Reluctant Striker

Still not sure it benefits England for Bellingham to be the 10-CAM. We have other options & have always lacked a Pirlo.. Still not sure about Phillips & Maguire, still in, just because. Phillips looks out of touch to me. Italy looking consistently dangerous down Trippier's side, on the left. Overall, there's been so much reason to believe we should be beating this Italy side, quite comfortably. But 1-1 at HT. And chance after chance just appearing for Italy, as much by luck as having any real classic Italian excellence.

Yeah, something really odd with England having not one other elite nation side in the group. And then somehow getting Fiji rather than Australia or Wales in the Quarters. But really does not seem like England are an actual contender to win. Cricket is sort of my 2nd team sport. Never been sure of either rugby. But Union does somehow pitch itself better I think. It's 6 Nations thing. The world cup, that had the 'world in union' theme for a while. I think a lot of the mild notice takers would tend toward Union.

Yes, I do think there must be a reason why West Ham let Lehmann go, Everton did not make a loan permanent & Villa were able to get her. And then important players for Villa from last season, like Staniforth, Nobbs, Corsie & Daly are all over 30, so likely to be dipping sooner than later. Feels like, if 5th & higher is what the aim is, as a long term, regular thing, a batch of highly promising younger players will be needed. Right now, if that was a mens Villa team, they would look a bit too MLS really.

Yes. 0-1 at Half Time. But was starting to look more like an attack vs defence training session. Will they do a Leicester ?

Horrible start by Villa women. Last minute loss to Man United. Lost away to Liverpool. Would not have got zero points last season, when they got their best ever finish, in 5th. And now 3rd match is away to Arsenal. Who have been teasing Beth Mead could be ready to return. And are nearly filling The Emirates now. I did watch the Villa vs Man United opener, and have to say, if Lehmann played like a star footballer rather than a star Instagrammer model, she should really have scored at least 1. Perhaps Lehmann's recent long term contract is a sign of something going wrong in strategy.

I'm no expert at all, and do not actively follow half of what goes around the world, etc, so forgive me anyone if this does not sound correct enough. I just don't like seeing & hearing this kind of stuff going on. But it seems to me that perhaps some countries where 'multiculturalism' has been an approach to life. Maybe it has kind of worked. But is usually where other cultures have actively chosen to move in, of their own will. And even then there are still issues & tensions in America, Britain, France, etc. The issue with Israel, to Hamas & everyone sympathetic to them, is how Israel was formed. By colonialists who thought they knew best.. and so is a huge political hammer to bash people with. And presumably feels very justifiable to those holding it. Israel was formed even more recently than Northern Ireland. And as a side note there, a different northern part of Ireland historically had been Ulster. And at least one of its political parties still wants Ulster Unionism. Never mind choosing between UK or Ireland. It's perhaps the 2 most comparable nations - regions. And there may perhaps be a case that a bit more of a 'multiculturalism' approach from all sides could have improved things. Arrived at better tension levels this long after. Especially when the goal for so many is, at this point, to revert back to the days of great, great grandparents, or further. Or just rip it all up & literally do away with any ideas contrary to their own. It's definitely a question of how to do away with the pretty much totalitarian xenophobic mindsets. On both sides. Suggestions of multiculturalism just unlikely to have much impact. When the other side seem legit crazy.

Not properly. Just enough to have been wondering more than once why Jude Bellingham was playing so badly & then realising it was TAA in midfield. And I think I may have seen what the Phil Foden hype is all about. He did look particularly impressive with beer goggles. Running around. Gliding past a few Australians. Without really actually doing anything. But it looked very good.

Highlight of the evening a close run thing between Ollie! Ollie! Ollie! or my cans of Fosters.

Should be several goals already. Australia with the best chance near 45 mins. Several bookings. Australia lining up very rigidly. Like a more open chance packed version of the England vs USA match from the World Cup. Watkins & Bowen threatening to do things, but neither quite doing it. Bit weird that Gallagher & Henderson seem a bit flat in the middle. Any others in midfield & it would feel it needs one of them coming on at half time to liven it up a bit.

Watkins slightly unlucky with his 2 chances. 1st took a clip off 1 of a crowd of 2 Australians or Bowen. Then sent through on goal, but had to take it on his left. Did think he'd score off the 2nd chance. Definitely a 2nd 11 sort of match so far. Johnstone has been needed a couple of times.

The studio just may be improved it it was Martin Roberts & Martel Maxwell. An 80,000+ seater detached within the London area. A slightly early 20th century arch. May want to get planning permission looked into, if you would favour a more modern open plan sky line.

Delighted for Ollie Watkins to get a start. He really does look like Kane's most obvious stand-in. Whatever that says. Also Bowen is constantly a goal scorer for West Ham, so due a look. As it is almost a 2nd choice 11, the 1 change I probably would have had in there would have been JWP rather than Henderson. And I would be very, very near including Konsa.

Really do not need any complications here. Zaniolo only in on loan as a necessity, due to Buendia long term & Ramsey still struggling. Still, at least Villa will have an easier route to look for an alternative in January. And as an emergency available loan option he was, he's unsurprisingly looked a weak link. But, if it is an Italian thing only, could it just be international careers punished?

