The England Thread

[dontcallme]

I actually don't dislike the bloke - he'd be a good suit at the FA - but for all the quarter and semi finals and that final, I do think England need someone more adventurous. We've had one 'Golden Generation', but I really feel this squad could be the real deal if they'e let off the leash Ange style.

I agree.

I actually think he has done a good job and got better results with a worse and less experienced team than a few previous managers since 1990.

But I think his time is done now. His safety first approach was fine but now we have the likes of Foden, Maddison and Bellingham hitting a high level plus Kane has 2-3 tournaments left in him. We need a manager to unleash them.

A prime Harry Redknapp would be good with these guys.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

He's the manager that consistently gets us to major tournaments

Tim Sherwood could get England into major tournaments. It's not difficult when you have the players England have. But England won't win until they get a new manager who focuses on winning, and not simply "not losing".

I would not be surprised if Kane is searching his ancestry to look for a proper country where these kind of results are not accepted...

 

[PCozzie]

I agree.

I actually think he has done a good job and got better results with a worse and less experienced team than a few previous managers since 1990.

But I think his time is done now. His safety first approach was fine but now we have the likes of Foden, Maddison and Bellingham hitting a high level plus Kane has 2-3 tournaments left in him. We need a manager to unleash them.

A prime Harry Redknapp would be good with these guys.

I was watching thinking that there was a fear there. Not of trying something and conceding a goal, but of simply not having the ball. Almost like they value possession over scoring goals. I reckon the first 10 minutes we had 95% possession without ever looking like creating a chance. It took Kane dropping to the half way line and puting it on a 1p coin for Walker to actually get sight of the goal.

I guarantee there are a hundred managers out there that would have had tonight's side with at least 10 shots on goal in the first half with that level of possession.

 

[robotsonic]

Tim Sherwood could get England into major tournaments. It's not difficult when you have the players England have. But England won't win until they get a new manager who focuses on winning, and not simply "not losing".

I would not be surprised if Kane is searching his ancestry to look for a proper country where these kind of results are not accepted...

Best not look outside of his living room window for the answer, as things aren't very good closer to home.

 

[Misfit]

It's time we stopped interrupting domestic football for this.

Run the season through without interruption and then give them month or so at the end of the season to play these games.

 

[mill]

Southgate’s all about keeping possession but not actually doing anything with it

 

[ItsBoris]

Does Southgate even watch these players for their clubs? It's just all wrong...

 

[ItsBoris]

Tim Sherwood could get England into major tournaments. It's not difficult when you have the players England have. But England won't win until they get a new manager who focuses on winning, and not simply "not losing".

I would not be surprised if Kane is searching his ancestry to look for a proper country where these kind of results are not accepted...

The problem with England has almost always been the manager. England have had a few periods where with the right manager had the potential to win a world cup or euros, but always fell so far short because of clueless managers. Southgate is still better than Cappelo, roy etc, but you look at his team selection today and it's just not what someone would do who watches these players play for their clubs, selects based on form and plays players in positions they're suited to.

 

[Clark28]

Henderson's move should have also announced his retirement from International Football.

 

[worcestersauce]

Tim Sherwood could get England into major tournaments. It's not difficult when you have the players England have. But England won't win until they get a new manager who focuses on winning, and not simply "not losing".

I would not be surprised if Kane is searching his ancestry to look for a proper country where these kind of results are not accepted...

Nevertheless he does it and so the FA are quite happy with him.

 

[Styopa]

The problem with England has almost always been the manager. England have had a few periods where with the right manager had the potential to win a world cup or euros, but always fell so far short because of clueless managers. Southgate is still better than Cappelo, roy etc, but you look at his team selection today and it's just not what someone would do who watches these players play for their clubs, selects based on form and plays players in positions they're suited to.

The FA have some history when it comes to appointing managers who favour a cautious, worry about not losing approach.

England managers who fail to qualify for tournaments or exit to supposedly inferior opponents are utterly ridiculed by the national media so maybe that plays into this cautious mindset. You know, don’t take too many risks. Play it safe just to get the minimum done.

 

[SpringHeeledJim]

Henderson's move should have also announced his retirement from International Football.

Southgate doesn't want to ostracise or make an example of any players who go to Saudi. He is clearly eyeing a move there once his time is up with England and wont risk upsetting them.

He knows he won't get a top job in England and his comments when asked the question about moving to Saudi the other day were as neutral and vague as you would expect from him.

 

[ItsBoris]

The FA have some history when it comes to appointing managers who favour a cautious, worry about not losing approach.

England managers who fail to qualify for tournaments or exit to supposedly inferior opponents are utterly ridiculed by the national media so maybe that plays into this cautious mindset. You know, don’t take too many risks. Play it safe just to get the minimum done.

Probably true but I'm not necessarily even talking about that. I mean starting Harry Maguire, starting Jordan Henderson, playing Maddison out of position, etc. It's just senseless, not cautious. Tomori was playing in the CL semi final for a strong Milan team while Maguire was tripping over his sloelaces and falling on his arse. Henderson + out of position Maddison is better than Maddison in the right position and Rashford, Foden, Sterling, or Grealish? I mean it's baffling, like I said it's as if he doesn't even watch these players.

 

[Geez]

That game was like watching Spurs most of last season

 

[spanishspur]

That game was like watching Spurs most of last season

I said exactly the same last night with the people I watched with. Why is it some of these managers are unable to see the obvious problems we can.
So frustrating.

 

[muppetman]

Southgate has done well with creating good group dynamics and a happy camp - similar to Serena with the women's team. I think he focuses on not losing as this tends to be the most successful approach with tournament football but I do understand the frustration.

Last night was disappointing but was also fairly standard for the international break at this time of year. Everyone has only just got back into club football and don't want to get injured so play a 80%.

The similarities with Spurs and England have always resonated with me - some standout players, but rarely a complete squad. Can beat anyone on their day, but also capable of losing or shooting themselves in the foot. Fans with massive and perhaps unrealistic demands/expectations.

Maybe it is all about poor managers, or maybe we overestimate just how good we are. The PL is excellent, but it's often the foreign players who make the very best teams tick.

Saying all that, picking Henderson and Maguire was a real head scratcher.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Watched the highlights this morning.

It's 2023, and we still have Harry Maquire and Jordan Henderson playing for England. When will we ever ditch the mediocrity and cloggers for proper footballers in our national team?

 

[fridgemagnet]

It's time we stopped interrupting domestic football for this.

Run the season through without interruption and then give them month or so at the end of the season to play these games.

I've been saying that for years; have a "domestic season" and an "international season" it'd improve international tournaments no end. Give's managers far longer with their squads and teams less playing like a bunch of strangers.

Have your friendlies to whittle your squad down, then have your qualifiers after which you have lose say another five of your squad have a week or two off then go straight into knock out tournaments (have larger brackets so instead of groups then last 32 or 48 whatever) or if you stick with group stages make it 4 points for winning, 1 point for a draw, 2 points for score draw (so you do away with those dull matches)

I dunno anything that shakes it up a bit, give the total underdogs a proper chance to knock someone out so they're not just happy to be there.

 

[Geez]

Watched the highlights this morning.

Bet that didn't take long

 

[DJS]

Henderson's move should have also announced his retirement from International Football.

His face just kinda annoys me now.

The massive sellout.