Old Codger

Always try to get views of opposition fans outside ground when possible and most of time Izzy gets a mention often with the view he can't have come cheap. Other teams fans have started to realise that we are not the old Boro and many look forward to seeing a game of "proper football". Because he never came through an academy, he will probably always be a bit unpolished but on his day he is great to watch and if he makes the odd Derby error, I can live with that as his movement in attack outweighs that to such an extent that it is in reality insignificant. Would like to see him and Doak swapping wings during games just to wear defenders down then use Burgzorg as sub when one tires, but even on his iffy days, his speed gives us an outlet to get up the pitch, so definitely more pros than cons. Also comes across as a decent guy, again perhaps due to his path to this level, so refreshing to see someone who isn't "entitled" and realises that he is lucky not to be asking if you want extra fries with your order 🙂

Saturday's referee is the relative newcomer Tom Nield... who we have only had in charge for one previous game, last season's cup victory at Bradford. However, we have history with him from his days as an assistant https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/a-performance-below-standard-expected-11266348 We can only hope he has improved with experience and like a proper Yorkshireman remembers which county Preston hail from Like most referees he seems to average about four yellows a game but often dishes up to six out, so perhaps a little whistle happy. Fingers crossed that we are not talking about him too much afterwards 🙂

Sometimes it is possible to recover memories or even narrow the choices, let's start with the first you do remember and work from that (if you want). Assume Stan Anderson was manager and it was a home game, then if you can remember a player from the game or the colour of the opponents strip or the score, your choices become simpler.

hayden on bench for U21 game v Austria, along with someone called N Wood-Gordon.... sounds familiar from somewhere 🙂

To be fair to Isaiah, I have seen him racing fifty yards to win a ball back far more often than making a mistake that led directly to a goal. Clarke again saves us more often than making lash-ups but in the end, all the goals teams concede are because of an error somewhere along the line. Some are so visible they are apparent to everyone and others would have to be explained by experts. If the glaring ones were repeated time after time, action would be required, but if they are not, we just need to accept and not harp on about them. I agree with Humpty they are mistakes we should not see at this level but also agree with NB that it is not the same players regularly making the same mistake. If we look at it the other way, if our opponents didn't make errors (like looking at Izzy in a funny way too close to the goal), we wouldn't score either 🙂

apparently Ronnie has never played against Scotland.. scared since seeing " Carry on up the Khyber" 🙂

Portugal taking it seriously...Ronaldo on bench 🙂

You sing your words and I'll sing mine 🙂

or perhaps maybe Cherry Cherry or One Bad Apple but with respect to Blanco and NB4, I won' t suggest any Orange tunes

Portugal v Scotland on ITV 4 tonight. Will be strange not to see Pepe on the pitch. Will Scotland try to catch them on the break or is their best defence to attack. Odds against them but I would like to see an upset just to keep things interesting. Northern Ireland on ITVX

or her .. but being serious , try a BMX Scooter as a starter and if they are safe with that then progress to the e-scooter (or whatever is "cool" then)

Probably readers of the Daily Heil... Always remember the idiots that started booing the Liechtenstein anthem before it had even begun.. It needs replacing with something a little more relevant but the chances of that are minimal. wouldn't care if it was a little more inspirational but I would guess that unlike many other nations, there are less than 1% of Brits (or Engs) that could tell you ALL the words instead of just the first verse. Daft question of the day is " What should be the new anthem?" Can just be a tune like Spain or San Marino or something inspirational or just something you can sing along to and smile ... (anyone saying Pigbag will be sent to Sunderland 🙂 )

thought the young Irish lads did well. stuck to the plan and caused a few problems on the break towards the end. Have to say they were helped by some of the English forwards trying to shoot when a pass would have created a better chance but in the end the draw was the right result. Good to see Hayden play the full 90 and also noticed a Boro flag on display 🙂

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c8dp823nv7yt#player England U21 game live on BBC iplayer

Just seen the name of the Zambia manager .... just shows what a spell at Chelsea does to your career 🙂

Latte Lath on the bench against Zambia... Alan Foggon was the Flying Pig...Lee was jovially known as "Diving B*****d" and was the only player I ever saw awarded marks for technical difficulty and artistic impression in a match write-up 🙂

no doubt about decision... at this rate, he might make double figures... at last a new Francis Lee 🙂

Scotland have thrown this away with their defending... better team for most of the game and then dive in needlessly ... do not fancy their chances against Portugal so everythings hangs on games against Croatia.

Now that we have a decent number of players getting caps, somewhere you can express your hopes and thoughts on how they did. Conway and Doak on the bench against Poland

Warships have been known to sink (especially if there is an Albert on board)...so far, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Millau Viaduct are still standing 🙂 so less of the denigration... now if you had said Cargo Fleet, that would be a different matter ..

just to encourage Blackpool fans even more, the assistant to Mr. Bruce will be former Boro Premier League manager, Steve Agnew. The catchphrase of a character played by John Laurie in "Dad's Army" comes to mind . Would like to think that success is possible but if I was offered the choice of Bruce and Agnew or Uncle Tony, I would consider Dr. Evil before the Chuckle Brothers. Still, good luck to the club, they are going to need it...

Wonder if he ever taught at the University of Walamaloo 🙂

this may need an explanation or punctuation 🙂

For the superstitious Blackpool fans, this is his 13th club as a League manager 🙂