Euro 2024 - Inc Southgate resignation

[Phall Throw]

"We seem to have an England v Bosnia thread but not an actual Euro 2024 thread so here it is So, do we realistically think England can win it? On paper we obviously have a very talented squad but I just don't see us going all the way. For me it's ""same old"" when it comes to England. Breeze the group, favourable draw in last 16 and win then up against far superior opposition in the QFs and out. At best I can see us at the SF stage before being beaten again. Winners for me: France, Portugal, Spain Dark horses: Germany - even though it's a home tournament they've been in a consolidation period, could go close Biggest flops: Scotland - no goals scored Top goalscorer: Mbappe I'm just hoping it's a decent tournament with plenty of decent games that's not ruined by VAR (are they using it?) consolidation period but could go close"

[Takashi Miike]

"Alf, good article. As much as Southgates a clone of Moyes in playing style, he's now in pretty an identical situation where taking the shackles off and trusting the players may keep him in the job, but his stubborn belief that his was is right will probably see him fail again"

[Sir Alf]

Haha sorry wd Yeah I distinctly recall him relegating us ina 1-2 loss at UP after it looked like we could survive by going 1-0 up. Oops now I’ve reminded u of the full extent of the misery that Slaven inflicted on us. Mind u he wasnt alone. Mick Harford is another that comes to mind. :-(

[Sir Alf]

Haha sorry wd Yeah I distinctly recall him relegating us ina 1-2 loss at UP after it looked like we could survive by going 1-0 up. Oops now I’ve reminded u of the full extent of the misery that Slaven inflicted on us. Mind u he wasnt alone. Mick Harford is another that comes to mind. :-(

[wd40]

Bernie Slaven? yep thanks for putting the name back in to my head and giving nightmares again its took me years to get over his goals against us .

[Sir Alf]

"Article by Malcolm Mcdonald at a north east paper. Its long but thats my style too. Verbosity :-). But just echos what millions think. Englands problem is now the manager after initially doing a decent job. He’s the international version of Moyes but without the seething anger or resentment of the truth that Moyes always showed. I watched Gareth Southgate's boring Middlesbrough - now he's done the same with England Gareth Southgate's England have struggled in attack at the Euros. I've been reminded recently of what happened while I was working on local radio with our Three Legends programme. Bernie Slaven was the Middlesbrough legend and he was always banging on about how drab and defensive his old club had become. So one day I said to him: ""Why don't I come down and have a look for myself."" He readily agreed and off we went in tandem. Bernie was right: Boro were boring. They tried to hold on to what they had. And who was their manager? Gareth Southgate, who has just turned England into Boro! I recalled it this last week when I watched England for the third successive time at the Euros and was both depressed and irritated by what was going on. People forget that Southgate was hardly a roaring success in club management. He had three seasons at Boro _ they finished 12th in the Premier League, then 13th, and finally were relegated. By the following October in the Championship Steve Gibson sacked Gareth. Honestly, I'm reminded of those days when I watch England now but this is even more outrageous because Southgate has such an array of attacking talent at his disposal. He is so negative, so cautious that he has turned quality players into a shadow of themselves Phil Foden is a No.10 who is operating on the left wing. Declan Rice is a box to box aggressor at Arsenal who is currently locked into a defensive straitjacket. And Harry Kane is a 40-goal centre-forward who has had one shot in four and a half hours of tournament football and scored one goal. I used to watch him drop deep at Tottenham but when he did Son went beyond and Harry would hit him with one of those long devastating passes. Now when Kane drops deep no one is making those runs. Then there is the case of Anthony Gordon. If he doesn't start on Sunday then Southgate will deserve everything that is coming his way. The lad has had a magnificent season but waiting until the last minute of the last group match to get him on the pitch was an insult. Yet in one run he went past the full-back and stretched play in a way which had never happened before. Southgate is actually a lucky man. Despite playing with the handbrake on England were able to survive from the easiest group in the whole tournament and then unbelievably have been handed Slovakia with Martin Dubravka in goal for their last 16 opponents. It is the best draw on the cards. You would think a snow plough had been used to clear a path to the final England have had so much luck. All the heavy hitters are in the other half of the draw. Southgate can pull off the impossible if only he is brave enough but will he? I wouldn't bet on it. He ought to go for broke. He has nothing to lose. The fans have already deserted him. If I were him I would play Foden at No.10 on Sunday with Cole Palmer on the right of Kane and Gordon on the left. I would instruct Rice to play his normal game. Throw open the window and let some fresh air in. That doesn't mean going gung-ho but we ought not to be afraid of Slovakia for goodness sake. They ought to be terrified of playing us but I bet they are not. When I sit down in front of the telly on Sunday with my tea on a tray I don't want to be watching the Boro of old but the Newcastle United of today. Come on Gareth, give us all a break"

[Fauxstralian]

Nobody worthwhile‚Ķ. Like you presumably? Ha ha ha ha Not sure what this agenda is but I note you seem to spend your entire life criticising other peoples threads and opinions while contributing nothing of your own. Nothing. Empty vessels make the most noise you whiney little cսnt

