Selling off/releasing some fringe players (Rankin Costello, Hirst, Dack if hes not going to play) might free up some wage space To me, two areas of improvement are a pacey CF and a hard man in midfield. Still think were too soft. Every top playmaker has always had a midfield general covering behind them. Don't think the other options are too bad. Werent we in for Dembele from Bournemouth in the summer. Did he go anywhere? Doesnt seem to get a game there.

Still looks fit and sharp for a 36 year old. Crazy how long players are staying at their peak these days. Chelsea got rid far too early!

He will want to try and forge a career at club level I imagine as top level club management is where the big money and accolade is. International managers tend to be departure lounge to retirement or failed club bosses. It would amuse me greatly though if he left Turd Moor part way through the season.

I drew Canada in our sweepstake. They played some of the most exciting build up play ive seen, full of pace and direct running. Alfonso Davis is a top class winger/full back. They were absolutely terrible when it came to composure infront of goal. Had Belgium all over the place but couldnt hit a barn door.

Good performance yesterday without ever getting into top gear. Thought the midfield three were the key by dominating the ball but also working hard off it. Next game is where the real tests start. Kanes hold up play and use of the ball was excellent, but he seems to be playing deeper and deeper. There were numerous good crosses accross the 6 yard box in the first 20 minutes and he was no where near. I can see why his goalscoring rate for England has been lower recently. In terms of who's better, hard to tell. Mbappe, Frances best player is better than our best player and can be devastating. Their front three as a whole is flying and they have a strong first 11. However, England have a stronger squad overall in my opinion. We have players on the bench who would be in the France side and can make numerous changes without weakening the side. Bellingham is also better than any of their midfielders. This lads the most talented 19 year old I've seen probably since Rooney.

I was just telling my work colleagues about this. Two proven scumbags, who have been in and out of Jail umpteen times over the last 10 years get caught with bolt cutters and a crowbar breaking into a guys house. Guy chases them away and gives chase in his car. They escape on a stolen motorbike, which results in a crash and injures them (not life threatening). Homeowner is arrested for dangerous driving and causing injury. In the meantime the two scumbags are arrested again in a stolen car and no insurance. Final result, the homeowner, with a pregnant wife is given 22 months in jail. The guy and wife end up terminating the pregnancy as she cant afford to live while he's in jail. The scumbags are given a suspended sentence and no further action. The justice system in this country is utterly wrong. It cannot be easier to live a life of crime than work. The police interviewing the persons involved all had sympathy for the homeowner. It is the judge handing out that sentence who must be held accountable. Utterly flawed. Decisions like this only promote vigilantism and discontent amongst the public. One of the scumbags even said to the camera he doesnt want to work as there are "easier ways" to make money. Completely wrong in every aspect. Sickening.

Any manager worth any respect, would look at Wales last two games and tell the squad, there's nothing to fear lets go for it, push high up and get a few goals. A good chance to get our attacking players back in the flow and some momentum going into the knockout games. Southgate however, like Mowbray used to, will talk up the opposition, give 100 defensive duties on all the attackers and hope to nick a 1-0. This will give Wales confidence after 15 minutes and make an edgy unnecessarily awkward game. Id assume Mount and Trippier will be first names on the team sheet again. Any decent manager id go 4-0 England, with Southgate id go 1-0 in extra time

I think if Kane is out injured, it would be glaringly obvious how much we reply on him to link up the attack with midfield and hold the ball upfront. I do think he drops too deep these days and is becoming more of a 10 than a centre forward, but he isnt replacable for England. It would require a change in style.

Read something last week that Rovers are worrier about Burnley wide forwards cutting inside. Maybe why he's played a right sider on the left. I'd personally rather see them in their natural position

Shop window goal that. Glad it's straight to pens and not ET.

Hoping this is the game where Dack has a blinder and works his way back into the starting 11. Also keen to see if Markanday gets a game upfront and what he can offer. The article on Lancs live sounds like JDT has been getting into Buckley lately to up his game so interesting to see if he plays with a point to prove. West Ham likely to make a lot of changes so I dont think it will be a walkover in their favour. Great chance for some fringe players. Kaminski Carter Ayala Phillips Brittain Mola Buckley Garrett Dack Markanday Vale

There is no point selling Brereton in January if the money wont be re-invested immediately which is unlikely. Our goal tally would fall off a cliff. He's won us 3 or 4 games already by scoring the only goal. If we did do some business in January my first action would be to send Hirst back to Leicester and replace him with a better loan or permanent CF. The scouting job on him has been awful whoever did it. A strong, mobile centre midfielder who likes a tackle would be a massive plus for us. Were all a bit small and nice in there. Wasnt Mola supposed to be this? We seem to be spending wage budget on loanees who never play at the moment.

Shouldn't be settling for anything but a win here. Forget the wing backs out of position nonsense from Midweek. Can see Huddersfield sitting fairly deep. Backing up a loss with a win means this week isnt a complete disaster. Kaminski Brittain Hyam Ayala Pickering Morton Travis Wharton Dack BBD Gallagher Out of interest does anyone know how our points tally this season compares with the same number of games last year?

Really got to hope Broughton and Tomasson can see Hirst isn't up to it and terminate the loan in Jan. Worrying that he was their main target all summer. A win on Saturday and it's not the end of the world, but we will get a mauling of the dingles I fear.

Why have we only subbed Hirst for Vale. He's done some good stuff JDT, but some nights it's like his brain is turned off. Surely a system change or something...

Players in their right position and go for it. No need to overcomplicate in this league. Trav back to Dm, pickering for smodic at LB, Brittain RB, Dack on for Vale to play behind BBD.

To be fair, Brereton was 18/19 back then, Hirst is over 23. If a player is still shite at 23, then to me its unlikely he's ever going to be anything special. The fact hes not even our player, I cant see the point in persevering with a player who doesnt look much of a prospect. At least someone like Markanday is still only 19/20 so might be worth the effort in the long run. Think this will be a hard game. Can see a scrappy draw or 1-0 either way. Hard one to call.

Hedges at RWB and Brittain at LWB according to LET. Why??? If anything put Hedges at LWB then at least its only 1 out-of position

I worry with a young and fairly lightweight midfield of Morton, Garrett and Wharton, but there aren't really any other options. Edun isnt good enough and weve never seen Mola. Cant see any other sensible selection other than the same team as Middlesborough, with Garrett for Travis. EDIT. Id completely forgotten Buckley was an option..which says a lot.

Starting to think JDT is going to become a Henning Berg type appointment. Young coach with some big ideas of total football that sound good, but ultimately don't work in England or they haven't got the ability to coach it into the players. Hope I'm wrong but starting to become less and less optimistic. Shame as I think the Championship is weak this year and a manager with a bit of nous and the backing JDT had in the transfer window would have us right up there.

Utterly wank. Poor recruitment, poor tactics and seemingly no desire to fight. Very concerning

According to my football app Hirst at 23 has scored 18 goals in 109 appearances. Doesn't bode that well. If you take away last season in L1 he's got 3 goals in 65 games.......

Never know Hirst might look a different player if he gets a goal....or he might be a complete dud! Won't know if we don't try. Find it strange that Brittain is out of favour atm. Thought he was decent.

I can feel our W-L-W-L coming to an end tonight. Can see us snatching a scrappy 1-0. Same team as the weekend other than Put Brittain back in at RWB and replace Gallagher with Hedges. Need to be solid and match their physicality, as football wise we should be superior.

Hyam and Brittain aside, the recruitment is looking very poor. Money for Szmodic could have been better used elsewhere. Mola must be awful if he can't make the squad above some of these.