And Its Smith

Easy to say that it will be a very rare occurrence due to the fickle nature of viewing managers in this country. If he stays and gets sacked at FGR then he will be viewed negatively. Overseas there isn’t a stigma around employing sacked managers like there is in this country.

I think everyone including Edwards himself knew that this could happen. He could hardly turn it down though and he’s probably at least £1m better off now. Will be interesting to see what job he gets next. Assuming bigger than FGR, he’s had a very good result especially as he’d have had his best players sold if he’d stayed at FGR as well

No idea why you put the first bit in quote marks. What I’ve said is undeniably true. A vast majority of mankad opportunities end in a warning. I also umpire and coach and I get kids doing it every few games. I’ve had one kid whip the bails off and appeal and I told him to stop being silly and to warn first. If you refused a withdrawal of an appeal then I’d say you are a poor umpire. You would be actively stopping the good nature of the withdraw. As for the rule change, yes I’m aware and disappointed. Choose the Gayle approach

As I say, either you believe in the spirit first or the laws. Warning before mankading has gone on for decades. It’s in the spirit. Stumping is different, no precedent for stumping warnings. The photo you have given could have resulted in a warning. I completely accept that those newer to cricket may have a different view to me. And either views is fine. Personally I don’t understand mankading without a warning.

Sorry I don’t know what you are on about. Talking about mankading not stumpings

You either believe in the spirit of cricket trumps the laws or the laws are more important than the spirit. For me, mankading without warning is a disgrace

Walker and Maguire will start first game. Not sure who you think will start at centre back if they don’t. I’m trying to work out what team he will pick with your 3 and nobody else. Can’t see it at all Pickford Stones. Coady. Tomori Trent. Rice. Phillips. Trippier Sterling. Kane. Grealish Is that what you are thinking?

Possibly but that just makes it 8 from last night instead of 7. If Phillips is fit I still fancy him to start personally but it’s certainly very close

If everyone is fit for the first game then the team will likely be Pickford Walker. Stones. Maguire James. Rice. Phillips. ?????? Sterling. Kane. Foden 7 starters from last night.

Three at the back doesn’t work at all. Just play this team which should be quite exciting. Only position I’m not completely sold on is who partners Stones. Could be Tomori, Webster, White….many options there. Can’t see much to argue about with the rest of this team though. Pickford/Ramsdale James. Stones. Tomori. Chilwell Bellingham. Rice. Foden Sterling. Kane. Grealish.

Couldn’t care less about the nations league. Hopefully we improve in the World Cup. Euros overall was positive despite the final.

Our first major final for half a decade gets no credit? Fair enough. We all see things differently. He should have managed that final differently no doubt but to get no credit for getting there isn’t right

If he’s playing this formation he has to play Trent wide right and find someone to play wide left

Not on the bench

Great strike. Walker poor.

How can he be very poor if he got us the final of the euros? I’m not a massive Southgate fan but ‘very poor’ is a bit harsh

Very naughty from Barella on Bellingham. Knew what he was doing

This ref has given 9 free kicks in 19 minutes. Fall over and get a free kick

England defence and midfield don’t know what to do with the striker dropping deep. Amazing their is no plan for this as Italy do it a lot

Can’t make the Arctic Monkeys. I’m at Wembley watching city that day

Couldn’t agree more. The end of the cricket season starts filling me with dread from early August when a lot of the kids stuff finishes. I go from watching, coaching or playing in 4-5 games of cricket a week to one afternoon of indoor cricket and one evening of coaching per week, for months. As with you, people I won’t see for months. Genuinely puts me in a slump.

And a lot of their fans don’t like the owners as they believe they should be spending more money. Probably 30% odd against the owner

Can’t see that many actually. Mostly people saying hope it’s not too bad

Scott or Sykes I reckon!

Not sure it answers that question anyway. Who out of Semenyo, Wells and Conway would play the Weimann role?