Tattie wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:47 pm
Hugo wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:25 pm
Gareth Southgate doesn't seem brave enough to make tough decisons. I think Souness was spot on when he said that there was not enough football in England's midfield.
He seems like a people pleaser and company man who is in the job because he won't ruffle feathers. He doesn't strike me as someone who is very good at motivating his players so if his team selections are not very good I don't see what he brings to the role. If England don't advance deep into this tournament (semis or further) I think he has to go because otherwise these players are wasted on him.
I know I’ll get slaughtered for this, but could it also not just be that England simply are not good enough? Let’s face it, the EPL is dominated by foreign players.
The media hype pre-tournament... actually pre EVERY tournament is ridiculous. England won the World Cup in 66 and had a very good team that nearly went all the way in ‘90 but aside from that when have they ever looked that good? Yes they got to the WC semi 3 years ago but were nothing special.
I’m looking through tartan specs a little on this one but on Friday night there was not one of their much feted stars who looked better than their Scottish opponent, in fact, in most cases they looked worse. Our right back plays for Motherwell and probably earns in a whole season what every single England player earns in half a week.
No doubt England will now pump the Czechs and storm their way to the final, playing Brazil 1970 style football, where Harry Kane scores a double hat-trick as England beat Italy 9-0.
I'd provide some balance by saying it's not like the other teams are night and day (France are perhaps the strongest in my opinion, but not leagues ahead) which is why I think England have had at least a puncher's chance in many of the tournaments over the years. Going out on penalties on a regular basis is pretty galling, but does indicate the team isn't a million miles away form others. (We'll ignore the Iceland debacle, and I'd also point out that the Germany 4-1 result was actually 2-2 at halftime if the linesman had seen it properly, and the final 2 goals were on the break as England chased - not that we deserved much from that game).
Also worth noting England went something silly like 40-odd games unbeaten in qualifying over a decade, which I think would give most fans some form of optimism and would suggest, well, they're not bad at football.
As a general rule I'd suggest giving LTVG a swerve, I'd say ultimately someone plays for Motherwell for a reason and it's not like Champion's League teams won't sign decent Scottish fullbacks.
Finally, speaking as an England fan, I'll reserve the right to get hyped up for a tournament, thanks all the same. Insane optimism should be any fan's default position. I've never really got why the England fans seem to get it in the neck for this, Wales had a run a few years back and they were like 5 year olds after half a pound of sherbet but I don't recall any England fan begrudging them it. We knew they'd next to no chance of winning but it's a knockout tournament and who knows what could happen - look at Greece. Actually, don't, they were an excruciating team to watch, but I'd not put them down as favourites in any way, shape or form.