International Football

When UEFA created the Europa Nations League one of the big justifications for adding the fixtures was that it would eliminate the 'meaningless' friendlies. And yet England have two meaningless friendlies this week and the Europa League fixtures against Italy, Hungary and Germany is extending the current season into mid-June. England play Hungary on June 14 and then the new Premier League season starts on August 6. Assuming clubs want five weeks for a pre-season that gives the players about a fortnight off.

 

I am even wondering how is the international season is going to happen with World Cup in November. I cannot imagine :/ I am not sur we will have a great level at the world cup, players are going to be tired I guess

 

The Europa Nations League was always a stupid idea. Making friendlies matter. Which then means you can't fully experiment and "write the result off" and so need new friendlies to experiment. Whoever came up with the idea needs to be sacked/shot !

 

I see what the problem is here.

It's been assumed that any of football's governing bodies are actually in it for the good of the game/country/players/fans and are not just in it to justify their own inflated salaries and egos.

Or they could just be completely incompetant?

I'm betting, a bit of both.

 

I think most part of the football's governing bodies are here to make money. If friendlies dont bring money, lets find a new way to attract fans/people to watch the games (go the the stadium) and make money. They dont really care about players

 

Unfortunately there is just never enough money in the world for some people.

 

On the point about the inflated World Cup, it's been refreshing recently to follow the current women's Euros which has the same neat format as the first men's World Cups I watched. 16 teams in 4 groups, with two qualifiers in each playing in quarter-finals: group winners v runners-up. Then on to semi-finals pairing winners from opposite halves of the original draw. The only thing that differs from years ago is the insistence on playing all games on different days for TV coverage, but with a smaller tournament even that doesn't come over as so bloated. I understand FIFA's argument of promoting football in the developing world by having more qualifying countries but it has got ridiculous now and I actually like the idea of having an elite finals tournament where only the very best take part, even at the expense of some of the bigger European or South American countries.

 

I’m impressed that Channel 4 have got Del Piero as a pundit. And his English is good too.

 

Classy goal

 

5 games no win for England.
Not scored in open play for years and years ...
Pathetic.
My ambivalence towards England is beginning to mirror my frustration with Watford.

Am I falling out of love with football?

Help.

 

Southgate relegated with a Middlesbrough and then far more impressively contrives to somehow get England relegated. Impressive stuff!

 

Southgate is a miracle worker.

 

Makes you appreciate Watford and that says a lot!

 

Southgate really is an absolute ******* clown.

Professional SJW more than a football manager. Ugly bell end.

 

I know it won’t happen but he needs replacing for the World Cup. We have a side that could go far but he’s so negative.

 

Nope, it won't happen. The FA love him. Not because he's a good manager, but because he'll spin all the PR they need him to.

 

He’s a yes man. The reason why Clough was never England manager.

 

Not a single top 10 Prem job he walks into.

Also, must add he keeps praised for "restoring good times" and faith and all this carp but how much of it is down to him?

Gerrard, Rooney, Lampard etc all retired. He led a new generation, a generation connected by social media, a generation who weren't competing week in, week out for the top trophies, a generation who due to socio-economic factors probably had more in common than normal. Sancho, Saka, Sterling, Bellingham, Rice, Foden, Grealish, Rashford etc all fans of UK hip-hop and streetwear for example. All these things made this team the united, happy camp, nothing to do with Southgate and definitely not a reason to keep him employed!

 

I don't get it - we've got a newly designed kit that's been excessively pushed, a unified social media presence and the team are linked to advertising campaigns promoting teamwork and social inclusion.

WHY AREN'T WE WINNING MORE MATCHES?????????????????????????????????????

 

England getting relegated: does it matter?
I must admit to struggling to get what the Nations League is. It seems to be a pseudo-competitive tournament that is slightly preferable to ‘meaningless’ friendlies, which is treated a bit like the League Cup in that the participants only really take it seriously if they reach the last four. Then it’s a back door opportunity to qualify for the increasingly bloated international tournaments via the expanded play-off system, which England are unlikely to need.

 

Is that right? I thought seeding for qualifying was heavily weighted on performance at major tournaments, which would certainly make England top seeds. If it now goes on Nations League status (presumably for the Euros only) then relegation is more serious.

 

I can't stand Southgate. I wish he'd bugger off and take his rotten Marks and spencer waistcoats with him

 

In a tournament setting clean sheets and a solid defence generally ensure some semblance of progression through the stages. This coupled with our set-piece prowess gave us a good chance of nicking something in games. This was a solid strategy to rebuild the team, the confidence of the squad and nation whilst awaiting for some of the better young players come through. That has all happened and it was fantastic to see, but now Southgate is scared, we came so close to success with that formula but he doesn't want to change for fear of it failing, but now the original formula is failing.

It's time to ditch 3 at the back. It's time to adopt a hybrid style that meshes the styles of the top clubs where a majority of the squad plays their football. There's differences of course between Pep, Klopp and Artetas styles but also a lot of similarities and we've seen for their clubs that the players are effective in that 433 style.

Switch to a 433. Get Tomori in that starting 11. Get Trent in that starting 11.

It's time to evolve and trust that we can score goals, cos with the talent in that team - we will.

 

Just seen that Asprilla scored for Columbia. Nice!

On Southgate. Imo he's a terrible coach as I've already said a few times. His playstyle is boring and it's not getting you results you could get if you played to everyone's strength. He got lucky in the Euro's and even more so at the World Cup, where you had a relatively easy path and were favourites in most matches you played. This is just what it looks like from the outside, you know better as you follow your national team more closely, just wanted to say my take on it.

 

Good God.

 

A Freudian slip! He seems to shackle the players, not untie them. He does unite the squad though.

A decent man who should be one of football's policymakers but not a coach.