Got it. So if I'm understanding right that guarantees (pretty much) a 'minnow' at the Euro 2020 finals, given that the winner of the League D play-offs will take a spot. Based on the league splits on the wiki page, League D would start with 97th ranked Cyprus, and include the likes of Macedonia, Bel...

I've read it 5 times and I'm still not sure how it works.

...and the added shamble that 4 of the 24 spots at 2020 will be decided by the 2018-19 UEFA nations league, which will presumably make some of the regular qualification spots redundant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018%E2%8 ... qualifying

Que?

Will be interesting how it pans out and the affect that has on the format in 2020 (or is it already set?). First clear impact of this almost redundant group stage is teams parking the bus to secure a minimum third spot.* Second is that where one top seed fcuks it up (Spain), you end up with a skewe...

Not really - alternative would be group winners and two best second placed sides straight into the quarter finals, but that would skew everything in favour of the seeded teams and create lots of dead rubbers.

Will be interesting how it pans out and the affect that has on the format in 2020 (or is it already set?). First clear impact of this almost redundant group stage is teams parking the bus to secure a minimum third spot.* Second is that where one top seed fcuks it up (Spain), you end up with a skewed...

Italy v Spain in round 2 then with the winner to play Germany. Suddenly England's potential run doesn't seem so bad. Yep - so only one of Italy, Spain and Germany in the semi-finals. Spain's defeat has opened the draw up. On the other side of the coin, one of the semi-finalists will be from Switzer...

Sutekh Well that's alright then, so long as there is a legit reason for threatening behaviour and putting health and safety at risk.

I wasn't defending it in any way at all, it just a) gives some context to Croatian fans fighting each other, and b) puts it in a different light to, say, the Russian thugs.

Saddened to see fighting from Russian, French, Hungarian, German, Croatian, Ukrainian and English fans this tournament. Chuck out the Belgians for throwing a flare on the pitch too and you're back down to 16 teams and a more sensible format :!: Don't know how serious you're being but I pondered thi...

Contract running down, and Spurs have a bargain, £12m for Wanyama.

The answer of course is both, but certainly I can't imagine Jaap Stam is leaving the famed Ajax youth setup just to come to Berkshire and nurture Dominic Samuel. His experience of such an advanced youth programme will be invaluable to us, but I'd expect 4 or 5 signings with good experience at this l...

Little stat I found - only 8 English sides have ever paid more than £20m for a player - yet Manchester City have done it 19 times, Chelsea 15, Manchester United 12, and Liverpool 9. Money talks eh? I would like to know how many of those players turned out to be shit? We have the internet now, with ...

Phil Parkinson is the new manager of Bolton Wanderers.

It's pink and purple for Sunderland's third kit...

genome £5m! You could buy Michael Hector for that. Not that you would want to.

Do wonder what Conte will make of Hector. He's not a very 'Italian' defender at all, and with Terry staying and Kante perhaps on his way, I can see Hector leaving on loan. I hope he likes Holland.

Little stat I found - only 8 English sides have ever paid more than £20m for a player - yet Manchester City have done it 19 times, Chelsea 15, Manchester United 12, and Liverpool 9.

Money talks eh?

£5m.

And all he said was 'son of a bitch'. Yeah, ok.

This is our 7th permanent manager since Alan Pardew left the club in September 2003, since when hairy managers have lasted a combined 3 years and 83 days. Jaap Stam will likely take us over 10 years of baldiness. Welcome Jaap.

Uke

Sanguine Even talk of a 29 year old Vardy at £20m to Arsenal.

Ian Wright was 28 when he signed for Arsenal

He did OK

Yes, he did.

My point was more in respect of what people are willing to pay. The 'going rate' seems to have jumped again.