derry

The Scottish FA had a poll for fans on which thousands of Saints fans desperate to get shot of him multiple voted for him. He won the poll and was selected if my memory serves me correctly.

Personally watching that game last night there was only one TEAM on the pitch and that was Spain. We had a collection of individuals trying to play a negative, reactive framework that did the opposite. A good team is better than the sum of its parts, we were the opposite. We had a decent squad that was grossly misused by the manager. The selected teams had no blend or balance, stayed in the competition clinging on by it's fingernails. We were relegated last year in the Nation's cup. This result disapointed me as I hoped we might scramble another unlikely result but it wasn't to be. It didn't take long for reality to kick in though. This could mean that maybe we could get rid of the millstone. These players need a top manager not a journeyman that is liked by the FA because he is politically astute and doesn't rock the boat. Promotion from the junior teams isn't the answer especially given the salary available. These players need a manager that sets up the team to get the best out of the players and believes completely in blend and balance. Hopefully he'll go now because the suits won't push him. If he doesn't go we are going to get more of the same dross in the future.

Interestingly not mentioned by those criticising the referee's decision, not only did he change the decision and gave a penalty, he then booked Dumfries. To me that scales up his decision from one of indecision to certainty it was a foul.

Maybe that's why he was reviewing it. VAR is only pointing out mistakes by the referee. Once the video is reviewed the referee really has no choice but to admit the mistake and change the decision. The referee clearly has the option to make no change however he better be right.

I had a glance at the last couple of pages. It really is a wind up. I don't advocate closing it however it should be renamed "The Big Wind Up". Nothing on here of interest to me.

Personally I thought that was a penalty all day long. Dumfries went in high, studs up and late, was nowhere near the ball and took Kane's foot. I thought the commentators were irrational and wrong. We have been crying out for years about passive VAR operators that ignore incidents that should have been reviewed on the excuse it doesn't constitute a clear and obvious error. Clearly the VAR spotted the foul. It would probably have been given anywhere else on the pitch. The key for me is when the referee reviewed the video he didn't take long to change his view on the evidence and gave the penalty. That alone was enough in my view to justify the VAR intervention. The referee was wrong to let it go and gave it on the video evidence. The referee's actions just confirmed that it was a clear and obvious error because he missed it live, VAR spotted it and the referee gave it on the clear evidence rightly changing his original decision. Objectivity wins over emotion.

Miovski

A bit I'd missed, two yellows entailing a one match suspension is carried forward but all single cards are cancelled.

All yellow cards are cancelled after the quarter finals only red cards carry over so possibly Carvahal suspended.

Adams was poor for Scotland and demonstrated all his limitations. My thoughts were in next years Premier he really isn't good enough. I wouldn't be surprised if other Premier teams originally linked went cold on signing him. Now that he is out of contract I think we should move on. Personally even if he comes looking for the contract we should use the funds to get a better option.

I just don't get Southgate. He has always been the same underachiever. I have always been brought up to believe when selecting teams keep it simple. The big picture is really important. The rules are simple, avoid the trap of picking any formation first. No square pegs in round holes. Blend and balance is all important.If two players don't blend, ie Bellingham and Foden then only one selected playing both messes up the blend same with Gerrard and Lampard. Great players but together they ruined the team. Looking at Southgate's selected teams he virtually breaks all those rules. Right footed left back, full back in midfield, two attacking central midfielders, a central striker playing deep. Consequently there is no team, no blend or balance and no natural shape and boy did it look rubbish. Pickford, Walker Stones Guehi Shaw,( back four) Bellingham Rice (midfield) . Eze Palmer (wings), Kane, Toney or Watkins. Strikers. Just a simple selection but passes all the criteria. Other players can be selected to give three centre backs plus wing backs and for example two midfield and three forwards. It doesn't matter about the shape because the selection gives the shape. Up to now England have been a shapeless mess.

Born in London, Danish mother, opted for Denmark.

The West Ham link is interesting. I can see us improving defensively on KWP which we will need in a lot of games in the Premier League. There is no doubting his attacking ability but primarily we need to be able to defend. I can see the possibility of KWP going and Downes plus Ings coming the other way with WHU picking up a proportion of Ings salary. Plus a bit of cash. Personally I want to see three centre backs and full backs that can defend when required.

