• Thank you all very much for sharing your time with us in 2025. We hope you all have a safe and happy 2026!

The Footie Thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 15344
  • Start date Start date
Orikoru said:
That's a stat for qualifiers only, so the majority are against poor sides. You'd expect this team to beat the likes of Macedonia, San Marino etc even without a manager.
Click to expand...

Whilst I am no big fan of Southgate, the stats will always show a better picture for the bigger nations.

Would be interesting to see the stats for games against the teams ranked top 10 in the world.

I think the bigger issue for Southgate is the way he seems to set up tactically, his negativity is likely holding us back.
 
Th
Hobbit said:
Is Southgate really that bad, or are a lot of supporters brainwashed by the media?

View attachment 50019
Click to expand...
A very selective set of statistics there. World Cup and Euro QUALIFIERS only? Clearly not a bad record, yet it is the sort of record I'd expect from England in qualifiers to be honest. They are usually top seed, and majority of games are against teams significantly worse. Furthermore, Southgate has been blessed with an excellent set of players. One of the best strikers in world football, exciting and solid midfielders who perform in what is now probably strongest league in the world, and he now has an unbelievable Bellingham who will now give England that X Factor I think.

His stats against other managers (up to Dec 22 anyway, as that is what I found) are decent, but win % less than Capello, Hoddle, Greenwood and Ramsey. But, as above, with the quality England have now, and the fact other big nations don't generally look anywhere near as strong as they used to be, I'd expect an England manager today to have brilliant stats
 
Was watching The Overlap yesterday, they had Eddie Hearn on. They were talking about doping, and Keane made a throwaway statement where he said "remember there were rumours about doping in the Italian game, and when we played their teams they looked like they could run another 90 minutes after the game"

No big deal was made of it, but did get me thinking. Serie A was possibly the strongest league back in the 90's, so many legendary players. But were many of them on substances that gave them that extra edge. Is it how Maldini was able to play until he was about 73 years old? :)
 
Swango1980 said:
Was watching The Overlap yesterday, they had Eddie Hearn on. They were talking about doping, and Keane made a throwaway statement where he said "remember there were rumours about doping in the Italian game, and when we played their teams they looked like they could run another 90 minutes after the game"

No big deal was made of it, but did get me thinking. Serie A was possibly the strongest league back in the 90's, so many legendary players. But were many of them on substances that gave them that extra edge. Is it how Maldini was able to play until he was about 73 years old? :)
Click to expand...
Google Juventus drug scandal, quite enlightening. Coincides with their peak years in the 90's

Saying that, watch a game from back then and see how much slower it looks to now. Maybe the Italians were ahead of the game fitness wise to the rest of Europe and only now have we caught up..........perhaps.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
Google Juventus drug scandal, quite enlightening. Coincides with their peak years in the 90's

Saying that, watch a game from back then and see how much slower it looks to now. Maybe the Italians were ahead of the game fitness wise to the rest of Europe and only now have we caught up..........perhaps.
Click to expand...
There have been so many controversies with the Italian game, I've forgotten the exact details of most. From memory, I know there was scandal about match fixing.
 
Looks like Neymar will be out for the best part of a year.

I know it was never going to happen, but any clubs he was linked with, like Man Utd, will be glad they never signed him. Apart from the circus around him, he seems to get injured an awful lot.
 
So while we're all slating Southgate - what England line-up would you like to see at the Euros next year? I'm torn in a few areas to be honest.

GK: None of the others have really stepped up - Ramsdale has lost his place at Arsenal - I still like Pope and would probably go for him, particularly if Newcastle are still doing well. But even though I don't rate him, I wouldn't be upset if Pickford retains (and I'm certain he will anyway).

RB: Will James ever be fit for more than 5 minutes? I'd be happy with Walker against the big sides (would need his pace against Mbappe, Gnabry, etc), or Trippier against teams where we'll have most of the ball.

CB: Stones is obvious. I'm not sold on Dunk, I feel that if Maguire was playing at a lower profile club like Brighton he'd actually look very similar. I still want to see Tomori given a chance, given that he's a league winner with Milan, but we've not seen much of him in an England shirt.

LB: Chilwell's place to lose now. If he's not fit, Trippier does a good job covering.

CM: Rice is a shoo-in in the holding role. The other position is where I'm torn. Originally I would have said Bellingham here all day, but he's doing his best work in a number 10 role at the moment, so maybe you need to play him there? In that case I don't know who fills in alongside Rice. I wouldn't mind seeing Trent play here but it's not his normal position so maybe that's a bit of a gamble - in games when we're on top his use of the ball could be invaluable. Against better teams though, would he get lost? I don't think Phillips should be anywhere near it unless he leaves City in Jan and plays very well for a new club. Ward-Prowse should absolutely be in the squad on performances, but I'm not sure about him starting. Mount feels like the forgotten man a little bit, but maybe he could do a job.

AM: As above, it's Bellingham unless he's playing deeper, then in that case you would want Maddison here if he keeps up his current form.

WF: Personally I'd have Saka on the right, Foden on the left. I think they each give you something different and provide a good balance.

FW: Obviously it's Kane.
 
Orikoru said:
So while we're all slating Southgate - what England line-up would you like to see at the Euros next year? I'm torn in a few areas to be honest.

GK: None of the others have really stepped up - Ramsdale has lost his place at Arsenal - I still like Pope and would probably go for him, particularly if Newcastle are still doing well. But even though I don't rate him, I wouldn't be upset if Pickford retains (and I'm certain he will anyway).

RB: Will James ever be fit for more than 5 minutes? I'd be happy with Walker against the big sides (would need his pace against Mbappe, Gnabry, etc), or Trippier against teams where we'll have most of the ball.

