Alan
…unlucky Del - No chance 😉
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2012
- Messages
- 42,237
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I can't believe you would attack me like thisHa, I was at that one. Saw Razak in the flesh (no he didn’t look he would be better than Bakary)
I can't believe you would attack me like thisHa, I was at that one. Saw Razak in the flesh (no he didn’t look he would be better than Bakary)
Yeah he was. His injury really seemed to derail us at the time too.
Yet every single other nation you mention has won a major tournament this century. Which is more an overall observation than a Southgate oneAll of this Southgate stuff is deeply hilarious to those of us that aren't English.
In reality, the furthest any nation can "expect" to get in a tournament is the quarter-finals. Getting beyond that stage is a combination of the luck of the draw, having your players perform on the day and not having a traditionally "smaller" nation having a golden generation or a team playing above themselves - and as we've recently seen in a quarter final ourselves, that's far from guaranteed.
Getting through the quarters and into the semis and beyond is a good result, no matter whether you're England, Brazil, France, Germany, Argentina, Italy or so on.
It's like for us smaller nations, the realistic expectation is to make a good go of qualifying, and a great result is qualifying.
Southgate has achieved and bettered the realistic expections, perhaps despite his limitations, but as an international manager he's been overall a decent success for England. Probably getting near his sell-by date in the job, but that's an entirely different discussion.
Just before my time but Brazil always seem to be favourites (or near enough) for every World Cup.In 66, Brazil.were touted as the best ( having won in 58 and 62), but failed to get out of the group stage IIRC.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Carsley got it, it might focus the minds of folk who continually slag Southgate off!Carsley has a pretty short CV for the England job. Mind you so did Southgate when pintsofwine decided to out himself as a corrupt bastard.
They don't.Howe and Potter I guess. Neither have vast appeal.
Of two minds. Coup for Leverkusen but wish he was on my TV more often.Xabi Alonso confirms he will stay at Leverkusen next season.