Tielemans63

I'd rather it wasn't, but I can absolutely see it being Potter. English, out of work, Southgate clone - tick, tick, tick for the FA

He did a good job bringing a divided squad together, however someone new is needed to take England to the next level and that's been the case for a while imho He has got a comparatively strong record compared to other England managers but being the least underachieving among a long list of major underachievers isn't going to win trophies. I'm glad he's moved on, but I wish him the best as he clearly did a lot of things really well off the pitch and changed the culture of the national team. It's just a shame he was so naturally cautious with his tactics.

Was it you who wrote this, Babs?! https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/15/turning-point-england-kyle-walker-throw-in-euro-2024-final-spain?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The cold, hard truth is that Spain are a better side, and were the better side last night. Southgate needed to come up with something special to beat them and he didn't, because he is good but not great. The other cold, hard truth is that his loyalty has cost him. When he happened on the 3-4-3 it was pretty clear that every player bar Harry Kane looked more comfortable in that system. Kane looked utterly lost. I'm not sure he was even fully fit. Southgate should have been ruthless and stopped picking him. Having to hook him an hour in, in the last two matches, was he himself admitting that it just doesn't work. Never looked like working

I was a bit nervous before the game when Southgate said we'd need to play 'over or around their press'. That sounded suspiciously like long ball tactics to me, and you're absolutely right, there were so many overhit passes. I think it says a lot that he made the right gamble by taking off Mainoo and bringing on a more advanced midfielder in Palmer and it got us the equaliser. But then they flooded the space Mainoo had vacated by bringing on another midfielder....and he just left it. Declan Rice left with constant 2 v 1s. Spain brought on Oyarzabal, regained the initiative and he didn't react.

My opinion of Southgate is that he is good, but he's not good enough at the highest level. He's obviously brilliant at building a culture, but tactically....he'll always fall just short. It's totally hypothetical, (obviously) but if someone like Klopp, Pep, Ancelotti were in charge, there's another 5-10% in this team.

With the exception of Kane. I don't want to be too critical of any of the players. Spain were the better side. Simon barely had anything to do. However, not bringing on a central midfielder when they were just charging through in the last few minutes was criminal. I actually cannot believe he didn't do something about that.

They were ruffled, we had them on the wrack for the first time in the game....and then we stopped pressing them at exactly the wrong moment. That was inexplicable. We just let their centre halves have it. I can only think Southgate went high-risk and gambled on us hitting them on the break. ****ing unbelievable risk to take when you're playing the best passing side on the planet.

Took all game to get Spain where we wanted them, we had gained the upper hand after the equaliser and then just gave it straight back to Spain. Quite literally

Southgate's loyalty to Kane has cost us here. He also should have brought on a central midfielder straight after Palmer's equaliser as Spain were just running through midfield. Gutted

Mainoo, I'd imagine

I just can't see England getting back into this. I hope I'm wrong.

Well that was shit

They've done well imho

Horrible game so far

Kane needs to be much quicker of thought. Too slow in deed

Defo a yellow for Kane, but how on Earth was it not a yellow for Carvajal for his foul?

Cacking it

This guy looks like the no-nonsense defender we've been waiting f....wait, striker, did you say?

I like Wilf, but I'm not 100% convinced he still has the physicality for the PL. I'd hope any new contract would be on reduced terms

Not to absolve KP (although they seem to have abandoned any values they had completely), but I think this is all indicative of modern top flight football. All the joy has been bled out of the game. It's now in the hands of capitalists who have no affinity with the game, just a desire to maximise profits and minimise competition and risk. It's a business first, and a sport second.

I do wonder if he's still physically capable of playing regularly in the Premier League. If I was Wilf, I'd probably look for a move to La Liga, Ligue Un or Serie A.

Sometimes Twitter is still great