make the rules, interpet them and then sit in judgement. Makes me puke up. We, naturally, given who owns us and who our senior 'board', for want of a better word, management was chickened out and messed it up. I also believe a real challenge for promotion back to the PL was not on the agenda at that time so yes FFP was a shield to hide behind. Like Tophill intimates the 10k pw on frees being the game giveaway.

https://news.sky.com/story/monumental-robbery-maradona-lashes-out-after-england-v-colombia-game-11426216 Colombia have been moaning ever since the defeat but how anyone can call us cheats after their antics is beyond me. No metion of the double headbut by anyone from their side, the scuffing of the penalty spot and the constant abuse of the official. And to say Kane dived is laughable. The irony of Maradona calling England cheats too! Would a certain Colombian product and links to those that sell it be why Maradona is so keen to side with them?

So if Marriott transfers to Forest or Bristol City and notches 20 goals next season will you maintain the view that his 'all round game' isn't good enough or accept that perhaps he is good enough for Rovers? Strikers deal in a currency of goals, everything else is a sideshow.

I don't think Smallwood is good enough for the Championship as a starter. Outside of a bottom 6 team. First 4 months = ?... Then he got one booking away from the 2 game suspension and went seriously off the boil for me, he wasn't sprinting back either which was more concerning, he never rediscovered his form even after the deadline passed. 4-2-3-1, I'd start with Bennett and Davenport personally, Bennett is physically quicker, stronger, more of a goal threat (?) and I'd also say more committed than Smallwood. Davenport seems to have the quality to start, all things being said. Smallwood's chant actually became satire, how often he actually gave the ball away. He deserves his place in the squad and on the bench as a bit part player... but he's not going to take us beyond survival level. But I certainly would keep him around. All IMO.

Imagine if we got Bauer, Maddison, Armstrong and Chapman all bought, and then loaned a Premier League Striker. SIgning those 4 fits in with positions of need, what Mowbray says about younger players with resell value. Could get most of that done with the Josh King Cut. Playoffs, you want to talk about playoffs.

I have the same feeling. We need that lad in the team, watch what the opposition do whenever he gets the ball (retreat), and despite being low in confidence he never hides and always shows for the ball. Can't believe some of the stick he gets - blimey we even need a scapegoat when things are going quite well!?

Has anyone else noticed how much trashtalk other teams engage in recently? I'm sure a few other teams' associates have done it over last few years. I guess it's all pathetic attempts to have some sort of effect on our team and unsettle them. Doesn't seem to work as far as I can tell. Empty vessels make the most noise and all that. It's another reason I like the current England set up. They don't react or retaliate to any of it. Just stick their heads down and get on with their jobs. I see it as very similar as Rover's domestic campaign. Paul Cook gobbing off like some deranged lunatic, and our lot just ignoring him. I'm pretty proud of both setups at the minute. And it's a long, long time since I last said that. Long may it continue.

Think the Sweden team are pretty much like one of their famous companies, once you figure out their instructions there is always a piece of the puzzle missing, once you work around it , a swift turn of a Alli(n)(sic) key and a short time later the whole lot comes crashing down. Fingers crossed it's football's and not meatballs coming home !!!

Maradona, the drugged up fat dwarf quite a few shillngs short of a pound, prostituting himself on TV ....... how unusual. Meanwhile his mates can get back to satisfying his daily needs.

No but by that same token many of the team dont play in the same formation as they do for their clubs. The tattoo is to do with his dad I believe being shot when he was little. It has a meaning to him and to be quite frank has nothing to do with anyone else and is no reason to give him any stick. The laughing gas wasnt a recent thing was it? Did he play any worse than Alli and Lingard? I dont believe so but theres no strong continued argument about their inclusion. Hes an incredibly talented player whose posted some really impressive numbers in terms of goals and assists for City this year. I dont understand the constant hounding he gets. Take your point about him being a professional but to be fair I do think he needs a goal badly to boost his confidence.

Is Blueboy3333 not now a Ladyboy from Bank Top ? ?

In many ways he is. Great for his club, average for England.

We need two. Any less and we are weaker than last season upfront in options.

Big yes for me. Maybe not a name to set hearts racing with excitement, but I feel he'd offer a lot. Experience, leadership, grit, an eye goal, and versatility. I'd imagine his wage wouldn't break the bank either.

