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I look at what were historically the strongest eras which, IMO, were the ‘80s to the ‘00s. The feats of Lineker and Shearer stand out. Shearer, especially before doing his ACL, was awesome. Way more internationals are played nowadays, way more penalties get given now than ever before, plus look at the likes of Italy, Brazil and Germany, all of whom were at their peak during those times and are a shadow of their best now. It’s no coincidence IMO that Ronaldo (120) and Messi (99) are the highest international scorers ever during the present era.

If you can’t tolerate an opinion that differs to your own, maybe you should have a look in the mirror. I prefer someone who’d have stuck that penalty in when it mattered over their individual record any day IMO. As for talk of redemption, he doesn’t gain that in a meaningless qualifier IMO; he gains that by doing it a knockout game at a major tournament.

Nothing will banish the memory of that penalty miss for me. He bottled it when it mattered most IMO.

It doesn’t boil down solely to Mancini, mate. Italy are fishing in a shallow pool for talent, and are at their lowest ebb right now.

Lewis O’Brien would be up there with my first choices if Scott’s move to Wolves comes to fruition. I always liked him at Huddersfield and he’s just gone on loan from Forest to DC United.

A sidebar of mine from back in the day! ?

No recency bias here, Percy. Pring has arguably been our best player wherever he’s played this season, whether LB, LWB, LW or auxiliary CB. He’s been consistently excellent in every position IMO. Undoubtedly Vyner has improved beyond recognition and his availability cannot be questioned, but being ever-present shouldn’t mean he’s a shoo-in and a mistake is never far away with him, but it’s all about opinions. #VOTEPRING

Sydney van Hooijdonk (Pierre’s son who’s on loan in Holland) might be worth a punt on, if we have some cash to spend.

Cam Pring POTY, Scott YPOTY.

Game over

Soft goal to concede. Sykes was poor, Max too

Back in 2021, a mate and I went to a preview night at HQ in which Ruby napped Galopin des Champs for the Martin Pipe. I backed him that day at 5s and he hacked up. Straight after that, I backed him at 9s for today’s Gold Cup and I had another big nibble at 6/4 this morning. Wham bam thank you, ma’am ?

Were you there last month, Rob? I totally agree the Leopardstown experience was far better than Cheltenham. We went Friday to Sunday. Loads of people we spoke to, whether English, Irish, Scottish, all said the same about Cheltenham experience leaving a bad taste in the mouth, whether that’s the cost of everything, the service, etc. That said, I usually go on the Tuesday as well but couldn’t get it off work this week. It’s the best day for racing IMO.

It’s gone massively downhill in recent years IMO, too many Peaky Blinder wannabes. By contrast, I was on a mate’s stag at Leopardstown last month and they know how to do it right.

Been saying this for weeks now; he needs to fill out. He’s far too easy to defend against when he’s playing up top on his own, lacks any physicality.

On a greasy surface like this one, we should be shooting on sight. A couple of promising situations on the edge of their box was begging for someone to have a shot.

Credit where credit’s due, we’ve been completely outplayed in that first half and are lucky to go in 1-0. I had them down as relegation fodder after the ease with which we beat them back in August. Fair play to them. That said, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we somehow nick a point. Soren Andersen at Sunderland in ‘99 springs to mind.

Yep and it’s mad to think they were either non-league or had just returned to L2 when we were having our double-winning season.

Sloppy from Dasilva and Pring, but credit where credit’s due that was a peach of a cross and an excellent header.

JL strikes again. Woeful.

Absolutely. Matty James as well.

That’s exactly how I see it as well. It’s no coincidence IMO that we’re seeing more academy graduates making the step up to the first team while Andy King’s been around. He’s a model pro who clearly sets the standards for others to follow. Having the experience of both a PL winner and international to guide the youngsters through is indispensable, especially if when can get performances like the one yesterday out of him. He has exactly the sort of profile to be a top coach in the future as well.

Mehmeti would’ve been a better shout had he gone down after being clipped.

Pring’s my player of the season right now. No doubt about it IMO.

Good three points, that, and two very well taken goals. Thought we dominated from start to finish, although the best chance fell to them. Scott looked class playing a bit deeper and Pring goes from strength to strength. I can’t believe it but that’s our first home win against Blackpool since 2009! Good that it all but secures safety, too.