[Mr Mercury]

Osborne again, on 21 June 2024 - 05:56 PM, said:

So you do want to be entertained. I'm with you pal, because what we've seen so far, could, with a bit of luck on the part of our opponents, have seen us with a point, or maybe two at most. I don't think Gareth Southgate has any idea what his best side is, and the talk about missing Philips is laughable, because he's done nothing since leaving Leeds. I love how they're getting the excuses in ready.

The vast majority of supporters have already got this sussed, but now, amongst the media, pundits, respected observers and former bobs board backers of him, there’s the unmistakable under current of..
“Southgate’s f..king this up”.

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 21 June 2024 - 06:53 PM

[Osborne again]

 Mr Mercury, on 21 June 2024 - 06:50 PM, said:

The vast majority of supporters have already got this sussed, but now, amongst the media, pundits, respected observers and former bobs board backers of him, there?s the unmistakable under current of..
?Southgate?s f..king this up?.

I, like yourself, just hope the next match is a totally different affair. The meaningless match against Iceland is looking like an early warning to us all, it's just that Southgate hasn't heeded the warning.

[Mr Mercury]

 Osborne again, on 21 June 2024 - 07:51 PM, said:

I, like yourself, just hope the next match is a totally different affair. The meaningless match against Iceland is looking like an early warning to us all, it's just that Southgate hasn't heeded the warning.

Croatia 2018 was the early warning mate!

[azul]

Mr Mercury, on 21 June 2024 - 06:50 PM, said:

The vast majority of supporters have already got this sussed, but now, amongst the media, pundits, respected observers and former bobs board backers of him, there?s the unmistakable under current of..
?Southgate?s f..king this up?.

England will do what they normally do, qualify easily from an easy group and then draw a 3rd placed (easy?) team in the round of 16. From thereon in it will be a lottery where we'll probably play teams every bit as good as us. If he doesn't get there he'll rightly be criticised and if he gets knocked out in the subsequent round(s), that'll be par for the course

[calvin plummers socks]

 azul, on 21 June 2024 - 11:00 PM, said:

England will do what they normally do, qualify easily from an easy group and then draw a 3rd placed (easy?) team in the round of 16. From thereon in it will be a lottery where we'll probably play teams every bit as good as us. If he doesn't get there he'll rightly be criticised and if he gets knocked out in the subsequent round(s), that'll be par for the course

Yep we will usually perform better than we should - credit where it?s due to GS. An inspirational manager.

[Goku]

 calvin plummers socks, on 21 June 2024 - 11:31 PM, said:

Yep we will usually perform better than we should - credit where it?s due to GS. An inspirational manager.

CPS casts his line once more; who will bite?

[gloucestershireblue]

We have played rubbish teams to progress in the last three major tournaments. Saw a good stat online. In the last 24 games against teams ranked in the top 10 we have won 4 times!

[Osborne again]

 Mr Mercury, on 21 June 2024 - 07:56 PM, said:

Croatia 2018 was the early warning mate!

The rabbit in a car's headlights look while he's on the bench always worries me. It's a bit like when I told my brother I'd topped up the windscreen washer bottle on his beloved Hillman Avenger and he looked at me and asked what bottle. He'd only had it four years 😂. I always fear which England turns up while Southgate looks like he's waiting for the jury to return a life sentence on him for groce misuse of a talented squad 😁.

[Valley Blues]

And now we learn that the only left back selected by Southgate hasn?t trained for the last 3 days.

So no football for over 4 months and seemingly still not fit.

I know we?re not flush with left backs at the moment but Southgate?s effectively gone to a major tournament without a specialist left sided fullback.

[Brookie]

Latest interview Southgate said players not fit with not enough game time, well he picked them

[Osborne again]

 Valley Blues, on 22 June 2024 - 12:24 PM, said:

And now we learn that the only left back selected by Southgate hasn?t trained for the last 3 days.

So no football for over 4 months and seemingly still not fit.

I know we?re not flush with left backs at the moment but Southgate?s effectively gone to a major tournament without a specialist left sided fullback.

So you're saying we have a choice of playing Shaw,who hasn't trained or played much, Trippier, who's played but not pulled any trees up and Joe Gomez, who can play across the backline, but hasn't played left back for his country although I'm sure he couldn't be worse than what we've seen. Southgate seems to be missing a trick here, because I thought you picked your best inform players for the squad with all positions covered, and then you play to the strength of the squad.
Southgate has done well while England manager, but it's time for him to hand over the reins to someone else, although knowing how the FA work we'll end up with some mediocre replacement with plenty of room on his CV for improvement.

[Scooby Doo]

 calvin plummers socks, on 21 June 2024 - 06:05 PM, said:

Respected? Shearer, Wright and Keane? Hmmmm on the pitch definitely

What are you trying to say? From your comment its sounds like you don't respect the comments of these ex players whom I thought were talking sense in their after match analysis!!!

[calvin plummers socks]

 Goku, on 22 June 2024 - 06:41 AM, said:

CPS casts his line once more; who will bite?

No line!
He?s one of the most respected managers in the game - for a good reason.
He?s going after the champs - these ignoramuses who are clamouring for his dismissal should at least wait until it?s over.

[Goku]

 calvin plummers socks, on 22 June 2024 - 02:23 PM, said:

No line!
He?s one of the most respected managers in the game - for a good reason.
He?s going after the champs - these ignoramuses who are clamouring for his dismissal should at least wait until it?s over.

