In no particular order. Vaccination, racist abuse on social media, racist abuse from the stands, workers’ rights in Qatar, the Education Secretary’s ignorance/incompetence.
Just another standard range of topics for the England football manager to discuss during a ten-day international camp.
And questions on these subjects - and more - are legitimate lines of enquiry, especially when the England football manager happens to be Gareth Southgate, who has shown himself to be eminently more sensible, eloquent and compassionate than those, mainly politicians, who are supposed to be dealing with these issues.
In a way, Southgate has made a rod for his own back.
When a nation wants to hear a public voice of common sense and decency, best listening to Southgate rather than someone such as Gavin Williamson.
But the job of being England manager has always carried more responsibility than merely justifying why you did not bring on Jordan Henderson or A.N. Other when protecting a slender lead in the latter stages of a qualifier in Warsaw.
Famously, it became known as the Impossible Job.
But in his five years in charge, Southgate has made it seem like a Possible Job.
Yes, there have been disappointments in a World Cup semi-final and a European Championship final, but Southgate has done - and continues to do - a wonderful job.
No wonder the Football Association will now get round to offering him an extension to the contract that expires at the conclusion of World Cup 2022.
An international coach’s tenure should always depend mainly on performances at major tournaments.
Remember Fabio Capello having his deal improved immediately ahead of the debacle at South Africa 2010?
England might have a shocker at World Cup 2022.
But at the very least, Southgate deserves the sort of pay rise that a new deal would bring.
That is why he will probably agree to one but don’t be surprised if there is a break clause.
When England’s final ball is kicked in Qatar, Southgate will have been at the helm for over six years.
In 2021, England will have played 19 times when they complete their World Cup qualifying campaign.
But with all the extra-curricular demands, don’t tell me the England job is any less demanding than an elite club job … at a fraction of the salary.
Which is why it would not be a surprise if Southgate, after Qatar 2022 and with a good club post on the table, decided to call it an international day.
Southgate knows the England role carries wider responsibilities - wider than those carried by managers whose be-all and end-all is perhaps to qualify for the Champions League.
He has embraced those responsibilities and carries on embracing those responsibilities.
But it must get tiring and, at times, Southgate seemed a bit prickly during this latest international window - prickly, that is, by his immensely affable standards.
If he grew a little tired of those wider responsibilities, surely few could be surprised.
Southgate might sign a contract extension, might see out the length of his new deal, and might stay longer. It might be a Gareth dynasty.
But if he decides it is Qatar and out, no-one could blame him.
Twenty-five grand. That’ll teach ‘em.
After a Football Association disciplinary panel hammered Chelsea for their loutish, intimidatory behaviour during a game at Anfield last month, how are they going to afford their next big signing?
Those ranting players who mobbed Anthony Taylor after he had made a perfectly reasonable decision will certainly think twice about verbally assaulting an honest referee following the savage fine handed down by the FA.
After all, what if the club decided to take it out of their wages. They would all have to survive on about £198,000 for one week of the year.
Seriously, Chelsea are serial misbehavers yet it is one meaningless fine after another.
At the very least, when it comes to the abuse of officials, the threat of a points deduction has to be made to repeat offenders.
Screaming dissent at referees and their assistants has again become the norm for players and managers, meaning it will be the norm at Sunday league and junior level.
And then, people will wonder why there is a shortage of referees in the grassroots game.
The answer is simple. Because punishments as pathetic as this one suggest giving the referee a torrid time is a cool thing to do.
WITH two at Lord’s and one at the Oval, three of England’s six Tests next summer will be in the capital city.
Just because most of the players are from families wealthy enough to afford a rail fare from the north to London does not mean the supporters are.
Unless Padraig Harrington’s men cause a considerable upset in Wisconsin later this month, Catriona Matthew’s heroes should be a shoo-in for that Team of the Year gong at the BBC’s end-of-year awards.
But as the England football team’s progression to the Euro 2020 final was on the Beeb and Europe’s epic Solheim Cup win was on Sky Sports, there are no prizes for guessing who it will be.
“Wilder October 9, Whyte in December, AJ in March in Saudi, bodybuilder rematch in September and then good old Del Boy to finish it off.”
According to the man himself, it sounds as though Tyson Fury is going to be in for a busy next 12 months or so.
Considering he has fought four times in just under three years, it is an ambitious schedule.
And if he can get that sorted with the promoters, it will be almost as miraculous as that time when he climbed off the canvas in the first Deontay Wilder fight.
It seems some bright commercial sparks are planning a new rugby union tournament involving global franchises.
As if the rules of the game were not tricky enough, this competition will involve teams of 12 players, 15-minute halves, drop goal conversions, golden-point deciders and scrums reset only once. Oh, and scrum penalties cannot be kicked at goal.
Sounds thrilling ...
