I dont mind southgate as a manager, giive a younger guy a chance. Fine by me. I don't think the teams in too bad a shape. What they need is continuity. Rooney is fine, I don't see why people want to hound players out so badly. Hes the only player left with long term tourny experience.
117 apperances 53 goals - nearly a goal every other game is a good record for a striker but equally he has played more than most at international level and therefore should be towards the top of the goal scoring list - but your right fair play to him getting himself to the very top. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_goals_scored_by_Wayne_Rooney BUT 5 goals vs what I'd consider top 10 teams in the world and one goal at the Wc's since 2004 isn't exactly prolific/successful though. I have nothing but respect for Rooney but I just think we will not win the next WC for love nor money and after that he will be 35 years old at the next Euro's so why not try and blood the younger talent coming through. We have a very good U21's, U20's and U18's and they'd benefit more for the experience than taking players who will be over the hill soon. Also if we went with a young inexperienced squad it takes the pressure off at the tournament. If Southgate wants him to provide the experience then so be it but I'd take him as a back up who can cover multiple positions not a guaranteed starter wherever we can squeeze him in.
This is very exciting news and now I will sit back, relax and await the pictures of a gleeful Gareth Southgate holding aloft the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Piers Morgan (who I generally detest) summed it up perfectly on twat sport last night for me. Not sure if I was agreeing with him cos he was right or cos he was window that toss bag Adrian Durham up by disagreeing with him As Piers said it was a safe appointment for the FA but smacked of a lack of ambition. Only criteria they have is that the manager must be English and be a bit better than rubbish. The FA are quite literally swimming in money and could have and probably should have dangled a big enough carrot way back before they appointed big fat sam but wheeled out the crap excuse that there were no decent managers available, yet Chelsea managed to find Conte, City got Guardiola and Everton got Koeman etc...absolute bollocks. If you look hard enough and pay enough there are far better options than ****ing Dobbin who we've ended up with (if ya too young to know who Dobbin is, ask ya fatha or look on the google). Could really give a **** about the national team at the mo and I haven't done for a good number of years now. Until we stop picking players because of who they are or who they play for and picking players who are in form we'll never get anywhere. I can't see things improving much under Southgate over and above how things were under Woy. The fact that Southgate knows a lot of the players makes very little difference as far as I'm concerned. We might qualify for the next World Cup but we ain't gonna do it setting the world alight with attractive football. With any luck we won't qualify and Southgate will get the bullet and we can look at making some wholesale changes for the good of the national team but it doesn't stop with just changing the manager !
I used to be fifty-fifty club and country but honestly, the last ten years...in particular....have been very heavy going following England. The Iceland defeat was an all-time low. I'd like to think Southgate can bring some pride back but I'm not sure. Let's wait and see.
Seabass " Straight question - Would you start to become more bothered if things started looking up gor the national team? " My answer is a simple no. England have failed to get my interest for years. Useless, over hyped players, rubbish overpaid managers and an absolute hate of London. Why oh why does everyone have to travel to London to watch them, surely going on the road would be better, especially with some great stadiums to play in. I feel people would have more interest if England were not treat as prima Donnas.
Funny the way we take it for granted its going to be "very heavy" following Newcastle but accept that as part of the deal. Whereas with England its not acceptable.
