Tonight's Football

[Hoboh]

Foden and Bellingham don't hurt teams in behind. The way we set up with Foden Kane and Bellingham as the front three, and Saka deeper meant they could defend the halfway line and squash the space meaning we had even less of the ball. Kane's best games for England came with two of Rashford, Sterling and Saka right up there with him. Ditto with Son at Spurs and Bayern's flying wingers.

When we did hurt them in behind, Kane was nowhere to be found. So I think that what you say is partially correct - we setup poorly to beat Spain. But Kane's total immobility and lack of desire to get on the end of things in the box was a huge problem.

We talk about his immobility, but I'm not sure that's what I saw, really, he ran further and faster than Dani Olmo - for example - covered nearly twice as much ground as M'Bappe and a chunk more than Yamal - etc. etc. I think it was as much the players finding the ball to him, as it was him finding the ball (albeit you want both happening ). I don't think he suited out gameplan nor that our gameplan suited him...

I think DSB put up a pass map or similar, which showed the game pretty much went right round him!

Don't know what game you were watching mate but even I could jog faster than Kane did all match!
He is good a a curve Trot though, watch him chase down defenders, twenty yards off and he curves away. No pressure on anyone and he even drags opponents supposedly marking him into the middle of our half!
The bloke is past it now, build a team around him? You have got to be fcuking joking, ditch him and move on, the game is pace and movement now, not a plodder target/box man who is incapable of either.

[TANGODANCER]

Don't know what game you were watching mate but even I could jog faster than Kane did all match!
He is good a a curve Trot though, watch him chase down defenders, twenty yards off and he curves away. No pressure on anyone and he even drags opponents supposedly marking him into the middle of our half!
The bloke is past it now, build a team around him? You have got to be fcuking joking, ditch him and move on, the game is pace and movement now, not a plodder target/box man who is incapable of either.

Come on Hobes; You are verging on obsession here. A dedicated player who has scored a shed-full of goals and worked tirelessly for the team deserves better. The whole game has changed and you can't build Leggo houses with Meccano parts. Harry Kane's role has also changed, but the way we play isn't dictated by him, but by circumstance and the fact that England are just another name in the raffle. It's no shame being second best team in Europe; credit where it's due. Onwards and upwards..

[Worthy4England]

England now looking for their next manager as Southgate has resigned.

[Hoboh]

England now looking for their next manager as Southgate has resigned.

There must be a God.

[Mar]

Up front is a bit of a succession problem. For nearly 40 years we've had a production line of historically good strikers, more or less in a line with only brief overlaps - Lineker, Shearer, Owen, Rooney, Kane. I don't see anyone bursting into that succession line and staying such a long time. Watkins and Toney are decent but are both 28. Bowen's 27. Saka's 22 but he's slightly different. We seem to produce more "second line" players - 11s, 10s, 7s - than 9s.

Seems like we've very much had the approach where we can only have one striker up top, our main man so to speak.

Nah mate I disagree on this - throughout the majority of that 40 years we've played two up top. It's just a bit of a quirk that it's been one record-chasing "main man" after another.

On your other point, though, this is an interesting (if combative) way to look at it:

Even under Michael Owen and Heskey there were the obvious choices getting picked and everyone else getting ignored. We had the same with Crouch and Defoe. Rooney. Kane.

It has never felt like we've had people waiting in the wings getting their chance. It was always them coming on as a sub rather than being rotated.

Sturridge, Rashford, Vardy, etc. They never really started up top with Kane or Rooney coming off the bench. It was very much a case of the main man up top with everyone else playing second fiddle.


Its understandable to a certain degree as they're the best player, but we've had at least four tournaments where the main striker has underperformed or been injured and I think part of that is our reliance on just one player.


As for those rankings. That's a great way of looking at the results and the expectation we should be reaching.

[Mar]

England now looking for their next manager as Southgate has resigned.

Well, thanks for the memories. Been a great servant for the country. Can't get any closer than a penalty shootout and not win it.

[Prufrock]

I'm glad. I've got a lot of time for him as a guy, wish him well, and grateful for the memories. But I ultimately just don't think he's good enough, and this is a superb talent pool that should have, and still should, win something.

