Cabrone

If Charlie stays fit and gets the service he'll get 15+ this season. Too many knockers on here - if it was that easy to score goals how come the rest of our squad aren't banging them in left right and centre? He's an extremely good goalscorer and that makes him very valuable to us.

First goal was powder puff defending, 2nd was McCarthy not getting to a ball he should have and the 3rd was a total carve up of our defence. They'd better shape up right now else we are going to be torn a new one next week, and the week after, and the week after............

Always thought Climbatize by the Prodigy would create a good atmosphere just as the players came out.

If Sparky plays him from the off - and if we don't sign a goalscorer I think he will - then I don't see any reason why he couldn't get 15-20. He's an excellent finisher who will produce if played correctly. His fitness needs very careful management though.

Don't get the flack that Charlie gets on here, he's a genuine goal scorer who cost something like 4M and has never let us down when fit. If the Pratt had actually played him from the start of last season we would have been ok and the prat.might still have been a premier league manager. I don't think Sparky will make the same mistake. Charlie should be the spearhead with Gabbi in a free role,. that's a good attacking combo to me.

As long as he scores goals that's all that matters. You don't need to socialise with the guy so why have a moan? FWIW the team needs personalities like CA, we've been anonymous for too long.

We'll be bang in the middle in a dull but comfortable season. We'll score a lot more than last season as we finally have a manager that appreciates that you need to score goals in this league. Citeh to win the title and the champs league. Pool to spend most of the season whining about 'cheque book success' as Salah fires blanks. Bournemouth survive - just - as Brighton, Cardiff and Everton (would be hilarious) are relegated. Mark Hughes leaves Saints to become England manager at the end of the season and manages to persuade Gareth Bale (and FIFA) that he's really English and the whole Welsh thing was a bit of a misunderstanding.

Don't disagree that from half time onwards our midfield imploded a bit and we couldn't keep a hold on the ball. Give a team like Croatia the amount of possession that we did and eventually they will hurt you, it was so ball achingly predictable. However - the biggest culprit in England's loss was our forward line esp Kane - if you miss chance after chance then you won't win. Even in the 2nd half the flagging mid and full backs still managed to provide quality but there was no one there to stab it in. When Trippier supplied a couple of superb balls from the right that flew across the penalty area our no 9 was nowhere, Kane should have gobbled them up. A guy like Suarez would have. Midfield did get ragged in 2nd half but we would have won if we hadn't ignored so many good chances. Where was the hunger from Kane? Was he carrying a knock or is he a bit soft?

Should have put the game beyond Croatia in the 1st half, made some good chances but where was our no 9? Everywhere except where we wanted him to be, in the penalty area. Good service let down by no-one in the box. Overall the team played pretty well and with some half decent finishing we'd have won. It's been a great world cup for England, let's be honest - no-one ever thought they'd get this far. Trippier my pick of England's players and really warmed to Pickford as the tourno went on.

Frogs look a complete team, if England get past Croatia they have a puncher's chance. Hang on and land a knockout blow at the death is England's best hope. However got to get past Croatia first, a real 50:50 for me.

It's too close to call, England are better up front but Croatia are better in mid. Defences are close, gk's are also close esp in a penalty shootout. Croatia are older and have been through a couple of tough knock out games whereas England are younger and should be fresher. Both look the same standard from the penalty spot, i.e. capable of at least 1 miss from 5 pens. However if Subasic is out on Wed then that's a huge plus for England, he's a damn good shot stopper in pen shootouts. When England played Germany in 1990 I always had the background feeling the Germans were going to do it but this time round I really have no idea. If their GK is out though then that may swing it towards England.

Well done England, confounded my predictions again. First penalty shoot out win in 22 years, first semi in 28 years - this team is breaking records. Got to admit it wasn't the most scintillating but no-one expected it to be against a defensive team like Sweden, they got the job done and that's what matters. Really starting to warm to Pickford, makes me wonder how much of a hindrance Hart was in goal. How many games did he cost us?

Agreed, Sterling winds me up but he is causing them problems and asking the questions. My gut feeling is still a draw though, think we'll flag and the Swedes will pop one in, then on to penalties.....

Pickford is looking like a real penalty shoot out asset to me, the guy was like a grasshopper last night leaping across the goal. If he guesses correctly he's always got a fair chance of making a save. I can't help but think Sweden is going to come down to a shootout and with Pickford the human grasshopper and the fact that England's confidence will have been boosted after last night's shoot out it may be the way to get through. I don't think it will be a thriller for the neutrals, very few chances but with what's at stake and with few scoring opportunities I can see it getting very tense as the game goes on.

Great to get a first penalty shoot out win since Euro 96?? Got a bit lucky there though, big concerns as team was mentally weak after conceding. Too many players just wanted to turn backwards to the GK, players must step up - need much more attacking resolve and strength. Still, we're through so job done. Sweden looks like a draw all over and another shoot out IMO.

*last 15 years - not 26.

Really starting to dislike this Belgium team, they remind me so much of England over the last 26 odd years. Arrogant, couldn't care less, strolling around as if they were entitled to the win, only woke up when 2 down and the only really decent move they put together came in the 94th min and was the winning goal. Guys like Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard who tear up the prem were bang average. Play like that in the next round you lazy, entitled gits and Brazil will hand you a new one. Gutted for Japan, the moral victors.

Now that Iceland are out England's coast is clear...... Still think 1/4 final at most, defence is not good enough.

I watched Colombia steamroller Poland over the weekend and they looked bloody good, poweful midfield and a sharp attack. It depends which Colombia turn up on the day, my guess is that they'll up their game against England and we'll be in a real dogfight. 50:50 for me.

That was hilarious, they couldn't have shown less enthusiasm if they tried. Funny how none of their shots were on target atall. 1-0 down and meandering around like it's a practice game. FWIW I think they should have gone for the win but it's obvious they wanted to lose. Don't know why, Colombia are a fine team and will tear strips off England if they aren't at their very best.

Shame, decent player and £10M is a snip but it looks like he wants to go so no point trying to force him to stay. If the club could get Shaqiri instead then great but I doubt he'd come. Recent history suggests either we won't replace him (major mistake) or we'll get a substandard replacement (major mistake).

Took our chances today unlike against Tunisia which was great. However Sterling needs to be benched - goal scoring is mandatory in my book if you want to be considered an England striker - plus I'm not atall convinced by the defence. I reckon they'd wobble badly against decent opposition. That said so far I'm enjoying this England team far more than any of the others that I've endured over the last 15 odd years. At least they look lively.

If Mexico can get a point in the last game then it's looking like Germany v Brazil in the last 16....very tasty and gets rid of one of them at least. Revenge for the samba boys?

I'll be sorry to see him go, always thought he was a decent player who was (along with everyone else) pretty poorly managed over the last 2 years. I don't think it was a coincidence that as soon as someone competent started managing us again his form picked up. I'd be happy if we could land Shaqiri as a replacement but I can't see him coming here TBH.

He's a very decent player and I'd have thought he could get a better offer than us. Swapping one relegation threatened club with (what he may think is) another may not be what he wants, even though I firmly believe we'll be OK next season (mid table mediocrity). If we were to get him though it would be a great signing. How did he get on with Sparky in his time there? Swap deal for Carillo, maybe he could do a job in the champ .