Seen us 'linked' with Chris Brunt on a free. Most likely bollocks but would anybody be interested?

Quite. We seemed to be an exception. I am not sure the intention ever was for us to go anywhere either and I tend to think FFP was used as a shield... I remember an article a few years ago in the Guardian, I think. It made the troubling point that FFP would have prevented a Jack Walker but allowed for "Poultrygeist"..

Southgate should pin Mild's quote on the dressing room wall. Sweden will commit petty fouls throughout the game, dive for fun and time waste. They are not an easy team to play as they break up play so often. An early England goal would help us immensely. If Sterling, Lingard and Ali are up for it we have too much pace for the Swedish defence.

A lot of this off the pitch stuff is irrelevant and totally unfair tbh. He shops at Primark/Poundland- gets criticism. (Despite John Terry doing the same and getting favourable reporting). Shops at expensive shops- gets criticism. Buys his Mum a house as a thank you for sacrifices over the years- gets criticism. The laughing gas thing was definitely a bit daft, but it’s not recent in fairness. None of these excuse his performances so far for England but people go in way too hard on him IMO when it’s unnecessary.

Sterling often spends games at City inside drifting in, hes hardly the type to constantly run outside and whip crosses in. Hes a very technical and intelligent player. He was no worse than the likes of Alli and Lingard last night yet he attracts lots of attention. He isnt quite the same player for England and it might seem a lazy thing to imply but id suggest most of that is mental. Hes never been the most popular England player, he was a bit of a scapegoat in the team at Euro 2016 that was all poor, he gets loads of attention in the papers even though he hasnt done anything wrong so maybe its weighing him down. Id love him to score more than anyone else just to hopefully give him that relief to hopefully relax more.

He has to be the most unprofessioanl chairman in the football league.

If you look at the squads on paper we really should beat Sweden. Colombia are a considerably better team in my book. Colombia have one superstar (luckily out injured against us) and four or five high quality Champions League players. I genuinely thought Colombia could send us out even if we played to our best ability if they turned up. On the other hand Sweden have zero super stars and zero regular Champions League players. Obviously theyve had a great tournament and are very astute tactically but in the cold light of day we really should beat them or something has gone wrong. No disrespect to Sweden meant at all, they've had some cracking players in the past, and we'll have to play at our best to not get beaten like Germany, Switzerland Mexico before. But if we do play at our best we should win because of the gap in quality. But again same was true against Iceland two years ago, so let's not count our chickens...

Until this year, Germany have been experts at playing poorly in the early rounds but always scraping through and then getting better as the tournament progresses. It's one reason why they've been widely admired (and reviled) for so long and been so successful. I'd be quite happy if England scabbed it (so to speak) all the way to the final. Brazil have always done well too despite having some mediocre teams by their standards. Knowing how to play tournament football is as important as having a talented squad of players, and if Southgate has found the way when many others have failed all kudos to him.

You need to get out more

Chapman missed training today, good player but he's made of glass.

Apparently goalkeepers are trained to do something called a power push which requires taking one step forward to then push off the leg. They stand behind the goal to use this technique so they aren't in front of the line before the ball is kicked but can still generate the power to cover the goal

I remember the Barnes goal v Brazil, class

Ron Springett, the old Sheffield Wed and England goalkeeper used to stand 1 yard to the the left of centre. He was right handed and relied on his stronger right hand to make up the difference . He always dived to his right and dared the penalty taker to go to the narrow gap on his left. I saw him do this to Fred Pickering at Ewood , Fred hammered the ball to Springett's right but he got across and turned the ball around the post. I've never seen another goalkeeper do anything similar.

The two over the line are surely the two we have signed.... that’s how I read it anyway.

It doesn't say https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/july/healthy-competition-will-raise-the-bar/

Think there was something similar in Rochina's contract from Barcelona. Wouldn't be too concerned about it, if he plays well enough that City want him back then we'll have already have our moneys worth!

Certain stands or certain areas of stands it should be relaxed in this day and age when a visit to some grounds is like a visit to the theatre or cinema with everyone sitting quietly munching snacks, sipping drinks and ogling their phones.

Oops ! But good 'Blushing emojii'

Trouble is I think recent voting might have brought in or be about to bring in consequences like point deductions...which would have scuppered "little" Bournemouth etc

Agreed. We have more pace, skill and flair if all are up for it. This will be a game of attrition and Sweden have players who can and will put the foot in, Berg and Delaney being examples. It may come down to who wants it most.

