Todays Games

[captainmed]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

Again, as seems to be the case with some when it comes to Southgate, the default position is find criticism with him.

GS has to be one of the most characterless Managers in World football.

IMO he’s the FA’ s puppet & uses the national team as a political vehicle.

Given his “achievements” his is still relatively unpopular within the fan base too.

I would agree however that based on results in major competitions we are generally improving as a team.

Edited March 28, 2023 by captainmed

[Zico]

2 hours ago, L/H White said:

Rooney levels above who never got passed a 1/4 and only has one world cup goal

Kane, 1/4, semi & final and a golden boot to his name 

Put the pipe down Joey 

Aye 

Club level Rooney > Kane 

England Kane > Rooney 

I doubt there's any high ranking international goal scorer who gets most of their goals against the top teams 

10 of Nats 30 goals came against home nations

[desperado]

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Didnt take him to the world cup though, so what has changed since, apart from a guilty plea perhaps?

No one believed Southgate's reasons at the time.

If something has materially changed, then say so and move on.

I'm a supporter of his, but it does seem hypocritical on the face of it.

 

To answer your question, as I pointed out in my previous post, I suspect we don’t know the whole story and might not get to find out anytime soon. We are not privy and nor should we be to what is happening behind the scenes.

Managers/Owners are faced with all kinds of balanced decisions, due to a whole range of physical, personal, social and in some cases criminal considerations. We only have to look at ourselves. Dempsey, Jones, John and Evatt himself have definitely/probably had some of the said issues above in play this season - we’ve questioned it but we don’t know the full story.

Personally I don’t feel the need to question/criticise Southgate. I’m happy to accept the inclusion of Toney on this occasion was a football one based on the opposition we were playing and his form for Brentford.

[desperado]

1 hour ago, captainmed said:

GS has to be one of the most characterless Managers in World football.

IMO he’s the FA’ s puppet & uses the national team as a political vehicle.

Given his “achievements” his is still relatively unpopular within the fan base too.

I would agree however that based on results in major competitions we are generally improving as a team.

Fair enough

I disagree on first 3 points, but that’s what this forum is for.

And your last point goes some way in explaining why I think he’s doing a decent job.

[Cheese]

1 hour ago, captainmed said:

GS has to be one of the most characterless Managers in World football.

IMO he’s the FA’ s puppet & uses the national team as a political vehicle.

Fuck me.

[Steejay]

If anybody's craving a footy fix, Trafford should be in the nets for England U21's on BBC3 at 7.45 tonight.

[RUREADY2ROLL]

1 hour ago, Steejay said:

If anybody's craving a footy fix, Trafford should be in the nets for England U21's on BBC3 at 7.45 tonight.

Hope he doesn’t get injured or we are fucked

[TrickyTrotter]

Just conceded from a free kick.  Wasn't get anywhere near it to be fair.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

2 hours ago, desperado said:

To answer your question, as I pointed out in my previous post, I suspect we don’t know the whole story and might not get to find out anytime soon. We are not privy and nor should we be to what is happening behind the scenes.

Managers/Owners are faced with all kinds of balanced decisions, due to a whole range of physical, personal, social and in some cases criminal considerations. We only have to look at ourselves. Dempsey, Jones, John and Evatt himself have definitely/probably had some of the said issues above in play this season - we’ve questioned it but we don’t know the full story.

Personally I don’t feel the need to question/criticise Southgate. I’m happy to accept the inclusion of Toney on this occasion was a football one based on the opposition we were playing and his form for Brentford.

You'll go down well at the FA.

I'm not questioning Southgate's footballing decisions, however Toney has been playing well and scoring all season. 

Not for one minute do I believe, nor I suspect many believe, that Toney was omitted from the world cup squad for footballing reasons though.

The FA should have protected Southgate, and taken the awkwardness of the situation out of his hands, and announced that he wasn't being picked pending investigations.

Having not done so, it now leaves the manager open to accusations of hypocrisy.

[captainmed]

2 hours ago, Cheese said:

Fuck me.

Correct.

[TrickyTrotter]

Trafford substituted at HT.  Just squad rotation hopefully or come on down Joel Dixon.

[RUREADY2ROLL]

2 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Trafford substituted at HT.  Just squad rotation hopefully or come on down Joel Dixon.

Lose every game left with Dixon in goal; should have a reliable sub goalie and it’s one position the IE has never got right

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Croatia have plenty of nous for a set of youngsters. Just like the senior team.

Reminds me of watching us against the top teams in league one.

 

[desperado]

51 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I'm not questioning Southgate's footballing decisions

That’s the key bit as far as I’m concerned. And its a point we seem to agree upon. 👍

The rest, for the likes of you and me on a L1 football forum, is all just guesswork and conjecture. 

[Dr Faustus]

Taffys fucked me for a five fold on Saturday, now the Jocks have screwed my tonight

[Wanderlust]

What a superb defensive performance from Scotland. McTominay scores four goals in two matches - what's that about? Excellent all over Scotland but that midfield with McGinn and McGregor is class.

Spain humbled.

[Farrelli]

4 hours ago, captainmed said:

GS has to be one of the most characterless Managers in World football.

IMO he’s the FA’ s puppet & uses the national team as a political vehicle.

Blimey 😂

[Marc505]

If Dixon is in goal Sunday there will be a fair few still down Baker Street come 3pm 😃

Nowt wrong with Trafford, btw.

[TrickyTrotter]

Enter bring Barnsley unbeaten run to an end. Be a tough game there Good Friday.

[London Wanderer]

5 hours ago, captainmed said:

GS has to be one of the most characterless Managers in World football.

IMO he’s the FA’ s puppet & uses the national team as a political vehicle.

Given his “achievements” his is still relatively unpopular within the fan base too.

Aye. He spends countless weekends watching games and travels all over the world for games and tournaments. Taking on an intense full-time job, just so he can make a ‘political’ point every few years or so. Get a grip, ffs 😂

 he’s a football lad through and through. All he was doing was standing up for his players. Criticise his tactics all you want, I’d probably agree, but let’s put the tinfoil hat down on all this puppet bollocks x

 

[London Wanderer]

50 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

What a superb defensive performance from Scotland. McTominay scores four goals in two matches - what's that about? Excellent all over Scotland but that midfield with McGinn and McGregor is class.

Spain humbled.

Incredible energy throughout.

[QFPants]

1 hour ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Enter bring Barnsley unbeaten run to an end. Be a tough game there Good Friday.

4 home wins on the bounce now

[green genie]

5 hours ago, QFPants said:

4 home wins on the bounce now

Good mix of Academy graduates through the side playing with desire and freedom. Give em a kicking please

[Traf]

10 hours ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Enter bring Barnsley unbeaten run to an end. Be a tough game there Good Friday.

A good evening for the Janners. Top four looks an interesting battle.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Barnsley's backlog wont be helping.