Southgate resigns, Howe linked with England job

[seaside nipper]

EH now being linked to England replacing the allegedly departing Southgate !?
Don’t know about the validity of this rumour , only thing has me thinking that EH biggest cheerleaders on the board are leaving.
I’m pretty sure EH distanced himself from the job last season during some press briefings.

[jpg]

Probably the outcome we were all expecting last night. Spain worthy winners of a bang-average tournament. I’m just pleased we got our ‘moment’ with the Palmer equaliser, as sad as it sounds.

I’m a Southgate apologist but I think he’s taken us as far as he can and it’s time he stepped down. I’ll be sad to see him go because he’s done so much for the national set-up but the football has become too poor for a team of that quality.

I think Howe would be brilliant for England. Still not convinced he’d swap club management but wonder if AS and MG stepping down might make him reconsider.

[bodacious benny]

Probably the outcome we were all expecting last night. Spain worthy winners of a bang-average tournament. I’m just pleased we got our ‘moment’ with the Palmer equaliser, as sad as it sounds.

I’m a Southgate apologist but I think he’s taken us as far as he can and it’s time he stepped down. I’ll be sad to see him go because he’s done so much for the national set-up but the football has become too poor for a team of that quality.

I think Howe would be brilliant for England. Still not convinced he’d swap club management but wonder if AS and MG stepping down might make him reconsider.

Agreed. I heard someone say on a podcast that the talent of the squad has surpassed his talent as a coach now - and that's probably right. When he took over England had more of an 'underdog' mentality so his style of play was accepted and generally did well. But now that England have the players where they're rightly amongst the favourites to win tournaments, he hasn't really moved himself along with that. He can definitely leave with his head held high for what he's done both on and off the pitch for Englands.

As for Howe, given the lack of top English coaches it's either him, a foreign manager, or an appointment from within e.g. Carsley (which I think would be the wrong move). I think Howe's style would be perfect for England and he'd do well, and be able to build on the general feel good factor that has been in and around the squad under Southgate. He'd be mad to turn it down if the offer came, said before that it could be a once in a lifetime offer. Whatever happens with us, he'd always be offered another PL job in future - but it's not certain he'd have a chance at managing England again - especially with the talent they have now.

[Colly]

I'd liken Southgate's style slightly to what we had under Rafa at times, albeit marginally less organised. We'd set up really compactly against big sides and every now and then get a result, but then struggle to come out of that shape when we went behind ("think of the goal difference") or had to play "lesser" sides. It works if what you're aiming for is midtable in a league season, but percentage football very rarely (maths) works in a knockout format. Play that Spain game ten times and 2 or 3 times we make it to penalties and win, but that's not a luxury you have in major tournaments. And that's ignoring the fact that we played similar tactics against the lesser nations and needed moments of magic to get past Slovakia and Switzerland. All tournament we had a decent first half against Serbia, and the same v Netherlands, the rest was turgid.

With the squad he had we should have been imposing ourselves on the first 5 teams we played so we had a system ready for the tricky last two. As it was we were still forcing square pegs in round holes and hoping for magic, only changing when forced to by yet another bit of falling behind.

[seaside nipper]

I think not having the ball is key.
If you are getting very little ball retention you are going to lose more often than not. Something like 65 to 35 it was v Spain. That’s gonna beat you most times. Harry Kane apparently had one touch in the Spain box last night !!
England just went long far too often but that maybe highlighted a lack of plan, some desperation and low belief in the system.
Many continental players in general look more comfortable on the ball, and in terms of Spain and with respect some other lesser opponents, all moved the ball through England with ease.
Spain for such a young team look fabulous by comparison and were worthy winners of a tournament that in general was quite meh ……

[Colly]

That's the weird bit, Spain were by far the best side in the tournament, but that's really faint praise given how utterly s**** everyone else was. Austria overperformed and Germany looked like Germany at times, but the likes of Italy and France were horrendous.

[Don Sholeone]

Southgate is just tactically horrendous and has been for a long long time, this tournament has been the worst, I know you can only beat the teams that are put in front of you but f*** me we've played nobody for the last 2/3 tournaments and this one especially we made hard work of some of the worst ranked opposition in Europe.

He's bumbled his way through relying on that one moment from an elite level player. It's like how we existed under Bruce where ASM or Wilson would just pull us out the s*** time after time, the plan just feels like we are waiting for a really good player to do something amazing just so we can scrape by.

