WORLD CUP .......

[AngelBlue]

Originally Posted by Sir Neil

Me too. If England win, then it will really lay down a marker for the Euros. We CAN beat big teams in games which matter, and the away win earlier on in the year won’t just have been a flash in the pan.

They are showing it on channel 4 , coverage from 7pm.
And oh yes, without a doubt we are right up there now as has been proven in the last few years.
I love this young team that we have now.
( And same with the lasses too ).
Exciting times !!

[Altair]

Originally Posted by Joe Mc

They looked pretty good in the second half of the Euros final against England I must say, 2021, or was that just a dream we had during Covid
Anyway I don't follow Serie A at all, so I presume that team, The European Champions has broken up with a few retirements and change of manager etc. ?

England have more creativity now then two years ago. Italy has lost its old duo at the back.

I watch Serie A, it is good. But Italy isn't producing a lot of world class players any more, I mean it's not like in the past.
England right now have a clear Ballon d'Or contender for the coming years, a good striker and a couple of other players that are really good. Not a top goalkeeper though, and Stones needs a better companion than Maguire. Not sure about Henderson.

But it looks better than Italy.
Right now I'd say France looks strongest, then England, Spain (without injuries), Portugal..

Don't think much about Belgium and Germany and hope they just lose...

[AngelBlue]

Altair , don't you rate Pickford as a goalie ? I thought he had performed really well for us .

[Joe Mc]

Originally Posted by Altair

England have more creativity now then two years ago. Italy has lost its old duo at the back. I watch Serie A, it is good. But Italy isn't producing a lot of world class players any more, I mean it's not like in the past.

They definitely look alot more creative. I agree with you about the Italians,
they had alot of outstanding players in the past. Baresi, Maldini, Pirlo, to name just a couple. Still not totally convinced about Southgate although he has done
well enough, but I think the paying punters now want them to win something and is Southgate the man to mess it up ?

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[AngelBlue]

Joe, one could argue that Southgate has put England back on the map. He has done amazingly well with our squad in recent years .

Sometimes people blame the managers but as we see in the league games the managers are shown no mercy whatsoever and sack them before the first game is over !!
Some of the criticism has to go to the team . The Managers, after all are not on the pitch kicking the ball.
As an Example Mark Hughes has been sacked from Bradford city after only 6 games !!!!

[Redchic12]

So true AngelB. Managers can’t perform miracles and I feel they are not given long enough with a team to make an impact in the PL.

I feel Gareth has done really well and his teams have all gotten near to the final. They would have been in the final only for Kane stuffing up the penalty so you can’t blame Gareth for that.

Our Aussie guy Ange Postecoglu is doing very well with Tottenham which has really surprised me. I thought he would last a couple of months and then get turfed out. Still there’s a long way to go yet. But so far so good.

I also reckon that City will go into a bit of a slump this year after all the hard work they put into getting three trophies last season. It happened to us when we got the three. It takes a hell of a lot out of players to accomplish that kinda feat and then expected to go onto do it again the next year. Don’t reckon they will win the PL this year. Just my guess tho.

[Altair]

When did Liverpool get three trophies in a season? Not a traditional ''treble'' I guess but with a league cup and community shield, next to CL or league? So either 19' or 20'?

[Joe Mc]

Originally Posted by AngelBlue

Joe, one could argue that Southgate has put England back on the map. He has done amazingly well with our squad in recent years .
!

He has been a very steadying influence no doubt about it. I think this is his greatest asset and is obviously
a good enough man manager and loyal too, look at Maguire, I think he is liked by the players and they trust him but I harken my mind back to
Bobby Robson, Terry Venables and Glen Hoddle too. I would argue that Robson and Venables got much closer than Southgate to winning a World Cup and Euros, they were literally the width of a goal post away from doing so. It has been said by folks who study the game that Southgate has made a couple of tactical errors that cost England big time in huge games. Anyway they still have a great chance of winning the Euros no doubt about it. Great players. Keep the punditry coming !!!

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[Joe Mc]

Originally Posted by Redchic12

Our Aussie guy Ange Postecoglu is doing very well with Tottenham which has really surprised me. I thought he would last a couple of months and then get turfed out. Still there’s a long way to go yet. But so far so good.

Loving what's happening at Spurs, have a soft spot for Tottenham as I worked
and lived there for a few years. Early days, Come on Ye Spurs !!

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[AngelBlue]

To Joe .. now listen Maccy boy, don't make me turn into Roy Keane.. you know you hate it when I do that LOL...
But please tell me which of the great managers you quote in post 1388 got England to the final of any world tournament ???
The answer is none !!!
In the other hand you seem to forget that England got to the Euro final in 2020 and lost to Italy which was the first time they had been in a world class tournament final since 1966 !
Who was their manager ??!!!!!!

LOL, sorry , couldn't resist !!!!!