It would certainly have sent a strong message if Kane had led the team off, and in a normal match that's probably what they would have done. But with Bulgaria ggetting a hammering and Sterling and Rashford running riot, staying on was I think an equally strong statement. After all, I'm told that it's not much fun watching your team getting beat 6-0.
I thought the three-part protocol and England's part in it worked pretty well last night. Firstly Mings drew the ref's and Kane's attention to the abuse, the ref. spoke to Southgate and the game was held up for a bit and a tannoy announcement made. Stage one. The second time just before h.t. the ref again consulted Southgate while the game was held up and the team were offered the option to go off but declined it to a man preferring to get through to h.t. and talk about it then instead. Which they did. A pragmatic decision. That's their prerogative. Whether or not that represented an informal stage two or not is unclear. But it probably did. It's not really for us to judge the players decision. The main gang of perps left the stadium, the Bulgarian captain had a word (commendable), their manager is a neanderthal in denial, the whole FA team came down to support the playing team on the touchline in the second half and there were no more serious repercussions which would have probably led to the match being abandoned. Southgate (who was exemplary throughout, as was Mings) was very complementary about the officials and especially the ref. But the only question I'd ask is why is there the need for a player referral? Don't the officials have ears? Racism at our football stadia is now nothing like the organised abuse we saw last night. When was the last time you heard monkey chants? Just a few pathetic individuals sounding off. Not the same thing at all. I hope that UEFA's subsequent action will be draconian.
Nail on the head... www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/16/bulgaria-england-black-white-raheem-sterling-sofia
Is it? She's right in that Stirling was previously vilified by the tabloids here and is now a national hero, the 'barmy army' have some dodgy songs get p.ssed and misbehave themselves and Boris is obviously related to Phil the Greek as regards 'putting his foot in it'. But concerted 'monkey chants' and Nazi salutes in a football stadium here? Nah, we've moved on from that. Racism is far worse across eastern Europe and needs sorting. Quit all this whataboutism. It was appalling.
Sad to hear if true although there seems to be conflicting reports from "witnesses " https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50114848 TBH throwing bottles and other objects isn't right on its own - regardless of the alleged racist abuse.
The really good thing here is that the Yeovil players and management were entirely supportive of Haringey.
Anyone watching this mismatch tonight? Surely it’s time for a two-tier qualifying system? This kind of match is doing nobody any good.
Hard to believe we have drawn with these guys before ! Either we are much better or Montenegro are much much worse ?
The Nations League is for the Euros. It’s a UEFA competition that feeds in to the European Championship. It means the previous two year slog through meaningless games like tonight has been reduced to one. And the smaller teams get a crack at qualifying. But for all they were on the end of a thrashing tonight, the likes of Montenegro’s FA aren’t going to give up a money spinning prestige trip to Wembley. FIFA are apparently looking whether the same format can apply to World Cup qualifying too.
That’s fine, but the Nations League only qualifies you for the Euros through ‘back door’ play-off (Hello Scotland). England have still had to play very poor teams to qualify the same as they ever did.
This is the bit I don't understand. Scotland, who are absolutely dreadful still have a chance to qualify because of their Nations League exploits but how can it be right that poor sides will get to the finals because they scraped past other rubbish sides
I doubt it being 'right' even came into the football bureaucrats' thought process. Though with the ridiculous expansion of the Euro finals to 24 after 2012, they were always going to have to come up with ways to fill the gaps. I suppose one argument is if you allow the Scotlands of this world a glimmer of a chance of qualifying, and if they get there it only comes at the expense of a Romania or a Denmark (ie. middle of the road nations no one in the corridors of power or tv execs are bothered about), they'll stop pressuring UEFA to keep expanding the competition even more.
I can’t help thinking this England defence is going to get taken apart when they come up against someone good.
Against weak opposition in the run up to WC and European Championships England usually flatter, only to deceive when we get to the real event. This younger team with some confident looking performances and a few goals looks good so far. We’ve seen it before so I hope we are seeing the start of something good again .. but .. time will tell ... again
Didn't notice he was on the pitch... Game mind numbingly boring.. Watching England is like watching paint dry
