England Vs Albania

[LeadBelly]

I'm alternating my viewing between England v Albania and Gloucester v Bath rugby.
At half time, England have scored 67% more than Bath.

[PadihamThickNeck]

We have a scary amount of good young players. It’s a never ending conveyor belt of talent.

[Untinted Glasses]

Man City vs England , still think it would be 4/5-0 city

[taio]

A ruthless half. I just hope they don't ease off and get two or three more. Kane is world class.

[gandhisflipflop]

I see Kane has decided to turn up in this game then.

[PadihamThickNeck]

Man City vs England , still think it would be 4/5-0 city

Walker, Stones, Sterling, Grealish & Foden do a half for each team ?

[Untinted Glasses]

Walker, Stones, Sterling, Grealish & Foden do a half for each team ?

it's called theoretical.

[taio]

I see Kane has decided to turn up in this game then.

As he has so often in the past.

[gandhisflipflop]

As he has so often in the past.

In the biggest games he goes missing

[conyoviejo]

Well thats as good a 45 mins of football Ive seen from any team this season. I reckon with this squad of players Southgate could easily win the Premier League and would be favourites for the Champions League

Job done so get some subs on, take the foot off the gas and stroll it home

You need to up your game DA ..

[ClaretTony]

I was expecting an England win but wasn’t expecting it to be so easy.

[ClaretTony]

I know it’s not fabulous opposition but James is some full back. We’ve an embarrassment of riches there

James was outstanding last week against us

[Devils_Advocate]

You need to up your game DA ..

No need for me to do anything. Southgate's England playing glorious football for some weird reason upsets posters on here more than I ever could.

Im just thoroughly enjoying the game like most other normal England fans will be doing

[chekhov]

No need for me to do anything. Southgate's England playing glorious football for some weird reason upsets posters on here more than I ever could.

Im just thoroughly enjoying the game like most other normal England fans will be doing

Eh? Who’s upset?

[taio]

In the biggest games he goes missing

By the time he finishes his career it's highly likely he will be both England and the Premier League's highest ever goal scorer.

[Stanbill05]

I was convinced to turn on at half time. 10 minutes later. Sames as it ever was. Dogger...

[Leisure]

Good half to watch.
Give England credit. Superb movement and quick passing.


How's Italy doing, Pete?

Shush!! Stil 1-1

[Devils_Advocate]

Eh? Who’s upset?

Plenty of Southgate haters on this board who cant stand to see him do well. Its like the weird Dyche haters on here who seem to take pleasure out of us losing.

They're all a strange bunch

[chekhov]

Eh? Who’s upset?

Ah, got it. Stanbill05.

[Stanbill05]

Ah, got it. Stanbill05.

Yep. Dogger.

[Stanbill05]

I'll switch off. It's bound to get back to being good again as soon as I do. Don't want to spoil it for everyone.

[Buxtonclaret]

How many subs are allowed now?

[tiger76]

Smith-Rowe on for his England debut, yet another one who's come through the ranks.

[Buxtonclaret]

Smith-Rowe on for his England debut, yet another one who's come through the ranks.

I've never, ever known England to have so many exceptional young players all over the pitch.

[Untinted Glasses]

I've never, ever known England to have so many exceptional young players all over the pitch.

Yep its like Epstein's island

[ClaretTony]

I've never, ever known England to have so many exceptional young players all over the pitch.

And without wishing to upset DA, imagine how good they’d be with a decent manager.

[Winstonswhite]

Smith-Rowe on for his England debut, yet another one who's come through the ranks.

This is the best crop of youngsters we’ve had come through in my lifetime.

[Aclaret]

How many subs are allowed now?

I think it's 12 Buxton.

[tiger76]

I've never, ever known England to have so many exceptional young players all over the pitch.

No neither have I, something is clearly working at the academies to produce all these starlets, the conundrum for Gareth is finding the right blend to give us the best possible chance of finally ending nearly 60 years of hurt.

