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Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 12:27 28 Jun 2024
Agree on the standards for Southgate are not being applied for Bobby point. The 1990 Ireland game was one of the worst games of Football you could hope to watch, every bit as turgid as what Southgate dished out. Lineker and others have also made clear that the change in system in 1990 was player orchestrated, wasn’t driven by tactical genius from the Manager. We got out the 1990 group by a late Mark Wright header against Egypt, having also only scored 2 goals in the group. It wasn’t pretty stuff, and Belgium was literally the last minute, of extra time so another 0-0 in 90 minutes. That 1990 side also included the greatest England player of my generation, one at their peak, injuries and other problems clearly curtailed them after. Would England have even got out the group without Gazza? He lit up that world cup, and was unbelievable, without him the football would have been as every bit as painful as Southgate’s side.
I do think Southgate has probably come to the end now, a tournament too many, and we should have possibly freshened things up, although I hope I’m wrong there. But, I think you can comfortably make strong arguments for him when you compare him to Robson and Venables in terms of what they achieved. Under Venables an amazing performance against Holland, and a great effort against Germany, but the other games were pretty rubbish in quality. We were lucky to beat Spain, had there been VAR we’d have been out first game after the group stages and had a Seamen penalty save to thank for not being in serious trouble against the Scots. Not a criticism, that's tournament football and often plays out like that.
In all the cases you can argue for/against, but ultimately you have to judge on how far they take us in tournaments, Southgate still has a chance at eclipsing them all…let’s hope he can. [Post edited 28 Jun 12:28]
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Reply | England 🏴 v Slovenia 🇸🇮 Match Thread
at 17:50 26 Jun 2024
Positives for me were that Foden looked better, Rice too after his worst game for England, the Palace centre back looks good and the subs all made a decent contribution. The negatives are pretty much everything else. There’s no doubt a lack of a proper left back is hampering us, the early ball played into the pockets by Shaw and the overlaps is just lost with Trippier who cuts back constantly. Moving the ball forward quickly is so much easier as a defender when you’re playing on your side – let it come across your body then first time glide it into space for your attackers.
The biggest concern for me is, as others have said, the body language of the players, and whether Southgate is in a tournament too far with us and is now being shown up to be tactically not up to it. I really hope that’s not the case, all the warning signs are there though, the team selection seems poor, the tactics seem poor, and the in-game substitutions are questionable, although at least with these I’ve not been able to call them. Other tournaments you’d have a good idea what he’d do (Sterling off, Rashford on used to feel pre-planned almost) so I do view that as a slight positive and a bit more creative in his thinking, although Anthony Gordon would strongly disagree. |
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Reply | Denmark 🇩🇰 v England 🏴 Match Thread
at 14:42 21 Jun 2024
Southgate was a great manager when we were in our transitional phase – trying to bring through some of the younger generation, putting pride back into the shirt, making us much more competitive etc. We’re now at a different point in our development – we have an abundance of talent, the like of which we’ve not had since 2006 or possibly earlier. I just worry whether it’s a tournament too far and the role of managing such a talented group of players and the massive egos which comes with it, needed to be given to someone else.
But it’s not an easy job, everyone has a different opinion, as others have said, there have been many before Southgate that have had the same experience. Personally, knowing it’s my last tournament, and the number of people getting on my back, I’d go out with an attacking at all costs philosophy, give the people what they want, at least if/when it goes to sh*t you can give it the ‘are you not entertained line’…
Gordon on the left to support Kane. Kane desperately needs legs around him and Saka and a 3 of Foden, Bellingham and Rice. Give the people what they want and you won’t die wondering.
Alternatively, take the hard decisions and drop some big names to get the right balance. At the moment I think he’s neither doing what he thinks is best and picking the most balanced team (probably because he doesn’t’ want to p*s off some big egos) or going full ‘man of the people’ Manager mode. He needs to take some decisive action, and quickly. |
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Reply | General Election Thread
at 18:47 7 Jun 2024
'If we stopped importing the thick end of 1 million people per year - there would be no demand to replace pubs with flats"? I mean, fair enough if you don't think economics has played a role in the decline of the Great British Pub, but surely the transformation of our society (not on immigration terms) - empowerment of women, changing lifestyle habits of people, growth of the middle class, are all major reasons for why pubs have disappeared? My father-in law would hit the pub every day when he was younger, and when his kids were young, rarely, if ever goes in one now - society has changed, a lot of people have lost interest in them, home ownership and staying in with family and drinking a bottle of wine is preferred by many. Also, women, it's not just their role to stay at home and look after the kids why the blokes hit the pub, it's shared responsibility and that will clearly impact the amount of time you spend in the pub - you can't suggest with less immigration demand for pubs would still exist, it wouldn't. It wasn't immigration that killed pubs, it was so much more than that.
