Perfect example why some England games should be held further north, would be a sell out up north but the locals won't bother about Finland and isn't worth the money for northerners to travel down.

Financial isn’t it? The FA need Wembley to pays its way.

Yes Wembley cost twice or more, as much as the French equivalent and FA has lots at stake.

Football is not inspiring! Rain pouring down.

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:09 pm

Yes Wembley cost twice or more, as much as the French equivalent and FA has lots at stake.

Football is not inspiring! Rain pouring down.

The stade de France is also a hole compared to Wembley

GetIntoEm wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:12 pm

The stade de France is also a hole compared to Wembley

Wembley is also a dump

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:02 pm

Financial isn’t it? The FA need Wembley to pays its way.

Surely it’s been paid off by now ?

Is there something wrong with the sound because I can’t hear any crowd noise?

Like a library. Not surprised as this is boring zzzz

The Shire Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:19 pm

Surely it’s been paid off by now ?

It has. Think they finally paid for it last year.

It’s more that having spent so much on it, the FA seemingly feel obliged to ensure it’s used and generates income regularly.

Probably the same reason the FA Cup semi finals are now always going to be there.

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:31 pm

It has. Think they finally paid for it last year.

It’s more that having spent so much on it, the FA seemingly feel obliged to ensure it’s used and generates income regularly.

Probably the same reason the FA Cup semi finals are now always going to be there.

It’s bonkers the semi finals are held there …. Should be a stadium in the middle of the two clubs involved

It’s also bonkers it was only paid off last year !

Dreary half of football.

Is it not better for the national team, and football as a whole in this country, that the FA generates money?

I'm clearly the only person who thinks otherwise but if it hadn't been for money & scheduling issues I'd have loved to go tonight. But then I have a bizarre deep fondness for Finland as a country.
England have dominated but been unable to threaten. Same old same old really.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:35 pm

Is it not better for the national team, and football as a whole in this country, that the FA generates money?

Not sure how much income an attendance that size, with tickets as cheap as £12.50 would generate.

I've entered a ballot for 10 free tickets for next month's game. Not sure how many they are giving away in total but it's pretty desperate.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:46 pm

Not sure how much income an attendance that size, with tickets as cheap as £12.50 would generate.

I've entered a ballot for 10 free tickets for next month's game. Not sure how many they are giving away in total but it's pretty desperate.

I don’t know. But I guess it would generate more than a similar sized attendance elsewhere in the country whilst having to pay to use another venue.

Get Kane off.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:00 pm

Get Kane off.

Ahem...

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:00 pm

Get Kane off.

Not like you to be totally wrong

spt_claret wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:03 pm

Ahem...

Foot in mouth moment, impressed with the young lad lewis, good player

Casper2 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:03 pm

Not like you to be totally wrong

Are you watching on teletext love?

Get Kane off again.

Alexander Arnold’s passing is incredible.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:19 pm

Get Kane off again.

Say it again for a Kane Hatt-trick

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:19 pm

Alexander Arnold’s passing is incredible.

He’s been immense tonight. Can’t believe he wasn’t used more at right back in the summer.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:20 pm

He’s been immense tonight. Can’t believe he wasn’t used more at right back in the summer.

Yeah. People are rightly concerned about his defensive frailties when 1v1, but how often are England’s full backs actually isolated in those positions. He’s played some incredible passes tonight that I don’t think anyone else is capable of. Kane has also shown his class.

Is it time to bring up the "Is it time to drop Hsrry Kane" discussion again?

stupid stubborn southgate, that's the reason taa wasn't playing

Vino blanco wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:23 pm

Is it time to bring up the "Is it time to drop Hsrry Kane" discussion again?

He didn’t look fully fit in the summer but he’s shown tonight why he’s pivotal to this England team having a successful World Cup. His finishing is clinical and he’s far better than any other like-for-like alternatives.

You've changed your tune from "get Kane off" there, Rileybobs.

Doesn't matter where it's played watching England is just utterly pointless dross. A team of yes men run by a team of yes men it's all BS.

That people think Toney/Watkins v Kane is an actual debate is proof that fans will contest any decision a manager makes if they don't like him.

Vino blanco wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:28 pm

You've changed your tune from "get Kane off" there, Rileybobs.

