Reluctant Striker

Just a little bit on Wolves, it does seem quite a dramatic fall from being a club chasing European football. But, they do still have a squad with a few goal scorers & creators in it. Which is why I do see them having enough to stay safe. With a manager who sees & accepts that as the job. It will just get more difficult each season though, with the downward direction they seem to be going.

Newcastle vs Liverpool will interesting. A win for either & there will be title contender talk. Good for Poch to get Luton (a) out of the way early. Everton vs Wolves already feels like a meeting of 2 sides that will be hoping that somehow 3 teams are worse. And the opponents look a possible contender. Brighton vs West Ham could be entertaining. May finally get a better idea of where Villa are exactly. Or another 4, 5 goal extravaganza.

There are generally far too many people online with far too much to say about things they are not the most qualified, most knowledgeable or most impartial person to be hearing from. If I was Manchester United fan YouTube 'content creator' I would probably not be going into any great detail or depth on Mason Greenwood full stop. In a way I do agree, that the police are the people to contact. Whatever the case, issue or concern. But it's pretty obvious whatever else was around it, he is of a mind that if it was dealt with privately, he's back as a Man United player. Mike Tyson is actually a convicted rapist. Had a career after. Gazza's wife with a badly beaten face was once on newspapers front pages. Had a career after. Still gets wheeled out to talk as a national treasure every now & then. Stan Collymore punched Ulrika Johnsen in a French bar. And is on UK national radio covering football. If there is any point to make, it is just that times are changing, for the better. That many people are having problems, which are now being listened to, accepting luxury celeb lifestyle easily continuing.

A lack of ambition can be a slightly elitist way of looking at things. I'm not sure what the situation has been with Jordan Pickford, or how many other Premier League clubs would be making him number 1. A good player I can talk about with more understanding is Emi Martinez. He reached a stage he was never going to be Arsenal number 1. Moved to Villa for that chance. Became Argentina's number 1. Won a Copa America. Then a World Cup. Had the Twitter-azi laughing it up he was going from World Cup winning to playing behind Ty-woan Miingssz. Over this summer he was linked with Spurs, Man United, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, etc, etc. And maybe he could have gone to one of them. But is it really lack of ambition to want to do well with a club that has made you feel part of things like nowhere else? Just for a few extra thousand, whatever small or large increase in chance of trophies, and with that risk that he slips back to being ok as cover, but he's not a number 1.

Yes. If I imagine being head coach of a female team, I would probably think to have set times of when everyone should expect any team talks to happen. If they are before or after any showers & changing room things. I think the Spanish manager was not the only story either. Can not remember which one, but fairly sure the coach of one of the African nations was accused of something inappropriate during the tournament.

Yes, it seems he has some very odd ideas in general. The more you read into him, the sadder it is that he shares in the glory. 15 of the squad put in a letter of complaint about him. I have just been searching into him, and quickly found suggestion that odd rules have included no hotel room doors locked before midnight. So he can check in & give them the ok. And bags being fully emptied out as some kind of search. Compare & contrast to England's women 1st choice kit, by popular player request, wearing dark blue shorts rather than white.

The crazy thing is, Spain lost 4-0 to Japan in the group stage. And finished 2nd in that group.

Fair play to Spain, whatever disagreements & fall outs there have been, they performed well. Hemp missed chances she has been putting away. Lauren James was popping them in from wing-CAM, but gets asked to play LWB. England have Russo, and record breaking 22 in 22 league games Rachel Daly. But finish with 2 totally different players up top. 1 of them the big lump of a CB. Wiegman, for all appreciation of the trophy they did win, has had a dubious tournament & a nightmare of a final. Bronze had an assist in the penalty. She stood the side it went. Not the greatest England look. Toone seemed to freeze. Stanway & Walsh just were not at the same level in the middle. But.. 2 semis & 1 final of last 3 women's world cups. The Euro win. Many young players. And football as a whole, the men with 1 semi, 1 final & 1 quarter in their last 3. Both England sides are regularly at the business end in recent times. No reason to believe a 2nd win is a million miles away.

