Badger

You missed out 1970 lost 3-2 (after being 2-0 up) in the Mexico WC. Think this was a QF, certainly the most painful of the lot as I recall although may be because I was much younger and we had hopes/expectations of playing Brazil again in the final. Wasn't 1972 a qualifying game ? If so thought we lost one leg (at home),2-0 or 3-1.

Hence the comment with apologies to Crouch for putting him in that bracket with the other two.

Fair point about the confidence, and building momentum of course.

We're loosely linked with Nat Phillips in a (less than relaible article) on BBC Gossip Column this morning. Also West Ham and Spurs interested in the Fiorentina GK we've been previously mentioned with. So, nothing of substance.

Interesting point, but what would a minority investor gain from this and motivation be ? Putting money in whilst hamstrung by Gao in pushing the club forward. Unless it was a 'gradual' takeover, but that would rule out the serious buyer we're probably hoping for. From fan point of view a triumvirate of Gao/KL/AN Other would be a concern, remember the last time we had the three wise men at the helm (Wilde, Lowe and Crouch - with apologies to Crouch for putting him in that bracket with the other two) ?

Am pleased we came through the group and are into the knock out stages. Hopefully we'll see a more exciting 'cup tie' type of performance as opposed to the group stage which has appeared a bit of a going through the motions of a pre-season friendly at times, we couldn't even raise our game v Scotland. Whilst we 'won' the group, and that along with no goals conceded is an achievement, I can't see the benefit of this knowing we're likely to face France or Germany (or Portugal) next round. Is there any reason we'd have not been better off playing for the draw last night to finish second with the more likely route of Spain, Sweden or Slovakia (think that's right) next ? Has Southgate been naive in this ?

I think when we were linked with Maehle he was playing RB as well. Agree, shame we didn't get him when we had the opportunity.

It's a toss up between him and Cosimo Sarli as to the greatest striker who never made the grade with us* Honouroable mention to Andrei Peroplotkin or whatever his name was as well. * as opposed to Oliver Bierhoff, or Drogba as the greatest striker we didn't sign

RB Leipzig.

Yes but in all likelihood the rumours may have just started on the mongboard.

Always felt MLT's prospects with England probably diminished when he rejected the chance to sign for El Spiv at Tottenham. That and the fact he didn't look to spend two-thirds of his disposable income in Scribes nightclub.

A voice of reason, none of which I can strongly disagree with if I put my rational (rather than a tribal football fan) head on. Have met many Scots, generally a great bunch especially over a few beers. The football chat has been great, but the international fixture does change the stance of both parties. I'd also accept the Scot's annoyance at the media and when they make reference to "1966" at the earliest opportunity in the commentary- I think we Saints fans realise the 'certain match' syndrome does get on your tits - although on these occasions I expect it's deemed 'the English press'.

We should look to bring in their Head of Recruitment, although unlikely to be interested as RB Salzburg invariably is on the career path to Leipzig who probably operate on a better budget than we do.

Agree with you, probably summarised in a caption on the Telegraph this morning "Scotland brave hearted, England half hearted". Yes, nauseating. We take the piss out of TCWAB down the road for dressing up, yet the news is full of grown men in their 50's and 60's going to a football match dressed for a walk on part in a historical recreation of Bannockburn ( or Culloden but they won't mention that one) complete with head dress etc. I admire their sense of patriotism but grow up ffs. Galling that they display a hostility to the English yet the English media lap it up. Souness was in full flow last night before the match and let it slip saying about the significance of England v Scotland "we don't like each other..." . He didn't qualify it to say it was about football.

Don't seem anything that special to be honest when compared with earlier 'generations'. First time ever ??? This has been similar to the line trotted out for as long as I can remember, certainly since our failure to qualify in 1974. After that we had the emerging talents of Peter Barnes and David Fairclough who would see us through to glory in 1978, we didn't qualify. Around the late 70's the press highlighted the emerging young talented black players (they were allowed to write such stuff then) that gave us an advantage over the rest of Europe with Anderson, Cunningham, and Regis ... as good as they were at club level it didn't help the national team.. We've since had the 'golden generation' that probably gave us what should have been the basis for a dominant and possibly our most successful national team ever, didn't win anything, then the arrival of Rooney (one goal in a World Cup Finals series) ! Rather like struggling at club level it's very easy to point to what's in the pipeline for the future (even Ian Branfoot did it!) but whilst we do this Germany and France produce successive generations and teams in the 'here and now' who deliver.

Have seen articles saying he'll join Flick in the national team set up, but wonder if RH would want to bring him back, or be able to.

Who would we then face by finishing second ?

Who for ? Did think he'd be a good option for us if Ralph had left towards the end of last season.

Thought Ally McCoist did a great job in talking Che's value up for us.

Credit for some originality, but this bloke must be win the Golden Anorak Award, or Euros 2020 Super Nerd Achievement : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57485487

Dixon & Speedie will score more goals than Danny Ings...

I thought Brighton made a couple of astute signings in Moder and another Polish lad last season. Relatively modest sums on two players linked with bigger clubs. The sort of signing we should be in for.

We still seem a bit lightweight in MF, Romeu is the only one who offers some strength. Whichever permutation we go for it's still a far cry from the Schneiderlin-Wanyama partnership.

Don't think he showed up well in the parts of two games I've seen of Austria but their 'Crouch-clone' up front Kalajdzic has had a half decent season for Stuttgart. Shame Ralph hasn't got the readies available to bring him and or some of his team mates in.

Or, at what stage of the tournament will we see his natty waistcoat ?