15 Comments

Declan growing up but sadly England aren’t!

Let me be honest, I gave up on England winning anything in the 70s.

I was fortunate enough to see us win the World Cup in ’66 courtesy of Mooro, Hursty and Martin but it all went reels of cotton after that and has remained so ever since.

I had remained a fan of the home internationals against the three nations and last night reminded me that the noise levels from the fans are an indication that a return of the games would be a huge bonus for most fans.

However, sadly, what last night also demonstrated was that England take these games a little less seriously than the Scots who frankly were far the better team and created some outstanding chances.

The Southgate team appeared to believe – as has been the case so often in the past – that sideways and backwards passing is a favoured option even in the 80th minute and onwards when a game needs to be won.

Declan did ok but was one of those who favoured the sideways pass when I was hoping he may go on one of those rampaging forward runs which has recently become part of his game.

I didn’t understand the substitutions or the method of play we adopted and wasn’t as impressed with the 1-0 win over Croatia as some.

I’m delighted only that Declan is growing up into a fine international player and will one day tread in Mooro’s footsteps but beyond that I see little in this England team to give me any hope that I have got it wrong over the last 50 years.

Will win this tournament – I still believe in miracles but that’s what it will take i’m afraid …average side.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

15 comments on “Declan growing up but sadly England aren’t!

  1. Each time England mess up another tournament, it makes you realise how special Bobby Moore and the ’66 team were…

    • Rice has been bang average in the last two games… Like many other players unfortunately on the night, Scotlands tactics were bang on, they were definitely not “much better” than England. Maybe in endeavour. Strange because I have asked on so many “groups” why does everyone think Southgate is so “****e” all of a sudden… For pity sake in his only major tournament to date he got England to a World Cup semi final… Geez people have short memories… Oh yes and France are crap as well because they only drew with Hungary LOL.. **** happens, get on with it for pity sake.. Only constructive criticism I have is that Kane and Sterling have for a while looked short on confidence and Grealish needs to get far more game time..

      • Southgate hasn’t become so bad all of a sudden. My pet rabbit could have got England as far as the semi-final last World Cup. Wally with the waistcoat. FA are all too comfortable taking the money and being nice to each other.

  2. Southgate is well far out of his depth. Why has he got Rice sitting 4 yards infront of the CBs? Free Rice he can feed those attackers.

  3. For ages we have been unable to produce highly technically gifted players who can compete on the world stage, nowadays we have a plethora of them, alas our coaches and manager are pragmatic in approach.
    Maybe one day we will appoint a coach/ manager who compliments the players available to them and plays to their strengths.
    All in all, 4 points after two games is good enough, Wales are ecstatic with 4 points, Scotland delighted to have 1 point on the board, England effectively qualify for last 16 but we’re on a downer! 🤣

  4. We were far to negative , Southgate has to take the blame . We need to press in these games , Rice was given a job to sit , who can he pass to has to be sideways. No runs , no pressing , shocking . Stirling souls have been subbed after 20 minutes , why take Foden off , Southgate shocking management .

  5. Forgot than I read Tom McDermott mocks £100m Declan Rice valuation . A Manchester journalist trying to get his price lowers , he’s right not with £100 million more like £140 million , idiot ⚒

  6. did harry kane play ?. 100 million what a joke. worst player on the pitch yesterday, and against croatia. never seen a player loose the ball so much

  7. If you want to win tournaments then you have to play without fear, this ultra cautious approach we have to not losing is the problem. Everyone could see we were slow on the ball, I often level the same argument against West Ham. If you want to win you need to switch the ball fast and intelligently something lacking from the English game. Agree the sub decisions were mystifying. Foden was making things happen, Sterling, Kane, Phillips, Shaw, Rice and James weren’t any could have been subbed. Scotland played 442 why not put Calvert Lewin alongside Kane and match them up ?

  8. Can’t say that I have the answers to such a lacklustre performance by England, but our Declan did what he has asked to do by the manager…so in my eyes, he’s blameless regarding the result.
    I do think that Harry Kane’s performance in the game was abysmal. When you are ranked as one of the BEST strikers in the world…and you are the “Captain” of your national side… you are expected to put in a Captain’s performance. Captain-wise England was rudderless and lacked a captains inspiration & performance.
    Don’t get me wrong, there were issues all over the pitch with players who are clearly better than the under-par performances that they put in. But the Captain’s armband has to count for something???
    Harry is probably focused on his escape from the spuds and is working on it whilst with the England squad.

  9. We are a bore fest under Southgate,if players like Dec were allowed to play their normal game we would at least create more chances.Grealish should be on from the start.

    • It was certainly one of the most uninspired matches of the tournament. Take Scotland’s desire and infuse it into the English team and they are unstoppable.

  10. Kane’s head is elsewhere. I wouldn’t select him to start until he’s found a club to play for next season.

  11. The system is paramount. England’s performance was a direct reflection of Gareth Southgate’s ambition and method. The substitutions showed what Gareth thinks of his system. Kane off replaced by Rashford. Foden off replaced by Grealish. No changes there then. Continuity maintained and still no ball going forward. Scotland didn’t need to change anything. Nothing new to worry them. Harry Kane was criticised for having a bad game and doing nothing. He would have scored a hat trick if the ball went forward from England. Might as well had Vardy or Antonio up front. They wouldn’t have been able to do anything either. Should have added Rashford to Kane and Grealish to Foden. Take off the comfortable defenders and put the ball in Scotland’s net. Substitution of Pickford would have the same effect as those made by Gareth. Nice guy – but clueless. Apparently these are ‘young lads who haven’t experienced tournament football’ and will be better for the experience. This isn’t a rehearsal – it’s the time to play winning football. Wonder what happened to all English players who gained experience over the last few years? Made way for the boys of the future?
    COYI

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