A Ful Time Introduction...via Wembley

Hello everyone and welcome to Ful Time - a sports blog written by me, Lyle Fulton.

In true sports blog fashion, I'd like to kick things off by assuring everyone that my views are my own, and I am in no way a voice for all fans of all sports. In fact, hearing the opinions of fellow sports enthusiasts is one of the many reasons why I have decided to start this blog. In my humble opinion, when it comes to generating some of the most passionate, polarising, and at times downright ludicrous views ever posited by mankind, there really is nothing quite like sport.

Simply put, everyone has a view. It can be as simple as not being even the slightest bit interested in any sport. Ever. Or as complex as exploring the labyrinthine inner workings of Financial Fair Play in modern football. Because, quite frankly, someone needs to. And quickly.

This blog will look to cover as many sports as it is possible to analyse at any given time. If you're anything like me, you infuriate friends, family, significant others and pets by downloading pretty much anything that involves a goal, posts, balls, bats, rackets, cues, increasingly lightweight high-velocity vehicles, and terrible officiating. Or indeed any combination of the above. In the words of Cotton McKnight, the commentator brilliantly portrayed by Gary Cole in the 2004 comedy 'Dodgeball', 'If it's almost a sport, we've got it here!'

Something that is very much a sport is football, and it is one that engulfs my life on a daily basis. What better way to kick things off then than with a report from England's most recent outing at Wembley, as England faced Germany in one of the most pointless football matches you are likely to see contested by these two great footballing nations. It is a game I was fortunate enough to attend as 55 minutes of paint drying gave way to 35 minutes of what can only be described as the most inexplicably bonkers altercation between a group of Englishmen and a group of Germans in 80 years (sure, this brings you to Stalingrad, but is also happens to be when duct tape was invented, which should help the year stick in your mind. I'm not even sorry.)

There was a strange atmosphere around Wembley prior to kick off. On the one hand, it's impossible not to get even the smallest bit excited at the prospect of an encounter between England and Germany, such is the history surrounding this great fixture. Even with England struggling for form and confidence, and Germany experiencing a similar malaise under the talented Hansi Flick, both squads are full of undeniable talent, and England in particular boast arguably the finest record amongst the top ranked international sides at recent major tournaments. Yet, whilst tinged with this excitement, there was also an understanding around the ground that all is not well with either side at this present moment in time. And this meant it was all a bit...well, weird.

There were the usual boos at the mention of Harry Maguire's name prior to the first whistle, something he will have grown accustomed to and something that continues to generate staunch defence of his character from his colleagues. But some 10 minutes into the game there was also rousing support for young Harry from one dedicated section of the England support, clearly seeing the benefits of building the confidence of a man who will undoubtedly be on the plane to Qatar, whether his current form merits it or not. In the opinion of the author of this blog, it is the latter, and by some distance. There were groans when the admittedly very solid Reece James squared the ball straight to the classy Ilkay Gundogan just before the half hour, and yet there was palpable anticipation whenever the ball deigned to venture even slightly into German territory. This was an English crowd who knew the fine line they were being asked to tread. It hasn't been good enough recently, that much is clear. But 26 men, not including our waistcoat-clad leader destined for his final salvo, board a plane for Qatar in just under 2 months. What was clear to see from those around me on Monday was that now is not the time to stick the knife in. At least not too far. Not yet.

Football wise, England were typically industrious in the middle of the park without being awe-inspiring. Build the team around Bellingham? Sure, but he's still just 19 years of age, and it will be intriguing to see how his partnership with Declan Rice develops. Sadly, it will have to develop on the fly - England will have days rather than weeks together before their first game against Iran on 21st November, and a not unreasonable chunk of that time will involve travel and acclimatization to the tournament's unique conditions. Bellingham did show fantastic determination to nip in ahead of Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, who himself had a poor evening at the heart of the Germany defence, to earn the penalty that should have won England the game. You've probably seen a plethora of pundits wax lyrical about Bellingham and how he's played his way into Southgate's XI for England's opener against Iran. Allow me to be latest - he'll be in the XI, and it is 100% deserved.

But forget Maguire's latest gaffs. Forget the biggest gaff of all from the man I imagine we can officially say should be England's 3rd choice goalkeeper going into Qatar - Nick Pope. For me, the key takeaway from this 'dead rubber' fixture is simple. His name is Bukayo Saka, and in my opinion he should be first on the plane, first on the team sheet. The kid should just be first full stop. It is here that I make my first admission - I am an obsessive United fan who grew up loathing Arsenal Football Club as much if not more than either of our more traditional rivals. But this young man is really special. Honourable mention must be given to Mason Mount who took his goal brilliantly, and contributed to a clear shift in momentum in the latter stages of the game. It was Saka, however, that changed it all. His movement for the first goal to occupy those at the near post demonstrated both industry and intelligence. His directness for the second terrified a German backline who should have been tested far more in the previous 70 minutes or so. And the sense of anticipation that reverberated around Wembley whenever he touched the ball was evidence enough that this gem should be a mainstay in England's first XI.

It's hard to believe that young Saka was subjected to a barrage of frankly disgusting abuse when he was the unfortunate individual tasked with stepping up to take a decisive penalty in England's first major final appearance for 55 years. Those perpetrators thankfully will never be allowed to watch our national team again, and a good thing too. I'd rather they suffered the ignominy of their disgraceful behaviour as far away from Wembley as possible. Meanwhile, the subject of their vile vilification? He might just win us the World Cup.