[Buxtonclaret]

And without wishing to upset DA, imagine how good they’d be with a decent manager.

Well yes.
That's another story.

I'm not a Southgate hater. I'm sure he's a nice guy.
But I really don't think he's even a top club manager, never mind international level.

[Buxtonclaret]

I think it's 12 Buxton.

You might not be too far out there.

[Devils_Advocate]

And without wishing to upset DA, imagine how good they’d be with a decent manager.

Without wanting to upset the Southgate haters one of his main remits when he took over was to work on how we transition the best of our young talent from the U18s and u21s into the full team squad.

Under a "decent" manager there's no way all these players would have been brought into squads and given mins on the pitch so young and turned into such formidable internationals at such a young age.

When we're not slagging off Southgate saying he's blessed with unbelievably talented players the same people are slagging off half his team for being useless and questioning why Southgate picks them. Its a right quandary but I know my thoughts on it

[Vegas Claret]

another second half bore fest

[Stanbill05]

Don't think it matters who is in charge for games like these. A waste of a football weekend.

[Chobulous]

Great performance tonight, but somehow I just knew there would be no more goals in the second half.
One criticism of Southgate and that would be his insistence on picking Tammy Abraham’s. He is nowhere near good enough IMO

[Red Fox Rocks Socks]

James was outstanding last week against us

Agreed. He’s been outstanding whenever I’ve seen him these last couple of years.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Well yes.
That's another story.

I'm not a Southgate hater. I'm sure he's a nice guy.
But I really don't think he's even a top club manager, never mind international level.

He's been the best England manager for many a decade though.
He doesn't even get paid as much as Capello did and he was garbage.

Prior to Southgate, you just sort of knew England wouldn't do a great deal, they'd huff and puff a lot, but ultimately they'd fail in international tournaments, by the 1/4 finals usually, with the odd semi-final appearance if lucky.

With Southgate people are expecting him to reach the semifinals as a minimum , that's how well he's done.

Is he a top international manager?
That depends on what you're looking for from the manager.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Great performance tonight, but somehow I just knew there would be no more goals in the second half.
One criticism of Southgate and that would be his insistence on picking Tammy Abraham’s. He is nowhere near good enough IMO

He's giving him run outs to see if he makes a viable alternative in the event of Kane getting an injury and with DCL out injured who else would you use?

[ClaretTony]

Agreed. He’s been outstanding whenever I’ve seen him these last couple of years.

He got rave reviews when he was on loan at Wigan three seasons ago and has stepped up into Premier League football with ease.

[Buxtonclaret]

He's been the best England manager for many a decade though.
He doesn't even get paid as much as Capello did and he was garbage.

Prior to Southgate, you just sort of knew England wouldn't do a great deal, they'd huff and puff a lot, but ultimately they'd fail in international tournaments, by the 1/4 finals usually, with the odd semi-final appearance if lucky.

With Southgate people are expecting him to reach the semifinals as a minimum , that's how well he's done.

Is he a top international manager?
That depends on what you're looking for from the manager.

I just don't rate him, Sid.
When you think of what someone like Bobby Robson would have done with the wealth of talent Southgate has had to work with?
Even El Tel would have had something good going.
I just think Southgate a very average club manager with the sort of profile the suits want in situ.

[Devils_Advocate]

He's been the best England manager for many a decade though.
He doesn't even get paid as much as Capello did and he was garbage.

Prior to Southgate, you just sort of knew England wouldn't do a great deal, they'd huff and puff a lot, but ultimately they'd fail in international tournaments, by the 1/4 finals usually, with the odd semi-final appearance if lucky.

With Southgate people are expecting him to reach the semifinals as a minimum , that's how well he's done.

Is he a top international manager?
That depends on what you're looking for from the manager.

People have short memory's. 7 or 8 years ago we were looking at the German set up and bemoaning how they seemed to build a squad through the youth set up and bring them in young with a blend of experience whereas we just used the same tried and tested big named 30 somethings.

