The Footie Thread

[Beezerk]

I agree Southgate lacks forward thinking and progression, but disagree with your comment of typical backwards English thinking. I’ve been pretty clear I don’t think Henderson should be starting.

Sorry I meant England manager backward thinking. I’ve no idea how the England changing room dynamic works but given Hendersons recent poor transfers and form I really can’t see him having a great deal of respect from some quarters of the team. Factor in he shouldn’t be anywhere near that team now on form alone his selection is even more bizarre, but then we go back to the Ramsdale decision

 

[Deleted member 21784]

For the 3rd time in 3 years I get to look forward to an European quarter final draw

Hoping for anyone but Liverpool to be fair. Not just because frankly they look the best team in it but also because it's more fun to play non English teams.

Strong teams left in the comp aswell

Ac Milan
Benfica
Leverkusen
Marseille
Roma
Liverpool
Atalanta
West ham

Pretty cool to be a part of them

 

[Tashyboy]

For anyone supporting Southgate I'd ask a simple question, do you think we'd be achieving more or less with a manager such as Pep, Klopp, Ancelotti etc in charge? Personally I think we'd be better off with a more positive manager in charge. Someone that would make the most of the attacking talent we've got available to us rather than someone that is determined not to lose.

I have said it for a long time, the players are carrying Southgate. He is holding them back. I don’t mind England losing, but we lose at the top level playing rammel football with some of the most exciting players in the world. There is no style of play, friendlies are a waste of time.
Anyone who thinks Southgate brings anything to the party as a manger needs to give there head a wobble. His supporters must have seen a lifetime of dross football.
The only thing Southgate is good at is PR. Hie own.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

I have said it for a long time, the players are carrying Southgate. He is holding them back. I don’t mind England losing, but we lose at the top level playing rammel football with some of the most exciting players in the world. There is no style of play, friendlies are a waste of time.
Anyone who thinks Southgate brings anything to the party as a manger needs to give there head a wobble. His supporters must have seen a lifetime of dross football.
The only thing Southgate is good at is PR. Hie own.

We can thank the sun for Southgate

Big Sam was the manager. They set him up, why? What was the point?

I think he would have been an excellent manager. I saw some excellent football under him once he got some flair players in

Some of the football Bolton played under him was beautiful

 

[Swango1980]

I have said it for a long time, the players are carrying Southgate. He is holding them back. I don’t mind England losing, but we lose at the top level playing rammel football with some of the most exciting players in the world. There is no style of play, friendlies are a waste of time.
Anyone who thinks Southgate brings anything to the party as a manger needs to give there head a wobble. His supporters must have seen a lifetime of dross football.
The only thing Southgate is good at is PR. Hie own.

I reckon most normal football fans with no managerial experience could get results out of this England side. So long as they have a decent personality to make the players feel good about playing for England, and average coaches around them to run through some basic training drills and tactics. The England players are just that good, there will be a fear factor for most opponents playing against them, and most opponents are pretty poor anyway.

It is why I struggle to ever rate Southgate highly, even if England get through to latter stages of tournaments. It rarely seems to be because England play unbelievably slick football worked on by the coach, but because they have unbelievable players who make the difference.

Southgate isn't an awful manager. I'm sure he brings some positive attributes to the team, and he is a nice and diplomatic guy so can manage the ego of players and handle the media. But, if England had a top class coach to match the ability of the players, I always feel England could be 10 times more scary for opponents to play against. A manager with charisma, who players have 100% faith in lead them to brilliant dominant football. I'm not sure they all would have 100% faith in Southgate as a world class coach, albeit I'm sure they really like the guy.

 

[Swango1980]

Just a thought.

Klopp has grown tired of the day to day grind managing at club level. Would he be interested in international management? Would he be interested in England, given his time in England?

 

[GB72]

Last time I saw an England team with this much quality and depth was the 2003 World Cup winning rugby team. The difference is that whenever they took to the field, you had an expectation that they would win, they were that good. You never get that feeling with this England football team. The feeling I get is that they are good but they cannot compete in big games against the best teams and that simply should not be the case.

