[gavinrussell]

Southgate  "England won't become Spain in 8 months"..😂😂😂😂 just knock the 8 months off that statement...

[Legend]

The problem with England is we are now obsessed with trying to play possession football like Spain because we think that's the way to progress. Rubbish. The players are used to the quick tempo of the Premier League we should not be playing football at a snail's pace we should be direct with the likes of Sterling, Rashford and Ali running at defenders. Not convinced by Southgate.

[tommcneill]

The problem with England is we are now obsessed with trying to play possession football like Spain because we think that's the way to progress. Rubbish. The players are used to the quick tempo of the Premier League we should not be playing football at a snail's pace we should be direct with the likes of Sterling, Rashford and Ali running at defenders. Not convinced by Southgate.

Been saying this for years fella

We try and adopt a continental approach that European teams have honed over the years whereas we look better playing 100mph football I call it

I don’t get why we’re trying to play teams at their own game when we have our own which is massively effective. It’s the reason we dont compete at European level in club football anymore either we’ve lost our identity

[WBArgo]

Been saying this for years fella

We try and adopt a continental approach that European teams have honed over the years whereas we look better playing 100mph football I call it

I don’t get why we’re trying to play teams at their own game when we have our own which is massively effective. It’s the reason we dont compete at European level in club football anymore either we’ve lost our identity

Agree, growing up we were meant to mimic the Italians, then the Dutch, then the Spaniards and now it's the Germans whose models we try and mimic. In the meantime, football continues to evolve and change and by the time you've adopted their system, which takes years to replicate, the game has moved on and you're back to square one.

There's nothing wrong with English footballers, we've produced Champions League winners for years - we just need the right coach which seems an impossibility with the FA's appointments down the years.

[Legend]

This is why I don't really blame Roy for the England failures. He was managing to the FA blueprint. I wished Big Sam was still in charge as he's not a yes man and would have played to the team's strengths. He's also very clued up about the mental side of things and I think he would have sorted us out at the World Cup.

[Hull Baggie]

Are you being serious? That's the same as we play rubbish!

Watched the Northern Ireland V Germany game as it was live on German Tv (had a few days in Berlin). Couldn't believe how similar N.I. are to ourselves, sideways; backwards passing followed by a launched long ball which inevitable gives possession back to the opposition.
 Brunt played okay at left back, McAuley also okay, Evans was mostly good but made a massive error for the 3rd German goal just a headed "clearance" that went across goal straight to the back post for Kimmich to volley in, not sure what he was trying to do.

[SmethDan]

Watched the Northern Ireland V Germany game as it was live on German Tv (had a few days in Berlin). Couldn't believe how similar N.I. are to ourselves, sideways; backwards passing followed by a launched long ball which inevitable gives possession back to the opposition.
 Brunt played okay at left back, McAuley also okay, Evans was mostly good but made a massive error for the 3rd German goal just a headed "clearance" that went across goal straight to the back post for Kimmich to volley in, not sure what he was trying to do.

Think he panicked and tried to get a head on it in the hope their packed defence would be able to clear the second ball.

Didn't happen though.

[GREGMT]

So many deep-rooted problems with England.  I’ll name a few.

1. Youth team coaches overall are poor.  So these kids are brought up as athletes playing the long ball, instead of an emphasis on skill such as Brazil/Spain.
2. Playing in club teams full of foreigners who are better players.  Therefore brutally exposed in an England shirt.
3. Are generally less bright than European counterparts so cannot think on their feet during games and switch tactically.
4. Do not play abroad as a footballing finishing school therefore are not well rounded footballers.
5. Overpaid lazy can’t think on their feet so crumble in a pressure situation.
6. Always a clique present so players from lesser clubs are treated with a lack of respect.
7. Managers are generally yes men and lack a ruthless edge with selection.
8. Fans overhype the players making them believe they’re better than they are. 

Until the FA stand up and be counted then nothing will change.

[costa blanca baggie]

So many deep-rooted problems with England.  I’ll name a few.

1. Youth team coaches overall are poor.  So these kids are brought up as athletes playing the long ball, instead of an emphasis on skill such as Brazil/Spain.
2. Playing in club teams full of foreigners who are better players.  Therefore brutally exposed in an England shirt.
3. Are generally less bright than European counterparts so cannot think on their feet during games and switch tactically.
4. Do not play abroad as a footballing finishing school therefore are not well rounded footballers.
5. Overpaid lazy can’t think on their feet so crumble in a pressure situation.
6. Always a clique present so players from lesser clubs are treated with a lack of respect.
7. Managers are generally yes men and lack a ruthless edge with selection.
8. Fans overhype the players making them believe they’re better than they are. 

Until the FA stand up and be counted then nothing will change.

