[hilly81]

It?s fine to be absolutely delighted that we are in the semi final and at the same time acknowledge that we have stunk the tournament out so far. We haven?t played any team that is anywhere near the top 10 in the world yet. The Dutch will be the first proper test. We have exceptional attacking players but don?t create any chances. They look hamstrung by the way the team sets up. But they are getting the job done. Just. Hopefully that will continue.

[Westbars Spireite]

calvin plummers socks, on 07 July 2024 - 09:04 AM, said:

I think most of the nation are happy - I don?t think a Chesterfield message board with its old moaners is representative of a nation lol - God help us if it was

It is though.

[Blue roan lily]

I look at it like this.
We?ve not played great although yesterday was better
France have been rammel and got there
Holland have not been sparkling
Spain have played the best and deserve the title as favourites
BUT we have got a chance and could still go on to win the whole thing
Good luck to em I say

[Tylerdurdencfc]

sophocles, on 07 July 2024 - 02:36 PM, said:

It would be great if the teams we support could always win and 'entertain' at the same time, but if you're entering a competition, surely the prime aim is to win, looking pretty comes second, though some of our posters appear to believe the reverse is true. Regarding managers, Southgate is by far the best manager England have ever had IMO. The achievement of Alf Ramsey can never be diminished, but a lot of people forget how many advantages he had in 1966. The competition was on home soil, he had the best goalkeeper in the world, Gordon Banks, the best CH Bobby Moore, the best midfielder Bobby Charlton, and a CF in Hurst who proved to be the only striker ever to score a WorldCup final hat-trick. This was backed up by excellent defenders in Jack Charlton, Cohen & Wilson, and top class midfielders Alan Ball, Nobby Styles and Martin Peters. Ramsey also had massive strokes of good fortune such as the Argentine captain being sent off in the quarter final, and a crucial goal given in the final by a linesman who was not in a position to judge conclusively that the ball had crossed the line. As I've said, nothing can reduce the greatness of the 1966 achievement, but it doesn't mean Ramsey can automatically be named as England's best ever manager. Southgate, on the other hand, has had to deal with hugely increased media scrutiny, and vastly highly paid and high profile players. The job he has done in building a harmonious squad mentality and producing excellent results in the biggest competitions against opponents who are relatively far stronger than most were in 1966, makes him, in my view, the best England manager to date.

Never known so much bull in one post. I bet you were a happy clapper under Rushbury, Saunders, and others. You'd be the one still clapping at the end of a 7-0 loss away at Plymouth were they took their 3 best players off at half time I bet.

The current England team have the best player in Premiership last season, the top scorer in the German League, the best player in the Spanish League and potentially the world, along with an abundance of ypung talent that are being totally mis-managed.

I guess, Portugal, Brazil, West Germany and the others in 1966 were all crappie then. And by the way Sir Alf, took the decision to leave JG out of the team in favour of GH, a brave tactical decision to make and not one that Southgate would evwr contemplate doing. Kane has been awful, and should have being hooked off in numerous games. The team looks much more fluid without him.

Southgates record against the top 10 ranked teams in won 6 in 28 games. Appalling, the reason is he is clueless tactically and defensive minded and its boring football.

Bellingham and Saka's individual brilliance has get home this far, nothing else, otherwise we would have been on the plane home a while ago, with everyone slating him.

Even the pundits have had to keep it down a tone as you can clearly see they've all been frustrated and tried not to get on his back.

This post has been edited by Tylerdurdencfc: 07 July 2024 - 07:03 PM

[Tylerdurdencfc]

Blue roan lily, on 07 July 2024 - 05:19 PM, said:

I look at it like this.
We?ve not played great although yesterday was better
France have been rammel and got there
Holland have not been sparkling
Spain have played the best and deserve the title as favourites
BUT we have got a chance and could still go on to win the whole thing
Good luck to em I say

Does this prove that this year's Euro's are the easiest they have ever been? Teams playing rubbish and still making their way through.

Wouldn't have been like that in 1996, early and late 2000s and early 2010s. Imagine the Spanish and French teams of the past compared to this rammer that has been served up.

[JonB]

I think the fuss over England has taken attention away from the fact no one had been that great to date.

[Brookie]

The frustration is that if England do get it right they have a good chance of winning the tournament

[DIFH]

Brookie, on 07 July 2024 - 07:09 PM, said:

The frustration is that if England do get it right they have a good chance of winning the tournament

Thankfully we seem not to bottle penalties. Southgate is approaching games as 120 minutes thus the reluctance to sub earlier. 3 at the back is the elephant in the room for Holland, will he revert back to square one now everyone is available.

[calvin plummers socks]

Westbars Spireite, on 07 July 2024 - 05:08 PM, said:

It is though.

lol can you imagine if it was - Lawd help us

[Mr Mercury]

DIFH, on 07 July 2024 - 07:43 PM, said:

Thankfully we seem not to bottle penalties. Southgate is approaching games as 120 minutes thus the reluctance to sub earlier. 3 at the back is the elephant in the room for Holland, will he revert back to square one now everyone is available.

Why on earth would you be approaching the games as 120 mins, and exhaust everyone even more, when you have the players to win in 90 mins? Like as been mentioned on here countless times the late equalisers weren't a result of some 120 min / penalties master plan, they happened when we were dead on our legs and out on our feet but two pieces of individual brilliance, the type of play Southgate has stifled throughout the tournament, got us over the line!

[sophocles]

Tylerdurdencfc, on 07 July 2024 - 06:56 PM, said:

Never known so much bull in one post. I bet you were a happy clapper under Rushbury, Saunders, and others. You'd be the one still clapping at the end of a 7-0 loss away at Plymouth were they took their 3 best players off at half time I bet.