 

[Hobbit]

Just what is Southgate’s CV as a manager?

3 seasons as Middlesbrough’s manager. They were relegated at the end of his 3rd season. Although he started a 4th season with them he was soon sacked and replaced by Gordon Strachan when the Boro were only 1pt off top spot.

4 years in the wilderness before landing the England under 21 job, which he held for nearly 3 years, before landing his current job.

His record as England manager suggests he’s getting something right but, equally, it could be easily argued he’s had some great talent which he’s stifled. Two very decent keepers, which are hard to spoil, but what a waste of Harry Kane. One of the best strikers in the world starved of service because of what he asks of the likes of Saka et al.

As for his squad selections… it’s been done to death but I despair at seeing top talent not even making the squad when dross makes the team sheet, not just the squad.

 

[rudebhoy]

We can thank the sun for Southgate

Big Sam was the manager. They set him up, why? What was the point?

I think he would have been an excellent manager. I saw some excellent football under him once he got some flair players in

Some of the football Bolton played under him was beautiful

to sell newspapers.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

We can thank the sun for Southgate

Big Sam was the manager. They set him up, why? What was the point?

I think he would have been an excellent manager. I saw some excellent football under him once he got some flair players in

Some of the football Bolton played under him was beautiful

You need to check the room you are in for a gas leak. Something has sent you a bit dizzy.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

You need to check the room you are in for a gas leak. Something has sent you a bit dizzy.

Undefeated as England manager! 100% win record

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Undefeated as England manager! 100% win record

Fair point. If only his name had been Sam Allardycio

 

[PaulMdj]

I get very frustrated with Southgate and was absolutely 100% against him getting the job.

However, who can prove anyone else managing these players we’d of done better! His record speaks for itself.

No previous manager has done any better since Alf Ramsey, yet we’ve had Squads teaming with World Class players, including, the so called “Golden Generation”

He’s the current manager, the FA are not going to sack him and personally I rather see England win under him than for us to lose just so we can sack him.

Plus, who on earth is available and would do better?

 

[Billysboots]

I get very frustrated with Southgate and was absolutely 100% against him getting the job.

However, who can prove anyone else managing these players we’d of done better! His record speaks for itself.

No previous manager has done any better since Alf Ramsey, yet we’ve had Squads teaming with World Class players, including, the so called “Golden Generation”

He’s the current manager, the FA are not going to sack him and personally I rather see England win under him than for us to lose just so we can sack him.

Plus, who on earth is available and would do better?

The whole point, surely, is that England do not win under him. Okay, they stroll through qualifying campaigns, but they have been doing that pretty consistently throughout my lifetime, bar one or two notable exceptions.

But when it’s time to raise their game and win tournaments, England under Southgate are incapable of taking that step up. Sorry, but that is down to the manager’s conservatism.

It’s a while ago now, but I seem to recall he started the final of the Euros, at home and against a bang average Italy side, with no fewer than SEVEN defensive players in front of Pickford.

I agree going completely on the front foot is perhaps not the best approach either, but in key games England do not come close to grasping the initiative. That despite almost every pundit and watching fan seemingly agreeing that we play far better football when the young talent is allowed to express itself.

I’ve said it times, but I groaned out loud when Luke Shaw put England ahead in that final after three minutes. Because from that moment on, despite Italy being there for the taking, we just retreated deeper and deeper into our own half to the point the game was being played in our defensive third.

That had to be one of the most frustrating games I have ever seen England play. Because that side, if it had been allowed to, was more than good enough to have won it with ease.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

I get very frustrated with Southgate and was absolutely 100% against him getting the job.

However, who can prove anyone else managing these players we’d of done better! His record speaks for itself.

