Southgate out

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Typical Arsenal coached dive gets a red card for the Icelander. Booked the wrong man.

[Quickenthetempo]

The problem hasn't been this first half Dan.

We have played some good stuff, as you would expect when you put good footballers in. Foden and Grealish should be in every side. Fill it with good attacking footballers and keep it to one defensive midfielder.

We have more pace up front than any other side and as good as attacking talent as any other. But when you fill the side with Diers, Rice and Henderson's the focus turns to them and makes us very average.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

In other news.
Brady hits bar for RoI from 25yds. A cracking effort.
0-0 still.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Spot on from QTT. Grealish & Foden both love to take the ball up to an opponent and skin them. We haven’t had players like that for years.
The number of times we work the ball up to the edge of the box and then pass it back to the halfway line and start again really tees me off.

[Colburn_Claret]

In other news.
Brady hits bar for RoI from 25yds. A cracking effort.
0-0 still.

Great effort, I hope he plays more on the front foot back on the Turf. Mind that goes for the rest of them as well.

[ClaretTony]

I’m waiting for Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson to come on. At least we will have a Burnley link on the pitch then.

[tiger76]

Vydra's just come on for the Czechs, let's hope he can grab a goal.

Czechs topping the group as it stands, Scotland are trailing again, they weren't good for long were they.

Pukki has pulled a goal back for Finland but Wales only need a draw and still lead 2-1.

[Taffy on the wing]

Unwatchable Dross!

[tarkys_ears]

Stats for those claiming (ridiculously) that England put them to sleep....

England's performance in the first half:

Possession - 80%
Goal attempts - 11
Shots on target - 6
Total passes - 430
Completed passes - 397
Dangerous attacks - 44

Lol.

An England fanboi.

This must be a first!

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Brady comes off after sitting holding his hamstring.

[Bigvince]

Looks like Robbie injured again, going off with what looks like a hamstring injury

[dandeclaret]

Not really - just like to call it as I see it. Somebody said that THIS (Specifically this) England first half had put them to sleep and it was dull. Just pointing out why this argument was ridiculous.

[Rileybobs]

Great goal.

[CombatClaret]

I just find the national team tiring at this stage. More concerned with managers and who's picked why from which team. All for a couple average games every few months followed by a major tournament every couple of year we won't win but talk like we should.

Every Premier League game now has to include the inevitable 15 minute discussion about if said average midfielder/defender/striker is good enough for the national team. The media love this of course because it justifies their existence.

It's like Christmas, enjoy the day (or match). The two month run up and endless discussion is insufferable.

[Buxtonclaret]

Good third.
Foden deserved that.

[Buxtonclaret]

Cracker!!
Another for Foden!

[dandeclaret]

The problem hasn't been this first half Dan.

We have played some good stuff, as you would expect when you put good footballers in. Foden and Grealish should be in every side. Fill it with good attacking footballers and keep it to one defensive midfielder.

We have more pace up front than any other side and as good as attacking talent as any other. But when you fill the side with Diers, Rice and Henderson's the focus turns to them and makes us very average.

Post by MT03ALG » Wed Nov 18, 2020 8:23 pm

I have just turned the fire off and am watching it go out. Much more exciting than watching England v Iceland. I just woke up after the two 'commentators', one who insists on talking about anything but the game, plus the game itself had sent me to sleep......

To be clear Quicken, the 2nd quote above was the post I was responding to. I felt it was unfair based on the first half that was playing out, and actually the full game. Irish TV stated this is the first time that 3 players under 21 had scored for the England team for 137 years. Seems to be a good few positives from tonight if people are open to seeing them.

[FactualFrank]

I thought we were excellent. Foden now getting his chance. Grealish superb. Southgate doing well giving the younger players there chance.

Reasons to be optimistic for next summer.

[tiger76]

I thought we were excellent. Foden now getting his chance. Grealish superb. Southgate doing well giving the younger players there chance.

Reasons to be optimistic for next summer.

