Rooney

But we still lost the final? Not really sure I get the point. We've never beaten a top team in an international match and have got incredibly fortunate with our draws. I'm grateful to Southgate, but you can be grateful to him and criticise him to the high heavens too. That Italy game was tragic. We scored early and proceeded to be defensive and conservative for the entire game. I get that play when there's 15-20 minutes to go, but he lost us that final, we were toothless. His tactics are terrible. Bellingham was awful, we had no width and no idea what we were doing with the ball. What else did Belligham do all game apart from get booked, mis place lasses, dive all over the place and not track back.. Southgate totally lucked out here today. He had no idea how to turn the game around

Completely disagree. We shat the bed in the 2021 final against Italy, all down to his tactics. There was no need for it to go to penalties. We were actually quite good post Euros and up to the World Cup. I just feel we're going to have to disagree on this one. You can talk about tournament football, which I agree with, but we were not in good coming in the tournament and we've got incredibly fortunate although the likes of Austria and Switzerland would probably disagree there. We've had about 10 shots on goal all tournament and it doesn't take a football genius to see what the problems are, but he continues with his incredibly brain dead style and the same personel. He's got to go.

It's classic Southgate. Gone in front, so we now play super safe and conservative.

We've changed shape slightly with two strikers, playing a 532 now. But just presses the question why Foden started when he was away from the camp for half the week.

Dixon and Matterface licking Southgate's arse like he's a tactical mastermind. Would love to see the xG of that, probably a 1 in 20 occurence. Total fluke, although you'd fancy us to win this now as Slovakia are in the same mindset we usually are.

Suspect he will do what Hodgson did and resign immediately.

We've not even had a shot on target :rofl: Southgate is finished.

The man is a fraud, I genuinely think he doesn't know what to do at the moment. Still think if England score we win this, but dear lord this is dreadful.

Saka started at LB when coming through so not a strange sub, although again, does question why Southgate did not pick a fit left back in his squad. The players are feeling the pressure now you can sense it. How Bellingham is still on the pitch I'll never know. Absolutely atrocious.

He's been the manager for nearly 10 years, he's clearly a really good man manager, but his tactics are dreadful. When has he ever beaten a top team? In every big game we've got beaten outside of the Denmark semi, which we got an incredibly fortunate penalty to help us.All good things come to an end, unfortunately Southgate has stunk the place out for too long now.

He should have gone after the World Cup. There's no way he's here for the next cycle regardless of what happens. Dreadful tactical manager, hopefully he ends up at Man Utd.

Mainoo for Gallagher :D Just absolutely dreadful full stop. Southgate is insane. Keeps trying the same things over and over again even though it's clearly not working.

Just take a look next tome Slovakia are off the ball, they set up in a compact 433, all our play is through the centre so there's not a single pass on. Our in balance on the left means they can afford to basically squeeze the defence elsewhere as they know we have little to zero threat. It's been this way all tournament and Southgate's idea is to.. play the same way.

Just shocking all round from Southgate, all the space is on the flanks in possession. If he doesn't change this at half time it's done. Walker looks like he's stuck in glue.

If the rumours are true about the one change being Mainoo for Gallagher then I’m really at a loss. How that front 4 has stayed together and none of them dropped is baffling. Same can be said for Trippier too. Mind boggling.

Oh dear Lord, I am not even close to US politics, but that was painful from Biden. His track record if really good, but these US debates are like personality contests. I just can't see how he comes back from that. Is there still time for him to step down? .. just can't see a comeback from this.

I think that's because they don't have an immigration plan. Whether we like it or not, the electorate do care about it and this is a topic that is easily manipulated. I think Starmer himself and a Labour government are pro immigration and likely favour safe legal routes in, but this is one angle which they probably need to take a righter wing view on short term, otherwise they will get hammered on it by whoever shouts the loudest out of Reform and the Tories.

Is it though? Don’t think we’ve really been tested yet.

Here we go. Will England finally be able to put together a forward pass? Will Countryfile be more entertainig? Will England's left hand side be addressed?

Part of the problem is Southgate doesn't know his best team andf he's trying to figure it out. I feel he kind of knows how he wants to play (solid defensively, win the game on set pieces or high percentage opportunities) - but we have players who don't play this style at all so not really sure it does us any favours. He brings on his subs too late (classic Southgate) and is reactive rather than proactive. I also don't want to see Bellingham in that #10 role either. Not even sure he's that good at it. Think people forget he basically played up front for Madrid!

Our problem is Southgate. Alright having the ball, but even when we play balls in to the box outside of set pieces we have 1 or 2 players in the box. Any half decent side will have at least double that. Our passive tactics are not doing us any favours at all.

But we are absolutely impotent with the ball and looked like we could be prone to a defensive gaff at any moment. We don't create anything when we have the ball and when we don't have the ball. Not sure we were any better all things considered. We'll get plastered by any half decent side.

Just sums up our play, he had time to take another touch and close the angle down. Best part was Lee Dixon saying Foden was our man of the match and then showed a shot of him smashing the ball against a player.

We are absolutely horrendous. So slow, so static, running for the same balls, players not on the same wavelength as each other, zero creativity. Dreadful.

Agreed. It's a good move from Labour. This story has cut through, so it shows a decisive difference and allows Labour to control their narative if the Tories try and spin it. Personally, don't think this looks good for anyone. Wonder if they might try and push some legislation for MPs not being allowed to bet on politics..