England football team & Euro' 2024

[thejuice]

Well Southgate had a good run 2 finals and a semi final, most successful England manager since 66. He even made us good at penalties! Functional football can get you deep into a tournament, with a little lady luck thrown in, let's be honest

I hope he steps down with head held high and lets someone more tactically modern take the squad to the next level. I feel it's the right time, it seems the honeymoon period is over with the fans. While Southgate criticising pundits and fans successfully deflects the player's attention away from his own shortcomings, the siege mentality has also soured relations with the public. We want someone not ashamed to be English and have ambition. If he leaves now, his legacy will still be a dignified one. However you can always rely on the FA not to read the mood.

We need someone more assertive, ruthless and brave. Someone who is not a ditherer, who is astute enough to recognise and seize the moment when the game is there to be won. Who has the flexibility to play to the teams attacking strengths, not forcing his anxious, stifling, defensive style on to them. Who has the air of authority to drop underperforming stars and make better use of the squad depth. Who doesn't pick the same players and expect different results. Who picks the right players for the system and doesn't pick based on celebrity status, praying for a moment of brilliance out of thin air.

Some might ask "who are these England fans who feel entitled to win the Euros, they never have". That is a bloody good point. Perhaps these people have not been watching these matches and Southgate's decision making ability closely enough though!

 

[Seladon]

We want someone not ashamed to be English and have ambition.

Ooft ni allai fod yn berthnasol i mi rydychi’n cario ymlaen serch hynny

 

[blue_bird]

Well Southgate had a good run 2 finals and a semi final, most successful England manager since 66. He even made us good at penalties! Functional football can get you deep into a tournament, with a little lady luck thrown in, let's be honest

I hope he steps down with head held high and lets someone more tactically modern take the squad to the next level. I feel it's the right time, it seems the honeymoon period is over with the fans. While Southgate criticising pundits and fans successfully deflects the player's attention away from his own shortcomings, the siege mentality has also soured relations with the public. We want someone not ashamed to be English and have ambition. If he leaves now, his legacy will still be a dignified one. However you can always rely on the FA not to read the mood.

We need someone more assertive, ruthless and brave. Someone who is not a ditherer, who is astute enough to recognise and seize the moment when the game is there to be won. Who has the flexibility to play to the teams attacking strengths, not forcing his anxious, stifling, defensive style on to them. Who has the air of authority to drop underperforming stars and make better use of the squad depth. Who doesn't pick the same players and expect different results. Who picks the right players for the system and doesn't pick based on celebrity status, praying for a moment of brilliance out of thin air.

Some might ask "who are these England fans who feel entitled to win the Euros, they never have". That is a bloody good point. Perhaps these people have not been watching these matches and Southgate's decision making ability closely enough though!

I think the main reason England fans feel entitled is because of the success and popularity of the Premier League. I suppose it's the same for Spanish fans who keep seeing Real Madrid winning the Champions League. England have produced very good individuals from their league but unfortunately have never been able to gel as a team. I guess that's what frustrates England fans.

I'm a neutral but I was hoping Spain would win because they play far better as a team. I think you are right, and Southgate should step down and a braver coach should take over. If the FA can find the right one though...

 

[thejuice]

Yes Spain have great expectations too. The media expectation with England is always theoretical, whereas with Spain they have a track record don't they.

The weird thing with England this tournament was they weren't a good counter attacking team because of a lack of pace and they weren't a good possession team either, despite the players playing that way in the premier league. We had no identity except a malfunctioning front 4 of celebs that, like you said, didn't gel at all and were easy to block out. In my opinion Southgate must fall on his sword for not making the decision to drop 2 of Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Kane.

I heard a stat that in 690 minutes of football they were only expected.to score 6.5 goals, and that's on the less brutal side of the draw.

An argument often made is "well it's because those English players are made to look good in the premier league by foreigners playing around them." That doesn't wash with me because why would a club pay premium money for an inferior English player when they could have 11 foreign players on the pitch. Unless it's to sell more shirts to locals! Or the English players got the chance to play for Man City and Arsenal through the Make a Wish Foundation!

 

[blue_bird]

Well he's gone now. I wonder who will replace him?

 

[thejuice]

Media are saying Eddie Howe but I think the Newcastle job is more prestigious than the England one

 

[thejuice]

I think it has to be someone big head Bellingham respects, otherwise he will continue to be quite toxic

 

[Seladon]

^had a long rather good comment typed out and ofc this very-functional forum refreshed the page midway. It’s a frequent error, and not just for me. Can someone with the means sort that, or.

Back on topic. Suffice it to say, Jude’s doing everything right. His team adore him, as do SGP, and anyone who loves the game. I’m usually first in line to pick holes in the rich, but there’s not much to fault here. His only off-putting trait imo is that his mum drives him to dates & hookups (quite weird).

Worth looking at who his fiercest critics are—disgruntled middle-aged fans who long for the Golden Gen days; online bloggers & pundits click mining from the aforementioned; Daily Fail staffers and stealth Reform voters. There’s also an element of Tall Poppy Syndrome, Brits resenting the success of a young talented Englishman making it abroad in a way they couldn’t.

This teams’ fan base can never be appeased, and always needs a scapegoat. Last year it was Henderson, the year before Rashford and Saka. Now it’s Jude’s turn (and Kane’s to a lesser extent). Interesting how that oft-bandied win together-lose together motto doesn’t apply. And how Lionesses don’t suffer this issue.

 

[thejuice]

That might be true, I don't read the news.

I personally think he's a big head with thin skin, based off a post match interview I saw, public criticism of players, his body language and celebrations on the pitch and his reputation from Dortmund fans. I think he's a bit like Ronaldo, all about him.

 

[Seladon]

That might be true, I don't read the news.

I personally think he's a big head with thin skin, based off a post match interview I saw, public criticism of players, his body language and celebrations on the pitch and his reputation from Dortmund fans. I think he's a bit like Ronaldo, all about him.

Ah, reputation reputation reputation, like the Bard once said.

Fair enough, if that's what people think of Jude. He's laughing, doubt he cares.

Most of the world said the same thing about fy Capten Bale during his Madrid days, who might be one of the humblest and most genuinely decent & resilient as well as greatest to ever do it, so I take all the birdsong for what it is.

As for CR7...well, I'm certainly not disputing that he's an awful human being. Until it comes out that Jude has likewise assaulted women, got away scot-free and laughed about it the way Cristiano did, I'll reserve judgement. My ire is for abusers, megalomaniacs and true scumbags.