Blimey , the post last 16 bitch fest is well & truly on. It's a bit of a anti climax when in tournament football we have a day without any football .
My fault I bite to everything trying to ruin everybody's excitement some would say because I'm a miserable ****
What a day yesterday, absolutely brilliant, from the minute we got off the train there was something in the air [aside from pollution], everywhere you went the city was buzzing. The pubs, the tubes, the streets, the ground was properly bouncing, they said it was only 40 odd thousand, theres no way there was more than half an empty ground, don't believe it for one minute. Give them their dues, really well organised, the covid thing etc took seconds to get through. Don't remember a huge amount about the game other than it being really negative, crying out for some positive thinking, but in retrospect you can't really argue, a relatively comfortable win, wasn't pretty but if it wins us the tournament then you won't find many people complaining. Brilliant being back watching football, throat is ruined, back is ruined, head is slowly returning to the planet but I'd do it al again in a heartbeat if I got the chance on Saturday.
I agree England aren't the most exciting (usually) but I thought Southgate got it bang on yesterday. He matched them, nullified their biggest threats from previous games and then his sub came on to play a big role in winning the game. What I do like about this team is that we don't feel like the emotional, messy band of talented individuals that we are used to with an England team. For once we feel professional, organised and pragmatic. You only have to look at Portugal in 2016 to know that pragmatism goes a long way in knockout football. We were boring in the group stages but nothing about yesterday was boring imo, it was a very tense game and we went up a gear to win it. Loved every second it.
You're pessimistic. We're well set up to counter attack a team that goes at us with Sterling and Saka's pace (also Walker's if we go back to 4 at the back). Obviously playing Ukraine is a totally different challenge to Germany, it'll be interesting to see what Southgate does. Maybe he even starts Grealish etc to try and break Ukraine down, anticipating more possession, we'll see. But you won't be seeing us concede 3 goals against a worse side like Spain and France did, as we will play conservatively to get results, and try and avoid a shock. It's a style of play that makes more and more sense as the tournament has unfolded. Yep, you don't get as much time to coach tactics and coherence at international level as would be ideal, so makes sense to keep it tight and be hard to score against/beat, first and foremost. Especially with players more worn out than ever before due to the congested season. Over a season the style would wear very thin, but we're not talking about many games here. I would regard Southgate as a good international manager but a bad club one. Just need to look at his results for proof of both. Yes let's appoint the manager who just lost to our manager, sensational idea. Someone who despite winning a World Cup etc the Germans are glad to be rid of, and has been failing to win with a team of comparable talent to ours. And Lampard because international management is 'easier'... And this is to replace a manager who just put out our biggest rival Germany, and whose team hasn't conceded a goal in all 4 games. Hopefully you're not being serious with this post.
Atmosphere sounded amazing at full-time. Wish they could've just played it on the telly instead of having the pundits talk over it. Must have been amazing to be there yesterday, one to tell the grandkids about! Can't wait to go back to the KP and watch some football games live again!
In his last press conference today Löw was asked (from a dutch reporter) if he could imagine to be the new Bondscoach for the Netherlands. "No I can't " Maybe he wasn't from the Netherlands but from Absurdistan not you're but ye're (sorry @Eaman , couldn't resist. Already wanted to ask why you often write ye instead of you. Is this an Irish thing? (serious question) )
**** me it’s like I’ve gone back in time 8 years to the old TFF with Pagnell complaining about “cliques” and just generally being a patronising wanker. Good times.
you’re in a win win situation mate. You can bask in the glory if we win, and say ‘I told you so’ if we get knocked out
