I just don’t get it. Why do some people want Southgate out? We played the world champions and bossed them for large periods. One of their goals clearly shouldn’t have stood. We should have had another pen and they should have had 2 sent off. After all that injustice to only lose it to 1 well taken goal (Maguire did let Giroud get half a yard on him and rice was in no man’s land) isn’t a bad thing. It’s frustrating, and annoying, and the Ref should not be allowed near another professional game ever, but it’s not ammo to say Southgate is ****. We should have won that game and had it not been for ineptitude/blatant cheating from the official we would have done. We’ve got the best team in world football and this tournament has proved that for me. Hopefully we have a young centre back or two break through shortly and we will be laughing.
I don't really count the Nations League. Its glorified friendlies. But I've already said his performances in that did make me question his future. But haven't you seen progress in the national team since 2016? Look at the three tournaments: 2018 - semi-final completely unexpected - did you really think we were going to win it? 2021 - Final - we should arguably have beaten Italy I'll grant you this, but our first final since 1966 2022 - Quarter Final - knocked out by the World Champions in a game we deserved to win and were unlucky in. It happens. I don't see any reason for Southgate to stand down unless he and the players think its time for some new ideas.
I'm not satisfied with them losing, I want them to win every game, exactly the same as I want City to win every game. I'm just realistic enough to know that winning every game isn't that easy, particularly in a major tournament.
There's been huge progress since 2016 and the 3 tournaments you cite are proof of that but here's the thing... We took the lead against Crotia and lost,we took the lead against Italy and lost and finally,the other night,bad luck and abysmal refereeing saw us lose to France. We have the best squad we've had for many a year,it's fair to expect us to do well and compete with the France's of this Football World...We absolutely did,the proof is there,we all agree! Could we have done better in the last 4 years or so under a different coach? There's no way of knowing that but given the squad of players we now possess,it's hard to figure out why we keep falling at the final hurdle? I'm not convinced by Southgate,that's a personal opinion borne out of frustration at these ultimate failings when push comes to shove.Add to that,he seems unsure of what his starting 11 should be and on occasion we all raise eye-brows when the Team Sheet is announced? Southgate himself has gone off to ponder his future and it will be interesting to see the outcome of that,none of us will have any input into his final decision but should he decide to leave,I for one wouldn't be shedding any tears as I see him,at times, as negative and unadventurous... I'm not shooting anyone down for believing in Southgate,I'm applying my own spin and opinion on what I see and of course that will differ from what others see...
The idea that we keep failing at the 'final hurdle' is a fallacy. Tournament football means that unless you win it there will always be a specific point at which you fail. I'd we'd beaten France and then been beaten by say Argentina in the final, people would be saying the same thing; failed at the crucial moment again. The fact we'd beaten France would be of little comfort and people would still say we'd bottled it in the big one when it counted. The reality, same as for every other team that doesn't win it, is that we clear some hurdles but not all of them.
There’s a pattern with Southgate, all of his subs are reactive rather than proactive, against France when we had them on the rack after scoring, he did nothing, we had tiring players we had the most fouled player in the history of the World on the bench, Grealish, and Rashford in goal scoring form, Again in 2018, we score after 5 mins and spend the next hour trying to contain Croatia, they scored, he makes subs and we lost in extra time. 2021 we score again after a couple of mins, repeat as above for 2018, they score a few mins after the Italian coach subs players on to get a goal, and they did, so then he brings subs on, but he has Grealish sat on the bench, the whole country screaming to bring him on and when did he come on,? In extra time. He’s a crap tactical manager who gets out of jail because his players,in spite of him win games. Oh and the Nations league is a completion to win, you have very low priorities on winning and losing don’t you? The English mentality is why we keep losing
I don’t actually completely disagree with anything you say. If Southgate were to leave, part of me would be ok with it as we’d get some new ideas. However, I don’t think he deserves to be sacked. The progress is too great. I think the semi defeat in 2018, looking back, is frustrating, but it’s such a huge jump from the starting point it’s a really good end result. I agree about 2021, but he clearly learnt lessons for 2022 and got unlucky against France. That’s enough for me trust him for the Euros.
But as you say, France were on the rack. Why would you change it when we’re on top and looking like scoring? Of course I was really sad about losing to France, but only one team is going to win the World Cup. You can’t throw the whole process out because you got unlucky. I find it unlikely I’ll never care about the Nations League. There’s just much other interesting football to care about. I’d rather Southgate experiment.
This squad is far from the best we’ve had in the last 20 years. The one that had Terry, Ferdinand, A. Cole, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, Beckham, Rooney. Packed with genuine world class talent. On paper was miles stronger than the current squad. A generation that won a single knockout game and failed to qualify for Euro 2008 under ‘proper managers’. Yeah I’d love a bit more of that.
I don't think he deserves to be sacked and it wouldn't make one iota of a difference if I did...Personal opinion,I think he's going to walk away.
He’s only pondering his future because there’s a noise being creating by the mouth breathing, knuckle dragging, LFC4LYF, never been to a game, bantz loving types. If it wasn’t for those ****wits there wouldn’t even be a discussion.
Can you imagine the conversations in Spain,Germany, Brazil , Portugal.Holland and Italy when they failed to even qualify. The bottom line is only one team can win in and if you don’t you aren’t losers or failure it’s just basic maths that at the end of the day the winners are a total of 1.
These knuckle dragging ****wits that you refer to have been mouthing discontent for nigh on 4 years now.Why has it took him until now to go away and reflect on his future?
I am going to get slaughtered for this, here goes. Where was Giroud when it mattered? In the 6 yard box on the end of a cross. Where was Kane. Other than strolling around the centre circle? Oh and doing a very passable imitation, as the post above, of Jonny Wilkinson. We put 3 defenders on Mbappe The French just fouled Saka, but they didn't. Very clever, ****housery to a new level. Sack Southgate? As the follow up question goes, who next then?
He has got the best team in the world, apparently. Well, we will see about that if and when the new guy is installed. Southgate’s starting XI against France had no World Cup winners medals, one Champions League winner and three players who had never kicked a ball in the world’s premier club competition. France’s had six World Cup winners medals, six Champions League winners medals and every player with Champions League experience. It can be argued that England were simply unfortunate to meet a team of France’s pedigree as early as they did.
