The Football Thread 2023/24: City suffer wobble, no win in 4 PL games

Closest comparison in terms of games played would be Bobby Robson. Southgate has 5 fewer games, but a lot more goals scored and games won. Assuming Southgate gets another 20 or so games, I think he'll also comfortably beat Alf Ramsey in goals and wins as well.

Sven's stats are much better than I expected! 128 goals!

An ordinary manager with extra ordinary players.

Gi' it Football Association till end u't season.

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:An ordinary manager with extra ordinary players.

I dont agree, hes playing Jordan Pickford in goal and our defence is somewhat questionable.

Yep, England do *not* have a strong defence; every game there are usually several pieces of loose play or poor positioning at the back. It's their Achilles heel and I fear a stumbling block which could deny our attacking players an international trophy. No matter who the manager is.

They're excellent elsewhere, and this gives them a very strong set of results against almost everyone, but at the business end of tournaments you're just waiting for them to show weaknesses at the back.

DML wrote:
Return_of_the_STAR wrote:An ordinary manager with extra ordinary players.

I dont agree, hes playing Jordan Pickford in goal and our defence is somewhat questionable.

This idea that Pickford is not a very good goalkeeper is stuck in the past. He's never let England down. He did have some dodgy spells for Everton but he's been consistent for nearly 3 years now. Everton would have gone down the last 2 years if not for Pickford. He's certainly the best GK England have had since Seaman, if not Shilton.

In terms of defence, I agree we don't have anyone that would put in the same backs to the wall/towering defensive display that stereotypical English defenders in the past could have done - Butcher, Adams, Campbell, Terry etc but we don't need that anymore as we actually control possession now and Stones (and to a lesser extent Maguire) are why we do that.

Sven had extraordinary players too. He did a decent job, Southgate wipes the floor with him.

Pickford has his dodgy moments for Everton but has largely been very good for England, I've no issue with him retaining his spot in goal.

Goalkeeper is arguably England's deepest position. I agree that Pickford has been excellent for England and behind him you wouldn't look at Ramsdale or Pope (I've seen less of him tbf) and think the team is majorly weaker defensively. All three are number ones.

I think it's a bit weird Ben White isn't more involved. Southgate has the opportunity to have the right side of one of the best teams in the country just up sticks, put on a different shirt and crack on as they are with all the understanding and interplay etc, but he doesn't. I'm obviously not that bothered because I like as many Arsenal players as possible getting fortnights off instead of travelling around the world playing for a team I don't support, but I still think it's weird.

Dowbocop wrote:Goalkeeper is arguably England's deepest position. I agree that Pickford has been excellent for England and behind him you wouldn't look at Ramsdale or Pope (I've seen less of him tbf) and think the team is majorly weaker defensively. All three are number ones.

I think it's a bit weird Ben White isn't more involved. Southgate has the opportunity to have the right side of one of the best teams in the country just up sticks, put on a different shirt and crack on as they are with all the understanding and interplay etc, but he doesn't. I'm obviously not that bothered because I like as many Arsenal players as possible getting fortnights off instead of travelling around the world playing for a team I don't support, but I still think it's weird.

Didn't he get sent home from Qatar for a bust up with one of the coaches? Looks like the situation hasn't been fixed since because he'd be in the squad on current form.

Tomous wrote:
Dowbocop wrote:Goalkeeper is arguably England's deepest position. I agree that Pickford has been excellent for England and behind him you wouldn't look at Ramsdale or Pope (I've seen less of him tbf) and think the team is majorly weaker defensively. All three are number ones.

I think it's a bit weird Ben White isn't more involved. Southgate has the opportunity to have the right side of one of the best teams in the country just up sticks, put on a different shirt and crack on as they are with all the understanding and interplay etc, but he doesn't. I'm obviously not that bothered because I like as many Arsenal players as possible getting fortnights off instead of travelling around the world playing for a team I don't support, but I still think it's weird.

Didn't he get sent home from Qatar for a bust up with one of the coaches? Looks like the situation hasn't been fixed since because he'd be in the squad on current form.

I didn't know about that, I know he left a camp for personal reasons but I was avoiding Qatar. Seems since then Southgate hasn't publicly shut the door on him but who knows what the real situation is.

I think Walker, Trippier, James and Trent are all ahead of White for the RB spot right now

Ever wondered what Tamara Beckwith, Simon Weston, Darren Day and a random lottery winner thought of Man U not playing in the FA Cup?

All that talk from Southgate about wanting to be top of the World Rankings and we slumber to a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia :lol:

Don't know how Southgate does it. :wub:

#itscominghome

Moggy wrote:Ever wondered what Tamara Beckwith, Simon Weston, Darren Day and a random lottery winner thought of Man U not playing in the FA Cup?

Absolutely fascinated by this :lol:

Tomous wrote:
Moggy wrote:Ever wondered what Tamara Beckwith, Simon Weston, Darren Day and a random lottery winner thought of Man U not playing in the FA Cup?

Absolutely fascinated by this

"But what does Barry Norman think about it?" :slol:

Wait what, why aren't Man United in the FA cup?

Curls wrote:Wait what, why aren't Man United in the FA cup?

They pulled out of it in 1999 so they could go to the Club World Championship in South America in Jan 2000.

Don't forget everyone, make sure your computer is Y2K compliant before next month!

Crap, I didn't read the date.

The Football Thread 2023/24: City suffer wobble, no win in 4 PL games

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