I really haven’t. That post was made after Kane scored and was very much tongue in cheek.

Apologies Rileybobs, I logged in late and didn't see the chronology. You are right though, when he is fit and playing well he is up there with the best.

EIEIEIO up the nations league we go.

Surely automatic promotion is on the cards for the three lions.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:34 pm

I really haven’t. That post was made after Kane scored and was very much tongue in cheek.

Really , Kane scored at 9.02 you posted at 9.00 , now your just making yourself look silly

Casper2 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:42 pm

Really , Kane scored at 9.02 you posted at 9.00 , now your just making yourself look silly

I don’t know where you’re getting your goal times from but you’re making yourself look silly.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:00 pm

Get Kane off.

I said the same

Good job we ain't managers

Can only see the appeal of going to Wembley to watch England if it's free or you're taking kids

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:35 pm

Is it not better for the national team, and football as a whole in this country, that the FA generates money?

It might be if those of us at the grassroots level actually saw some of it

But that’s a different discussion for another time

The Shire Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:34 pm

It’s bonkers the semi finals are held there …. Should be a stadium in the middle of the two clubs involved

It’s also bonkers it was only paid off last year !

Wow. A demi between Mighty Clarets and B'tard Rovers at Accrington!

bumba wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 10, 2024 8:13 pm

Wembley is also a dump

In what way is Wembley a dump?

Targetman wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 9:36 am

In what way is Wembley a dump?

I think he’s referring to the area not the ground itself

Targetman wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 9:36 am

In what way is Wembley a dump?

Have you ever done the ground tour? It's a dump inside and surrounding areas.
It's not a stadium to be proud of

Kane is still the best player at what he does in the world, be idiotic to drop him while he's still playing at a top level.

He will still be the first name on the team sheet, and i imagine he would be for any international team in the world.

Think the "new" Wembley is a nice enough ground, just feels a bit of a soulless concrete bowl that was built mainly for the corporates.

GetIntoEm wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 10:32 am

Kane is still the best player at what he does in the world, be idiotic to drop him while he's still playing at a top level.

He will still be the first name on the team sheet, and i imagine he would be for any international team in the world.

I found it so odd after the last game when people on here weee saying he was done and should be retired everyone is entitled to an opinion but I thought that was particularly stupid and lacking any football knowledge. He didn’t have a good euros but there is nobody who comes even close to him that is qualified for England.

JarrowClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 11:21 am

I found it so odd after the last game when people on here weee saying he was done and should be retired everyone is entitled to an opinion but I thought that was particularly stupid and lacking any football knowledge. He didn’t have a good euros but there is nobody who comes even close to him that is qualified for England.

Situation:

Playing a team where you're expected to be 50/50 with or lose the possession battle and may need to counter at pace, or get more people behind the ball out of possession and have a striker that can run the channels, compete for 50/50s and fashion half chances for themselves and their teammates.

Who are you picking?

I can get the Kane criticism.
He took his first goal brilliantly, as only he can, but at times looks slow at finding space in the box. I also hate that he goes looking for the ball in our half, much as Foster sometimes does for us. IF we do break there's no one in the middle.

The team performance although dominant, was like the Parsons eggs. For all their pretty footwork down the left Grealish and Gordon produced very little, other than look pretty. They just give defenders lots of time to organise behind them, instead of that early ball that defenders hate.
On the other hand Gomes, Lewis, Konsa and TAA to be fair (I'm not his biggest fan), played some brilliant balls through the channels, and always look to play it forward quickly. Completely against the style of Southgate.
Gomes looked to have so much time on the ball, quick in tight places and always looking for that killer ball. A real star of the future if he replicates that.

Playing against Finland at home in the second tier of a pointless competition in the opening international break of the season after a Euros Final. Obviously, for our top players, they were never gonna be that bothered and easily won just going through the motions: don't get injured and get the job done.

JarrowClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 11, 2024 11:21 am

I found it so odd after the last game when people on here weee saying he was done and should be retired everyone is entitled to an opinion but I thought that was particularly stupid and lacking any football knowledge. He didn’t have a good euros but there is nobody who comes even close to him that is qualified for England.

For all the great creative England players, when it comes to strikers England don't have another player than would even get into the squad of other top nations.