NPR

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/20 ... st-result/

I blame Channel 4 !!!

Fucking long honeymoon

The players are all absolutely knackered and clearly not motivated for a glorified friendly.

Five years and two tournaments is a decent honeymoon period, to be fair.

Southgate seems a reasonable person doing the best he can with our usual mid table crop of players. Last world cup and euros we played minnows when we scored goals, 1/2 decent teams when we ground it out until penalties then lost against 1st good teams we met.

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:07 am Southgate seems a reasonable person doing the best he can with our usual mid table crop of players. Last world cup and euros we played minnows when we scored goals, 1/2 decent teams when we ground it out until penalties then lost against 1st good teams we met.

Far too reasonable for football.

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:07 am Southgate seems a reasonable person doing the best he can with our usual mid table crop of players. Last world cup and euros we played minnows when we scored goals, 1/2 decent teams when we ground it out until penalties then lost against 1st good teams we met.

I’m not sure most people would regard Germany and Denmark as footballing minnows.

Setting aside the permanently delusionally high expectations of Eng fans, just how much of the problem is the no. of foreign players in the Prem?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:35 am Setting aside the permanently delusionally high expectations of Eng fans, just how much of the problem is the no. of foreign players in the Prem?

.............and press!
Yes far too many

Euro 96 run up. Venables clueless with his Christmas tree formation! Shearer can't score for love nor money! England are rubbish! That went OK (until it didn't).

No one gives a shit about friendly football. He's given us the most success in a generation and is a top bloke to boot - I'd back him to the hilt.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:35 am Setting aside the permanently delusionally high expectations of Eng fans, just how much of the problem is the no. of foreign players in the Prem?

The problem would be more if there were no England players in the leading teams, or where promising players are frozen out by imports. Most teams seem to have a decent representation and I can't think of many decent prospects not getting a game.

We seem to actually have options now, although we're definitely missing a dedicated left back and worry that too much responsibility on Kane in terms of goalscoring.

Also, regarding expectations, England lost the last Euro final in penalties and lost a semi-final of the last World Cup in extra time. I'd say losing 4-0 at home to Hungary is not quite matching those standards (even noting that Hungary look a well-ordered energetic team and took their goals well). Related to the Kane point above, we scored 1 goal in 4 games, and that was a penalty. I appreciate these have really just been glorified friendlies but that's not great.

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:43 am No one gives a shit about friendly football. He's given us the most success in a generation and is a top bloke to boot - I'd back him to the hilt.

Yep.

Thinking back to the (thankfully short) reign of Allardyce, the fundamentally bad-tempered approach of Capello and the (thankfully kyboshed by Trevor Brooking, amongst others) widely discussed potential appointment of Redknapp - I'd say Southgate is a breath of fresh air.

There's a more professional approach to management than we've seen historically in the national team, and it's reflected in the approaches and performances. Some of it comes down to the players, of course - John Terry as national captain, and the rivalries between players of the 'big teams' were not ideal - but Southgate contributed to a much more enjoyable, team-oriented mindset and culture.

inactionman wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:19 am

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:43 am No one gives a shit about friendly football. He's given us the most success in a generation and is a top bloke to boot - I'd back him to the hilt.

Yep.

Thinking back to the (thankfully short) reign of Allardyce, the fundamentally bad-tempered approach of Capello and the (thankfully kyboshed by Trevor Brooking, amongst others) widely discussed potential appointment of Redknapp - I'd say Southgate is a breath of fresh air.

There's a more professional approach to management than we've seen historically in the national team, and it's reflected in the approaches and performances. Some of it comes down to the players, of course - John Terry as national captain, and the rivalries between players of the 'big teams' were not ideal - but Southgate contributed to a much more enjoyable, team-oriented mindset and culture.

He's the only manager in my time who has led a side who seem to see playing for England as an honour rather than as a chore.

Lobby wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:19 am

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:07 am Southgate seems a reasonable person doing the best he can with our usual mid table crop of players. Last world cup and euros we played minnows when we scored goals, 1/2 decent teams when we ground it out until penalties then lost against 1st good teams we met.

I’m not sure most people would regard Germany and Denmark as footballing minnows.

Denmark occasionally have some good teams, Germany occasionally a bad one. Both were played at Wembley. Despite the cries from the rabble about the premiership being best league in the world the best teams are not stuffed full of English types, by any means.

