Southgate about to pick the wrong side - again

Randy said:
Aye. Least you can expect when representing your country.
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Intensity isn't the answer to everything. The hardest working teams don't always win particularly at international level where players have good on the ball ability.

It's about closing space, down more than haring after players. If we had run around like idiots, showing intensity we would have been picked off with their passing game AND run out of steam after 60
 
Uwefuchs said:
I think we've got a lot of people on here at the moment that don't want to discuss anything. They'd rather spend all day trying to score cheap points than actually have a real conversation.
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Have a conversation, stick your neck on the line, great, and admit when you got it wrong. Too many people value their opinions as being correct, rather than approaching discussions a little more objectively.
 
Thought it was a solid performance overall.

a bit flat at times, they said it’s down to the heat. I also felt it might’ve been down to a bit of complacency. We pretty much dominated the first 25 minutes and barely give them a touch. The players probably expected more from Croatia in terms of possession and ended up relaxing a bit too much when they released Croatia weren’t that much of a threat. Thought we controlled the second half especially well.

overall we managed the game well. Thought Mings and Phillips both looked really good today. Sterling looked dangerous too. I said on here before the game I wasn’t against Sterling starting, for the reasons he showed. Croatia struggled with pace running in behind. It was only when we stopped being direct and slowed the pace that they were competitive.

there’s probably much more to come from the team. Foden showed flashes like hitting the post. Kane was quiet but his record speaks for itself and will have better games. I think the younger players will probably go up a gear now the first game at a big tournament is out of the way and it was a victory.
 
We might not have won with a different team; we might have won better, nobody can ever say.

What we can say is that we won and in tournament football that is all that matters.
We won't play well for all of every match we play.

Personally I thought Phillips did much better than I thought he was capable of.
I thought Mings did very well too.
I wouldn't have started either, but they were very good.

That win has taken a lot of pressure off for the Scottish match.

Fair play to Sterling, he scored the winner and in doing so vindicated Southgate's choice. Sterling deserves to feel good tonight.
I was far more surprised that he took the chance than I was him blazing over later on and that's what I fear in future matches.
 
HiredGun123 said:
a bit flat at times, they said it’s down to the heat. I also felt it might’ve been down to a bit of complacency. We pretty much dominated the first 25 minutes and barely give them a touch. The players probably expected more from Croatia in terms of possession and ended up relaxing a bit too much when they released Croatia weren’t that much of a threat. Thought we controlled the second half especially well.
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Croatia made tactical changes in the second half, they committed higher up the pitch and made it hard for Pickford to play out from the back, we didn't learn to cope with that higher pressure for probably 25 mins. The last 10 we shut up shop a little, game management, the 3 points at that point was all that mattered rather than trying to get late goals.
 
Uwefuchs said:
I think we managed the game really well.
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That's exactly what it was, good game management and for that you can't really fault the manager. Players need to perform and for the most part they did, but Southgate got it right today. I've seen nothing to suggest he won't continue to get it right for the remainder of the tournament. Versatility, flexibility will see us do well. I hope
 
indeedido said:
We might not have won with a different team; we might have won better, nobody can ever say.

What we can say is that we won and in tournament football that is all that matters.
We won't play well for all of every match we play.

Personally I thought Phillips did much better than I thought he was capable of.
I thought Mings did very well too.
I wouldn't have started either, but they were very good.

That win has taken a lot of pressure off for the Scottish match.

Fair play to Sterling, he scored the winner and in doing so vindicated Southgate's choice. Sterling deserves to feel good tonight.
I was far more surprised that he took the chance than I was him blazing over later on and that's what I fear in future matches.
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Yep, held my hands up and pleased Sterling is back in form because when he's really on it he's nigh on unplayable.
 
Randy said:
Yep, held my hands up and pleased Sterling is back in form because when he's really on it he's nigh on unplayable.
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Fair play, it would be nice to think that others who were wrong would also stand up and say so. Sadly we know that some of the sage gurus who present their opinions as if they doing us all a favour by posting their expert opinion and are so willing to congratulate themselves when right like to move swiftly on when they err.
 
I saw "1-0" on a big screen in a pub beer garden - wasnt sure it was the final result.
Sterling scored?
Wasnt he portrayed as "the weakest link"?
Lets have some more of it in that case(y)
 
swordtrombonefish said:
Once again Southgate picked a team to do a job, made some changes when they were needed and despite the doubters got the result...I'm super pleased for him. As has been said elsewhere, he is delivering so let's give the guy a chance.
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Let’s be clear though, he’s had plenty of time and has a fabulous set of players so he got a chance before and after Russia
Now is the time to step it up
Not building for quatar
 
Muttley said:
Fair play, it would be nice to think that others who were wrong would also stand up and say so. Sadly we know that some of the sage gurus who present their opinions as if they doing us all a favour by posting their expert opinion and are so willing to congratulate themselves when right like to move swiftly on when they err.
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Sterling proved me wrong simple as that, I stand by my comment about him not starting, I hoped Grealish would given his excellent showing in the two friendlies previous but Sterling starts against Scotland for me.

Gareth could surprise is all and drop Rice for Grealish against Scotland, I don't think we need two holding midfielders for that game but also wouldn't have an issue with him starting the same 11 again.
 
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