I have been unconvinced Russo was number 9 ahead of Daly, who in turn was being asked to play LWB, rather than being subbed on. Taking both Russo & Daly off & going with no number 9? And Lauren James LWB? I disagree totally. The way back into this seems further away.

Spain will not be giving free chances. And they should have 2. Hemp hit the bar & the keeper with England's best chances. Lauren James definitely needs to be on soon.

The England Euro 2022 Q Final was a narrow 2-1 aet win over Spain. England coming from behind. The semi final was a 4-0 demolition of Sweden. Strangely Fara Williams & Alex Scott thought Spain reaching the final was cause for celebration. I have read suggestions the Spain squad & management are not really a unified group. I do feel confident in this England side. That they are just on a roll & this is their era right now. Lauren Hemp has started reminding of a male player in his prime. I will not say who, but he won a trophy fairly recently. It is the most confident I can remember being of any England football side. But, Australia were very nearly 2-2, with Sam Kerr putting a good chance wide. From a goalkeeping punch Pickford would have been absolutely hammered over. A route to the final of Nigeria, Columbia & Australia. I do think Spain could be the toughest opponent yet.

I will be watching the 3rd place play-off & will be wanting to see Australia take the bronze medal. I feel sure that would be given an enthusiastic celebration. And would be a great thing for all the viewers of any level of interest to see.

The English FA suggesting it is open to Sarina Wiegman becoming mens football manager. Probably well intentioned, but does seem a bit weird to specify. Laura Woods, ITV presenter of both mens & women's world cups in UK, thinks women's football should not be compared to mens, because Sally Gunnell & other Olympic athletes are-were not. And thinks women's football should be enjoyed for being its own thing. Ok Laura Woods.. but I do think you are addressing the middle men. What happens when another female presenter or female footballer is all about equality? Which can have a very different implication than just being appreciated for what it is in itself. Or another female does not see female sport as really, properly, truly valid (those females do exist..) What then? What conversation or response is given in that scenario? For me, it involves acknowledgement of different levels of physicality, speed, etc, etc. And then leads on to suggestions of enjoying it for what it is. And IMO, such conversations need to be endured, if they are troublesome in some way. Because for many people, women's football & female presenters in mens football are very, very, very new & have not been around anywhere near as long as the Olympics. So will take time to be absorbed into culture.

Sounds like he intends to play again. And someone will give him the chance to. The brave & correct decision is for Man United to release him. There are other similar cases out there of professional footballers playing on somewhere. And Man United as a huge football club just do not need the circus that will constantly be around the 1 player.

I have been listening to Vindaloo 2 for the last few weeks. I posted a link to it way back. I had a tear in my eye when I knew this England women's team had made it to the World Cup Final. I have been wearing something red, white, or both, every day they have played a match in this tournament. I feel proud of them. Any of you, especially the English football fans, that have not commented on most matches, as I have, but feel inclined to jump in & make bizarre comments suggesting higher grounds.. Step right up ! I'm here till Sunday !

I commented how enjoyable it's been compared to men. But, keep right on with whatever virtue you feel you own better than me. And yes, FIFA & the BBC reporting its the 1st World Cup final for an England team since 1966 ! Also in minor headlines Toone the 1st English player ever to score in a Q Final, Semi Final & Final of a major tournament ! As a special niche interest Rachel Daly has been the 1st active Aston Villa player to score for England at a World Cup finals since David Platt in 1990 ! And you know Mr Virtuous ? I compared which women are out with which women stepped up ! I have seen teenage males in England tops ! Hence my comment both genders will take plenty from an England win ! The sheer arrogant, passive sexist unequal affront of it all ! Hey ?! With the respect it sorely deserves, comments like yours & a great many other male-female Brownie point seekers want way too much moral high ground. And are the 1s letting off arrogant stink bombs with no rhyme or reason. Share your views on the women, the matches, the tournament ? Perhaps that better demonstrates your more highly developed equality !

