Football thread 2022/23

[Gabe]

I didn't watch it, but I see Toney didn't get any minutes at all. What was the point of calling him up just to leave him on the bench? At least try something different in what was a dead-rubber of a game.

[feltmonkey]

I reckon Gary Linekar is about right here - 

 

 

[ryodi]

Channel 4 have stuck a ridiculously large sponsor tag  on their highlights of the game.

 

 

[dizogg]

12 minutes ago, ryodi said:

Channel 4 have stuck a ridiculously large sponsor tag  on their highlights of the game.

 

 

The game has gone.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I see Watford have sneaked in our customary international break sacking. 

 

Rob Edwards has been far from convincing but our dunce of a CEO was making all the right noises at the start of the season - we're a different club now now, this guy is the one, a change of culture etc. Actual quote: 'we'll back him come hell or high water'. Fucking clowns. 

 

[Naysonymous]

10 hours ago, Yobo Ahoy said:

I see Watford have sneaked in our customary international break sacking. 

 

Rob Edwards has been far from convincing but our dunce of a CEO was making all the right noises at the start of the season - we're a different club now now, this guy is the one, a change of culture etc. Actual quote: 'we'll back him come hell or high water'. Fucking clowns. 

 

 

 

The Queen died, Liz Truss is Prime Minister, Kwasi Kwarteng seems to be running the Exchequer for the benefit of his former colleagues in the hedge fund caper and  as a result the pound is worth about a dollar.  There's a war in Europe and we had 40°c days in the summer. Italy just elected a fascist, and worst of all somebody in Liverpool has photographic evidence of a Freddo being sold for 49p.    I'm pretty sure that the Pozzos could claim the "hell or high water" clause has been triggered on a technicality. 

[Loik V credern]

12 hours ago, feltmonkey said:

I reckon Gary Linekar is about right here - 

 

 

 

That's what I've been thinking the last few days with everyone saying we have lots of talent but the midfield still seems very thin, Bellingham aside we haven't produced central midfielders like we have fullbacks and wingers. 

 

I doubt Southgate will do anything different than the Euros, to me it still seems like trying to win by mostly the other team being unable to win, then taking chances, which Southgate insists that's how tournaments go. I always think 'masterclass' supposes there is only one way to win a game when it goes our way.

 

The take away from the Euros was that the team that did win it played more football than any other team in the year before and during the tournament. More of a team than just hoping individuals produce something out of nothing occassionly. 

 

Jonathan Wilson was on the side of Southgate on football weekly, England unusually playing harder teams before a tournaments than ever before, and players being knackered. Early on with Southgate there were definitely signs in some games of the attacking talent being given freedom and that we'd see this group improving each year, culminating in this world cup, and I think everyone has forgotten that inbetween getting to a semi final and final.

 

There has been no improvement in the play. I just take it as Wilson being a lifelong Sunderland fan that he's used to low expectations, England just about winning because the other team misses their chances seems anti climatic to me, I would rather we saw the best of some of these players but went out in the quarters. I can imagine Saka and Rashford scoring their penalties and England winning and I don't think that would have made for an exciting, iconic tournament run and win, but I know most disagree. 

 

Wilson also said Argentina haven't played tough teams during their almost record breaking run of form, but they're still playing consistently good football and go into the tournament as favourites or joint favourites with Brazil. They look balanced rather than just they're battering teams they should do. 

 

When people say 'but what job would Southgate be offered if he left now?' makes me think of Solskjaer's reputation, it's funny that there's two managers who have taken the two biggest football jobs in the country, and some of the biggest in world football, got to semi finals and finals but not quite won, produced exciting moments but also lots of tedium, both have holes in the midfield and rely on individual moments to win games, and both not regarded enough to apparently be offered a premier league job, as though just imagining it doesn't look right. And everyone always thinks..there's more that can be squeezed out of this team isn't there. 

 

I hope Argentina wins it so everyone shuts up about filmsy arguments against Messi, in the year before and during their Copa win he was incredible for Argentina but most people watched the other world cups he was still great in but not as we hoped and judge him on those, now he's finally got a more balanced team and it won't be after a long season when he's heavy legged. 

[Plissken]

Pope will get dropped because of his mistake and Maguire won't.

[Gabe]

There's a lot I agree with there @Loik V credern. During the Euros run a lot of people on here were praising Southgate's tactical approach, whereas - much like in the World Cup - the first time they had to play properly good team, they couldn't keep up.

 

In the Euros final in particular, England were battered all over the pitch for much of the game because the approach is mainly 'don't try to concede' rather than taking it to the opposition. It's unlikely he will change - and why would he? - because however dull it may be to watch at times, he does have the evidence to say that it isn't without merit.

 

[Gabe]

15 minutes ago, Plissken said:

Pope will get dropped because of his mistake and Maguire won't.

Yes, and? Pope has had two games to demonstrate he should be closer to getting the number 1 jersey but his kicking is awful and he's made a costly mistake leading to a goal. He hasn't really put his case forward, has he? And 'keepers are always treated more harshly than outfield players, but that's the nature of the job.

