Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales

[Hammo]

Mount spent most of the game chasing after balls he had lost in the first place then giving away a foul with an ill timed tackle when he couldn’t win it back, which in Southgatespeak means he “showed great work rate”.

 

Saka had an off night. As did Bellingham.

 

Sterling is simply not good enough.

 

But I am sure all four will start again v Wales.

 

 

 

 

[Sly]

14 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

The difference with Euro 96 was about how the team played after the first match. Quick, exciting, attacking… basically going for it.

It felt so much different to that shite tonight 

 

That first match though in 1996 …. 

[gerblod]

12 minutes ago, trabuch said:

France, Spain, Brazil.

Exactly - because England are lacking panache - the kind of swagger and guile Mbappé has cartloads of. Vinicius and Raphina take defenders on along the line - whereas Grealish tries the tricky, mazey stuff (tonight) against a tough, disciplined and organised defence. If England cant take the US, then we can forget about getting any further than the quarters. France and Brazil are standouts to win.

Southgate isn't the kind of manager who can drive a team on to win a major tournament. Wiegman would do a better job.

[tom27111]

Long story short, we have the players to win a major tournament, but not a manager to utilise them correctly. 

 

[Tielemans63]

[Bert]

15 minutes ago, Super_horns said:

Southgate made it sound like USA are some sort of formidable force there.

 

Then seemed to suggest Wales won’t be the same - expecting an easy game to manage ?

I kind of agree. He’s had the thought process of not lose tonight, win on Tuesday. 

[Guest Col city fan]

2 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

I'm absolutely not defending tonight by the way but I can't buy into the notion we were some sort of irresistible and exciting force in Euro 96. 

All I can recall is that the country was rocking during Euro 96. Bouyed by a team that had taken its shackles off. Gazza’s goal, big wins against good opposition etc.

It felt completely different to watching England under Southgate. 
I think this England squad could definitely win this tournament. But what will most likely happen is that we’ll negotiate our way to the Semis, or even the final again, by slim victories, only to go out with a whimper. The team epitomises Gareth. Safe, sensible, planned, disciplined but ultimately boring.

Not playing Foden in a tourno like this is vintage Southgate.

[trabuch]

5 minutes ago, gerblod said:

Exactly - because England are lacking panache - the kind of swagger and guile Mbappé has cartloads of. Vinicius and Raphina take defenders on along the line - whereas Grealish tries the tricky, mazey stuff (tonight) against a tough, disciplined and organised defence. If England cant take the US, then we can forget about getting any further than the quarters. France and Brazil are standouts to win.

Southgate isn't the kind of manager who can drive a team on to win a major tournament. Wiegman would do a better job.

I am at the age where I am far more disappointed by a manager that can't get the best out of players, rather than with the players not doing their best.

Edited 25 November 2022 by trabuch

[Tielemans63]

Twitter cheering me up tonight, I must say

 

 

 

 

[tom27111]

Just now, Col city fan said:

All I can recall is that the country was rocking during Euro 96. Bouyed by a team that had taken its shackles off. Gazza’s goal, big wins against good opposition etc.

It felt completely different to watching England under Southgate. 
I think this England squad could definitely win this tournament. But what will most likely happen is that we’ll negotiate our way to the Semis, or even the final again, by slim victories, only to go out with a whimper. The team epitomises Gareth. Safe, sensible, planned, disciplined but ultimately boring.

Not playing Foden in a tourno like this is vintage Southgate.

You genuinely think we can make the semi's or better?

 

 

As soon as we meet anyone half decent, we'll be gone.

 

Bring back Sven. At least he guaranteed a quarter!

 

I'd take that this year.

[CosbehFox]

8 minutes ago, Sly said:

That first match though in 1996 …. 

And the first half against Scotland 

And most of the game versus Spain 

 

Generally speaking though no team is perfect at a tournament 

[Guest Col city fan]

1 minute ago, tom27111 said:

You genuinely think we can make the semi's or better?

 

 

As soon as we meet anyone half decent, we'll be gone.

 

Bring back Sven. At least he guaranteed a quarter!

 

I'd take that this year.

I’ve looked at the draw Tom and had a few notes on us going out in the Semis

🤔

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

5 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

All I can recall is that the country was rocking during Euro 96. Bouyed by a team that had taken its shackles off. Gazza’s goal, big wins against good opposition etc.

