PaulC

Yes but we always go for foreign then we want an English and then when the English manager fails we want another foreign. I used to think just pick the right manager but now i have come to accept we just haven't got the players.

Yes but they would probably have won 5 leagues and 3 european cups by then and a big buyer would have come in for them. To me there's nothing between forest and Derby. Both provincial clubs like you say. The sad thing for me is that Birmingham is the 2nd city and we are the biggest club but probably only about 8th biggest in the Country.

What will change? Impossible to say without knowing who his replacement will be. If it's someone who shares his ethos then probably not a lot. The polar opposite of Roy Hodgson in style and personality is Harry Redknapp funnily enough........ I wanted Harry too but not sure he would make much difference. A bit surprised we went back to the tired old 4-4-2 today though!

What will change? Impossible to say without knowing who his replacement will be. If it's someone who shares his ethos then probably not a lot. I think we got a bit carried away with those two world cup qualifiers. We still are short when it comes to quality. Poland and Montenegro are poor sides.

Baines was found out against Chile. Walcott might add something a bit more up front. Its just a friendly at the end of the day and we know Germany are better than us. Townsend is a big positive for us but not sure Rooney and Sturridge works.

The one player that has been totally crap tonight is Sturridge. Where is Heskey when we need him.

He's produced two moments of brilliance in the 2nd half.

Townsend isn't the problem. He always has a go. He's just not going to be given the same space he was in the two world cup qualifying games.

I thought Cleverley was ok. Sturridge and Rooney have been very poor.

So its all Heskey's fault then

Yes but Belgium had enough chances to have the game out of sight before Colombia scored

Most of the time the ones that got you there are legitimately the best ones to bring with you, rather than it being out of some sentimental debt to them. But on the occasions where there is someone better, there is no room IMO for sentimentality. Yeah, I can be a hard ass True enough. You'd have to assume that Hodgson believes his current crop to be his best crop, and a couple of promising (Chile apart) results will probably have cemented that thought. I just don't think there will be enough open spots to allow Delph a way into the team. When you consider that Barkely and Lallana are well on their way to becoming permanent fixtures in the squad, I just don't think Hodgson will be looking to bring any more midfield debutants into the team. That said, I do think he deserves a chance. He could bring the kind of drive and ambition that are often sadly lacking in the England team, particularly a Wilshere-less one. That's true although i don't think Lallana and Barkely are on the plane just yet. Hodgson is going to announce an initial squad after this match and if Delph is not in that we can assume he wont get in the final one.

He's still injured but is imminently about to return to training, if he hasn't in the past week. He's been so unfortunate with injuries you begin to wonder whether he will ever fufill his promise. More talented than his brother but his brother hasn't had the same problems.

Yes that's probably why Hodgson hasn't picked him. He looks great but Hodgson maybe looking for more end product. You can point to Cleverly but he's a different type of player.

He's got another week nearly to get over it. He's going to be ok! With Gabby and Weimann both doubtful we cant afford to loose him as well.

I sense another case of us all expecting him to play until the squads are announced and then he suddenly disappears. Always happens with our players. From what i saw of the tackle it was Benteke's own fault, but i expect he'll be ok.

No they don't. Dalglish, Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone, hansen, Strachan, Gemmill, Andy Gray, Dennis Law, Alex Cropley. Just to name a few from, the 60s/70s The current crop aren't in the same league including Bannan. Fair enough, four of those I recognise as great players: Dalgleish, Hansen, Strachan, Law. You could also add Bremner and Souness. However, your list does actually trawl the years mid-1950s - 1980s, which is three decades. Gordon Strachan didn't stop playing until 1997. For comparison, I'll list some prominent Scottish footballers from the 1990s and 2000s, less time about two decades. Alex McLeish (Aberdeen, captain), Jim Leighton (Man Utd), Ally McCoist (Rangers), Gary McAllister (Leeds), Brian McClair (Man Utd), Pat Nevin (Everton), Steve Archibald (Barcelona), Gordon Durie (Chelsea, Tottenham). Yes, these are excellent players but from that list only Pat Nevin could be listed in the same category as your list. Steve Archibald too, possibly. So I would partially agree the plateau is a slight dip, but it is not as excessive as it's often made out to be. The rest of the world has got better and so the good Scottish players just don't start out so much any more. I expect Bannan to enter the category of great Scottish footballers but I agree he has a lot to do to get there. I was really talking 60s/70s when those players were at their peak, because i think that was the golden era of Scottish football. Celtic won the european cup in 67 with all scottish 11. In 1970 Celtic totally outplayed our best Leeds.over two legs. i think it was 1970. Sorry Bannan will never be a great. Cropley is not even considered a great and I think of Bannan as a poor mans cropley. He reminds me off him a little but Cropley was different class.

Yes true they did but the only reason Derby didn't have any sustained success was because Clough and Taylor were forced out. Biggest mistake the club ever made.

That is not true at all. Derby had a good side in the 30s and post war. They also won the league after Clough left under Dave Mackay. Our ex player Bruce Rioch was part of that side and that was a very good team. They haven't had success since then. Forest had a half decent side in the 60s but got relegated and it wasn't until Clough took over they had any succcess and since he left they have done nothing.

We're into the middle of November and he still hasn't scored. I know he's out injured now but clearly that is not good enough if you are a striker.

Yes Derby must run them close though. Strange thing is if it wasn't for the fallout between Clough and the Chairman at the time, History would have been rewritten. Derby would most probably be the club that won 2 european cups not Forest. Regarding Scotland i always regarded Rangers as the bigger club.

Yes and the cricket ground is in close proximity too.

No they don't. Dalglish, Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone, hansen, Strachan, Gemmill, Andy Gray, Dennis Law, Alex Cropley. Just to name a few from, the 60s/70s The current crop aren't in the same league including Bannan.

Not terrible with the obvious exception of Cleverley who just isn't deserving of a start right now. Personally I don't like the two centre-backs as well but I suppose our options are limited. I'd like to see Caulker in the squad and probably in the team for the world cup. Its ok, glad he's given Lallana another go, Walker and Townsend down the right give us a lot of pace. Hope Lallana plays in the hole rather than wide left. Germany have a lot of first teamers out. I think this game will suit is more than the Chile one!

It has to be Newcastle who my living memory have won nothing. Leeds were never a big club until Don Revie made them successful