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Post by THE BEAST on Jul 12, 2021 8:15:13 GMT
morning my beauties A fine rant by 300 from last night, I agree with quite a lot of it. England should have won, they didn't because of the manager… I think that's pretty undeniable. And before anybody says they got there because of the manager, I think they got there because of the draw but, we never concur in football so I don't suppose everyone will agree with me… That's okay. I was genuinely unsure and dissatisfied last night with the result, I don't feel that anyone won that game, penalties is just such a rubbish way to decide anything that it becomes slightly meaningless. Well done Italy and everything, but even with a winner's medal that has got to be less satisfying than actually winning a football game I would have thought? In other news, it seems that Lionel Messi has finally won an international championship medal at the age of 34 as Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America, I'm really pleased for him because one of the greatest players ever deserves some kind of international recognition of his abilities. This also brings me to a question that I wonder if orde can answer (or indeed anyone else), do the USA play in that competition or is it just the "Copa South America"? well, in summary, I hope not too many people's weeks will be ruined by yesterday's result, I think by and large the euros were brilliant (as they so often are), England probably overachieved when you consider Belgium and France were in this competition with them, I think it was a pretty good Championships if you stand back and look at it from a distance (with your head cocked to one side and closing one eye slightly) Have a good day people |
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Post by saintsfan73 on Jul 12, 2021 8:27:11 GMT
The Euros were great. Everything the PL isn't. Evenly fought competitive football, lots of goals, precious few 0-0s and even VAR wasn't AS bad. (and all on terrestrial TV!)
No team gets to a final 'in spite' of the manager. The manager's role is just too important in football for this, just look at SAF and Klopp. The grief Southgate is getting is laughable. Before him the best we had done since 66 was one WC semi and one Euro semi (in a smaller tournament where you went straight from the group phase to the 1/4s). He's been in the job for two tournaments and has taken a very young side to a semi and now a final. I would just love to know who people think would replace him. I'm sure Pep, Jurgen and Poch would drop everything for the chance to manage mighty England!!!
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Post by saintsfan73 on Jul 12, 2021 8:44:33 GMT
p.s. One thing that hasn't been said much. Foden missing out through injury was a HUGE blow to us. He was exactly the sort of player we were crying out for in the 2nd half and ET.
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Post by threehundred on Jul 12, 2021 9:01:03 GMT
SFC - you are right, of course - it would be difficult to find a new manager, but Southgate himself got the job by default, after a magnificent start to his managerial career at ‘Boro. We can and would do much better.
He picked a great squad. I’m sure that more than a few of us would have taken Ings and JWP, but essentially any football fan would have picked the same core of players.
He is a consummate pro in what he says, dealing with media duties, putting his arm round players etc. He is affable and I like him. Unfortunately that is not enough. International tournament football comes down to fine margins and it is in making the right calls in the heat of the moment that a manager proves his mettle. That is what Mancini did last night and what Southgate singularly failed to do. Mancini is a proven winner - maybe not in the highest echelons of managers, but not too far below.
The reason we failed so badly at the last Euros is down to the talent pool available at the time, not just the manager. This time the opposite is true. Man for man, we were at least a match for any squad. Italy were there for the taking, if Southgate had been brave enough to set his team up on the front foot and play to his players’ strengths, not their perceived weaknesses. We are blessed with a generation of players who are speedy, incisive and comfortable on the ball, yet we sat back and invited Italy to attack all game.
I do agree it was a fantastic tournament. Shame it had to end like that.
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Post by threehundred on Jul 12, 2021 9:02:20 GMT
p.s. One thing that hasn't been said much. Foden missing out through injury was a HUGE blow to us. He was exactly the sort of player we were crying out for in the 2nd half and ET. Yes - Grealish too though and he only came on in the 99th minute… |
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Post by spot51 on Jul 12, 2021 9:35:18 GMT
morning my beauties A fine rant by 300 from last night, I agree with quite a lot of it. England should have won, they didn't because of the manager… I think that's pretty undeniable. And before anybody says they got there because of the manager, I think they got there because of the draw but, we never concur in football so I don't suppose everyone will agree with me… That's okay. I was genuinely unsure and dissatisfied last night with the result, I don't feel that anyone won that game, penalties is just such a rubbish way to decide anything that it becomes slightly meaningless. Well done Italy and everything, but even with a winner's medal that has got to be less satisfying than actually winning a football game I would have thought? In other news, it seems that Lionel Messi has finally won an international championship medal at the age of 34 as Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America, I'm really pleased for him because one of the greatest players ever deserves some kind of international recognition of his abilities. This also brings me to a question that I wonder if orde can answer (or indeed anyone else), do the USA play in that competition or is it just the "Copa South America"?well, in summary, I hope not too many people's weeks will be ruined by yesterday's result, I think by and large the euros were brilliant (as they so often are), England probably overachieved when you consider Belgium and France were in this competition with them, I think it was a pretty good Championships if you stand back and look at it from a distance (with your head cocked to one side and closing one eye slightly) Have a good day people Whilst the Copa is primarily a South American competition, in non Covid times they have invited guest sides to compete too. I know Mexico often appear as have several Central American and Caribbean nations. Japan, Australia, Qatar and The USA have also competed. |
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Post by channonite on Jul 12, 2021 12:35:45 GMT
Afternoon
Interesting read through everyone's thoughts about last night and the competition in general. My thoughts, for what they are worth, are that the right two sides were in the final and the right side won. Rather than being disappointed (which I was last night), I am now excited about the World Cup, which is only just over a year away now and in a country which will introduce a whole new set of unknowns to deal with, thanks to the clearly corrupt bidding process that won Qatar the 2022 World Cup. This England squad will only get better over the next year and I think the only sensible thing is for Southgate to remain in charge, in spite of his perceived faults and we still have a lot of WC qualifying games to go yet. Being away from the insane pressure and unrealistic expectations of the xenophobic British public should work in our favour.