So, 2 podcast-vlog things started up recently. Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer & Micah Richards started a while back, 'The Rest Is Football' I've tried a few, but it's just not my thing. I did already feel a little bored of the Lineker-Shearer thing. Always preferred hearing what Alan Hansen thought of things. Without any BBC balance at all, it's totally Big 6 + Newcastle orientated. And Micah Richards, well, he seems devoid of any good humour at all when it comes to Aston Villa. He was at a terribly declined shadow of Villa between 2015 to 2019. Through form & fitness managed to play a grand total of 26 games. And any stories or anecdotes of his time at Villa never ever acknowledge his career had gone on a similar trajectory to that of the club. There seems genuine resentment toward Villa, staff, colleagues & fans, that he did bugger all for 4 years while still picking up a footballers wage. The fact he was recently voted Aston Villa's worst ever signing suggests I'm probably not alone. Joleon Lescott only managed to get 6th place in that vote. The one that Tweeted a fancy car pic after getting hammered by Liverpool at Villa Park. The other is Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Jill Scott & Ian Wright (so more diverse..) have more recently launched 'Stick To Football' Not really got through one of those yet, as none of the first 3 have ever been among my favourites to hear from. I find I very much enjoy a few Villa fan efforts. One Canadian guy in particular, with his 'Holy Trinity' show is almost a professional game by game review, from a Villa point of view. And I think he was an actual TV presenter type person in Canada.

Both Villa Park & St James's were used at Euro 96. If Wembley is discounted as being a totally new 2nd stadium, then Villa Park's one unique claim could be that it will be the only 1 to have been used for 1966, 1996 & 2028. 1966: Wembley, Old Trafford, Hillsborough, Villa Park, Goodison Park, Ayresome Park, Roker Park & White City Stadium (apparently a 1908 London Olympics Stadium & then a greyhound racing venue, until it closed) 1996: Wembley, Old Trafford, Hillsborough, Villa Park, Anfield, Elland Road, St James's Park & The City Ground

So Euro 2028 will be UK & Ireland, as in all 5 footballing bits, if anyone not from the area are unsure. A World Cup would have been ideal, but sounds like that's leaving Europe every 8 years as a distant memory, with Saudi Arabia supposedly favourites to get 1 soon. Euro 2028 stadiums: England: Wembley, The Etihad, Tottenham Stadium, St James's Park, Villa Park, the in progress Everton Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, Scotlands: Hampden Park, Cardiffs: Principality Stadium, Aviva Stadium - Dublin, Casement Park - Belfast. Obviously the final & a potential England path to it, at Wembley. To get this after the multi location, Euro 2020/21. And the perception it could be a long time before England would get a look in. Is there a lack of interest in hosting the tournaments? I know the Commonwealth Games is having problems finding hosts, but kind of assumed European football would be a more competitive process?

Certainly very weird. Feels like someone within Birmingham City thinks celebrity names are all that's needed. With Rooney following soon after Tom Brady, who is some sort of consultant. Maybe they've been looking too closely at Wrexham's Hollywood success story. Or Salford with the Famous 5, or whatever business name they go by.

Maybe Liverpool fans not putting enough on beating Villa 3-0, a few other results & making it seem easy. Still only Anfield & St James's that have made Villa look like a false Top 7 side. Newcastle & Spurs are definitely better than Brighton. West Ham are quite decent. Many were told Chelsea were back after the opening day 1-1. Basically Liverpool have not played Man City & Arsenal. None of the above compare to Man City. A few are close to Arsenal.

3 draws. Everyone as they were. Watkins header hit the post in the last moments of 13-14 mins of 2nd half stoppage time. Similar performance from them as Vs Man City last week. Dawson everywhere he was needed.

Yes. Some of the Twitter comments that it's the worst they've ever seen must be from youngsters. Too young to remember Eduardo. Nevermind David Busst & Luc Nilis.

I just looked into it & it's one of those where the ankles gone, with the foot hanging loose in an odd direction. Apparently not from a challenge, just his standing leg gave way as he looked to cross the ball. At 35, it might be a career ending 1.

It's confirming Burnley, who were very, very impressive in the Championship last season, are miles off it so far in the Premier League. It does make it seem intriguing to see how Chelsea go over the next few months, against Arsenal, Brentford, Spurs, Man City, Newcastle, etc. With Chelsea it could just need 1 big resounding win, to get everyone's confidence up.

Really did not envision Spurs being this improved, after Kane's exit & bringing in the new manager. They'll stay top, for now, if Arsenal & Man City draw.

13 miles to Villa Park. 4.6 miles to Bescot Stadium - Walsall's stadium, often used by Villa womens team, Villa reserves have played there, and an annual preseason Walsall vs Villa friendly always takes place there. Also 5.3 miles to The Hawthorns & 6 miles to The Molineux.

Yes, there were a few dodgy patches. I can remember Steve Bruce having to do interviews when there was real, genuine, concern the club could have gone into administration & whatever happens. I think it was July 2018 when NSWE (Nassef Sawiris & Was Edens) bought the club. I was initially worried when one of the first things they did to inject money was to purchase the stadium. Having seen what's gone on with Coventry for a number of years. But, been a nice coincidence that things have generally improved on the pitch, and they have seemed like an upgrade on the other owners since the days of Doug Ellis. It was more high profile when Newcastle improved after Steve Bruce left, but it had kind of happened with Villa & Dean Smith too.