For what it's worth, I do think there's a problem with how much we hate ourselves as a nation, how we view our culture and values and embarrassing seeing our Prime Minister leave such an important service early which sort of sums up how some things are viewed. I don't like all the D&I stuff I'm forced to go through at work and even though 95% of people think a lot (not all), is excessive, we all feel compelled to do it and not challenge. But on the decline of the British pub...I don't agree with you. |
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Reply | Eze for England!
at 12:48 7 Jun 2024
I agree Grealish is overrated by a lot of fans but he's definitely good enough for an England squad place, so on balance, would have included. However, it's not the worst decision in the world, and I certainly wouldn't knock the Manager too much for this. Of all the attacking players available, Grealish feels the most limited in terms of positions they can occupy. He basically covers the wide left position, and that's it. I know at Villa he played more centrally at times, but he's basically been converted into a permanent fixture wide left. Gordon, Bowen and Foden can play at least 2 potions (3 in Foden's case), if required. While Gordon is the only one with express pace, so I back Gareth with taking him.
This all leads me to think it was a shootout between Eze and Grealish, and guess the attraction of an unknown player, that has no scars from previous tournaments and is different to anything we've had before and will benefit considerably from this experience ahead of the World cup, you can see why the Manager may have taken a gamble on him.
So in summary....think it was a mistake not taking Grealish, but an understandable one and shows some ambition and guts so fair play to him. |
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Reply | Eze for England!
at 12:34 4 Jun 2024
If you were thinking of areas where we’re perhaps a little light - ignoring the defence - pace is probably one of them. With no Rashford and Sterling (both correct calls) we don’t have any “express pace”. I think that’s why Gordon will make it - he’s different in that he’s lightning fast and offers a different option. Palmer, Saka, Foden and Bowen for the right side and Eze, Grealish, Maddison and Gordon for the left. Clearly Foden covers multiple positions so means you can have less cover on the left for example but reckon he’ll look to have 3 right side options and 2 left (Grealish and Gordon) and the right Saka, Foden and Palmer. |
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Reply | Bikes in London
at 18:33 30 May 2024
Yeah this is a thing. Go anywhere in Europe and they don’t tend to treat a zebra crossing the same as us. Worryingly it’s starting to creep into driver behaviour over here which I’d guess is because people don’t understand. As a country, historically one of the things we’re quite good at is driving and road safety - obviously I’m talking relatively speaking. Drive in Italy, Greece to name but 2 and it’s a fcking nightmare. We need to maintain a higher bar but reckon we’ve just given up and the crap driving imported from overseas is just a thing now. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 15:39 26 May 2024
Interesting. Wouldn’t have called that either although Dykes mobility for a big man is one of his better qualities. Recently, we’ve always been a slow team - before Sinclair, Bright probably the fastest I can think of. So I guess making you top 3 or 4 in our team for speed isn’t the biggest shocker. A few people have said Chair’s rapid, again, haven’t seen it myself. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 14:54 26 May 2024
We’ll agree to disagree on Kakay’s speed. For me he was relatively slow, saw him taken to the byline for speed numerous times. Not a skill I’d associate with him. What I would agree with you on is that they are both technically not very good footballers but the difference is Sinclair has more obvious and natural physical talents (e.g. speed) which could help him make it with us, Kakay never had that to fall back on so needed to develop the technical side more which he ultimately struggled to do. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 14:24 26 May 2024
I don’t think Kakay’s a good comparison. Kakay is not athletic and has never been quick. Armstrong’s pace is as quick as I’ve seen. There is a major difference between the 2 in terms of natural physical attributes. I think he’s worth persevering with and agree with the view that he should have had a decent loan away from us by now. I still think there’s something we can tap into and develop with Sinclair but something needs to happen soon. |
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Reply | Hypothetical
at 22:06 14 May 2024
Always play to win. You never know when we’ll need a favour ourselves. That said, nothing wrong with a bit gloating following defeat. |
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Reply | Realistic signings everyone would target?
at 15:30 14 May 2024
Goalkeeper (Walsh and another?)
Left back (Paal/Fox/Larkeche) - Seem ok.
Centre backs (JCS, Cook, Fox, Dunne). We're potentially light here, especially if JCS goes. Think ideally we'd sell JCS and bring in a cheaper alternative to cover and possibly bring in a development option as well to try and improve and make some money).
Right back (Cannon and Dunne). If Cannon can have a decent pre-season, ok options here but dependent on whether Dunne will be forced to fill in at centre back. As 2 right back options, it's not too bad.
Centre mid (Collback, Field, Dixon-B). Need some cover so Hayden would be decent signing as he can cover centre back too and means Dunne will not be required to fill in there. Can try and involve Dixon B a bit more next season as he's got potential.
