StockholmRam

Amazing that the Dutch girl thought she’d got gold in the cycling road race. Explains why they let the Austrian girl get so far in front. They didn’t know she was there!

When I heard the Knight news, coupled with the weekend pics, I just thought with all that’s affecting us, if we start as poor as most seem to think, he”ll soon be gone. Always look on the bright side or put another way.
 

No, but it’s clear the club have some bridges to rebuild with the fans.
Despite not achieving promotion we have had some real good atmospheres around the club, whilst some may find it hard to believe, we’ve been lucky. 
Many clubs out there that have gone years without a sniff of any kind of cup or promotion to enjoy.
I don’t want to get into the blame game or the EFL’s role in the position we’re in, but it’s not a great situation.
Reading across social media, seeing so many fans feeling disconnected is not great, and as I say we need to see bridges rebuilt, ideally starting before the first game of the season. 
I’m not one to call for answers from the club, I would rather they spend every hour working on improving the situation as we have too many outstanding issues that need resolving.
Saying that, I do feel like the club need to host a fan forum asap, whilst some see these as nothing more than PR stunts, some good PR is needed to lift the spirits.
I fear the atmosphere for the opening game could be extremely toxic if we go into the start of the season under so many question marks.
As fans though, we need to play our part no matter how hard it is, we have to get behind the players we have and Rooney, dial back the criticisms and as cliche as it sounds, be that 12th man/woman.
If we can’t do that in our hour of need, then why are we even here? 
Toxic atmospheres, attacking the club will not help the situation at all, it just won’t, so the question is, how much do we love this club? Right now is the time to show it and come together and try to focus on the positives and help create some optimism going into what will be a difficult season without a doubt.

My pet hate resurfaces. Sibbo (currently playing on the right) nicks the ball and wins a freekick 10 yards inside the opposition half. It's a decent attacking opportunity with 5 minutes to go. Instead of attacking, the freekick is passed backwards 30 yards and we end up losing the ball. It makes you want to bang your head against a wall.

Average male life expectancy in the UK is 81
I'm 50 , so I've only got about another 7 world cups left ?

The mighty Mariners of Cleethorpes.
My mums hometown. Im related to at least a third of Grimsby. 
Due to a continued fascination with one Johan Cruyff I follow Ajax but not too closely. Love their famous strip. 

Everything you have just said Utch. Perfect man for the job really in terms of man management, player culture, dealing with FA.
I hope we keep learning too. Id have rather lost in extra time throwing the kitchen sink at it and employing the whole attack line than go out on penalties.

He’s won me over. Always thought he was too negative but he has managed this group of players almost perfectly through this tournament.
I was gutted when we lost to Iceland but Southgate has learnt from that, he seems mentally stronger and the players are feeding off that, they trust him, he keeps the fringe players involved , the senior players respect him, for the first time in years there’s no cliques, it’s one team.
Win or lose tonight, he’s the man to take us into the next World Cup without a doubt.
 

I am Always drawn to those who speak softly and get on with it like Gareth. I thought he did well in the WC with a very young team but doubts started to creep in when I saw the odd turgid defensive game, and I have never like 2 DM’s in any set up. The Scotland game was a low, how could such a great group look so unadventurous and ordinary ? Yet, on reflection that was a particular match against particular opposition and maybe “don’t lose” was the key 
I love his calm integrity and the Denmark game showed he had nouse. The behind the scenes stories and the forging of a team unit without egos say even more. 

Not sure if that answers the post though ?
 
 

Why you straight, monogamous persons always have to dismiss other ways to live is beyond me!
Don't be a afraid, swing and go for a Grimsby game!
 
 
Oh wait Grismby, now I get it. Carry on with you dinosauristic views, it's best for you.

Eastleigh - I've lived here for longer than I lived in Derbyshire in truth. 
Cmon youuuuu Spitfires... ?

Port Vale. What can I say? I'm a glory hunter. ?

Whoever is playing Forest that week

Thats a tough one. Im knocking on in years so id love to see us win something, but I appreciate thats a selfish answer.
If we can say that England builds and builds and develops in the next ten years and then wins everything there is to win... I go with that option.
Similar is Derby. Me personally if you said you can have one FA Cup final win in the next year or two but the caviat is that you wont see the premier league in my life time... Im all for a day out at Wembley and bringing THE cup home.
 

My wife (zero interest in football) just showed me a video she took of my reaction when Saka missed the last penalty….she saved It because she thought “It was one of the Other team, ones, that I was happy they missed tears of joy”…. It made me want to throw up….she had watched the entire game with me and still didn’t know which colour shirt England were in…( think what confused her was I had an Italy 90 England shirt on-white but with the words Italia 90 on It..) 

A win! A win! A win!

Happy enough in Stockholm.
The night we lost to mighty football nation Iceland was up there as one of the ones that hurt the most. My social media exploded with people guffawing for hours and days at the laughing stock that had become England national football team. I hurt really badly about that... I remember thinking that I just would like for England to compete at least to a decent level given the players at our disposal. Not too much to ask surely. And remember this happened not so long ago. 
Since then under Gareth Southgate we have come on leaps and bounds. We have indeed competed to a good level in all competitions and brought in some fantastic players to watch. Our junior International football going great too so I hope there are more youngsters like Mount, Saka, Foden to come through. 
Also, the whole atmosphere and culture around the England camp is enjoyable and its a pleasure to watch these young lads on interviews etc. 
Sure we can debate the plan, style, systems and penalty takers for months... but if you had told me the day after the Iceland debacle that I was about to watch a world cup semi final and european championship final with England in them, well, I would have snapped your hand off. 
I suspect and hope there is a competetive national team for the next decade. 

