Euro 2024

[Scott_M]

34 minutes ago, Smell The Glove said:

Switzerland would beat England in my opinion and their main man is Xhaka who can control a game far better at international level than Rice.

Switzerland might beat England on both sides current form, they shouldn’t, England have a vastly superior squad.

 

As we’ve all said, Southgoat is a fucking plonker. He’s experimented in central midfield without a real plan if it goes wrong, he’s picked 2 players who only have <6 months Premiership experience and have never played in Europe and he’s picked a left back who is injured with no real plan B - all issues of his own making.

[Pete]

Can't wait for the FA inquest into what went wrong at the Euros & why the team did so badly, whilst also stating they want Gareth to stay and help the team qualify for the next World Cup.

[Smell The Glove]

1 hour ago, Tony Moanero said:

Who? Teenagers?

Worse. Media.

[Jairzinho]

2 hours ago, Kevin D said:

 

—-Bellingham—————-Rice————Foden

 

—Saka——————Kane————-Gordon

 

That is the strongest front six of those in the squad.

[Bjornebye]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

Can't wait for the FA inquest into what went wrong at the Euros & why the team did so badly, whilst also stating they want Gareth to stay and help the team qualify for the next World Cup.

Potter will get it I reckon. That’s why he’s turned down Ajax and Leicester. 
 

 

They need Palmer in over Saka. Gordon on the left with Foden in the 10. Bellingham next to Rice and send Trent home because he’s far more important to us than he’ll ever be for England. 

[VladimirIlyich]

18 hours ago, Nelly-Szoboszlai said:

Do TNT Sports know something that everyone else doesn’t? Like a different meaning of the word fatal? 

He's dead?

[Kevin D]

37 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

That is the strongest front six of those in the squad.

As good a front six in World football, no?

 

All of those would walk into every top European team.

[Kevin D]

@Jairzinho putting aside your Chilean hat, what, where and how would you have managed that Scotland team?

[Jairzinho]

Just now, Kevin D said:

As good a front six in World football, no?

 

All of those would walk into every top European team.

 

I think the midfield three is significantly better than the front three, but it's certainly the basis of a side that should be playing really good football, twatting all bar the top five or six teams in the tournament, and competing against anyone.

 

Obviously international football is a bit shit and most managers would prefer to take charge of a Championship club than Spain or Brazil, but it still feels lke Southgate really doesn't deserve to be managing that group of players.

[Kevin D]

6 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

I think the midfield three is significantly better than the front three, but it's certainly the basis of a side that should be playing really good football, twatting all bar the top five or six teams in the tournament, and competing against anyone.

 

Obviously international football is a bit shit and most managers would prefer to take charge of a Championship club than Spain or Brazil, but it still feels lke Southgate really doesn't deserve to be managing that group of players.

Yeah, I agree.

 

I think Southgate is now second most successful England manager in history, but the team has spectacularly evolved beyond his capabilities.

 

John said it a bit more harshly than I would, but I don’t disagree:

 

On 22/06/2024 at 13:33, johnsusername said:

 

To be fair, Capello didn't get a tune out of a better team.

 

Not sure why people think international football should be any good. It's a load of lads who barely see each other, sometimes hate each other, and we expect them to play scintillating football under a part time manager who can't get a proper job. 

 

[Mook]

1 hour ago, Scott_M said:

Switzerland might beat England on both sides current form, they shouldn’t, England have a vastly superior squad.

 

As we’ve all said, Southgoat is a fucking plonker. He’s experimented in central midfield without a real plan if it goes wrong, he’s picked 2 players who only have <6 months Premiership experience and have never played in Europe and he’s picked a left back who is injured with no real plan B - all issues of his own making.

 

Scott mate, you've managed to usurp 'The Ev' with this 'Southgoat' thing.

 

Unless you are referring to a Southern goat, in which case, my apologies.

[Smell The Glove]

3 minutes ago, Kevin D said:

Yeah, I agree.

 

I think Southgate is now second most successful England manager in history, but the team has spectacularly evolved beyond his capabilities.

 

John said it a bit more harshly than I would, but I don’t disagree:

 

 

The only team that applies to is England. Most international teams can't wait to meet up with each other. Especially South Americans.

[Anubis]

Southgate is the GOAT. In fact, he's the SouthGOAT. Keep up the great work Gareth. Ten more years to perfect things.

[joe_fishfish]

Just now, Smell The Glove said:

The only team that applies to is England. Most international teams can't wait to meet up with each other. Especially South Americans.

