egg

How do you see that working? Starting and coming off early in the second half seems a bit pointless, and probably disruptive. We need players who can come straight into the team, improve us, and last the match.

Yep. And then putting Rice on corners first half was nuts. The tall lad putting balls in to short lads. Great idea!

Not at all. No flipping. I've never suggested that he was a complete angel. I've highlighted a perspective that's been lost in the spin.

And I'm pointing out that the source of the rumours were from within, and for their own reasons. Viewing it objectively, which I do, I stand by my position that Lallana has been hung out to dry, even if he wasn't a complete angel. Still a shit signing however you look at it.

As a squad, I could make a case for mixing the 2 groups, but in a starting Xl it's the class of 2004 plus Bellingham all day long for me. Kane could only get in if I shoved Rooney in behind him, and pushed Bellingham back into a midfield 2 at the expense of Gerrard or Lampard. That 2004 squad was brilliant.

That's the killer point for me. Putting 2014 aside, I don't see what he brings as a player in 2024.

It's a fact that"s how players can be. I once saw a young Gobern throw a £10k watch as if it was a £10 Casio. I'm close friends with ex top level players, ex agents, players advisers, ex pro's still involved in the game, have had info from inside and outside the club at all sorts of levels, etc. Don't get upset about reality. I don't believe what the likes of you believe. The kid had chances to move but stuck with us. He then got offered a move and wanted it when he believed that was ok. The club blocked, he stamped his feet, then he went. If that's what you mean by a nuanced perspective, then we probably agree, but when the initial wrong move wasn't from Lallana, I ain't joining you boys on your pitch fork march.

Thanks for doing that. I'd try to accommodate Bellingham from the 2024 lot, but I'm not sure I'd start any in the others over the 2004 players.

A defender who can't defend, and a midfielder who isn't. Scarily, I think he could actually start alongside Rice.

Premier league footballers are often arrogant pricks mate, and also often a bit spoilt and expectant. That goes with the territory. I know if some that won't put fuel in their own cars, and even one who paid his accountant to drive up weekly to collect and deal with his post! If I'm told by my employer that I can go if a big job comes along, but I'm then held back cos a couple of my colleagues get big job offers themselves, then I'm getting the hump. That's not on me, despite my employer having sour grapes and issuing a shitty press release when I go.

Yep. I think people get carried away cos the likes of Bowen, Gordon and Palmer stood out in average teams, so think that they can shine at international level. Our back 4 is shocking compared to teams of old, ditto the midfield pairing (Rice is decent, and unless Bellingham is pushed deeper, he hasn't got a partner of note).

Only Bellingham and Saka are being added to that team for Palmer and Gordon. Otherwise, that's our best line up. The issue was how they play. There was often no movement, and at times there was nobody wanting the ball. We don't get out of the group if we play like that.

I was getting a lot of info at the time and all I'll say is that I am clear that I take Adam's denials over the rumours that people have believed. Regardless, Adam stuck by us through relegations and obviously wanted to move when Liverpool came calling and if he did stamp his feet a bit, it happens. I have no issue whatsoever with him coming back based on events from 2014, although from a footballing perspective, it seems an odd signing.

Sounds like you swallowed the BS from the club and it's still stuck in your throat. You need to cough up that resentment mate.

To make it worse, the interview isn't being aired until Wednesday. Complete lack of respect and judgement.

Frog

Some interesting choices there. I'd have taken Grealish ahead of Eze or Bowen, and Branthwaite ahead of Guehi who's been out for too long and looked shit the other day. Shaw's a risk, but a risk worth taking for me.

Tribulation

I hadn't seen this.The big short, Rishi Sunak 🛁 https://t.co/StckhU0wfa

Sadly, a lot of dinlos will have taken the lie as fact and vote with their wallet.

Yep, the crowd laughing said it all. That and Rwanda are 2 of the most desperate policies of recent times. Starmer needs to do more to sway the swingers imo.

I wish he did...desperate I think, sadly.

Didn't see it until about 920. Both were irritating, but Sunak at least answered questions. I'm none the wiser where Starmer is on defence, or on how he'll deal with gangs in France or elsewhere. He disappointed me, and Sunak's summary of him wasn't inaccurate.

Hair

You're hardly encouraging that they continue, and criticising those that protest. If people care enough, and do it in the right way, I'm not sure why you'd sneer from behind a keyboard. Leave them to it.