buster.

I think the lad Alvarez has been hugely important to their progress. Messi is beyond brilliant but he needed an effective foil who can take a chance. Without the young lad, I don't think they would have went so far. Still haven't played a top side yet. Will it work against France*? Every time I see McAllister, I think of Ryan Stevenson. It is doing my nut in 🤪

We can't really get much out of a World Cup in terms of signings. We have to do it before they get to that stage. That brings you to a scouting network and/or contacts. We can't cover the globe, so better IMO to concentrate efforts in certain areas.

Answers already on page 2 Scott ! Baker was the very first player to get an England cap whilst playing outside England (with Hibs).

Correct Answers on page 2

Time Gentlemen ! Third Player was Tery Butcher with 32 caps whilst at Ibrox. Club Nation Player Caps (total) First cap – Last cap Atlético Madrid Kieran Trippier 19 (40) 7 September 2019 – 9 October 2021 Barcelona Gary Lineker 24 (80) 15 October 1986 – 7 June 1989 Bari David Platt 10 (62) 11 September 1991 – 17 June 1992 Bayern Munich Owen Hargreaves 39 (42) 15 August 2001 – 28 Mar 2007[note 50] Borussia Dortmund Jadon Sancho 22 (23) 12 October 2018 – 11 July 2021 Jude Bellingham 22 12 November 2020 – 10 December 2022 Bursaspor Scott Carson 1 (4) 15 November 2011 Cardiff City Jay Bothroyd 1 17 November 2010 Celtic Fraser Forster 2 (6) 15 November 2013 – 7 June 2014 D.C. United Wayne Rooney 1 (120) 15 November 2018 1. FC Köln Tony Woodcock 18 (42) 22 November 1979 – 5 July 1982 Hamburger SV Kevin Keegan 25 (63) 8 June 1977 – 18 June 1980[note 51] Hibernian Joe Baker 5 (8) 18 November 1959 – 22 May 1960[note 52] Inter Milan Paul Ince 17 (53) 27 March 1996 – 10 June 1997 Juventus David Platt 10 (62) 9 September 1992 – 19 June 1993 Lazio Paul Gascoigne 12 (57) 14 October 1992 – 11 June 1995 LA Galaxy David Beckham 14 (115) 22 August 2007 – 14 October 2009[note 53] Marseille Chris Waddle 18 (62) 6 September 1989 – 16 October 1991 Milan Ray Wilkins 22 (84) 12 September 1984 – 12 November 1986 Monaco Glenn Hoddle 9 (53) 9 September 1987 – 18 June 1988 Rangers Terry Butcher 32 (77) 10 September 1986 – 4 July 1990 Real Madrid David Beckham 36 (115) 20 August 2003 – 6 June 2007 Roma Tammy Abraham 5 (11) 17 August 2021 – 11 June 2022 Sampdoria Trevor Francis 20 (52) 22 September 1982 – 23 April 1986 Swansea City Jonjo Shelvey 5 (6) 5 September 2015 – 17 November 2015 Torino Joe Hart 5 (75) 4 September 2016 – 15 November 2016 Werder Bremen Dave Watson 2 (65) 12 September 1979 – 17 October 1979

I reckon Mbappe will be playing on the Sunday. 2018 WC France 4 Argentina 3

No Lineker neither ! @compo

Gary Lineker ?

I'd imagine that he'ii probably start for Croatia on Saturday.

Yes !! @Gonzo79 NO Only one to go......

No

Hypocrisy on steriods for some, given Messi is on the payroll of the Saudi Tourism dept. Some kind of ambassadorial role. edit Looks like Argentina for the Final Not very exciting 2-0 HT score. Don't think Croatia have two goals in them. Second goal was a enthusiastic solo run from the school playground.

Neither !! @CammyF

Beckham is one of them

Should we get him to takeover from the current club doctor ? Couldn't do much worse ! Well done Steve ! British record for International caps is quite something. No-one is getting close to it for a good few years. Quick Quiz Question (No Google Allowed) Name the three England Internationalists to have won the most caps whilst playing outwith England. Edit. Answers at end of page 2. ps. tonight will see Modric win cap 161 and Messi, 171.

