UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers & Friendlies ** spoilers ** [7th - 12th September 2023]

They keep saying what england didnt have in previous generations without mentioning the teams they were up against. The Italy,Spain and Germanys of this gen arent a patch on anything previously. England should be winning a trophy with this bunch of players, they have to. Their only weakness is the manager.
 
He’s fortunate that he’s got this group of players because if he had Micah Richards and Wellbeck he’d have been potted years ago.

Sadly I can see him failing once again because with this squad we should absolutely be winning something.
 
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Bellingham was absolute class last night. One of those players who makes everything look easy and makes other players look budget as he dances around them. Knows when, where and how much to move the ball to retain and progress it. Thats what £100m should be buying teams.
 
fez said:
Bellingham was absolute class last night. One of those players who makes everything look easy and makes other players look budget as he dances around them. Knows when, where and how much to move the ball to retain and progress it. Thats what £100m should be buying teams.
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World's best midfielder IMO. I don't think he has the flare but he's looking like that Zidane level player... you nailed it with he makes others look budget. 20 years old and he's been this good for a while now. People say imagine where he can go... I'm not saying he's hit the ceiling but he's got it all right now, it feels more like perhaps just a notch or two more of consistency and refinement.

Note - Again I am noticing some interesting tricks in his gear whether they're pre-emptive or supportive... he had holes in his calf socks last night to help alleviate heat build up and inflammation. Does raise another flag (with the knee braces) or potentially he's just making every precautionary measure this early to ensure he lasts the distance of his career. He's very young and now playing every game for clubs and country. It can be quite wearing on players bodies at an early age... there's exceptions like Ronaldo and Messi naturally... I hope he's in this vein physically speaking, he really seems to have the same work ethic.

Edit - and just what a nice chap in interviews. Have fun and respect your game, the players around you and the sport itself. A true role model for many at this time
 
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I see Southgate is doubling down on Maguire, apparently it’s all the commentators and pundits fault he’s so crap and constantly makes mistakes.

Also:
"I have talked about the importance of our senior players, he has been crucial amongst that and every time he goes on the field the resilience he shows, the balls he shows is absolutely incredible so he is a top player and we are all with him. Our fans were brilliant with him tonight. I feel fairly strongly about it.”
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So he won’t be dropping him from the squad anytime soon either.
 
McBain said:
I see Southgate is doubling down on Maguire, apparently it’s all the commentators and pundits fault he’s so crap and constantly makes mistakes.

Also:


So he won’t be dropping him from the squad anytime soon either.
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I find it ironic that Southgate used the word "joke" to describe the situation. Southgate is the biggest joke in that whole setup
 
Robbo said:
I was actually thinking this, he reminds me of Zidane. He doesn't look particularly fast but just unstoppable on the ball.

Makes every other player look pretty average.
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Let be quite frank here. We really need to be winning something with this group of players.

Harry Kane is the second best striker in world football.

Then you have top quality forwards either side of him with plenty to choose from.

Our midfield is stacked

Our only real weakness is CB well left CB and goal keeper.

If we do not win either the Euro's or next world cup then it is all on the manager.

We had our "golden generation" before but they were arguably up against better teams (France, Brazil and Spain) but right now I cannot really see any better squad in the world compared to England.
 
adam cool dude said:
Let be quite frank here. We really need to be winning something with this group of players...
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I agree Adam - it was same with the pundits last night and any stories. This squad can and should win on the current world stage (as I've mentioned previously in a post reg Southgate and the level of competition)

However I think the british media need to be very careful about applying the pressure to the players though as is beginning to happen as we and they are now fawning over the squad... they perform week in week out for their club, we can see them actually perform as individuals in the games internationally.

This squad is very unlikely to win if Southgate is too afraid of the opposition and positions them negatively. Mindset is key here, i.e total football etc was about dominating a team and it plays out both on the pitch and mentally. Southgate is the antithesis of total football, he's reactive to the other team more than he is the strengths of his own. We see it in his choice of teams and substitutions.

If we lose tournaments (not games, mistakes can happen from players and levels can drop) generally speaking it will be because of the above... I'll say it again, Southgate is a great 'man-manager' - he's brought something to that squad that no manager has ever managed. But he doesn't see his own weakness and he's not acknowledging that due to his own fear of losing which is probably instilled from his own playing days.

He should have been speaking to progressive coaches and bringing them in but like someone replied to mine... at the end of the day the buck stops with him and the media and attention should be there.
 
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Yeah unfortunately, we won't win a thing with Southgate in charge, the guy is clueless. The squad he has at his disposal is so good, and we have some of the best players in the world. But Southgate continues to play players based on the past and will do so as long as he's manager, because he doesn't really know what to do otherwise. He's got the tactical prowess of a potato salad. Seemingly a very good man manager, but that only gets you so far
 
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