Modric is still the best passer of the ball in the game.

Watching us lose out every time since 1966 sort of wears down your enthusiasm. I remember not being able to get to sleep after we lost to West Germany in 1970. Same when we lost to the Dingles recently.

Problem is they’re the sort of players that will miss as many games as they play.

No it’s not.

I think it’s too early and I would have thought he’ll see it that way also. Belgium could be “ in between teams “ at the moment and it might be a good time to let somebody else have a go first.

That’s a strange line up.

Wood is “ Australia “ quick, so is Archer. The only problem is they are both seriously injury prone.

I think I’d rather have Travis playing right back than Carter.

That’s about the strength of it.

Apparently the series has been played in a really good spirit so far. Credit to both teams.

One good thing about the Central League is we used to win it occasionally.

Tony Dorigo later played left back for England.

That was how it was then. If you were kicking in before the game you looked at your opponents to see what foot they favoured etc. if you were playing left back like Laurie would have been you would be looking for the opposing No 7. He was who you would be marking etc. I remember seeing him playing for Shrewsbury at Rochdale after he left Rovers. Shrewsbury got a corner and it was cleared out to Laurie who was playing in midfield by then, He was standing about 10 yards outside the penalty area on the left hand side. When the ball came to him he hit it with his trusty left foot on the volley. It went like a rocket into the goal and wedged itself behind the stanchion in the net. The goalie had to punch the ball really hard to get it out.

Players didn’t have their own number back then like they do today, or their name on the shirt either. If you were chosen to play right back you wore No 2, if you were the left back you wore No 3. Laurie played left back at Rovers so you need a red No 3. Only 1 substitute also. I saw Laurie play lots of times when he was starting out at Rochdale after he left Wolves juniors. We used to chat with him and his wife in the Town Centre when they’d finished training. That was when I was at school.

That’s what’s worrying, they can’t even get the basics right.

Play offs for me would be a miracle at the moment.

Given in all the time I’ve been a cricket fan you could count the number of wins in Pakistan on your hand this has been a brilliant tour.

We’ll do well to equal last seasons position.

If you were a Dortmund scout who’d watched us regularly would you recommend Morton over young Wharton ?

That was another thing I learned as a school boy footballer.

It reminds me of Sven taking Martin Keown instead of Matt Jansen and then never giving him a minute either.

Yeah, certain things were drummed into you in school boy football. Never pass the ball across the penalty area was one of the first.

Howe at Newcastle if they can persuade him to get off the money train.

Or 4 weeks.

We’re certainly playing like it.