People keep mentioning Southgate's statement that the team hasn't peaked, there is still more to come. But you've got to think what else could he say, all managers say things like that because the alternative is to say they have peaked, the only was is down, which isn't the best motivational statement.
Yeah, it would. Plus 4 more days of the country on a high would have been nice. On the other hand, France might have given us a proper drubbing.
I want France to win it now for one reason; Dejan Bloody Lovren Actually, there are other reasons. But that's a big one.
Lovren had a good game last night. So long as he never plays like that for Liverpool, maybe I can tolerate him. Maybe.
Yes and he must be feeling like a jackass. He would have had plenty of chances to play during the course of the tournament because he's a profile of player who can be very useful to us, but he decided to act like a diva because he didn't play in the first match. Now other player have their place in history, and he has the tag of the biggest loser.
I stated as much prior to the tournament. where is the next Alan Ball? England need a player with the class, quality and leadership of Luca Modric (who must be in the running for World Player of the year after his season with club and country.
It was interesting to compare the skill level between the two sets of players last night. Over the past decade or more, many PL and Championship clubs have invested heavily in their academies to produce high quality players yet by comparison with Croatia´s team, England´s skill level looked schoolboyish. I do wonder how much time Croatia´s finest have spent in similar footballing academies? Anyone know?
I wanted Croatia to go on and win the whole thing, but then I'd forgotten about Lovren. The only saving grace is that if they do go on and win it, perhaps his ego will get so massive he'll go on strike at Liverpool to try and force a move to Real Madrid, and end up being sold to Real Sociedad.
I think academies are great, but footballing culture in the UK is backwards compared to Europe. All anyone wants is to win, not to work on skill. When I see kids in the park here they are always playing matches, even if there are only two with one booting the ball at the the other in goal. In Germany, kids play skill games in the park and football is much more about technique than gusto. I know we are fixing this in academies, but the pool in academies is much smaller than the pool of kids playing football total. Sadly, I think academies may also be a problem as the best talent goes to the best clubs who won't ever use them and they end up rotting in the reserves. Thank God young players are looking to move abroad for experience (Lookman, Sancho for example), but look at the reaction from English coaches. Allardyce told Lookman it would stunt his development to go and play for RB Leipzig. Finally, I think sticking with the awful Alli, and ignoring the young talent of RLC was criminal (by man of the moment, Southgate) as it sends the message that big name players get first pick - even out of form.
Before a ball was kicked last season I posted many messages that SFC should have been buying him, Abraham, and one other Chelsea youngster after letting go of Van Dych. Alas, it didn´t happen.
I think he needed to come on early second half tbh. I do think Southgate was too slow reacting to the game, but dont want to dwell on that because there were far more positives to come from this WC than negatives.
The thing about decisions is that they can turn out right or wrong....if anyone here always makes the correct decisions in football they should be millionaire football managers by now.
Well, you need to be given the opportunity to make the decisions, so its not quite as straight forward, but I see the point you are making.
England chants being investigated: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-c...-possible-discriminatory-chants-england-fans/
