FOOTBALL: EUROS 2020ish

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

FOOTBALL: EUROS 2020ish

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Bob in Spain wrote:
Not that I am trying to wind up Oakland here, but I thought this was funny.

Kalvin Phillips heat map

https://twitter.com/England/status/1412915893886242821

Jack Grealish heat map

https://twitter.com/OD_bcafc/status/1412916272170418187

Sorry Oakland. Couldn't resist.

Sorry complete missed this have been in various states of horror & mourning, begrudging congratulations to Italy who deserved to win the tournament because they played their creative players and took their chances. The behaviour on the day by some of our fan base & the reaction to the penalty misses left me completely flat. I actually didnt mind losing, Italy had earned the win optimising their resources.

But Bob sadly I will take the bait, football is so much more than just running around, its all about making your touches count. The floppy haired prince got little opportunity but had us all heart in mouth with anticipation when he did. The blow has been softened by finely coming to the top of the season ticket wait list (I had to step a way from work environment for 20 minutes I was so excited) so when he sobers up in September I should actually get to see someone pass him the ball

Quite rightly we will not win anything with Phillips & Rice holding hands in front of our back five.

Never thought I would say this but one of them has to go and he may only be 17 but its time to bring on the Bluenose!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Not that I am trying to wind up Oakland here, but I thought this was funny.

Kalvin Phillips heat map

https://twitter.com/England/status/1412915893886242821

Jack Grealish heat map

https://twitter.com/OD_bcafc/status/1412916272170418187

Sorry Oakland. Couldn't resist.
Sorry complete missed this have been in various states of horror & mourning, begrudging congratulations to Italy who deserved to win the tournament because they played their creative players and took their chances. The behaviour on the day by some of our fan base & the reaction to the penalty misses left me completely flat. I actually didnt mind losing, Italy had earned the win optimising their resources.
But Bob sadly I will take the bait, football is so much more than just running around, its all about making your touches count. The floppy haired prince got little opportunity but had us all heart in mouth with anticipation when he did. The blow has been softened by finely coming to the top of the season ticket wait list (I had to step a way from work environment for 20 minutes I was so excited) so when he sobers up in September I should actually get to see someone pass him the ball
Quite rightly we will not win anything with Phillips & Rice holding hands in front of our back five.
Never thought I would say this but one of them has to go and he may only be 17 but its time to bring on the Bluenose!

For the elimination of any doubt, it was posted purely as a joke on the day Grealish was subbed on and then subbed off again. As I said, I found it funny, but that doesn't mean I found it realistic.

In fact, I agree with the vast majority of what you say. Like so many others I was wrapped up in the emotion of winning/losing, but in all honesty, the actual style of football bored the pants off me. Perhaps I have been spoilt with the Bielsa mantra of attack, attack, attack, but there were times when I nearly fell asleep watching England.

And for the record, I think Grealish is a fantastic player. Again, like so many other England fans, when he came on I could be found rubbing my hands together in anticipation and muttering to myself, "right, here we go at last".

I would also love to see England play with just one holding midfield player, but I can't see it happening. Southgate will argue that his strategy worked and to be honest, he has a point.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I hope Southgate is a bit more broad minded than you anticipate, I am sure he will analyse how England performed ultimately despite a dream draw we failed to win essentially a home tournament. We were too scared to commit or trust our back 4. Throughly enjoyed the tournament but nothing can beat live Footie. Spent Tuesday night watching CVPM take on the NL might of Concord Rangers lost 4-3.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
I hope Southgate is a bit more broad minded than you anticipate, I am sure he will analyse how England performed ultimately despite a dream draw we failed to win essentially a home tournament. We were too scared to commit or trust our back 4. Throughly enjoyed the tournament but nothing can beat live Footie. Spent Tuesday night watching CVPM take on the NL might of Concord Rangers lost 4-3.

Sadly I don't share your optimism about Southgate's approach. It has been well documented that he has spent years studying the teams that have done well in tournaments and come to the conclusion that those teams are the ones that concede the fewest goals.

The fact that he was a penalty shoot out away from winning the Euros with that approach, will likely encourage him to continue.

I hope you are right and I am wrong, but in the mean time, back to the real stuff of the PL.