If i came across as one of those moaning, then that wasn't my intention. We are still in it, we get to play at Wembley against a top nation with 45k in attendance, im excited as hell. As a Boro fan i can hardly describe the perfect manager and watcing England is like watching us week to week but if it works i will take it - Steve McLaren was one of our most negative managers, even with lots of talented players, some fans loved him and section hated him - he is our most succesful manager. I know the Capello model failed but i dont think that should rule it out again - i think our domestic players are closer to the european style than ever before a european experienced manager might be a perfect fit - also the list of english candidates hardly get the blood pumping do they?
If we don't appoint Campbell there will be a double page spread in the Guardian about how institutionally racist the FA is.
I keep saying we should go all out to get Bielsa in, tell him he can appoint whoever he wants throughout all youth structures and reap the benefits for a generation. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
Oh absolutely, these teams have stuck 11 players behind the ball. Yes he has been marked. So have other strikers in other teams. He is not a world class footballer, he is still at Spurs, he would have been bought by larger clubs by now. Yes, I would play Rashford, as he is a better player. I am not saying Kane wont score in the next game, he may very well do so. Group D is a very easy group. We have scored two goals.
Really can't see his style and methods working in a situation where at best he gets maybe 10 weeks a year on average with players to instil his methods and philosophies, before they then go back to their clubs and play completely differently.
(Wasn't specifically aimed at you BTW) No not at all. People saying Chris Wilder should be in there instead of him, FFS I just don't think there's any need to talk about a new manager until the tournament's over, or even further down the line if we end up doing well. England fans tend to have very short memories when it comes to the national team as well. We were absolutely woeful to watch under Capello and in spells under Roy. The same tried and tested players were picked every time and constantly failed and the squad never seemed particularly happy. There was also zero connection with the fans. We finally have a manager who promotes youth, doesn't pick players solely on reputation or club allegiance, encourages the squad to interact with the fans and is clearly desperate to succeed for his country. He's also the only manager to take us to a World Cup semi-final in 30-odd years. Just because he's well spoken, wears a waistcoat and isn't banging some celebrity skank while doing dodgy deals people brand him an FA 'yes man' (whatever the f*ck that means) and see him as an easy target. When you look at the job he's actually done and the progress we've made since the McClaren/Capello/Roy years he should be commended. I certainly don't think he's perfect but personally he's the only manager in over a decade who's got me enjoying supporting the national team again. I'd hate for us to slip back into the old model just for the sake of gaining a more experienced manager. We've tried it over and over again and it's never worked.
Fair enough, that's your opinion. How anyone can claim Kane isn't world class is beyond me, but I suppose it depends how strict your criteria is. For me he's comfortably up there with Lewandowski and Benzema who most consider the best out-and-out strikers in world football. He's also just been the subject of a £100m bid from Man City so I'm not sure the 'he would've been bought by larger clubs now' if he was world class argument really stands up (granted Man City aren't a bigger club than Spurs but they're sure as shit a lot better). I like Southgate but I will concede he hasn't really played to Kane's strengths so far. He needs players constantly running off him like he has at Spurs but it's all been a bit too static so far, partly due to the opposition's tactics TBF.
One thing with the England team, is that we are not good at football. We think we are, but we arent. I am meaning English people, us, we are not naturally good at football. The same goes for Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We never have been. One World cup win since it started, when it was played here in 1966. We never have been any good.
Anyone who plays football manager knows there’s only one man who can lead England to constant success… Sean Dyche
It’s not that we’re not good at football necessarily, it’s just we have a certain style in this country and we’ve never really moved away from it and it’s unfortunately not compatible with winning international trophies. Bit like Spain now, still trying that tika taka with lesser players and other teams have bypassed them with different styles. This from a book I read a couple of years back sums it up brilliantly to be honest. I mean look how many English fans hate their own Jack Grealish because he’s too “namby pamby” We’d rather he stayed on his feet and have the shit kicked out of him to show he’s tough than have him win us free kicks in dangerous areas.
Depends how you define good I suppose. We've never been as technically good as the likes of Spain, Portugal or the South Americans and never will be, although we have progressed on that front. I watched re-runs of Euro '96 recently and the football (albeit exciting at times) was so basic. There's no reason we can't do well with the German model of pressing and playing high-intensity football though. We have the personnel for it and half the squad already do it for their clubs. Personally I prefer that style of football to tiki-taka, possession-based play but each to their own.
Never been as technically good as South America? It hasnt anything to do with technical. South American players are far more naturally skilfull than British players.
This sums up why people are dismayed despite the positive results. It's seeing the level of talent week in week out, the attacking output they bring, but seeing the football they're being asked to play. Hopefully it shithouses England to success. International football has become ever more about pragmatism because of the lack of contact time managers get with players. How precisely managed systems are now makes it difficult to produce swashbuckling attacking systems whilst retaining rigidity defensively & off the ball. It's easier to develop a defensive shape quickly and then rely on the ability of our excellent attacking talent to produce after that. It's why I think Mourinho would be an outstanding international manager now, most likely why Mancini's Italy have developed over a longer period, Martinez has had years to mould Belgium but Luis Enrique's Spain haven't clicked when he's made a few decisions that are departures from what the Spanish NT has done prior to this tournament. It's the fact that there's the potential for more though, and that this group has been together long enough to have had the ability to build something more. Mancini has been at Italy since 2018, and talent wise...
Yes, because that style of play is embedded into their way of life. Being the most skilful doesn't always mean being the best, a South American side hasn't won the World Cup in two decades. Germany are one of the most successful nations in the world and I don't think 'Skilful' is something you would attribute to them often.
It's painfully slow. My only hope is that because we're likely to see less of the ball in the knockouts that we'll at least offer something on the counter attack and have a bit of pace in our game. Saka was a breath of fresh air last night but he'll probably lose his place for the next round.
True. Going back to British teams. Its a strong reason we never win anything.This next game is going to be a tester. I am not saying we will win or lose or whatever. Lets see how we go on in the next game if we draw France or Germany or other top club.
