UEFA Nations League 2018/19

[Lineker]

He's has a mare.

[FLiam]

There’s the risk you take when you ask your centre-backs to play more like Maradona.

[Lineker]

Ah well.

[FLiam]

Serious question. 

Is Gareth Southgate really the right man to push these players toward trophies? 

Whilst I cannot deny he has brought something of a positive outlook back to the England setup, I think a lot of that is to do with the fact that's he's a polite man in a waistcoat. 

Look beneath that, yes we got to a semi-final of the World Cup but I would argue that the draw was somewhat favourable and we scored one goal from open play? Fast forward to today and we lose 3-1 to a team that didn't qualify for the last two major tournaments and our goal again came from a set play. 

When you look at the talent this England squad has, I wonder if it might be wasted under the leadership of Southgate. At the moment I cannot really offer many alternatives (Curbishley and Big Sam excluded), but I'm not fully sold on him as a coach that can make that final step.

[Jimmy]

8 hours ago, Liam Mk2 said:

Serious question. 

Is Gareth Southgate really the right man to push these players toward trophies? 

Whilst I cannot deny he has brought something of a positive outlook back to the England setup, I think a lot of that is to do with the fact that's he's a polite man in a waistcoat. 

Look beneath that, yes we got to a semi-final of the World Cup but I would argue that the draw was somewhat favourable and we scored one goal from open play? Fast forward to today and we lose 3-1 to a team that didn't qualify for the last two major tournaments and our goal again came from a set play. 

When you look at the talent this England squad has, I wonder if it might be wasted under the leadership of Southgate. At the moment I cannot really offer many alternatives (Curbishley and Big Sam excluded), but I'm not fully sold on him as a coach that can make that final step.

The players love him - that counts for something. He's also committed to bringing through the next generation. I'm not sure I'd argue he's a fantastic coach, but I feel invested in this England team and what they're about and I think he's earned the right to make a proper go of it. 

[DavidMarrio]

I'd give him another major competition at the very least. 

[Adam]

Southgate's done a brilliant job, I don't think anyone envisioned us doing as well as we have the past couple of years, and we play far better football than under a lot of his predecessors too.

[MDK]

 

[Lineker]

Quote

England (4-1-2-3): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Maguire, Rose; Dier; Alli, Delph; Sterling, Kane, Lingard.
Substitutes: Walker, Stones, Henderson, Sancho, Butland, Chilwell, Keane, Rice, Barkley, Rashford, Wilson, Heaton.

Switzerland (3-4-2-1): Sommer; Schar, Akanji, Elvedi; Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Rodriguez; Shaqiri, Fernandes; Seferovic.
Substitutes: Mvogo, Omlin, Moubandje, Lang, Okafor, Steffen, Zuber, Benito, Ajeti, Zakaria, Sow, Drmic.

Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (Romania).

[Lineker]

VAR-ed again!

[Chris2K]

A penalty shoot-out to decide this most pointless of tournament rankings. Good practice I guess.

 

PICKFORD SCORES!

 

PICKFORD SAVES! WE FINISH THIRD! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS!

[Baddar]

Ruben Dias looks very good. 

[GoN_]

He can get a little too agressive at times, but the kid has been really good. Ferro has had a very good first season too at Benfica, and one can hope they keep it up, because we really need a young pair of CBs because we can't keep depending on a 36 year old Pepe and a soon to be 36 year old Fonte like we did here.