I agree that the Euros was a good competition and the refereeing and VAR were excellent and a huge, glaring and damning inditement of the incompetence of the Premier League to get VAR right. England lost, but I look on the performance as a success, although with home advantage, we had a glorious chance to win an international competition, it was just unfortunate we came up against the Italians.
Disappointment and negativity was yesterday. Today is optimism and excitement over what is to come.
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Post by OneBeat on Jul 12, 2021 13:36:40 GMT
Afternoon.
When I watched the first game of the Euros I thought Italy would win the whole thing, so last night wasn't a surprise. Not being a "fan" of England I was able to watch the game quite calmly, while those around me shouted at the TV (I was at my mum's with close family). It was nice to see Luke Shaw score too. Felt sorry fo the three young England players who missed penalties, but as was said on the radio after the game, more experienced played than them have missed in penalty shootouts over the years, it can happen to anyone.
I have been sent a test pressing from a band I have liked for years, which was a nice surprise. Now that does excite me.
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Post by melrose on Jul 12, 2021 15:00:26 GMT
I am in a bit of a minority here as I support England almost as fervently as I do Saints. Totally sick of penalties which have blighted my football life for over 30 years now. But we did well but not quite well enough to beat the best team in the competition. And we are improving and should do OK in the WC.
Looking back to the 80's and 90's we did not even qualify for several finals, and when we did, finished bottom of the group twice. We are light years from that now.
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Post by saintsfan73 on Jul 12, 2021 15:21:27 GMT
I am in a bit of a minority here as I support England almost as fervently as I do Saints. Totally sick of penalties which have blighted my football life for over 30 years now. But we did well but not quite well enough to beat the best team in the competition. And we are improving and should do OK in the WC. Looking back to the 80's and 90's we did not even qualify for several finals, and when we did, finished bottom of the group twice. We are light years from that now. I agree. (though being slightly picky it was just two competitions in the 80s and 90s we didn't qualify for - 84 Euros and 94 WC. |
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Post by Furry Frank The Combat Wombat on Jul 12, 2021 15:21:41 GMT
Afternoon
Slowish day after yesterday; but it's miserable out so not missing much.
I agree with both the pro- and anti- Southgate rhetoric. I agree that he's done a great job as a manager of the team in the last few years overall; actually turning out a side that vaguely look like a team instead of a collection of prima-donnas and getting them a fair bit further than previous incumbents. However, and I said it before the game, when it came down to tactical management, he would be and was bested by Mancini... not by a lot, as they were rattled by our initial setup; but once the changes were made to reinforce their midfield, we were on the back foot and while we recovered a bit, psychologically we didn't - you could see it in extra time, the Italians were enjoying it more than us, and that little edge is what carried them through.
still, when the disappointment dies down, we can look back at a decent tournament that England did much better than usual in.
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Post by channonite on Jul 12, 2021 17:18:59 GMT
The thing that really, really makes me angry is the rabid xenophobia of a large minority of very vocal English people. The abuse the black players have received and continue to receive, is simply unacceptable and shows that 'taking the knee' has a point and should continue. The morons that boo it have no place in a modern society.
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Post by spot51 on Jul 12, 2021 18:38:29 GMT
The thing that really, really makes me angry is the rabid xenophobia of a large minority of very vocal English people. The abuse the black players have received and continue to receive, is simply unacceptable and shows that 'taking the knee' has a point and should continue. The morons that boo it have no place in a modern society. Behind bars. |
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Post by Willshakes. on Jul 12, 2021 18:51:26 GMT
The thing that really, really makes me angry is the rabid xenophobia of a large minority of very vocal English people. The abuse the black players have received and continue to receive, is simply unacceptable and shows that 'taking the knee' has a point and should continue. The morons that boo it have no place in a modern society. Behind bars. May I add; I've added a post to the forum. Let's all sign it. The Bigger the audience the better the reaction. |
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Post by orde on Jul 12, 2021 21:09:39 GMT
morning my beauties A fine rant by 300 from last night, I agree with quite a lot of it. England should have won, they didn't because of the manager… I think that's pretty undeniable. And before anybody says they got there because of the manager, I think they got there because of the draw but, we never concur in football so I don't suppose everyone will agree with me… That's okay. I was genuinely unsure and dissatisfied last night with the result, I don't feel that anyone won that game, penalties is just such a rubbish way to decide anything that it becomes slightly meaningless. Well done Italy and everything, but even with a winner's medal that has got to be less satisfying than actually winning a football game I would have thought? In other news, it seems that Lionel Messi has finally won an international championship medal at the age of 34 as Argentina beat Brazil in the Copa America, I'm really pleased for him because one of the greatest players ever deserves some kind of international recognition of his abilities. This also brings me to a question that I wonder if orde can answer (or indeed anyone else), do the USA play in that competition or is it just the "Copa South America"?well, in summary, I hope not too many people's weeks will be ruined by yesterday's result, I think by and large the euros were brilliant (as they so often are), England probably overachieved when you consider Belgium and France were in this competition with them, I think it was a pretty good Championships if you stand back and look at it from a distance (with your head cocked to one side and closing one eye slightly) Have a good day people We get the CONCACAF gold cup. Last night we kicked Haiti's ass 1-0. Next up is perennial powerhouse Martinique, of the lesser Antilles. |
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