From England's perspective, yes, as they have no control over it.

Of course, it is still an achievement to win these games. The likes of Colombia, Sweden, Switzerland, Senegal, Ukraine, Denmark etc are not mugs, but equally they are not the elite countries and before the draw is made, you would absolutely take those games in the knockout stages. To beat them is an achievement and I have never said otherwise, even if you are the favourite, to win these games even as favourites pretty much every single time is an achievement and Southgate does deserve credit for that. But whether its the draw at the start, or whether its other group stage results causing bigger teams to fall onto the other side of the draw, none of that is under England's control. Winning our group removes the luck in terms of the last 16 tie as we warrant a favourable draw if we do that, but beyond that, it is all luck. You can't escape that. That causes issues when comparing different managers across different tournaments. For example, Sven had quarter finals against Brazil and Portugal twice. Whenever Southgate faced that level of opposition, he also fell short, he just was fortunate that it came later in tournaments. To win the extra games in between is both an achievement to win those games and also lucky to avoid the bigger nations. When we did face the elite, ie Spain and France, we lost. You could argue that Germany is the exception to the rule, not quite Spain/France but still a strong team, and equally you could argue that Italy and Croatia aren't the very elite either. You especially consider that we have played Switzerland, Ukraine and Sweden at the quarter final stage, so beyond the last 16. We also faced Denmark, Croatia and the Netherlands in semi finals. Even Italy in a final, you would absolutely take those at that stage before the tournament rather than the likes of France, Spain and if its a World Cup, Brazil and Argentina. All of those draws are down to luck.

No. But you seem to be missing my point that there is a difference between results that we control and ones that we dont. France's results in a seperate game helping to give us a favourable draw is luck on our behalf.

But that is luck from England's perspective. It can be a French mess up AND English luck.

He would have been a good partner for Hyam I think.

Was he a legend?

On the free transfers, I think Gestede specifically mentioned that market when speaking to Elliott Jackson. Got to be proactive and offer decent wages or at least think outside the box. On our own players. We always make excuses, we dont want to distract them, we need to know what division we are in. Its all bollocks as its preferable to get them signed up (or at least be 100% sure they wont sign) mid season to avoid the mess of having to simultaneously try to give existing players contracts (or at least pretend to try) and then deal with that and potentially replacing any that dont sign simultaneously with bringing in new players.

We hadn't heard of Ohashi, Toth, De Neve etc. No idea if the guy Swansea have signed is any good. Merely saying that they had spent big money on someone amidst saying that Burgess is a good signing.

Swansea have signed Cameron Burgess on a free. Thats a really good signing, theyve signed a few players including a midfielder for a few million.

We wanted 6 or 7 according to Ismael although that was presumably before we knew that Batth and Weimann were not staying. So up to 9. So I expect 7 signings in the next 2 weeks with Ismael wanting 90% in by pre season and considering his full alignment with Gestede, should be a cert.

Im just saying that factually we have faced some inferior teams in the last few tournaments. Often most of the strongest teams have been on the opposite side of the draw. Its impossible to directly compare tournaments because who you play is not consistent like a league season. I would happily take a group of Latvia, Iran and Fiji next summer, followed by knockout games against Bahrain, Papau New Guinea, Botswana, Armenia and Vanuata.

It isnt, its just an opinion. You are fixated on policing negativity beyond having a reasonable discussion. His best spell came further up under Mowbray (ie away from his own penalty box) but it was only a brief period. When he moved back he regularly lost the ball dawdling in dangerous areas. He obviously has some technical ability but he doesnt have a picture of what is around him. This wont suit the idea that I am only interested in negatives but Tronstad rarely loses the ball in those areas because he plays quickly and knows what is around him. I also have not seen much evidence of him being a "fantastic passer." There is a reason that he has failed to keep a regular place for a nunber of years under numerous managers, that he was loaned out and that he is now totally out of favour.

Im not sure I have seen many of these 40 yard passes from supposedly someone who can play these passes as well as anyone in the league. I suspect most players could at this level with enough time. But he has no awareness of what is going on around him, he takes far too long and cant take the ball on the turn. Im not saying that his application isnt in question but it isnt just a case of that stopping him from being a really good player at this level. He has been consistently poor in a deeper midfield role and he isnt productive enough to warrant playing further forward.

Its really difficult to directly compare managers at international level. Unlike club football where in a league you playe everyone home and away. Luck plays a bigger role, the draw you get makes a huge difference. Sven lost 3 quarter finals but one was against Brazil and also twice on penalties to Portugal. Throw in the likes of Colombia, Sweden, Senegal, Switzerland, Slovakia and Ukraine and he probably would have gone further. This England generation peaked in 2022 and 2024 when we had a foundation of players like Walker, Stones, Shaw etc playing at a good level. Now that has gone, this post Southgate era sees us with a much weaker and more unsettled and imbalanced team not equipped anymore to be at the top level.

From what league would you expect teams to be willing to bid for him? If its League 1, then they wont offer that sort of money. And I cant see Championship clubs being willing to pay that much for players either.

He amended it. Another of his errors.

Who is paying that for either? Both players who have struggled at Championship level so you are probably looking at League 1 clubs.

If we do sell Buckley and JRC we wont get much of a fee for either.

I am skeptical of the rumour, especially as Mercer has jumped on it and claimed his famously wide of the mark "sources" think its true. Bur wanting O'Neil wouldnt be good PR. He is a shit manager. Equally, I dont get how you can pin what happened to Eustace on Waggott.

We have had "talks with their representatives." So we havent even put deals in front of him. All smoke and mirrors.

I have never one said that they arent aligned. Im also not naive enough to assume that they are aligned or more importantly seeing as hes just stepped into his first window in the circus, that they will remain aligned once the usual things start repeating themselves. This early, Tomasson and Eustace would have felt aligned. Its when players are sold, contracts arent sorted, sub par and unwanted players are brought in and money vanishes that the alignment is well and truly a thing of fiction.

He is irreplacable here because not only is he a really good Championship midfielder, but hes also our captain and a leader. And of course, if/when he goes he wont be replaced adequately. Its telling that even now, he doesnt have an actual contract offer on the table. Its because he will want (and deserves) competitive Championship wages.

I suspect that Venkys pay more in wages than Jack Walker did if you totally discount inflation and assume that the value of money never changes.

Seems like an attempt to make it look like we are being proactive. It says we still havent even offered Travis a deal. Seemingly Tronstad too. These had to be sorted before the summer where we have already got enough work to do without the huge variable of not knowing if key players will be here beyond the summer. But even know, it doesnt seem to have to have gone beyond merely talks with representatives.

You genuinely dont think that the owners have been on a mission to cut costs for a number of years? Also, I dont think you understand the concept of the time value of money. My stance is that I dont know if they are aligned. They will say they are publically either way , I am not saying that they arent. Im saying that its early days and unless something drastically changes then Ismael will get pissed off in time too like the previous managers.