*****New Football Thread*****

Richard Latimer

@Craig-vaulks He deserves credit for making people interested again, the social messages he sent out when racial abuse reared it's ugly head, the protection he gave his squad and how he made it an attractive proposition to play for England again.

Up to a point.

Now it's clear that some team members won't be enjoying it any more.

Toney, Gordon, Trent, Wharton?

Ben White won't even allow himself to be picked. Who's next if he stays?

Richard Latimer

@Stephen-Hancox in fairness Rice does just fine for Arsenal. Top drawer almost all season.

Half the time the ball bypasses the midfield anyway.

I'm not levelling it at most players individually. It's clear as day the coaching and instructions are woeful. And all the good/World Class players are shoehorned in just so he can get them all on the pitch at the same time. Other than Trent.

A good coach takes the nucleus of that team and makes us tick. Whether we win I don't know but at least we'd play to win.

Craig vaulks

@Richard-Latimer agree with this. People also seem to forget how fortunate he has been in each tournament draw. Look at the run in he has had over the years. Playing the likes of ukraine, Colombia and Denmark to get to a semifinals/finals then Slovakia, Switzerland and a average dutch team this year. Making very hard work of most of these matches also. If we were on the other side of the draw we would of done well to get past the quarter finals based on our performances. Always seems to avoid the top teams. After the Italy final I thought that should have been enough with Southgate. He deserves credit for getting England deep in tournaments but against most top teams he has not found a way and get the best out of a very talented squad.

Stephen Hancox

@Andy-Donnelly Yeah agree with that. In midfield, or anywhere in fact, we need players that we can ping a ball to and they're comfortable receiving it under pressure. Then we can play out from the back and through the lines etc. I think Mainoo is a step in the right direction for that. Rice not so good at that but has other qualities we can't ignore until we find more players like that. I've not seen anything of Wharton, will be watching with interest when the season starts.

Arran Shackell

@Akiva-Anderson

It was you.

Akiva Anderson

@Akiva-Anderson said in *****New Football Thread*****:

I'll be laying England to win the tournament at 4.9

Never in doubt!!

Andy Donnelly

Central midfield was the big problem all tournament and has been for many years! Everyone moans about Kane, foden etc, but for me the consistently most disappointing player in an England shirt is Rice. Just so poor all tournament. It’s not all his own fault, he’s being asked to be more disciplined than he is at club level but until we get someone truly world class that can dictate and control games from that position then England won’t win anything! Here’s to hoping the hype around Wharton is genuine and he kicks on in the next few years!

Stephen Hancox

@Richard-Latimer £5 mill a year, that's crazy isn't it, might soften the blow. The fans have spoken, results aren't the be all and end all, the FA should take note for the next appointment.

Ryan

@Arran-Shackell No idea but fair play to that person!

Ryan

@Alastair-Todd I 100% agree with you!!!

Ryan

@Richard-Latimer I think a few of them will be regretting going.

Pickford pumping it was terrible.

I agree on the talent I think Southgate did what he thought was needed to get to the final but what is telling for me was all the subs he made usually impacted the game somehow. So the initial system was wrong.

I think a manager of Eddie Howe's level probably wins that tournament.

Richard Latimer

@Alastair-Todd Yep, this was the negative and cowardly bit. Kane stunk up the tournament and got picked game after game on reputation.

Alastair Todd

Can I throw something into the mix which I know will be jumped on by all of you who know much more about football than I do. (Hopefully in the spirit of reasoned debate). I think Harry Kane is a bit of a donkey. I know he has been brilliant at BM and has previously been brilliant for 'Engerland' but in both games where he was subbed off, the youngsters came on and the energy immediately changed for the better. Might the problem be that no-one has the guts to drop him from the team?

Richard Latimer

@Stephen-Hancox He gets paid £5m a year. Wish someone would give me a thankless job like that.

Ultimately he's negative and too cowardly to make tough decisions. We sit back, unless we need to score, hoping to hit the opposition on the break.

We shoehorn the best players in regardless of whether they fit and what it does to the balance. Square pegs in round holes.

We get the ball to the GK who hoofs it as long and as hard as he can until it comes right back. It's like the John Smiths advert with Peter Kay.

The top managers now will still try and fashion good strong chances playing out from the back even with 2 minutes to go. Under Southgate we still sling it into the mixer.

Kyle Walker is 34 and his career is winding down. Trent is in his prime and our best passer of a ball with ridiculously good stats for a RB. We tried him in MF then benched him for the rest of the tournament.

Now they're on about giving Southgate a Knightood. That really is a joke. Hope to god he stands down and we get someone who can actually coach the modern game.

Stephen Hancox

Most fans seem to not want Southgate, I'd resign if I was him. Thankless job, at least a new manager will get a few years to settle in before the negativity sets in, unless we win the world cup.

Arran Shackell

@Ryan

Who was on here a few months ago saying they were laying england at 4/1?

Richard Latimer

@Ryan and if you're Anthony Gordon or Ivan Toney (at least he got a little action) what was the point in even going?!??

Richard Latimer

@Ryan so do we though, Although most of it was mismanaged.

What's the deal with Pickford pumping the ball long at every opportunity?!? Most of the time it just led to us giving up possession. On one occasion it led to a great save by Pickford that he wouldn't have to make otherwise.

Infuriating!

Hate to say it but Ben White probably feels like he made the right decision and Trent won't be far behind him at this rate.

Generational talent who hardly got a kick after the group stages.

Ryan

I am gutted they didn’t win it but I didn’t have high hopes, my view on international football has been burned by trading lol

It slows down trading and I dont like that, I always want England to do well.

That Spain team has some unreal talent!

Richard Latimer

That's that over for another couple of years.

Now we can get back to making some real money when the football proper starts again soon.