Euro 2024 chat & predictions

[theforceuk]

I enjoyed the win, actually damaged my voice when Bellingham scored. I'm not going to let Safegate spoil my fun.

Watching Portugal, Slovenia and Ronaldo has just taken his 60th direct free kick in major tournaments. He's scored from 1.

 

[weasel]

England were dung. Southgate is a dreadful manager. I agree on Foden and Bellingham. Both were poor. Kane was abysmal. He gives the team NOTHING. NOT A ******* THING. No movement, no hold up, no leadership, nothing. At some point I watched him for 30 odd seconds while the midfield played sideways sideways backwards. He barely moved. He walked slowly from 1 CB to the other and pointed for the ball to go to a midfielder to the side of the man with the ball. Harry, YOU'RE the only striker on the pitch, England needed at goal, England needed movement, England needed speed, England needed leadership. England did not need MORE slow stationary sideways ********.

I'm not his biggest fan, but he is normally effective for England. Ivan Toney, who I don't rate as more than a bang average PL striker, looked three times the player Kane did, in the 30mins he got. That's an indictment.

I agree, subs should have been made at HT, and even bringing Toney on when he did was 25mins too late. You need a goal, you make changes. You don't freeze. Hand on heart, I would have sacked Southgate after that. Could anyone with the most basic knowledge of management do worse?
The man only knows TWO English LB's. For 5 million a year and after 8 yrs I'd kinda think a basic requirement would be to know every English LB in the top 2 leagues. Why take Shaw when he isn't fit by the 4th game? He's Luke Shaw not Lionel Messi FFS. Chilwell injured and suddenly he's reduced to a RB (who has barely played) getting the job. Or a LW. Joe Gomez, who is also, not a LB, has played there for half the season for Pool. I have half a notion Pool were unbeaten with him there. But, where is his "Chris Powell"? Sven pulled him from nowhere to show he would pick non big names to cover for injury. Gareth has had EIGHT YEARS and……nah. "Shaw or Chillwell or I'm telling mummy"

As for Ronaldo, I would get ****** off if I was a portugese player. You win a free kick in a good area and you know the walking ego is going to take it and **** it up. If anyone else missed a tenth of the free-kicks he did he would be throwing his arms and having a hissy fit like the man child he is.

 

[lejackal]

The LB does not need to be the best LB in the country, they need to be the best fit option that has either played LB this season, or is naturally a LB. Gomez should be at LB and TAA at RB. Walker should be back up (or Ben White, who more and more looks like he knows what he's doing by avoiding playing for Southgate).
Kane should be benched, CBs are probably okay. Ramsdale would have better distribution than Pickford. Rice as the pivot, Bellingham and Foden as the 8s, Saka and Eze on the wings (but could be any of 3-4 combos)
Toney or Watkins up front.
Basically any 11 picked by anyone but Southgate.

 

[weasel]

We all know England's starting line up for the next game. I'd be amazed if Southgate even makes a single change.

 

[theforceuk]

It's how he keeps the dressing room on his side, a foreign manager and the players would have thrown him under the bus years ago. The likes of Kane, Walker, Foden and Bellingham he picks no matter what. And 3 of those players want the number 10 role.

I agree on the left back situation, pick the best 2 left backs that are fit, it's not difficult.

 

[lejackal]

This made me chuckle (courtesy of Spoons)

 

[edd_jedi]

At least nobody can blame England's performance on Spurs this tournament

 

[weasel]

Quality stat that.

Does Spoons still frequent here? I know he fell out with me, but not sure if he still comes on or not. A shame if he doesn't, cos he was a decent fella and it really was a misunderstanding, but such is life.

 

[theforceuk]

Yeah I remember that, Spoons or Andy I think was on Leicester vintage toy shop on tour on YouTube. Think he posted around that time, I think about 2 years ago.

 

[lejackal]

Quality stat that.

Does Spoons still frequent here? I know he fell out with me, but not sure if he still comes on or not. A shame if he doesn't, cos he was a decent fella and it really was a misunderstanding, but such is life.

Not sure, a few of Arsenal supporting Star Wars geeks have a chat group. I just credited him out of habit I guess

 

[Mini99]

Quality stat that.

Does Spoons still frequent here? I know he fell out with me, but not sure if he still comes on or not. A shame if he doesn't, cos he was a decent fella and it really was a misunderstanding, but such is life.

He does from time to time.

 

[Cazza]

Southgate, from the latest press conference, re: Phil Foden:
"We are delighted with what he has done. He was unfortunate with the disallowed goal in the last game. I know he would like a goal. We aren't concerned about his performance."
This guy is truly unbelievable. He has absolutely no idea- he is literally watching a different tournament to the rest of us. Foden has been pony, largely due to the fact Southgate has persisted in playing him out of position, which has probably ruined Foden's form now, even if he moves him to CAM.