Some of the younger players impressed Foden in particular, but the standard of Iceland has to be taken into consideration to put this performance into context.

I'm not getting my hopes up for next summer then I won't be disappointed when they're dashed.

Italy, Belgium, France and Spain will compete in the Nations League finals then next year. That quartet and probably Croatia, Holland and Portugal will be the ones to beat come next summer, if (and it's a big if) England can overcome 1 or 2 of those then they might have a serious stab at winning the Euro's, but I wouldn't be putting my money on that happening.

[Vegas Claret]

Looks like Robbie injured again, going off with what looks like a hamstring injury

FFS

[Rileybobs]

Whilst tonight was a positive, let’s not forget that if this relatively weak Nations League group was our European Championship group, we’d be heading home now.

[Quickenthetempo]

Let's hope Southgate gets lots of positive feedback from tonight rather than the bashing he has rightly deserved for his negative football recently.

And it encourages him to stick to the fast attacking football we are good at.

[Dyched]

Good performances, good win. Don’t understand all the negativity on this thread.

Can only beat what’s in front of you and we aren’t a leading nation in International football so never understand the likes of Spain, France, Germany, Belgium being mentioned. Even if we were at that level (which we’re not) you still can’t expect to win and whinge about when we don’t. Imagine if the UCL or the PL were every 4 years, many top teams at club level would never win anything no matter how great they are.

[tiger76]

Whilst tonight was a positive, let’s not forget that if this relatively weak Nations League group was our European Championship group, we’d be heading home now.

Exactly and I note Belgium swept the Danes aside tonight for the 2nd time in this group, compare that to England's 2 results isn't the Danes, a lacklustre draw, and a hapless defeat at Wembley, and not threatening to score in either match, that's what has ultimately cost England a chance in the NL.

I can't really find any solace in an easy win over a 10 man Iceland who were missing several regulars, reminds me of a batsman who scores runs on a flat track against a poor bowling attack, then as soon as either the pitch changes, or the bowling massively improves, then they're rapidly found out at the very highest level, that sums up this England team for me a flat track bully.

[ClaretTony]

I’m waiting for Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson to come on. At least we will have a Burnley link on the pitch then.

Late in the game - Joey’s lad.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Whilst tonight was a positive, let’s not forget that if this relatively weak Nations League group was our European Championship group, we’d be heading home now.

Top 3 from most groups go through from the group stage, so we may have squeezed through. Only 8 out the 24 get knocked out at the first stage.

[Rileybobs]

Top 3 from most groups go through from the group stage, so we may have squeezed through. Only 8 out the 24 get knocked out at the first stage.

Fair point. Forgot about the new format. Roll on 2021!!

[claretonthecoast1882]

Fair point. Forgot about the new format. Roll on 2021!!

We could though still be 1 of the 8, don't be too hasty

[FactualFrank]

Good performances, good win. Don’t understand all the negativity on this thread.

Can only beat what’s in front of you and we aren’t a leading nation in International football so never understand the likes of Spain, France, Germany, Belgium being mentioned. Even if we were at that level (which we’re not) you still can’t expect to win and whinge about when we don’t. Imagine if the UCL or the PL were every 4 years, many top teams at club level would never win anything no matter how great they are.

Absolutely. And it's clear as day that Southgate is trying players in these sorts of games. Foden has 2 goals in 2 and I don't think Grealish has lost the ball in 2 games other than when he was fouled.

For me, this is the best group of attacking players in over 30 years.

[Spijed]

Absolutely. And it's clear as day that Southgate is trying players in these sorts of games. Foden has 2 goals in 2 and I don't think Grealish has lost the ball in 2 games other than when he was fouled.

For me, this is the best group of attacking players in over 30 years.

England have arguably one of the poorest defences of all the major footballing nations.

That's likely to be England's downfall against better opposition in close matches.

[MT03ALG]

I actually did not watch the game but reeled a few in hook, line and sinker !!

