England v Italy 7:45pm

[NYboro]

When these friendlies finish next week these players will have say 3 weeks maximum break before pre season training and then start up the new season on August 4. So if we are saying these players are jaded then I fear come November they aren’t going to be exactly “refreshed”. I’m with the poor excuse lobby. Attitude, application. Yes there will be fatigue but the squad is big and some of those players have sat on the bench a fair few times for their clubs over the past season.

They're not friendlies.

 

[HarryVegas]

The 'curtains coming down on Southgate' comments are interesting because to my mind they aren't really much to do with performance or selection. It feels like people are bored with the same manager being in charge IMO. We've had three really tight games at the end of a long, arduous season. The three games have been slow and laboured in a lot of parts and shouldn't really be being played at all. It's too much. I hope UEFA are taking note of the tempo and general lack of quality on show but I suspect not.

As for Southgate, we've cruised into another World Cup on the back of reaching a European Championship final and a World Cup semi-final. We routinely win the sort of games we've struggled to win in the past. I think England were the top scoring international side over the last year or so? Something like that.

We go into the next tournament with a realistic chance of winning it. People want Foden, Kane, Saka, Grealish in the side at the same time. And Bellingham, Rice and Mount. And Alexander-Arnold. I just don't think that's possible, or realistic TBH. Even the very best sides around have a balance and have excellent players on the bench every week. You can't fit them all in.

He's built a very strong unit and we have really good competition for places. We've gone from an absolute sh*tshow at the two tournaments prior to Southgate being appointed to being a genuine contender. We're a team now, a good team, with a clear plan and patterns of play. You never really see an England side outclassed any more, or chasing shadows, or afraid to pass the ball or receive it in tight areas. We've moved on from the days of celebrities playing on instinct.

I'm looking forward to the World Cup(the football, not the other stuff) and to seeing how we get on. You can't properly judge any of the teams on these games at the moment IMO. I think people calling for Southgate to go or alter his approach after so much progress in such a short space of time are being very harsh. But that's just me.

This exactly. The people who want him out are IMO the same people who didn't want him in the first place and who have since spent a lot of time trying to minimise his achievements as manager. It's pathetic to witness. England were a dead loss for years before he took over, the so-called 'golden generation' being found out time and again. Gareth Southgate conducts himself impeccably in the role, is an example of decency to his players - and the wider public - and the fact we now expect better from our team than the last three, tired matches have shown is all down to him.

 

[allied_assault]

After watching two cracking games of rugby. That was pretty poor in comparison

The 'curtains coming down on Southgate' comments are interesting because to my mind they aren't really much to do with performance or selection. It feels like people are bored with the same manager being in charge IMO. We've had three really tight games at the end of a long, arduous season. The three games have been slow and laboured in a lot of parts and shouldn't really be being played at all. It's too much. I hope UEFA are taking note of the tempo and general lack of quality on show but I suspect not.

As for Southgate, we've cruised into another World Cup on the back of reaching a European Championship final and a World Cup semi-final. We routinely win the sort of games we've struggled to win in the past. I think England were the top scoring international side over the last year or so? Something like that.

We go into the next tournament with a realistic chance of winning it. People want Foden, Kane, Saka, Grealish in the side at the same time. And Bellingham, Rice and Mount. And Alexander-Arnold. I just don't think that's possible, or realistic TBH. Even the very best sides around have a balance and have excellent players on the bench every week. You can't fit them all in.

He's built a very strong unit and we have really good competition for places. We've gone from an absolute sh*tshow at the two tournaments prior to Southgate being appointed to being a genuine contender. We're a team now, a good team, with a clear plan and patterns of play. You never really see an England side outclassed any more, or chasing shadows, or afraid to pass the ball or receive it in tight areas. We've moved on from the days of celebrities playing on instinct.

I'm looking forward to the World Cup(the football, not the other stuff) and to seeing how we get on. You can't properly judge any of the teams on these games at the moment IMO. I think people calling for Southgate to go or alter his approach after so much progress in such a short space of time are being very harsh. But that's just me.

Agree with all of this viv
France have 2 points from their games but will that have any impact on what they do at the World Cup?
Of course not - it was an experimental line up for England last night and he would have learnt a few things.
Those calling for Gareth’s head need to be careful what they ask for
Remember Roy Hodgson, Cappello and others
Gareth will always have us competing high in tournaments due to the way he approaches games and this is all preparation for the tournament in November