He?s done a fantastic job at building a good attitude and harmony in the squad, giving it a more club-like feel rather than a bunch of individuals like the old England squads. Unfortunately he is very, very poor tactically. We?ve seen this time and time again when it comes to important crunch matches deep into tournaments but now we?re even seeing it in the tournament group stages against Serbia and Denmark. We do not have a working press, our line of engagement begins when the opposition are 20 yards into our half, it?s absolutely shocking. We had a right back in midfield which he says is an experiment. Said right back has no targets to hit with his admittedly excellent passing range bar Saka. We then bring on Watkins, Eze and Bowen, players who could benefit from Trent?s passing and we take Trent off. We have Rice playing as a strict anchor man like he?s Makelele - he isn?t an anchor man, he is best running forward from midfield like more of an 8 which is what he does for Arsenal. We have Foden on the left who isn?t ever going to stretch play there because he wants to be central, occupying the same space Kane wants to occupy because Kane is a deep-lying forward. We have a right footed left back who has no intention of overlapping - if you?re going to use Foden on the left, you need a left footed full back overlapping.

It?s absolutely abysmal all round. Denmark had us absolutely sussed tactically. I?ve supported Southgate and thought he deserved one more chance but he is blowing it with his negative tactics and mindset. The Kalvin Phillips quote is an absolute belter. He?s quickly unravelling and saying stupid sh** in interviews when previously he?s been very logical and measured. We?ll probably nick a win on Tuesday and go out to first half decent team we play.

[jonnythespireite]

Goku, on 22 June 2024 - 02:50 PM, said:

He?s done a fantastic job at building a good attitude and harmony in the squad, giving it a more club-like feel rather than a bunch of individuals like the old England squads. Unfortunately he is very, very poor tactically. We?ve seen this time and time again when it comes to important crunch matches deep into tournaments but now we?re even seeing it in the tournament group stages against Serbia and Denmark. We do not have a working press, our line of engagement begins when the opposition are 20 yards into our half, it?s absolutely shocking. We had a right back in midfield which he says is an experiment. Said right back has no targets to hit with his admittedly excellent passing range bar Saka. We then bring on Watkins, Eze and Bowen, players who could benefit from Trent?s passing and we take Trent off. We have Rice playing as a strict anchor man like he?s Makelele - he isn?t an anchor man, he is best running forward from midfield like more of an 8 which is what he does for Arsenal. We have Foden on the left who isn?t ever going to stretch play there because he wants to be central, occupying the same space Kane wants to occupy because Kane is a deep-lying forward. We have a right footed left back who has no intention of overlapping - if you?re going to use Foden on the left, you need a left footed full back overlapping.

It?s absolutely abysmal all round. Denmark had us absolutely sussed tactically. I?ve supported Southgate and thought he deserved one more chance but he is blowing it with his negative tactics and mindset. The Kalvin Phillips quote is an absolute belter. He?s quickly unravelling and saying stupid sh** in interviews when previously he?s been very logical and measured. We?ll probably nick a win on Tuesday and go out to first half decent team we play.

Well said and absolutely spot on. Mirrors my views exactly. This going to be a totally wasted opportunity. Again.
I agree regarding Southgate being a tactical spaz but also think the players aren?t above reproach either. Yes the system is a joke and players are out of position but energy, physicality and desire (three characteristics any football team can employ regardless of ability) are absent. Only player so far who can hold his head up is Guehi, and possibly Saka.
Like you I?ve previously given Southgate the benefit of the doubt to an extent but if I had my way I?d sack him now mid tournament and bring Warnock in. 😉


I

[Osborne again]

 jonnythespireite, on 22 June 2024 - 04:04 PM, said:

Well said and absolutely spot on. Mirrors my views exactly. This going to be a totally wasted opportunity. Again.
I agree regarding Southgate being a tactical spaz but also think the players aren?t above reproach either. Yes the system is a joke and players are out of position but energy, physicality and desire (three characteristics any football team can employ regardless of ability) are absent. Only player so far who can hold his head up is Guehi, and possibly Saka.
Like you I?ve previously given Southgate the benefit of the doubt to an extent but if I had my way I?d sack him now mid tournament and bring Warnock in. 😉


I hope you mean Stephen.

I

[calvin plummers socks]

To all the clowns like Mercury etc who want rid of GS- who do they think is a better replacement and why?

[RN Blue]

 calvin plummers socks, on 22 June 2024 - 04:30 PM, said:

To all the clowns like Mercury etc who want rid of GS- who do they think is a better replacement and why?

Any English manager with a pedigree in management with a bit of passion, tactical nous and not a bloke who had only 151 games as a manager in men's football and a win % a shade over 29% with 45 wins, 43 draws and 63 defeats.

[Osborne again]

 RN Blue, on 22 June 2024 - 04:37 PM, said:

Any English manager with a pedigree in management with a bit of passion, tactical nous and not a bloke who had only 151 games as a manager in men's football and a win % a shade over 29% with 45 wins, 43 draws and 63 defeats.

Klop is an honorary Scouser so can we count him in?

[Mr Mercury]

Osborne again, on 22 June 2024 - 05:01 PM, said:

Klop is an honorary Scouser so can we count him in?

Dream appointment but would he take it?
If we go Porter or Howe we?re just re arranging the deck chairs.