Dreams of 1995

Palhinha has been having a great season at Fulham too. He'd be in over Phillips Their youth is fantastic: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Leao. All really good players

The big one who has said he wanted it before is Jose Mourinho The problem is he has probably fallen out with most of the English players 😂 And he wouldn’t fit the FA mould. I’d like it though. Mourinho gets trophies

There's a long line of foreign born players who have elected to play for Italy, and been very successful Jorginho for example is Brazilian Emerson, who played left back in their Euro winning squad - Brazilian Thiago Motta. Brazilian. I think the most famous example is Camorensi, who was Argentine, and won the World Cup with Italy In this respect it really isn't out of the norm for Italian sides to feature foreign born players: Di Matteo, Rossi, Eder etc etc They are definitely lacking in that forward department compared to the sides of old: Inzaghi, Del Piero, Vieri etc But I think this dearth of talent is across Europe - most only have one or two good strikers these days. And like Mancini says, the days of street football are gone in Europe. He referenced South American teams, and how they still play, and continue to churn our them strong and skilful attacking players because of it I still think this Italian team is one of the best in Europe. Portugal and France ahead of them. Spain, us and Italy are all pretty close with Holland not far behind. But the problem with Holland is they really have nothing outside of the starting 11

I get where you are coming from For me, this big 6 mentality is a skin that this England squad has shredded. I have been reinvigorated lately by England. Our success probably plays a part in it I was devastated after the Italian and France games. Just as I have been in Rovers many disappointments lately For me, what I love most about England, is getting into the city centre on that day, standing with a load of English people I otherwise wouldn't do and all coming together with a passion for the country and football

I have tried to exclude us out of it, otherwise I'd put us first rover........ But in all seriousness, I think we sit in that bracket behind France and Portugal. It is us, Spain and Italy vying for that third place. Portugal's national team is actually frightening. They have Goncalo Ramos coming through - who will be a PL player next year - with Leao on the bench. Starting for them up front? Felix and Ronaldo. Their midfield is something we can only dream of to. Silva, Fernandes, Neves, Mario. The only place they probably lack is centre back, with only really Dias as world class. But yeah I would take Portugal's squad over England any day of the week. All this said though I fancied us against France and I'd more than fancy us against Portugal. I honestly think this England squad is great - maybe not the most talented on paper but it feels like an actual squad. We just need to get over this hurdle of putting big teams to bed. My fear is for all of Southgate's good he can bottle a big game

You've never said 🤐

You don't think they are one of the best? They are the current reigning European Champions. The most prestigious and competitive international continental tournament. Their qualification of the WC22 they found themselves unlucky. A few bad draws against teams ruled them out and then the N Macedonia game was a madness. They didn't lose a single game in qualifying. Had they won the game vs N Macedonia they'd have found themselves in a play off with Portugal. That's a colossal tie for a world cup qualifying knock out...before the tournament has even begun! Italy had Switzerland in that group, who made it through to the knock outs before being unfortunate against....yep, Portugal In 2014 they found themselves in a group with Spain who absolutely flew through them groups! I think it was a record breaking run by them if my memory is right...although ended up being hammered by Brazil that year. Even so, Italy once again found themselves foul of the harsh European qualifying rules of a knock out game. The only game they lost that qualifying campaign was vs Spain As for the bit in bold, is it interesting because Mancini said it? I mean, you could say that about England right? In Arsenal's last EPL game 4 were English - Saka, Holding, White and Ramsdale. In City's last game against RB Leipzeig two starters were English - Grealish and Stones. Although Foden and Phillips got a few minutes. For Man Utd there was 5. Shaw, Rashford, Maguire, Sancho and Wann Bisakka. It's hardly head and shoulders above the current reigning Italian teams. His comment was a retort to Southgate criticising the overall lack of English players in the EPL - saying it dropped to 28% of the total share in weeks gone by. In contrast Serie A have a +50% share of Italian nationals. They also have a larger share of players playing abroad than us, although let's be honest Brazilians, Spanish, French and Portugese players tend to be the predominant nationality in the top leagues these days. England is improving though - with Bellingham and Sancho at Dortmund and now Bynoe-Gittens I don't agree with what you say about the players. Berardi got most assists in Serie A last season - and scored the penalty in the final - whilst Pellegrini is loved by Mourniho. So I think I'm going to stick with Jose on this one, he tends to know a player And Acerbi!! You say they miss experience but the bloke is 35 and has captained Lazio and has been ever present in an Inter team now in the CL QF.... You're right, it is impressive, so let's not caveat it with the usual "yeah but they are poor anyway". A good win against a good group of players, playing under an impressive coach in Mancini

If we are discussing the current Italian football team then a list of its current squad is hardly meaningless... Although, I would say that 2010, 2014 and 2018 are meaningless given that only 3 players survive from the 2018 squad (Bonucci, Jorginho and Veratti) and none from the 2014 and 2010 squad In my opinion this Italian team are probably the third best in Europe, behind France and Portugal

