England - the future....

[WestYorksRoyal]

Felt a bit sad inside when it showed Maguire close up. He must feel like he whole world is against him.

TBF he had a way out of United. West Ham would have been a good fit. Southgate isn't helping him by picking him. They both seem intent on destroying his career.

Dunk was good tonight. Guehi has played well. Not sure what Tomori needs to do to get a chance, and I guess Colwill is still young and will get future opportunities. With those 4 plus Stones, Maguire should be 6th choice at best.

I can only guess that with Stones injured, Southgate wanted to pick someone with plenty of international experience. But that's simply not a good enough excuse. These guys will never be experienced if Maguire keeps being picked without merit. It will become self fulfilling for next year's Euros.

Aside from that, good performance tonight. Not sure what I can say about Bellingham that hasn't already been said.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Felt a bit sad inside when it showed Maguire close up. He must feel like he whole world is against him.

TBF he had a way out of United. West Ham would have been a good fit. Southgate isn't helping him by picking him. They both seem intent on destroying his career.

Dunk was good tonight. Guehi has played well. Not sure what Tomori needs to do to get a chance, and I guess Colwill is still young and will get future opportunities. With those 4 plus Stones, Maguire should be 6th choice at best.

I can only guess that with Stones injured, Southgate wanted to pick someone with plenty of international experience. But that's simply not a good enough excuse. These guys will never be experienced if Maguire keeps being picked without merit. It will become self fulfilling for next year's Euros.

Aside from that, good performance tonight. Not sure what I can say about Bellingham that hasn't already been said.

In fact if Southgate is really wedded to 2 DMs, he should be blooding these guys even more so that Stones can be pushed up alongside Rice.

[Sutekh]

Felt a bit sad inside when it showed Maguire close up. He must feel like he whole world is against him.

TBF he had a way out of United. West Ham would have been a good fit. Southgate isn't helping him by picking him. They both seem intent on destroying his career.

Dunk was good tonight. Guehi has played well. Not sure what Tomori needs to do to get a chance, and I guess Colwill is still young and will get future opportunities. With those 4 plus Stones, Maguire should be 6th choice at best.

I can only guess that with Stones injured, Southgate wanted to pick someone with plenty of international experience. But that's simply not a good enough excuse. These guys will never be experienced if Maguire keeps being picked without merit. It will become self fulfilling for next year's Euros.

Aside from that, good performance tonight. Not sure what I can say about Bellingham that hasn't already been said.

Southgate had to feel like he gave Scotland a chance though.

[Sanguine]

Who knew Bellingham would look so good without Southgate shoving Maddison in his way?

Who knew you'd find any way to keep criticising our most successful manager since Alf Ramsay after an excellent team performance that didn't even include half of our first XI?

[Sanguine]

Where I think Southgate did make a mistake last night was putting Maguire back in the firing line. Southgate doesn't come across as the belligerent type, but it did feel like he was trying to make a point, and for no good reason really. Was a great opportunity to give Tomori or Colwill 45 minutes on the pitch.

[URZZZZ]

Where I think Southgate did make a mistake last night was putting Maguire back in the firing line. Southgate doesn't come across as the belligerent type, but it did feel like he was trying to make a point, and for no good reason really. Was a great opportunity to give Tomori or Colwill 45 minutes on the pitch.

This. Have mentioned the psychological impacts on footballers before. Maguire’s confidence is evidently at an all time low and a hostile atmosphere at Scotland clearly isn’t the game to make that half time sub.

Southgate is right though. The treatment Maguire gets (including our own “pundits”) is disgraceful. Bang out of order. I guess it’s OK because he earns a lot of money mind

[Sanguine]

On Bellingham, I agree with McCoist that he is the one of our best young players ever. Certainly no-one has come into the England side so young and so accomplished since Rooney. Before that, maybe Gazza.

But there's something Zidane-esque about Jude Bellingham. Very much a 'generational' player - its exciting that we will see a team built around him (and Rice, Saka, Foden and others) in the coming years.