Until 2008 Spain were even worse for it. The Real Madrid players wouldn’t even speak to the Barcelona players. Even when they were good and winning big tournaments there were still tensions in the squad.

 

If the FA wanted a really good England side they’d look for a coach who could get good performances out of players even despite them rarely if ever playing together. They should be looking for coaches who are pragmatic enough to build their systems around the players and get their message across quickly and simply. But they won’t, because they’re just as incompetent as Southgate.

[Jairzinho]

Just now, Kevin D said:

@Jairzinho putting aside your Chilean hat, what, where and how would you have managed that Scotland team?

 

Was watching yesterday wondering what could be done differently. 

 

I'm not a fan of three/five at the back, although obviously I realise it "worked" in qualifying, and what was quite apparent yesterday was that none of the three were comfortable enough on the ball. It was painful watching them in possession at times. Hanley has always looked an absolute yard dog so I'd probably bin him, and stick with Hendry and McKenna. Although I'd be reluctant to pick anyone playing in Saudi Arabia. The Porteous injury limited options. I actually quite liked Liam Cooper as a player but would be lying if I said I knew what level he'd been playing at for the last couple of years.

 

The midfield is really good, and would have been better still had Ferguson not got injured. I don't think many people realise how fucking good he's been for Bologna. A Gilmour/McGinn/McTominey/Ferguson diamond midfield or something like that would have been excellent.

 

The Dykes and Doak injuries completely fucked what was already a very limited collection of forwards. Dykes would have provided more of a target, Doak some pace out wide, Adams is a player for the last 20 minutes not a starter. Who are the other options? Some fringe Championship lads like Nisbet and Conway. Not a lot Clarke could have done. 

 

So, regarding personnel there wasn't a lot Clarke could do. I think his biggest mistake was trying to turn it into a 15/20 minute game. Scotland had the midfield, and Hungary were shit enough, to be more adventurous. To control the game 10/15 yards further up the pitch. Also, it didn't need to be perfect. They kept turning down chances to get crosses in, or play a final pass. It may have been fear of Hungary on the break but whatever the case it just allowed Hungary to defend at a tempo that suited them.

 

 

[Smell The Glove]

1 minute ago, joe_fishfish said:

Until 2008 Spain were even worse for it. The Real Madrid players wouldn’t even speak to the Barcelona players. Even when they were good and winning big tournaments there were still tensions in the squad.

 

If the FA wanted a really good England side they’d look for a coach who could get good performances out of players even despite them rarely if ever playing together. They should be looking for coaches who are pragmatic enough to build their systems around the players and get their message across quickly and simply. But they won’t, because they’re just as incompetent as Southgate.

Yeah Dutch aren't great either. It's weird as countries like Mexico, Brazil for example give fuck all to the poor yet they would run through walls for the national side.

[Kevin D]

8 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

Was watching yesterday wondering what could be done differently. 

 

I'm not a fan of three/five at the back, although obviously I realise it "worked" in qualifying, and what was quite apparent yesterday was that none of the three were comfortable enough on the ball. It was painful watching them in possession at times. Hanley has always looked an absolute yard dog so I'd probably bin him, and stick with Hendry and McKenna. Although I'd be reluctant to pick anyone playing in Saudi Arabia. The Porteous injury limited options. I actually quite liked Liam Cooper as a player but would be lying if I said I knew what level he'd been playing at for the last couple of years.

 

The midfield is really good, and would have been better still had Ferguson not got injured. I don't think many people realise how fucking good he's been for Bologna. A Gilmour/McGinn/McTominey/Ferguson diamond midfield or something like that would have been excellent.

 

The Dykes and Doak injuries completely fucked what was already a very limited collection of forwards. Dykes would have provided more of a target, Doak some pace out wide, Adams is a player for the last 20 minutes not a starter. Who are the other options? Some fringe Championship lads like Nisbet and Conway. Not a lot Clarke could have done. 

 

So, regarding personnel there wasn't a lot Clarke could do. I think his biggest mistake was trying to turn it into a 15/20 minute game. Scotland had the midfield, and Hungary were shit enough, to be more adventurous. To control the game 10/15 yards further up the pitch. Also, it didn't need to be perfect. They kept turning down chances to get crosses in, or play a final pass. It may have been fear of Hungary on the break but whatever the case it just allowed Hungary to defend at a tempo that suited them.

 

 

What do you see Gilmour’s ceiling as?

 

Obviously, he’ll never be Pirlo, but he is that type of midfielder who is better at 35 than he is at 24.

