The Kraken

Xavi and Cruyff both Barca

Van Basten, Rijkard, Gullit, Baresi, Costacurta, all players I considered, especially MVB. Really enjoyed doing this one, it was hard work but very interesting seeing what sides others have shoehorned in.

no way! Paolo Maldini was my ultimate undroppable so it’s definitely a non starter for me Zlatan nearly leaves me playing 5 a side.

Having to leave out so many quality players is what makes it so tough. If, like me, you’re determined to get Cronaldo and Messi in there you’re basically then ruling out a very significant proportion of the world’s greatest players in the last 20 to 30 years.

I’m fairly sure you’ll find a few players on these lists that aren’t the best ever. That’s kind of the idea. oh, and

Thuram and CRonaldo played for Juve, van Basten and Maldini Milan

From those two I really wanted to include Zico or Socrates but couldn’t make it work. Zico was an absolute icon of World Cup 82 (and the hardest Panini sticker to get, I had to send off).

Mine is: GK: Petr Cech RB: Darijo Srna CB: Aldair CB: Virgil van Dijk LB: Paolo Maldini CM: Lothar Matthaus © CM: Paul Gascoigne RM: Lionel Messi ACM: David Silva LM: Cristiano Ronaldo CF: Kylian M’Bappe

This is doing the rounds at the moment. Pick your greatest World XI under these rules: - No two players from the same country. - No two players can have played for the same club. - All eleven must have played in your lifetime.

I thought Two Popes was excellent. A slow burner but a great watch.

Ive heard quite a few people say they didn’t like The Gentlemen, but I thought it was great. Hugh Grant like you say was excellent but I found the whole thing very entertaining; albeit in a typical Guy Ritchie totally unbelievable way.

I put it on a few weeks back, think I made it to 20 minutes in before I’d had enough and put something else on. Not for me.

The clapping thing was great. I thought it might be a bit lame due to apathy but it was really lovely round here, genuinely heart warming.

An excellent example of not biting there Les, well done

Matt Jansen, Blackburn. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11676/2362547/jansen-on-verge-of-rovers-exit ”Jansen signed a pay-as-you-play contract last summer but has failed to force his way into Hughes's first team reckoning this season” (might have been Championship though, not sure) edit, no, it was Premier League apparently.

Injuries would be my only concern (except for cost, but it’s not my money so meh). If he were here now he’d walk into this side.

It certainly was. And a few on here have attributed the upturn to Kitzbichler. Dirk in particular thinks it’s down to him. But he’s mental .

Yes I thought that too. No idea if true, it was only the fella on the radio that said it. I just caught it straight after the game.

Radio Solent after the game said Bednarek pulled something in training yesterday. No idea if true, but that’s what they said.

TBF it’s predictable that you can’t understand the difference between, for example, West Ham at Upton Park compared to West Ham at Olympic Stadium. Doesn’t make it less of a thing, mind. Stadium design and configuration (and sometimes sheer size) has a distinct effect on the atmosphere and therefore what gets defined as the ‘soul’ of the place.

I only have very limited experience of trains up there but from what I’ve seen I agree, I’ve got the train from Manchester to Liverpool a couple of times and it was really poor. Slow, very old carriages, overcrowded and uncomfortable. The SWR trains down here aren’t great but they’re light years ahead of what I was on up there.

And what an impact he had.

With all this Danso chat, what’s the deal with Valery? Last I heard was a viral infection, any more detail than that?

4 away wins in a row.