Foden returning for the birth of his third child.

In my opinion Southgate broke some cardinal selection rules. Firstly to achieve a balanced team all the players must play as near as possible in their normal positions. Secondly bringing one injured natural left back was manifestly stupid. The next best English left back should have been included in the squad. Having selected the best team in their natural positions that would exclude, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Foden or Bellingham. Two top players for the same position. So pick the best on form alternatively change the System. Personally I'd play Rice and Bellingham together with a three of a natural left and right wide player and Foden in his natural position with Kane up front with instructions to play off the last defender. As Shaw isn't fit Trippier could at a pinch play as a defensive full back with a winger in front. We were woeful down our left side even when Eze came on he played infield so was inneffective. In addition our tempo was far too slow with absolutely no pressing, just retreating. We need to have a hard press and a high tempo. I don't rate Southgate and feel he is manager because he won't embarrass the FA.

RIP Elijah.

Or even not playing at West Ham.

It looks like FFP is biting. Forest, Everton, Aston Villa, Leicester, Chelsea and Newcastle reported as having to sell players before June 30th to avoid potential points deductions. Apart from the really big fees there could probably be deals available further down the scale. Broja, Fraser for example.

I've noticed in the past where developers for economic reasons exclude affordable housing have to make an equivalent contribution to allow affordable housing to be built on a different site.

If you've got SKY go to 'catch up tv' select Sky, Sports. The highlight program is on there.

I don't see him as physically combative but I do think in the ten years since he has left, six years at Liverpool, four at Brighton, European cups and internationals has battle hardened him.

I remember talking to Lallana's father at St Mary's when the rumours started, of course he catogorically denied there was any chance of him leaving. Then on an England squad he appeared with a Liverpool shirt according to the press. After that it all kicked off and he left. It left sour taste but for me he was history. Until now, a week or so ago around Brighton's last match although De Zerbi had stated he would like him to sign on again Lallana understandably stated he'd been four years at Brighton and wanted to play on nearer to his home. Ringwoodish ?? I thought then really it was us or Bournemouth he was thinking of. Our connection with him doesn't surprise me. Personally I think he would be a good fit for us despite my reservations. We need less youth and a few battle hardened veterans a la Lawrie McMenemy as long as they aren't overpaid. Lallana has been around the block since he left and would give us a bit of knowhow. On another subject another player that performed well in the Premier was Ross Barkley,

I watched the Leeds v Norwich game and until Norwich's stupidity conceding the free kick goal it was pretty poor. After that the Leeds crowd woke up and Norwich just succumbed. I didnt rate Leeds performance as special but I was hearing and reading that they had suddenly morphed into the free scoring invincibles and that they only had to turn up to reclaim their rightful place in the Premier league. I just didn't buy that. Apparently us beating them twice didn't rate as a problem together with their end of season implosion and failure to win through the play offs on five occasions. That's not to say I was confident that we would win through but I just felt we were in better form than Leeds despite the rhetoric regarding the Norwich win. Several games stood out for me as a more accurate indication how the game would go. The away league game v WBA, the away league game v Leeds, The play offs v WBA as I remember we played our three centre backs. For me that was the key. Yesterday proved it. Alex McCarthy had the best game I've seen him play particularly his punching and claiming crosses. The three centre backs gave us three proper defenders plus two wing backs that worked their socks off and nullified the Leeds wide men. the midfield competed and Armstrong was a problem for Leeds all day. It was a shame Brooks was injured and I was surprised that Edozie replaced him. The commentators before the game said that the team with the best defence would win and that happened. Fair play to Russell Martin he got his team selection and tactics spot on. The best thing I can say about Saints is that they gave a sublime team performance and did a proper job on Leeds who could easily have lost by more than one goal.

When I went to the League cup final on a coach there were people around the coach park by the stadium trying to sell Saints section tickets. Might be worth a try.

Interestingly the human vision is estimated to be between 30-60fps however it is thought that there are individuals who can see better than this.