 

[theforceuk]

Southgate is from a galaxy far, far away.

 

[lejackal]

France (Dembele specifically) need to stop passing to mbappe - just bloody shoot yourself!

 

[theforceuk]

Ronaldo is the Micheal Jackson of football.

 

[lejackal]

A sweaty nonce?

 

[theforceuk]

A sweaty nonce?

Started off a legend, but became embarrassing.

 

[edd_jedi]

If anyone needed proof that money doesn't buy trophies, international football is all the evidence you need. The tournament is laced with megastars, yet none of them have performed. The managers have the choice of anybody they want regardless of cost or contract, yet still manage to get nothing out of them. Yes, obviously you need money to assemble a football team, but it's only one ingredient. Without a competent manager, team spirit, club strategy etc, it means nothing.

 

[weasel]

Bobby Martinez ruined Belgiums "golden generation" and is now repeating the trick with Portugal.
He'll do well when the FA appoint him to replace Southgate.


WHAT THE **** does Ronaldo have to do to get subbed? Doesn't track, mark, press, score, pass, let anyone else take free-kicks, assist, creat chances, etc. yet he gets to play every minute of every game. Anyone else would have been subbed after an hour, and Ronaldo would have huffed at them from the kick off.
Still, for some strange reason he doesn't go to America…..nothing to do with that sexual assault/rape charge against him, purely coincidence……so that mist be him done at major tournaments. Although given it seems a legal requirement to pick him, and that he doesn't realise he is done, he may well "play" in the next Euros, and the WC after that. Lol

 

[weasel]

We all know England's starting line up for the next game. I'd be amazed if Southgate even makes a single change.

Well, I got that spot on. One change made and it was enforced and who would have guessed but England continued to be ****. It's such a bizarre coincidence. I just can't work out why it keeps happening with that line up.

UEFA probably need to change the rules because if England and France make the final there will be millions of people bored to death.

Ohh and my comments about Ronaldo above (doing NOTHING for the team and contributing less than nothing) apply just as much to Harry Kane. If I was Ivan Toney or Oli (?) Watkins, I would be kicking down Southgate's door and asking WTF I needed to do to get on. England, like Portugal, are playing with 10

 

[lejackal]

Hopefully his collision with Southgate keeps them both out of the rest of the tournament- England might actually stand a chance then

 

[Cazza]

It's crazy. Foden and Kane stunk the place out again. Bellingham not much better. Eze and Palmer so-so. Mainoo decent, Saka good in patches (so please he scored his penalty!). As much as I dislike him, I feel sorry for Gordon. Most of these games have been crying out for his direct, fast attacking play, but he hasn't had a sniff. Same with Watkins and Bowen. All players who can run in behind and stretch tired defences. Left on the bench during extra time AGAIN. Bizarre.

On a positive, that was easily the most impressive, calm and confident penalty shootout I've witnessed from England.

 

[Cazza]

Hopefully his collision with Southgate keeps them both out of the rest of the tournament- England might actually stand a chance then

Highlight of the game!

 

[theforceuk]

I was thinking exactly the same about Kane being like Ronaldo, ridiculous how he's not been dropped, Holland favourites for me. Spain/Holland final.

 

[weasel]

The Dutch aren't great. Turkey missed/the Dutch blocked two or three good chances in the last 10 minutes, and Turkey are bang average.

Assuming France don't bore Spain into submission, the Spanish must be overwhelming favourites in the final.

 

[weasel]

Bye bye France. You won't be missed. You stunk out the tournament (along with England), you provided pretty much zero entertainment (along with England) you have one of the world's best strikers and he looks like a League Two journeyman (along with england) you have a squad that most managers would kill for yet you play eye gougingly dull football (along with england) your manager seems incapable of inspiring the team (along with england) and has wasted a glorious opportunity to win a European Championships (will England follow suit?)!!

Bobby Martinez, who specalises in wasting "golden generations," would be embarrassed at the job Deschamps has done.

 

[theforceuk]

Holland 2-1 England AET tonight, really hope I'm wrong!

 

[Mini99]

Holland 2-1 England AET tonight, really hope I'm wrong!

Yeh, I suspect you're wrong…Holland 2 - 0 England after 90 minutes.

Whoever wins tonight I can't see anyone beating Spain.

 

[theforceuk]

I don't really think Spain are all that, would probably destroy them with a half decent coach.

 

[weasel]

Spain are ok, but I have to agree. A decent coach would obliterate them with the squad England/France have.