Inevitable Sellars would go really. One of Lopetegui’s back room staff does the same job.

Sounds like Steve Davis will likely stay and talk is he will be given a role of helping academy graduates be ready to take the step into senior football

To be fair the one success of Davis' short reign was his role in moving young players into the first team.

Reading today that a host nation have never lost their first game in the World Cup tournament. Ecuador are favourites today but if they lose maybe they will see some benefit in their bank accounts like the FIFA reps that voted for the tournament to be held there

No doubt the fix is in.

Hearing rumours of some very unusual betting patterns going on as well. The whole tournament is going to have a giant asterisk against it.

For the last 2 or 3 tournaments I've had less and less interest in the World Cup. I'm English but have lived in Wales for nearly 10 years. This year, in particular, with it being held where it is I feel generally antagonistic but will probably follow the progress, or not, of Wales. Too many big time superstars in the England set up for me. I have to whisper it around here but I'm not that keen on Gareth Bale either.

Will also keep an eye on Portugal of course.

Just noticed the World Cup allows 15 players on the bench, not sure how many of them can be used. Might as well make it 11. Ridiculous.

comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
For the last 2 or 3 tournaments I've had less and less interest in the World Cup. I'm English but have lived in Wales for nearly 10 years. This year, in particular, with it being held where it is I feel generally antagonistic but will probably follow the progress, or not, of Wales. Too many big time superstars in the England set up for me. I have to whisper it around here but I'm not that keen on Gareth Bale either.
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Agree with this. There is more enjoyment watching England women at this moment in time.

I think this England team has less big time superstars than any World Cup squad of the last 24 years to be honest.

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
I think this England team has less big time superstars than any World Cup squad of the last 24 years to be honest.
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Interesting comment. Could be it’s because they’re all crap?

comment by WeekendOffender (U22920)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
I think this England team has less big time superstars than any World Cup squad of the last 24 years to be honest.
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Interesting comment. Could be it’s because they’re all crap?
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I don't think they are all crap. I don't think this squad is that much worse than previous tournaments (just have a more boring manager).

Just previous squads over the last 24 years have had the likes of Beckham, Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Lampard etc. Who were all big celebrities outside of football, attempting to build businesses outside of the game with their status or married to a celebrity. Even in the last few tournaments you had the likes of Lingard, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Vardy, who either thought they were a big deal or had partners who were a big part of the prominent and controversial WAG culture. The squad used to break into factions based on club rivalries too.

There is relatively little of all the above in the current squad. They generally seem like a together group and if the previous squads had had the same attitude as these have had in the last few tournaments, we likely would have a much better track record at these types of tournaments.

n previous squads we have always had a few outstanding individuals that would have got into other top teams starting XI. Now I can't think of any that would start for France, Brazil, Argentina etc.

We have loads of players, all at the same mediocre level of averageness. It's without doubt the worst England squad that I can remember.

comment by WeekendOffender (U22920)
posted 25 minutes ago
n previous squads we have always had a few outstanding individuals that would have got into other top teams starting XI. Now I can't think of any that would start for France, Brazil, Argentina etc.

We have loads of players, all at the same mediocre level of averageness. It's without doubt the worst England squad that I can remember.
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I mean that's clearly a load of nonsense, but if you want to pretend that the likes of Harry Kane wouldn't get into any other team then go ahead.

What's actually happened is that you've got older and now you are looking back one your younger years with rose tinted glasses and pretending everything nowadays isn't as good.

Maybe they aren't as poor as I think they are then?

Hopefully we thrash Iran 3 or 4 nil this afternoon and go on a run to the latter stages.

I don't think it is the best England squad and I think they are hampered by a negative England manager, but I don't think they will do any worse than previous England squads have done.

2008 Euros we failed to qualify. 2010 we struggled to even get out of the group stage. 2014 World Cup we finished bottom of a group with Costa Rica. They certainly aren't the worst.

I would certainly fancy England to get to the last 8. Then they’ll face one of the better teams and we’ll see what happens. But after the first week it’s a knockout cup event so it’s who performs on the day. The best teams don’t always win cup competitions so any team that gets to the last 8 has a chance of winning the trophy

Cleary nonsense that Kane would get into France's starting XI in front of Mbappe or Benzema, Argentina ahead of Messi, Brazil ahead of Neymar?

But go ahead and pretend that a flat track bully like Kane could dive his way into these teams.

I know its only Iran but how many times have we seen England teams come to tournaments and grind out soul destroying one nils against teams like this. Really good to see them stroll through and smash six in the process, it's how it should be but yeah it was Iran and there will be tougher tests to come.

comment by WeekendOffender (U22920)
posted 5 hours, 2 minutes ago
Cleary nonsense that Kane would get into France's starting XI in front of Mbappe or Benzema, Argentina ahead of Messi, Brazil ahead of Neymar?

But go ahead and pretend that a flat track bully like Kane could dive his way into these teams.
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Yeah, because Argentina and Brazil would only play one of Kane and Messi or Kane and Neymar if they had both.

No other international team is going to want a striker who has scored 51 goals in 76 appearances and won the golden boot at the last World Cup.

Fortunately for Iran, this is the worst England team you've known. Imagine the score if they'd played the superstars of yesteryear that you're pining for.

You need to stop chasing StrikeMug. You're starting to sound as stupid as him.

StrikeMug is the most stupid person I know!

You mean he has been banned from ja606 more often than you?

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 19 minutes ago
You mean he has been banned from ja606 more often than you?
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No, he’s never been banned. Thick or what?

Bruno Lage looked set to become the next manager of Corinthians in Brazil. But they appointed someone else because evidently Bruno wanted too high a salary

Jimenez on the bench for Mexico

He is on the pitch now!