I can always tell when my team is in for a bad night, be it Rovers or England. They start off like it’s a testimonial match. No tempo or willingness to pass the ball at speed. The Yanks were playing balls to run on to, we were playing balls to feet all night.

The guy that is turning down a £200,000 a week deal at Chelsea apparently. Modern day football is mad. What would Dougie be pulling in if he played nowadays ? He’d more ability in the big toe of his right foot than the likes of Mount have in their whole body. Same goes for Saka for me, he lost the ball nearly every time he had it last night. I don’t think playing him on the right wing when he’s predominantly left footed helps his cause though.

I’d say we passed it backwards as much as we passed it forwards tonight. We were back to taking the ball stood still again.

A remember being in the pub one Saturday night when a Dingle pal of mine came in. He’d been to the Turf that day and he said “ I’ve just seen a young lad make his debut for the scousers, he’s called David Johnson and he’ll play for England one day “.

And then what ?

I agree about Mount but Maguire has been the best of a bad bunch tonight. Saka particularly bad along with Sterling. Bellingham couldn’t get in the game. Bottom line - they were running, we were walking. That will have cheered Wales up no end.

This has been dog shite.

We’re playing walking football again.

Okacha was brilliant at Bolton under Sam. Nearly in the Bryan Douglas class.

You never beat Wales at rugby Jim you just score more points than them.

You must be getting soft. Every game was like that in the Manchester Industrial League back in the 60’s. Minus the harassing of the ref of course.

I like the physicality of the Iranian team. They put it about like teams used to do. We could have done with a bit of that attitude at the dingledome. The ref let a lot go, it must be a tough old league in Guatemala.

Yep, Wales huffed and puffed but Iran were clearly the better team in the second half. Bale and Ramsey anonymous.

I think Casemiro is as good as Rice. Raphinha was poor last night but he’s a match winner on his day. I like how they have two wingers right out on the touchline, It makes the pitch big when they have the ball. Kompany has the dingles set up the same way.

I take my red, white and blue glasses off when I watch England. I try and be objective about football in general. It’s better for my blood pressure.

I thought once Brazil got going they looked like scoring with every attack. Having said that I think that any team with Fred in it has a weakness.

Whoever wins it will have to beat Brazil.

Another one from the North East who played for both clubs was Johnny Price. I really liked him, a little old fashioned winger. Before he came to Rovers he played for Stockport County. They were crap then but I never saw Johnny have a bad game for them.

They were great, they never gave up at all but if you miss a pen you’re making a rod for your own back. That had to go in for them to have a chance of the 3 points.

Looking at the events back in Iran I wonder how much their hearts were in the game. They might be in Qatar but their families are still in Iran. Imagine the meltdown here if the team refused to join in with the national anthem. We’ll know more after their next two games.

Of course.

Looks like we’ve all forgotten about England v Iceland.

I saw a few times after he left Dr Feelgood. He had a style all of his own.

Yeah that’s a great find. I loved “ The Shangri-Las “ back in the day. There’s a terrific bit of film of them doing “ Give Him A Great Big Kiss “ live on YouTube. Their singles came out here on the “ Red Bird “ label. The Tommy James version of “ I think We’re Alone Now “ is brilliant. “ Crimson And Clover “ was another top record he did. He was big in America but unfortunately never made much money because the label he was on was run by the Mafia !