Is England's squad good enough to succeed in Russia?

[St. Juste]

Not the worst decision however; they didn't hire a scotsman!

I actually deleted a line about McLeish, whose appointment was considered lukewarm at best, but it's undeniable he has significantly more managerial pedigree than Southgate and Giggs.

Simply put, he is a much better choice of manager.

Historically, Scottish managers have always done very well relative to the size of the country they come from (only really Italy can compare). Not sure what your point is here.

 

[Gassy]

Sorry what do you mean relative to the size they come from? As in population?

 

[Stagat]

Don't ask that. Anything but that.

 

[Lollard]

Personally, I don't rate England's chances very highly. It seems every single game the team manages to fumble something, despite the amount of talent in it's ranks.

 

[Blitzballer]

Great timing having an assault rifle tattoo on your leg. Media having a field day as per usual

 

[G.B]

sad that he even feels the need to justify himself to these whining cunts.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Our press obsession for hounding England's best players and doing their best to damage us never ceases to amaze me. Right on the eve of a bloody World Cup.

I know other European press can be quite fiery and heavy in going after their players, but that's generally after some kind of failure. Would any other nation be hounding one of their best players immediately prior to a tournament?

 

[AnimoEtFide]

If only Raheem, whose father was shot dead when he was two years old, appreciated just how dangerous guns can be.

 

[Blitzballer]

I'm not even mad at him getting the tattoo though, the meaning etc etc that's his prerogative, just wish he could've done it after the WC. We know how our pathetic press love to fuck us up before major tournaments

 

[Blitzballer]

Our press obsession for hounding England's best players and doing their best to damage us never ceases to amaze me. Right on the eve of a bloody World Cup.

I know other European press can be quite fiery and heavy in going after their players, but that's generally after some kind of failure. Would any other nation be hounding one of their best players immediately prior to a tournament?

It's nothing new though mate. Look before every major tournament we've played in in the last two decades..... always some controversy and the press blow it up to our detriment

 

[St. Juste]

Sorry what do you mean relative to the size they come from? As in population?

Yes, exactly.

Our press obsession for hounding England's best players and doing their best to damage us never ceases to amaze me. Right on the eve of a bloody World Cup.

I know other European press can be quite fiery and heavy in going after their players, but that's generally after some kind of failure. Would any other nation be hounding one of their best players immediately prior to a tournament?

Not really, press in all major countries do similar to a certain extent. And it's especially focused on players who are second or third generation (or first) like Sterling. It's something France, the Netherlands and Germany all have an issue with.

Similarly, in Brazil certain players are always being attacked, regardless of what happens on the pitch.

In Italy, as Viallis book states, players eat pressure for breakfast.

As for Sterling, it's an incredibly stupid thing to do from someone with a lot of previous. You can't have much sympathy. As for it being a tribute to his dad, on the minuscule chance that is true, it is even worse - that would paint him as an absolute lunatic rather than just an immature boy.

 

[Gassy]

Yes, exactly.

By European standards, i'd disagree. Of teams with a lower/very similar population and better team than Scotland;
Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia, Ireland, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Iceland.

EDIT: Unless you're not talking about the management of the Scotland national team, just the quality of the managers in general?

 

[St. Juste]

By European standards, i'd disagree. Of teams with a lower/very similar population and better team than Scotland;
Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia, Ireland, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Iceland.

EDIT: Unless you're not talking about the management of the Scotland national team, just the quality of the managers in general?

Well, Serbia is quite a bit bigger than Scotland but anyway my point was about the quality of the football managers produced relative to population. Hence the statement below:

"Historically, Scottish managers have always done very well relative to the size of the country they come from (only really Italy can compare)."

Do any of the above list of similar sized countries come close?

 

[Gassy]

Well, Serbia is quite a bit bigger than Scotland but anyway my point was about the quality of the football managers produced relative to population. Hence the statement below:

"Historically, Scottish managers have always done very well relative to the size of the country they come from (only really Italy can compare)."

Do any of the above list of similar sized countries come close?

Ah ok, I misunderstood - because we were talking in perspective of the Scotland team, that's how I read it, I thought you were talking about how well they've done for Scotland National team. Sorry for that.

I would actually agree with you completely, probably the most successful in the world actually for managers for size of population. Isn't there something that half of them are from Glasgow as well?

PS. The difference between Serbia Vs Scotland is much smaller than Iceland Vs Scotland. Didn't pick that one with you?

 

[St. Juste]

Ah ok, I misunderstood - because we were talking in perspective of the Scotland team, that's how I read it, I thought you were talking about how well they've done for Scotland National team. Sorry for that.

I would actually agree with you completely, probably the most successful in the world actually for managers for size of population. Isn't there something that half of them are from Glasgow as well?

PS. The difference between Serbia Vs Scotland is much smaller than Iceland Vs Scotland. Didn't pick that one with you?

Fair enough, per capita Glasgow is probably the most football mad place on earth so have contributed a great deal. There will be a bit of boys clubbing around it too (Fergie hiring Moyes as his replacement for example).

As for your final point, you stated the nations were smaller or of similar size. Iceland is certainly smaller, but I don't think Serbia is of similar size.