It felt completely different to watching England under Southgate. 
I think this England squad could definitely win this tournament. But what will most likely happen is that we’ll negotiate our way to the Semis, or even the final again, by slim victories, only to go out with a whimper. The team epitomises Gareth. Safe, sensible, planned, disciplined but ultimately boring.

Not playing Foden in a tourno like this is vintage Southgate.

 

That'd probably be because the country had a big feel good factor about it anyway, were hosts, beat one of our biggest rivals etc. The squad was also really backable as characters. But we had one really, really good win. We've also had loads of those under Southgate? Again, I don't think we're currently without failings, and it's clear that Foden and Bellingham need to be the players we build around; I'm just not having the point that the football we played in 96 has been any better than Southgate's tournament showings as manager, not do I think the squad in 96 was worse.

 

Euro 96 and Italia 90 aren't half looked at with a bleary eyed sense of nostalgia.

Edited 25 November 2022 by Miquel The Work Geordie

[tom27111]

Just now, Col city fan said:

I’ve looked at the draw Tom and had a few notes on us going out in the Semis

🤔

Good luck mate!

[Detroit Blues]

So proud in the boys tonight. For y'all, I understand the disappointment of not winning. But this was a great performance from the USMNT. Great result. Beat Iran and advance!

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Also if you don't think the country was just constantly *loud* during 2018 then I don't know what to say

[martyn]

Tell you who gets away scot free when players are getting criticised after poor displays, Declan Rice 

 

Games like tonight you need your deep lying midfielder to show for the ball or have your teammates be comfortable giving you the ball under a bit of pressure. I don't think he received the ball once from the centre halves all night.

 

He is a player rayed far higher than he should be due to the dearth of quality options in his position.

 

Really lethargic display overall, and it was telling how pleased Southgate appeared with that 0-0. He won't release the handbrake and will waste a very talented group of front players due to that, and his lack of ability to affect positive changes in game.

Edited 25 November 2022 by martyn

[tom27111]

1 minute ago, Detroit Blues said:

So proud in the boys tonight. For y'all, I understand the disappointment of not winning. But this was a great performance from the USMNT. Great result. Beat Iran and advance!

 

You deserved at least that tonight, well done 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

5 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

You genuinely think we can make the semi's or better?

 

 

As soon as we meet anyone half decent, we'll be gone.

 

Bring back Sven. At least he guaranteed a quarter!

 

I'd take that this year.

 

Pining for a manager who never got past the quarters when the current one has reached a semi and a final is just...

[Raj]

If you just accept England ain't winning jack shit, you can enjoy the remaining game(s) they have left (until they meet someone with abit of nous)

[Guest Col city fan]

4 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

That'd probably be because the country had a big feel good factor about it anyway, were hosts, beat one of our biggest rivals etc. The squad was also really backable as characters. But we had one really, really good win. We've also had loads of those under Southgate? Again, I don't think we're currently without failings, and it's clear that Foden and Bellingham need to be the players we build around; I'm just not having the point that the football we played in 96 has been any better than Southgate's tournament showings as manager, not do I think the squad in 96 was worse.

 

Euro 96 and Italia 90 aren't half looked at with a bleary eyed sense of nostalgia.

That I do agree with. Everything felt pretty different back then. More money floating about, no covid, Gazzas ‘dentist chair’ etc, the tournament being in England etc.

The team was more reflective of Venables I think. Bit more loopy, funny, less staid. Had an edge about it. 

[tom27111]

Just now, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

Pining for a manager who never got past the quarters when the current one has reached a semi and a final is just...

No, not at all. 

 

Was just an off the cuff remark that we always made quarters!

 

Southgate is a terrible manager.

 

No bollocks.

 

Wasn't he the one who ironically called out Sven and said "we needed Winston Churchill, instead, we got Iain Duncan-Smith"?

 

 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

What have we done to deserve Brendanball and Southgateball in tandem?

[tom27111]

Just now, Sol thewall Bamba said:

What have we done to deserve Brendanball and Southgateball in tandem?

 

The world just hasn't been the same since Harambe died.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

2 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

No, not at all. 

 

Was just an off the cuff remark that we always made quarters!

 

Southgate is a terrible manager.

 

No bollocks.

 

Wasn't he the one who ironically called out Sven and said "we needed Winston Churchill, instead, we got Iain Duncan-Smith"?

 

Southgate has always done better than the quarters? And we've had more memorable results doing so?

 

Again I don't think he's very good but our national side was on its knees when he took over. He's bottled some huge games but at least we've been there to bottle them which wasn't the case for about 20 years beforehand