Southgate's so far past his sell by date he should have a yellow sticker on his f**king forehead

Getting major Iceland 2016 vibes in the build up to Sunday, something just doesn't feel right with the team this time around. Regardless of your feelings on Southgate, one thing he has been able to do in his time as manager is build a really strong and positive environment. The connection between the players and the fans/media has always felt much better than generations gone by. This time, not so much. 

I was worried on the build up in the tournament when he was interviewed and make a comment about no longer being popular. A lot of big personalities haven't been selected and whilst post match interviews are refreshingly honest, there is a sense of frustration from the players too. 

Such is football that a decent showing is all it would take to make everything feel great again though.

11 minutes ago, Niall1905 said:

Getting major Iceland 2016 vibes in the build up to Sunday, something just doesn't feel right with the team this time around. Regardless of your feelings on Southgate, one thing he has been able to do in his time as manager is build a really strong and positive environment. The connection between the players and the fans/media has always felt much better than generations gone by. This time, not so much. 

I was worried on the build up in the tournament when he was interviewed and make a comment about no longer being popular. A lot of big personalities haven't been selected and whilst post match interviews are refreshingly honest, there is a sense of frustration from the players too. 

Such is football that a decent showing is all it would take to make everything feel great again though.

If Southgate is spotted sailing down the Rhine the day before the game ... start to fret.

22 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Saka should absolutely be starting at LB. Has his entire youth career and first few years of senior football playing there and full of energy, while we have an abundance of talent that can play in attack. 

We've got Palmer off the back of a 30+ G/A season picking up 15 mins FFS, embarrassing 

I can't believe people are actually seriously suggesting this. 

He's not played there in like 3/4 seasons and you want to put him there in the Euros? We already have Gomez that played LB just this season, no need for such a silly move. Put Trent RB and let them do their invert overlap thing they did for Pool.

Edited June 28, 20242 yr by Remodez

4 hours ago, strider6004 said:

BBC reporting it now, Southgate needs to make a decision on either Bellingham or Foden, media see it as Lampard vs Gerard thing.

Will Southgate have the balls to do it, it should be easy now with Foden back in the UK though still have doubts about Southgate's mental decision making. 

 

As per usual media is more interested in generating clicks than the truth. It doesn't matter if Foden plays 10, we will still have the same problem.

You can't play Foden in the middle without changing the whole attack. You would have to drop Kane and play Watkins, put Gordon left wing and Palmer right wing. Now you could probably get away with dropping Saka but no manager is gonna drop Kane just to fit in Foden.

3 hours ago, Niall1905 said:

Getting major Iceland 2016 vibes in the build up to Sunday, something just doesn't feel right with the team this time around. Regardless of your feelings on Southgate, one thing he has been able to do in his time as manager is build a really strong and positive environment. The connection between the players and the fans/media has always felt much better than generations gone by. This time, not so much. 

I was worried on the build up in the tournament when he was interviewed and make a comment about no longer being popular. A lot of big personalities haven't been selected and whilst post match interviews are refreshingly honest, there is a sense of frustration from the players too. 

Such is football that a decent showing is all it would take to make everything feel great again though.

I think the feeling is we could get to a final, the problem is they cannot find a balanced team.

He has mentioned Phillips would he have played two defensive DMs, Rice and Phillips given the chance?

If so where does Bellingham fit in the diamond or as a 10?

then left and right and Kane.

Also lb dilemma.

No trippier as RB seriously limits crosses into dangerous areas, walker can not do that.

Reading Pleat today on Kane, when Kane goes deep Son (at Spurs) starts sprinting forward for the forward ball, why can't Bellingham do that?

 

 

34 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I can't believe people are actually seriously suggesting this. 

He's not played there in like 3/4 seasons and you want to put him there in the Euros? We already have Gomez that played LB just this season, no need for such a silly move. Put Trent RB and let them do their invert overlap thing they did for Pool.

