Alex

They’ve just missed a pen

Are you watching, Noelie?

France weren’t at either ( or ‘94 in the USA). I think he was in the squad at the Euros in Sweden in 92. Although that tournament passed me by a bit as England were dogshit (I was hoping for a repeat of 90). He was captain by ‘96

Aye. I remember getting into football about 81/82. I.e. being properly excited by it. But it was limited in terms of what you saw on tv to the odd England international, motd, the cup final, European cup final, stuff like that. Seeing that French side and Brazil’s team in 82 was like watching a different sport. England beat them in ‘82 in the group stage too. That was a canny decent England team in retrospect. Went home without losing a match

He was a good ten years later

Aye. Le carre magique. But it was Giresse I think alongside Tigana, Platini and I’m not sure who else. I think all the games were on the telly though (unless I’m mistaken). England didn’t qualify (or any other home nation iirc). But it was the first time the Euros was expanded as a tournament proper - to 8 teams. I think it was a series of knockout qualifiers before that. I.e. just 4 teams made the finals straight into semis and then finals. Euro 80 was before my time though (I have vague memories of Allan Wells winning the Olympics in Moscow). The first tournament I can remember was the World Cup in Spain two years before.

I loved him as a player. I remember really looking forward to that tournament and seeing him and France off the back of Espana ‘82. He didn’t disappoint. Iirc he was the top scorer in Serie A three years running, playing for Juve, around that time. I know he took free kicks and pens but that’s pretty amazing for an attacking midfielder/ no. 10.

His comments about a club being (amongst other things) the pride in your city obviously run counter to that 👍🏻

lad from North Shields made good = lad from South Shields who used to be a MLF. Lass from Washington made good who used to go and watch NUFC and has never claimed to be a Sunderland supporter = MLF. Or something

Guam and Australia are both geographically in Oceania but they both are part of the Asian Football Confederation. I bet you all wanted to know that

If only they knew

It’s not even just ‘centrists’. He think he’s better than anyone who takes a pragmatic view re: ousting the Tories. All he’s arsed about is his career as a commentator appearing on stuff like the appalling Jeremy Vine show along with its regular panel of popularist cunts

Has anyone checked on Owen Jones?

I think he’s done for completely already. He’s made a monumental miscalculation, been completely shown up and is in complete denial about it. This is not going to go away. Tory MPs are mercenaries but that’s why he’s toast. At this point even their hardcore base is being hit hard. It’s all his doing too

I wouldn’t dispute any of those were really good players. You could argue about whether or not done of them were great in the sense of their international achievements. Either way it’s quite a fucking leap to argue the squad was incredible. You had the likes of Paul Parker, Mark Wright and David Platt in the starting XI in the semi. Platt had a good career (as did Parker) but he was essentially a box to box grafter with an eye for goal. Shilton and Butcher started that match too. They were both finished at that level imo, especially the latter. What did we have on the bench? Barnes, but he never really did it for England. There wasn’t a lot else. Bryan Robson was fucking brilliant and underrated now but he was knackered again

The Italia 90 squad had some great individuals, including Gazza at what turned out to be his peak, but it was not an incredible squad by any stretch of the imagination.

He’s predicted to lose his seat anyway as things stand

Could you have predicted any of the steps that got us here in 2015?

They’ve enabled her candidacy in the later rounds though. If she’s so unpopular with them (and was then) why do that?

Unfortunately that all seems very plausible

The thing is these Tory MPs picked her and Sunak knowing there was a very good chance she’d be chosen by the membership. Then they nearly all jumped on the bandwagon when it became apparent she would win. They’re as much to blame as anyone but yet again they’re acting like it’s fuck all to do with them

They’ve been lying about literally everything since Johnson became PM. They’re not going to change now

Class. I can’t fucking stand him. The fucking nerve of him accusing her of being left wing in the abstract. He’s fucking gutted about the polls imo. He’s your classic Tory enabler