[Fauxstralian]

Nobody worthwhile‚Ķ. Like you presumably? Ha ha ha ha Not sure what this agenda is but I note you seem to spend your entire life criticising other peoples threads and opinions while contributing nothing of your own. Nothing. Empty vessels make the most noise you whiney little cսnt

[Fauxstralian]

Nobody worthwhile‚Ķ. Like you presumably? Ha ha ha ha Not sure what this agenda is but I note you seem to spend your entire life criticising other peoples threads and opinions while contributing nothing of your own. Nothing. Empty vessels make the most noise you whiney little cսnt

[Manuel]

"Faux - Do you ever put a post up that doesn't have some kind of agenda? You're a strange fucker as nobody worthwhile is ever listening. Realistically Kane will start but he needs to come off if it's not working. Kane has hardly been the only waste of space out there, what about Mr sideways Declan and Bellingham, a couple of cunts."

[Fauxstralian]

The draw has opened up in a quite ridiculous way which means some great matchups on the other side to England Suspect Southgate will stick to his starting lineup from last time with Mainoo in but still no start for Palmer or Gordon. No chance he will drop Kane as he would be too scared of the reaction if he did that & they went out Lacks the courage of Ramsey who stuck with Hurst when Greaves was fit for the 1966 final with no subs allowed. Imagine the reaction if England had lost that day with Greaves watching on

[Nutsin]

"I’d like to see a leader emerge and show some fucking passion for the shirt. Yeah Southgate has his fair share of blame but let’s not ignore the players. Nobody has shown up yet, Rice needs to show something and so do the others. Who the fuck is the captain?"

[Alfs]

"I'm Welsh, but as we're out, am supporting England. I just don't get it. All f the pundits and journos are saying the same thing re Bellingham and Foden, yet he persists in playing both but won't play Bellingham next to Rice, and Foden as the 10. Also, Watkins offered so much more than Kane in the few minutes he's played. If Pep were the manager I think you could win it, but Waistcoat is like Moyes. Stubborn, too careful, and unimaginative. . I've stuck £50 on Spain and am quietly confident. They play with flair and bravado."

[Sir Alf]

"He will pick the “busted flush”’, overrated ( at international level ) Kane and continue playing Bellingham and Foden in roles where they get in eachother’s way. Mainoo might help in the middle but the fundamental dysfunction will comtinue. Watkins has to start but wont. Palmer will be the media answer to thenew messiah and saviour. Southgate wlll introduce him for Saka about 70 mins. Bowen wont play another minute. He’s not at a rich 6 club and is “Brian”’and not the messiah :-)"

[Texas Iron]

Waistcoat has expired…should have been replaced sooner… Our only hope is a dressing room revolt with key players leading it and pushing new line ups… Can’t see it happening as he’s got them all hoodwinked…with his vanilla no energy approach… Mr Vanilla Waistcoat has zero motivational or leadership skills… They don’t even huddle before kickoff…

[chevy chase]

Nothing will change. Same set up next game. This prick won’t realise that nobody wants him after this.

[Sir Alf]

"Kane has never produced at a major tournament other than pens and the odd goal in early league format part of proceedings. Against the better teams he’s always been largely anonymous unless playing deep to get involved. He can play in a pair wth a fast partner and wide players getting ahead of him. This set up allows him space and time and chances. But he’s ever going to lead the line or be a target man. Score board fans point to the goals scored record but a lot of those are pens and most scored in qualifying. A flat track bully that is at the end of his international career imo. But Southgate is an average manager and was not an elite player and is in awe of the rich team players he’s in charge of and will never make a decision for team effectiveness by dropping Kane, Bellingham, Foden, and even Saka from the starting line up. Palmer or Bowen should start but it will be the former because he’s at a rich 6 club and comes from another’s academy ( Citeh). Much harder starting games than 20 min cameos at theend when defenders are tired so if the unthnkeable happens and Palmer replaces Saka he may not be the “new messiah” the media claim he is. But Kane needs to be replaced by Watkins who has pace and movement. Bellingham tried deeper and Foden centrally with Gordon left ( wide left player in his best position) . Wont happen though so no surprise if we go out before the semis on pens in another bore draw"

[Takashi Miike]

"he's created so many problems with his had decisions. giving kane the armband being the biggest, but also his rigidity in formation and needing a partner for rice. in doing this he's denied us proper width down the left and forced one of our best creative players out of position. it reminds me of the england managers that forced gerrard, lampard and scholes in to the team with usually paul chucked out wide. the easiest solution, but one he won't dare do is drop bellingham or foden. that's if he has to keep having the babysitter for rice. of course he could ask young jude to do more and play a bit deeper but then that shits all over his original formation decisions, and from what I've seen he's as stubborn as the jock cսnt moyes. he's played the victim card all week. no, I pretty much predict more of the same. possibly one change (mainoo for gallagher) and him reacting rather than being proactive and starting with the right team"