CB: Stones is obvious. I'm not sold on Dunk, I feel that if Maguire was playing at a lower profile club like Brighton he'd actually look very similar. I still want to see Tomori given a chance, given that he's a league winner with Milan, but we've not seen much of him in an England shirt.

LB: Chilwell's place to lose now. If he's not fit, Trippier does a good job covering.

CM: Rice is a shoo-in in the holding role. The other position is where I'm torn. Originally I would have said Bellingham here all day, but he's doing his best work in a number 10 role at the moment, so maybe you need to play him there? In that case I don't know who fills in alongside Rice. I wouldn't mind seeing Trent play here but it's not his normal position so maybe that's a bit of a gamble - in games when we're on top his use of the ball could be invaluable. Against better teams though, would he get lost? I don't think Phillips should be anywhere near it unless he leaves City in Jan and plays very well for a new club. Ward-Prowse should absolutely be in the squad on performances, but I'm not sure about him starting. Mount feels like the forgotten man a little bit, but maybe he could do a job.

AM: As above, it's Bellingham unless he's playing deeper, then in that case you would want Maddison here if he keeps up his current form.

WF: Personally I'd have Saka on the right, Foden on the left. I think they each give you something different and provide a good balance.

FW: Obviously it's Kane.
Click to expand...
For me,

GK - Ramsdale. Personally I think he's the best of the bunch. I get the arguments for Pope/Pickford, but it's Ramsdale for me.
DF - agree on the Walker/Trippier comments. then it's Stones and Tomori or Guehi. Tomori is an astounding centre back and I don't understand what more he needs to do. LB is Chilwell all day long.
MF - Rice, Bellingham +1. Could be Trent, could be Maddison, could be Eze (I'd love to see him with better players than Palace have their disposal). All offer different options but it's 'those 2 plus another all day long.
FW - Saka/Kane/Foden, and then huge drop down to everyone else available.

Edit: @Swango1980 reminded me I'd missed Grealish. He's probably just about good enough to get in ahead of Eze! So MF of Rice, Bellingham and Foden, front 3 of Saka, Kane and Grealish and then you've got lots of movement between Grealish, Saka, Foden & Bellingham. Or at least you would have with an exciting boss in charge!
 
Last edited:
Orikoru said:
So while we're all slating Southgate - what England line-up would you like to see at the Euros next year? I'm torn in a few areas to be honest.

GK: None of the others have really stepped up - Ramsdale has lost his place at Arsenal - I still like Pope and would probably go for him, particularly if Newcastle are still doing well. But even though I don't rate him, I wouldn't be upset if Pickford retains (and I'm certain he will anyway).

RB: Will James ever be fit for more than 5 minutes? I'd be happy with Walker against the big sides (would need his pace against Mbappe, Gnabry, etc), or Trippier against teams where we'll have most of the ball.

CB: Stones is obvious. I'm not sold on Dunk, I feel that if Maguire was playing at a lower profile club like Brighton he'd actually look very similar. I still want to see Tomori given a chance, given that he's a league winner with Milan, but we've not seen much of him in an England shirt.

LB: Chilwell's place to lose now. If he's not fit, Trippier does a good job covering.

CM: Rice is a shoo-in in the holding role. The other position is where I'm torn. Originally I would have said Bellingham here all day, but he's doing his best work in a number 10 role at the moment, so maybe you need to play him there? In that case I don't know who fills in alongside Rice. I wouldn't mind seeing Trent play here but it's not his normal position so maybe that's a bit of a gamble - in games when we're on top his use of the ball could be invaluable. Against better teams though, would he get lost? I don't think Phillips should be anywhere near it unless he leaves City in Jan and plays very well for a new club. Ward-Prowse should absolutely be in the squad on performances, but I'm not sure about him starting. Mount feels like the forgotten man a little bit, but maybe he could do a job.

AM: As above, it's Bellingham unless he's playing deeper, then in that case you would want Maddison here if he keeps up his current form.

WF: Personally I'd have Saka on the right, Foden on the left. I think they each give you something different and provide a good balance.

FW: Obviously it's Kane.
Click to expand...
GK: Pickford*
RB: Walker*
CB: Stones*
CB: Maguire
LB: Shaw
DM: Rice*
CM: Bellingham*
CM: Maddison / Gallagher / Ward Prowse / Foden (I guess it depends who you are playing, whether you are a bit more attacking or not. If Phillips gets a loan move and plays regular, then I'd consider him as well)
RF: Saka*
LF: Grealish
FW: Kane*

The * symbol means I think they are 100% starters, if fit. One or 2 of the others may well have had a * as well, but didn't as they've just not played enough recently.

I've obviously given a load of options in the CM position, but some of those players could play elsewhere. Could play Foden out wide, Rashford an option as well. I'd have Watkins as a back up striker. And you have Chillwell, Tomori, Trippier, Dunk, etc as cover at the back. I know I'm missing somebody, although I have remembered Henderson, and just don't see that he should be considered after another 6 months or so in Saudi Arabia. But, I know he will get picked in the end. The only justification I could think of is if there are injuries and he needs cover in CM / DM positions. Or, if he can prove that Henderson's presence alone lifts the others players games by 5-10%.

Edit: Players I missed, TAA and Eze in midfield are options as well
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Hobbit
Another footie thread
2
Replies
36
Views
791
WorldHandicapSystem
W
road2ruin
Fantasy Footie 25/26
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
3K
4LEX
4
SwingsitlikeHogan
Rental Rights Act
2
Replies
24
Views
1K
jim8flog
jim8flog
jim8flog
Golf or football
2
Replies
33
Views
5K
Voyager EMH
Voyager EMH
SaintHacker
The EFL Thread
33 34 35
Replies
694
Views
46K
4LEX
4
Top