The Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Megathread

[WsWolf]

Thing is many have said the same about Southgate.
He's such a difficult England manager to judge. His offfield management of both the players and press has enabled us to go deeper in tournaments when much higher profile and higher paid England managers couldn't. His onfield management is why we've not won them

Here was me thinking it was the easy run in and better players.

 

[Alan]

Just poking fun. Even the media here have kind of sussed that Southgate’s on-pitch problem solving leaves something to be desired for y’all.

 

[jd1981]

Thing is many have said the same about Southgate.
He's such a difficult England manager to judge. His offfield management of both the players and press has enabled us to go deeper in tournaments when much higher profile and higher paid England managers couldn't. His onfield management is why we've not won them

This is it he’s very good at protecting the players and relieving the pressure plus the relationship he’s improved with the media has also released some pressure.
National media would’ve gone full pelt after last night in the past.

 

[jd1981]

Here was me thinking it was the easy run in and better players.

Beating Germany is always a walk in the park isn’t it?

 

[Tony Towner]

Here was me thinking it was the easy run in and better players.

Not really, the players Sven had were much better as a balanced team than Southgate has. Everyone of his back 4 would start in this side as would whichever pick of midfielders you want to choose, Beckham and Rooney

 

[WsWolf]

Beating Germany is always a walk in the park isn’t it?

Ask Japan.

They are nowhere near the force they once were. Denmark are miles better than Germany, I'd have lead with that tbh.

England got to a final in spite of Southgate.

 

[WsWolf]

Not really, the players Sven had were much better as a balanced team than Southgate has. Everyone of his back 4 would start in this side as would whichever pick of midfielders you want to choose, Beckham and Rooney

Not sure I'd pick Danny Mills over any of the current England full backs.

You've got to look at the other squads which in comparison were better than England at that point. This squad is probably as good as any in this tournament.

 

[Tony Towner]

Not sure I'd pick Danny Mills over any of the current England full backs.

That's disingenuous and you know it.

I don't think there was a better squad in 2006. We should have won it that year

 

[jd1981]

Ask Japan.

They are nowhere near the force they once were. Denmark are miles better than Germany, I'd have lead with that tbh.

England got to a final in spite of Southgate.

I give Southgate pelters but this is utter BS, so by your own admission Denmark were a good side, regardless of whether you think Germany are fading they still had some decent players on the pitch that day so by no means a given.
His biggest fuck up was the final itself.

 

[WsWolf]

That's disingenuous and you know it.

I don't think there was a better squad in 2006. We should have won it that year

Slightly.

If Rooney doesn't get sent off I think you'd be right.

 

[WsWolf]

I give Southgate pellets but this is utter BS, so by your own admission Denmark were a good side, regardless of whether you think Germany are fading they still had some decent players on the pitch that day so by no means a given.
His biggest fuck up was the final itself.

He beat 1 good side and had home advantage in every game, Germany were shit.

The only easier run to a final was the one England had 2 years before and he fucked that up aswell.

 

[Tony Towner]

Slightly.

If Rooney doesn't get sent off I think you'd be right.

Plus all the players hating each other and/or being divas. It's that off field stuff he's got right. Little things like picking Coady who'll have gone to 2 tournaments and will play as many minutes as you and I will, but he pulls the squad together. He's very smart at that kind of thing. It's when the game starts he's an issue

 

[WsWolf]

Plus all the players hating each other and/or being divas. It's that's off field stuff he's got right. Little things like picking Coady who'll have gone to 2 tournaments and will play as many minutes as you and I will, but he pulls the squad together. He's very smart at that kind of thing. It's when the game starts he's an issue

Different eras, I don't think there's the same hatred between players of clubs there was.

 

[jd1981]

He beat 1 good side and had home advantage in every game, Germany were shit.

The only easier run to a final was the one England had 2 years before and he fucked that up aswell.

We’re Croatia shit? So would England have lost on neutral territory and the one game they did play on neutral territory they blew the opposition away, what more could they do.
It’s the same old BS from non England fans whoever England beat it’s because the opposition are rubbish.

 

[WsWolf]

We’re Croatia shit? So would England have lost on neutral territory and the one game they did play on neutral territory they blew the opposition away, what more could they do.
It’s the same old BS from non England fans whoever England beat it’s because the opposition are rubbish.

They were ok, nothing special. Bit disappointing to only beat them 1-0 considering the gulf in quality tbh.

What is a non England fan btw?

 

[Tony Towner]

Different eras, I don't think there's the same hatred between players of clubs there was.

Is that because of Southgate though? He doesn't let players sit in cliques, he doesn't allow those divisions. Klopp and Pep say the same incendiary things about each others clubs that Ferguson and Mourinho used to but it doesn't carry through to the International team. I think you sell him short (off the pitch)

 

[Johnny75]

Plus all the players hating each other and/or being divas. It's that off field stuff he's got right. Little things like picking Coady who'll have gone to 2 tournaments and will play as many minutes as you and I will, but he pulls the squad together. He's very smart at that kind of thing. It's when the game starts he's an issue

Yep, Ferguson realised he needed a coach to do the tactical stuff as he got older. Southgate reached that stage before his first real test.

As @WsWolf said the players got to the final despite Southgate not because of him.

I'd take almost every manager at the tournament over Southgate tactically.

 

[jd1981]

I think it’s fair to say with Southgate his tactics are found wanting at times. The word at times needs to be used here. Personally he’s got things spot on at times last euros v Germany and Ukraine he got it spot on and he did on Monday too.
Where he’s fucked up Croatia 2018, Italy 2021, and last night.
Can’t argue he’s made a blue print of how to manage the squad off the field and not allow little cliques to develop.

 

[Johnny75]

Is that because of Southgate though? He doesn't let players sit in cliques, he doesn't allow those divisions. Klopp and Pep say the same incendiary things about each others clubs that Ferguson and Mourinho used to but it doesn't carry through to the International team. I think you sell him short (off the pitch)

Although he's not handling Foden well.

 

[WsWolf]

Is that because of Southgate though? He doesn't let players sit in cliques, he doesn't allow those divisions. Klopp and Pep say the same incendiary things about each others clubs that Ferguson and Mourinho used to but it doesn't carry through to the International team. I think you sell him short (off the pitch)

Not for me.

You have lads who play for city and Liverpool who go on holiday together and are mates off the pitch. Most of them doing so before they even sniffed an England call up.