 

[Kevin D]

10 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

Was watching yesterday wondering what could be done differently. 

 

I'm not a fan of three/five at the back, although obviously I realise it "worked" in qualifying, and what was quite apparent yesterday was that none of the three were comfortable enough on the ball. It was painful watching them in possession at times. Hanley has always looked an absolute yard dog so I'd probably bin him, and stick with Hendry and McKenna. Although I'd be reluctant to pick anyone playing in Saudi Arabia. The Porteous injury limited options. I actually quite liked Liam Cooper as a player but would be lying if I said I knew what level he'd been playing at for the last couple of years.

 

The midfield is really good, and would have been better still had Ferguson not got injured. I don't think many people realise how fucking good he's been for Bologna. A Gilmour/McGinn/McTominey/Ferguson diamond midfield or something like that would have been excellent.

 

The Dykes and Doak injuries completely fucked what was already a very limited collection of forwards. Dykes would have provided more of a target, Doak some pace out wide, Adams is a player for the last 20 minutes not a starter. Who are the other options? Some fringe Championship lads like Nisbet and Conway. Not a lot Clarke could have done. 

 

So, regarding personnel there wasn't a lot Clarke could do. I think his biggest mistake was trying to turn it into a 15/20 minute game. Scotland had the midfield, and Hungary were shit enough, to be more adventurous. To control the game 10/15 yards further up the pitch. Also, it didn't need to be perfect. They kept turning down chances to get crosses in, or play a final pass. It may have been fear of Hungary on the break but whatever the case it just allowed Hungary to defend at a tempo that suited them.

 

 

On my end, it kicked off at the pub on Sunday and got quite ferocious on the what’s app groups.

 

People weren’t having Clarke criticising the referee when he took McGinn off with 15 minutes to go.

[Scott_M]

21 minutes ago, Mook said:

 

Scott mate, you've managed to usurp 'The Ev' with this 'Southgoat' thing.

 

Unless you are referring to a Southern goat, in which case, my apologies.

It’s uncanny…

 

[Jairzinho]

Just now, Kevin D said:

What do you see Gilmour’s ceiling as?

 

Obviously, he’ll never be Pirlo, but he is that type of midfielder who is better at 35 than he is at 24.

 

 

He seems more poor man's Xavi or Fabregas than Pirlo, to me. Pirlo orchestrated everything from 20 yards deeper, and did it with two runners in front of him rather than two technical players. I think Gilmour is going to be more involved in the build up higher up the pitch.

 

Would like to see him go to Serie A. British players like Tomori, Loftus Cheek, Ferguson, Abraham, and Lookman (I know he declared for Nigeria) have improved immeasurably for the experience. 

 

 

[Mook]

3 minutes ago, Scott_M said:

It’s uncanny…

 

 

Ha ha, that's him.

[Jairzinho]

4 minutes ago, Kevin D said:

On my end, it kicked off at the pub on Sunday and got quite ferocious on the what’s app groups.

 

People weren’t having Clarke criticising the referee when he took McGinn off with 15 minutes to go.

 

Yeah, you just can't be taking off McGinn. If you want to help with his running, especially chasing the game, change the system and get another midfielder on for a centre back.

[Kevin D]

7 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

Yeah, you just can't be taking off McGinn. If you want to help with his running, especially chasing the game, change the system and get another midfielder on for a centre back.

Our match thread would have easily concluded with being agreeing to meet for a punch up over that call m, and Clarke’s conservatism generally.

 

What is the best you’re hoping for Chile?

[Kevin D]

11 minutes ago, Jairzinho said:

 

He seems more poor man's Xavi or Fabregas than Pirlo, to me. Pirlo orchestrated everything from 20 yards deeper, and did it with two runners in front of him rather than two technical players. I think Gilmour is going to be more involved in the build up higher up the pitch.

 

Would like to see him go to Serie A. British players like Tomori, Loftus Cheek, Ferguson, Abraham, and Lookman (I know he declared for Nigeria) have improved immeasurably for the experience. 

 

 

Didn’t see any of Bologna, but as I understand it Motta will be to taking Ferguson to Juve with him?

[Jairzinho]

Just now, Kevin D said:

 

What is the best you’re hoping for Chile?

 

Not much. It's a wildly inconsistent team. Hammer Albania and Paraguay, compete with France, get battered by Venezuela. 

 

The midfield used to be a real strength. It's full of fringe Championship players and some still in the Chilean league.

 

Vidal, Bravo and Isla are still knocking about. These are players who peaked a decade ago.