simon

@def_leppar20044 Steely Dan were a 1 generation band with a mostly album audience.Fleetwood Mac crossed 3 generations and in each era had hit singles.They also had 4 great singers whilst Steely Dan's vocals were a weak point.

Fleetwood Mac or Steely Dan?

@MattZeitlin Cantona was not as good a player as Zidane but his violent assault on a spectator was crazier

Has any athlete as good as Zidane done some as crazy as the headbutt at as high a stakes moment as the World Cup final? Is zidane at the efficient frontier of great athlete high stakes craziness?

@TaylorColumnist Agree about Sven but note people often overlook it was much more difficult to qualify for the Euros before 1996 (only 7 teams excl host) and WC before 1982.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3c… In defence of Sven. What is it about Sven's England reign, two decades on, that is still so controversial? Why do people, even now, argue so much about whether he under-achieved, when similar debates about, say, Bobby Robson or Glenn Hoddle, have faded away? Simple. He was our first foreign coach. Having a foreigner as coach (think Tuchel) is still pretty controversial now, but back in 2000 it was explosive. He always had to over-achieve to satisfy the fans. So, did he succeed or not? In my book "Tears for England", I rate him as England's second-best manager in my football-watching lifetime, starting with Greenwood and ending with Southgate (it's too early to judge Tuchel). Yes, he lost in three successive quarter-finals, all of which were devastating. But he qualified for every tournament he was in charge for (which was beyond Robson, Taylor and McLaren); got to the quarters in each (beyond Hoddle, Capello and Hodgson); and in two of them was only beaten on penalties. Judging England managers is a case of relativity. I'd agree that Sven could have and should have, done better with the players available to him. But he was far better than his immediate predecessor Keegan, and miles better than his immediate successor, McLaren. He also dealt with all the muck thrown at him by the media with grace and dignity. Overall, compared with others, I'd say Sven was a good thing. @PitchPublishing @TheSixtySixHQ @80s90sfootball @SoccerBooksLtd

@RoughTrade Bette Lavette 'Things Have Changed'

What's your favourite cover of a Bob Dylan song?

@afneil Japan are the team historically known for fair play and not trying to cheat so add them to your list of teams in WC to follow

Actually, old bean, I’ll be in the USA for many of the World Cup matches. I will be cheering on Scotland, England, France and the USA. If England plays France or USA I will cheer on England. If France plays USA I will cheer on France. Whoever Scotland plays I will be cheering on Scotland. Always. I trust that clarifies my position. I know it troubles you a lot and that this full explanation will help you sleep better. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

@blueranger99 Not many would pick Sane ahead of Mahrez & Sterling.Most would pick both Haaland & Agueero.

So i've been thinking about the best team i could pick from the Pep era. It's really tough but have gone with: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Stones, Gvardiol, Rodri, Yaya, David Silva, KDB, Sane and Aguero. So tough leaving out legends. Agree/Disagree?

@henrywinter @WorldSoccerMag Better to judge Tuchel on performances in knockout matches. Southgate performances against Slovenia and Switzerland were very poor.Outside of that his England performances were ok but not sensational.

How far can England go at the World Cup under Thomas Tuchel? What’s par? Gareth Southgate raised expectations, built a strong culture and squad. Academies, EPPP and Lee Carsley have sent more talent Tuchel’s way. A look at England’s chances for @WorldSoccerMag #ENG

@McFlybowy Some of the defenders were picked for their versatility.Foden is not currently in the City team and he played poorly in his previous 3 tournaments for England One assumes that is why he was not selected.

