suewhistle

I might make the effort to go tomorrow as hopefully we'll get to see at least cameos from all the new players. I think Saint_clark is right.

I like this bit with JWP in the side..

I believe so.. an end to freedom of movement.. of workers, goods, capital and services.

I think what marks out the players we have bought is not just how young they are but also their pace and physicality. One thing the top sides buy is experience, a high level of skill allied to pace, and it seems we are getting some of those elements in our purchases, although obviously not the experience and accompanying decision making! My cautious optimism is partly because it's better for you than the Eeyore negativity some display on forums such as these. None of the players will be the finished article and we have to accept that. Broja had a physicality which beat CBs on the ground but curiously not so well in the air, Livramento's positional play was sometimes lacking and so it goes, but I was happy to have both of them last season. Some people express opinions like insurance bets: they don't want to win them but they ease the pain of losing, so let's not take opinions expressed on here too seriously!

Please Kraken, don't end up as Turkish's dupe. "Dungarees" is pretty much a standard offensive lesbian stereotype, and I can't recall ever wearing them unless I did when I was four. I'm not too bothered about such juvenalia myself, coz I'm not up for being bullied, but it is so, so wearisome to see. And by the way, on a more general note., the problem is, all those spaces in the ground tonight weren't available to buy.. So don't some of you use it to beat women's football over the head. Have a go at Uefa's ticketing policies.. Anyway.. Holmes_and_Watson is far more sensible than me, as he just ignores the prats and comments on the game. I thought Spain were the better team in many respects, but as against Germany didn't make their possession and inter-passing count. Tournament football for you.. I suspect my team's football training won't be on as normal next Tuesday..:-)

Ah yes, could be. Either way as useless as ever.

I didn't see the second half but of the first half team I thought Smallbone showed promise. Small has pace but not really ready I think, although playing so far forward and wide gave him quite a job to do, and as somebody noted he did make an effort to get back. Diamond Edwards has something about him, particularly bearing in mind that it was his first game with the first team squad. I'd have to find a recording of the second half but the opinions of Elyounoussi and Djenepo come as no surprise. There'll have been a few lessons learnt from that, and useful mileage in their legs three days after the previous game, which what this is all about. We know they are looking for new forwards and this will have underlined the need.

There's a few significant points nobody has mentioned: the number of vacancies particularly of doctors, nurses and specialist medical staff. Nursing is now a degree level course with all the costs that entails, they've sold off the cheap accommodation and wonder why it is difficult to recruit. I was chatting to a nurse the other day and we both agreed that our local MP was a gurning idiot who was basically lobby fodder who voted against pay rises for nurses, and they told me they hadn't had a pay rise for 5 years. There is also the issue of an ageing population so we should be increasing the comparatively low level of spending which has already led to a low number of GPs based on population. Related to that is the level of bed blocking in that older patients can't be discharged for lack of care options. So whilst I'm sure there may be an excess of middle managers common to all large organisations, it's a bit simplistic to say that getting rid of them will be more than a minor saving, and lack of cost controls may well end up being shafted by suppliers. PPE anyone?

I suspect it's the dread hand of Uefa and their usual corporate shenanigans, which happens at every tournament. At least they reminded me what a tasteless beer Heineken is as it was the only one available at the ground and fan zone. A single pint over three games was enough to remind me.

Last penny stock I had was Saints shares...

Who is going to St Marys tomorrow, I would offer my spare ticket here but there only seems to be interest in saying how bad women's football is, so I'll look elsewhere. I hope NI put up a good show, I've certainly enjoyed what I've been able to watch so far and comments that it's park level are risible. I long ago filled in my bingo card of inevitable comments (what, "beaten by 15 year old boys", being told that yet again?!). But I shan't comment further having only three posts a day, and sufficient other posters here calling out the bigotry - sorry, legitimate opinions - for what they are.

Steady, I believe that phrase is copyright! 🙂 I enjoyed watching last night, but the mistake by the goalkeeper changed the complexion of the game - I thought I was watching McCarthy for a moment as he has done that a few times. The German defence was tight against some lovely passing by Spain, but the latter did overdo it a bit I thought when they got to the final third.

As to the score last night, it shouldn't be put down to a mismatch. The whole point about the win and its scale was who it was against. I agree one-sided games aren't satisfying at any level: when the Dog and Duck turns up against The White Horse with only 8 hung-over players nobody really enjoys it, and Hounslow in Southampton Women's league last season must have disliked the whole season after QPR took most of their players. England's mens team have struggled often enough against minnows, and the women were sub-par against Austria and that is the context the game should be viewed in. As ever some seem to think it's an issue with the women's game and use it as a stick to comment on the whole game. I wonder what this tournament will do for playing numbers? As of 2020 there were 3.4 million girls and women playing in the UK, and based on the increase in the number of local teams I think this has increased since.

That is not what he is saying, but go ahead anyway. Everybody has opinions, but it always helps if they are informed.

How much were they rushed for him?

Snort! LOL. Was the photograph taken by a Saints fan or their regional crime squad?

Quite. In my time as a supporter of Saints and watcher of all levels including friends down the park, I've never watched some abominable defending, goalkeeping, crossing, shooting etc. (nominate a Saints player to yourself in all those categories!) and then rolled my eyes and said "men's football!", far less taking the effort to post to that effect. It's tiresome in the extreme and a waste of time posting on these types of threads. Women's professional football is a recent phenomenon, and nor do they get paid much but their importance is that they are there and for those with talent something to aim for and make all the effort worthwhile. That hasn't been there in the past so it's hardly surprising there is room for improvement. For most of us (men and women) who play or played grassroots football the professional game is an irrelevance: you play because you love playing. Fortunately most get on and do it but the attitudes from some on here illustrate wider societal attitudes towards women and girls playing football. Being disparaging about the game and then blaming the media for being patronising is not showing great awareness. The media are what they are, as anyone who has read Factless Allen will appreciate..

Last night there appeared to be smaller screens superimposed on the wider existing screens, so maybe they were temporary? As for the PA in the Kingsland, it was appalling; is it normally as bad?

Good analysis. There was a great atmosphere both around town and in the ground, and far more racket than during most Saints games. There was a gap in class but hopefully with the NI players going professional in the last year there will be an improvement, and they will certainly have learned from the experience. There should be a great atmosphere next Friday with a sell out crowd.

I wonder if Saints will be scouting during the Euros, and whether they can afford to pay enough anyway? Look out for the promising youngsters then.. Off to the pub shortly to watch tonight's game. I'm sure they will be showing it and hopefully will get a seat. I'm off to the game at St. Mary's tomorrow so I'll have to support Norn Ireland and hope Rafferty gets some minutes.

I suspect she'll be tight, as will the greased piglet. Will they put out an announcement on an evening England are playing (football and politics..)?

Dunno. I got a grant!

Better than leaving uni owing 40 grand or so.

@Restark19, as Turkish is the first person I've ever put on ignore in well over 25 years on the internet, it's probably best if you didn't quote him, although you have to laugh at the last quote. As he is a most prolific commenter and often thread starter on equality, racism, LGBQT, etc. issues goodness knows what he thinks he is achieving posting on the internet forum of a small premier league club, apart from making more people aware he is a bigoted twat.

I'm surprised you even have to ask.. With cheese scones neither.. (Jam..)