Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Imagine Fergie with Rooney,Ronaldo & Tevez trying to sneak a 1-0
Red devil
Well-known member
No, me neither
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Totally agree.
4LEX
Well-known member
I know it was a dead rubber but that was the game you try a few different things. No need to start Maguire, no need to play Henderson and ditto Rashford.
The only positive from tonight was Foden and a few of the subs like Saka and Rice.
I've always had big question marks over Southgate and think he's cost us at least two major tournaments. I still believe we can win the Euros but it will depends on how easy the draw is and how well Bellingham plays. All our quality and we look to have become a one man team simply because Southgate can't coach or pick a balanced side. It's clear our game plan is now to keep it tight and give it to Bellingham which is criminal.
The only positive from tonight was Foden and a few of the subs like Saka and Rice.
I've always had big question marks over Southgate and think he's cost us at least two major tournaments. I still believe we can win the Euros but it will depends on how easy the draw is and how well Bellingham plays. All our quality and we look to have become a one man team simply because Southgate can't coach or pick a balanced side. It's clear our game plan is now to keep it tight and give it to Bellingham which is criminal.
RichA
Well-known member
The bits of that match that I saw confirmed for me that it isn't VAR or refereeing that's spoiling football; it's the relentless cheating that's making refereeing virtually impossible that's spoiling football.
A dead rubber against Malta and Kane and Rashford still feel the need to cheat. It's embarrassing. I'm thrilled the ref didn't fall for it.
A dead rubber against Malta and Kane and Rashford still feel the need to cheat. It's embarrassing. I'm thrilled the ref didn't fall for it.
That England match was so enthralling I was in bed asleep just after half time. It’s got to be one of the worst halves of football I’ve ever seen. The cream of English football looking like a kick about in the park. Disjointed, painfully slow and totally uninspiring. Imagine a bunch of 28 handicappers trying to win the Open.
What a huge turn off!
What a huge turn off!
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Swango1980
Well-known member
The English fans amuse me. I mean, it has been known that even the best teams in the world win the odd game boringly. But if England do.this, bring on the intense criticism. You wonder why other fans see them as arrogant 
Southgate's done what many have asked for, and given several others a chance. Yet even that isn't good enough, as it then boils down to why individual players should and shouldn't be there.
There is always a danger of underwhelming performances when you chop and change too many players in and out of the team. You simply have too many players in the side who haven't really played together, and they have a few days to figure out how England play and what their team mates will do around them.
I certainly don't feel the need to be overly critical with England last night, in a game that already felt pretty uninspiring and unimportant before kick off. I'm more willing to cast judgement in the heat of a tournament, and see if the strongest team turn up against the big nations, or they retreat to defence and go out with a whimper
Southgate's done what many have asked for, and given several others a chance. Yet even that isn't good enough, as it then boils down to why individual players should and shouldn't be there.
There is always a danger of underwhelming performances when you chop and change too many players in and out of the team. You simply have too many players in the side who haven't really played together, and they have a few days to figure out how England play and what their team mates will do around them.
I certainly don't feel the need to be overly critical with England last night, in a game that already felt pretty uninspiring and unimportant before kick off. I'm more willing to cast judgement in the heat of a tournament, and see if the strongest team turn up against the big nations, or they retreat to defence and go out with a whimper
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
At last, a sensible reply. It's International football.The English fans amuse me. I mean, it has been known that even the best teams in the world win the odd game boringly. But if England do.this, bring on the intense criticism. You wonder why other fans see them as arrogant
Southgate's done what many have asked for, and given several others a chance. Yet even that isn't good enough, as it then boils down to why individual players should and shouldn't be there.
There is always a danger of underwhelming performances when you chop and change too many players in and out of the team. You simply have too many players in the side who haven't really played together, and they have a few days to figure out how England play and what their team mates will do around them.
I certainly don't feel the need to be overly critical with England last night, in a game that already felt pretty uninspiring and unimportant before kick off. I'm more willing to cast judgement in the heat of a tournament, and see if the strongest team turn up against the big nations, or they retreat to defence and go out with a whimper
I thought Malta played well, defensively well organised and pressed well all over the pitch.
Foden had his best game for England, lightening quick, a pleasure to watch.
We're top of the table in not the easiest of groups.
Onwards and upwards.
AmandaJR
Money List Winner
Can I just say. Those aeroplanes. Amazing. I need to know how to make one of those. One clearly made it from the stands beyond the half way line. Didn't see it land but heard the cheer when it did...top paper plane building on show.
The match was a poor second to the planes on show.
The match was a poor second to the planes on show.
ColchesterFC
Journeyman Pro
My main criticism is that Southgate has us set up to try to win every game boringly. When you've got a team that could contain Bellingham, Saka, Foden and Kane you should be set up to attack not to defend.The English fans amuse me. I mean, it has been known that even the best teams in the world win the odd game boringly. But if England do.this, bring on the intense criticism. You wonder why other fans see them as arrogant
RichA
Well-known member
I think it's only the fans of the other "home" nations that see us as arrogant. Particularly those that live in England and suffer the greatest exposure.The English fans amuse me. I mean, it has been known that even the best teams in the world win the odd game boringly. But if England do.this, bring on the intense criticism. You wonder why other fans see them as arrogant
Southgate's done what many have asked for, and given several others a chance. Yet even that isn't good enough, as it then boils down to why individual players should and shouldn't be there.
