Pretty balanced post, agree with most of your points, not sure about a foreign assistant though. You also kind of skate over us beating the so called weaker nations, this is an area we have vastly improved on under Southgate. I remember us always being nervous against weaker teams, and often losing or at least playing badly. At tournaments now we usually do well against weaker teams and usually win, often handsomely, ie Iran 6-2, Wakes 3-0 this time. I can’t think of anyone that would make a better job of it than Southgate has, I hope he stays. I’d be more inclined to decide who his successor is going to be and use him/her as his assistant, and then pass the reigns on once Southgate goes, and at that point maybe use Southgate in a kind of overseer role.
Surely just because someone has a different opinion to you, or me for that matter, that doesn’t make them stupid?
On here we get various opinions on " we need a plan and stick to it / work on it/ etc. The world cup actually showed just how many teams did, and with the help of the Ref's doing their job properly did well. I wasnt going to watch much if any world football but circumstances prevailed that I had it on for all the games except for 2. ENGLAND what was boring about them was the "sticking to the plan" it became almost readable and was very successful. They maintained their shape, as a player went forward another would cover back for about 95% of the time. NO team has been perfect, and most games have been a joy to watch. The referee's have on a number of occassions been the 12th player for some teams .. the worst performance that sticks out was v France. Now whether that wasinfluenced by it being England I cant positively say, but early in the game I was getting a bit wary! Now I have no real bias toward ENGLAND when they play Scotland my leaning is north of the border .. I did so much want a draw against Wales but did appreciate England might go further. GS and the ENGLAND TEAM had a plan and they stuck to it, and yet some of the " we need a plan and the team needs to stick to it" decide when it is ENGLAND THAT IS NOT THE IDEA at all!.............. swooooooooooooon
It's a political statement. The same as brave England made about wearing a rainbow armband whilst telling Qatar how backward and repressive they are Then FIFA threatened a yellow card for players displaying any affiliation to a political movement and brave England backed down. Taking the knee is also a political statement and should be outlawed in the same way as the armband. Politics has no place on a sports field, and even more so if it's nothing to do with your country.
I agree with your point about politics and sport completely, which is why I disagree with taking the knee, I just don’t think people who disagree with me are stupid.
The bottom line is England under Southgate have won nothing. So what makes you think this will change in the future under his tenure.
Because We’ve improved so much under his tenure, that we are having a discussion about being disappointed at losing to probably the best team in the world in the quarter finals of a World Cup. in a game where we matched, and in my opinion we’re the better side for large parts. That’s a massive improvement from when he took charge. A manager can influence confidence and tactics, but once the players cross the line it’s down to them. I think there’s no argument the players are massively more confident of their ability both personally and as a team than they were. During the France game tactically we were pretty good and created opportunities, unfortunately on the day we didn’t take our chances, i honestly believe it’s only a matter of time before we win something and it f we do our confidence & belief will go to another level.
I think we've always done quite well against the weaker teams even with managers gone by.....I don't think Southgate has made much difference in that department, (games before the WC and the USA showed our frailties) it's when it matters that shows the managers worth....not sure he's showed that, but as I said I think he does have a decent relationship with the players......just needs some help in the technical department..
taking the knee is, now in my opinion rather a worn out non appreciated act. It was never intended as a footballers show of solidarity, but a response the happening of an event in USA THAT HAS SEEN JUSTICE SERVED. The flooding of TV screens with unbalanced adverts [ another OTTreaction ] most of which look ridiculous is another OTT response. Adverts are as is programmes etc supposed to reflect the population. Barclays also use unbalanced advertising .... There are 38 families in my street. If each household was to give up 1 each of all the diferent ethnic backgrounds within it ... be it a parent, grand parent, child then we would have 3 different households, white black asian no mixed race and no people of different colour as a household! A pretty normal 21st century street I suppose ..... Things like this is what disturbs the balance of normality. The obvious baiting of the royal aide to draw attention to her charitable work sort of back fired as the response was pretty quick to see through it. This glorifying Meghan Markle and Harry spectacle IS ANOTHER of one person glorifying in the attention .. and the money it generates! How many look at Harry when she is doing her attention seeking physical manouvres, or slagging off people or historical practices .. just check out the grimaces on his face! He doesnt really approve of all of them!!!!!
It’s interesting you chose the USA game as an example of our frailties against weaker opposition and ignored the Iran and Wales results. I believe against USA we played too defensive too, but believe it was tactical on Southgates part as we only needed a draw to qualify, so why take risks. Due to his success in tournament football, although not the way I would have gone I give him the benefit of knowing better than me the best way to approach tournament football.
Have a look back in the Nations League (0-4 at home v Hungry just as example) how well we competed....just saying.....please don't say it didn't matter..... Iran were dreadful as was Wales, two teams we should be expected to win as should we v USA....I don't believe we were looking to draw, that's an excuse....we were dire if you consider the teams those players came from.. Poor selection and tactics by Southgate.. Problem is, he will do the same in the next major tournament and so IMO needs help.. All about opinions, I just don't see the progression like you do......he's had an abundance of talent to select from plus he's had the easiest of routes to do really well and yet again we've failed once we come across decent opposition..
I’m not suggesting you are, but you did say the players are if they chose to take the knee, actually you said they were either stupid, or woke.
Nations league is not a major tournament. I’m not bothered about minor competitions that are not taken seriously by anyone. Which is why I specifically said results in major tournaments. Ie European or World Cup.
As soon as we come up against a decent team (not counting an aging Germany side) we get booted....It's nothing new, nothing as much has changed..what makes you think it will?
We used to either not actually reach the World Cup or constantly get knocked out before the knockout stages. The more often we get through to the knockout stages it becomes “the norm”, & the players become used to it, our younger players have been used to getting through, that’s how we progress.
I actually think this should have been our year...No runaway teams IMO, I don't even think that France were all that....none of them have stood out for me and I've watched all the games.......it's why we should have done so much better.......Our players play in the best league in the world with world class players......no excuses....we had the chance and blew it...nothings a norm with England, it's usually OK or poor.. Sometimes we have the players but not the manager and sometimes we have the manager but not the players....never both.. I don't see anything improving with Southgate as is......it will be the same old same old come the euros...we need a different approach, he needs help..
The Premier League is why we have such talented players. Southgate's a very lucky man and ticks the right boxes for those who employ him.