That sounds amazing. Yeah unfortunately these days the class of the imported players isn’t quite so high…although we have got to see Joe Cole (who was miles better than anyone on the field), and a certain Wayne Rooney (who was also miles better than anyone on the pitch)  and Tony Pulis and Kenny dalgleish kids are both managers over here.! 

Happy enough in Stockholm.
The night we lost to mighty football nation Iceland was up there as one of the ones that hurt the most. My social media exploded with people guffawing for hours and days at the laughing stock that had become England national football team. I hurt really badly about that... I remember thinking that I just would like for England to compete at least to a decent level given the players at our disposal. Not too much to ask surely. And remember this happened not so long ago. 
Since then under Gareth Southgate we have come on leaps and bounds. We have indeed competed to a good level in all competitions and brought in some fantastic players to watch. Our junior International football going great too so I hope there are more youngsters like Mount, Saka, Foden to come through. 
Also, the whole atmosphere and culture around the England camp is enjoyable and its a pleasure to watch these young lads on interviews etc. 
Sure we can debate the plan, style, systems and penalty takers for months... but if you had told me the day after the Iceland debacle that I was about to watch a world cup semi final and european championship final with England in them, well, I would have snapped your hand off. 
I suspect and hope there is a competetive national team for the next decade. 

On a side note... I see you have Tampa Bay Rowdies as your photo. I went over to play ” soccer” in New Jersey late 1970s with Ashbourne Junior Rams for a few weeks. We were taken by our hosts to Giants Stadium to watch New York Cosmos play v Minnesota Kicks. Such a fantastic never to be forgotten experience. 
Cosmos had Kaiser Franz, Carlos Alberto, Neeskins, Dennis Tuart, Steve Hunt, Chinaglia, Werner Roth playing for them. Pele was injured but at the game.
For Minnesota was one Frederick Charles George.
We also got to meet Eusabio. 
I remember years later someone saying ” look...theres Paul Green or Ted McMinn or Paul Blades and me thinking...yeah right”.

On a side note... I see you have Tampa Bay Rowdies as your photo. I went over to play ” soccer” in New Jersey late 1970s with Ashbourne Junior Rams for a few weeks. We were taken by our hosts to Giants Stadium to watch New York Cosmos play v Minnesota Kicks. Such a fantastic never to be forgotten experience. 
Cosmos had Kaiser Franz, Carlos Alberto, Neeskins, Dennis Tuart, Steve Hunt, Chinaglia, Werner Roth playing for them. Pele was injured but at the game.
For Minnesota was one Frederick Charles George.
We also got to meet Eusabio. 
I remember years later someone saying ” look...theres Paul Green or Ted McMinn or Paul Blades and me thinking...yeah right”.

Happy enough in Stockholm.
The night we lost to mighty football nation Iceland was up there as one of the ones that hurt the most. My social media exploded with people guffawing for hours and days at the laughing stock that had become England national football team. I hurt really badly about that... I remember thinking that I just would like for England to compete at least to a decent level given the players at our disposal. Not too much to ask surely. And remember this happened not so long ago. 
Since then under Gareth Southgate we have come on leaps and bounds. We have indeed competed to a good level in all competitions and brought in some fantastic players to watch. Our junior International football going great too so I hope there are more youngsters like Mount, Saka, Foden to come through. 
Also, the whole atmosphere and culture around the England camp is enjoyable and its a pleasure to watch these young lads on interviews etc. 
Sure we can debate the plan, style, systems and penalty takers for months... but if you had told me the day after the Iceland debacle that I was about to watch a world cup semi final and european championship final with England in them, well, I would have snapped your hand off. 
I suspect and hope there is a competetive national team for the next decade. 

Yeah people forget that in 5 years we have gone from being the embarrassment of Europe and being beat by Iceland to a World Cup semi final, a nations league semi final and as close to winning the Euros as you can possibly get.
Sir Gareth should be made prime minister, King, Chairman of the FA and The One Show presenter. 

Happy enough in Stockholm.
The night we lost to mighty football nation Iceland was up there as one of the ones that hurt the most. My social media exploded with people guffawing for hours and days at the laughing stock that had become England national football team. I hurt really badly about that... I remember thinking that I just would like for England to compete at least to a decent level given the players at our disposal. Not too much to ask surely. And remember this happened not so long ago. 
Since then under Gareth Southgate we have come on leaps and bounds. We have indeed competed to a good level in all competitions and brought in some fantastic players to watch. Our junior International football going great too so I hope there are more youngsters like Mount, Saka, Foden to come through. 
Also, the whole atmosphere and culture around the England camp is enjoyable and its a pleasure to watch these young lads on interviews etc. 
Sure we can debate the plan, style, systems and penalty takers for months... but if you had told me the day after the Iceland debacle that I was about to watch a world cup semi final and european championship final with England in them, well, I would have snapped your hand off. 
I suspect and hope there is a competetive national team for the next decade. 

Happy enough in Stockholm.
The night we lost to mighty football nation Iceland was up there as one of the ones that hurt the most. My social media exploded with people guffawing for hours and days at the laughing stock that had become England national football team. I hurt really badly about that... I remember thinking that I just would like for England to compete at least to a decent level given the players at our disposal. Not too much to ask surely. And remember this happened not so long ago. 
Since then under Gareth Southgate we have come on leaps and bounds. We have indeed competed to a good level in all competitions and brought in some fantastic players to watch. Our junior International football going great too so I hope there are more youngsters like Mount, Saka, Foden to come through. 
Also, the whole atmosphere and culture around the England camp is enjoyable and its a pleasure to watch these young lads on interviews etc. 
Sure we can debate the plan, style, systems and penalty takers for months... but if you had told me the day after the Iceland debacle that I was about to watch a world cup semi final and european championship final with England in them, well, I would have snapped your hand off. 
I suspect and hope there is a competetive national team for the next decade.