I think part of the problem is he’s made himself part of the furniture and he’s got the I’ll do whatever I want Mowbray esque bulletproof swagger. If England managers had a genuine belief they’re only a couple of games from the sack it’d cut out a lot of “tactical” nonsense and they’d be better for it. In France 98 Tunisia sacked Henryk Kasperczak mid tournament after losing to us and his replacement took over for their final game vs Romania. I’ve not given up hope Southgate won’t be allowed to waste another chance of silverware.

I appreciate rovers don’t have to do a lot to irritate me. I’m like a coiled spring ready to snap at latest developments. I try and prepare myself for the nonsense. A pink strip certainly surprised me. It used to be the insult that when a team is performing poorly we should make them play in pink. Now we’re doing it voluntarily.

Did rovers ever organise any decent friendlies? At last count there’s that nonsense job at Stanley, Wigan, Stockport and the token Austria jaunt. Seems a bit thin on the ground and slim pickins

I find it remarkable how Southgate has moulded a group of young, exiting, talented, attacking players and made them utterly tedious to watch. The mind boggles

Before the tournament I thought our chances were similar to Man U winning the fa cup. Let’s say Citeh- France, lpool - zee Germans, Arsenal - Spain all better but we could give any a game but also lose to some random outfit. I’m downgrading our chances to that of Bournemouth. I’m not aware of a manager being sacked mid tournament but it’s the only hope I have left. Going nowhere fast with Pizza Hut boy.

That more than anything shows where Southgate’s heads at. I’m sure he was furious that a 34 year old Jordan Henderson naffed off to the Middle East. He’d be playing in a defensive midfield 2 otherwise. He made the bold decision to take Wharton but now won’t play him seemingly at all costs. Which begs the question why bring him in the first place.

I was speculating to my Geordie mate that after this tournament a straight swap for Eddie Howe. He was quite irate about the hypothetical prospect of even appointing Southgate there. That got me thinking. Where next for him. No top premier league team will be happy with him as manager, I wouldn’t be that happy to see him at rovers (no money relying purely on tactical prowess) and he wouldn’t stoop this low anyway which means he’s looking at relegation fodder type prem league teams at best.

Just watched the post match interviews. Fair dos to Kelly sommers (I think) for asking directly if the manager asks the players to sit back if take the lead. Refuted of course. Footballers these days are little more than politicians with their answers, ultra optimist bullshit response only. “it’s tough when you come to these grounds hostile environments.” Fuck off Kyle 90% of the crowd were England fans.

I smell cows, manure. Nope it’s bull shit.

More importantly what was his answer?

True but they called them the new one today and I thought Jesus wept.

Just in case they can hear me 500 miles away. BOOOOOO

Poor collectively and individually. Manager got it wrong. AGAIN. He’s been fortunate/blessed to be managing such a group of players and not because of him we’ve bumbled to the latter rounds in recent tournaments. Got help us if they were worse he wouldn’t improve them. Another “golden generation” looks to be wasted.

Yeah. They must believe their own press. Take a look at Albania with the bunch of farmers playing for them. Could learn a thing or two

Imagine. Who would have thought. 100% of know nowt fans but the one man who saw it unfortunately picks the team.

No sound in this boozer but just in case they can hear me in deepest darkest yarkshire BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That was coming piss poor since the goal.

Agree. He shouldn’t play.

Let’s say Walker is the best rb in the world and taa is the second. I’m not saying that they are. But the better one plays and the other doesn’t. Not bang him elsewhere. It’s that simple. Southgate is Mowbray rolled in glitter.

With all the seemingly unnecessary friendlies and dead rubbers we now play. I wonder how many other teams stick their right back in centre mid on a main tournament experiment. When there’s been no injuries or suspensions.

Southgate is just praying foden can replicate his Citeh form. If he’s an no show again it’ll be his 35th England game and maybe time to accept he’ll never perform in an England shirt to the same level and move on. Properly world class players find a way even if not it their exact favoured position. As much as I don’t like the bloke players like Ronaldo would still have an impact from centre half if lumped there, if foden can’t affect the game from a position slightly to the left of where he clearly favours it’s a very poor do. If taa in midfield again. Southgate is probably only remembering one cross field pass vs the two times he effectively put Serbia through. Frustratingly we have players ready to slot in to that position. All in all this is reminding me of sven in 04/06 trying to grapple with amazing midfielders all doing similar jobs. We have decent players like walker/taa, foden/bellingham that don’t necessarily belong together but will get shoe horned in regardless. Thats on the manager.

Danny Murphy and eny aluko are absolutely robbing a living. There’s plenty of awful pundits but can’t think of worse than those 2

Home kits out first week in July. Home kits sold out by 2nd week in July. A future club statement from swag “the club shop were overwhelmed with demand and with hindsight the order of 200 shirts wasn’t enough.”

Another random one Lorenzo Amoruso is now a commentator in Dubai

Fair dos to Georgia for going gung ho to equalise. Not the highest quality game by any stretch but entertaining