Open End Numb Legs

I told the nurse I was in a hurry to get back to the game so she shoved the needle in like a Gerry Gow tackle. I hope to be fit for the weekend.

Just back from my flu jab, did I miss anything? Only joking, I went early. Very solid performance, nice to see some snappy passing, it doesn't always work but is key. Wales - very poor, never even had a spell of possession. Will they fade in the future without the Bale/Ramsey era? Good singing though. USA could well cause a surprise.

We need something on English culture. Biased otherwise.

I think we need to see the balance of the full side before judging whether Henderson is the right call.

He didn't touch it, let's move onto ball tracking to see if he was LBW. Edit, sorry, always too slow with jokes.

Iran chased the ball up the pitch and left gaps for us to play through, the US have given Wales a blue print of how to not over commit, mark well and frustrate us. My guess is Wales will try to copy the US in the 1st half and go for a late goal to sneak it. Long free kicks into the box at Moore or a Bale set piece. I can't see it being pretty and could be a tense finish. Hope I am wrong, an early England goal would change it around. Glad I am not in Tenerife....

That video....I never expected Wembley but..... It is a bit like when you have friends over so you tidy up the lounge but they end up seeing inside the the garage. Behind the scenes never ends well.

I guess in the future only goal keepers will be allowed to take to the pitch with arms attached. All outfield players will have them surgically removed before kick off and re attached after the game. Throw ins will be tricky.

Never a penalty, that has set a very low bar for penalty reviews for the rest of the tournament.

Typical of him to claim it, don't think he touched it. It's all about him.

Yeh, I know, but we tended to take too many touches v the US. It was a feature of England in Southgate's early days where his previous U21 stars played through and around teams with slick one touch passing. It needs everyone on the same tempo of course and investing lots of energy. I accept it is a tournament and teams have a dull game or 2 but we just need to be careful not to lose that ability to give it a go.

I would support a European team over a South American one but looking at that winner, I hope the England players look at that and think yes, I can do that, I can strike the ball 1st time, test the keeper, be a hero.

Splinters? ? Plus the way some subs celebrate goals in these games I wouldn't be so sure!

Ref played an extra minute on the 10 added, no need for the coach to blow his lid. Two fun teams to watch. Korea a bit wasteful in front of goal.

Very enjoyable watch, everyone giving 100%, no South American diving and time wasting.

He might have to resort to talking about who the coach could bring on. Great colours in the crowd, players running with the ball rather than passing it backwards. A spectacle.

It would be easier to paper over the cracks of Southgate's selections...

Come on, how can I get a good paint finish with all these goals going in today? I grew up watching world cup buses being parked, you were lucky to see a goal a game. I need to water down the paint to stop it drying on the roller whilst seeing the replays.

Thanks, I might try that. Perhaps England will do that too, turn up.

Yep indeed. In other news I have my flu jab booked for during the Eng v Wales game so it is now guaranteed to be a thriller.

These entertaining 3-3 games are not helping with the decorating I am supposed to be doing. Cue jokes about better than watching paint dry...

They have some great PE teachers coaching Borehamwood, Rovers never stood a chance.

I think when Southgate gets it right pre game it goes well, what he has shown is he struggles to adapt during the game when it isn't panning out the way he expected. He was simply too slow to react last night in terms of subs, we played 2 touch football, US played 1 touch, our man marking in defence was very poor. We have all the talent required, he just needs to make the right calls.

I was just about to type the same, I only saw the 2nd half but it could easily have been 4 or 5 nil with more composure from Iran on the final pass. Fitness levels made a big difference and as others have said, it took a long while to realise Bale was on the pitch. The trouble with such a talisman is you can't really sub them even though it would have evened up the game.

Hi All, thanks very much for all the kind words, I didn't expect to see so many replies so it is appreciated. I guess there are many supporters out there still with these older connections to City. My wife asked me how I could remember some of the details so clearly and I can't really explain that other than being such a young age back then, these memories seem to stick. I could name a City XI from the mid 70s but not so good in recent seasons I am embarrassed to admit, maybe that is old age creeping in for me too. Fingers crossed for Saturday, hopefully better luck with any deflections in front of goal.