bluebruce

You're putting words in my mouth - I absolutely do think the squad needs major surgery. But if you're shocked by something that happens every year here, and has happened at most clubs in the league this year, you're very, very easily shocked. Like you, I think we will go down. Because I fully believe we won't rebuild the squad as much as is needed, so I'm not shocked here whatsoever.

No you're thinking of Tyler Morton games.

This is a good post but your examples of Rice and Grealish are strange ones to pick given your other points. Yes they have Irish heritage and played in the ROI youth teams first, but they were neither born nor developed in Ireland. They'd only qualify through grandparents, so it has nothing to do with Ireland's domestic league etc. They didn't 'come through' in Ireland.

Again it's not shocking in the context of Venkys time at the club, anyone still shocked that we aren't doing early business isn't paying attention or has memory loss.

Ah the list I had was from Sky Sports, Coventry only had one incoming on there, but looks like it was last updated a week ago. Alright there might be more than 10 clubs who have signed someone now! (Technically, we have signed someone for money but I think it's quite clear they're seen as joining the U21s initially...then again so was Dolan)

Btw only one team in the league, QPR, has brought in 3+ players like Chaddy wanted us to do by this point. They've brought in four freebies. (They've also released 8, we've released 4...ours were nowhere near the first team, but I know at least Dozzell and Adomah played in theirs) Edit - my source was a week out of date, Coventry and possibly others have reached the 3+ incomings now

By shocking and inexcusable, do you mean pretty much par for the course across the league? 14 out of the 24 clubs in the Championship have yet to bring anyone in. Of the 10 that have brought someone in, only 4 of those have brought more than one player. The very last thing it is, is shocking. Apart from last summer I can't remember any summer window under Venkys where we had brought any first teamers in at this stage. There probably are a couple I'm forgetting, but most seasons we've done nothing at this point. If you're shocked by this, you haven't been paying attention. Edit - looks like my list was a week old, those numbers may not be totally accurate anymore

I'm not familiar enough with their normal lineup but I don't think so. Maybe one or two, I dunno, but they still had Rudiger, Havertz, Musiala, Kroos, Neuer, Wirtz, Gundogan... They got a late equaliser though.

I seem to be the only one on here watching it rather than what I considered a very uninspiring looking Scotland fixture, but the Swiss are showing the Germans are certainly touchable.

Outside of my own team, that's absolutely the main basis for why I like or dislike other teams. Bolton, Burnley, Preston, Manure, City, Brum...their fans are or have shown themselves to be arrogant pricks so I dislike them all.

I'd love to take the same approach. But the bitterness all of those nations (except for half of NI) seem to have against us makes it impossible for me to support them. If they ever get the bees out their bonnets I'll absolutely stick up for them. Until then I just mildly want them to lose, but don't particularly care.

The Swiss are playing well against Germany.

Just a touch more recent that...there are still people living who experienced that, and plenty more who heard the direct experiences of their parents. Bit different to being mad about one dude who died over 700 years ago and wasn't actually as good a guy as a (fantastic) Hollywood film made out.

Dolan looks motivated. Doesn't look like everyone is back yet. Didn't see Szmodics there. Seems like maybe half or less of the squad.

Dunno, we can look at and be interested in Mbappe, Messi and Neymar if we want. We routinely look at all sorts of players we're not going to sign and know we can't afford.

I've seen some mentions in this thread that we should play a high press. Don't set yourself up for a fall, he has no intentions of playing it. I watched enough of his interview after the Denmark game to know that. He said something like we don't have the players to play a high press. Which I can only assume is because he has no intention of dropping Kane.

Christ, I didn't realise they had to get that close to be interfering...

I can't imagine a universe in which I'd rather have Lee Carsley manage England than Klopp. But to each their own I guess.

Opinions should always have the potential for change btw, nobody is right all the time. Refusing to change an opinion doesn't make you right, it just makes you stubborn. The reason I drew up the hypothetical is to see what you value more - the nationality of the coach, or success for the national team. If you're saying that the nationality of the coach is more important, then we don't need to do the hypothetical. But it's not a very sensible stance to take IMO. I just want a trophy after all this time without one. As long as we aren't cheating I don't care how we get it. Side note, an English manager has never won the Premier League. Which of course has been the top tier of English football since 1992. No English manager has won the English top tier for over 32 years. Think about that. Our managers just aren't very good. Even Scottish managers have won it, Ferguson and Dalglish off the top of my head. Btw the English managers you suggested, I'd take Howe who I think is a good manager. No interest in the others.

You're right, stats don't lie (well they do a bit and there's a whole saying about it, but that's another story). One very good season in League Two, one awful season in League Two. At 26 that's the peak of his career so far. Not enough to suggest he's a steady bet for this level.

2 goals in 45 games the season before suggests he only just found out where it is.

They sure did. Had not just a competent CEO but an excellent one, rapidly undermined him so he resigned, appointed bog standard ones they undermined and fired when they stood up to Venkys, and finally settled on an absolutely bungling one that doesn't ever question them and publicly fellates their failings whenever possible.

So, let's do a hypothetical. If there was a manager who wanted to manage England, had a terrific track record at international football, and was almost certain to deliver success, but he was foreign...you'd still want an English manager instead?

I've not been able to watch the games (very unfortunately timed work commitments) but this post is making me wonder if some of the players are struggling with the immense pressure that has haunted previous attempts by highly talented England squads to win something. Bellingham, Rice, Kane and Foden are all coming off superb individual seasons and we shouldn't be saying these sorts of things about them. If pressure is part of the problem, it's crying out for none other than Adam Wharton smack bang in the middle of the engine room. Despite his tender years he seems almost immune to pressure and always plays like he's relaxed yet focussed even when stepping up to a new level. That sort of calming presence could work wonders.

It takes until there's enough season ticket sales.