Holmes_and_Watson

That wood be an insane signing! 🙂

Orbital

The quiet before the storm. Unless, you're reading in a library. Then, more quiet, I'm afraid. 🙂

Nope. Lost me. Any chance you could put your hint up as a picture clue? I do better with those. 🙂

18. Prizes are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and cannot be sold. You must attend. You must listen to him. There is no escape. You only think you are not broken. You will be broken, to be rebuilt. Resistance is futile. 🙂

Did Villa not just get him back from Sheffield United, paying to do so?

Serenity

England have definitely had easier sides of the draw. Although, Southgate's system works better against sides leaving some space, and not so compact. There's also been definite issues in changing tempo, and transition. Lots of the things seen in this tournament, have been there for a while. I guess I find it hard to criticise when they can only play who they get, and England have been beaten by smaller reputation teams in the past. That one step further was 4 mins from extra time, with Watkins getting a poor touch and a header off their line. We played a system in a massive unbeaten run that leaves gaps down the flanks on purpose. Which is sort of my view on it. I don't mind the set up, in principle. But it struggles because it's one requiring things his squad aren't great at, geared to players he doesn't have. For example, Mainoo and Rice don't offer enough to break up, control and progress the ball as a 2. There's not enough support for them ahead, and Foden, Bellingham and Kane can all be central. Saka gets marked out of games, but Walker in a back 4 isn't used efficiently in overlaps. Foden cuts in, offering support but with no directness. It's a system that struggles with it's own limitations. Yet, got England very close again.

The best team at the tournament fittingly won. Southgate's pragmatic, tournament focused approach gives a foundation to progress far into tournaments, which is to his credit. But it relies on areas that are not the strongest parts of his selections games. That's combined with players not playing either in their preferred roles, or with the fluidity they have at club football. The result was a bit disjointed, poor in transition, relying in compactness and individual brilliance. People will look to that talent, and wonder if a front footed team would have done more. Others will look at the lack of midfield options and wonder if that would have meant getting over ran and dumped out earlier. A few Southgate comments made me think he would move on. It's been a tough tournament, and he can look back proudly at his record. He's got another final, and was minutes away from extra time. The FA will certainly want him to stay.

No! So nearly.

Nearly from Watkins.

Sod... Again wide open.

Offered not much since the goal. Inviting Spain on is very risky in the positions they are getting. No hint of a real counter in a while.

Bloomin Eck. Allowed them through there. Well done Pickford.

Yeeeeeeesssss!!!!!

Yamal taking real advantage of any space Shaw leaves. Which will be more as it goes forward.

Lovely from Foden, then Bellingham

Only going Spain's way here.

Only seconds later, another chance. England have to get right back in this.

Looked like Shaw go caught between 2 attackers. England moved over to compensate, leaving them open for that pass.

Sod

Yup. He got an on target shot blocked well. He's never going to get many chances, this way, but does okay with what he gets, and allows others to come into attacking positions. Fresh legs on later against defenders who've had to move around with Kane will be a plus. Shout out to Walker, who has been tireless without much reward yet.

England compact, with Kane dropping well back to support. Mainoo doing a lot more covering too. Spain with what seemed like most of the attacking possession. But England's came into it more towards the end of the half. Shaw doing well, giving the team that balance. Bellingham working hard to counter down that side too. Neither keeper troubled really.

Arsenal can value him at whatever they like. He's 2/3 of the way through a signing that cost them £28m (1st site I looked at). A player who doesn't want to be there and who isn't going to start. Arsenal can take a lot less, and still make a profit on the balance sheet.

Bit harsh. He hasn't kicked a ball here yet. 🙂 Welcome Sugawara!