The main issue of the team is having a right footed LB because you'll always favour cutting in. That paired with Foden who likes to roam inside there's absolutely no width in the team. Saka would provide that overlap to Foden and give him more space inside. Makes perfect sense until Shaw is ready to start and do it. Plus we have ample attacking options for RW.

31 minutes ago, Remodez said:

As per usual media is more interested in generating clicks than the truth. It doesn't matter if Foden plays 10, we will still have the same problem.

You can't play Foden in the middle without changing the whole attack. You would have to drop Kane and play Watkins, put Gordon left wing and Palmer right wing. Now you could probably get away with dropping Saka but no manager is gonna drop Kane just to fit in Foden.

Kane is also one of the biggest problems with the England team. He's rather sit infront of the backline or running channels rather than being an outlet. Braindead player. 

9 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

The main issue of the team is having a right footed LB because you'll always favour cutting in. That paired with Foden who likes to roam inside there's absolutely no width in the team. Saka would provide that overlap to Foden and give him more space inside. Makes perfect sense until Shaw is ready to start and do it. Plus we have ample attacking options for RW.

I know they are not of the same quality and obviously big difference in nation depth/quality but this would be akin to putting Gareth Bale back at LB after he has already established himself as a winger. 

The solution is to either drop Foden or move him to the middle and change the attack, not to have Saka play left back for the first time in 4 years in a major tournament. 

I;'ve been watching he no longer challenges the goal kick in the air,  seems to link up with Palmer.

When he does come inside he looks for a pass Son (Spurs) is 10-15 yards, Kane was having to hit 30-40 yards to find Foden and the way he cues it up brought off-sides in both of those attempts.

These are small but incredibly important details Southgate is not capable of grasping.

Edited June 28, 20242 yr by strider6004

12 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Kane is also one of the biggest problems with the England team. He's rather sit infront of the backline or running channels rather than being an outlet. Braindead player. 

I disagree. He's been playing this way for years and still gets 20 goals a season and has over 60 goals for England. Never been a issue before. 

The problem is the support around him. Even when he stayed up in the first game like everyone wanted him to absolutely nothing happened. 

3 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

I;'ve been watching he no longer challenges the goal kick in the air,  seems to link up with Palmer.

When he does come inside he looks for a pass Son (Spurs) is 10-15 yards, Kane was having to hit 30-40 yards to find Foden and the way he cues it up brought off-des in both of those attempts.

These are small but incredibly important details Southgate is not capable of grasping.

Another point I forgot to mention.

Foden's chemistry with Kane is shockingly bad. Why people think this will change when Foden moves to the middle I don't know. 

15 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I know they are not of the same quality and obviously big difference in nation depth/quality but this would be akin to putting Gareth Bale back at LB after he has already established himself as a winger. 

The solution is to either drop Foden or move him to the middle and change the attack, not to have Saka play left back for the first time in 4 years in a major tournament. 

Have some shame. Gareth Bale was Wales best player by far and they needed his attacking threat, Saka being moved to LB doesn't weaken the attack at all. Arguably strengthens it as we saw when Palmer came on the other evening. 

11 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Another point I forgot to mention.

Foden's chemistry with Kane is shockingly bad. Why people think this will change when Foden moves to the middle I don't know. 

Kane's chemistry with everyone is awful. Must be terrible having your slow striker stood in front of his own backline trying to hit diags. We've played most the tournament without an outlet. 

14 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I disagree. He's been playing this way for years and still gets 20 goals a season and has over 60 goals for England. Never been a issue before. 

The problem is the support around him. Even when he stayed up in the first game like everyone wanted him to absolutely nothing happened. 

How many trophies has he won playing that role? All those goals and he managed to help Bayern go trophyless pmsl. Unserious player. 

So who else have we got, the Villa chap Watkins, so who is going to supply those line breaking passses, Palmer might on the odd occasion from the right wing yet we have no Fabregas to do it.

Toney is unknown for me yet he had a bad end of season.