As for the comparison between the nations, you could view it as teams that qualify are automatically better than those that don't but it's a somewhat incomplete measure. Versus plenty of those sides Scotland will have a good head to head record (even recently).

But that is also an incomplete measure, last time we were in a qualifying group with Wales they beat us twice (one courtesy of a Bale dive) but finished below us in the group.

Scotland are a middling nation relative to our population. We beat the far bigger Hungary away in a friendly recently (a country with outstanding footballing history).

The last time we lost to a nation smaller than us in a competitive match was Georgia in 2015.* And for a friendly Costa Rica earlier this year.

*We also lost to Slovakia away in 2016 but the two countries have very similar population levels.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Christ, another population argument by St Juste.

And Scotland are not in any way better than Costa Rica.

 

[St. Juste]

Christ, another population argument by St Juste.

And Scotland are not in any way better than Costa Rica.

Clearly, we lost to them at home (albeit in a friendly).

This is a team that finished top of their group at WC 2014.

Obviously, when analysing historical performance Costa Rica don't come close to Scotland but at the moment it certainly appears they are enjoying a blip. Fantastic country too, glad to see them doing well.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Yes, exactly.



Not really, press in all major countries do similar to a certain extent. And it's especially focused on players who are second or third generation (or first) like Sterling. It's something France, the Netherlands and Germany all have an issue with.

Similarly, in Brazil certain players are always being attacked, regardless of what happens on the pitch.

In Italy, as Viallis book states, players eat pressure for breakfast.

As for Sterling, it's an incredibly stupid thing to do from someone with a lot of previous. You can't have much sympathy. As for it being a tribute to his dad, on the minuscule chance that is true, it is even worse - that would paint him as an absolute lunatic rather than just an immature boy.

What is his previous and and why is he a lunatic?

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Ffs more population debate...

 

[Reaper]

Par for us would be quarters but we are capable of winning if we got our act together and play well as a team. I reckon us Croatia, Portugal and Columbia are the bottom sides of a group who could surprise and go and win the tournament if that makes sense.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Can't see us getting anywhere near winning it, a lot of these players are still raw, we have some genuine quality players like Kane, Walker and Sterling, but in certain areas we are badly lacking that quality that the Germans and Spanish possess. If we make it to the quarters I'll be pleased and see that as progression, got a bad feeling about the game with Tunisia. It's got Algeria 2010 written all over it.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Just me with a good feeling about this tournament?

But two things have to happen.

1) They need to attack. Too often in the last few tournaments England have sat back too much early on not to lose. Only once since France 98 have England won their first match. Can’t afford to start slowly this time. The 3-5-2 formation is a positive for me.

2) Have a cup final / siege mentality. They’ll need a bit of luck and it’s “all on the day”. Anything can happen in the World Cup. Treat it like a minnow in the FA Cup third round.

The draw is kind to England. It’s probably better to come second that first, if they play Colombia rather than Poland. They would then run into Germany (again) in the quarters, or the opposite scenario, Brazil. That’s when their race is likely to be run.

 

[Stevencc]

I'm looking forward to the tournament but, as ever, I'm not expecting us to get very far.

 

[Gassy]

Feel positive as usual before a tournament - when we draw 1-1 with Tunisia though, that confidence will go straight out the window.

I’d rather have Poland than Colombia btw, we seem to be awful against South American sides

 

[Bobbin']

Feel positive as usual before a tournament - when we draw 1-1 with Tunisia though, that confidence will go straight out the window.

I’d rather have Poland than Colombia btw, we seem to be awful against South American sides

Not so sure we're awful.

Just from the top of my head, since the '98 WC where we beat Colombia we have beaten Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador and only losing to Argentina, Brazil (eventual winners) and Uruguay?

Seem to recall a win over Argentina in a friendly, couple of draws with Brazil and maybe only losing to Chile at Wembley?

 

[Gassy]

Not so sure we're awful.

Just from the top of my head, since the '98 WC where we beat Colombia we have beaten Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador and only losing to Argentina, Brazil (eventual winners) and Uruguay?

Seem to recall a win over Argentina in a friendly, couple of draws with Brazil and maybe only losing to Chile at Wembley?

Didn’t really consider friendlies tbh, but in the more recent times it feels like more losses than wins that’s for sure

Everyone thought Costa Rica would be a stroll through the park at the last World Cup - before eventually winning the group

 

[mase]

No.

\thread

 

[Bobbin']

Didn’t really consider friendlies tbh, but in the more recent times it feels like more losses than wins that’s for sure

Everyone thought Costa Rica would be a stroll through the park at the last World Cup - before eventually winning the group

Regarding more recent times, we lost to Uruguay in 2014 but the Brazil and Argentina defeats were in 2002 and 1998. We beat both Paraguay and Ecuador in 2006.

Again, with Costa Rica - they were impressive in 2014, they didn’t lose in 90 mins and in fact we were the only side to take a point off them in the group stage so I don’t think our record against South American teams is all that bad. It is against your run of the mill European teams where we really fall down.

 

[Gassy]

Can’t argue with stats tbf - for some reason to me it just seems like we’ve seats done poorly against them

 

[Bobbin']

Can’t argue with stats tbf - for some reason to me it just seems like we’ve seats done poorly against them

In fairness, I agree with your general point about preferring to face Poland rather Colombia but only because I just think Colombia are better.