There is always a danger of underwhelming performances when you chop and change too many players in and out of the team. You simply have too many players in the side who haven't really played together, and they have a few days to figure out how England play and what their team mates will do around them.
I certainly don't feel the need to be overly critical with England last night, in a game that already felt pretty uninspiring and unimportant before kick off. I'm more willing to cast judgement in the heat of a tournament, and see if the strongest team turn up against the big nations, or they retreat to defence and go out with a whimper
Other nations' fans probably don't really give us or our team much thought at all.
The Germans, for example, are apparently amused by our belief that we have a great rivalry with them. Their great rivalry is with the Netherlands.
Swango1980
Well-known member
It is usually ex players from other nations outside the UK, who are the ones I hear label the Engish as arrogant. Obviously, I don't get exposed to their media so not sure the extent of that feeling.
AmandaJR
Money List Winner
Agreed. Plus I'd argue it's high expectations rather than arrogance. If those expectations were completely misplaced then it might step into arrogance (although I'd say a sense of entitlement) but right now there is no doubt we have the squad to expect much more than we're seeing.
Swango1980
Well-known member
England have 19 points out of a possible 21, in a group with Italy and Ukraine. They are 6 points clear of 2nd placed team.
In this instance, what more do we want? It is unacceptable they haven't got 21 points. Is there an acceptable number of goals thet need to score? Except for Portugal, England has the joint best goal difference in the Qualifying, alongside Spain.
Personally, I don't think it is worthy of excessive criticism. When fans expect much more than that, it does come across as arrogant. If England were in a fight to qualify, I could understand the concerns. But they are qualifying at a canter.
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
@swango, it's the way GS has got us to play against far lesser teams that is the issue. Yes we have a great qualification yet again but be honest we should be Looking to beat a side ranked at 171 in the world by a far better display than what happened last night .
It was painful to watch .
It was painful to watch .
Swango1980
Well-known member
Yeah, it was painful to watch. Mind you, England rarely play decent teams in qualification. Maybe one or 2 decent sides in group. They won't play sides like Malta in the tournament proper. So, does it make much sense to play an aggressive attacking style of football against the many inferior sides they play in qualifying, then going into a tournament and not being familiar enough with a more balanced style of play against decent sides?
Perhaps he is just trying to get the players to play a very solid style of football, so they can go into tournament feeling comfortably solid? Then it is about how he can allow the flair players to add the attacking threat. Sure, I don't think Southgate is best coach in world at getting the best out of them, like you'd think Pep would. But I doubt going full out attack against Malta will suddenly give him the info he needs, and he'll turn into Pep as a result. And if they end up conceding a few sloppy goals, it could be very damaging to confidence
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
Problem is that we will never find out if this side can play with flair and dare I say arrogance that players who play in the best league in the world should be showing against the smaller sides ,if we don't do it against them how the hell is GS going to know if we can against a decent side . I'm not saying let's go gung ho, but it would be nice to see a team looking at getting some quick balls in for our front line to have a go at . Our second goal last night highlighted that with quick ball and one or two touch football.
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
Unfortunately the people that comment on the games ( ex players) are from an era of Southgate. They are all old pals and stick together with the great exception of Keane. You have an Average defender, who is now a below average national manager, managing world class players.
I have said it for a few years, the players are carrying Southgate.
England should have beaten Malta last night. That’s not being disrespectful to Malta, but playing Maguire and Henderson quite frankly is disgusting and disrespectful to the players who are busting a gut to get into that team. He may well be making Bessie pals for life in Hendo and Maguire but he is bogging players off by not giving them a chance.
How Southgate thinks that is Englands best 11 is beyond me. He has said “ England are not where we should be”. No crap Sherlock.
He is killing a generation. A generation that for me is better than the golden generation.
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
First sentence, it’s more than the odd game that England are boring in, it’s a regular occurrenc.The English fans amuse me. I mean, it has been known that even the best teams in the world win the odd game boringly. But if England do.this, bring on the intense criticism. You wonder why other fans see them as arrogant
Southgate's done what many have asked for, and given several others a chance. Yet even that isn't good enough, as it then boils down to why individual players should and shouldn't be there.
There is always a danger of underwhelming performances when you chop and change too many players in and out of the team. You simply have too many players in the side who haven't really played together, and they have a few days to figure out how England play and what their team mates will do around them.
I certainly don't feel the need to be overly critical with England last night, in a game that already felt pretty uninspiring and unimportant before kick off. I'm more willing to cast judgement in the heat of a tournament, and see if the strongest team turn up against the big nations, or they retreat to defence and go out with a whimper
Second sentence, who has he given a chance to, playing players out of position when better players are not even in the squad. Square pegs round hole.
Third sentence, what exactly is Englands style of play. Sort that out and then players can try to play in that system. He has been manager long enough to now have a style of play. In the few “ friendly” games he has had he has played teams and players that will never ever again play together again.
Fourth sentence, Southgate has said” we are not where we should be”. That is down to him and no one else. Malta as a team were organised, well organised. England were not. It was painful to see ( the few minutes I watched) a team play in a match that was important in a sense of a win wins the group. There were players in that squad that could and would have bust a gut had they been given a chance. They were not and won’t be given a chance.
Beezerk
Money List Winner
That’s half the issue, he’s a one trick pony and only knows how to set up a team one way. He has the Crown Jewels in his hands and he’s treating them like something from Ratners.
