Inept management by Southgate.

Didn't we get knocked out of the 1982 World Cup without losing a game?

 

I’ve seen us under managers right back to Alf Ramsey. Southgate has done a good job but can’t take us to being winners unless he loses his negative approach. Why won’t he use his subs either…..?
Just hope we don’t waste the best opportunity we’re likely to have in generations.
No one remembers gallant losers I’m afraid.

 

That final against Italy was a disgrace - one nil up and essentially stopped playing after twenty minutes.

The memory of the second half of normal time still grates on me. They did absolutely nothing but attract them on for the inevitable equaliser.

Last night, one up, ten minutes to go. Every manager in world football would make a couple of changes to get fresh legs on, and to take time and momentum out of the game.

He didn’t.

Southgate’s achievements in reaching a semi and then a final can’t be argued against - but they appear to outweigh his ability. The side seem scared to win at times.

 

I'll take Southgate, he gives the players the opportunity to become winners.

 

I agree, but you've also got to give some credit to Poland. They did a Barnsley (or an Ismael) on England by pressing all over the pitch, including the forwards, so that no England player had more than a second or so on the ball, which cramped England's style and stopped a lot of free-flow play. They had a plan and a structure and executed it very thoroughly throughout the ninety plus minutes. I thought they deserved their draw, even though they did not have the all-through quality of England. It was strange that Southgate used no substitutes and I bet he is regretting that now. Poland really swarmed forwards in the last few minutes and looked likely to equalise. Henderson for Phillips would have been an obvious one, but a couple of other fresh pairs of legs, maybe in defence with Mings, or Coady wouldn't have gone amiss. Easy to be wise with hindsight, but you could see it unfolding at the time, so I don't know why Southgate didn't respond. Still - great looking England team and still managing and trying to play technically good football. Just needed to be a phase quicker last night to have any chance of breaking down a very well organised Poland side.

 

It's amazing how people watch the match differently. I thought England pressed well in midfield and Rice, Phillips and Mount intercepted well and put the Poles under pressure. I thought Poland went longer and negated our press in the last ten minutes.

 

I thought they played more football, starting at the back from when they made their subs.
I also thought Rice was gone for the last 15 minutes and would have replaced him.

 

You can always tell when Rice's game has gone because he loses his shape. He gets drawn forward looking for shooting opportunities and doesn't manage his pressing of the ball.

 

Doesn't matter to me whether people think Southgate is utter crap, brilliant or something in between. It's all opinions and no-one has a monopoly on truth even though facts can be used to make a point. For what its worth I think Southgate is an excellent man manager, excellent diplomat for the team and creates a good family spirit within the squad. He also sets his teams up well at the start of games and makes sure they are tight as a unit (usually). However, when the dynamics of individual games change or, indeed, when games dont pan out exactly as the initial set up is allowing for he is like a rabbit in headlights and doesn't move. I dont believe its the players who dont respond when response is needed, I think its the manager's lack of plan B and slowness to come to terms with change. A better ability to respond to change during games would really mark him out as a great manager. At the moment he doesn't deserve the plaudits.

 

So when Southgate goes who do people want next? Gerrard? Lampard?

Be careful what tou wish for they say.

 

Southgate reminds of Ole Solskjaer - clearly a very good man manager who has got the best of individuals, created a great spirit and sense of identity and togetherness, nice guys who are great ambassadors. However - neither have the ruthless killer instinct that’s needed to win at the highest level, both are safety first, and both tactically naive.

 

Pep is after an international gig in a couple of years.

 

England’s most successful manager since Alf Ramsey & we tried everyone else.?
& probably the most grounded squad in recent memory.
Got to be doing summat reight.?

 

There’s a swear box in the England dressing room, apparently..

 

f*****g hell

 

Big Val! After he’s took West Brom into champions league.