Match Day Thread General matchday thread.

If we go out against the Dutch with another poor performance can anyone think of a tournament that we’ve performed this bad at?

 

Isandlwana 1879...

 

Yes, plenty.
Then there's the one's we didn't even make it to.

 

Which ones have we played worse in?

 

That rarely makes any difference though in reality. Could probably pick a team from each tournament but the one that always sticks in my mind was back in 2000 when Holland was joint-hosting the tournament. They won all three group games - including against eventual winners France - then won 6-1 in the QF. In the SF they were all over a 10-man Italy team (had a player sent off midway through the first half), drew 0-0 and went out on penalties.

Greece were boring but won. Denmark weren't great to watch but won. Spain, when they were the best team in the world, lost the first match in 2010, scraped through the group and then won all the knockout games 1-0 (Germany and Netherlands looked to be in much better form but lost).

Will we win? Probably not but I'd say we're one of 4-5 teams who are most likely to win and we seem to be avoiding most of the other ones. I'm not happy but I'm satisfied.

 

none of them teams had Southgate as the manager though init

 

We were abject in 2010 World Cup. Drew with USA, drew with ****ing Algeria (who got 1 point in the group stage), scraped a 1-0 against Slovenia (of all people) and promptly got stuffed 4-1 in the 2nd round.

Euro 2000 was pretty bad. From 2-0 up we lost 3-2 to Portugal, then beat Germany only to then lose to Romania and not get out the group.

But the crown for me has to be:



It's worth noting that by the time we got that point against Costa Rica, they had already qualified for the next round and we were already out. They gave us a pity point.

 

Euro 2016 deserves more than an honorary mention.

Drew against Russia, narrowly beat Wales after Bale put them ahead with a free kick from around 170 yards out that went straight through Hart, then drew to Slovakia before *that* defeat to Iceland.

 

Can't wait to beat the orange bastards 1-0 in extra time with our 2nd shot of the game.

 

Always expected that because they had the essiest group, but I wasn't expecting them to be as bad as they are...boring I've become used to, but not completely futile.

They should be better than scoring two goals, being fortunate against Serbia and Demark and the Dutch will put them out I think.

I will then pray for Southgates reign to end and that whoever replaces him isn't of the same ilk....football should be entertaining.. it's not like he hasn't got enough players to have a go.

 

****, yes.

 

Were better or were allowed to look better. The first half looked again like players are told that they have to occupy a certain area on the pitch and no deviations. It seemed to me that Gareth allowed a bit more freedom with the subs, and they started to do what they do with there club sides.

 

Uruguay and Italy first two games is as hard as it gets with a squad that was really poor and nowhere near the quality that we have now.

Portugal and Germany first two games and then Romania who were decent back then. Another really tough group.

We have just played Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia with a far superior squad and every single performance has been horrendous.

 

I wasn’t old enough to remember this one, mate.

 

England are not a very good side and have absolutely no chance whatsoever of winning the competition.

People can look at stats, routes to the latter stages, compare historical tables and whatever they want to use to lean on, but England aren't very good and that's the bottom line.

 

Got an excellent Gareth Southgate joke for my interview today.

 

Interview? Job ?

 

No I’m wanted by the police for questioning but thought I’d throw in a witty quip about the England manager.

 

It’s all on Southgate. He’s too friendly with some players and won’t make the big decisions that need made. Kane shouldn’t be in the team, we need a forward that’s going to stretch the defence to allow the midfielders more time and space which will bring them into play.