Camavinga and Foden are going to miss out of the World Cup for the same reason, being too useful everywhere without completely owning one position in the team. Versatility is their curse. With Phil Foden, every coach looks at him and thinks, “he can play left wing, right wing, as a 10, false 9, interior midfielder…” but then when it’s time to build a knockout tournament XI, specialists usually win. If you already have a natural creator, a natural winger, and a natural runner, the versatile guy becomes the tactical glue piece instead of the irreplaceable centerpiece. Same thing with Eduardo Camavinga. He can play as a 6, 8, left-back, hybrid midfielder, even emergency wide roles. But for France, when you compare him directly to pure specialists, Deschamps starts asking difficult questions: Is he a better controller than Tchouaméni? Better destroyer than Kanté? Better attacking midfielder than Griezmann-type profiles? Better actual left-back than Theo Hernandez? And suddenly versatility becomes a trap instead of an advantage. The irony is both players are elite in fluid systems at club level. But this season, they have suffered from the same problem. Football at Club level rewards multifunctional players because you train together every day. International football is different. Tournament football is brutal and simplified. Coaches want certainty, role clarity, chemistry and defined tactical jobs not someone that can plug in every role. That’s why you hear managers say things like “we’re not sure of his best position” about Foden. It sounds ridiculous because the talent is obvious, but tactically it matters a lot. Both players also suffer from expectation inflation. Because they’re technically gifted, people imagine them becoming dominant “franchise” players. But sometimes they end up becoming luxury connectors instead of system-defining stars. Still world class talents, just not players a national team automatically bends around. And honestly, there’s another uncomfortable truth, specialists age better in international football or even at club level. If you’re clearly “the best RW” or “the best DM,” coaches force you in. But if you’re a hybrid profile, one bad season or slight dip in form makes you look expendable because the manager convinces himself he can recreate your functions collectively. That’s the major problem with both of them, specialist have gone ahead of them to the World Cup. That’s the issue with both of them.

@stephenpollard Article does not mention Arsenal will not win league with that many points.Man City threw away 12 pts from winning positions.

Oh please. You might just as easily say Starmer should learn from Arsenal by becoming the anti- politics PM, manhandle his opponents and make everyone except his own supporters hate him. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

@DonnedDon Every hit single the Hollies had must have been a good song or else why did so many people buy the single.Does not mean i or you have to like someone elses idea of a 'good song'.

It's sad that The Hollies only managed to make 2 good songs throughout their whole career because those are 2 good damn good songs

@paxstatera Japan always play clean football.Mexico is a host nation.

Si el Mundial no lo gana tu selección, qué selecciones NO te importaría que lo ganasen? Yo soy español, y si no lo ganamos nosotros voy con: 1- Portugal 2- Brasil 3- Inglaterra Os leo 👀.

@ThatG4m Many consider Nedved to be the best midfielder of his era after Zidane

🚨pyramid of greatest midfielder of all time Would you change anything here?

@Kristinartz Shadowlands with Debra Winger and Sir Anthony Hopkins

I need a movie that will absolutely destroy me emotionally, like ugly crying, can't breathe type. Any suggestions..

@ThatG4m Offhand John Charles Thuram Paul Mcgrath Koeman and several Argentinian defenders?

No English premier league defender of all time is getting into this pyramid

@Freelineorlando @OldCarLongRoad @hermannkarlovic @CarloDallapicc1 @roger_bakes @ihateclaims @Windix3 @stonemonkts @performativeUtt @AMclenon @JaneNightshade The Big Lebowski

What’s your favorite Coen Brothers film? Barton Fink for me, but I bet most others cite Fargo or No Country For Old Men, which premiered today at Cannes. Javier Bardem’s hitman is a scary/menacing treat but Tommy Lee Jones is also superb in this grim and darkly funny classic.

@DavidGauke Any comments on the hitjob on you in episode 4 of itv's series 'Believe Me'?

@payinblood 'Be your own counsellor' Sheila Dainow A step by step guide to understanding yourself better

what books should I read to get smarter

@AlexTran677026 Shower scene in Psycho is the most famous

What is the most epic moment in the history of cinema?

@CapelLofft All your novels are English.Maybe you should rephase your list as best 'English Novels'.

I have conducted an infallible survey of international experts (*me) and these are the greatest novels of all time. I don't want to hear any whining from fricassee-fancying Frenchie fops or tax-dodging Yankee parvenus: you can disagree, of course, but you're objectively wrong.

@JVMonte2 Smokey Robinson

Who is your favourite Motown recording artist?