Again I am I just have my own opinion and I'm not a sheep like the rest of you blindly singing God save the Queen drinking Stella.
I don't think @Muller is alone in his club before country viewpoint. The thing is though that clubs aren't playing now, so whilst I abhor the mid-season friendly internationals I find it easy to support England right now, and especially since this is a proper tournament that actually matters.
A wonderful evening and a very cathartic 2 hours for at least two generations of England fans and Gareth Southgate. I've come to a conclusion that we're not going to be playing this swashbuckling attacking football that our talent is potentially capable of. And I'm ok with that, we as a country haven't really won that much so we can't be picky or snobbish in how we're choosing to try and win now. Can't scoff at 4 clean sheets in 4. We all had doubts about the defence and maybe this pragmatism covers deficiencies in the defence.
Seems I've upset the Southgate fanboys so I'm gonna hold my tongue for now seems the masses are happy with the dross England produce.
I wasn't on here when he did, but not ashamed to admit I didn't rate him. I am, however, struggling to see the relevance there? It certainly isn't hypocritical, as you appear to be suggesting.
Imagine beating Germany in the latter stages of a major tournament for the first time in 55 years then logging onto an online forum and moaning about it
So anything other than a win is a failure now? We had lots of talent from 2004 - 2010 and never went beyond a quarter final and that included a couple of well seasoned managers. Southgate isnt going anywhere and the fact is, he has got us further in a World Cup than anyone since Bobby Robson in 1990 and he has won our first euros knockout game since 1996. He has just beaten Germany in a knockout game something we havent done since 1966 and we havent knocked a team of top quality out in a knockout again since 1996 against Spain. The football may not be sexy but seriously where did we play sexy and win something? All the talent we had with Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard and Beckham and every managed played 2 of them out of position to force them in and in won us...nothing. Some of you are clearly spoilt at club level
Well I do Michael. I really can't imagine being so wound up and annoyed by beating a team you haven't won against in a knockout competition for 55 years. You've already said that even if England win the tournament it won't change your view of Southgate at all. Pretty pathetic tbh.
I'm only going back and forth because @Kirby indirectly called me and others out because apparently beating Germany should shut up anyone who criticises Sir Gareth. Call it pathetic if you want but winning a game doesn't mean he can't be criticised and that's the last thing I'll be saying on the matter.
1/3 of all of our tournament wins in the last 55 years have come under Southgate in 3 years. Yet he's doing a bad job, he's clueless, he's just a yes man.
Now he's making himself out to be some freedom fighter "sheep" "the Southgate fanboys" and "the masses" Mate if someone claiming to be a Liverpool fan said they don't care whenever Liverpool lose while still saying "we" when talking about Liverpool and calling themselves a supporter, you'd rightly be absolutely slaughtering them and calling them out on it. How can you support a team if you're not even bothered about their results? Isn't that the antithesis of supporting a team? Just admit you don't support England and you're a neutral, instead of this cringey "me against the world" Che Guevara act, just because you think it gives you more credibility to criticise the team with.
Michael? thought it is Thomas? Exactly. He should take Shane's stance as an example how to handle it. Before the match yesterday cautious And during/after the match full of joy You guys here are unbelievable. Inspiring read. Winning in a knockout match against us for the first time in 55 years. Just celebrate this one. WGAF if it wasn't the most impressive style yesterday. You won, get over it
Southgate clearly is doing a better job than any of the previous managers. I’m not a fan of his line ups and tactics but it’s clearly getting the results, and results are the only thing that really matters. Southgate deserves credit.
@Papa Francesco - as a fellow Boro fan you will recall sections of our support booing and never fully taking to Steve McLaren despite him being our most successful manager - winning out first trophy in 128 years, two European campaigns leading to UEFA Cup runners up and our highest ever Premier League finish, yet as i mentioned sections still disliked him due to his somewhat negative tactics. Every single Boro Fan would give anything to go back to that now. I think its fair that all fans want something they haven't got but usually when it stops working - that's not the case with Southgate, everything he has set out to do in this Euro's is so far working except for the Scotland game but the groups are not worth getting hung up on. Maybe @Muller and the likes have seen so much domestic success, european adventures, exciting games, come backs that they want/expect to the same from England. Anything less than entertaining football shouldn't be supported too much even if its succesful and certainly not enough for them to put England even close to supporting their domestic teams. Whilst the vast majority of fans of the 92 clubs don't have much success to harp on about these are probably those a bit more forgiving of England's style currently. I noted a couple of Liverpool and Man Utd fans as the ones focussing on the style rather than the result so that would back up my assessment here. Please lads, tell me to do one if i am way off the mark but what im saying is we arent gonna agree or change peoples perception. We all know its a great squad, but we have ahd great squads before the manager has got it wrong playing all the big stars. Southgate isnt doing that and its working - sexy or not, give me a trophy.
