Boring to watch, TAA a failure in midfield. First sub made on 70 minutes when we'd been playing **** since the goal. Not very good, is it?
Another painful watch. Leaving Grealish, Rashford, Maddison out is absolutely bananas. Those are exactly the players to come on and inject some life in this type of game.
Take the win and move on. As the commentator pointed out, we had only won once in our last ten EURO opening games. Three points more crucial than the performance early doors, but that second half display was erratic and error prone. Much to work on before the more difficult group match against Denmark on Thursday.
Those players you mentioned haven’t exactly played well though, have they? Grealish only scored a few times last season, Rashford has been out of form all year, and Maddison didn’t look the same player in the second half of the season after his injury. I’d actually argue that Southgate has picked a squad of players who deserve their place, based on club performances.
Meh, a quickly forgettable game of 'football'. The only time we looked ok was in the first half when Serbia were in defensive mode and not putting any pressure on the ball. After the goal, we did absolutely nothing of note for the rest of the match. Foden was crap, TAA a mistake and anonymous in the middle and Kane everywhere but up front as usual. A win, three points and a good looking group table and that's the only positive to take from it.
Rashford's just won the FA Cup. How much more form do you want than playing in a final to win a major trophy? Everyone has lost their sense of perspective.
Harry Kane has yet again conspired not to win a trophy. Rashford has had a more successful season than Kane. So too has Grealish.
Absolute cobblers. Kane’s scored 44 goals in 45 games in all competitions for Bayern. Just because his club didn’t win anything does not rule out his performances and ability. In comparison, Rashford scored only 8 in 43 games and Grealish only scored three times in 36 with a couple of assists. Neither of them should have been anywhere near the plane! They’re big name players who massively underperformed last season.
Have to agree, Southgate’s picked club form players, those left behind deserve to be but he’s a terrible coach. The talent he has at his disposal but the team tonight had zero direction
I'm a United fan mate and in the past been a big Rashford fan too, and I can confidently say he has most definitely not had a successful season. You can't define individual performance with team trophies. He did very little to get us it.
I think “terrible coach” is too harsh. On paper, I’d argue we had much better players and better squad balance and depth - on paper - in the 90s and 00s than what Southgate’s had in 2018-2022. Southgate’s got us consistently making deep runs in tournaments, which we shouldn’t take for granted and no manager has achieved with our national team. He was too cautious in the 2020 Euro final against Italy though. Having said that, we’re rightly considered among the favourites in this tournament. If we come away empty handed, then I think it’s time for a change. I just don’t think there are many great English alternatives. Potter and Howe? That’s really it.
I'd agree Nuggets, think Southgate has got the selection right and is a pretty good manager but not a great tactician. England do have a similar feel to us under McKenna in the first half of the league 1 season. We have some really good players in some positions but compared to previous squads we are weak, in midfield and in defence. We also lack any real width and players to get in behind. After last night's performance I'd be tempted to play Bellingham in the 8 (as he played there half the time anyway) and move Foden to the 10 with Gordon out wide.
Generally agree. I think Southgate’s main strength is his man management and maturity. It’s no secret now that England squads in the past were cliquey and just spent time with their mates from their club teams (Man United table, Liverpool table etc.) Thankfully, that’s been eradicated under Southgate. The squad is also more likeable, in my opinion, than previous England sides that had an unwarranted arrogance. The positives of Southgate’s pragmatism is his win record, general results, and consistency. The weaknesses, as you say, is in game management. He is slow to react to the opposition and generally gets out coached by better managers. He is also too cautious in big games (Croatia 2018, Italy 2021) and didn’t seem to encourage players to push on to score an all important second goal in those games. I’d go back a bit further with my Ipswich comparison - I think he’s more of a Paul Lambert figure in those first couple of seasons down in League One. Typically beat the teams we were expected due, largely due to quality of players, but consistently lost against the decent teams that had a more tactically astute manager.
But this is exactly what I mean, there won't be many worse managers in the finals, we are predictable Southgate has no answer against a team that starts outplaying us. Question - If you had lost McKenna would you have wanted Southgate replacing him He got Boro relegated and he did nothing to justify his appointment in the first place as England manager, he is just an FA yes man who doesn't ruffle feathers and is good in front of the press and no ghosts in the cupboard Likeable and decent guy but when it comes to being a good tactician and football coach...
Do you think that there might be a reason that Kane has never won a trophy? Lack of winning mentality? Lack of drive and hunger? Lack of passion? Is he selfish? His dry delivery? His own lack of belief? Is he unpopular or unpleasant behind closed doors? I'm not saying that he has all of those flaws but scoring goals is not the be all and end all of being a team member. We saw the drive and determination from Bellingham. Grealish in particular brings fun to the pitch. Nobody out there looks as though they are enjoying themselves at the moment (a long way from 2018 when they were all smiles on the pitch). Southgate is not a bad coach but the momentum has gone and the trajectory is downward. Where previously managers would remain loyal to big names or make a show of excluding them, he’s not done that but he has taken the balance of bringing in new players too far at the expense of experience. The one thing that could prove absolutely terminal is the defence. He’s put too much dependence on two players who aren’t fit and not enough work since the World Cup on the strength in depth.
I was getting annoyed that we kept playing it long from Pickford giving it straight back to them, I know playing it out can sometimes be nervy but I much prefer it.
The second half reminded me a bit of when Ipswich were under the cosh and England should do so much better than looking like a good Championship side.
I think people will look back on Southgates time as England manager in a few years and say what an outstanding job he's done. But also yes he does have limitations. He's the best England manager we've had in years, and for me this isn't the best England team we've had in years. I also cannot remember any tournament England have played in in my lifetime where we have played well from the off. I actually don't think McKennas in game tactics are the best despite how well our subs have done. He has a plan and sticks to it and that includes the subs. If only we had those positive subs made by Southgate, the problem is we lack width and we lack players who can get in behind and stretch a game and to be honest i don't know what the answer is, all I know is we're not getting the best out of some of the most talented players in the world.
Yawn, another turgid England display, pretty much a copy/paste of the Serbia match. Score a goal and then stop attacking. Foden isn't a left winger and had his best moments when central. TAA isn't a midfielder and this was another game where he was just a passenger. Same old problem with England, trying to squeeze certain players into the team by playing them out of position, to the detriment of the overall balance. Southgate is wasting talent, like so many managers before him.
