DJ Barry Hammond

Maybe - but mean, look how class many left-footed players we have now. So many that we don’t bother putting any of them on the left of midfield 😂

You say that (about the Italy game) but I was furious with the Croatia game because Southgate just sat there and watched them run allover us for 25 minutes!

Sven didn’t really have anyone for the left hand side - and of course we had to pay 4-4-2!

He did what Enzo was doing with us - making single changes with his first two subs, thus making the third and final change trickier - because you can make 3 subs but only all at once. That managers can actively put themselves in a difficult position is something I find bizarre.

I really don’t get that decision - Spain had retreated and were there for the taking. Just chance it for 5-10 minutes when you had the momentum… if you then want to close out until extra time via changes, fine… but don’t switch to a poor, passive 4-4-2.

The thing with Kane was he was putting in zero high intensity sprints - he never moved out of a jog and that’s criminal.

Southgate out

Not sure why they switched approach - Spain were there for the taking and you have three 10’s on the pitch!

The only issue I have with that change is Southgate’s left himself with 3 possible subs from 1 change… that probably should have been a double change.

Might we see 442 soon? That might be what we need to go to. Toney alongside Ollie…

Ok, let’s put some quality in from here shall we?

Spain’s dropped really deep all of a sudden. Just need to build some pressure now.

Twice at the start of second half - just go and win it!

Why the hell did they stand off him!

Classic final approach - make sure you don’t lose it in the first half. Will be interesting to see if Southgate tweaks at halftime - he can go to 3 at the back with these players - but I’d rather see Gordon on the left, someone to provide an attacking combination to Spain’s right flank… with Bellingham and Mainoo playing as 8’s.

I’m hoping Southgate’s thinking Gordon for Foden at the moment (move Bellingham central). Not now obviously… just has it in mind.

Old superstitions and all that…

Tell that to Farage, Tommy R and all that lot… although they’re also fuming at ITV for Gary Neville interviewing Starmer

Let’s not forget Foden’s been hinting at a match winning performance. And Kobi has that star quality that tends to come up with something in big moments.

Anyone else strangely chilled, relaxed, almost confident?

The problem with having Kane on the bench is he’d then end up coming on. At least this way you have exciting options up front from the bench.

If it is indeed a setup - the extra flourish added to it by getting a bullet to hit the hydraulics of the tractor holding a load of speakers so it can spew a fountain of fluid is a lovely additional touch in the planning.

I’ll say one thing on this, that I’ve not seen anyone really mention. That is the positioning of the Snippers - that suggests they knew they had a security weaknesses in that direction. From what I’ve seen, they were only ever setup and pointing in that direction.

Not only that, it seems pretty clear that the ‘neighbouring’ units (AGR International according to Google Maps) are just that - they’re not part of the same land (Butler Farm). That means any security on that land requires additional organisation with that property owner, plus additional man-power - and given that plot has two viable entrances this would equate to quite a considerable cost (especially if you forcibly close the business). Butler itself appears to be a relatively small city, 50 miles away from Pittsburgh - so I can’t imagine the local police force they would be using here would be plentiful in number or that well experienced in protecting this type and level of event either. It’s the sort of situation that in hindsight people can easily criticise and say you should have had “X, Y, Z” in place - but to do that you have the numbers to do it and be willing to pay for it.

Trump’s cheap remember - it would be him / The Republicans that are largely paying for additional security outside of what the state would provide for a former President.