England

[KentExile]

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

reports that the world up in 2034 will be 64 teams competition in Saudi Arabia 

World Cup 2034... the search for more money!

Edited April 20, 2025 by KentExile

[Mattyblue]

211 members of FIFA, invite the lot, feck it.

[wilsdenrover]

What formation are England playing today? - I’ve looked at the selection and can’t work it out (not that I’ve tried that hard 😁😁)

[Andy]

It's a 4-2-3-1.

But I find the inclusion of Jordan Henderson the most baffling aspect.

[simongarnerisgod]

17 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

What formation are England playing today? - I’ve looked at the selection and can’t work it out (not that I’ve tried that hard 😁😁)

it don`t matter,we are playing a bunch of amateurs who would struggle against euxton villa,there should be  pre qualifying for teams of this standard

[K-Hod]

Two right backs on the bench, Curtis, aware you’re a centre mid, but, today you’re at right back, my son!

[chaddyrovers]

and people used to complain about Southgate's team selection. 

Its a surprising team selection with Jones at right back, James at left back and Henderson as holding midfielder 

[wilsdenrover]

stunningly poor 

[Comfortably numb]

Dire stuff. Madueke the only one to come out of that half with any sort of respectability.

Watched Spain v France the other night, fantastic game,the difference in quality is alarming between us and them

[Bohinen1983]

Awful, awful, awful..  Talking about Senegal being a challenge.. FML, Andorra were a challenge.. Can't break teams down. Embarrassing!

[Gav]

What’s that Gareth Southgate doing these days? Would he come back?

[roversfan99]

I know its a game that no one wants to play, but scraping to a 1 goal victory over a team that isnt even all full time players further highlights how we do not have a team that is at the very top.

Lets hope we can get another set of favourable fixtures next summer.

[K-Hod]

24 minutes ago, Gav said:

What’s that Gareth Southgate doing these days? Would he come back?

Wherever he is, he’s surrounded by money and no medals. Nice work if you can get it!

[Gav]

Fair play to Tuchel who called the game and players exactly as we all saw it.

Players lacking energy, lacking interest and unable to do the simplest of things. 

Spot on.

[Gav]

1 minute ago, K-Hod said:

Wherever he is, he’s surrounded by money and no medals. Nice work if you can get it!

Only a knighthood for services to football 🙄

Edited June 7, 2025 by Gav

[K-Hod]

1 minute ago, Gav said:

Only a knighthood for services to football 🙄

People went on like he was the new Alf Ramsey, but he never won a trophy, tbf. He did a lot of good, but he couldn’t get us over the line, so a knighthood was pretty generous, really.

[Mattyblue]

Not sure knighthoods are a barometer you can put much store in, whatever industry they are part of.

[...]

2 hours ago, K-Hod said:

People went on like he was the new Alf Ramsey, but he never won a trophy, tbf. He did a lot of good, but he couldn’t get us over the line, so a knighthood was pretty generous, really.

I liked Southgate, I think it was more based on seeing his transition over the years from player to penalty to England manager. Deep down we all wanted that elusive victory for his full circle but just wasn't meant to be

[Upside Down]

4 hours ago, K-Hod said:

People went on like he was the new Alf Ramsey, but he never won a trophy, tbf. He did a lot of good, but he couldn’t get us over the line, so a knighthood was pretty generous, really.

Me or you or anyone here could have got England to at least the semis. The teams they came up against were shockingly poor. When they came up against any kind of half decent opposition he was outfoxed and out classed.

The quality of football in general has deteriorated beyond belief over the last 15 years and that is no more clearly evident than in the international game. That last Euros was the worst quality competition I have ever seen. Spain won with ease and they weren't particularly impressive. 

In fairness to Southgate, he got the England team playing as a team for a while rather than a bunch of big ego'd dickheads that were just there to get their face in the paper. That's more a reflection of how poor the England managers have been for the last 30 years though. 

Thanks to the large amount of television footage that exists and os easily accessible nowadays, you can go back and see what the game used to be like. It's not just us wearing rose tinted glasses, the game was much much better.

[riverholmes]

10 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

Me or you or anyone here could have got England to at least the semis. The teams they came up against were shockingly poor. When they came up against any kind of half decent opposition he was outfoxed and out classed.

The quality of football in general has deteriorated beyond belief over the last 15 years and that is no more clearly evident than in the international game. That last Euros was the worst quality competition I have ever seen. Spain won with ease and they weren't particularly impressive. 

In fairness to Southgate, he got the England team playing as a team for a while rather than a bunch of big ego'd dickheads that were just there to get their face in the paper. That's more a reflection of how poor the England managers have been for the last 30 years though. 

Thanks to the large amount of television footage that exists and os easily accessible nowadays, you can go back and see what the game used to be like. It's not just us wearing rose tinted glasses, the game was much much better.

Southgate was a good ambassador for the England team and, I feel, a focal point for some sort of unity. However, (without triggering the debate now as tiresome as any) it cannot be forgotten that Southgate presided over a time when the Premier League football style shifted towards the continental, especially, I think, due to Pep Guardiola's influence - and, no doubt, due to many an unrecognised work of grassroots coaches. This made competing internationally more possible than the days of Stevie Kick-A-Ball-40-Yards and 4-4-fucking-2.

Though, arguably, for England to take the final step, they need to reconnect with their traditional strengths, alongside the new found ability to keep possession.

[Upside Down]

8 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

Southgate was a good ambassador for the England team and, I feel, a focal point for some sort of unity. However, (without triggering the debate now as tiresome as any) it cannot be forgotten that Southgate presided over a time when the Premier League football style shifted towards the continental, especially, I think, due to Pep Guardiola's influence - and, no doubt, due to many an unrecognised work of grassroots coaches. This made competing internationally more possible than the days of Stevie Kick-A-Ball-40-Yards and 4-4-fucking-2.

Though, arguably, for England to take the final step, they need to reconnect with their traditional strengths, alongside the new found ability to keep possession.

A mix of styles. Good ball control and tactical manoeuvres along with some no nonsense aggression and sending over the stands when required.

The problem that English players have and have had for decades is the complete lack of ability to see the game in a tactical manner. That's why there's no good English managers.

You'd think that with it being our national sport and the place where the game originated the FA would do something to address this but I suppose they haven't got any time for that kind of thing when they're busy lining their pockets with blood money.

[Exiled_Rover]

4 hours ago, Mattyblue said:

Not sure knighthoods are a barometer you can put much store in, whatever industry they are part of.

Considering Beckham is currently in line for one you're right.

[Exiled_Rover]

21 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

Southgate was a good ambassador for the England team and, I feel, a focal point for some sort of unity. However, (without triggering the debate now as tiresome as any) it cannot be forgotten that Southgate presided over a time when the Premier League football style shifted towards the continental, especially, I think, due to Pep Guardiola's influence - and, no doubt, due to many an unrecognised work of grassroots coaches. This made competing internationally more possible than the days of Stevie Kick-A-Ball-40-Yards and 4-4-fucking-2.

Though, arguably, for England to take the final step, they need to reconnect with their traditional strengths, alongside the new found ability to keep possession.

I'll never forgive him for losing the Euros Final at Wembley. 

[Forever Blue]

11 hours ago, K-Hod said:

People went on like he was the new Alf Ramsey, but he never won a trophy, tbf. He did a lot of good, but he couldn’t get us over the line, so a knighthood was pretty generous, really.

Most England managers don’t get anywhere near the line. 
 

In 50 years time when we haven’t got anywhere near another final, Southgate may get the respect he deserves. 

[chaddyrovers]

That was awful performance full of lack of effort, tempo and desire. 

Not good enough