Wasn’t Dan the Man recruited to iron out these problems?

[Hull Baggie]

So many deep-rooted problems with England.  I’ll name a few.

1. Youth team coaches overall are poor.  So these kids are brought up as athletes playing the long ball, instead of an emphasis on skill such as Brazil/Spain.
2. Playing in club teams full of foreigners who are better players.  Therefore brutally exposed in an England shirt.
3. Are generally less bright than European counterparts so cannot think on their feet during games and switch tactically.
4. Do not play abroad as a footballing finishing school therefore are not well rounded footballers.
5. Overpaid lazy can’t think on their feet so crumble in a pressure situation.
6. Always a clique present so players from lesser clubs are treated with a lack of respect.
7. Managers are generally yes men and lack a ruthless edge with selection.
8. Fans overhype the players making them believe they’re better than they are. 

Until the FA stand up and be counted then nothing will change.

Didn't the U19's win the European Championships and the U20's the World Cup this year? Seems like the youth players are doing okay.

[tommcneill]

Didn't the U19's win the European Championships and the U20's the World Cup this year? Seems like the youth players are doing okay.

That’s what I thought 

[GREGMT]

That’s what I thought 

Ok fair enough credit where it’s due.  What about the other 7 statements.

[Atomic]

Didn't the U19's win the European Championships and the U20's the World Cup this year? Seems like the youth players are doing okay.

Yes but it is a huge jump to senior football. The athleticism which we generally select will win games at a younger age against youngsters who aren't that robust but are better technically. When those technical players develop more physically they overtake the athletes generally.

[SmethDan]

So many deep-rooted problems with England.  I’ll name a few.

1. Youth team coaches overall are poor.  So these kids are brought up as athletes playing the long ball, instead of an emphasis on skill such as Brazil/Spain.
2. Playing in club teams full of foreigners who are better players.  Therefore brutally exposed in an England shirt.
3. Are generally less bright than European counterparts so cannot think on their feet during games and switch tactically.
4. Do not play abroad as a footballing finishing school therefore are not well rounded footballers.
5. Overpaid lazy can’t think on their feet so crumble in a pressure situation.
6. Always a clique present so players from lesser clubs are treated with a lack of respect.
7. Managers are generally yes men and lack a ruthless edge with selection.
8. Fans overhype the players making them believe they’re better than they are.

Until the FA stand up and be counted then nothing will change.

From a personal perspective I think it's the media who over hype the players. You only have to read forums such as this to realise that many supporters don't buy into it.

As for players thinking they're better than they are again look to the press, the TV companies and arguably under developed emotional intelligence.

I've read a lot about our youth set up (more local level). There seems to be an increasing emphasis on giving young players a more grounded approach to life. Hopefully this approach will reap it's own rewards in the long term.

[gavinrussell]

Settling down to watch Spurs play Lithuania

[gavinrussell]

And just to complete the Spurs show..Doddle is commentating...yawnnnnnnn

[17GD]

Southgate said England don't have any big players. Sounds a little crazy, but could we not use half a dozen "top" players and make up the rest from lower teams like in the Championship? Some games call for passion rather than skill. As we know, that's what the lower leagues are all about.

England are just plain dull, surely if we had lower players it would shake the whole system up a bit and make the games more exciting. I still don't quite know why I watch England play.

[gerry m]

Southgate said England don't have any big players. Sounds a little crazy, but could we not use half a dozen "top" players and make up the rest from lower teams like in the Championship? Some games call for passion rather than skill. As we know, that's what the lower leagues are all about.

England are just plain dull, surely if we had lower players it would shake the whole system up a bit and make the games more exciting. I still don't quite know why I watch England play.

I'm sure a lot of the England players think they are big time!. Do you think they don't respect Southgate as a coach. Nice guy says all the right things at the right time but is he the man to take England forward.

[liverbaggie]

 I always look forward to an England game.
Why do they always disappoint?
Its excruciating to watch,remind you of anyone?

[The Black Pearl]

I always look forward to an England game.
Why do they always disappoint?
Its excruciating to watch,remind you of anyone?

But England had lots of possession, it therefor must be great to watch.

[TheJacko2000]

But England had lots of possession, it therefor must be great to watch.

Southgate for Albion? That's the sort of manager we'd be looking st if TP resigned.

[tommcneill]

Ok fair enough credit where it’s due.  What about the other 7 statements.

7 & 8 you have a point

The other 5 statements are personal opinion and not something I agree with to be fair

[WBAinDEVON]

will we take our 2017 world cup winners into the national full side

[TheJacko2000]

will we take our 2017 world cup winners into the national full side

No of course not.

[WBAinDEVON]

I meant the performances long term or will they just fizzle out