Attacking wide players (Chair, Willock, Smyth, Kohli, Taylor Richards). Willock likely to go so we definitely need to replace there and I think Taylor Richards is finished with us. Not sure what's happening with Chair but think we need at least 2 attacking players with Kohli spending first half of season on loan with a view to integrating like we did with Eze for the second half of the season.
Strikers (Dykes, Frey, Armstrong). We need at least 1 striker (ideally to replace Dykes whose time is at an end), but that would be on the understanding at least 2 attack minded midfielders that score goals are arriving. I'm not obsessed with out-and-out strikers but that's dependent on at least 2 goalscoring midfielders joining us.
Bare minimum signings if JCS, Dykes and Willock leave: 6 (x1 goalkeeper, x1 defender, 2/3 attacking midfielders, 1/2 striker)
I think the bare minimum of 6 new signings (assuming Dykes, Willock and JCS leave) is required. I'd go for an experienced, cheap option for keeper, with a view to integrating Walsh and giving him his chance next season. Could save us some cash.
Defenders - decent cash for JCS, and I'd replace with a steady performer to play alongside Cook and ideally a long term development option with the extra funds we save.
Centre midfielder: Hayden.
Attacking midfielder: Would get in a decent loan from a premier league club and look to get a permanent in to replace Willock. Ideally it would be a player that can also do a false 9 when required.
Striker: Go big on budget for a replacement for Dykes, Frey and Armstrong being understudies with a possible loan to bolster numbers too.
Now the hard part...finding those players. |
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Reply | Players we should have kept
at 11:40 10 May 2024
Dougie Freedman? I think on the whole, players we've released haven't really come back to haunt us, which is good news. Wanchope obviously a standout but when you look at Millwall and telling Eze he could pack his bags....they're the sort of decisions which give you nightmares for many years. We've not had many of those. [Post edited 10 May 11:41]
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Reply | Dunne to Blackburn
at 21:54 7 May 2024
I was also one of those who couldn't understand the 'impossible to survive' line dished out by a fair few. I like Mari, but he's not the messiah, he's a decent manager whose done an excellent job for us. Ainsworth and before him Critchley, just seem to have made so many think nothing could be achieved with our squad, despite Warbs knocking on the play-offs for much of the season and Beale having us top of the league in October.
Clearly we're not a top 6 side at the moment - some obvious weaknesses in the team and serious lack of depth - but never felt we were one of the worst 3, and think Ainsworth was a major part of the problem. |
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Reply | Ramadan
at 12:36 7 May 2024
My instincts tell me it has to impact on your performance. A physically demanding job, were you're burning so much energy. The need to replenish your fluid levels and stuff, I just can't see how it wouldn't impact on your performance. So many players rehydrate at halftime - various products they take - which is not an option for Chair during Ramadan. In short, I'm not surprised by the upturn in performance post Ramadan. |
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Reply | Kakay Departs
at 17:05 6 May 2024
Right decision but good luck to him. Always committed, and gave it his all. Interested to see if he’ll find a league club, not going to be easy. |
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Reply | Ainsworth 'Titbit' via the Stevenage Forum
at 12:06 6 May 2024
So Les does the honourable thing and resigns, foregoing any severance package, Ainsworth continues taking a wage while taking a break from football… One nicknamed evil and blamed for the mess we’re in while the other seen as inheriting something which nobody could turn around. Marti has showed what can be achieved with this group and the recruitment wasn’t a total failure - Dickie player of year Bristol, JCS one of the standouts for us - both used as evidence last term of how poor Les was and of the poor players Ainsworth had at his disposal.
I can’t blame GA if he’s still taking a wage I just find it interesting how many people love a pile on when it comes to Les but same people struggle to do the same when it comes to statistically one of the worst managers we’ve ever had. |
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Reply | Transfer rumours 2024
at 22:11 4 May 2024
Hayden has had injury problems which is why he’s not featured as much. I think performance wise, Hayden has made a bigger difference to us. I think Andersen has been the more inconsistent of the 2 from my perspective and I know Andersen is ours now but based on what I’ve seen of the 2, given the option, I’d take Hayden over him.
Should make clear I’m not anti Andersen, I do like him, just think from a very high bar, been a little disappointed with some of his performances but keen to see him after a decent pre-season. |
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Reply | Transfer rumours 2024
at 19:20 4 May 2024
You think Andersen has been a better signing than Hayden?? |
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Reply | Are we capable of going up next season.
at 11:40 1 May 2024
The answer is YES, but will all come down to how successful we are with our recruitment and given the amount of change that needs to happen, and the likely limited budget to do it, it's going to be very hard.
That said, we do have the right manager, we have some players that are good enough, a lot that aren't, so if we can inject some more quality into the team, and add depth to the squad, a top 6 challenge is doable. If you make it into the top 6, anything's possible. |
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