They do but it looks like England will still be a top seed; ESPN: England in pot 1 Some creative accounting lets England back into the top group despite being relegated to group B of the Nations League.

Who's biography had a chapter titled "what chairmen know about football" and left it blank? Plymouth fans are in for another rough season. How the Plymouth top brass, with plenty or resources at their disposal, came to the conclusion that Wayne Rooney would be good enough to be a Championship manager is laughable. He was a wonderful footballer but his managerial career thus far has been one failure after another. I guess he is still living off his reputation for crisis management when he was at Derby.

When I was a teenager (mid 90's) I remember talking to a Premier League ref - can't remember his name. He was really nice though and interesting too. He said that he was a Sheff Wednesday fan so would never get their or Sheff Utd games, but all others, Leeds included, were on. Back to the thread. Rovers would have made the playoffs in 2022-23. Some decisions that went against Rovers in the last few games were ridiculous.

Great players would be great players in any era. Today's players would be good in the 60's, and 60's players would be good in today's game. If defenders in years of yore had the ability to stifle players why did strikers routinely score 25+ league goals per season? If Haaland played in the 70's he'd knock 7 bells out of defenders, then out run them, scoring plenty. As to him v. Shearer I'm a biased Rovers fan who would take Shearer every time. Graeme Le Saux was co-commentating on NBC yesterday. He stated that he's only seen 1 player who he trusted to score like Haaland; Alan Shearer when he played with him at Rovers.

Not really. I agree with @Exiled_Rover. In isolation Dolan worked hard, but overall he's not good enough. He had glorious opportunities today to set up teammates and he fluffed his lines each time. Pears did OK today yet I'd wager that 99.99% of this board wants him on the bench for the next game. As to the game I echo what most have said; a point away playing 30 minutes with 10 men is a good result. However, Rovers should have won it. Burnley came out flying and it was no surprise when they went ahead. After Weimann equalised Rovers were the better team. The ref had a stinker. There were so many baffling decisions outside of the "offside". Why did he give a free kick in minute 99 for a shirt pull before the ball was kicked? A barmy decision. Then as soon as Brownhill's effort cleared the cross bar he blew up for full time. On that performance Burnley fans shouldn't expect a quick return to the Prem.

It's good to see ten Hag's Man U carrying on where they left off last season. A lucky home win against Bournemouth followed up by a loss away at Brighton. What makes it funnier is that they did go 2-1 up only for the goal to be correctly disallowed for offside when the ball hit their new striker's knee on the goal line. It's Liverpool at home for them next. Chelsea bagged 6 against a Wolves team that looks great going forward, but iffy at the back. Szmodics scored for Ipswich but were brought back down to earth quickly with City scoring 3 in 15 minutes. The first was a harshly given penalty (the defender made it easier though by stupidly lunging in), then the Ipswich keeper gifted City a second and third with some ill-advised dribbling followed by a rush out of his box to a ball he was never going to get. Although the result wasn't in question after that Ipswich did a decent job of keeping City at bay until late on. I'm sure that McKenna was fuming with both the full back and keeper as you won't get many opportunities to try and defend a lead at the Etihad.

I've read a couple of articles this week that don't paint a rosy picture of Chelsea's current state. They had to sell Gallagher to comply with FFP which hasn't gone down well with fans especially as Joao Felix, who had a rather uninspiring loan term with them last season, signed on a permanent deal. Maresca has acknowledged that he does have 40+ players deemed first team members, but he said that he is only working with about 20 of them. Therefore leaving another full squad of players training on their own. All those players will be on big money, so far only Raheem Sterling has come out and said that he wants to leave. Not one of them would come to Rovers, but they'd all be an upgrade on what Eustace has available.

I like this topic. I have a mate over here who was born in England to an Irish family, and like your mate had an Irish passport. He moved to the USA in his late teens and became a US citizen some years later. He once told me that growing up he was always known as the Irish kid, even without a hint of an Irish accent, and now that he lives in the USA people call him English even though he's a US citizen.

City's trial finally has a date; ESPN: Man City hearing 16 September They dodged a UEFA ban, will the Prem let them off too?

I'm with you on this. Carsley was born in Brum and, I'm speculating here, as a young pro who wasn't good enough to play for England he explored his options. He had a grandparent from Ireland so decided to take the plunge to give him an opportunity to play international football. Then Ireland being Ireland they welcomed him with open arms. But let's call him Irish as it gives people something else to moan about. Anyone want to comment on Declan Rice?

Spain beat France to win Olympic gold. 2 nations that England need to beat to win tournaments. Does not having an Olympic team hurt the full side? Of course I'll hope for the best with Carsley, if he does well give him the job.

I had no idea what to expect from the game but came away pleasantly surprised. Dolan's early goal helped Rovers look really good in the first half. They started the second badly and it was no surprise when Derby scored. I expected the worst but got the complete opposite. Great finishes from the subs. Szmodics is class. I hope that he stays. Him deciding to hold his run rather than rush the 6-yard box made his goal easy. I'll not pass judgement on the new lads as 1 game is a very small sample size (Brett Emerton's debut was one of the greatest ever and was lauded by all, yet that proved not to last as he got a lot of stick on here throughout his Rovers career). Pears needs replacing. He makes some excellent saves at times but makes too many mistakes and there is a general air of unease that seems to affect the confidence of those in front of him. He made 2 smart saves off the attempted goal direct from a corner, but he should never have put himself in that spot. Hyam looked like the player who got into the Scotland squad tonight, yet he's another who can turn in an abject performance when Rovers don't need one. I've said this before; Dolan should not play a full 90 minutes. In short spells he can cause problems but if he starts a game he usually ends up becoming anonymous after 70 minutes.

