Although slightly fortuitous in the end tonight, I felt all tournament our shape, tactics, discipline and togetherness of the squad has been exemplarary. It wasn't a sparkling performance but we didn't rise to provocation and we managed the game well

Ironically our tactics are the same as those deployed by Hoddle , 3 at the back, playing a wing back system. It plays to our strengths

Also destroys the myth there were no decent English managers to lead the England team. All the wasted years under Stupid Sven and Clueless Capello

Once Dier came on we suddenly ceased to have a midfield. I understand the thinking but it wasn't the right tactic IMO as it invited pressure and broke the link between defence and attack, especially given we play it out from the back. RLC, Delph or Rashford would have been better options than Dier, or even with Dier but taking Lingard off, whose first touch last night was awful. Apart from one link up behind their left back Lingard may as well have been a brick wall for all the control, link up and threat he offered.

I do think he's quite limited in his options, with Vardy and Sterling both offering little. Could have started Rashford though.

But in Southgate's defence he at least has a plan A that is reasonably solid and helps ball retention and picks players to suit the system rather than trying to shoehorn as many Manure or Liverpool players in as possible. He also has clearly managed to create a good atmosphere in the camp and made the right call against Belgium by throwing the game.

We have beaten Tunisia, Panama and Columbia ( on pens ) let’s not get carried away, we lost to Belgium second string.
Southgate is excellent at PR, not sure about best manager. The team tactics and coaching are sorted out by Steve Holland.

It is as it makes a living person's disability seem like a punishment, which it isn't.

Edited by johnno42000 (04 Jul 2018 3.46pm)

A punishment that they consciously played no part in, so it's not a punishment they had a choice in (it's all b0llocks of course)

Again, it's actually far worse to say to someone that the actions you take in this life.....actions that you do have a choice in.....those actions will see you roasted alive for all eternity.

I regarded the hyperbolic reaction to Hoddle's nonsense as more emotive hysteria. Treating the disabled as a 'protected class' from concepts some might object to.

That idea of the 'protected class' has become far far worse since that episode and regularly and consistently grinds my gears.

Edited by Stirlingsays (04 Jul 2018 8.08pm)