Gareth Southgate’s team take on the Ukraine this afternoon - apparently the crowd will be quite hostile….. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66692946
After all of this time I still don't really enjoy Southgates style, I follow England but still suffer the frustrations, Ukraine deserved the draw, not bad result for us, I hope we show some more grit against Scotland.
Lousy boring football followed by a commentators comments that he expected more - didn't we all! Rather like watching a certain team I know back in the West Country - guess who? Same old rubbish from England and when you consider we have the best top tier football in the world how come we can't put together a national squad worthy of wearing the shirt.
Actually enjoyed the rugby a lot more because at least there is some action. With a man down from early on we dominated and the kicking was first class, but I have my concerns when we face the real big boys.
Hideous game of football from England. Hendersons intensity has gone already playing fro blood money in a retirement league leave him in Saudi to count his cash in future. Billy big b***ks Maddison and Bellingham seemed to be standing on top of each. Rashford and Foden were worse as subs. Chilwell was unable to pass forwards. Weird set up and shape to the team. Vibes of Southgate not knowing how to get a tune out of a squad of great and good players.
Other than Alf Ramsay he’s the most successful England manager, semi finalists and runners up, not a bad record. We used to struggle to even get to finals, now take it for granted.. he deserves to keep his position, but I think he’s probably nearing the end of his reign. I’ve no idea who will take over from him, as managing a national team is completely different to a league team.
Need to put things into context there though. All the bigger nations teams are either going through transition with youth coming through or still stuck with old players. With the players he’s had at his disposal it’s been grim. They should be winning if he wasn’t so negative. If he’s in the job for another 10 years he will still play Maguire and Henderson. And that’s my opinion of him from an outsider. Im actually agreeing with RR, with him in charge you won’t win still.
We’ve had good players in the past, but never competed at a national level. You can always make reasons/excuses. We’ve made the semi finals and finals in the last two major competitions, no one can argue with that record. People will always argue/debate who should or shouldn’t be in the squad, but teams are not just built and made successful by fielding the best eleven individuals, it’s about balance and how they work together as a team. He has been successful at building a team spirit in the squad which a lack of was our downfall previously, where players from different clubs wouldn’t hardly even talk to each other.
Southgate's the luckiest manager with the routes we've had in Euro's and World Cup..by far and should be doing so much better with other major football Countries going through transition.. We have the top players, yet we are so boring to watch..
The record will show we’ve been finalists and semi finalists in the last two major competitions, agreed we’ve been a bit to boring to watch at times, but even so, the record speaks for itself. When you consider where we were when he took over we’ve come a long way. You say he’s been lucky, but we’ve always been our own worst enemy in the past. I think as a player he realised what held us back in the past and made sure they didn’t happen under his watch. We had decent players in the past, but we never had a togetherness, a team spirit like we do at club level. He may not be the best tactician or coach, but he encourages team spirit. Often the so called easier games are the ones that are the most difficult. We rarely lose the so called easier games now, which means there isn’t so much pressure to win the difficult ones. That’s my feelings anyhow.
We had decent players in the past. I agree. However the Premiership is now full of brilliant foreign players raising the overall standard of English players by some margin. Southgate is boring and so is his football. Playing Henderson was an aberration and made worse by taking off the likes of Bellingham, the kid is a genius. And don't start me Southgate not starting Foden. He's a regular for Man City and they're light years better than England. Southgate is a typical FA appointment. Grey.
The premiership has been full of brilliant foreign players for years, long before Southgate took over, I don’t recall our National team doing particularly well before he took over though. Foden when he has played has not been great. There have been many players through the years that have been class for there clubs, but not pushed up trees for England. Hoodie was one off the top of my head. I don’t follow the premiership so can’t comment on his ability for Man City, although I agree everyone raves about how good he is, I just see him when he plays for England and he’s not been brilliant.
as your comment re prediction says.... "it could go either way! " in the same vein restricting the choice of English players playing in the prem .. so a smaller pool to select from!
JG2 Quality not quantity. Ashton The number of TOP foreign players in the Prem is far greater than 20 years ago and a lot were players like Zola and Vialli on their way 'down'. As for Foden, Southgate doesn't know where to play him. You say Foden hasn't been brilliant. Have you thought why ? It's pretty simple, play him in the same position as he does for Man City. If Foden can get in Pep's first eleven then you must question Southgate.
Never had a squad like this no John Fashnus or Keith Curles or Carlton Palmers or Micheal Ball or Micheal Gray or Steve Gray or Brians Deane the squad is ****ing class top class and more and when it really matters Southgate fails with that squad. ****ed out v Italy big time a final against a Italy team in the wane and now getting beat by all sorts!!!! Same v Croatia had them by the short and curlies and not prepared to give in the twist and again short v France without really giving a go. This squad should not draw v Ukraine that was ****e.
