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

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.

Would far rather see Parker at Leeds than Farke.

About to turn 28? Rovers fitting him out for a zimmer frame in this squad? Nice posting by GB on LinkedIn! Sets up intense competition in midfield which is great. As a regular in a top end Eredivisie side including European experience, he has got to be better than average at Championship level. Looking forward to seeing him playing at Rovers and winning regular starts for Norway.

Thanks- I had an erroneous last date for the Championship of 11th May.

I think our last game will be at home because the Premier League finishes a week after the Championship.

Given the line up beer bottles they necked with their full English, I would imagine they would have to look at their shirts to recall which club they support.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/23565150.blackburn-rovers-players-get-work-extended-pre-season/ Rovers return on 20 June giving the players an extended 6.5 weeks pre-season.

Given the line up beer bottles they necked with their full English, I would imagine they would have to look at their shirts to recall which club they support. Leeds reported to be in negotiations with Scott Parker.

Warnock extended Huddersfield contract by a year. Group of Rotherham fans just come into the bar I am sitting in. Any questions to ask them?

Looks like Qatar has got Man U

I am arguing for more first team football in the Championship and Cups and under 21 captain. As things stand he is probably 3rd choice CB ahead of Scott Wharton. But some folks think this is silly...

I would rather have Ash at Ewood watched over by our sports science and medical teams and getting a dozen first team appearances while captaining the under 21s than getting 35 starts at Clogham United in League 1.

Haven't got a clue who will get the Leeds job. Do we know what shape ball they will be playing with or if any chippies are for sale near Elland Road?

Another £7.5m in shares, not debt.

With Gav on this. The potential for us to have fallen apart with some wrong appointments was all too real. Some great foundations put in place and being in the hunt for Cup semi-finals and play-off places was a bonus we could not have expected of right. Having said that, 23/24 is about shooting for automatic promotion irrespective of who is in the Championship. In many ways, how we see the season just gone is going to be reflected in whether it has set us up for an extra special season to come.

Got to say this for the Premier League. Only 3 of the Super League 6 in the Champions League Only 4 out of 8 of the erstwhile self appointed big 6 qualified for Europe. The ESL luvvies in other countries have no equivalent challenges. Serie A has enjoyed a revival getting finalists in all European competitions and perhaps not unconnected with Napoli breaking the monopoly.

5% of the fee, not the profit if posters above are correct

Huge paydays for faded stars are one thing (Kante who was fabulous now cannot get into a bottom half Chelsea outfit), the time to worry is when a Declan Rice or Jude Bellingham go to Saudi in their prime. It is being argued that Areteta was after Kante and Gundogan but I think that is paper talk.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/1487681.stm And we won 3-1 against Barca in Reus with a Shearer hattrick

Twice and beaten them twice

Dack wasn't getting into a JDT team and hence the goodbye. I am a huge fan of Dack but he was not going to get round the pitch like a Szmodics who is a lesser footballer whom he needed to force out of the side. I am no sports scientist or fitness freak but I could see with my own eyes. The lack of clubs being linked with Bradley now is also telling.

The Foxes officially let go out of contract stars Youri Tielemans, Daniel Amartey, Ayoze Perez, Caglar Soyuncu, Papy Mendy, Ryan Bertrand and loanee Tete.

I think I read Spuds are getting the Celtic DoF as well. They will be feeling a relief they are already out of Europe and don't need to go through the formalities of getting knocked out.

Watched a bit of the Premier play off final. Beyond crazy. Thistle 3 up with 20 minutes left and blew it. Ref and Var had a random penalty and red card day. 5 penalties not scored in the shoot out. Ross County survived but was struck by the thought Notts County are fitter and better players.