Jump to content

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, TRon said:

 

I think that's a fair stance to take for an inferior side, if you don't really believe you have the best players in the world. I always thought Rafa was a great manager for cup tournaments where you can sit back and hit superior teams on the counter, but in the league his defensive approach cost Liverpool against inferior sides who used the same tactic.

 

It's not the worst tactic tbf, but you do wonder if Southgate really believes England have the best players if he doesn't trust a plethora of attacking talent which most other international teams would be envious of.

Is he defensive because he doesn't trust his Cb's.

I mean we play with two Cdms to help cover them  so you are only left with 4 attacking players in the team.

 

And then mentions Foden can't play CM for his off the ball defensive work.

 

So in reality it's defence first 

 

 

Edited by RobsonsWonderland

Link to post
Share on other sites

Has the abuse been particularly worse than any other case? I’ve not paid a lot of attention and I hate toxic social media so I can imagine it’s worse online than before but in real life is it worse? Can’t imagine it is 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Got the idea from that Spanish blokes mother. She’ll be going on hunger strike next.

 

Seriously, Social Media is toxic, I’ve no idea why anyone uses it. Fortunately for Maguire he’s earning a ton of money and has the last laugh. It’s the vulnerable people that I fear for. It scares the shit out of me for what it can do. I’m told my daughter was bullied at school, she’s never mentioned it and we can’t broach the subject and it could extend to Social Media for all we know. I guess she’s just trying to be a protective mother.

 

Hope he’s had a word with her mind when she’s telling him his next bedtime story.

Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, gbandit said:

Has the abuse been particularly worse than any other case? I’ve not paid a lot of attention and I hate toxic social media so I can imagine it’s worse online than before but in real life is it worse? Can’t imagine it is 

 

To me it seems he's just became a meme/figure of ridicule rather than outright abuse? I think when you reach the stage he has where opposition fans cheer when they hear your name read out on the lineup or you are subbed on etc it's probably way more hurtful and humiliating than anything else.

 

Even the way he lost the captaincy at Man United where McTominay was made captain in a friendly match ahead of him recently or they kept him out of the squad to have an extra sub keeper on the bench is really embarrassing for him. Ten Hag and Man United couldn't make it any clearer they wanted him gone and yet he's chose to sit on the bench there rather than playing every week for West Ham in a side that actually suits his game. I think that's why a lot of people will struggle to have too much sympathy for him. 

 

His mam releasing a statement isn't going to help things at all either mind, not sure what she's thinking there :lol:Blaming pundits and the media for abuse too? I can't remember any examples of that at all, just honest criticism of generally poor performances and a load of high profile errors. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I mean the abuse is terrible and people should really be better than that, but unfortunately it's part and parcel of the gig and everyone knows it going in.

 

They are all very well compensated for what they do and can always walk away if they don't want to put with it, and so it's just one of those things really.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Henderson at least provides leadership and big-game nous; so can understand his inclusion to an extent. We’ve seen how much having good characters and leaders in your group (whether playing or not) can positively affect performances.

 

 

Edited by McCormick

Link to post
Share on other sites

Southgate’s ridiculous selections will ultimately be his England legacy. He’s never going to win anything so he’ll be remembered for bottling a final and continually picking players who didn’t warrant a place, while leaving out bags of talent. I don’t even care about England that much but I cannot wait for him to go. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

He's been pretty consistent at saying he's got his group and will stick by them. I understand what he's doing, I think it just feels so weird because we watch the premier league so see players in and out of form. I do think there is something in the argument that some players perform better for country over club (set up, less pressure etc) and seem to be able to switch it back on (I don't think Maguire is too bad for England, I've not watched Phillips play enough for England to know).

 

The downsides for me are the argument vs incentive - surely players need to see that consistent good form will at least get them a competitive 10-20 mins from the bench? - and the fact that players aren't playing enough football to be in any sort of rhythm / form, or aren't playing any competitive football. The professional game is now one of such fine margins that any lapse in concentration or rust can cost you a tournament. 

 

I like Southgate and back him to continue, and it might just be a case of "you can't have both", but I think there's room for a mix of loyalty and rewarding performance. I'd set up an international squad as, e.g. "here are my 16 established, I keep the other 7 open for form" and you have whatever mechanism for switching between the two as time / circumstance require. Sometimes I wonder whether he just feels desperately sorry for Maguire and wants to help him out, which I can get behind.

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think his entire appraoch is honking at this moment. His "group" aren't the same as they were a few years ago, and that's OK, pick new players who have earned it. 

 

 

Edited by Kanji

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...