Grealish just did more in 5 minutes than the rest of the midfielders did in 85. ****ing mental to play Phillips over him. Unforgivable
Until England produce midfielders with the skillset of a Fabregas, Pogba, Xavi, Iniesta, Havertz, Modric, Alan Ball, Gascoigne, etc, the England team will continue to produce master classes in muddled mediocrity!!
When we do, we don't play them anyway. Sancho and sterling are always going to struggle with no service. That midfield was all on Southgate
Re: Steve Williams!! Never given a chance by England and way more skillful than any English midfieldr in the last 25 years save maybe Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard.
Which says it all, really. Lots of people calling for Eddie Howe on Twitter, but then again, Twitter.
I think we have decent enough players to have an outside chance of winning something if enough luck falls our way. We seem to suffer from utterly baffling selection and tactics though. There was absolutely no reason for not selecting two of Bertrand, Cresswell or Rose for LB, even if they are relatively average at times a PL standard LB is better in position than any RB out of position. Coady and Grealish should be main stays of the England squad, but both had to be called up out of reserve for inferior players. Dier at CB in both games when Tarkowski, Mee and Dunk haven't been called up, there is literally no excuse for that. Have Ings on the bench when desperate for a cutting edge and refuse to use him, bring a winger on instead.
Southgate: 'Where is that left footed player' Umm... Ryan Bertrand has been a stand out player in the PL for us this season. Targett, Shaw ETC. etc. He's lost the plot.
I hate to say it but... Lampard? Early days, but he is already a better club manager than Southgate. Partly saying this as I think Abramovic will run out of patience when he doesn't win the quadruple this season. I am being brutal with Southgate, as by and large the side have been doing well under him. I have lost A LOT of confidence in him over these last two games, which is probably quite unfair.
Howe needs to go to some place like Scandinavia to widen his experience. It didn't do Hodgson any harm, nor Graham Potter, the latter who might be a good outside bet to be the England manager in years to come,
Lampard And yes, I think it is quite unfair to judge him on two games which are essentially pre season for most players. Especially as you say he's done a fair bit of good for us. I do agree though that his squad selection was poor this time round and that tonight's experiment definitely didn't work. It's good he's trying things though I suppose and least he'll pick non big club players. Think we'll see a different side at the next break, hopefully Maddison is back in by then too as think he can make a difference. Our problems run far deeper than who the manager and players are. Ain't one in the world who'd turn us into world beaters, cos well, we're not.
I I will reserve judgement until all the players are match fit and he has more of a squad to choose from. Tepid but will wait and see.
Unlikely though as his family didn’t settle in Burnley. Can’t see Howe going out of the South, could eventually turn up in Bristol, Pompey, Reading, London or as the England Under 21 Manager. He would be better there than Boothroyd.
I’m genuinely not kidding either. What manager of any known quality is actually going to take the England job (when Southgate goes).
No matter what happens now he should take us to the Euros next year. He's earnt that at the very least.
Well maybe after we sack fat Frank we can see Stevie in, and if that goes wrong then we'll go for Eddie, after that then maybe Sol Campbell. I'm hoping Southgate won't go for a good few years yet. Done more than any manager in my lifetime with comfortably the worst choice of players.