AspRover

Watkins demanding the ball, haven't seen enough of that this tournament

Guehi has had a very impressive tournament but he was at sixes and sevens for about five minutes there, didn't close the man or the space and let them pass it around him

A one legged kane would still be a goal threat in the area, but Spain are so happy playing soft passes back to the keeper or between their defenders absolutely sure in the knowledge that no forward is going to try and nick one

God I wish kane could run.

I want to see Vale in a couple of pre-season games to see whether the shoe has dropped. He's a player who seems to have been consistently rated by the coaching staff but whenever he got on the pitch for us looked lazy and ineffectual - we've shipped him out on a decent loan where he has played a fair amount of football at an OK level and the reports coming back are praising his effort and work rate. It reminds me a bit of Carter - thought he was destined for non league until he had that one good season out at Portsmouth, even then I was in favour of selling him to them for whatever their reported offer was - £300k, something like that? To clarify, I don't hold out a lot of hope based on what we have seen so far but I would like to see him in a couple of friendly matches against decent opposition if we can manage it. If/when we lose Sammie and Gallagher we do need a new striker in regardless, unless we are really banking on Siggy to step up in a central role.

Have the commentators and pundits been instructed to keep telling us how much massively better England are in this match in spite of the very toothless reality or am I just a conspiracy theorist?

Got to justify having him in the squad and not a fit left back when inevitably asked about it in the post match after we get knocked out. Fortunately Saka does like to actually shoot occasionally

You know, you just know, that if Southgate walks away Bobby Martinez will make the FA shortlist. As for today, I'm not nervous, honest. *distant sound of cowbells intensifies*

Went onto the BBC Blackburn Rovers page to dig up an old article only to be greeted with us having signed a new left back two days ago, which absolutely astonished me as I had missed it entirely Top work BBC, well done. 'Rovers sign left back from Middlesbrough' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers

This is basically the scenario in which Gallagher is the player you actually need

Playing Eze at left back is still a sacking offense

Fucking lol

Honestly why is saka still at left back? We don't need a left back, we need a goal. Go three at the back and get our forwards forward.

You have one job Harry

Incapable of changing formation or style. If there are subs it will be like for like and very little will change. Likely too late by the time they get on anyway.

60mins... No subs yet Gallagher warming up

This is better to be fair, how long can they keep it up?

Miles off

100%

Could be worse - I thought Guehi was going to foul him for a second yellow and a pen Jesus Navas we are poor

Much more open game than I was expecting, and a ref very free with cards. This could be dangerous, but equally if we can score one it could open the floodgates. Both teams look like they've turned up to play. A red card either way and there will be blood in the water.

See my previous posts on this thread for my thoughts re. Southgate desperately trying to recapture the last Euros at any cost, is Mainoo able to be Phillips, we have different players so we need different tactics, etc. etc. ad infinitum Honestly I'd be embarrassed about repeating myself but Southgate doesn't seem to be so 1 or 2 nil, boring, backwards, neither team really posing a threat. The papers will then take a clean sheet knockout victory as a sign that everything is hunky dory and all these discontented fans are the real problem and need to get behind the boys etc. etc. ad infinitum God I hope they prove me wrong. Even a little bit.

Does he fancy a crack at it then?

Baring in mind that if Denmark score and we don't we've got Germany in the next round to look forward to. That said the commentators assure me we'll be better off playing them than Slovenia because they won't be as defensive.

If in doubt shuffle the fullbacks I guess. We have got some forwards on the bench, right guys?