[Football] Dear England - by Gareth Southgate

[crodonilson]

A very nice piece and it is great that the team are taking a lead on matters off the football pitch, I wholeheartedly look forward to the national team after the Euros going after Qatar and the appalling human rights abuses in building stadia for the next World Cup with the same vigour they have with taking the knee.

 

[bhafc99]

Dear England

Mings.

FFS.

What was I thinking?

I’m sorry.

Love, Gareth


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[Bedsex]

All down to his Hazelwick education, of course [emoji6]

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Thanks for sharing this. Whilst like everyone here I’d like to see a few more Brighton players in the England central defence, I do think Southgate is an intelligent and thoughtful man. This message does him a lot of credit

I don’t believe anyone thinks he is anything other than a nice bloke but he’s a shocking England manager.
Mings … FFS.
Let’s not forget that he didn’t rate or pick Grealish when he was the form player of the league … after telling everyone he would pick the form players …
Nice bloke but not England manager material. Did anyone think when he was at Middlesbrough that he would be England manager …
Sami Hyppia was a lovely bloke ………


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[GT49er]

Nah - he'd have to go some to beat the Bard -

Rather proclaim it, Westmorland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say "To-morrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words—
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester—
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9fa3HFR02E

- but I guess marks for a good effort!

 

[Jim in the West]

Whether he wrote it (word for word) or not, I'm 100% sure he believes in what's written. I don't think he's a particularly good tactician, but far rather him in charge than someone like Allardyce.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I thought it read rather well.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Wonder who wrote it

It wasn’t a northerner, that’s for sure.

 

[Scoffers]

Could you imagine Big Sam coming out with something like that

Full respect for Gareth and what he is trying to do, and the way he is handling the players

 

[raymondo]

Wonder who wrote it

A bit harsh, Swanny

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Top human is something he always comes across as. Thanks Gareth, the real fans are behind you and the team as ever

Also worth noting, I don’t personally agree with all his selections, but I doubt anyone will ever with any manager. Nothing will change now. Stop making scapegoats before a ball has been kicked that you can come back on and support the team!

And if you’re not supporting the team or watching for some odd reason then kindly piss off these threads and go and garden or something

Yes. I have been needlessly negative about him from time to time. Unpleasantly so on occasion. My bad.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I don’t believe anyone thinks he is anything other than a nice bloke but he’s a shocking England manager.
Mings … FFS.
Let’s not forget that he didn’t rate or pick Grealish when he was the form player of the league … after telling everyone he would pick the form players …
Nice bloke but not England manager material. Did anyone think when he was at Middlesbrough that he would be England manager …
Sami Hyppia was a lovely bloke ………


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I'll hold my hand up and admit he can bring out a rather unfortunately bullying streak in me. It reminds me of the way some people talk about Potter. Too easy to forget when we play well, but remember and dwell on the cock ups.

I'll admit to feeling more positive about Potter tan Southgate, but being England manager is very different from being a club manager these days, it seems.

Anyway, tournament about to start, White in the squad and my glass is more than half full.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Nice dig at the poor old Blades


Only around 1,200 players have represented England at senior men’s level. Ever. It’s a profound privilege. Don’t forget, many of our lads started out at Football League clubs like Barnsley, MK Dons and Sheffield United.

They must have turned him down. I did think it was odd that he chose Sheffiel United given they were in the PL less than month ago.

 

[ShandyH]

Emotive, pragmatic, creative and he also leads with honesty; a new approach which is thoroughly commendable and should hopefully gain support from all the players, staff and fans.

It’s a really impressive piece and goes to show that to pigeon hole or generalise current players or former players as unintelligent is just as general a sweep as unfiltered racism.

It’s arguable that players don’t usually have a mouthpiece as they are so overtrained in press interviews they say almost nothing (Bamford is a good exception to this).

This is a huge celebration for the whole of Europe and hopefully this will allow the players to show their true characters on and off the field. This, in turn, might get the papers off their backs for once.