Hilarious to hear the boos of England women. Awesome achievement to reach the final. Captain Williamson injured, Ballon D'or Mead injured, Kirby injured, White retired, Jill Scott retired. And one of the players of the tournament Alex Greenwood steps in. Carter plays well. Toone & James contribute. Zelem has made a few appearances. And Russo has scored a few. Lauren Hemp for next Ballon D'or? Between her & Greenwood for England's player of the tournament for me. They are so much easier to watch than the England men.. Can not take anything at all for granted, but England women need their own star (apparently) and England kids of both genders would take something from an England team winning a World Cup.

I agree with what @Stan suggested in other thread. Challenging for a VAR review should be like in cricket & tennis. 3 challenges each. Lose 1 if the challenge is rejected. Keep the challenge if challenge is approved. May even have a side effect of improving behaviour toward the officials. Focus more on questioning each other if a review is worth it or not. It certainly seems a significant grey area when reviews & challenges are just among the refs. With varying takes on what is clear & obvious.

Yes. Newcastle always seemed a dangerous mix of a side both capable of that & also quite motivated to do that. Feels like they still see Villa as a rival, or a side to make a point against. If all had been fully fit, I'd have expected Ramsey ahead of Bailey for Newcastle (a) I feel sure both Diaby & Bailey in same Newcastle (a) line up would not have been Plan A or B. Both capable of looking impressive going forward, but very much a front 3. Which hasn't actually been the case for most of the good run with Emery. More 4-2-2-2. I have been wondering why Tielemans was not starting. Emery seems so switched on, I kind of assume it must be fitness level issues. Apparently Villa want Zaniolo with option to buy, but Galatasaray wanting straight sale, or obligation to buy. Rumours already around before Mings injury was a RB that could cover CB. As they do have 4 fit CBs, I do think the original plan may still be best. Lots of random suggestions of Maguire around, but not from anyone official looking.

England continue to be very fortunate. Any side remaining could win from what I've seen. The England - Australia match will be quite an atmosphere. I suspect the Aussie crowd will turn it up another notch.

I read 1 article suggesting he could pick up a few medals & still return for the Premier League scoring record. It would be possible if only stays 2 seasons & he's 1 that plays well past 35. Maybe dips a level, 10 to 15 a season. But, I think he already looks to be constantly carrying so many ongoing pulls & strains that I question if he'll last the full 4 year contract.

I would guess Pep sees him as adding a midfield goal threat. Still lots of money though. For someone who failed in Serie A.

You were not asking me, but there are 3 distinct types of English obsessions on Germany. The first is Hitler & WWII The modern opposition to the first type are those that think Germany 2023 should be what we aspire to be. While doing away with a whole political party. And then third are those that just like Adidas, Puma, BMW, Mercedes Benz, hot dogs & so on. I am wearing an Adidas item today..

Very good point. Yes, being a serial winner tends to get post career opportunities of Hansen & Lawrenson. Neville & Keane. etc. etc. But nobody remembers Shearer as anything other than the Newcastle & England striker that scored lots of goals & lost 2 consecutive FA Cup finals. I'm not saying he would ever match Kane for Spurs. But they do have that guy who generally is used as a winger. Seen as slightly overrated. Unless he's playing for his nation, Brazil. And then he starts bicycle kicking & keepy-upping on the biggest stage possible. As a striker. If he can't help Spurs get over Kane, there's not too many other options. Especially when you consider Man United & Chelsea's never ending striker searches.

If he rejects, he must want the Premier League scoring record & perhaps hoping an English title contender wants him for free next summer. Going to Bayern for a few guaranteed winners medals would surely save his esteem with Spurs fans, much more than having a try with Man United, Chelsea, whoever next year.