Comments about playing like that against bigger nations etc are irrelevant. Bigger nations won't put 11 men behind the ball. We got the job done and are a game closer to qualification. People just love to complain about the England squad. If saints play poorly and win we are all buzzing still. When England play okay and win 2-0, there are complaints. How odd
But they won. Just. That's a good thing.
You really think it's odd? Years and years of not being good enough to challenge at a tournament should be enough to let you know what will happen when we play a top team (like Iceland) and why people are moaning.
It's odd you not seeing that.
).So, so agree. I had to brace myself from writing something OTT, so thanks FLT for calming me down with an accurate & reasonable response![]()

I don't think it's a lack of game changers (Alli, Lallana, Barkley, Sterling) Yes I'm including Sterling but he does need to kick on. He's got the talent but he does need to improve a fair bit.England have a lot of good players, but lack real game changers. We need an English version of Gabbi.Who knows....there may be a youngster or three out there who will mature at the same time...and at that point, we must hope we have a manager who doesn't suppress them. They may be at the Saints Academy* at this very moment.
Perhaps we also need a sense of perspective...we are a good side and usually qualify easily....most countries would love to be like that.
*Can't be too long before most of the England team are Saints (or more likely ex-Saints).
Never poke a sleeping Fats. We could be here all day.Don't agree, Fats is the first to mention expectations at Saints and point out that perhaps fans shouldn't expect, and just did the reverse with England...
Fats, not digging at you specifically btw![]()
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We'll have Harry Kane when he's fit Fran. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a major tournament with a properly-coached team behind him. As people said after the Germany game, he would have converted at least one of the chances we created in that match. He's the closest we have to the pre-2004 Wayne Rooney or, dare I say it, Alan Shearer.England have a lot of good players, but lack real game changers. We need an English version of Gabbi.Who knows....there may be a youngster or three out there who will mature at the same time...and at that point, we must hope we have a manager who doesn't suppress them. They may be at the Saints Academy* at this very moment.
Perhaps we also need a sense of perspective...we are a good side and usually qualify easily....most countries would love to be like that.
*Can't be too long before most of the England team are Saints (or more likely ex-Saints).
Never poke a sleeping Fats. We could be here all day.![]()
Am I a bad person....I couldn't celebrate when Vardy scored. He'd have to win us the WC before I'll begrudgingly half forgive him.
We'll have Harry Kane when he's fit Fran. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a major tournament with a properly-coached team behind him. As people said after the Germany game, he would have converted at least one of the chances we created in that match. He's the closest we have to the pre-2004 Wayne Rooney or, dare I say it, Alan Shearer.
Don't agree, Fats is the first to mention expectations at Saints and point out that perhaps fans shouldn't expect, and just did the reverse with England...
Fats, not digging at you specifically btw![]()
![]()
We'll have Harry Kane when he's fit Fran. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a major tournament with a properly-coached team behind him. As people said after the Germany game, he would have converted at least one of the chances we created in that match. He's the closest we have to the pre-2004 Wayne Rooney or, dare I say it, Alan Shearer.
Yeah, probably.Am I a bad person....I couldn't celebrate when Vardy scored. He'd have to win us the WC before I'll begrudgingly half forgive him.
Semifinal Euro 96 we came within an inch of a Gazza golden goal. I would say if Rooney hadn't got injured in Portugal we might well have threatened to get to the final. I take your point though. Southgate has to somehow make a team out of the players he has, and the fact that he's using members of his U21 squad who have played together many times is encouraging.And what did we win or threaten to win with them?
Semi-final Euro 96 with Shearer.
Ah... I got what I expected though. My expectations were met. Club football is different altogether. What is there to make me think Saints should be a top team?
My point is that we should be moaning because England should be a top international team. The reason we are not is because we don't run our game properly at grass roots levels. We have allowed the rest of the world to catch us up and over take us. The resources we have available to us are ridiculously large, yet we can not put a top team together.
My soap box is ready, but it is fairly pointless because voices like mine are in a minority. We just don't develop players as well as the best nations.