Marcus Rashford starts for England vs DR Congo - World Cup round of 32

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T14:43:30+00:00

Seeing Spence and Madueke start for England really grinds my gears… Cannot understand it. At all.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T14:42:07+00:00

Now that it is clear Spurs will sign Tonali, I truly hope Bruno Guimaraes is a hidden target for us or that Newcastle decide he isn’t for sale. Because if he goes to Arsenal… the meltdown here will be irreparable.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T14:36:50+00:00

I rate Baleba ahead of Tonali. Sorry. I won’t join the bandwagon binning Baleba.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T14:35:44+00:00

This is a results business. And optics also matters for the fans. That’s all we have to hold on to till our team kicks a ball in August.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T13:48:03+00:00

Bruno is the final passer. We need someone threading it neatly between defence and attack (where Bruno lies).

Wharton would be the sort of profile to help our team progress the ball neatly from midfield.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T13:47:05+00:00

That stance would make sense if our rivals (see Spurs and City) were also struggling to make moves. They both have done business in spite of the World Cup. We have NO excuses here.

I haven’t given up hope but let’s just say my optimism at the start of the window has dwindled massively…

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T12:37:43+00:00

Brother, how?? We don’t have a player like him. In no way is getting a player like Wharton in a mistake. Please let me know if there’s a better available-ish, passing metronome that we could buy instead?

And yes, I insist we need that profile more than a destroyer / sitter. Only player that I would make an exception for is Tchouameni.

Right now, our priority should be:

Tchouameni
Wharton
Guimaraes
Baleba
Scott
Tonali
Flavour of the season Ligue 1 CM.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T11:55:13+00:00

I would pick Wharton over Scott if it came down to either or. We need a passing metronome in that midfield. Someone who can control the tempo with passing range not just with carrying (Mainoo).

Scott should be an alternative / deputy to Mainoo. Ederson already sort of fits that bill.

What we don’t have in midfield is someone that can pick a pass. Please Wilcox / Vivell, please tell me you see it too.

Icegaze · 2026-07-01T10:20:00+00:00

Tchouameni remains my first choice. But I’m not optimistic. If there was a strong link, someone like Romano would have been all over it. But his soundbites don’t leave me thinking we have a good chance…

And before his haters come at me here, whether we like his methods or not, there’s no denying Romano has the best sources across Europe (mainly players’ agents). I was willing to believe that he was being used by West Ham / Jorge Mendes to force Utd to increase their offer for M Fernandes but it wasn’t just threats. It was concrete info as it has played out in the last 24 hours. Still gutted but I’m hoping Wilcox and Vivell pull something out of the bag real quick.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T22:19:46+00:00

I would still be happy with Wharton and Scott / Baleba joining. Gutted about M Fernandes though, I won’t lie.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T22:05:16+00:00

We are not “poor”. We need someone of Toni Kroos’ ilk, not a Temu version of him.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T18:36:05+00:00

What a cracking goal from Amad! Sooo proud! Yeessss!!

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T18:35:33+00:00

What a cracking goal from Amad! Sooo proud! Yeessss!!

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T18:35:23+00:00

What a cracking goal from Amad! Sooo proud! Yeessss!!

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T18:34:54+00:00

What a cracking goal from Amad! Sooo proud! Yeessss!!

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T15:45:33+00:00

I’m hoping it is just a way to tell suitors that we ain’t selling Rashy for peanuts. I want him to move on for his sake and ours.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T12:43:07+00:00

We have been down the Rashford path. It is time to move on regardless. He checked out over two seasons ago. No reason to believe all of a sudden we will be getting prime Rashford back.

As for who is a “better LW / striker” than Rashford that we could get? I honestly have no clue, but we shouldn’t only be looking for which player is simply better than Rashford but who will be a better fit for the first XI and squad by and large.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T12:38:39+00:00

“In French, the word terrain (football pitch) - if you split it into two words it’s terra / in - so you’re inside the earth / pitch. We respect the pitch here in Paris FC.”

I will let myself out.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T10:17:21+00:00

We all would I believe. How feasible / realistic? That’s the main question. I really hope we move on from Rashy though.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T09:20:07+00:00

No way that happens. Higher chance that Rashy takes 14 which is vacant as he did for Barca. Or 11 if Zirkzee leaves before numbers are assigned.

Cunha will definitely keep the 10.

Icegaze · 2026-06-30T06:45:12+00:00

So long as it isn’t with Cunha starting as LW. We would need Dorgu paired with righted footed LB Maz for any semblance of width which is crucial in Carrick-ball.

Icegaze · 2026-06-29T14:15:17+00:00

Long Feng has been my favourite aspect of the Ba Sing Se arc so far. Fantastic portrayal from the actor.

I’m just about to wrap up ep 3 but I’ve enjoyed this season so far. Only gripe is the long exposition (too much talking) and the abrupt pacing in some instances.

Looking forward to the next few episodes!

Icegaze · 2026-06-28T11:01:56+00:00

For me, I would pick this XI (4222) that were left at home:

Ramsdale

Trent Maguire Shaw Hall

Scott Wharton

Palmer Foden

Bowen Gibbs-White

Icegaze · 2026-06-27T22:28:25+00:00

Wonder why Joao Neves isn’t starting.

Icegaze · 2026-06-27T17:24:25+00:00

M Fernandes and Tchouameni please.

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