England

[bazza]

3 hours ago, roverandout said:

What's more important playing for England or a life threatening appendix?

Bill Shankly could probably answer that question if he were still around.

Today's game was like watching paint dry. I was asleep for both goals in real time.

The Italy game at the weekend was far better. Second half of that was Italy upped their game and pushed us back. We didn't sit back. We did a "Rovers" and held on to win.

[R0verb0y]

3 hours ago, roverandout said:

Was a joke 

If your remark about Ukraine was intended as a joke, then, imo, it couldn't possibly have been in worse taste.

Many of those lads playing in yellow this afternoon will have family members and friends who've - in the worst case - died in the defence of their country and, at least, are suffering privations, the like of which we're lucky never have seen in this country.

[roverandout]

29 minutes ago, R0verb0y said:

If your remark about Ukraine was intended as a joke, then, imo, it couldn't possibly have been in worse taste.

Many of those lads playing in yellow this afternoon will have family members and friends who've - in the worst case - died in the defence of their country and, at least, are suffering privations, the like of which we're lucky never have seen in this country.

I was talking about the appendix 

[R0verb0y]

4 hours ago, roverandout said:

Piss off talking about the Ukraine.  Sick to the back teeth of it. Was never interested never will be 

And where's there any mention of appendices in that post? @roverandout

[roverandout]

5 hours ago, roverandout said:

What's more important playing for England or a life threatening appendix?

This was the post he was referring to

[roverandout]

54 minutes ago, R0verb0y said:

And where's there any mention of appendices in that post? @roverandout

I wasn't joking about this. I'm deadly serious. It's all the news ever talks about 

[R0verb0y]

34 minutes ago, roverandout said:

I wasn't joking about this. I'm deadly serious. It's all the news ever talks about 

Only because it's really important.

[roverandout]

4 minutes ago, R0verb0y said:

Only because it's really important.

Yes to the Ukrainians. I feel for them. But I have to turn the TV off when they mention the same story over and over

[chaddyrovers]

6 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Yes to the Ukrainians. I feel for them. But I have to turn the TV off when they mention the same story over and over

Don't watch the news. Haven't watch the news for months now

[Mattyblue]

The news talking about a war on our continent, whatever next.

[R0verb0y]

3 hours ago, bazza said:

Bill Shankly could probably answer that question if he were still around.

Today's game was like watching paint dry. I was asleep for both goals in real time.

The Italy game at the weekend was far better. Second half of that was Italy upped their game and pushed us back. We didn't sit back. We did a "Rovers" and held on to win.

Glad I wasn't the only one, @bazza!!

[matt83]

I agree with roverandout in terms of the excessive coverage of the war in a programme it didn’t really belong to that extent.

If you wanted to learn more about the war in Ukraine or the very latest developments there’s 3-4 24 hours news channels dedicated to it and won’t have to wait more than 15 mins for a segment on it as an event of historical significance this is understandable.

However, for an England vs Ukraine football match it might have been a novel idea to speak about the opposition players learn something more football related. Of course they were going to mention the war but the pre match coverage was 90% war 10% football the ratio should have been the reverse, it was far too much.  

[roverandout]

34 minutes ago, matt83 said:

I agree with roverandout in terms of the excessive coverage of the war in a programme it didn’t really belong to that extent.

If you wanted to learn more about the war in Ukraine or the very latest developments there’s 3-4 24 hours news channels dedicated to it and won’t have to wait more than 15 mins for a segment on it as an event of historical significance this is understandable.

However, for an England vs Ukraine football match it might have been a novel idea to speak about the opposition players learn something more football related. Of course they were going to mention the war but the pre match coverage was 90% war 10% football the ratio should have been the reverse, it was far too much.  

Exactly.  That's what annoyed me.  Talk about football 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Do what I do and turn on the TV right on KO time. That way you miss all the usual bullshit about teams and players. Plus in the case of Channels 3 and 4, you miss the incessant advertisements.

[Mattyblue]

I often switch to Five Live at half time (and in the build up) just far less banal nonsense all round.

[Displaced Rover]

Glad these meaningless games are over now and we can go back to real football.

Honestly think UEFA/FIFA need to revisit qualification. I'm not suggesting big teams should automatically qualify but there are far too many dull international games.

[Mattyblue]

24 teams to reach the finals out of one continent is obviously going to make a mockery out of a qualification campaign, largely a stroll for the bigger nations.

[Admiral Nelsen]

Expanding the number of qualifiers for the Euros really does take all the jeopardy and excitement out of these games. Being put in the same group as Italy would've previously meant that there was a lot of pressure being put on the game in Naples, and now Italy would've been seriously worried about their chances of going through. 

 

Easy to say from an English perspective though I suppose. I probably wouldn't be saying the same if I was Welsh or Irish. 

[philipl]

Mighty Malta take on the minnows from England tonight at Ta'Qali.

Apart from Teddy Theuma captain of USG in Belgium who got to the quarters in the Europa League, it is a Malta side full of household names in their own households...

My two neighbours who own restaurants and bars are delighted by the 4,000+ England fans here. All have been well behaved and the Police have literally had zero incidents to attend to. That said, at least half the English fans make me look and feel young slender and fit in comparison...

Thought it might get tasty with England fans mixing with Spanish and Italians watching the European Nations but all stayed very good natured.

Club flags spotted so far- Newcastle,  Barrow, Leeds, PNE, Tranmere, Stoke, Derby, Villa, Kettering,  Brentford, Aldershot, Southend, Charlton. Leeds by far the most numerous. 

I was too slow to get a ticket despite having a buying history. Dramatically more interest than there was for the Italy game. So the Sun in Splendour Pub will be seeing me again. 

Accurate shot placement is going to be key for how many England score. The Malta keeper Henry Bonello isn't the biggest.

 

[roversfan99]

Southgate taking his foot off the pedal with 2 holding midfielders and a right back in a 3 man midfield against the mighty Malta. And Maguire still has those naked pictures of him clearly.

[philipl]

A better team than Malta would seriously embarrass this Southgate selection. 

[roverandout]

Henderson rice isn't needed. I would have had rice holding with eze and maddison as advanced midfielders

[Mattyblue]

The forum is yours, roverandout!

[chaddyrovers]

I would have gone for this team tonight

                Pickford

Tripper Guehi Maguire Shaw

   Gallagher Rice Maddsion

Saka       Kane       Rashford 

[Sweaty Gussets]

3 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I would have gone for this team tonight

                Pickford

Tripper Guehi Maguire Shaw

   Gallagher Rice Maddsion

Saka       Kane       Rashford 

Thankfully Glorious Gareth picked TAA