egg

I wander how many people supporting the nurses strikes are cool with either the tax rises needed to pay the £10billion or so that it'll cost, or cuts from elsewhere. Personally, they need to be looked after to some extent, but even labour are saying that what they want is unaffordable.

Those players didn't have good tournaments. Boufal did. I've seen the player at this WC that it was obvious he could be given the chance. Doing well at WC level against top teams suggests to me that he has the quality to play for a decent side. I'm not sure what's controversial about that.

Yep. Gout ain't fun. I've ditched the medication and hopefully won't need it. The thing is, we can be as fit as fiddles, lean, and have great skin etc at this stage if our life and beyond if we look after ourselves. I had fun for years, fucked myself up a bit, and deciding to not do more damage was the easiest decision I've ever made.

Err, what's that got to do with Boufal having a superb world cup?

Stevy can spot a player! Boufal always had the ability, that much was obvious. Let's see what happens next for him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the PL.

Yeah, but not as much as before - I like pubs and won't ever stay out of them. On your earlier point about needing a drink to have a laugh socially, I'm fortunate that doesn't apply to me but understand that's not the same for everyone. Giving up isn't a necessity - my missus drinks a bit, and I like the effect that alcohol has on her

Wise to cut back then mate. My liver became fatty and that was a trigger to knock it on the head. Also gout and a few other health niggles from the sauce. I had a long and distinguished career, but injuries ended it!

Not any more, and when I drank I always found lemonade more refreshing than beer, so never drank to quench my thirst. Alcohol's job was to get me pissed, and these days I prefer to be sober.

I haven't drank for years. I was drinking too much, so took a week off, then a month, then liked the lack of hangovers, improved sleep and generally feeling much healthier so haven't drank since. I know some people like having 1 or 2, but I don't see the point of that so gave up completely. Far and away the best decision I've ever made.

Slumped

Shearer smashed over 30 goals the season after he did his. Robert Pires was decent too.

Atlas

Girl

That's one perspective, but if we go down, I suspect that's a success most of us would like to see?!

Cowboy

He'd be decent, but I think he's still got too much to offer at club level to take that gig.

He'd be decent. Who would you like to see instead?

Gangster

What's a bucket and a teapot got to do with it?!

So? He's captain of a leading national team, and a top club side. Getting the ball on target is a minimum requirement - I couldn't give a monkeys if other players have missed previously.

He needs work for sure, but it's hard to coach an eye for goal and the different decision making needed up front. He's got time in his side and I hope, for his sake as much as ours, that he's not the next Jake Vokins.

To he fair, he said lack of talent, or bottle. There's no lack of talent for sure, and the only explanation for me is that he couldn't handle the occasion and hoofed it Jonny Wilkinson style. No decent professional footballer has an excuse to not even hit the target from 12 yards.

I get that. The issue for the lad, I think, is that he doesn't seem to have to pace or creativity to play LB, isn't tall enough to be a CB, and doesn't look like he's a midfielder. I can see why Port Vale pushed him up front, but it's hard to see where he'll end up playing.

I'll drink to that.

I'd like to see it. Croatia possibly twice in a row would be some achievement, and Morocco getting this far is unreal.