Are we looking for a new England?

Football never sleeps, so neither does this blog. One international tournament ends, another begins, and the fun at Boundary Park (and on the hashtag) goes on and on.

As we start one competition that England go into as reigning champions, let’s bask in the glory of them having won another one. Huge congratulations to the men’s U21s on winning their Euros for the second time running, and what a cracking game the final was. Winning 3-2 after extra time is kinda fun, isn’t it? That save right at the end felt a lot like Hudson’s at Wembley. Here’s hoping that this translates into a senior trophy win for the men soon, and I’d quite like it if it’s Harvey Elliott scoring the winner in a final.

Ahead of the women’s Euros, a lot of the talk around the England squad was about who wasn’t in it. Mary Earps announcing her international retirement five weeks before the start of the tournament was a big shock, not least to Sarina Wiegman, who seemed pretty pissed off about it. People have speculated that Earps wasn’t happy that Hannah Hampton was going to be first choice, but apparently, she’d been discussing her retirement from England for a year, and initially informed Wiegman in April that she wanted to retire but was asked to reconsider. It’s a blow only having one world class goalkeeper in the squad instead of two, and we’re a bit fucked if Hampton gets injured, but she’s a superb keeper.

📷 Naomi Baker

Millie Bright ruled herself out a month ago, saying she was unable to “give 100% mentally or physically”, and has since had an operation on her knee. It’s another massive blow, with her having been vice captain of the victorious team in 2022 and having captained England to a World Cup final in 2023. She’s a great defender and a natural leader, and I remember the Big Kick Energy podcast describing her as having strong ‘we all leave the club together energy’, and I make no apology if the boys among you don’t get what that means. With fellow centre-back Alex Greenwood only just returning from injury, it’s a big loss.

On the other hand, we still have captain Leah Williamson, who I would die for, at centre half. Along with her Arsenal team-mates, she’s had a fantastic season. Her and Beth Mead (the player of the tournament at the last Euros) were brilliant in the Champions League final victory over Barcelona, and Alessia Russo (she of the famous backheel) is in the form of her life. Lessi>Messi. At one point, it looked like Wembley hero Chloe Kelly might not make the squad, having fallen out of favour at Man City (who finished the season 4th and trophyless), but she had a much happier and more fruitful second half of the season at the Emirates.

📷 Reuters

Chelsea had a pretty decent season as well, winning the treble. It’s getting boring now, kids, let someone else have a go. Lucy Bronze is one of the greatest players of all time, and her team-mate Jess Carter has looked really impressive, so you’d assume they’ll both start at full-back. It still both baffles and enrages me that the ‘Proud sporting achievements’ section on the Rochdale Council website lists Rochdale FC’s 36 consecutive seasons in the bottom division of the Football League and fails to mention any of the many, many trophies Keira Walsh has won. Maybe they’ll finally update it if she wins a second Euros. Lauren James might be England’s most exciting player. She’s brilliant, unpredictable and great fun to watch. Even when she fucks up, it’s entertaining. Come on, getting sent off for stamping on someone’s arse is kind of funny.

Plenty in the squad to be hopeful and optimistic about, then, but, having watched Spain demolish Portugal 5-0 on Thursday despite not really bothering in the second half, it might all be irrelevant. I still don’t feel up to walking uphill into town after picking up a heavy cold at the York game 6 weeks ago, and Aitana Bonmati is coming on and playing at the Euros a few days after being in hospital with viral meningitis. Spain are fucking terrifying.

It’s been a busy week for Latics. The first week of July always is, every year, after we all lose our shit every single June because we’re not signing anyone. On Tuesday we announced the signing of Jake Leake on a one-year deal, which wasn’t the biggest surprise after the club accidentally posted pictures of him in the gym, and we’re all happy with that after his loan spell, aren’t we?

📷 Oldham Athletic

More surprising was the news that we’ve given new contracts to Oli Hammond, Joe Garner and Will Sutton. I’m not unhappy about any of them, but we all thought Garner was following Gardner, I kind of assumed Sutton would leave to try and get regular football at centre-half (and not at right wing-back) somewhere else, and there’s clearly a very good player in Hammond, but it looked like Mellon just didn’t fancy him. Maybe he thinks they’re both ones for the future, maybe they’re happy being squad players. 6 months for Garner after he scored 3 in 3 in the play-offs seems like a no-brainer, to be fair.

📷 Oldham Athletic

Jesurun Uchegbulam announced his departure in a very gracious tweet on Tuesday, and I’m gutted to see him go to be honest. He’s got great pace, and he showed flashes of brilliance. You can argue “he only did it in moments”, but one of those moments was a fucking brilliant winning goal at Tranmere in the FA Cup, and another was a peach of an assist for the greatest goal of all time at Wembley. If he’s only going to have a couple of moments a season, but they’re THAT good, he’s worth it. Good luck and go well, Jes. I’m sorry we never managed to get your song to the tune of 99 Red Balloons to catch on.

📷 Oldham Athletic

Josh Hawkes was unveiled on Tuesday, much to the mirth of some Tranmere fans, who are choosing to delude themselves that Tranmere didn’t want to keep him and we’re signing all their rejects. ‘Yeah, I dumped her mate, well off out of it.’ To be fair, plenty of Tranmere fans also said they were sorry to see him go, and a 26-year-old goalscoring midfielder should tick a lot of people’s boxes and settle some nerves. Well, I say should...

📷 Oldham Athletic

“You didn’t think I was going, did you?” No, Mikey, we did not. Was it seeing one of your stickers on the tube on your way back from the airport that clinched it? Welcome home. We’re sorry about your grandma. We missed you. You’ve more than earned another two years.

Finally on Planet Latics, the new kit was unveiled at the anniversary dinner do last night, way after wine o’clock. (No, I wasn’t there. I’m sat at home in my pyjamas writing this, over the road from the party, questioning my life choices.) It’s different. Haven’t decided yet whether I like it or not, not sure how I feel about the white side panels. Still, it’ll look a sight better than it would do with the Enterprise Rent-A-Car logo on the sleeves.

Football was yet again put into brutal perspective on Thursday morning, with the awful news that Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva had been killed in a car crash. Jota’s wedding was only ten days before and he leaves three young kids. His brother recently got married as well. I can’t imagine what his family must be going through. News like this makes you wonder whether you should be wasting your time on daft nonsense like trying to write funny words about football, but then you realise you have to embrace life and what makes you happy, because you never know the hour. Apologies if that’s crass, but I don't know how else to put it.

Yeah. So. Embracing life and silliness. We’re doing a fanzine to give out before the Colchester game and maybe hopefully making it a monthly thing. Shatics is in it, Pete Mason from Beyond The Boundary is in it, I might write something for it if enough of you chip in towards the print run. If you’re interested in sponsoring/advertising in it, contact Matt at info@weareoldham.co.uk.

The Lionesses won the last Euros three days after the Rothwells’ takeover of the club was confirmed. Imagine if they bring football home again in the same summer that we finally won a trophy and got back to where we belong in the Football League. It’d be nice, wouldn’t it? Let’s keep dreaming. KTMFF.

📷 Lionesses

Written by Arlene Finnigan