England fans are creating an “unusual environment “ says Southgate, after being booed & having beer cups thrown at him. Southgate went on to say he understands “the narrative against me “. Classic Southgate - he has pulled this stunt many times before, gaslighting at its finest.
We had no pace, no running in behind again, no creativity or movement. We improved in the last 10 mins after Cole Palmer & Anthony Gordon game on Saka & Bellingham look a shadow of their usual selves - coached out of it by Southgate , and Harry Kane looks slow & unfit. I’d drop him for the next game & get some pace and movement up front . Who would the Dutch for instance least fancy playing , a ponderous & isolated Kane, or a front two of Watkins & Toney. Id definitely start with Gordon & Palmer out wide. Conor Gallagher was awful last night - he’s not at this level yet.
Millions of England fans share the sentiment. He’s on £7m a year …. he’s done very well in life from being average. Dont forget he cashed in on missing that penalty as well - remember the pizza advert.
Where's the football Gareth? The only positives being taken even by voices sympathetic to Southgate are that England have three or four youngsters who 'play without fear'. But Jude Bellingham isn't apparently one of them. Seemingly he is 'tired' after his great season. Jesus wept. A couple of kids who play without fear might get you one or two surprise results. Just possibly they'll drag the rest of the superstar squad to the Quarters. Maybe even the Semis? But a couple of kids are not going to get England anywhere near lifting the Euro2024 trophy. The first really decent team we play will kick our arses.
I don’t happen to believe that the first decent team we will play will kick our arses. We seem to have trouble against teams who play a low block and put a lot of people behind the ball. The way Southgate has picked his teams there is not enough pace and cuteness on the ball to unpick this. With a better team like Spain they will attack us more leaving gaps behind. Play Foden in the 10 slot where he can pick passes. Play Gordon and palmer out wide. Put a quick player like Watkins who can run in behind. Put Bellingham next to Rice. Do I think Southgate will do any of this? Of course I don’t.
I watched the whole 7 min Southgate post match press conference this morning, and it’s very very irritating. He talks about a very challenging environment that he’s had to “guide his young players through”. I know a couple of Charlton fans who are out in Germany - they have saved up thousands of pounds to do it, and the support for the team , even last night, was loud and positive throughout. Southgate is gaslighting the country. Let’s have some tough questions on his tactics and formations and substitutions, and just why outstanding club players look so bad playing for him. Are Slovenia really a better standard of opposition than Man City, or Real Madrid ??
I do feel for the England fans. They shell out huge amounts of money for the privilege of being taken for granted and then blamed. I have the same respect for Charlton fans who go away to most games. That takes a big investment of time and (increasingly) a lot of money. They flew our colours and brought pride to the Charlton community again and again last season, for very scant reward.
As a former travelling fan of Scotland and Charlton, It's better not to invest just for the football, but also in seeing new places, meeting people, trying different beer, or whatever. That way you've at least got something to remember for your hard-earned. One of my room-mates in Argentina visited various football and horse-racing stadiums where he was made welcome. He eventually wrote a book about all the stadiums he'd done, which I only realised one evening listening to Radio London and he was talking about it.
You are correct. I have had some wonderful experiences over the last 40 years following Charlton away, and have met some great people. I’ve also met Elfs, but you can’t win them all. Back in the 80s literally half a dozen of us travelled away with Charlton on Paul Ellis’ train - at least 2 of them are no longer with us sadly.
After a really bright start (the opening group games) this Euro2024 tournament has withered badly in my view. This last round of group stage games so far have stunk, frankly. I hope the tournament comes back to life now we have finally reached the knockout stages (after the 8pm games tonight). Fans have been short changed by too many awful games. Are players all too tired after the season just gone?
Well done Georgia But 36 games just to eliminate 8 teams. It started brightly but got pretty boring. Now at least it's knock-out time. 15 games to go and every one matters. (not counting the utterly pointless 3rd place play-off, if there is one).
England v Slovakia (round of 16) England v Italy (QF) probably - assuming Slovakia don't knock us out
England have avoided the three “big boys” in this half of the draw - Spain, France & Germany. No excuses from here, in terms of the draw at least.
