White Wolf
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2017
- Messages
- 2,001
- Reaction score
- 773
Back in my hotel now. I'm really disappointed by all three of those group games. The tactics in all three were very poor. I can somewhat excuse the Serbia result given the context of it being the first game and getting an early goal, but in the bigger picture everything is pointing to a really poor showing at this tournament. Tonight was reminiscent of the 0-0 draw with Slovakia in 2016. Manager with no clue how to get the players to work and can't break down an average side - thankfully on this occasion we have still managed to win the group, but we were one Danish goal away from playing Germany.
Lack of width is shocking. England are an incredibly predictable team and frankly easy to defend against. We are regressing back to twenty years ago, relying on random moments of individual quality amongst a cascade of poor performances. With 26 players it was worth the gamble on Shaw's fitness but to not have any natural left-back as an option is scandalous. Foden and Bellingham aren't working at all, they occupy the same spaces. Meanwhile Kane is always in the wrong position. Our subs are too late and mostly ineffective. That inability to change the plan mid-game is becoming more glaring than ever.
Been pretty patient with Southgate and I think his record is better than his critics say but this looks to be one tournament too far. I liked where England was going in Qatar and we went toe-to-toe with one of the best international teams out there but we are going backwards now.
Before the tournament began I thought he would leave no matter the outcome, that is for the best. Our run-in is still reasonable but I don't fancy England against any half-decent side. Teams like Switzerland and Austria (and Italy at the last Euros) are showing what a difference a decent manager can make. It's a shame we are one of the worst sides to watch in what has otherwise been a really enjoyable tournament.
Lack of width is shocking. England are an incredibly predictable team and frankly easy to defend against. We are regressing back to twenty years ago, relying on random moments of individual quality amongst a cascade of poor performances. With 26 players it was worth the gamble on Shaw's fitness but to not have any natural left-back as an option is scandalous. Foden and Bellingham aren't working at all, they occupy the same spaces. Meanwhile Kane is always in the wrong position. Our subs are too late and mostly ineffective. That inability to change the plan mid-game is becoming more glaring than ever.
Been pretty patient with Southgate and I think his record is better than his critics say but this looks to be one tournament too far. I liked where England was going in Qatar and we went toe-to-toe with one of the best international teams out there but we are going backwards now.
Before the tournament began I thought he would leave no matter the outcome, that is for the best. Our run-in is still reasonable but I don't fancy England against any half-decent side. Teams like Switzerland and Austria (and Italy at the last Euros) are showing what a difference a decent manager can make. It's a shame we are one of the worst sides to watch in what has otherwise been a really enjoyable tournament.
