[Brian blue]

Although I would have liked to have won the match, I am not too dissaointed, mainly because we have a very young side and it was obvious that “gelling” has not happened yet but they did not do much wrong either. We lacked a leader though, this should have fallen to Kane but as already stated, he has not been good enough in the last two games and just went through the motions of playing and with no leadership attributes. On the bench we had little that would really have done much different, although Grealish did make an effort to do something different Thought Mings and Stones did well again and surprised when he took Foden off, I would have taken Kane off much earlier. Kane has done one thing right, he has driven his price down after these two no shows!!!!

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[Brian blue]

I read that some fans had paid £3/400 for a ticket to watch the match on TV in a pub, Plus the cost of travel and food and drink, my question is how can they afford it? No winners except the hospitality section who probably welcome it. I hope they do not take up any NHS time though

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[Brian blue]

Just seen City’s fixture list for the new season, waste of time entering into my diary because I am 100% sure many of the fixtures will be changed for TV. I do not know why the FA just do not give them the teams and ask them to sort it out!!! Fans loose out again because they cannot plan properly , particularly in these difficult times. I can see us playing the Charity Shield on Saturday and Spurs away on Sunday though!!!!

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[Brian blue]

Thats true Nine, you have to want to play the game, football or cricket at a young age. In my early days that is wha we did. I earned my cricket unkinder wickets or boded sites or whatever patch we could find. We followed the 3/5 day game like a sticking plaster and loved it. To day, as I am watching out of the window I see a schoolboy looking down at his phone, nearly walking into a lamppost . We are fortunate in our village to have a good cricket team playing in a good league. They encourage youngsters and have three teams, maybe, that is our best chance of finding somebody unless they are seduced by the short game. Not every change under the progress banner is good for the game itself. My thoughts are most of the changes are made by people who do not understand let alone played the game and it shows. Football has its similarity with UEFA/FiFA new edict. that block colour shirts must be worn

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[Brian blue]

On the next England managers job, although I do not see much wrong with Southgate, but if it happens then I would not pick any of the likely candidates and think outside the box, so to speak and would go along with Faxy suggestion and have Dyche, a strong character, although our media will eventually wear him down, or any other Manager for that matter. Howe as my next choice although not sure he could handle big events.

Whoever takes the job will have more critics than supporters , that is certain

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[Brian blue]

If we do not get some real cricketers in and a decent Captain I cannot see us winning any Test match. “not the time to panic”says Root, agree with him…sack the lot, panic over.

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[Brian blue]

Nine, I watched this because I wanted to see what Englands next two teams offer. Scotland, a lot of “huff and puff”. cannot fault the effort but Cheq had “guile and patience”and that is what Scotland short of. I am sure they will be doubly up for the England game where Cheq will be much of the same.

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[Brian blue]

These pundits think they are Gods gift to the game, and why do we need to listen to so many for so long. BBC and ITV should be looking at cost saving here, not that they will

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[Brian blue]

Sean…it is what sells print that is more important to them than reality. As to the match, a young team which I thought did well, it would not have been my selection, then again, everybody has there own ideas as to what it should or should not be. I only watched to see how the City lads played, not that interested and first game I have seen. I will look in on the Scotland game whenever it is played.

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[Brian blue]

Nil, the simple facts are we have been outplayed, outthought by a NZ “B” team and credit to them, they concentrated on the game and what needed to be done, we did not. The team was poorly balanced not enough character and poor captaincy . The Aussies and India will have whitewash in mind if we do not get some serious playersof quality for test matches in. Well done NZ fully deserved. Time we had a new captain as well

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[Brian blue]

Fair point Nine, I would go further and say the gap will get wider season on season. Rangers and Celtic have made it a two team league for years, I disliked our being top4, I think it developed to top 6 and I hope next season it will be a fight between top 8. We need competitive league

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[Brian blue]

20 over cricketers!!!!! Not test match players. If you like T20 that is OK but we are now playing full TEST matches…which as it says on the Jar…is a TEST. I guess we have nobody else unless we can get some out of retirement!!!! Pathetic, Pitch was OK bowling nothing exceptional, looks like our bowlers will have to perform with ball and bat!!!!

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[Brian blue]

city boy..you are right….nothing will happen until after the Euros, so all speculation until then. I do not want Bernado to go but I think he is still miffed with the fine the FA imposed which was totally unfair and the FA did not consider the different cultures humour. Also, the alleged player it was said to, never complained because he understood it.
I still think we maybe going for somebody younger than Kane, Haarland is a no-no at the moment and Grealish a possibility…that is how I see it anyhow

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[Brian blue]

An American friend once asked me about test match cricket over 5 days and what the value of it was. I told him, to think of it as a physical game of Chess and there are lots of games with the game itself takeing place, watch good batters build an innings, watch good bowlers do good line and length bowling over a period, watch the keeper display acrobatics but above all try and work out the strategy of each captain. He was still baffled. Patience is required and commercial sport to day no longer has that

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[Brian blue]

Good for you Nil..go for it.. I hold the view that top order batsman, even in a 50 over game should know how to build an innings, maybe less on 20/20 which is another form of Baseball to me, absolutely anti cricket. How people find it exciting baffles me

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[Brian blue]

Mikus….good reasoning those comments, I could go along with that as being realistic

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[Brian blue]

Mikus…is it a case for anyone who would “toe the line”??? I guess anybody witha good track record would want a lot of assurances before agreeing to anything with Mr Levy, then again, he has to get it right at some point. What Spurs fans are going through is what we went through years ago.

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[Brian blue]

Dortmund are smiling at the prospect, however, they could also loose a lot of money because unless they offer him new terms he will be off somewhere. I doubt Dortmunds resolve on this, does not make business sense

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[Brian blue]

Nil, by contrast to what we have been talking about, this afternoon I walked across to our village cricket club, fortunately I live opposite the ground which is a good size ground for league status if not undulating.
Lancashire Boys v Staffordshire Boys playing. A very entertaing game. I had to smile for one of our Bowlers, a Left hand round the wicket bowler who must have had about 10 LBW appeals turned down, Very difficult for a Left arm round the wicket to get an LBW, I know from experience, you have to have the ability to straighten the odd one and then you have to have an umpire who understands what you are doing.. Where is VAR when you need it!!!!!!!! Enjoyed the game, lots of endeavour and some good highlights

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[Brian blue]

Ed…Roy Keane has a lot to answer for!!!!!!! I remember that game well

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