[Proudjohn]

I blame Southgate for Tarkowski wanting to leave Burnley.Southgate in my opinion is picking lesser ability players from more fashionable clubs ahead
of James Tarkowski for his position.Nick Pope is also finding himself in the same situation.Yes I hate Southgate.

[Dyched]

England have arguably one of the poorest defences of all the major footballing nations.

That's likely to be England's downfall against better opposition in close matches.

People watch England and expect England to be Man Utd circa 99. England are probably Arsenal nowadays in terms of yes they are a major nation/club but realistically they can’t compete with the top sides. They’ll beat teams below them, around them but also beat by those around them which isn’t a major surprise. People bang on about the World Cup and how easy it was and we failed to beat Croatia. Croatia beating England isn’t a major surprise or upset. Leicester beating Arsenal isn’t an upset but that’s what kind of level we’re at. We will get beat by the likes of Spain, Germany, France, so what? That’s expected.

[FactualFrank]

People watch England and expect England to be Man Utd circa 99. England are probably Arsenal nowadays in terms of yes they are a major nation/club but realistically they can’t compete with the top sides. They’ll beat teams below them, around them but also beat by those around them which isn’t a major surprise. People bang on about the World Cup and how easy it was and we failed to beat Croatia. Croatia beating England isn’t a major surprise or upset. Leicester beating Arsenal isn’t an upset but that’s what kind of level we’re at. We will get beat by the likes of Spain, Germany, France, so what? That’s expected.

I'm slightly more optimistic than that. My view is that Southgate has been giving youth a chance and using these games to give quite a lot of players enough chance to prove themselves. Had he done what previous managers had done and stuck with the same 11 players starting pretty much every game (which many people complained about as younger players weren't getting a look in), then these sort of players would never have been given a chance to cement themselves in the squad for next summer.

We're weak in defence, but all this that some people come out with, of "Southgate doesn't know his first 11", appears like that because he's mixing things about and giving players their chance. Regardless of whether it's Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, we'll cause them problems next summer and are good enough to beat them in one-off knockout games.

But like I say, I'm pretty optimistic with regards to the players England have now. We've got so many quality players, they can't all fit in the starting 11. It wasn't that many years ago when we had 2-3 top players, but the rest were distinctively average. Even the Lampard, Owen, Gerrard generation weren't, overall, as good as what we have now. Southgate just needs to sort the defence out (not sure about Dier at all) and we have a great chance.

[Dyched]

I'm slightly more optimistic than that. My view is that Southgate has been giving youth a chance and using these games to give quite a lot of players enough chance to prove themselves. Had he done what previous managers had done and stuck with the same 11 players starting pretty much every game (which many people complained about as younger players weren't getting a look in), then these sort of players would never have been given a chance to cement themselves in the squad for next summer.

We're weak in defence, but all this that some people come out with, of "Southgate doesn't know his first 11", appears like that because he's mixing things about and giving players their chance. Regardless of whether it's Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, we'll cause them problems next summer and are good enough to beat them in one-off knockout games.

But like I say, I'm pretty optimistic with regards to the players England have now. We've got so many quality players, they can't all fit in the starting 11. It wasn't that many years ago when we had 2-3 top players, but the rest were distinctively average. Even the Lampard, Owen, Gerrard generation weren't, overall, as good as what we have now. Southgate just needs to sort the defence out (not sure about Dier at all) and we have a great chance.

Don’t get me wrong, I am optimistic. People just need to be realistic of what kind of team we are. We’re an Arsenal vs Barca, Man City, Bayern. Or probably the current Chelsea. Lots of great young talent, but will fall short. Nothing wrong with that, on their day they will beat a top side.

There’s good depth nowadays, probably missing a couple defenders and a DM. Great options going forward, hopefully DKL can keep his form up. If he does my front four would be Sterling, Grealish, Kane and DKL/Rashford.

One concern for me is there isn’t many “winners” in there. Alart from the Liverpool/Man City lot. That’s a worry when potentially your attacking players haven’t and don’t know what it takes to win.