Lineker's Lugs

That team definitely has goals in it - but at both ends of the pitch!

Real Madrid have improved their squad but not enough to topple Barcelona. Slightly surprising that Barcelona haven't sold Walsh this year instead of losing her for nothing next summer given that she has told them she won't renew her contract then for what the BBC coyly describe as personal reasons. I think Chelsea are stronger this year so might make a better fist of the Champions League and be Barcelona's biggest rival for that.

BBC Q&A on the WSL transfer window on the link below (if it works). It seems no one was interested enough to ask a question about Leicester, but the Man Utd section confirms they were rebuffed in their attempts to sign Kop and have moved on. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cq6rede0130o

I fully expect one of Mouchon or Mace to be player of the season. As for the defence, I think Swaby looks like an improvement. I've no idea about Sari Kees, but maybe her and Swaby are the answer in the middle. I thought Ale looked much better in the West Ham friendly than she did last season, and she did well when switched to the right too. Whether or not she starts ahead of Bott or Nevin is another question though. And the answer is probably no!

I was planning on staying up for the Lions game but I think Tom Brady is going to put me to sleep before then.

Umpires are the biggest time wasters in cricket.

The three year period to the end of last season will be assessed against an £83m limit. The ruling yesterday doesn’t impact that in any way.

That only mattered for the three year period that ended with our relegation season.

And Forest were a PL club at the end of the 3 year period they were charged for, so they were also covered by the rules.

I think this one was also live on YouTube and it was still there to watch when I looked an hour or so ago.

5-2 FT. Only a friendly of course, but very encouraging.

Consolation for West Ham.

3-0 up on West Ham at HT. It’s well deserved, a really positive team performance with Mouchon and Momiki the standouts.

I don't really have a particular team - being a neutral is much more relaxing! That said, I've had a bit of a soft spot for the Seahawks since the old Nicky Horne/Gary Imlach Channel 4 days. I think they are locked into a cycle of mediocrity though - they really need to tank and get a franchise QB because Geno Smith ain't it. At this point I'm most interested in the Lions, 49ers, Jets and Bears this season, but that will doubtless evolve as the weeks unfold. Agree about the Chiefs. I watched the Netflix Quarterback show a few weeks ago in the hope I'd get to like Mahomes a bit given he's going to be around for years. But I disliked him even more by the end!

The new season isn't looking to be the most exciting of prospects. The top three will almost certainly be Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City, probably in that order, and Palace will probably be relegated, so that's all the important positions more or less pre-determined. Of the rest, United, Liverpool and Spurs should be 4th to 6th, not necessarily in that order, and I have Leicester in the 7th to 11th range along with Villa, West Ham, Brighton and Everton. I think Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester have currently had the best windows in terms of players signed compared to players sold/released. Brighton have recruited well but lost Terland and Robinson, everyone else seems to be at about the same level as last season, though United still need a keeper - hopefully not Kop. Assuming West Ham lose to PSG tomorrow, they play Leicester on Sunday which might give us more of a clue where Leicester stand. They look to be better placed to control games against the teams that have been around them in recent seasons, especially through Ruby Mace and Momiki, and have the attacking talent to take advantage of that. Defensively, on the evidence of just 45 minutes admittedly, Swaby looks like a much needed step up, and Thibaud and Bott also played well today. Add in Nevin and that's a decent enough back four. You could make a case for either keeper to play, both are good. All in all, there is cause for optimism, albeit within quite modest limits.

She’s started the second half excellently.

Early days, but Swaby looks very promising. Mouchon less involved but she’s doing ok. Mace looks like she’s never been away. Leitzig is not suited to playing out from the back this much. So far Leicester are causing themselves more problems than Man City are posing.

It’s a bit blocky on my TV’s internet app, but really good on my laptop.

I haven't read all of these but of those I have, Fearless is the best by a mile. Crest of a Wave was dreadful - appallingly written drivel. I remember getting it for Christmas and being excited to read it, but it took about an hour and a half and I was so disappointed. Of Fossils and Foxes stands apart as it's a different sort of book, but all versions are brilliant, though I said in the questionnaire for the second that my favourite game was the 4-0 win at Derby and it appeared in the book as the play-off final win over them instead. There have been a fair few games since that I'd choose instead mind you!

Not sure if it's been mentioned on here, but I noticed that WSL matches not shown on BBC or Sky will be on YouTube rather than FA Player this season.

It's a shame Mace couldn't be signed a year ago, she's basically wasted last season on Man City's bench. A bit more creativity needed now. Depending on what else happens throughout the league in this window, I'd say Leicester could be looking at 7th (slightly ambitious) to 9th.

Not heard of her, but she’s from the French league so must have the new manager’s seal of approval. A much needed defender.

Unless Palace overhaul their squad - and so far it appears they've just been renewing contracts - they should be firm favourites for relegation and Leicester should be ok for another year. 2025/26 would be a different matter as I'd expect Newcastle to be in WSL and they will take it seriously. Leicester's best hope then might be an expansion to the league which has to happen at some point as a 22 game season and 1 (often very predictable) relegation spot isn't great. On the managerial front I wonder if Leicester have been sidetracked by Casey Stoney becoming available. I doubt she'd be interested but it would be remiss of them not to investigate the possibility. Might be a short conversation though! Around 10 weeks until the new season, so they've still got a couple of weeks to make an appointment before it becomes a problem.

Women's team. Leicester City Women. Clue's in the name.

I’d probably have kept Palmer if that was possible, but otherwise that’s all fair enough. This summer is all about the incomings though, quality upgrades needed if they have any ambitions to progress.