[URZZZZ]

Re Southgate's supposed 'safety first' approach, it is noteworthy that he has the second highest win percentage of any England manager except Fabio Capello. And at 2.2 goals per game, we score more than under any England manager except Walter Winterbottom, who left the role in 1963. And excluding McClaren's 18 games in charge, we have a better defensive record under Southgate than at any point since Glenn Hoddle departed the job in 1999.

In short, I reckon he is getting much more right than he is wrong.

Think that's a safe bet but international football has changed so much that it's difficult to compare managers on anything other than performances in finals of tournaments given there are so many pointless qualifieres against the "no hopers" these days.

England fans seem to have some ridiculous expectations based on what certain players can do when given advantageous circumstances at club level and a lack of memory fir what proceeded him (also with supposedly great players)

It’s part of the entitled culture surrounding football, which extends all around.

Partly driven, IMO, by this constant drive of pointless statistics that is thrown in your face. People become so obsessed over tiny metrics without understanding the whole picture.

[Sanguine]

Think that's a safe bet but international football has changed so much that it's difficult to compare managers on anything other than performances in finals of tournaments given there are so many pointless qualifieres against the "no hopers" these days.

England fans seem to have some ridiculous expectations based on what certain players can do when given advantageous circumstances at club level and a lack of memory fir what proceeded him (also with supposedly great players)

It’s part of the entitled culture surrounding football, which extends all around.

Partly driven, IMO, by this constant drive of pointless statistics that is thrown in your face. People become so obsessed over tiny metrics without understanding the whole picture.

Indeed. I'm getting fed up with reading so-called opinions that we 'should' have won a major tournament by now, as if other teams don't even exist.

[Winston Biscuit]

Think that's a safe bet but international football has changed so much that it's difficult to compare managers on anything other than performances in finals of tournaments given there are so many pointless qualifieres against the "no hopers" these days.

England fans seem to have some ridiculous expectations based on what certain players can do when given advantageous circumstances at club level and a lack of memory fir what proceeded him (also with supposedly great players)

It’s part of the entitled culture surrounding football, which extends all around.

Partly driven, IMO, by this constant drive of pointless statistics that is thrown in your face. People become so obsessed over tiny metrics without understanding the whole picture.

fully agreed.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Where I think Southgate did make a mistake last night was putting Maguire back in the firing line. Southgate doesn't come across as the belligerent type, but it did feel like he was trying to make a point, and for no good reason really. Was a great opportunity to give Tomori or Colwill 45 minutes on the pitch.

This. Have mentioned the psychological impacts on footballers before. Maguire’s confidence is evidently at an all time low and a hostile atmosphere at Scotland clearly isn’t the game to make that half time sub.

Southgate is right though. The treatment Maguire gets (including our own “pundits”) is disgraceful. Bang out of order. I guess it’s OK because he earns a lot of money mind

Obviously social media is vicious; a load of cowards hiding behind anonymity.

But I generally think most punditry and articles are fair. This is a player who has had a torrid 2 years on the field and off it. He's not match sharp, he's not confident so it's perfectly fair to question his selection. It goes with the territory at top level sport.

[South Coast Royal]

A thoroughly enjoyable performance in the first half last night with our midfielders passing AND moving.

Inevitably Scotland came into it more in the second half but one minor piece of perspective being that our players come from top clubs in Real Madrid Bayern Munich , City, Arsenal etc whereas they had Watford's centre-back and Southampton's centre-forward substituted for QPR's.

I felt slightly depressed afterwards when hearing that the next internationals are next month meaning yet another international break and greatly diminished club football.
This current break of two weeks feels lake an eternity for those of us where club football>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>international football.

[Sanguine]

A thoroughly enjoyable performance in the first half last night with our midfielders passing AND moving.

Inevitably Scotland came into it more in the second half but one minor piece of perspective being that our players come from top clubs in Real Madrid Bayern Munich , City, Arsenal etc whereas they had Watford's centre-back and Southampton's centre-forward substituted for QPR's.