 

Maguire has been rubbish for a long time at club level, but for England he's built up a lot of credit in the bank, which Pope hasn't. Of course he won't be dropped because of last night, but I can understand the reason why, even if I would personally drop him were I in charge.

 

Besides, unless Pickford had a terrible 6 weeks in the PL, he was always coming straight back into the team anyway - so Pope was back in the bench regardless. Its just now he may be third choice instead of second.

[Plissken]

Maguire has been repeatedly shit for England, too.  But is undroppable, because he plays for Man Utd.

 

Anyway, this weeks Squires is excellent and of particulr interest to @neoELITE

 

 

[The Fox]

Good to see the Burnley persecution complex as strong as ever.

[Gabe]

Yeah, if I was going to play the 'small club vs big club bias' I would've gone with Toney being picked but not getting a kick, in a position we genuinely need to get some backup in and try some people out.

 

Not someone who has been in a number of England squads, had a couple of chances and didn't do great versus somebody who has largely been very good for England (I haven't seen any England games since the Euro final so don't know if Maguire has been poor since then?) 

[ckny]

I'm sure Southgate and co will have learnt more about Toney in, what, 15-20 hours of coaching sessions than in 30 minutes of a glorified friendly match. That he didn't get a kick says it all.

[SMD]

Probably not in the way you're intending, though.

[Stoppy2000]

36 minutes ago, The Fox said:

Good to see the Burnley persecution complex as strong as ever.

This thread is one of the only places that I still see Burnley mentioned. 

[neoELITE]

14 minutes ago, Stoppy2000 said:

This thread is one of the only places that I still see Burnley mentioned. 

 

And long may that continue. 

[Gabe]

1 hour ago, ckny said:

I'm sure Southgate and co will have learnt more about Toney in, what, 15-20 hours of coaching sessions than in 30 minutes of a glorified friendly match. That he didn't get a kick says it all.

When it comes to Southgate, how brave is he when it comes to changes? He sticks with players (e.g. Maguire) so keeping Kane playing every minute doesn't necessarily tell you much about Toney in training.

 

And the difference between training and actual matches is vast and we know nothing of what type of practice matches were tried. As I say, it has been an acknowledged problem position and Southgate has done nothing to address that. If Toney gets in the final squad then it's an even more baffling decision (and who else is actually in the frame to go as a striker in the squad?) 

[ckny]

I suspect Rashford would have been recalled had he not picked up a knock.

[Plissken]

2 hours ago, Stoppy2000 said:

This thread is one of the only places that I still see Burnley mentioned. 

 

[Stoppy2000]

24 minutes ago, Plissken said:

 

Another superstar in waiting. Sadly overlooked due to the big club bias. 

[merman]

21 hours ago, feltmonkey said:

I reckon Gary Linekar is about right here - 

 

 

 

It’s been like that since Southgate took over, let the team attack and it can cause any side trouble.

 

But Maguire shouldn’t have been in the squad no matter how much Gareth trusts him, he can be directly blamed for the first two German goals and was out of position for the third.

[glb]

With a lot of club sides facing 13 games in 42 days between now and the World Cup, imagine Southgate’s squad, and a fair few other nations’ for that matter, could be a bit patchwork by the time things get underway in Qatar.

 

Hope all the big players make it, but still feels so weird having a European mid-season break for an actual World Cup. Feels like something has to give after the last few years of relentless football.

[SMD]

It'll take an elite footballer collapsing from cardiac arrest in the middle of one of the biggest international tournaments for the authorities to do something.

 

Right?

[Fry Crayola]

Next time it happens, it'll have a sponsor attached.

[bradigor]

Defibrillator break bought to you by Redbull 

[Fry Crayola]

Obafemi is some sort of anti-Lineker, this time a lovely daisy cutter into the far corner from about 25-30 yards.

[Fry Crayola]

From 2-0 to 2-2 in next to time. That second one was a disastrous hospital pass from Hourihane, the first took Bazunu to tip a first effort onto the post. but the follow up was well struck from range.

 

Once cruising to a finish, now all over the place.

 

Just look at this nonsense.

 

 

[Ork1927]

1 hour ago, glb said:

With a lot of club sides facing 13 games in 42 days between now and the World Cup, imagine Southgate’s squad, and a fair few other nations’ for that matter, could be a bit patchwork by the time things get underway in Qatar.

 

Hope all the big players make it, but still feels so weird having a European mid-season break for an actual World Cup. Feels like something has to give after the last few years of relentless football.

I do wonder what the players mindsets are going to be for this World Cup.

 

Are we going to see a lot of international players taking their foot of the gas a bit in those last games before the break as they don’t want to risk getting hurt before going to Qatar or just being completely nackered?

 

Are clubs going to try and stop players going if they are a a bit injured?

 

Is it going to feel like an a proper World Cup for the players. Are some players/teams just not going to be up for it - I’m assuming not, but it’s going to be very odd.

[Fry Crayola]

Madness now, Armenia concede a late penalty for handball that gets awarded thanks to VAR, two of their players pick up second bookings for dissent, and after about four minutes Brady sticks the penalty away.