Southgate has spearheaded the massive change in approach at England just as Dyche transformed the culture and set up of our clunb and 5 years on England are reaping the rewards. The reality is without Southgate this group of players that we now take for granted would not be the almost clublike international squad that is delivering the best results since '66

[tiger76]

He's been the best England manager for many a decade though.
He doesn't even get paid as much as Capello did and he was garbage.

Prior to Southgate, you just sort of knew England wouldn't do a great deal, they'd huff and puff a lot, but ultimately they'd fail in international tournaments, by the 1/4 finals usually, with the odd semi-final appearance if lucky.

With Southgate people are expecting him to reach the semifinals as a minimum , that's how well he's done.

Is he a top international manager?
That depends on what you're looking for from the manager.

The FA clearly agrees with you as reports are hinting he'll get his current contract extended to Euro 2024, and I see no reason why he shouldn't be given another couple of tournaments as he's turned England into an outfit who now go deep in major tournaments, so why would you risk appointing someone new, and GS obviously has the respect of all the England squad.

[ClaretTony]

I just don't rate him, Sid.
When you think of what someone like Bobby Robson would have done with the wealth of talent Southgate has had to work with?
Even El Tel would have had something good going.
I just think Southgate a very average club manager with the sort of profile the suits want in situ.

Shame Venables didn’t want the job. He’d repaired the Taylor mess ready for Hoddle.

Sir Bobby benefited from some good fortune in two World Cups but in the end went out to a cheating goal and a penalty shoot out. And with a squad nowhere as good as we have now.

[Volvoclaret]

Rubbish 2nd half. Kane a one half wonder. Subs all useless. Luckily we've got a brilliant keeper tonight, no-one anywhere near Jordan in Prem. Oh and Southgate hasn't a clue get Steve Bruce in.
Hope that keeps the usual suspects happy.

[Stanbill05]

You give him too much credit DA (if you are being genuine this time). The club's own the progress.

[Winstonswhite]

Shame Venables didn’t want the job. He’d repaired the Taylor mess ready for Hoddle.

Sir Bobby benefited from some good fortune in two World Cups but in the end went out to a cheating goal and a penalty shoot out. And with a squad nowhere as good as we have now.

Did we not start the Argie game in 86 with Steve Hodge and Peter Reid in the centre of midfield? Enough said.

[Devils_Advocate]

Bobby Robsons defence inc Walker, Butcher, and Pearce is better than ours today and Bryan Robson, Platt, Gascoigne and John Barnes were top class midfielders and thats before you mention Lineker up front.

In the 1990 World Cup Robson failed to win one match inside 90 mins including Egypt, Ireland and Cameroon

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I just don't rate him, Sid.
When you think of what someone like Bobby Robson would have done with the wealth of talent Southgate has had to work with?
Even El Tel would have had something good going.
I just think Southgate a very average club manager with the sort of profile the suits want in situ.

We aren't talking about Southgate's club record and for what it's worth I agree he was bang average at that level.

He's done a very very good job for England, fans enjoy watching them again and the players appear to give a toss aswell.

Robson and El Tel were managers of their time, there's zero guarantee they'd do any better than Southgate with this lot of players.
Neither of those 2 got us to the final of an international tournament though.

Southgate doesn't stick to one formation, he isn't afraid to try new things and to date it's working very well.

[RVclaret]

Great performance tonight, but somehow I just knew there would be no more goals in the second half.
One criticism of Southgate and that would be his insistence on picking Tammy Abraham’s. He is nowhere near good enough IMO

Abraham been playing well for Roma. Who else is there to pick?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

You give him too much credit DA (if you are being genuine this time). The club's own the progress.

That would apply to every England manager then.
Southgate is picking teams, players who can do more than one job and moulding them into something that's actually effective for once.

Why shouldn't he get any credit?