Morrison would be a cracking signing. The more good players and competition the better. I doubt there is any truth to it though. The link says Boro are the front runners with us and Derby also in the mix. Sounds like a text book 3 club linked article

It cost a lot in terms of opportunity to add quality to what we had although going back to the time i'm not sure we were actually going anywhere ? In fact it was known it was coming long before by the suits and almost welcomed with open arms, loads of overpaid crap STILL got foisted onto the books whilst others got paid off, moved on. The team matured a bit then the sales began, it was an odd one our embargo it really was as we were still allowed to pay up to 10k pwk, it was almost like a great opportunity if your footballs version of a horse trader lurking in the background !!

I have little interest either, a tattoo is a tattoo and people can pretty much do what they like. Kids play with toy guns in the street idolising Stallone and Arnie or on their computer games - so the glamorizing of guns goes far deeper than that of a tattoo that a footballer has decided to get. I do not buy the link to his father part of it though and think he just stupidly made a connection of 'shooting' with my right foot only thinking it was clever. A more private tattoo somewhere else would have been more appropriate such as his dads face or a message to him. Ill-advised at best but it has been blown a bit over the top tbh - just wish he would be a bit more lethal with his gun-firing right foot to be honest.

That really was a horrific deal for us

If we play either of Uruguay or Croatia they would be going into the game as slight favourites especially in Uruguay's case if Cavani is fit again. They are like Colombia only better.

20% of £20m (£4m) from the second sale of Josh King could make all the difference to our team. Cairney is also no lock to stay at Fulham with NUFC and WHU linked for around the same £20m fee which we must have a % of (I think he will/should stay). We probably even have a World Cup related bonus for Phil Jones. Maybe TM is saving up the £88m needed for Cristiano Ronaldo?

Adam Armstrong is the way to go! Much better than McNulty!

Me ??

I genuinely fail to see how anyone can not be "positive" about England. That's what makes me laugh. 2 years ago after the Iceland debacle no-one had any hope for the future of England in tournament football. I guarantee you that if you asked at the time pretty much everyone in the country would have predicted that we wouldn't even get out of the group in the next World Cup. Well here we are in the quarter finals with, I would say, a 50/50 shot of hitting the semis. Anyone feel free to tell me how that can be anything other than good progress. All with the 3rd youngest team in the tournament too. Are we world beaters? No. Do we play awesome flowing, attacking football? No. Does our defence look rock solid? No. Regardless, the team still looks better than it has in decades. I don't think anyone has a problem with people critiquing the flaws with this squad. They are certainly plentiful. But the folk pouring negativety on this current campaign are speaking volumes about there general character IMO. Let's just say when I'm at a house party, and you guys are in the living room, you'll find me in the kitchen. And visa versa. Life is full of enough bullshit and misery as it is, so I tend not to associate myself with folk who somehow manage to unearth gloom from what is a rare glimpse of positivity on the sporting front for this country.

Personally think he would be a steal at a million and 10k a week.

As long as the money doesn't go to Lee Grooby ??

Our creativity void is an issue, but more worrying for me is our attempts to play out from the back. I understand the idea, particularly as we have a lot of small players in attack who aren't going to win headers, but the way we go about it is all wrong. We continually get into situations where the back three are passing it between themselves (and sometimes one of the wing backs) with no outlet. Ultimately it ends up going back to Pickford who boots it up the pitch, negating the point of passing it around the back to begin with. It's mainly because not enough players are dropping back to make themselves available for the pass. Multiple times last night Kyle Walker was calling for players to come back and help them out, which shouldn't be necessary. If we're going to play like this then players should automatically be ready to drop back and pick up a pass. Southgate must see this as a problem as we've had the same issue since the start of the tournament. If we want to pass it around like we're Spain then OK, but unless players make themselves available for the ball it's not going to work. Far too often last night there was a huge gap between the first and final third of the pitch, where nobody was dropping back to try and receive the ball from defence. In extra time Kane ended up coming back to do it as nobody else was stepping up. Southgate needs to tell some of these players to be braver and show for the ball. Hiding up the final third of the pitch waiting for a ball to be hoofed up is no good when we've got Alli, Sterling and Lingard trying to win headers. One of the three needs to drop back to pick up the ball on the floor from either the defence or Henderson/Dier.