egg

That pre supposes that China will play the western game. I doubt they will, and it'll be all but impossible to police it.

I hope so, I just don't see what he brings to the first team. Back to tonight, the big plus is Perraud back - that's a nice bonus.

Beat me to it...I had it as 3rd kit though!

That's not bad to be fair. Slap the sponsor logo on it and it would have been a half decent 3rd kit.

Pipe

You're not the only 1. For every Tino there's at least one Simeu. We needed a better GK, better CB, arguably better LB, an upgrade/alternative in CM, upgrade at 10, and upgrade up front. We've arguably got that in the GK and Aribo, but apart from that I can't see where we've improved our starting XI. Indeed, with Perraud and Tino still out, we're arguably worse in terms of starters.

Screen

I don't doubt that, but not to buy a striker. A replacement CB I understand, but nobody will persuade me we're selling Bednarek to buy a striker only to stick Lyanco or Stephens in at CB. That'd be suicide.

What's all this nonsense about selling Bednarek to buy a striker?! Bednarek was made captain in JWP's absence and is the only senior CB we have. He's not going to be sold to buy a striker.

They'd have posted if it was a loan. He must be injured...or with the first team!

Saints B: Bycroft; Payne, Tizzard (Pambou, 80), Lancashire, Lawrence (Rodriguez, 83), Vokins, Doyle, Edwards (Bellis, 70), Morgan (Otseh-Taiwo, 70), Ferry, Pearce.

I think it's a long standing target, a proper centre forward. I'm not convinced Broja and Delap have both sailed.

Yep. Too bullish. Tax cuts and high interest rates looking increasingly likely.

Purchase

Yep, that's more my point. He's done nothing in men's football, and as well as he's done at youth level, he can't make the England under 19 team. For me who looks like a Broja lite - the pace is lacking. If we signed him I'd like to see him as getting exposure gradually with an experienced man coming in and being our main goals hope.

Look where Broja got it, Kane, others. Not at another premier league club after a £30m move. Absolutely ridiculous that people think that a fee of over £20m for an unproven kid is sensible business, but that similar money for Broja who'd proved himself at premier league, Dutch league and international level is too much. We need a proven striker.

The reason doesn't matter. The fact is he doesn't have it. Indeed, he has no experience of men's football. People getting excited about pinning our hopes on this kid getting the goals to keep us up need to give their heads a wobble.

Indeed. It's pretty obvious that the captaincy wouldn't go to someone who's face no longer fits. Only MLG would carry on his argument despite Saint Garrett telling us the position.

Great player, and hugely underrated by many. He'd add some experience and quality to that Forest squad. Big respect to Forest, they seem to be having a proper crack at being competitive this season.

Yep. Looks a long way off the level we need him to be. A season to learn his trade and we'll then be better placed to see if he'll make the grade.

Avoidance

I don't think it will. He's a one off, signed on a free and he essentially gets extra wages in lieu of a transfer fee, with the sole aim of keeping them up. Those 2 lads signed from Huddersfield won't get the hump because Lingard has come in on more cash than them. Good bit of business imo.

Beat me to it!

They'll get Lingard for 2 years for about £20m all in. We paid £19m for Carillo plus wages, £15m for Armstrong plus wages, etc. Good business if he helps keep them up, which I think will happen.

I tuned in, my first match of the tournament. Some of the comments led me to believe I'd be watching great football. It wasn't. Poor touches, stray balls, just not great quality. On the upside, it was competitive, both sides (more so Spain who looked much better in the bit I watched) tried to play proper football. The first 10 mins was enough, but on the whole it was better than my perception but not as good as the sales pitch if that makes sense. Regardless, well done England and good luck for the rest of the tournament.