Leon Bailey

[Richard]

The problem here as I see it is the general insistence of FIFA and UEFA to increase the size of every competition or introduce new ones simply because they're greedy bastards. Things like the Nations League, extra games in Europe from next season and the next bloated World Cup to name a few. Players are extremely well paid but they're not machines. No wonder injuries are on the rise.

[coreyfeldman]

Three months out. (Villa injuries time).

This was nonsense then

[OCD]

The point of the Nations League was to replace meaningless friendlies. It hasn't stopped England still arranging friendlies though.

[Bully2345]

There are fewer friendlies though. There have been two friendlies in each of the last two calendar years whereas pre-2018, there'd generally be six friendlies

Part of the reason they're looking at including South American teams in the European Nations League is because South American sides can't get friendlies against European teams as there are so few dates

[Dave]

Part of the reason they're looking at including South American teams in the European Nations League is because South American sides can't get friendlies against European teams as there are so few dates

That seems logistically...difficult.

Surely a bigger reason those friendlies don't happen very often is because flying halfway round the world for a friendly match is pointlessly expensive unless you're going to make a load of money out of it.

It's fine for the FAs of England and Brazil who are swimming in money to arrange a match in London when half the players are here already, but I don't see how Peru vs Slovakia in Lima or Finland vs Venezuela in Helsinki is something that could ever really work on a regular basis.

[AV84]

Three months out. (Villa injuries time).

This was nonsense then

It was a joke, was it not? Same thing gets posted any time a player gets a slight knock.

[eamonn]

Peru Vs Slovakia! Imagine...we'd be gripped.

[Exeter 77]

I once watched Slovakia v New Zealand at the South Africa World Cup in Bratislava airport. Slovakia were one up deep into stoppage time and there was a party-type atmosphere. New Zealand equalised in the 95th minute and I had never heard silence like it.

[Ian.]

Bailey is having one hell of a season, he’s matured very well into his role for us. He’s fast becoming one of my favourite players to watch.

[Monty]

He's really come back strong hasn't he? Let's hope a few others can follow his example (looks like Tielemans is well on his way).

[Brazilian Villain]

Bailey is having one hell of a season, he’s matured very well into his role for us. He’s fast becoming one of my favourite players to watch.

Pleased for him, he seems a very likeable guy.

[Ian.]

Bailey is having one hell of a season, he’s matured very well into his role for us. He’s fast becoming one of my favourite players to watch.

Pleased for him, he seems a very likeable guy.

Yeah me too, he does seem like a decent lad. He looks like he’s loving playing at the moment. That back heel flip after some quick feet yesterday was ace.

[chrisw1]

Bailey and Tielemans are a great example for the rest of the squad.  Great attitudes and make a difference when they get on.

[eamonn]

If he had a right foot he'd be unstoppable...maybe. But fair do's, probably the best, consistent super-sub we've had since Tommy "Ginge" Johnson.

[dcdavecollett]

I was amazed when he scored with the right-footer at AZ.

Cracking finish!