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:21 am

inactionman wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 10:19 am

Paddington Bear wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:43 am No one gives a shit about friendly football. He's given us the most success in a generation and is a top bloke to boot - I'd back him to the hilt.

Yep.

Thinking back to the (thankfully short) reign of Allardyce, the fundamentally bad-tempered approach of Capello and the (thankfully kyboshed by Trevor Brooking, amongst others) widely discussed potential appointment of Redknapp - I'd say Southgate is a breath of fresh air.

There's a more professional approach to management than we've seen historically in the national team, and it's reflected in the approaches and performances. Some of it comes down to the players, of course - John Terry as national captain, and the rivalries between players of the 'big teams' were not ideal - but Southgate contributed to a much more enjoyable, team-oriented mindset and culture.

He's the only manager in my time who has led a side who seem to see playing for England as an honour rather than as a chore.

Oh to be so youthful!

I’m not a big fan of England FC but I was hoping they’d give Hungary a spanking.

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:29 am

Lobby wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:19 am

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:07 am Southgate seems a reasonable person doing the best he can with our usual mid table crop of players. Last world cup and euros we played minnows when we scored goals, 1/2 decent teams when we ground it out until penalties then lost against 1st good teams we met.

I’m not sure most people would regard Germany and Denmark as footballing minnows.

Denmark occasionally have some good teams, Germany occasionally a bad one. Both were played at Wembley. Despite the cries from the rabble about the premiership being best league in the world the best teams are not stuffed full of English types, by any means.

Amazing that Italy had to go to penalties to beat us I guess

Does any other country downplay sports success like this?

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:39 pm
Amazing that Italy had to go to penalties to beat us I guess

Does any other country downplay sports success like this?

Not in football. My point that Eng fans' expectations are extreme.

As an aside, Eng historically have always been hard to beat (possibly why everyone went mental at a 4-0 defeat) BUT they've generally been too goal shy which, in KO, is usually fatal.

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:39 pm

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:29 am

Lobby wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 8:19 am

I’m not sure most people would regard Germany and Denmark as footballing minnows.

Denmark occasionally have some good teams, Germany occasionally a bad one. Both were played at Wembley. Despite the cries from the rabble about the premiership being best league in the world the best teams are not stuffed full of English types, by any means.

Amazing that Italy had to go to penalties to beat us I guess

Does any other country downplay sports success like this?

Hey, I’m not downplaying any success and I think that Southgate has done all the goods things mentioned here like bringing pride back to the team and getting the best out of them. The current ‘media stoke the fans’ cr@p that the only reason we are not wiping the floor with other teams is all down to the manager ‘cus we have the best players in the world init!’, is normally blasted out at the Euros of xxxx and world cup of xxxx (insert most dates you wish since 1966).

I just think that with the players we have compared to a few other countries we are a 1/4 final team unless we get a very good draw. The next world cup is not a favourable draw after group stages.

PCPhil wrote: Thu Jun 16, 2022 11:47 am

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:39 pm

PCPhil wrote: Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:29 am

Denmark occasionally have some good teams, Germany occasionally a bad one. Both were played at Wembley. Despite the cries from the rabble about the premiership being best league in the world the best teams are not stuffed full of English types, by any means.

Amazing that Italy had to go to penalties to beat us I guess

Does any other country downplay sports success like this?

Hey, I’m not downplaying any success and I think that Southgate has done all the goods things mentioned here like bringing pride back to the team and getting the best out of them. The current ‘media stoke the fans’ cr@p that the only reason we are not wiping the floor with other teams is all down to the manager ‘cus we have the best players in the world init!’, is normally blasted out at the Euros of xxxx and world cup of xxxx (insert most dates you wish since 1966).

I just think that with the players we have compared to a few other countries we are a 1/4 final team unless we get a very good draw. The next world cup is not a favourable draw after group stages.

So a semi final and a final (lost on penalties) should be celebrated even more, then

I celebrated thirstily .

Ffs Torq he has been manager for 6 years

I don't really rate Southgate all that much as a tactician but I love his thoughtful and intelligent demeanour.

I think its good to move away from the ranting, raving type of managers to ones that go about their business more quietly and who place great importance on education, development and positivity.