The current England team have the best player in Premiership last season, the top scorer in the German League, the best player in the Spanish League and potentially the world, along with an abundance of ypung talent that are being totally mis-managed.

I guess, Portugal, Brazil, West Germany and the others in 1966 were all crappie then. And by the way Sir Alf, took the decision to leave JG out of the team in favour of GH, a brave tactical decision to make and not one that Southgate would evwr contemplate doing. Kane has been awful, and should have being hooked off in numerous games. The team looks much more fluid without him.

Southgates record against the top 10 ranked teams in won 6 in 28 games. Appalling, the reason is he is clueless tactically and defensive minded and its boring football.

Bellingham and Saka's individual brilliance has get home this far, nothing else, otherwise we would have been on the plane home a while ago, with everyone slating him.

Even the pundits have had to keep it down a tone as you can clearly see they've all been frustrated and tried not to get on his back.

I think they might be 'toning it down' because they realise they have been over-critical of a manager who has got his team into the last 4 of a major competition. Since you obviously have far more coaching knowledge then GS, having pointed out all of his shortcomings, I hope you will be sending a list of your own coaching and management qualifications and experience to the FA as soon as possible. I can't wait to see England storm to victory in the next World Cup playing nothing but open, attacking football under your expert guidance.

[Lincs Spireite]

sophocles, on 07 July 2024 - 01:49 PM, said:

I'll say it again - absolutely bonkers, entitled nonsense. Competitions are for participants striving to WIN, not to look nice. Maybe you'd prefer the England squad to ignore competitions altogether, and spend their time playing friendly exhibition matches to demonstrate how nicely they can play. You moaners and whingers are IMO, absolutely ridiculous, (putting it as politely as possible).

Nothing bonkers about it. Fans pay a not inconsiderable amount of money to be ENTERTAINED, now of you are totally happy to watch boring football then great but a lot are not. Yes winning is important but not at the expense of entertainment. I would rather watch a team giving it's all and going for it in an effort to outscore the opposition. That's entertainment. Watching the way Southgate wants them to play is as exciting as watching paint dry even if he gets lucky with the draw and odd flashes of brilliance. He is driving a ferrari with the handbrake on.

[60s 70s Spireite]

If club football was as boring as most of the games served up at this tournament, attendances would drop alarmingly. Broadcasters would run a mile from the sport.

Few entries into the penalty area, very few efforts on goal, some of the most gifted players, especially representing England, reduced to ensuring their pass completion record looks good.

I can?t wait for the League Two season to start.

[Brookie]

Tournament football is boring because teams concentrate on not losing rather than winning
It?s stupid that France can get to the semis without one of their players scoring in game time

[Phil V 72]

Brookie, on 07 July 2024 - 07:09 PM, said:

The frustration is that if England do get it right they have a good chance of winning the tournament

Knowing England, the first time we play well is when we?ll unluckily go out.

[calvin plummers socks]

Lincs Spireite, on 08 July 2024 - 05:28 AM, said:

Nothing bonkers about it. Fans pay a not inconsiderable amount of money to be ENTERTAINED, now of you are totally happy to watch boring football then great but a lot are not. Yes winning is important but not at the expense of entertainment. I would rather watch a team giving it's all and going for it in an effort to outscore the opposition. That's entertainment. Watching the way Southgate wants them to play is as exciting as watching paint dry even if he gets lucky with the draw and odd flashes of brilliance. He is driving a ferrari with the handbrake on.

No one pays to be entertained! If you want entertainment go to a show- this is sport

[hilly81]

calvin plummers socks, on 08 July 2024 - 07:02 AM, said:

No one pays to be entertained! If you want entertainment go to a show- this is sport

I completely agree with this. I don?t pay to be entertained. I pay to see my team win. Entertainment is a bonus. What I do want to see is a team playing to its strengths and getting the maximum out of itself. This England team just isn?t doing that yet.

[Goku]

We score when we abandon Southgate?s football terrorism tactics - when we rely on our players? individual brilliance, rather than the dour style he has us playing in for the majority of the match.

[JonB]

hilly81, on 08 July 2024 - 07:06 AM, said:

I completely agree with this. I don?t pay to be entertained. I pay to see my team win. Entertainment is a bonus. What I do want to see is a team playing to its strengths and getting the maximum out of itself. This England team just isn?t doing that yet.

I can imagine the fun on here if we lost a load of games in a run but at least we did it in an entertaining manner.....

[jonnythespireite]

Tylerdurdencfc, on 07 July 2024 - 06:56 PM, said:

Never known so much bull in one post. I bet you were a happy clapper under Rushbury, Saunders, and others. You'd be the one still clapping at the end of a 7-0 loss away at Plymouth were they took their 3 best players off at half time I bet.

The current England team have the best player in Premiership last season, the top scorer in the German League, the best player in the Spanish League and potentially the world, along with an abundance of ypung talent that are being totally mis-managed.

I guess, Portugal, Brazil, West Germany and the others in 1966 were all crappie then. And by the way Sir Alf, took the decision to leave JG out of the team in favour of GH, a brave tactical decision to make and not one that Southgate would evwr contemplate doing. Kane has been awful, and should have being hooked off in numerous games. The team looks much more fluid without him.

Southgates record against the top 10 ranked teams in won 6 in 28 games. Appalling, the reason is he is clueless tactically and defensive minded and its boring football.

Bellingham and Saka's individual brilliance has get home this far, nothing else, otherwise we would have been on the plane home a while ago, with everyone slating him.

Even the pundits have had to keep it down a tone as you can clearly see they've all been frustrated and tried not to get on his back.

Hurst played in 66 because Greaves was injured.