15 hours ago, Wood26 said:

Racist chanting, throwing stuff at our players. No sign of all those on social media condemning our fans in euros for booing anthems.

UEFA really needs to get a grip of these European fans who time and time again racially abuse players.

Apparently UEFA banned Hungary from having home fans for 3 games for prior racist chanting. Last night's game was under the direction of FIFA hence the full house. Should the lower body's ruling not be followed by FIFA?

As to the game, Hungary weren't good. Certainly not the all action team that caused France fits but England were comfortable winners. Andorra next. 

England didn't look like a team who were bereft of confidence after a heartbreaking loss last time out. In 18 months time this team will be stronger. Foden, Rashford, and Greenwood, weren't in this squad. Only Henderson, Walker, and Tripper are 30 or over. 

On 13/08/2021 at 18:28, K-Hod said:

Dave Chappelle. Absolutely class, in the vein of Chris Rock. I’d recommend Chappelle’s Show first like. All on Netflix too!

I'm surprised that Chappelle made it to Britain. 

He is a funny one though. Chappelle's Show is brilliant. I can watch his Charlie Murphy (Eddie's brother) skits over and over. 

1 hour ago, Ewood Ace said:

As a league the MLS is a poor League but your national team at the moment has some very good young players coming through and I think come the 2026 World Cup (part of which will be played in the US) the US could well be viewed as contenders. Come 2026 the likes of Pulisic, Reyna, Dest, McKennie, de la Fuente, Weah, Sargent, Robinson, Musah and Adams are all going to be around their peak. However quite a few of those players have been developed outside of the US and very few of them have played MLS.

 

I do agree with you that for the USA to make it big either the MLS needs to start offering big money to players, although that will trigger memories of the old NASL arms race and eventual bankruptcy, or ship as many off to Europe quickly. It's currently the latter. 

My biggest gripe with the MLS is it's lack of relegation. There are now enough teams to have 2 divisions. However, the commercial aspect and desire to fall in line with other US sports sadly leads me to believe that it will never happen, although the US fan would welcome it.

I also support England but living in the USA I do hope that the USA does well as they not only compete against other teams, but their own country too.

52 minutes ago, JohnGo said:

Just to clarify Ryan is A New Zealander who started his footballing life at Christchurch United. So no relevance to the debate. I’m still to be convinced at the American model. They’ve had no success in the last 20 years that they’ve operated this model. Rich kids make up majority of places, not the talented.

No relevance? He played at a US university with Rovers signing him after he played a few seasons n the MLS. He wasn't the finished article by any stretch when he left New Zealand. 

16 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

I never said we should model anything on anyone, that’s your thing. 
You said their national team was shocking, which I disagreed with, as have others to be fair. I’ll leave it there.

I'm not defending the American model either. It has massive issues. However, like you, I take issue with calling the USA team "shocking". 

@JoeH 

I'll not derail the transfer thread.

Here is latest FIFA ranking list; Men's Ranking (fifa.com)

The USA is currently 10.

"Shocking" isn't what I'd describe them as. They are on a par with the likes of Sweden, Switzerland, and Denmark. They also beat Mexico twice this summer.

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

Agreed.

Also, surely we should be judging youth development on the end product it provides. The USMNT are shocking, as is the quality of the MLS.

The US team aren't shocking, and neither is the MLS. 

They aren't Brazil 1970 but they are solid. They are predominantly young, with the majority of the squad now playing in Europe. If they find a goalscorer they will cause teams problems at the next World Cup.

One of Rovers best ever players was American. Ryan Nelsen played their for a few years too. The MLS isn't the Premier League but it is a decent standard of football that is getting better.

I could opine for days on talent development of for sports in the USA. Up to u18 the USA's footballers are on par with anyone else in the world. It's after that where it needs fixing. 

On 14/05/2021 at 02:58, perthblue02 said:

What day in the last 30 years was it clear enough to see Darwen Tower from Blacksnape?  You usually couldn't see anything during the footy season because you eyeballs had frozen. 🙂

I have played football in a lot of places, but nowhere had harsher conditions than Blacksnape. It was never sunny, mostly raining, and always windy. 

