The USA need to pull their finger out if they are to make it out of the group. They were limp against Japan and not much better against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (0-0). They qualified 3rd in CONCACAF behind Canada and Mexico after some iffy performances. Their coach doesn't know his best 11 either. The first game against Wales is massive.

Maguire will be a big topic until the Iran game, and maybe beyond. He has hardly put a foot wrong for England over the past 4 years but he picked the wrong time to have a nightmare of a game. The question is was it a one off or is this now him? Man U fans, and plenty of others, will say the latter. I'm in the Maguire will play camp. Southgate trusts him and believes that he'll get a tune out of him.

On paper England should win all 3, however...... I know nothing about Iran but they have they never made waves at a World Cup. Add in their managerial merry-go-round and I expect a win. The USA have some good young players but don't have a defined starting 11 and are in desperate need of a striker. They were easily beaten by Japan the other day. Berhalter, their coach, has a bit of the Southgate's about him. He errs on the cautious side yet Pulisic, Aaronson, Weah Jr., and Reyna Jr. are all capable attacking players. They will be up for it, but England's quality should overcome, and it better had or I'm in for some real grief. Wales are the dark horse. England have far more talent but they are well drilled and have Bale who by the time of the game may be playing to extend his career. He got Wales to a World Cup, and he'll do all he can to stay there. Any free kicks within 30 yards he'll fancy himself.

3 mistakes cost 3 goals. Unfortunately for Maguire he made 2 (actually 3 counting the errant pass to Musiala before the pen), and looked lost he is unlikely at present to get many club games in between now and November to regain his confidence. Southgate should drop him, but I still think it will be a surprise if he does. Who would replace him? Tomori is getting a lot of press on here but as @AllRoverAsia pointed out he's hardly played. I don't watch Serie A so have no idea what he's like. Pope proved outside of his spill why he won't play; his footwork isn't up to par. Too many times he had to rush into a decision. I also think that TAA's goose is cooked. He's not getting a squad place. James has that spot on the right. Walker and Tripper will be the other two, with Trippier also being used on the left if need be. As I said yesterday I think last night's starting 11 with Pickford will play against Iran. Will Rashford sneak in? Calvert-Lewin?

I think tonight's starting line up, except Pickford for Pope, will be Southgate's starting 11 against Iran. The performance is an improvement on the other night. Sterling should have at least 1.

The usual BRFCS negativity toward England is on show again. Barely any comments at all leading up to the game but a good few pages of the sky is falling since kick off. Comments such as sack Southgate, waste of an evening, and we'll be on the first plane home are par for the course after a defeat. The game wasn't good. Turgid, unimaginative football. Southgate's England have thrived on scoring from set pieces, hopefully he's got a lot of plans up his sleeve for Qatar or on current form it's curtains. Southgate needs to pick his formation and stick to it. He has done so much to improve England, including back to his u-21/technical director days, but he needs to play players in their best position. Saka isn't a wing back. Walker isn't the three in a back 3, TAA isn't a midfielder, Trippier can play left back, but it's not his desired spot. World Cup's and Euro's are won by slight margins. Controlling the play helps, yet England seemingly are unable. England don't produce the type of player that can do it. Historically the national team's strengths have been a decent keeper, solid defenders, and a goalscorer. Central midfield - where the game is dictated - hasn't been an area of strength. My era (1980's on) has seen some very good midfielders, yet none of them were the metronome that international football needs. Jorginho, Veratti, Kroos, Modric, Busquets, Xavi, Makelele, Deschamps, Pirlo, Gilberto Silva, all won major championships, None of them were goalscorers, but were integral to their team's success. Without a player like this Southgate needs to do something different. I'll go with the glass of half full and Southgate will learn from the result and move forward.

Him, Stones, Guehi, Henderson, and Chilwell are out of tonight's squad. He'll play some part against the Germans. What reserve striker to pick is yet another a tricky decision for Southgate. Unless Kane is injured he's playing every minute. I like Calvert-Lewin but he's hardly played any football since last year's Euros.

I could put this is in numerous threads but I'll stick it here as it has a bit of nostalgia to it. Phil Jones gets a mention every transfer window. This article should explain why he'd be a bad signing; far too many injuries. A real shame as he was superb for his brief stint in Rovers first team before his big money move away. ESPNFC - Phil Jones ups and downs

The last international break before Qatar is upon us. Southgate announced his squad last week; ESPNFC - England Squad Sept 2022 Using the Euro squad as a guide most who were in that one keep their place. Pickford and Calvert-Lewin are injured so miss out. Rashford and Sancho are dropped again, as is Tyrone Mings. Eric Dier and Tammy Abraham are recalled. Ivan Toney gets his first call up. Since the initial squad was named Phillips did his shoulder in so Henderson has replaced him. Again looking at Southgate's preferred Euro's team he has a lot of thinking to do. Will he go 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1? Will he pick based on form, or go with what he knows? Stalwarts Maguire and Shaw are out of favour at Man U Does he drop them too? I don't think that he will. I wouldn't put my house on it but I reckon, barring injuries, Pickford, Walker, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Mount, Sterling, and Kane will be in the starting 11 against Iran no matter the formation but gets a bit foggy after that as there are too many permutations to work out.