No previous manager has done any better since Alf Ramsey, yet we’ve had Squads teaming with World Class players, including, the so called “Golden Generation”

He’s the current manager, the FA are not going to sack him and personally I rather see England win under him than for us to lose just so we can sack him.

Plus, who on earth is available and would do better?

Eddie Howe

Whilst he can't set up a defence to save his life hell does play good attacking football

Considering we are better attacking than defending Id back him to do well

 

[Reemul]

I get very frustrated with Southgate and was absolutely 100% against him getting the job.

However, who can prove anyone else managing these players we’d of done better! His record speaks for itself.

No previous manager has done any better since Alf Ramsey, yet we’ve had Squads teaming with World Class players, including, the so called “Golden Generation”

He’s the current manager, the FA are not going to sack him and personally I rather see England win under him than for us to lose just so we can sack him.

Plus, who on earth is available and would do better?

But we won't win because he is too defensive, we should win but we won't. Exactly like Belgium who had that idiot Martinez, wasted a quality generation due to the manager.

Anyone that thinks us getting to the Semis is a success with this crowd of players is having a laugh.

In the longer term we are going to rue having Southgate as our manager

 

[Billysboots]

But we won't win because he is too defensive, we should win but we won't. Exactly like Belgium who had that idiot Martinez, wasted a quality generation due to the manager.

Anyone that thinks us getting to the Semis is a success with this crowd of players is having a laugh.

In the longer term we are going to rue having Southgate as our manager

Totally agree. This will be looked back upon as a tenure of huge missed opportunities.

 

[AmandaJR]

A thought just crossed my mind. Bear with though as my Wordle effort today shows my brain is malfunctioning a bit...

Does Gareth pick Henderson as he sees him as a player in his mould? Low on skill, big on effort?!

 

[Swango1980]

I get very frustrated with Southgate and was absolutely 100% against him getting the job.

However, who can prove anyone else managing these players we’d of done better! His record speaks for itself.

No previous manager has done any better since Alf Ramsey, yet we’ve had Squads teaming with World Class players, including, the so called “Golden Generation”

He’s the current manager, the FA are not going to sack him and personally I rather see England win under him than for us to lose just so we can sack him.

Plus, who on earth is available and would do better?

His record speaks for itself? He hasn't won anything, managing a team that most think should be well capable of winning things.

Sure, England have had good sides before, including the Golden Generation. But, two responses to that:

• The performances of the Golden Generation was deemed an absolute failure by most. Huge criticism of the managers at the time. So, just because Southgate might have lead them to similar rounds in tournaments, or a round or so further, does not suddenly put a positive spin on his record. We are basically comparing him to failed England managers and teams.
• The opposition England had in those older days were incredible. France, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Holland, Germany, etc had some of the finest players in generations playing for them. These players mainly played outside of England in the best leagues at the time, and English players rarely competed with them, except for the toughest of fixtures in Europe. There was an aura about them. I genuinely do not see the other big nations having anywhere near as strong players as they once had. Sure, France have Mbappe and there will be a few other big players about. But, the English players are now pretty much playing for the biggest clubs in the World. They are not suddenly going to face a team made up of Zidane, Desailly, Lizarazu, Petit, Vieira, Djorkaeff, Blanc and Thuram. Or Buffon, Maldini, Cannavaro, Nesta, Albertini, Del Pierro, Baggio, Inzaghi, Vieri, etc.

I don't think fans would mind as much if England went out, but they went out having a right go. Ultimately, luck will always play its part, and even great teams can fail. I remember England went out in the semis at Euro 96. It was disappointing, but I felt England were really really positive after the boring opening game against Switzerland, and in the semi versus Germany, England were so unlucky. If only Gazza had eaten one less pie, I think he'd have got his foot on that cross.

 

[GB72]

I think that part of the issue is that we are significantly better than we have been before in that we are reaching later stages of tournaments etc and that has been a red herring that many have been willing to expect as there is a massive difference between perhaps being better than we have been before and reaching the levels that we could be achieving with the talent we have.