[Prufrock]

Cue next manager immediately getting France-Germany-Brazil-Spain as the route to a final.


Or just being Frank Lampard.

[Worthy4England]

Cue next manager immediately getting France-Germany-Brazil-Spain as the route to a final.


Or just being Frank Lampard.

We don't mind that, coz anyone half competent including iirc "my gran," with this squad will beat them (allegedly!)

[Hoboh]

Cue next manager immediately getting France-Germany-Brazil-Spain as the route to a final.


Or just being Frank Lampard.

We don't mind that, coz anyone half competent including iirc "my gran," with this squad will beat them (allegedly!)

What's the odds on yer Gran Worthy?
Might chuck a few bob on her.

[Worthy4England]

Cue next manager immediately getting France-Germany-Brazil-Spain as the route to a final.


Or just being Frank Lampard.

We don't mind that, coz anyone half competent including iirc "my gran," with this squad will beat them (allegedly!)

What's the odds on yer Gran Worthy?
Might chuck a few bob on her.

You'd have to be a pretty decent shot, mate!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I'm glad. I've got a lot of time for him as a guy, wish him well, and grateful for the memories. But I ultimately just don't think he's good enough, and this is a superb talent pool that should have, and still should, win something.

Yeah, this.

Surprised to see Tuchel being suggested. Seems a bit... volcanic.

[BWFC_Insane]

We are now going to have the tedious argument that it’s good Gareth has gone because he wasn’t good enough to win anything but we must get another ‘English’ man.

Yeah sure. There aren’t any English managers who have won anything. The top two candidates are Howe, won nothing and Potter won nowt and failed at Chelsea after spending a fortune.

Klopp for me. Give him what he needs. Right profile of player for him. Right sort of time. I’m not even a massive fan but let’s be clear. He’s won stuff. He knows how to win stuff. He plays decent football.

Won’t happen because the FA don’t understand that the difference between England just being close and getting over the line is managerial know how and brilliance.

[Worthy4England]

Are you sure it won't happen because of the FA? Or Klopp having his view on whether he'd want to do it?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The FA seem very open to hiring whoever's best for the job, whatever his passport.

Klopp would be a huge huge coup but I doubt he would take it. He wanted a break, and I think two months probably isn't enough.

There's talk of Guardiola, who has expressed interest in international management but wouldn't do Spain. He also won't last forever at City - he's walked out on Barcelona and took a break before Bayern - but you imagine they would be horrified and would fight financially: he's still under contract for the season to come, and as we know, City have lawyers a mile deep.

Either of those two would, i think, be welcomed by all but the most one-eyed nativist. After that, less so. Pochettino would bring some front-foot energy, which is what Southgate's side lacks, and he has a good track record with youth. Tuchel I think would be underwhelming, or worrying - while he's fluidly intelligent ('Tommy Tactics') he's not exactly proven himself to have stickability: two years at Dortmund then 2.5 at PSG then 20 months at Chelsea (I know, I know) then 10 months at Bayern. I suspect the FA will want someone likely to be longer-term.

[BWFC_Insane]

Are you sure it won't happen because of the FA? Or Klopp having his view on whether he'd want to do it?

I think the FA want an Englishman. I also think they won’t want to pay Klopp what he would want. I get that he may not want it but I just feel the FA aren’t looking at those options.

Southgate might be dangerous as whilst he did a good job with basically a dreadful managerial track record I don’t think that is necessarily a blueprint to follow.

Equally I don’t think Guardiola would work. At all. Brilliant manager. But wrong sort of players for him and he only does one thing. Klopp I feel would suit the players we have right now.

[Worthy4England]

Dunno who they're looking at mate. Evatt is 150-1 on Oddschecker

[Hoboh]

Klopp would be a big thumbs up for me, .

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Dunno who they're looking at mate. Evatt is 150-1 on Oddschecker

The continuity candidate

[BWFC_Insane]

Dunno who they're looking at mate. Evatt is 150-1 on Oddschecker

How much is an Uber to Wembley? I’ll cover it….