For me Bellingham needs to be ready to break through the defensive lines when Kane comes deep yet to do this he needs two stopper behind him, Rice and Wharton could be the best fit unless Mainoo has the discipline. Mainoo could also be the runner.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Have some shame. Gareth Bale was Wales best player by far and they needed his attacking threat, Saka being moved to LB doesn't weaken the attack at all. Arguably strengthens it as we saw when Palmer came on the other evening. 

I don't think we have any players as a good as Bale at his peak he was phenomenon.

They had Ramsay as a midfield runner and Robson-Kanu as an attack focus.

You get the impression they met and talked about it, and it must have been obvious to the rest of the squad that if fit they play.

 

43 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

I think the feeling is we could get to a final, the problem is they cannot find a balanced team.

He has mentioned Phillips would he have played two defensive DMs, Rice and Phillips given the chance?

If so where does Bellingham fit in the diamond or as a 10?

then left and right and Kane.

Also lb dilemma.

No trippier as RB seriously limits crosses into dangerous areas, walker can not do that.

Reading Pleat today on Kane, when Kane goes deep Son (at Spurs) starts sprinting forward for the forward ball, why can't Bellingham do that?

 

 

I'll probably catch strays for this but I hate Bellingham being played where he is. Madrid were forced into it and he did a great job, but he's not a 'creative' player. I genuinely believe he is perfect to go alongside Rice, he'll work hard and he'll progress the play before pushing up into the box. But Southgate hasn't got the balls to be the manager that saw Bellingham be praised for playing further forward and then decide to drop him back. I'd put a significant amount of money on Bellingham playing deeper for Madrid for years to come and subsequently England. 

I agree, I think we could make the final. There noone on our side of the draw, apart from maybe Austria, who look like a decent side at the moment. All the bigger names have as many question marks as we do. But just the atmosphere and how this tension has been building since the first group game, the boos, media negativity and subsequent bite back from players. It all feels set up for Sunday to be a slow start, an early slovakia goal and then a frustrating game where England dont get over the line. 

I'll check back on Sunday after we smash them 5-0, with Bellingham scoring 2 and assisting 3 from the 10 position. 🫣

10 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Have some shame. Gareth Bale was Wales best player by far and they needed his attacking threat, Saka being moved to LB doesn't weaken the attack at all. Arguably strengthens it as we saw when Palmer came on the other evening. 

It was an example of a left back moving to the wing that I could draw comparison with in terms of familiarity with the role, I was not comparing their quality as previously stated. 

My objection to Saka being at left back isn't that it weakens the attack, it's that it greatly weakens the defence. He's not played there for 4 years, we have no idea how good he is defensively in that position. He isn't even the type to run down the wing and get crosses in, he also likes to cut in. Only way it would work is if he pretty much just stayed up top and you had Walker tuck in to form a 3atb but that's just needlessly complex when you can do the same thing with Gomez and an actual fullback in Trent. 

16 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Kane's chemistry with everyone is awful. Must be terrible having your slow striker stood in front of his own backline trying to hit diags. We've played most the tournament without an outlet. 

That's...just not true. He's played like 2 games with Palmer and they are already on the same wavelength. It's almost like he needs quick 1-2's and runners off the ball. 

17 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

How many trophies has he won playing that role? All those goals and he managed to help Bayern go trophyless pmsl. Unserious player. 

He does his job of scoring goals despite your complaint of him dropping deep. He is not responsible for defending for his team(s) as well. 

Another thing I think is if we have Trippier as RB we can get more crosses into the danger area and both Bellingham and Kane can take advantage of headers. 

Additional thought on the left if Shaw is not fit Gordon or Foden would not get a decent ball yet long hopeful balls to say for Watkins to chase down and try and stretch the game and maybe the odd one with luck to bring in for Kane to support, reminds of Moses under Conte.  

Comfortable England win, no matter what the team selection is.

3-0

3-1

18 hours ago, Remodez said:

I disagree. He's been playing this way for years and still gets 20 goals a season and has over 60 goals for England. Never been a issue before. 

The problem is the support around him. Even when he stayed up in the first game like everyone wanted him to absolutely nothing happened. 

Kane combined well with Sterling 😁😁