When Klopp was early on in his Anfield tenure he commented that he understood why England struggled to play good football because it was always windy. It took him a while to get used to it. 

2 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Not entirely accurate. He did play him. On the wing. 

I stand corrected. 28 league appearances plus 5 as sub per Wikipedia.

I thought he didn't start as many games as he did.

5 hours ago, magicalmortensleftpeg said:

Harrison Reed…?

That's him. I don't know where I got Barnes from. Red head. I remember him being the best player on the pitch against Liverpool. Mowbray wouldn't play him.

1 hour ago, 47er said:

However, if he plays well for them we can make the obvious conclusion!

Was it Harrison Barnes who needed to learn to play midfield from Richie Smallwood?

The same Barnes who held his own against the big boys in a poor Fulham side.

6 minutes ago, simongarnerisgod said:

there was a russian player in mexico 86,igor belanov,who had a fantastic long shot,he smacked in some beauties,agree 100% about the current possesion craze,fortunately football tactics always come full circle,everyone will be trying other stuff in the next few seasons

For those that weren't around; World Cup Mexico 86 Top 20 Goals BBC - YouTube

Belanov has one in starting at 3.50.

22 minutes ago, Blue blood said:

Same! Remember hearing this from primary school upwards. Sure there was always one pillock who shot every time he got the ball regardless of options and needed to be told to look around and think. But overall the encouragement was to not be afraid to have a go. 

Also there's some pretty shocking keepers out there! A B or C shots would trouble the likes of Walton and Leuits and at lower level (non professional) mistakes are common so it always seems to me to be worth a crack if there isn't a better option on. 

Paul Robinson's Rovers career ended partly because he was awful at stopping shots from distance. He let loads in from far out. 

6 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

A lot of those age old things we were taught growing up playing the game are in direct contrast with how it tends to be played now.

Playing it across your own goal would’ve got you a rollicking in the not too distant past and it happens all the time now. And imagine a player saying he took the man and ball after a crunching tackle.

Playing it across the box has become so much easier due to the rule change allowing a goal kick not having to leave the box before being touched by another player. It opens the area up, making the pitch bigger thus making it easier for defenders to do it. It's also much harder for attackers to intercept it. Back in my day - especially at kids level - it was a comedy show at times. 

Anyway, we might as well talk about this as Rovers aren't signing anybody any time soon. The Premier League starts on August 14th. Only when those teams get their matchday squads organised will Mowbray get offered a loan or two of  players who aren't needed.

12 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I noticed during the Euros the art of shooting from long distance also appears to be a dying skill as well. Everyone tries to walk it in the net these days.

It's something I've seen too. The heady days of Mexico '86 may never return.

Klopp's Liverpool won't shoot from 18+ yards out. I think that it was one reason why they struggled last season. It was like watching handball. They'd pass it around the box without any penetration. Someone having a long shot now and again would have forced defenders to think.

I have a few friends who coach at the university level over here. I was talking to one a few months ago and he was telling me about a course he was on. One segment was on shooting, and how to get players to prioritise "A" shots over "B" and "C" shots. Apparently they refer to the opportunity to score. "C" shots have the lowest chance of going in. The game is indeed changing. I was always told; if you don't shoot you won't score.

35 minutes ago, blue_n_white99 said:

This article made sense to me:

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-blackburn-rovers-are-dangerously-close-to-making-same-mistake-that-could-have-cost-them-last-season/

It echoes what most say on here. Some interesting quotes and doesn't instill confidence that the season will go well.

I really enjoyed this article on football pitches; ‘The Silicon Valley of turf’: how the UK’s pursuit of the perfect pitch changed football | Soccer | The Guardian

Myerscough College gets a mention.  

8 hours ago, RoverDom said:

It's common among a significant number of England fans. Tournament football comes round so infrequently that I find it much more enjoyable to go into each and every tournament with blind optimism.

8 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Not sure if ‘enjoy’ is the right word, but I do find watching England much more relaxing/easier than Rovers.