[LeroysBoots]

"It's absolutely pointless saying what teams we should have, he won't change it, full stop He believes what he is doing is right It will only take a full on assault from the top brass at the FA for him to bow to the baying mob and make those wholesale changes needed"

[Manuel]

"El - Yep, all very fair and well made points. What I will say is any game against say Italy or Holland will be very close, maybe even pens, and I do believe that against better oppo we will step up, whether that is good enough to win games is another matter, but I don't see a better side brushing past us if that makes sense. Our eventual undoing could well be persisting with old man Kane, the bloke looks shot, no movement, no goal threat and no pace. I do have some sympathy with Southgate with this though as I don't think any England manager would leave him out, even more so considering he's the captain, but what needs to happen is if he isn't getting any better he needs to come off after 60 mins. Agree that if we are to win this or get to the final it's now looking more likely that it will be a grind, a bit like Greece 2004 and Portugal in 16, for whatever reason our flair players just can't produce in an England shirt, and that goes back long before Southgate too. Initially I wanted to play Holland next as it would be a great match up and found it slightly annoying that Southgate keeps getting lucky with paths opening up for him, but on reflection I'm quite glad now we have a joke nation like Slovakia, going out in the last 16 would have been a complete disaster and would have lost interest in the tournament, but at least this way we can have six days of build up and a QF to look forward to next weekend. Wouldn't be surprised if Swiss v Italy goes to pens. Swiss knocked out France out the last Euro's on pens."

[Manuel]

"El - Yep, all very fair and well made points. What I will say is any game against say Italy or Holland will be very close, maybe even pens, and I do believe that against better oppo we will step up, whether that is good enough to win games is another matter, but I don't see a better side brushing past us if that makes sense. Our eventual undoing could well be persisting with old man Kane, the bloke looks shot, no movement, no goal threat and no pace. I do have some sympathy with Southgate with this though as I don't think any England manager would leave him out, even more so considering he's the captain, but what needs to happen is if he isn't getting any better he needs to come off after 60 mins. Agree that if we are to win this or get to the final it's now looking more likely that it will be a grind, a bit like Greece 2004 and Portugal in 16, for whatever reason our flair players just can't produce in an England shirt, and that goes back long before Southgate too. Initially I wanted to play Holland next as it would be a great match up and found it slightly annoying that Southgate keeps getting lucky with paths opening up for him, but on reflection I'm quite glad now we have a joke nation like Slovakia, going out in the last 16 would have been a complete disaster and would have lost interest in the tournament, but at least this way we can have six days of build up and a QF to look forward to next weekend. Wouldn't be surprised if Swiss v Italy goes to pens. Swiss knocked out France out the last Euro's on pens."

[Massive Attack]

"Gutted for the Czechs who I felt were being harshly treated by a card happy Ref who was booking all and sundry, including a soft red card early in the 1st half. They fought so well to get back in to the game typified by the excellent Soucek who yet again scores their only goal even though they were down to 10 men. Thought Coufal also had a decent game and deserved better but the Ref spoilt their chance of going through."

[El Scorchio]

"Manuel 5:51 I do. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to be wrong and for us to at least get the final and with this draw we really ought to but unless there’s a serious uptick in our play then I can’t really see us getting past the first decent team we come across. Sure italy look pretty ordinary/poor as well but they can be absolute grinders and with their defence you can easily see them stifling us to a 0-0 or even a late 1-0 to them. There’s a reason they’ve been so successful in tournament football. We haven’t even been seriously tested at the back yet due to the piss poor quality of the teams we’ve faced. I’d fancy us a bit more against the Swiss but even they look a fair sight livelier than us and if they come into a match after having beat Germany and Italy, then well. Maybe we can be the grinders but I don’t think our defence is strong enough for that. There’s a rickett in there particularly with a right footer at left back (fuck you southgate) We now just have to hope that plugging Cole palmer into his shitty system is a magic bullet somehow. At least thanks to Georgia we were gifted this game against Slovakia. Southgate’s one last chance to change his stubborn negative mindset and get it right before it turns into serious business, and before he loses his job I suspect."

[Fauxstralian]

"Portugal (who put a weakened team out), Spain & Germany AND Austria have been impressive but it’s all about building through the tournament… and getting a good draw Still time for England & France though Englands draw is a major bonus SHOULD beat Slovakia & Italy particularly haven’t looked the goods Even the potential semi final would probably see them as favourites"

[Fauxstralian]

"Portugal (who put a weakened team out), Spain & Germany AND Austria have been impressive but it’s all about building through the tournament… and getting a good draw Still time for England & France though Englands draw is a major bonus SHOULD beat Slovakia & Italy particularly haven’t looked the goods Even the potential semi final would probably see them as favourites"

[chevy chase]

Think we can’t seem to break teams down when they sit back. Slovakia will be more of the same. Reckon we’d be better off playing the bigger sides who have a go.