Can someone who lives locally give me some background on this; LET: Planning permission granted for 600 homes in Blackburn Why do people not want it? Will it create a mess?

Do you like anyone? All I've seen from you is disparaging comments about anyone proposed. An English Alex Ferguson/Bill Shankly/Pep Guardiola combo candidate isn't available.

I have a good enough memory to remember the endless debates on here about if Rovers should keep or sack Allardyce. Looking back now it should never have been a question. He should never have been let go. Southgate is in a different spot as the pressure is so much greater on him but he is on the brink of success again. I think he wants to go. It is taking a toll on him, but he has an affinity to his players which may keep him going. This ESPN article is pretty good. It's gives an insight of things the public does not see; ESPN: Southgate seeks redemption

This post and your earlier one bring up some good points, that have been discussed earlier on. I don't know whether Guardiola taking over Barcelona was the catalyst or the game was moving toward it anyway but football is now somewhat homogensied. Back in the day every country had a distinct way of playing, and England's fast paced get the ball forward quickly style got found out regularly. After one failed competition (early 2000's I think) the FA did a review and came out with a summary that international football is closest to how Portugal play, so they started down that road. Shortly thereafter Southgate got the FA technical job and started implementing it. This also coincided with club academies treating young players as professionals rather than discount labour, and local authorities building 3G pitches giving kids more opportunities to play. As a young kid I grew up playing on all sorts of sloped, windswept, boggy pitches. It wasn't conducive to silky football at all. As to Bellingham, mentality aside, one thing that makes him special is that he's 6'2" and weighs about 14 stone yet can glide past players with ease.

They aren't great. Rodri, Ruiz, and the 2 wide men are very good, but the team is average compared to Spain teams I've watched over the last 15+ years. I'd also rather have England's squad than theirs. Cucurella? Morata? Carvajal was banned against France so they had to stick 38 year old Jesus Navas there. Their subs aren't much to write home about either. Merino's mis timed header against Germany included. Last night was England's best performance. England are also familiar with their players and how they play so no surprises. They should be confident, something that Southgate has given them plenty of. I think that the drink throwing after Slovenia gave Southgate some pause, and also ammo to build upon. I'll go with the same team for the final as last night. Trippier to start again - he was good last night - but his constant turning onto his right foot negates any chance of overlaps on the left, so Shaw will come on at half time again.

I completely forgot about that one.

Lightyears ahead? One of the best in tournament history? No way. They are a balanced side with a fearless young star getting the headlines but they aren't miles better than everyone else. They have an average keeper, a solid yet slow back 4, and a misfiring striker. Their midfield is very good though. This forum has been banging on about how England have been on the soft side of the draw, but Spain have had an easy ride of it too. Although their group looked hard on paper, it wasn't. Croatia still relied on 38 year old Modric and failed to get out of the group, and that was only because an awful Italy side scored a last minute goal to send them through instead. Albania had little to offer anyone. They beat Georgia in the last 16. A side just happy to be there. Then they beat a completely underwhelming France side in the quarters with a wonder goal and a quick fire second shortly thereafter which forced a France team completely devoid of attacking prowess (despite a ridiculous amount of talent) to attack. They keep the ball well and have finished their chances. England have nothing to fear.

They don't. If this messageboard is anything to go by Southgate is up there with some of the most hated people in Britain. Today's game will be much like the others. Tight, cautious, and hoping for a flash of skill from England's flair players.

I agree with that. Reijnders isn't up to it. Neither is Depuy up front. Gakpo is playing well, but you'd think that Kyle Walker will be able to keep him quiet.

There are plenty of stories over here (generated mostly from rumours I may add) of the US trying to get Guardiola They just exited Copa America at the group stage despite having their most talented side in years. Current coach Gregg Berhalter has a lot of Southgate in him. The USA host the World Cup in 2 years, they want to make sure that they are well accounted for so money won't be an object.

I have no idea, but if Frank Lampard can get a job managing a Champions League qualifying team then so can Southgate. His stint in club management wasn't good, but he has done more for the national team than any other manager outside of Alf Ramsey, especially including his work prior to lucking into the job. I don't get the hate for him. England have been nearly men my whole life and I'm close to 50. The FA has tried every type of manager and still England have failed. Maybe the manager is only one part of it? The rabid press and the FA themselves are the only constants that have followed the national team. Both need to be held to account too.

Thanks for the insight. I know precious little about the internal working of French football. He had a half decent club career before getting the France job and he's won a World Cup as a player and manager so with club chairmen liking shiny things I'd think someone would give him a look.

Name a manager at this tournament who Real and City would like? I don't think that there is one. Perhaps Deschamps, who would be a gamble. Martinez - no chance. Yakin - the Swiss hate him. I can't name the Spain manager. Nagelsman seems to be going backwards. Koeman - he's not good enough. Steve Clarke - need I say more? International football management requires different skills than club management. Southgate is no Guardiola, but he is more than competent at international level.