I’ve poured my heart and soul into BRFC since being a small kid, I’m fanatical and see the club as an intrinsic part of my life, as do my whole family - whereas I’m probably just a ‘follower’ of the national team. Hope they do well, but not going to be skriking in the corner of the pub when we get knocked out on pens by Portugal.

I compare myself to the everyday Rovers ‘follower’ that looks out for the results, goes to an odd game, but isn’t a weird obsessive like us lot on here.

4 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Living in Scotland, I'm the opposite Mattyblue, thanks to the 'Anyone But England' attitude of the jocks. I hope we absolutely crush them next Friday, it won't matter to me what else we do in the tournament after that.

I'm sure a lot of this has to do with where people live. People living in England tend to spend the vast majority of their time around other English people. It's easy to play the England stink tune if most around you agree with little dissent.

oldjamfan lives in Scotland so gets a different picture. I live in America so get another one. When you have people from other nations either talking their team's prospects up, or talking down England's, it should make it easier to stick up for them.

The 2 year tournament cycle offers something different. Us Rovers fans are in a bad spot at the moment. Turgid football, iffy management, and absentee owners. Watching England should give some respite.

50 minutes ago, Ewood Ace said:

It really is staggering that you can spend over £200 Million in just over a decade and take a club from mid table top flight regulars to bottom half of the second tier via League 1. If you'd have given that money to 99% of posters on this forum I'd be confident that you'd have seen better results. I just don't understand what they are getting out of this you'd have thought that by now they'd have thought we are losing millions a year here let's bring someone in who can get the club looking something like a conventional club.

If you'd have given me the £200m I'd have banked £100m of it and moved to Monte Carlo.

With the other £100m I would have left everything in place (Williams, Finn, Allardyce, et al.) and given £10m per season either to buy or subsidise the cost of a player who would ordinarily be beyond the day to day budget. By now the club would be on solid footing and I'd sell for £400m.

The majority on here have always been ready and eager to slate England. It didn't change after the surprise of 2018 and it probably never will. 

Southgate is not Arrigo Saachi but I view him as the right man for the job at the moment. 

7 of the squad played in the champs league final, 3 others in the Europa league final.

Up front is one of Europe's top strikers. Midfield contains a champs league winning captain, and there are so many riches at right back it seems likely that a La Liga winning one won't play.

England aren't Brazil 1970 but there should be optimism.

All teams have a weakness somewhere.

This Euro's is anybody's. 

36 minutes ago, DeeCee said:

I'd have Foden and Mount instead of Sterling and Rashford as our best side, maybe a bit unbalanced but would be exciting to watch! (For a change)

I wouldn't argue with that. 

The article did say that Mount and James got their Chelsea numbers which may mean something.

If this article is true; Euro 2020 – what are England's squad numbers? | FourFourTwo

Then is Southgate's line up this;

                Pickford

Walker  Stones  Maguire  Shaw

         Henderson  Rice

Sterling  Grealish  Rashford

                  Kane

15 minutes ago, roverandout said:

True but I rate rice as one of the best holding midfielders in the epl. 

I do too. Henderson is class as well. But if either of them get injured it's either Kalvin Phillips who has played 1 season of Prem football, or 17 year old Jude Bellingham in there.

Both have done well this season, for club and country, but are unproven. 

15 minutes ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Does anyone know the date of the next England game should we qualify from the group so I can book it off before the vultures beat me to it 😁

EURO2021_Match_Schedule - English (uefa.com)

Likely to be 28th or 29th June. 

There were always going to be quibbles over the final 26, yet in tournaments prior England were struggling to name 23. 

Holding midfield is light and central defenders aren't world beaters either but the attacking talent should make up for it.

The England squad is out;

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City) 

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United)

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

All 4 right backs made it. Lingard, Ward-Prowse, White, Godfrey, Watkins, Ramsdale, and injured Greenwood are the ones who miss out.

It's looking like the squad will be named at 5pm UK time. 

TAA, Lingard, Ward-Prowse are said to be out.

Greenwood has pulled out due to injury.

If all is true there are 3 more to go. One will be a keeper, whom I will assume is Ramsdale. The other two? Godfrey and White?

Edit: apparently squad numbers will be listed too which with England is usually an indication of the starting 11.