Off Topic How Are You Celebrating Brexit Day ?

I wouldn't say Lookman's been handled particularly well, and they won't get the millions for him that they were hoping for, certainly not enough to pay for all the misfits we've signed on the recommendation of the mysterious "network scout". If they were only able to get £3m for Gomez, maybe £1.5m for Lookman, which almost pays for Naby Sarr

 

Strikers- particularly British ones - tend to go for more in an inflated market.

I was at Brighton the day he scored 'that' goal - the raw talent with Lookman is plain for all to see.

Agree that his handling since then has been p1ss poor.

 

Really sad to see Johann Cruyff take a turn for the worse

 

Thoughts on England?

 

Very good attacking performance. Quite poor defensively. Never seen us come from behind in a friendly. Ultimately not too bothered though no doubt I will be come the summer. Horrible kit though.

 

Both kits look like training tops. One paper said the shirt costs £90??

 

Watched the England u21s draw 1-1 with Switzerland. England dominated but conceded a soft goal through complacency.

I noticed the Swiss team did not contain one player with a "Swiss" surname (that is, German, French, or Italian). They were all of African, Spanish/Portuguese, or East European descent (although some of them may have been Swiss-born of immigrant fathers). And only one (Frey) among the seven substitutes.

And Switzerland is not a member of the European Union.

 

From BBC report on Ukraine 1 Wales 0:

Coleman may have been disappointed by the failure of fringe players such as ... Simon Church to make the most of [his] opportunities. This was [his] last chance to impress boss Chris Coleman before he names his squad for the summer finals in France.

A pity. I was looking forward to comparing him with Ibrahimovic, Muller, and Lewandowski.

 

Why Is James Milner playing v Holland tonight ?

England have just producing their most exciting display of pacy football since 2001....and Woy recalls Milner

FFS.

 

Probably wants to change things around. Given that this is going to be one of the last competitive England games before Euro 2016. Rather him realise that Rooney is crap, Milner won't do anything, and start Vardy and Kane during the actual tournament, given that it works...

 

I imagine PL bosses will have had an influence too.

 

This. England managers are entirely at the mercy of the clubs, which is the main reason we never achieve anything. With the season run-in and tens (for some clubs hundreds) of millions at stake, there will have been an understanding not to play anyone for two whole matches in the friendlies.

With a squad of 23 players there are only two players per position. Milner is a steady utility player who can cover most positions except CB and CF if the same position is hit twice by injuries. His form has been good in Liverpool's wobbly season. Also, with a very young squad (youngest at the finals?) he is a seasoned guy to have around. He is better than 80% of the players in the Russia, Wales and Slovakia squads but I would not expect him to appear in the knock-out rounds unless we get injury hit.

 

What do you reckon for today? I've put some money down on a 0 - 0 draw. Only because the Netherlands will see our performance against Germany and be a lot more cautious, and we'll play, as we've seen a couple of fringe players.

 

I have to admit he was poor. Maybe the captaincy affected him. Not the only one though.

 

When Walcott came on it was as if England were down to 10 men!... he was god awful.... but at least that means we will not be seeing him at the Euro's

 

Story on BBC Sport about how leaving the EU will have an impact on football teams. 13 of our players would be affected. If that doesn't make you vote to leave I don't know what will

 

The most across all 4 leagues.

 

Nice tributes to Ronnie Corbett in the press today. I grew up with the Two Ronnies in the 70s, and can still remember getting a Two Ronnies annual one Christmas. They don't make them like that any longer sadly. Amazing that Ronnie didn't get a K, considering the likes of Saville did.

 

If Terry Wogan and Bob Geldorf got K's why not Ronnie?

 

NCR - but did you guys read about the story between Benitez and Ronaldo?

Story goes Benitez sent a coach to Ronaldo with the objective of looking at pictures and videos so Ronaldo can lose his marker (the guy who averages nearly 50 goals a year). He sent the coach packing saying he will send a DVD to Benitez with all of his goals.

I can't stand managers that come in and pull stunts like that. Also, it's not good reading for Newcastle if that's his man management style.