Grumpy

Far too much emphasis is placed on whether the glass is half full or half empty. The more important question is: What the fuck is in the glass?

Fairly confident that England's record of never having won the World Cup during my lifetime will remain intact after this summer. England are good but not good enough, and the conditions make the South Americans big favourites. Quarter finals at best, methinks.

Maybe drop down to League 2 and prove himself?

Trent Alexander-Arnold omitted from World Cup squad. Brace for incoming Henry Winter essay.

Harry Maguire's mum is "disgusted" by his omission from England's World Cup squad, apparently. Hard to see how Tuchel comes back from that.

Probably wanted him out of the country and out of sight.

Some still seem preoccupied with Albion's slim remaining chances of Champions League qualification. At this point, we should be happy if they stagger over the line and make Conference League. Champions League, my arse.

@colincurryer For sure. But where football's concerned, the normal principles of justice don't necessarily always apply.

@TheMrGrumpy I think the guilty plea helped expedite matters.

Amazing how quickly the football authorities can make a decision when it doesn't involve a club bankrolled by Middle Eastern blood money.

After the game, there will be joy or frustration, maybe anger. But there will definitely be relief. Relief that this season is over. I've found the football dull and performances far from convincing. It's fair to acknowledge that isn't just Albion - it's the whole division.

I would normally wake up on the day of a game like this Sunday's match against Man U, dreading the whole day. Not for this game. I've gone early with the dread. It's going to be a week long thing.

In conclusion: dog shit. Wanted some blood and thunder, and got piss and chunder instead.

Carlos Baleba wanted so much time today, I swear he probably still thinks the game is going on.

A conclusion so obvious, it could be detected emerging over the horizon bearing flashing lights and sounding an air raid siren.

Devastating for Kaoru Mitoma. As fans, our first thought when players suffer injury is usually "oh no, how long are we going to be without them?" Players have dreams too, and Kaoru's have just been crushed. His reaction when he hit the deck last week told the story.

Keir Starmer certainly doesn't inspire. But if Wes Streeting were to become Prime Minister, we may as well have the Tories.

Never mind spying in the bushes: Southampton should be kicked out of the playoffs for using goal music.

@IamDrBaldhead @Philwhi93285301 I think we've all wanted Jack to nail down a consistent role in the team - I don't think many were crying out for that role to be at number 10. Like you Doc, Beardsley is my idea of what a number 10 should be. Probably a sign of my age.

@Philwhi93285301 @TheMrGrumpy It’s interesting isn’t it? For me, the definitive No10 was Peter Beardsley. For Albion it was Terry Connor. I agree that Jacko is not “that” player but he’s blooming effective at making football look simple. Long may it last. I hope he’s at Albion for another 10+ years #bhafc

It's true: results have massively improved since Jack moved into this role. Causation or correlation? I love Jack, but there's nothing about him that says he's a 10 to me. I guess it's a symptom of the overwhelming importance of workrate and pressing in the modern game.

@colincurryer I have more understanding of Jack's role if we're playing two proper wingers, but having him and Gomez in the front four was an entirely new level of pragmatism.

@TheMrGrumpy Yes, from what I understand that was the reason behind his obsession with Gomez….pressing ability. Personally, I like my football to have a bit more style and guile than just work-rate.

@colincurryer Sign of the times? I still think of him as a right back. But if Jack is the prototype of what Hurzeler demands from a 10, I think Kostoulas should start looking at flights back to Greece. And we can forget about ever seeing Gruda or Buonanotte in the stripes again.

@TheMrGrumpy Exactly this, he has a nose for a goal but to me he’s a midfielder not a no.10 in the proper sense of the position. When did a no.10 stop being the 2nd striker and morph into this incarnation?