Euro 24

[Stew]

Jul 15, 2024 10:17:47 GMT Kojak said:

Jul 15, 2024 8:38:37 GMT Stew said:

I disagree mate. Maybe Pickford was under instruction but his distribution was appalling last night. And if that was the tactic it was terrible and failed as expected. The last time that worked was Jose’s Inter against Barca in 2010. And that was a miracle.

I think I’d look at Pickford in a similar way to Rice- good player but nowhere near elite. Rice is willing but far too cumbersome to play holding mid against a side like Spain. He takes way too much out of the ball. Perhaps against say Slovenia or a mid Dutch side it’s ok but against Spain or Argentina you’ll be exposed. Whoever the next manager is, I’d be looking at that key position. You need a similar player to Kobe really. I’d also probably get Trent in at RB. He’s defensively suspect but so is Walker for England and Trent would at least create.

If I were an England fan I wouldn’t be too downbeat. Lots of talent coming through. But I’d certainly expect some changes to move onto the next level, ie winning things.

It’s a funny thing to say this given the long balls and the stats you’ve mentioned in your next post, but he’s not that bad with his feet. Certainly compared to the other options. Some of his long passing throughout the tournament was quite good. Think the goal last night started with a quick throw. Pickford likes to play the ball short, Gareth brought him in originally as a keeper who is comfortable on the ball. I think last night must have been tactical to get through the press. Shit tactics and didn’t fucking work, clearly.

With you on Rice however. I think he’s improved Arsenal last season and maybe the way he plays is fine for them as they have a passing style implemented elsewhere in the team and they don’t face a press barring against top sides. He’s been barbaric in this tournament though. Was awful against the Dutch and got caught for their goal. Was really, really woeful last night. How anyone can claim Mainoo doesn’t progress the ball when that fucking oaf is stood next to him, I don’t know. I think Rice has attributes, but his ability on the ball isn’t one of them. Compared to Rodri who has the same attributes but can also dictate a game. That’s the sort of player England need to be trying to find. I’ve not seen much of the lad from Palace who never got a minute, but maybe he’s going to have that in his locker.

Wharton? I think he looks capable of that all right. Certainly ran the show against us.

[Yusef]

Jul 15, 2024 8:50:43 GMT Paul said:

Amazed that Gordon had 2 minutes of football in the entire tournament aswell.

Southgate seems to have thought that having Kane, Bellingham, Saka and Foden all 'dropping' and 'coming inside' was a good plan. 

Walker's runs were inside Saka while Saka was generally 'coming inside'! 

Isn't that relatively easy to defend against? Like Utd did against City at Wembley until Doku came on. 

[Kojak]

Jul 15, 2024 19:31:54 GMT Yusef said:

Jul 15, 2024 8:50:43 GMT Paul said:

Amazed that Gordon had 2 minutes of football in the entire tournament aswell.

Southgate seems to have thought that having Kane, Bellingham, Saka and Foden all 'dropping' and 'coming inside' was a good plan. 

Walker's runs were inside Saka while Saka was generally 'coming inside'! 

Isn't that relatively easy to defend against? Like Utd did against City at Wembley until Doku came on. 

Defending against good players is never necessarily easy, but it’s a lot fucking easier when not a single one of them can turn you round and they’re in front of you the whole time.

[Chris]

Southgate has resigned. Good.

[mightyez]

Jul 16, 2024 10:04:21 GMT Chris said:

Southgate has resigned. Good.

Not for us it's not.
Lurking around like a bad smell.

[Stew]

Jul 16, 2024 10:24:07 GMT mightyez said:

Jul 16, 2024 10:04:21 GMT Chris said:

Southgate has resigned. Good.

Not for us it's not.
Lurking around like a bad smell.

Barf.

[johnboy14]

Was to be expected. I think it was a tournament too late.

[Karma]

The Fa probably would have give him a new contract the useless shits.

[viking22]

Yeah it was frustrating really. The preparation for the tournament was entirely inadequate.

As johnboy14 mentioned it was a tournament too far. Southgate simply didn't know how to get the best out of talents like Mainoo, Bellingham and Foden. Problem is that neither will potential replacements such as Howe, Potter, Carsley or Lampard! England had some of the best players in the competition but was one of the worst teams and that is on the manager.

[Kojak]

I think once the dust has settled, a decade down the line he’ll be remembered for delivering a spell of great individual moments for England. I mean, fuck me we’ve never heard the end of Euro 96, so on that basis he should get a knighthood and a statue.

Could do worse than giving it to Ole. Nice bloke, plays essentially the same football as Gareth and is, if anything, even luckier. Seamless transition that.

Looking at the realistic candidates, it’s a proper be careful what you wish for situation.

[fergiegiveusawave]

Southgate is a decent bloke and has created a much more positive atmosphere around the national team. However, good vibes can only take you so far and to actually win one of these things England need someone more tactically astute.

[smithy2]

6 pretty brilliant years really just lacking that crucial trophy in the end. As others have said though some brilliant moments in amongst it.
Be interesting to see who they bring in. Probably someone shit like Lampard who will go in and absolutely destroy the culture and infrastructure southgate built.

[johnboy14]

Jul 16, 2024 13:40:01 GMT smithy2 said:

6 pretty brilliant years really just lacking that crucial trophy in the end. As others have said though some brilliant moments in amongst it.
Be interesting to see who they bring in. Probably someone shit like Lampard who will go in and absolutely destroy the culture and infrastructure southgate built.

Expectations are high now, I suspect they'll not just hand it over to anybody.