speeeeeeedie

Ordinarily, yes.

Yes I did. I'm not one for watching matches after the fact though. The tension isn't there, and by the time I'd get around to it it would be pointless and highlights will do.

OK, good to know. I've not lost my sense of humour, but there are at times some odd posts on here that leave me scratching my head.

I'll assume that you aren't being serious. I don't get to watch many games, however, in 2022, they've tended to lose when I do. It has included Mowbray's final death spiral, and the random nature of JDT's current team performances.

It's on ESPN in the USA so I'll see the game. Expect another defeat, Rovers winning percentage when I watch is atrocious.

This may be the same game I'm thinking about. December time 2000 I think. It was awful. My mind has it a 1-0 loss. Their keeper was a bit eccentric. Some others from over the years; Losing at home to Ipswich early 1991-92 season. It may have been Don Mackay's last game. Terrible. Man U winning at Ewood in 94-95. Berg should never have been sent off. Sheff Wed away 1998-99 ish. Fettis in goal. A calamity game. Wigan away under Ince. Was it 4-1? Valencia ran amok. Allardyce's flirtation with Herold Goulon at Old Trafford. Bolton at home under Kean. Nasty atmosphere. Kean should have gone after the final whistle blew. Has anyone mentioned the 7-0 defeat to Fulham last season? It was a car crash. Mowbray should have walked after that debacle. The entire 2010 World Cup in South Africa was crap from start to finish too. England were awful. There weren't many good games. Spain bored their way to winning it, albeit with a fantastic team.

I think that you are right. If he isn't fit Southgate can name a replacement. TAA could get a reprieve. Chelsea had a large English contingent playing last night. All of them did well. All told there were 6 English Chelsea academy graduates playing, including Tomori (who didn't do much wrong but was on the end of a comprehensive defeat).

Kyle Walker had groin surgery; ESPNFC - Walker surgery Will he miss the World Cup? Southgate has to name his squad on 20th October (a rather early date if you ask me).

What a farce that was. The curse of me watching strikes again. I think I've only seen 1 win in 2022 and I've watched about 15 games. An awful performance. Too many iffy passes from the back. Nothing up front. Bad refereeing, and to top it off a weak penalty taken by a sub who never looked like he was going to score.

ESPN has it on so I'll be watching. Looking forward to it.

Currently 4-0. Cooper won't have long left after this. In some ways it's not his fault. It's a tough job integrating a whole new squad of players into a dressing room that got them promoted. I'm sure that it's no honeymoon in there, lots of factions fighting to get a game. A new manager can start fresh and pick a team without any history. Klopp strikes again? He has done a good job getting big money for young players who aren't up to it.

I agree with you. Klopp is willing to let TAA's defensive lapses slide as he provides goals and assists at a phenomenal rate. Southgate wants more defensive stability, so that for me is why he won't be going to Qatar. He made another mistake for a goal yesterday.

I remember Mitre Delta's being the good balls. They were only used on special occasions, cup finals and the like. Mitre Multiplex's were the bad ones. They were like granite. Always pumped up to maximum pressure too. Does anyone remember impopaball's? They were schoolyard balls that wouldn't burst. Awful doesn't describe them. They were brown, had a surface that felt like sandpaper, and if you tried blasting them they really hurt your foot.

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.