MikeH72
Player Valuation: £100m
They’re going to go far in tournaments for the foreseeable future and that’s fine fam, don’t let it get to you. You’ve still got rugby union.
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Today's Football 2018-19 Season
- Thread starter ToffeeDan
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They’re going to go far in tournaments for the foreseeable future and that’s fine fam, don’t let it get to you. You’ve still got rugby union.
MikeH72
Player Valuation: £100m
Portugal are done, especially once Ronaldo’s decline begins. Netherlands are improving but they’re managed by that fat mess and still have Ryan Babel getting games so they’ve still got some way to go. Quarters for them at best.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
The Czech's aren't great and comparisons with England's top quality opponents in the Nations League (Spain and Croatia), where every match meant something with relegation or winning the group at stake to the end, were perhaps accentuated.
The Nations League format without the weaker teams in the top sections contrasts with the ever more bloated finals in other tournaments and their interminable mind numbingly boring qualifying tournaments.
The Nations League will be many peoples favourite tournament in years to come, it will be huge.
Last night was England as the way they see themselves now, picking off the next highest ranked team in their Euro 2020 qualifying group with considerable ease in these high-expectation, post-Russia days. They were forced to make changes following six withdrawals and even so were superior all over the pitch but what so many of the top ranked nations would give for a player like Sterling, able to score all sorts of goals.
England are now just very good, Southgate’s side are ranked fifth in the world and no one could deny that for once, the men in white shirts, are playing like one of the big guns too.
The Nations League format without the weaker teams in the top sections contrasts with the ever more bloated finals in other tournaments and their interminable mind numbingly boring qualifying tournaments.
The Nations League will be many peoples favourite tournament in years to come, it will be huge.
Last night was England as the way they see themselves now, picking off the next highest ranked team in their Euro 2020 qualifying group with considerable ease in these high-expectation, post-Russia days. They were forced to make changes following six withdrawals and even so were superior all over the pitch but what so many of the top ranked nations would give for a player like Sterling, able to score all sorts of goals.
England are now just very good, Southgate’s side are ranked fifth in the world and no one could deny that for once, the men in white shirts, are playing like one of the big guns too.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
The thing about England these days, is it feels like you are watching an England TEAM, rather than a group of English players who play well for their clubs in an England shirt.
Think the quality of most International teams has gone downhill big time myself.
Youve got Brazil and Argieland constantly drawing or getting smashed by no marks, the Germans look very poor, Italy the same, Portugal without CR7 are shocking. Didnt even watch the England games, but their results show they are a decent side, with some very good young players coming through. The scene is set for them to go deep in most comps for the next few years for sure.
If only they had a good manager.
Youve got Brazil and Argieland constantly drawing or getting smashed by no marks, the Germans look very poor, Italy the same, Portugal without CR7 are shocking. Didnt even watch the England games, but their results show they are a decent side, with some very good young players coming through. The scene is set for them to go deep in most comps for the next few years for sure.
If only they had a good manager.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Southgate is a billion miles from being a top level PL manager, agreed. But in this England set up, it works. He has worked inside the system, with these players, for ages.
Sometimes things click. The worst thing England could do is dump him for some sexy "Name"
Ring master
Player Valuation: £90m
If any want to watch how Gueye gets on for Senegal v Madagascar,started at 7
Well 2 of the most improved International sides, other than England, are Belgium and Holland and im sure you will agree that neither have a good manager.
Im not sure managers matter greatly at International football myself, its about whether the players buy into the National pride aspect, lets face it, giving credit to somebody who trains these players for a week every 6months is a bit rich really isnt it.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Totally agree. The Germans have been over in England recently, seeing what the FA have done. And it goes back probably 10 years or so. The system, the facilities, the seamless moves through the age groups. The 1st team manager just has to be in that system.
Will they win sommet? No idea, but it is a far more enjoyable experience now than a Golden Generation being "managed" by Capello.
Lelouch
(ง •̀ゝ•́)ง
Agreed, I think the International stage has been at it's weakest for quite a long time but it's more open that way so maybe it's for the better.
Old Blue 2
Player Valuation: £35m
Watched the second half of Malta v Faroe Islands. 1-0 to Malta at half-time.
Pen to FI, red card to Malta defender. Penalty missed.
Malta with 10 men go up the other end, get a pen and score.
7 added minutes, FI score in added time and it all kicked off! Handbags from players of both sides, and yellow cards aplenty.
Final score, 2-1 to Malta.
Far more entertaining than the sophisticated crap we are all-too-often served up from supposedly more entertaining players.
Pen to FI, red card to Malta defender. Penalty missed.
Malta with 10 men go up the other end, get a pen and score.
7 added minutes, FI score in added time and it all kicked off! Handbags from players of both sides, and yellow cards aplenty.
Final score, 2-1 to Malta.
Far more entertaining than the sophisticated crap we are all-too-often served up from supposedly more entertaining players.
Chris O'Connor
Player Valuation: £35m
Southgate has been absolutely exceptional since he took over, a huge surprise to me but i really can't fault him.
He's thrown out short termism and gone with a strategy for building a system that can last beyond just a single tournament. He's shown a willingness to play young stars where he sees raw talent and has shown adaptability varying playing systems with three or four at the back and plenty of pace to support Kane upfront.
He didnt inherit a top quality squad like Martinez full of hugely recognizable names, he's had to develop his strategy from scratch.
A quite remarkable job, its hard to think anyone could have done it better.
I agree with everything you say, I just dont consider him a good manager myself, but yes, hes really doing a great job truth be told.
Ring master
Player Valuation: £90m
Gueye just cliped the cross bar on 32mins with free kick just outside the area
He's clearly not a good manager in club football, however I do feel that he is showing himself to be a more than competent international manager.
You're right that they don't train the players that often, so we have to be careful with praise, but he's bought into a system and is utilising it to the best of his ability.
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