Bannofan

Fast , fearless teams. I think I've already posted but teams like Japan, Morocco, Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana & South Korea. I think the European and South American Teams are a ' known quantity', full of Premiership players. We would do well to beat Spain , Portugal and Argentina, maybe Uruguay..but I reckon we could cope with the rest including Brazil, Germany and France.

Jordan, Uzbekistan and now Cape Verde have all qualified for next years WC. It's great that new teams now have the chance to compete in it, but I will reserve judgement on how good a thing the added number of teams is until I see the tournament functioning. Uzebekistan are managed by Fabio Cannavaro, their star player is Kushanov from Man City, and they are the first double landlocked country to play in a World Cup. Just need the Faroe Islands to complete their miracle now!

It's interesting to see a lot more British players moving to Serie A and Bundesliga than ever before. It has to be to do with home grown talent just not coming through in the numbers that are necessary. Italy, as you say, have just a few players that really stand out, and even have Championship players in their squad, They are a real mess. The teams that England struggle again now will not be fellow European teams, although Portugal and Spain should give anyone a game. England's issue will now be how to beat fast, attacking fearless teams like Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, South Korea and Japan. I have no doubt we can get top side of Germany, France and Belgium for example, but I worry about some of these so called ' smaller nations' who have technically excellent players doing very well in the best leagues in the world.

I know he's said he hasn't got a problem with him, but I don't think Tuchel likes Bellingham's attitude and thinks he doesn't fit into what he's trying to create. I think Bellingham needs to ' stay humble ' and stop doing the Billy big balls thing. Whilst he's a great player playing for arguably the best club side in the world, he's not irreplaceable in this England set up.

I found this article interesting : https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c15kezxe9j3o Rooney saying that this current era of players that have got to two finals and a semi final, are no more of a team than the one of Rooney and Gerrards era and they were just unlucky. Those two both played in six tournaments and never got past a QF. Stevie G 114 caps, Rooney 120 . I watched all of those tournaments, and despite the players on paper being of equal quality to those we have now , and their club form absolutely without question was excellent, there was always something missing, always something ' not turning up ' about them that this current team don't have. Gerrard speaks the truth when he says he never felt part of a team playing for England. That always came across loud and clear . I'll never forget the 2010 WC where England were just awful, so many players obviously didn't want to be there. I don't know if it was Southgate that changed the England ' vibe' , but whether we show up to tournaments and play well, or are just plain lucky with the draw, something changed surely? Or have I got it wrong and Rooney is right? just a few penalty shoot outs away from a good tournament record in their era?

On the face of it, you'd say this WC will be a farce, but I thought right up until 6 months before it happened that Qatar 2022 would collapse with teams pulling out etc...ended up being brilliant football wise. Football always to find a way..Brazil corruption, Russia , Qatar..all with issues but it came rogether on match day.

Rice, Saka, Eze, Madueke. Basically they have the best England midfielders in one squad. Shame Myles Lewis-Skelly isn't getting the side, he's looked like England's best option at LB Hell of a squad Arteta and the director of football has built, and it's not come cheap. They need silverware this season, I don't think there is a stronger side on paper.

It's a poor division this year, 7 games gone and 12 points is enough for a play off position. Put three wins together and you'll fly up the table.

He just doesn't seem to care, which I'm sure isn't true but his attitude and manner are very strange. I hate this new intransigence that some managers have about playing styles and systems. His job is to get points on the board for the team he is being paid an extortionate amount to manage; it's not to defend his reputation and 'philosophy ' at any cost. He looks like a manager that can't wait to be sacked, and the players will know he's checked out anyway.

None of our forwards are going to get many goal scoring opportunities this season, I very much doubt we'll have a player in double figures by the end of the campaign. That means it's crucial that they have other aspects to their game, like the ability to hold the ball up, and help out with defence and midfield. Bailey Cadz and Brown look like they can do this, Ugbo just hasn't got it in him.

What I found amazing yesterday was the attendance....62'000! 60k plus to watch a team on its backside. Pretty bonkers. I noticed Brighton are getting over 30k as well. Are fans that fickle that they only turn up in big numbers to watch Premier Leagur football?

MOTD has lost some of its gravitas now Lineker has gone. I feel like I want presenters and pundits in shirts and ties again. There's too many changes in pundits now anyway, you knew where you were with Hansen & Lawrenson + one other.

I want to see 61 year old Fiona Bruce in a bikini now...

I'm genuinely surprised we have 1 point at this stage to be honest. Paddy Power offering me 39p cash out on my bet for us being promoted. Not tempted yet.

Great start to the big Ange era. Particularly liked Arsenal just lofting it over the high line for Eze to run on to, simple pass into the middle for Gyorkeres to finish. Early prediction : Postecoglu will be able to spend Christmas back in Aus, free from the burden of employment.

Amorim has to be walking the plank here, he's had enough time and money spent for them to be better than this. I cannot believe Sesko would be this bad in any other side. He doesn't seem to want the ball for a start..not seen a striker so anonymous since Jordan Rhodes in an SWFC shirt.

Yep. Not protests, just fans not wanting to see us lose every week, or have their kids see us lose every week Daft thing is, I bet we were still near 20k for today's game weren't we? That's remarkable when you think about it. When I started going in the late 70's , we were in the old division 3 ( league 1 now) , and barely scraping 10k for home games We've got a long way to go before we see those numbers, and maybe with season ticket holders counted whether they are there or not , we won't go below 15k

Absolutely hilarious. It's always amazing how terrible players can be when they don't give a shiny. 90+ point side to this mess in one summer. Next manager probably Wilder again.

Paul Watson on the Guardian Football Weekly warned that Andorra are not a 'stick 7 or 8 ' past them team anymore, and have only concede more than 2 once in the last calender year. England are much more likely to stick 4 or 5 past Serbia, who will try and play a bit and attack us. I'm still not convinced with Tuchel though. I don't the players are particularly pulling out the stops for him. Thing is, he will be in charge for the next year's WC because we will qualify .

Did you draw some Elephants on it? I'd do that as well. I can't do Elephants so I won't be.

Poor bugger. At least he is use to terrible atmospheres, disappointing results and disgraceful owners. 18 years old, he's having a rough old start to his career

Darren Purse and Lewis Buxton looked rubbish because they were covering for the absolutely awful Reda Johnson. They didn't deserve the pelters, and Reda Johnson didn't deserve all the love because he made one dangerous tackle in front of the North stand hoolies, and used to spend too much time up the top end of the pitch trying to be a goal scoring hero. Aaahh, that feels better.

I don't understand why the bought Eze to be honest, as excellent a player as he is I just don't think they needed him. They have Madueke and Saka as wide players, with Trossard, Nwanieri and Martinelli as back up. They have Rice, Zubimendi, Odegard , Merino and Norgaard for central midfield places. Strikers though , Gyokeres & Havertz? Gyokeres was playing for Coventry season before last, and Havertz isn't a striker. They should have brought in another striker, broke that £100 million barrier and signed a superstar.

Great bit on the Guardian football weekly about Man Utd. Amorim has failed miserably in getting anything out of obviously talented players like Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee and Anthony. Sancho is a lost cause, but the others could have been 'reborn' under a new manager , and you just know they will go on and be successes elsewhere. He's also wasting Kobi Mainoo, and if he was a decent coach surely he would be able to use such a talented player. I can't help think getting someone like Michael Carrick or Kieran McKenna in would have been a better idea after ten Haag , and I think there is still a chance they could start turning things round there if Amorim goes.

It's not all on the manager, but he hasn't shown any enthusiasm or positivitÿ since he walked through the door. That affects the squad, who to a man, look bloody miserable.