I felt slightly depressed afterwards when hearing that the next internationals are next month meaning yet another international break and greatly diminished club football.
This current break of two weeks feels lake an eternity for those of us where club football>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>international football.

With the three international breaks in successive months, it always feels to me like the season doesn't properly 'get going' until mid-November.

It's only perception of course - reality is that by the time of that third break, PL clubs will have played 12 league games in 60-odd days. The next 12 actually span 77 days, what with two weeks set aside for cup ties, and a two week winter break.

[Clyde1998]

From a Scotland point of view, that's one of the worst performances I've seen from Scotland under Steve Clarke. The players didn't look up for the game at all, which made it far too easy for England to control the game. In most games, there's a level of intensity to close teams down, make runs into space, urgency on the ball, keeping the ball moving - and there was never little of that (especially in the first half).

The result in a friendly is by-the-by, especially when playing what I think is Europe's second best team at the moment behind France (even if I'd've loved to win); it's the performance that matters. I don't think England got out of second gear last night - that's the most disappointing thing. If we played like we did against Spain, Denmark and Ukraine (Nations League) at home since the Euros, it would've been a much more difficult game for England.

Unfortunately, our performance was akin to what we had in the Euros (against Czech Rep and Croatia) and Ukraine in the World Cup play-offs: limited drive and giving too much respect to the opposition. Against a side of England's quality, you can't play that like. We've gone missing in the big games. You've got to make the opposition work for it at the very least - regardless of the gulf in quality between the sides.

The first goal saw Bellingham have far too much time on the ball just outside the area, which gave him time to pick his pass to Rashford. Walker was in far too much space and didn't start to be closed down until he started winding up for a shot/cross and Foden did well to direct the ball into the goal.

The second goal came from an exceptional ball in from Foden, but Robertson should be clearing the ball. He effectively just passed it to Bellingham on the penalty spot, who had an easy job slotting home. It's the sort of error you cannot make against top sides - you shouldn't be passing the ball in towards the penalty spot anyway in that situation.

In the spell in the second half, when we did start to play with some intensity, we got a fortunate own goal. Maguire was unlucky, as the ball in wasn't too dangerous and would've either been picked up by the keeper or cleared by Dunk. The ball was going nowhere near Dykes in the middle.

The third goal: Bellingham had too much time (no-one wanted to put a tackle in) and space to play in Kane, who ended up having too much time to pick his spot to score. Our midfield basically didn't turn up; nor did Robertson or Adams.

For us, we have to learn from this. The next two games are trips to Spain and France; both serious tests and will make it clear whether last night's performance was a just blip or a problem that needs solving.

On the plus side, I think Gunn (in goal), Porteous and Christie (after coming on) had decent games - Gunn particularly. We looked a little better with Dykes up top, even if he didn't have a serious scoring opportunity.

Thinking about England, they looked significantly better than Spain did at Hampden. Our performance against them made our win look easy, but they do seem to have improved since then. I can't imagine we'll have it so easy next month. I reckon England are probably second favourites to win the Euros next year - perhaps on a par with Portugal; France being favourites. The biggest weakness I see with England is the centre-back positions - which is probably not news to anyone.

[South Coast Royal]

Unfortunately for Scotland expectation levels have risen way too far.
Their pool of players is really small and the current first choice team has to be at its very best every game -last night they weren't.

I admire the efforts of the smaller UK countries and to even qualify for any major tournament with so few better quality players is outstanding.
Imagine England having to dip into the Championship or even lower to put a side out-it would be most unlikely that we would do as well as the other UK countries have done.
Every player in our whole squad (even Maguire ) would walk into the Scottish , Welsh or Northern Ireland teams but currently none of the players from any of those countries would get into England's side, not even Andy Robertson who is showing signs of deterioration in ability.

So , don't despair Clyde over one match-your side has done well but to qualify even for the Euros is still going to take some doing but if they do it will be something to applaud.

[Franchise FC]

Unfortunately for Scotland expectation levels have risen way too far.
Their pool of players is really small and the current first choice team has to be at its very best every game -last night they weren't.

