UEFA EURO 2024 (16 Viewers)

Frostie

Well-Known Member
The thing is we did actually play like this against France at the World Cup. We’ve regressed so much since then.
Yeah. I don't think they were instructed to sit back so much tbf. They looked shattered & so lethargic. Combination of lack of fitness & tactical familiarity leads to zero fluidity.

As I've said (for years now!) it's a horribly imbalanced pool of players. The favourites tag is baffling.
 

PVA

Well-Known Member
As I've said (for years now!) it's a horribly imbalanced pool of players. The favourites tag is baffling.

I disagree, it's as good a squad as any in the competition and even more so the starting XI. There are weak spots, sure, as there are in any other squad.

The weakest part by far is the manager and we'd have a great shot at it with a proper tactician in charge.
 

Macca

Well-Known Member
The teams they play in at club level make them
A lot of these players simply aren’t as good as people think they are. On technical ability levels it’s crazy how far behind the likes of Germany, Spain, Italy, France we are. It’s the basic shit like not being able to play a 5 yard pass quickly, not being able to turn on the first touch, not being able to play comfortably play pass from difficult balls. Just an unbelievably bad performance.

Southgate has to go as soon as this tournament is over. Tactically he’s got it completely wrong. The Trent experiment is embarrassing.

Have said this a million times. Even non qualifiers have better skill levels. We get past them because the sum of the parts is better but technically we are shite. English players shine at club level because of what is around them. Been going on decades
 

PVA

Well-Known Member
That felt like a bit of a turning point against Southgate.

The pundits never normally have a bad word to say against him, old boys club and all that. But they were very critical of him tonight and presumably the written press will be tomorrow as well.

I think that Kalvin Phillips comment will be the final straw for a lot of people too.
 

hamertime

Well-Known Member
When you have people making excuses for Southgate after losing a final in what was essentially a home game in front of 90% + of your own fans, what do you expect? Any other ‘top’ football nation would have had him out the door within days.
I was there and I seen everything I needed to know that day. Swap the managers around we win it. He’s a gutless bookworm who should never be near an England team. Puppet manager who fists kane when he allows it
 

PVA

Well-Known Member
Have said this a million times. Even non qualifiers have better skill levels. We get past them because the sum of the parts is better but technically we are shite.

Nah, that's not the case anymore.

You can't tell me Bellingham, Foden, Palmer, Rice, Mainoo, Eze, etc aren't incredibly technical players.

And I mentioned earlier about the England youth teams winning loads.

There's been a huge improvement on that front to bring us up to the level of other nations.
 

Nuskyblue

Well-Known Member
Agreed. There's nothing wrong with what's he's said there, he's right. That's his preferred system & it's served us well in the past. The flip side, & the fans argument, is they don't want us to play that way.

The below interview was some months ago now & I think is pretty fair. Since then Wharton has really emerged though & I'd be giving him a go in that position.


If he is unable to adapt to not having Phillips available to him then he isn't up to the job, it's up to him to find a solution...
 

Macca

Well-Known Member
Nah, that's not the case anymore.

You can't tell me Bellingham, Foden, Palmer, Rice, Mainoo, Eze, etc aren't incredibly technical players.

And I mentioned earlier about the England youth teams winning loads.

There's been a huge improvement on that front to bring us up to the level of other nations.

Yet so often they look incapable of breaking teams down. Something is wrong because player after player looks like a world beater at club level but average in England colours. I’m not a Southgate fan but when you have tried so many managers and you still have that gulf between club and country performances you do wonder
 

Frostie

Well-Known Member
If he is unable to adapt to not having Phillips available to him then he isn't up to the job, it's up to him to find a solution...
Don't disagree & the fact that he admits we're "experimenting" during a major tournament is a concern. Phillips' form & fitness issues have been known for a long, long time. Wharton could be the saviour but I don't think he's brave enough to trust him.
 

Nuskyblue

Well-Known Member
Don't disagree & the fact that he admits we're "experimenting" during a major tournament is a concern. Phillips' form & fitness issues have been known for a long, long time. Wharton could be the saviour but I don't think he's brave enough to trust him.
A very long time, it's not crept up on him

Didn't he get more minutes for England last season than Man City (I think he played less than 90 for Citeh!)?
 

hamertime

Well-Known Member
Italy nowhere near Spain at this level, but… I wouldn’t put it past Italy winning it against Spain IN a final. It’s all about guts In the final moments and we just don’t have it.
 

SBAndy

Well-Known Member
Well, I said not to be disappointed with the draw but the performance was largely insipid. There are a few serious decisions to be made. If you play Kane, then as far as I’m concerned the wingers have to be Gordon and Saka as they’re the only ones willing to run in behind. If you play Bellingham, play him deeper and Foden in front. And for fucks sake put a passable left back on the pitch (haven’t got one).

I got ridiculed for drafting up this lineup when we were at preliminary squad stage but it’d have worked a whole lot better than the shite we’re seeing:

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