An example of constructive communication (at least at messages board level) 👏

Croatia are an all or nothing type of WC team. Their first WC in 98 saw them finish 3rd. The next four, they either didn't qualify (1) or didn't get out the group (3) Then a Final, finishing an overall 2nd. Now a semi-final against Argentina. Funny that they have never got anywhere in the Euros. ------------------------- Difficult game to call Some of the payers involved must be running on near empty.

On the face of that tweet, it would be another outside bet but with a low stake.

Thanks for the reply ! Communicating with the fanbase is quite a daunting responsibility for an ordinaty mortal and goes way beyond anything the directors will have come accross in their own business environment. Microscopic analysis is almost immediately applied by what must seem like half the country, all of the media and reaction soon follows. What we (as a club) have tended to do over the years is communicate with the fanbase, telling the fanbase what we think they want to hear / what we think will go down well and/or anything to distract from poor performance or boardroom shenanigans (spivs). Sir Duped mainly used the MSM to get his narrative to dominate and have most of the support in the palm of his hand. When things got difficult he would line up the legends to support him in same MSM. He eventually hired Mediahouse, mainly to protect himself. Jack Irvine (Mediahouse) was used as what I called a Continuity Bridge between various spivs taking the reigns (Not CWhyte IIRC). ie. hired and paid for by the club to protect and shield the spivs. IIRC he would also brief Ashley's PR man, Bishop. In 2013 I got a fleeting glimpse at relevant attitudes to professional PR that I didn't think important beyond that particular moment, but now I wonder. In the long lead up to the December AGM, one group opposing the spivs contacted me, mainly to help relay some information onto the FF messageboard. I'd get the info via PM on FF. Then a go between (an ex journalist at The Glasgow Herald & BBC) would speak to me about things and would ask me for my view on X or Y. He said the group lacked a PR consultant and were considering hiring one but in his last email to me, said that Paul Murray had said he'd do the PR stuff. Firstly, I couldn't believe that this group would ask the opinion on X or Y from a punter on a messageboard. Relay info, yes but consult in an area that I had no training or experience in !!! Secondly, that they decided not to go with professional PR and predictably had their arse handed to them by Irvine. Moving on,.... to his credit, Paul Murray came out on RTV in April 2015 laying out a realistic projected timetable as to the next 3-5 years. Dave King repeated the strategy of Constructive/Structured losses funded by directors/investors. Jim Traynor and David Graham came and went. Another two who hadn't much, if any, direct experience in PR. Positive change was that they were hired to protect the actual club....BUT No surprise the rookies ended up as two poor appointments. We have spent years heavily focusing on the positives and regards finance, have recently had to give the fanbase a crash course in the negatives, to partly justify their own (in)actions. Alignment has been a popular buzz word for the board but it needs to incorporate the fanbase, using reality and not just positivity. Despite the business experience of the Rangers board, I don't think they know what they are doing when it comes to communication. I think they are almost daunted by it and it now looks as though they are winging it , crossing their fingers that Beale is a success and keeping the support happy (and quiet).

They aren't meaningless. You just need more bits of paper and footballers with a memory.

They seem to be an important framework within a plan, even if that plan has an element of fluidity. What can render them meaningless or ineffective are players who don't adhere to instructions or/& are not suited to position/good enough or/& an opposition with a better plan/players etc.

Within this French team there have been so many excellent players that he often goes overlooked. He is fundamental and effective to this French setup in a way he has seldom been at club level during the past few years. In Russia 2018 he was the main man IMO and come the big game (England) he is again.

I've watched a few of the TIFO WCup podcasts with the Scottish guy (JJ?) explaining how he saw teams setup and why or why it didn't work against opposition X. I found that quite interesting.

Thread titles are meaningless.

So why go on about them so much ?