I don’t think there’s any realistic alternatives either. The only two stand out English managers right now are Howe & Potter & neither of them are taking the England job right now
This might seem harsh because he puts a huge shift in & is brilliant off the ball but I do wish Declan Rice was better on the ball. I think it’s a big problem not having a world class passer in that role in front of the back 4. You go through the top teams in England & you see Rodri, Partey, Bruno Guimares, Fabinho, Casemiro & they’re all a lot better on the ball in my opinion. I’m hoping Pep can develop Kalvin Phillips a bit more & maybe he can be that player.
Cant see how phillips will ever dislodge Rodri, and he should be at his peak near enough. They won't play together either unless injuries or Rodri goes into a CB for some reason
Yep, Rice is a decent player, but not world class. And either side of him he has a 19 year old, and Jordan Henderson. Add to that the fact that Mbappe and Griezmann would walk into our side ahead of Saka and Foden, I'm not sure I buy this theory that Southgate has an array of world class players that would be winning the world cup, but for his cautious tactics. His decision to bring Sterling on for Saka, ahead of Rashford, was odd. But I cannot really blame Southgate for the result on Saturday (blame him entirely for the Euros final). We lost because of a poxy deflected goal, and a missed penalty. Whoever is in charge of the next tournament needs to find replacements for Henderson and Maguire, as well as finding a way to get Alexander-Arnold into the side.
Not for some but I'd like to see Mourinho given a try. Not what he used to be in the league, but in a knockout game I think he'd get the best out of the squad. While I can see the argument for keeping Southgate until his contract expires do we want a new manager just two years before the World Cup?
We have had numerous coaches that have the credentials but never the know how to win tournaments. Players have choked time after time . Keep Southgate for me to at least the end of the euro’s.
I wouldn't play Alexander Arnold over Reece James at right back, and can't see him fitting anywhere else.
It depends on how we setup I guess. If Southgate is going to carry on with 433, with Rice, Phillips and Bellingham in the midfield, I'd give TAA a go at right back. Or he might go back to a 3, with James or Walker the right sided CB.
Best team for years in my I opinion. However, we lost a few leading up to the WC including Hungary giving us a beating . We beat two lesser teams in the World Cup , struggled against the USA and got beat by the first good team we played. I can’t see what another coach could do though
There is no question at all that England have progressed hugely under Southgate. After the debacle of the Euros of 2016, he took us the the semi final of the following World Cup, then the final of the euros. He has created a much better sense of togetherness amongst the squad. A team mentality. He has done work which will permanently benefit England. But we have also regressed hugely over the last 18 months. The euro final was thrown away by negativity, a theme which has continued. He continues to be negative in approach in terms of what we do in possession. He’s conservative in team selection and seems to have his favourites - though he finally dropped Mason Mount. He should have a job for life. The FA would be a fool to lose him. As an ambassador, administrator. Maybe a general manager of the national teams. The boss of the coaches from u17 up to the seniors. But his time has come in terms of being the head coach. Time to move on. And I’m not hugely desperate for the next manager to be English. It isn’t a pre-requisite. If it was to be an English appointment I’d look at Graham Potter. Other than him, I’d say the best shouts would be Tuchel or Pochettino.
Agree entirely about the Euros final. But I don't think anything about the World Cup is down to a negative approach. He stuck with a back 4, when there must've been a temptation to move to 5 at the back, and the poor start was down to the fact that France played better than us. We were probably too preoccupied with Mbappe that we allowed Griezmann to dictate the game. Sometimes a team just doesn't play well, like the USA game. We don't have a squad of players that demands to be world cup winners, or even a particularly better side on paper than France. Our defensive options are limited at best, and we don't have much strength in depth to the midfielders. There's the three that started, Phillips, then who?
Southgate has a 16.7% win rate against teams ranked in Fifa top 10. 4 wins out of 24. Is this good enough with the squad we have? Considering France missing 3 of their best players, Spain, Italy (not even qualifying), Argentina, even Brazil being poor recently?
Same problem keeps rearing it's ugly head. The midfield hasn't got the ability of other nations. We need three Bellingham's in there. Until we produce midfielders than can pass, tackle and shoot all the way across the middle we'll struggle to win tournaments.
Pre-tournament fans were raving about how our midfield 2 were probably the best partnership, even French & Dutch pundits said that. I'm genuinely in 2 minds about Southgate, 1) who to replace him, 2) because if he continues to play how we did this tournament, 4 at the back, bit more attacking intent (despite first half hour v Senegal & full match against USA), like we should have against Italy, I'd be okay with him staying. My fear is going back to a back 3 and not being as offensive as we've tried to be this competition. Because at least we tried to attack the game and win it this time. Tactically he's very mediocre and his subs are very poor, but clearly the players want to play for him... I suppose it all comes down to Gareth and/or who could replace him.
Maguire has the turning circle of the Queen Mary too. Any ball in behind and he's in trouble what happened to the lad at A.C Milan? Why were Sterling, Henderson and Maguire even in the squad? None tearing up the league for their clubs. Anyway it's done now. Another 4 years down the pan.
That’s the sort of game where he excels where he has to do lots of off the ball work. It’s in possession generally against lesser nations where I think his passing ability causes us issues such as the US game.
Tomori is the lad from AC Milan bud. And youll just after ask Southgate why he didn't select him! Won the league last season, part of the best defence. They've not been as good this season so far, but Tomori has had a much better season than Maguire who doesn't get anywhere near the first team squad at United. I thought Maguire did ok for large part, but should have only been picked as last resort. Same with Phillips, Sterling and Henderson (even though Henderson did ok for large parts too).