There is a complete lack of ambition to be the best we can be, hell he was making defensive subs to take it to penalties on the 88th minute, only reason he changed his mind was because Spain scored. For a team of that calibre that is disgraceful.

[bodacious benny]

Yeah the subs he was looking to make at the end were very telling of his overall attitude- it wasn’t a “how can I win the game” move. Fair enough trippier was probably coming on for Shaw who hadn’t played much, but Gallagher was a total “sure things up” move.

Carvajal has been a great player but he’s not exactly a spring chicken - Bowen/Gordon/Eze could all have had a run at him.

[Remember Colo]

And it's not even as if those wingers are frail at defending - that's what made his approach so frustrating. The team cried out for more width and direct pacey play, and his best options to provide that were still well-balanced players, especially in the case of Gordon who he showed no trust in.

[seaside nipper]

Yeah the subs he was looking to make at the end were very telling of his overall attitude- it wasn’t a “how can I win the game” move. Fair enough trippier was probably coming on for Shaw who hadn’t played much, but Gallagher was a total “sure things up” move.

Carvajal has been a great player but he’s not exactly a spring chicken - Bowen/Gordon/Eze could all have had a run at him.

Exactly this.
When Scotland ( aye ) beat Spain in the qualifiers ( aye ) Carvajal was exposed time and time again by Scotlands width and direct overlapping pace against him.
Think that was the last time we beat anyone

Anyway this tournament had exposed beyond doubt that Southgate was a committee appointee rather than a great football managerial appointment.

[Valentino's fast feet]

Yeah the subs he was looking to make at the end were very telling of his overall attitude- it wasn’t a “how can I win the game” move. Fair enough trippier was probably coming on for Shaw who hadn’t played much, but Gallagher was a total “sure things up” move.

Carvajal has been a great player but he’s not exactly a spring chicken - Bowen/Gordon/Eze could all have had a run at him.

Exactly this.
When Scotland ( aye ) beat Spain in the qualifiers ( aye ) Carvajal was exposed time and time again by Scotlands width and direct overlapping pace against him.
Think that was the last time we beat anyone

Anyway this tournament had exposed beyond doubt that Southgate was a committee appointee rather than a great football managerial appointment.

To be fair I don't think there was any doubt in the appointment in the time. In terms of no one thought it was a good one. Nobody, including Southgate, seemingly wanted it at the time. Big Sam got his big chance because of the derth of candidates, then f***ed it

[lassassinblanc]

Exactly this.
When Scotland ( aye ) beat Spain in the qualifiers ( aye ) Carvajal was exposed time and time again by Scotlands width and direct overlapping pace against him.
Think that was the last time we beat anyone

Anyway this tournament had exposed beyond doubt that Southgate was a committee appointee rather than a great football managerial appointment.

To be fair I don't think there was any doubt in the appointment in the time. In terms of no one thought it was a good one. Nobody, including Southgate, seemingly wanted it at the time. Big Sam got his big chance because of the derth of candidates, then f***ed it

Yep no one wanted the role due to
1) the media scrutiny
2) the lack of talent on show at 2016

I think Southgate did a decent job in building the current team and fostering a tight knit group there but I think it was Jonathan Wilson who mentioned that this team reminds him of the Argentine team circa 2010 and the Brazilian team of 2006 , fantastic forward players but no balance

[Over The Line]

Southgate confirmed gone this morning.

[lassassinblanc]

I think they'll ask about Howe but can't see him being interested this early in his career.

I see Frank Lampard is linked too

please

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

Since Klopp wants a year out, and Pep has one more year of contract.. seems Potter would be the most sensible choice. He liked to attack as a manager

[Valentino's fast feet]

It's got to be Potter really. Howe is the ideal candidate, but they can f*** off.

[Over The Line]

I have a strange feeling they'll promote within and someone like Lee Carsley will end up in charge.

[bodacious benny]

I think they'll ask about Howe but can't see him being interested this early in his career.

I see Frank Lampard is linked too

please

Laughable that Lampard and Gerard are linked

[lassassinblanc]

It will be Potter or Carsley

Howe has already said he wouldn't fancy it this early in his career.

Potter was turning jobs down left right and centre the last few months must have had some contact with FA imo

The reports of Klopp and Pep

[bodacious benny]

It will be Potter or Carsley

Howe has already said he wouldn't fancy it this early in his career.

Potter was turning jobs down left right and centre the last few months must have had some contact with FA imo

The reports of Klopp and Pep

Pure delusion