Straight question - Would you start to become more bothered if things started looking up gor the national team? I just think its a real shame that we have all become a bit indifferent to the england team and is kind of part of the problem. The prem in particular has just consumed the thoughts of everyone involved with football so despite the protests to the contrary from the the FA, the players etc the national team has become no more than a distraction. Personally I really love to support the England team and im always very interested in whats happening but admittedly its been pretty difficult to get excited about anything England related fpr quite some time. I actually think Southgate is the best choice right now. He did well with the U21's and has experience of tournament football.
Same as Gordy, I couldn't be less bothered if I tried. It's not the PL factor for me, it's the players. The PL doesn't help but I remain to be convinced it's anything other than a weekend away for the senior, undroppable players. The apathy set in when we had the so called" golden generation' who in all honesty were anything but. Media overhype doesn't help either. Have been going to football long enough to be able to tell when a player is good or not and if it's an exciting game or not without the media trying to convince me.
Seems to have done well, during his stint so far give him a go. Does worry me that he'll get us to the World Cup with ease, then we'll go out without winning a game. One win between World Cup 2014 and Euro 2016 via last minute Sturridge winner is worrying.
That is grossly unfair - the man is a Newcastle supporter - success-based support is not part of his genetic make-up. Agree though that club affinities have eroded support for the National Team and this is partly exaggerated by the lack of success of the England team. It is a real shame because in every other nation-based sporting event we get behind the team. Think they somehow need to address the balance between ckub and international football but dont see how this can happen when the clubs are paying the huge salaries and rightly feel that they own the players. I am happy with the appointment of Southgate - he has been part of the England set-up for some time now and unlike someone coming straight from club football understands how it works. He has also been part of the England youth system. I would look at a revolutionary scheme to change the whole way we deal with national football. First of all I would make the England team open to U23 players only. Twenty-five of these would be selected and seconded from the clubs each year. The FA would pay their salaries. A place for this England team would be created in the PL by dropping one of the current teams (make sense if it was current bottom team!). They couldnt qualify for Europe or be relegated but would receive a share of TV money/gate receipts, home ground Wembley Stadium. It helps the clubs in two ways - their young players get game time at the highest level, their older players are not required for international matches and even get breaks during intntl weeks. Players get much more game time together which would hopefully make up for lack of experience. Selection of yearly squad down to national team manager. Squad stays together until end of any season ending international tournaments. I reckon it is worth a try. We need to do something to shake up the England set up but it has to be something that the clubs accept.
I'll be straight, I think its a very average typical FA appointment. I don't think anything will improve under him. That said I have nothing against the bloke, and I think he'll try his nuts off. To be honest it wouldn't matter who you put in charge. They don't have the players to achieve. We are not good enough. The vast majority would not even get in the top nations squads nevermind teams. Football in this country is ****ed and has been for a long time. We are regressing and have been since the PL became the monster it is. The players don't get the requisite exposure etc etc etc. We've been through this with every one of the last half dozen managers. We keep failing, and then keep failing to address the 2 elephants in the room - the foreign domination of our leagues with players and managers - then ridiculous sums of money falling into young players hands. Its just not helping and until we address it will not change. All of the top nations (Spain, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy) recognise this. These teams deliver the vast majority of major tournaments. I'm daft and patriotic though so he'll get my full support and I'll back them through thick and what is currently very thin. At some point a bloke will walk into the FA and retake control of the game here again. They will sort out the PL dragon, and get England back to punching its weight in international football. Well that's the notion I keep deluding myself with anyway. I am a Newcastle supporter - we always believe.
Don't the FA learn. Why give him a 4 year contract, better to see how he's doing in proper competions, why not a rolling contract? I might be alone in my thinking but he really hasn't torn up any trees yet, struggled against Spain, were not impressive against Malta, Scotland caused them trouble, pity they didn't have a striker and Slovenia held them 0-0. Not entirely reason for a 4 year contract. He really needs to get into this current group of players that it's current performances that get you into the team , not reputations as some current squad members are past it.
Quality appointment for me! Southgate is the first manager in a long time to have come through the Rank's managing the U21's and did a very good job while coaching them. He has an in depth knowledge of the set up and the senior and youth players coming through the U21's-U18's. Just hope he has the balls to make the tough decisions and ditch the big name players. Players like Rooney shouldn't be involved going forwards. They have failed for the last 12-14 years to do anything and we should be concentrating on blooding the young talent coming through, getting them use to the pressures of playing for one of the worlds biggest yet unsuccessful national teams.
Honestly, I'm just glad it's not bloody Klinsmann. I support England because I'm an Englishman, and, win or lose, we should be managed by an Englishman. If the current crop of English managers are ****e, so be it.
Whilst I agree we have been unsuccessful for decades, I can't agree that Rooney has failed, he is England's leading scorer.
I still think Rooney could play a part as a midfielder. He'd have to play there for a club first though.