I admire the efforts of the smaller UK countries and to even qualify for any major tournament with so few better quality players is outstanding.
Imagine England having to dip into the Championship or even lower to put a side out-it would be most unlikely that we would do as well as the other UK countries have done.
Every player in our whole squad (even Maguire ) would walk into the Scottish , Welsh or Northern Ireland teams but currently none of the players from any of those countries would get into England's side, not even Andy Robertson who is showing signs of deterioration in ability.

So , don't despair Clyde over one match-your side has done well but to qualify even for the Euros is still going to take some doing but if they do it will be something to applaud.

Let him despair if he wants … it’s what they’re used to

[Ascotexgunner]

England fans seem to have some ridiculous expectations based on what certain players can do when given advantageous circumstances at club level and a lack of memory fir what proceeded him (also with supposedly great players)

It’s part of the entitled culture surrounding football, which extends all around.

Partly driven, IMO, by this constant drive of pointless statistics that is thrown in your face. People become so obsessed over tiny metrics without understanding the whole picture.

Indeed. I'm getting fed up with reading so-called opinions that we 'should' have won a major tournament by now, as if other teams don't even exist.

I think England fans have every right to be entitled. I fully expect them to be favourites next summer. Who can they fear?
Not France, they don't look good, Italy are in the international EFL, Spain have dropped off a cliff, and the Germans have been garbage since 2014. None of them have the talent England have. The only thing stopping England next summer is Southgate.

[South Coast Royal]

It’s part of the entitled culture surrounding football, which extends all around.

Partly driven, IMO, by this constant drive of pointless statistics that is thrown in your face. People become so obsessed over tiny metrics without understanding the whole picture.

Indeed. I'm getting fed up with reading so-called opinions that we 'should' have won a major tournament by now, as if other teams don't even exist.

I think England fans have every right to be entitled. I fully expect them to be favourites next summer. Who can they fear?
Not France, they don't look good, Italy are in the international EFL, Spain have dropped off a cliff, and the Germans have been garbage since 2014. None of them have the talent England have. The only thing stopping England next summer is Southgate.

Looking at the Portugal squad the other night it looked very strong and for some reason you have just dismissed France.
We will, as usual, be amongst the favourites.

We have a very good squad with great depth where players are much of a muchness but amongst that large number we have only maybe 2 or 3 who are really top class.
Whereas we have loads of midfielders we still are very much lacking at the back and in football you seldom win anything without a very strong defence at club or international football.
So, be prepared for us to go a long way in the tournament but probably fall short again especially as the event is not on our home soil.

[URZZZZ]

It’s part of the entitled culture surrounding football, which extends all around.

Partly driven, IMO, by this constant drive of pointless statistics that is thrown in your face. People become so obsessed over tiny metrics without understanding the whole picture.

Indeed. I'm getting fed up with reading so-called opinions that we 'should' have won a major tournament by now, as if other teams don't even exist.

I think England fans have every right to be entitled. I fully expect them to be favourites next summer. Who can they fear?
Not France, they don't look good, Italy are in the international EFL, Spain have dropped off a cliff, and the Germans have been garbage since 2014. None of them have the talent England have. The only thing stopping England next summer is Southgate.

I hope you’re on the wind up

Do dislike dismissing peoples opinions but this is so far out from reality

[Franchise FC]

Indeed. I'm getting fed up with reading so-called opinions that we 'should' have won a major tournament by now, as if other teams don't even exist.

I think England fans have every right to be entitled. I fully expect them to be favourites next summer. Who can they fear?
Not France, they don't look good, Italy are in the international EFL, Spain have dropped off a cliff, and the Germans have been garbage since 2014. None of them have the talent England have. The only thing stopping England next summer is Southgate.

I hope you’re on the wind up

Do dislike dismissing peoples opinions but this is so far out from reality

Yep, until we get a couple of world class defenders we'll look great until we don't.
It's a shame, but then only one team can win the competitions and they're only once every two years