The Euro 2024 Thread

[hypochondriac]

Playing terrible boring football is only mildly acceptable if you actually win the tournament. It's very likely that England will get defeated if not today then before winning the tournament then the question to ask Southgate is what was the point of playing such shit football? If you go out either way, I'd rather go out showing what we are capable of and playing to our strengths. This timid, safe style just makes us look like neanderthals. 

[Toadhall Saint]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Playing terrible boring football is only mildly acceptable if you actually win the tournament. It's very likely that England will get defeated if not today then before winning the tournament then the question to ask Southgate is what was the point of playing such shit football? If you go out either way, I'd rather go out showing what we are capable of and playing to our strengths. This timid, safe style just makes us look like neanderthals. 

I’d rather play on the front foot than the back foot. We have the players but do we have a manager with the nous? Switzerland will not be playing on the back foot today for sure.

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, Toadhall Saint said:

You can put me in that camp but without doubt he is up there with the greatest of all time (not in my top 2 tho). It would be a brave manager that drops him an I’m afraid that the word brave doesn’t cross my mind when thinking about Martinez.

Not everyone can go on forever at the top (not even Pepe). Is it brave to sacrifice the team to satisfy one man’s ego? Ronaldo was never going to admit that he isn’t up to it now and retire from international football, but his performances have shown that he clearly isn’t. I guess they were gambling on him conjuring up another moment of magic. The gamble failed.

[Toadhall Saint]

10 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Not everyone can go on forever at the top (not even Pepe). Is it brave to sacrifice the team to satisfy one man’s ego? Ronaldo was never going to admit that he isn’t up to it now and retire from international football, but his performances have shown that he clearly isn’t. I guess they were gambling on him conjuring up another moment of magic. The gamble failed.

Like I say a brave man drops him and Martinez isn’t. Ronaldo won’t be an issue going forward and should have been on the bench and used as such.

[hypochondriac]

33 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

I’d rather play on the front foot than the back foot. We have the players but do we have a manager with the nous? Switzerland will not be playing on the back foot today for sure.

It's not in Southgate's personality. His style is actually rather effective at progressing in tournaments it's just there's a real sense that we could do more and be more with the players we have. 

[hypochondriac]

23 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Like I say a brave man drops him and Martinez isn’t. Ronaldo won’t be an issue going forward and should have been on the bench and used as such.

Ronaldo put his own ego before the good of the country. He's very selfish. 

[Badger]

On 03/07/2024 at 07:00, SNSUN said:

Gareth is OK at selecting them, it's just that he's then far too cautious. It would be like choosing Margot Robbie AND Jennifer Aniston and then not having sex with either for fear of chlamydia. 

Have you ever been invited to write a ‘Thought for the Day’ for a slot on Radio ? 

[Badger]

13 hours ago, Suhari said:

Is that Jose Fonte in the studio?

Saw him on there, and also Danny Rohl in earlier matches on ITV.  Got so say this is good work by their agents getting them out there to raise their profile, almost as an advertisement for their availability when a job arises. 

[Toadhall Saint]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Ronaldo put his own ego before the good of the country. He's very selfish. 

No shit! I can’t stand the guy tbh but Martinez is the manager so it’s down to him but he didn’t have the bottle.

[Toadhall Saint]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

It's not in Southgate's personality. His style is actually rather effective at progressing in tournaments it's just there's a real sense that we could do more and be more with the players we have. 

So what do you suggest? Front foot or back foot? Southgate is and always has been a defender so is very risk averse - that only gets you so far. Like I say we have the players to put most teams to the sword but when the hand brake is on that’s a bit difficult.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, Toadhall Saint said:

No shit! I can’t stand the guy tbh but Martinez is the manager so it’s down to him but he didn’t have the bottle.

Could there be something in place, as part of the federation hiring Martinez?

Doesn't even have to be as blunt as "pick him."

"As you know, we gave an endlessly profitable superstar who raises our profile, and brings us a load of money. How do you see yourself getting the best out of such a player?"

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Toadhall Saint said:

So what do you suggest? Front foot or back foot? Southgate is and always has been a defender so is very risk averse - that only gets you so far. Like I say we have the players to put most teams to the sword but when the hand brake is on that’s a bit difficult.

Some flexibility would be nice. Certainly no need at all to be so defensive in the group games at least. We need pacy wide men to assist an older kane so I'd be playing both Gordon and Palmer and I'd replace saka who has had a poor tournament. I'd consider dropping foden if it isn't working or change it up between him and Bellingham. The pressing thing he's got completely wrong, I'd probably see if we can get some fun and expressiveness back into the football. I'd have taken someone like Grealish because he has some spark and x factor which Southgate hates. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Some flexibility would be nice. Certainly no need at all to be so defensive in the group games at least.

A quick check says that out of 16 Euros participated in (including qualification, and not entering the first one), England have got past the group stages only 7 times. 2 of those campaigns involved Hodgson and 2 are under Southgate.

Southgate absolutely sets out a team to secure 4 points, ideally in the first 2 games. Completely removed the pressure of having to win a one off game.

