Slept on it

I'd like us to have a boss with a higher profile than the players. Eventually it will get stale under Southgate because the players will feel safe in their selection. Sterling and Kane have been untouchable during his tenure.

 

I was worried that the original lineup was too defensive
So when we went ahead, I thought “oh hang on….just maybe}

at half time GS obviously just said “keep it as is lads, you’ve got this. Don’t bother to worry their old centre backs with pace”

so when we conceded, he brings on Saka (ok, but maybe a bit late) and…Jordan Henderson (what the heck, 1 goal in how many internationals and whose 1st thought is backwards). I’m surprised he didn’t ask for an emergency call up of Eric Dier

and then to hold off bringing on Sancho for so long and instead keeping Kane and Sterling on.

quite simply the best squad we’ve ever had, but a manager who keeps faith in his core without understanding the flow of the game.
I think we’ll be perennial bridesmaids

 

Grealish confirmed he wanted to take a pen but not selected.

makes me appreciated big Val and his bravery in changing our attack on 55/60 minutes each game.

 

I've got well documented issues with Ismael but I'm pretty sure we'd have won that match last night with him in charge.

 

if that’s the case it was an even more baffling choice of penalty takers.
Totally agree that he doesn’t use his squad enough, certainly not changing the strikers, I get why he would leave Kane on ( for the penalties) but if he wasn’t going to let Sterling take one why not give another striker with a fresh pair of legs a go for extra time

 

100%. imagine him saying to Sterling, Kane, mount - you’ve an hour, run these Italian defenders ragged, then I’ve bringing Grealish, Rashford and Sancho on for the last 30 minutes

 

I've often been a critic of Southgate's tactics. His man management skills, leadership skills and PR skills are second to non. He's the best manager we've had since Robson IMO. Were mistakes made, probably yes. Will they be analysed & learned from, I think so. He's singlehandedly made the England Job look a better prospect, but I see no one more suited that could come in.

 

I blamed Southgate last night and after sleeping on it and mulling it over again today. I still think the defeat was down to the manager. As good as he is in some aspects of the job he has now failed twice in big big games. In both the world cup semi in 2018 and again last night England have had great starts scored an early goal been well on top but failed to capitalise on it, but worse than that when the opposition have started to gain the upper hand after making changes Southgate as been either unwilling or unable to counter the growing threat, in the second half last night he was stood on the sidelines looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights. He then made a complete hash of the shootout by allowing a 19 old kid take that last penalty the poor kid looked terrified when he made the walk from the half way line and I said to my family that I thought hed fail to score. Southgate of all people should have realised it was wrong to heap so much pressure on a young kid at a stage in the shootout when by his own admission he had other options available. Did we do well to reach the final yes but we had a golden opportunity to achieve so much more and imho Southgate is the reason we didn't and this time he needs to learn from his mistakes.