Honestly could have predicted the two posters to have said Italy are a bad side. It is just pure nonsense The starting line up of the European Championship final: Donarumma Di Lorenzo Bonucci Chiellini Emerson Barella Jorginho Verrarti Chiesa Immobile Insigne Starting line up today Donarumma Di Lorenzo Acerbi Toloi Spinnazola Barella Jorginho Veratti Pellegrini Retigui Berardi Spinnazola is an upgrade; midfield is the same Pellegrini is the captain of Roma. Acerbi captained Lazio for years and now plays for 3rd placed Milan. Toloi is a stalwart for Atalanta, who are challenging for the Champions League AGAIN Retigui is a rising star that Mancini personally sought out to play for Italy. I don’t know much about him but he looked good The Italy squad is a good one. They brought on Tonali who is a rising star, bosses the midfield for Milan. Gnonto gets goals; Politano has been excellent as Napoli’s substitute striker and has a chance to win the champions league. Christante needs no introduction to followers of international football In comparison we have Maguire who has played 8 games; Phillips played more minutes tonight than he has all season. Ivan Toney is our sub striker The Italian team is not bad at all. That’s bollocks quite frankly. They are stacked with players playing regular football around Europe for the best teams. Today was a good win

At international football it is all about winning. Sometimes you win ugly That was an ugly win. But like Admiral says they weren’t allowed to create much. They scored through Maguire making a mistake We go again versus Ukraine

Looks like it worked Long time coming that win. Against a top side too, regardless of what the nay sayers will say Don’t think he got it completely right but under the circumstances very happy

If what the commentator says is true and Connor Gallagher is coming on then I despair I like Southgate rover, think he’s done well for us, but this is a suspect decision Gallagher can’t do anything Foden can’t.

Ref is a disgrace. Shaws first yellow was never ever a card. Same with Walkers Referee likes sending players off I cannot believe he has subbed Phil Foden

Ah I missed that! Makes a bit more sense I would even be considering Dier at this point. Phillips has had it I did think at the time Dier was a waste of a place. With Guehi, Stones and Maguire - plus know James and Walker can play CB in a three - what is the purpose of the tried and tested Dier? Put another cm in like Ward Prowse

It will always be a weakness of Southgate in getting his changes right and at the right time I think Foden is the right call, but this game is screaming out for Jordan Henderson. Probably in place for Phillips.

Simply have to get better than Maguire. Whilst he is typically dependable in an England shirt he will always give us moments like that Italy are in no way a poor side. They aren’t the Italy that won the 2020 tournament, but still stacked with top class players in every position

Only leaving two in midfield could lose the game against this Italy side I personally think Southgate has made the right decision. Against Ukraine you could be right Italy booing our national anthem though. Nothing will be said - it isn’t the English doing it

What Alan Pace doesn’t tell you is that Burnley fans simply cannot behave themselves. They will not be bubbled, and there will be 8k of them, with history telling us that they destroy everything within its path There hasn’t just been a small minority saying it, there’s a majority of Burnley fans, on social media, openly gloating about “tearing Blackburn up” or whatever They aren’t the nicest of fans, as simple as that really And why should we give them 7/ 8k? It is hardly comparable. Their stadium is tiny. We might want the Darwen End for ourselves 😃

Southgate likes Saka, and I don’t blame him. He’s a good player and always done well with England Theres an argument that Phillips doesn’t start. But who else do England have for the defensive role that our midfield has to play today? Henderson? Foden plays for Grealish for me. But then again Jackie boy isn’t having a bad game!

Fuck me I loved that team and that kit A real mixture of flair and grit We started that game with Berg, Curtis, Short, Hughes and Flitcroft. Unbelievable levels of experience. But throw in Gillespie, Duff and Jansen on top of that grit and its the perfect combo What we have now doesn't compare And how much better I would feel going into this season with those 5 in our team...with a Brad Friedel between the sticks of course

You could wrap it to the Darwen End / BBE and still retain capacity whilst making better use of the room behind the actual stand It could make a nice indoor fan zone, and with many pubs failing in the area a decent pub linked with local breweries would go a long way to attracting home fans before the game. It is what many clubs are doing these days to increase match day footfall A safe standing area in one of the corners could also go a long way to improving atmosphere Again though, all of these are ideas that require owners to be connected with the club. Ours don't give a rats ass so it'll be left to fall down

Of course there is Our current owners have nothing to thank for that though Our stadium has been in a process of managed decline for over 10 years - literally nothing has improved, only got worse

The infrastructure is being allowed to die through lack of investment and maintenance Quite simply they do not care about Ewood and its surroundings. They’ve shown as much They would rather spend money on the “development of Brockhall” than they would on the stadium. The phrase we are looking for is return on cost; they don’t see a return in building a new stand, but they do in selling prime real estate to housing developers Most football owners operate on a return on value - they see the value of stadium investment / maintenance to the fans, local community and businesses. The stakeholders (if you know, you know). Venkys clearly don’t operate that way. Any value is judged solely on profit and loss. And that is why we have seen Ewood and its surroundings left to rot. So any idea of a new stand is silly if you ask me

Unfortunately Neil I’m moving on that day otherwise I’d be there. But if you want any other help or tips on where to go in parts of the city feel free to message

Best city in England Gav. Having grown up here it is very close to my heart Digbeth dining club was the place to be for years. The perfect location for some good food and beer for a night in town. When we were younger we’d roll out of there and into Lab 11. I’m 30 next month and can say them days are behind me now. In any case DDC has moved to Hockley, a fantastic venue tbf. Very close to the Jewellery Quarter which is a day out in itself DDC has been replaced with Mama Roux which, if people are stopping over night in Brum, is an amazing night out