My view is that, while it might be far from entertaining, it gets the side through, which is what he's employed to do.

[Toadhall Saint]

19 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Some flexibility would be nice. Certainly no need at all to be so defensive in the group games at least. We need pacy wide men to assist an older kane so I'd be playing both Gordon and Palmer and I'd replace saka who has had a poor tournament. I'd consider dropping foden if it isn't working or change it up between him and Bellingham. The pressing thing he's got completely wrong, I'd probably see if we can get some fun and expressiveness back into the football. I'd have taken someone like Grealish because he has some spark and x factor which Southgate hates. 

More in the front foot then.

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, Toadhall Saint said:

More in the front foot then.

I don't think you'd find a single England fan that doesn't think we should less defensively. 

[petermcpete]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

A quick check says that out of 16 Euros participated in (including qualification, and not entering the first one), England have got past the group stages only 7 times. 2 of those campaigns involved Hodgson and 2 are under Southgate.

Southgate absolutely sets out a team to secure 4 points, ideally in the first 2 games. Completely removed the pressure of having to win a one off game.

My view is that, while it might be far from entertaining, it gets the side through, which is what he's employed to do.

I'm not sure that's a completely fair comparison - the group stages used to be a lot harder when there were only 8/16 teams, compared to since 2016 where it's more difficult to not go through!

[derry]

18 hours ago, derry said:

All yellow cards are cancelled after the quarter finals only red cards carry over so possibly Carvahal suspended.

A bit I'd missed, two yellows entailing a one match suspension is carried forward but all single cards are cancelled.

[Toadhall Saint]

As you were then 4231

[AlexLaw76]

4 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

As you were then 4231

No one is really saying this elsewhere

[Toadhall Saint]

My bad but seeing the team thought it was just a change at CB.

[gallaghert366@yahoo.com]

What a mule headed c°nt Southgate is.

[AlexLaw76]

It’s fucking coming home!

[adrian lord]

Every member of the team to a man singing the anthem! 

[AlexLaw76]

Well, no 343 it seems

[adrian lord]

It’s already apparent that there’s more pace and balance to this English team. 

[Saint Billy]

Better game for once.

[adrian lord]

Kane sauntering around the D ffs

[AlexLaw76]

Better than the other games, but that is not hard

Kane still poor

[Saint Billy]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Better than the other games, but that is not hard

Kane still poor

Agreed about Kane, woeful header at goal. 

[Disco Stu]

I don't know how we do it. How do we make every game we play in so dull?

Edited 6 July, 2024 by Disco Stu

[Challenger]

A corner worked back to the keeper, does this prick ever learn?

[Saint Billy]

Reverting now back to how it was. Sodding frustrating. 

[adrian lord]

Our performance is dropping off again to trance-like levels.

[Saint Billy]

Presume Southgate will leave it to the 80th minute to bring on the form players.

[adrian lord]

The truth is, we beat Slovakia despite Southgate not because of him. 

[OttawaSaint]

Game needs a goal. Been rather tedious.

[SNSUN]

 

Can't even beat Swindon ffs

[Toadhall Saint]

No quick ball no movement off the ball.

[SaintsBarry74]

Knowing Southgate's luck, the ref will sort us out with a soft pen if this persists.

[Lighthouse]

It’s not been a great game for the neutrals, which ironically would be the Swiss.

[vectraman]

Sideways, sideways, backwards, sideways. 
Just for God’s sake be a bit daring and take them on down the wing. Saka should be roasting their left back. He’s got him beat every time. Just chooses not to take him on. 

[adrian lord]

I don’t know what game Lineker and the studio pundits are watching. They’ve clearly decided to tone down the criticism after the slating they were giving the team and Southgate against Slovakia before the Bellingham miracle.

[Disco Stu]

Another 45 minutes with no shots on target.

[sadoldgit]

We have caused some problems with Saka on the right but have nothing down the left. Why persist with Trippier on the left when he is so right footed?

[Sheaf Saint]

Meh. Not great but an improvement on the Slovakia performance at least. Switzerland have looked really threatening in previous games and we've neutralised that threat. 

Still not looking mega dangerous going forward, but staying patient and waiting for the right moment worked alright for Saints in the playoff final.

[East Kent Saint]

So bad I can't watch it .

[AlexLaw76]

Foden decent, Saka good, Bellingham decent.

Kane awful

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Plenty of possession. Not much to show for it. Some decent movement, with Saka having freedom. If they double up on him, it might create some space elsewhere. Mainoo getting some freedom too.

Early, with a more wing back look, the Swiss got to exploit the flanks. But that faded away during the half.

England need to be sharper in getting a final ball in. A change in tempo will make all the difference. Just have to bedside to have enough cover if it breaks down and Mainoo isn't central.

[CB Fry]

Watching a team in an all-red kit managed by Murat Yakin just makes me pine for what-might-have-been for Southampton FC.

[Saint Billy]

Just playing with a negative mindset once again obviously heavily influenced by Southgate. Kane needs to be removed along with Trippier for starters.