Southgate definitely fucked up the final. As he did agaisnt Croatia in 2018, and Holland in the nations league. He took the league and went Cautious trying to hold a slender lead
Southgate has dragged us back to relevancy but it’s clear he doesn’t know how to win. He talks about scoring goals, but plays 2DMs and Mason Mount as his most attacking midfielder. He has some of the most talented attacking players we’ve seen in years but doesn’t want to play them
I’m not too worried at the moment, I like the nations league but currently it’s just glorified friendlies, and even worse they’ve tacked on 4 games to the end of the season. Half the team looked like they couldn’t be arsed. Come November they’ll be all fit and good to go.
He clearly does know how to win because he has the highest win % of any England manager with the exception of Sir Alf Ramsey.
There’s a reason for our caution. Our defence really isn’t that good. Maguire and Stones as centre backs? Both good defenders, but not in the same plane as Campbell, Ferdinand and Terry.
Italy were the favourites going into the final, yet England fans believe we’re entitled to have won it. We went 1-0 and we’re on top for most of the first half and the game slipped away from us. Croatia’s 2018 team was probably better than our team and likewise with the Netherlands in 2019.
Likewise, the England fans would probably start all; Mount, Grealish and Foden which would be way too unbalanced.
Ironically, we tried playing just the one DM v Hungary and really tried to attack at 2-0 down and we were too open. Which shows that Southgate isn’t completely clueless to be cautious.
Personally, I think the team will kick on and do well in Qatar. Either way, most England fans will get what they want because Southgate will probably leave. The mood towards him is completely toxic.
Joachim Low and Santos, who won international trophies with Germany and Portugal have terrible club CVs. Which shows that international management is not dependent on club success and that Southgate’s club CV is irrelevant. He earned his stripes managing the age-groups and as a technical director.