He was terrible. He came on a season long loan from Man U and Rovers sent him back early. I have a memory of one game. He got skinned by the opposition winger on the touchline, and instead of trying to get back in he just stood there and watched as they scored. He may have done it again in the same game. Shockingly he has a title winning medal with Leicester.

Has anyone mentioned Javi de Pedro yet? Played once or twice around 03-04. He wasn't fit, and I think left as quickly as he came.

It's looking that way now. They were calling all sorts off earlier. I see both sides too but only football makes it even more of a farce. What about amateur football? Kids games? JDT needs to be planning a long training session working on not conceding stupid goals.

I am in the games should not be called off camp. I am also in the Queen dying needs a proper send off camp. Shops, pubs, work, airports, schools aren't shut. Why only sport? I understand a shutdown for the funeral, but not for the whole mourning period. I would imagine that a minute's silence followed by a rendition of the national anthem before kick off at every game would have been a fitting tribute and give plenty of people across the country the chance to show their respect together with others, rather than sat at home watching BBC reruns and pundits lamenting the loss. If there is no game will the players train? I expect so as it gives JDT and his staff more time to prepare.

@J*B,@K-Hod, @Silas can we remove the dates from the topic title? As to the week's games. City cruised. Spurs won, Chelsea were bad, and sacked their manager as a result. To describe Liverpool as awful is kind. Klopp has work to do.

Like it or not VAR is here to stay. The Premier League and the PGMOL are to blame for the current fiasco. The Champions League shows that it can work effectively with little fuss. Prem referee's go from mistake to mistake seemingly without any ability to fix it. @arbitrohas insight into the game that not many of us do. His take that the refereeing establishment is a closed shop leads me to believe that if the VAR official does make a referral, due to the nature of the relationships between them they have to act and change the decision. Which also should be a marker that having an independent voice in the VAR room would help. This BBC article is a decent read; BBC- weekend VAR review It looks like the PGMOL are going to review their procedures. I hope that they do, yet it won't help any of the aggrieved teams recoup any points lost. Michael Oliver gets a mention for sticking to his guns. Maybe he is immune to the politics due to his family history. He is also a very good referee.

Let's see. You agree with my premise that they have a bit about them. In a lot of ways they are the opposite of Rovers; big, settled, well drilled, with a proven manager. In a league where any one can beat anyone what Bristol City have is enviable.

Today was a rough day in the Premier for the VAR room. The BBC offer a decent summary; BBC - VAR round up It will never be perfect but as I have said before on here; if the VAR room has an ex-player (or two) alongside the 4th official I'd wager that controversy will be reduced. Mendy made an absolute meal of Bowen's contact. Willock did not foul Guaita. I think that the Premier League needs to adhere to its statement, borrowed from the NFL, that VAR officials adjudicate "clear and obvious errors". If the VAR room referee takes minutes to review what the on pitch decided in real time it is neither clear or obvious so the original decision should stand. Managers don't help either. If they benefit not one of them will acknowledge that it could have been wrong. See Tuchel and Vieira in the BBC article.

I agree. They were strong, well organised, and had a bit of nous. They look like playoff material. Rovers looked disjointed. Expecting Morton and Wharton to run the midfield is a tough one. It may have all been different if Hedges ball to the face went in. I should stop watching games. It's now 1 win in about 10 for me.

Yes, it was pitiful. Rovers are on again this Saturday too. 2 games in a week. Not bad.

It may have been. Irish lad. Left footed. I'll have a look back through.

Is this your only contribution to this thread so far? 90's Rovers is your specialist subject. Surely you can do better than Nicky Marker? How about Gary Talon.

I spent the latter half of the 2021-2022 season watching Rovers on ESPN+ lose every week so it was nice to see a win. I echo everybody else regarding Wharton Jr. He played extremely well. Pickering is getting lots of praise for his performance but I see why he gets a lot of grief. Brereton and Dack are key to any success. As a fan Brereton needs to stay, score a hatful this season, and evaluate his options next summer. If he goes to a Prem team as a deadline day signing he'll get his pieces of silver but won't play or score much. For me a fit Dack is second on the team sheet after Kaminski. He can score and create. I hope Rovers are on TV again soon.

I'm curious, what did you end up doing?

I'll be watching this one. Is it time for a few draws to keep in line with Rovers last few years of 1W1D1L average?

I agree with you. Why did Bournemouth bring in half a team to get promoted, then do nothing when it happened? He was going to get the boot at some point anyway, the surprise is that it happened so early. He lasted fewer games than de Boer at Palace a few years back. He'll get another job soon enough.