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[Mo Gosfield]

A very nice piece and it is great that the team are taking a lead on matters off the football pitch, I wholeheartedly look forward to the national team after the Euros going after Qatar and the appalling human rights abuses in building stadia for the next World Cup with the same vigour they have with taking the knee.

As indeed with all the other human rights abuses around the world and the racism and racialism found in every corner and in every nation on earth and not just an individual issue with colour prejudice, which some seem to consider the only cause of importance.

 

[vegster]

Emotive, pragmatic, creative and he also leads with honesty; a new approach which is thoroughly commendable and should hopefully gain support from all the players, staff and fans.

It’s a really impressive piece and goes to show that to pigeon hole or generalise current players or former players as unintelligent is just as general a sweep as unfiltered racism.

It’s arguable that players don’t usually have a mouthpiece as they are so overtrained in press interviews they say almost nothing (Bamford is a good exception to this).

This is a huge celebration for the whole of Europe and hopefully this will allow the players to show their true characters on and off the field. This, in turn, might get the papers off their backs for once.


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Indeed, fine words and aspirations from Mr Southgate that are stirring and positive about football on many issues, however as an old boy I once knew said to me " Talk is cheap but money buys you houses ".. Let's see what happens on the pitch..

 

[Hotchilidog]

I can support a team run by a man who wrote that. It was a very fine piece and a reminder of how I used to feel about the England team. A perfect antidote to the row over taking the knee. My England mojo finally on the rise.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

He is absolutely right about players creating unforgettable moments, like when his penalty rolled tamely into the hands of Germany's keeper.

But give him credit for

“Because of my granddad, I’ve always had an affinity for the military and service in the name of your country — though the consequence of my failure in representing England will never be as high as his.”

 

[Guinness Boy]

No doubt he wrote it and means it. Yes, I remember his tame missed penalty and the fact he continues to pick Mings instead of, say, Dunk. No, I'm not massively convinced about positional sacrifices made to protect a weak lower spine, due to all our good players being right backs, AMs and centre forwards. But I'm around the same age as him and had exactly the same excitement over the 1982 finals and Robson's goal (whilst wondering when I'd see Steve Foster). I too remember the 9-0. And 2018 will remain one of the best summers of my life. I know where I was for every gloriously sunny kick.

But most of all the below should be put on our screens in writing before games to explain just why a small and quick gesture is enacted before every game, a gesture you can miss by going and getting a beer from the fridge or remaining on the concourse if it really does offend your broflake sensibilities so much,

Why would you choose to insult somebody for something as ridiculous as the colour of their skin?

Why?

 

[Mo Gosfield]

No doubt he wrote it and means it. Yes, I remember his tame missed penalty and the fact he continues to pick Mings instead of, say, Dunk. No, I'm not massively convinced about positional sacrifices made to protect a weak lower spine, due to all our good players being right backs, AMs and centre forwards. But I'm around the same age as him and had exactly the same excitement over the 1982 finals and Robson's goal (whilst wondering when I'd see Steve Foster). I too remember the 9-0. And 2018 will remain one of the best summers of my life. I know where I was for every gloriously sunny kick.

But most of all the below should be put on our screens in writing before games to explain just why a small and quick gesture is enacted before every game, a gesture you can miss by going and getting a beer from the fridge or remaining on the concourse if it really does offend your broflake sensibilities so much,

Why would you choose to insult somebody for something as ridiculous as the colour of their skin?

Why?

The same reason that people insult others over the fact they adopt a different religion or that they they come from a different country or they have a different political belief or have a physical abnormality or a learning disability or use rhetoric that others disagree with or are just someone that others don't like.
As long as we are human beings and have fluidity in intelligence levels, maturity, tolerance and understanding then all the above and more will keep happening until the end of time. Countries will keep firing missiles at other countries. Politicians will keep saying one thing and doing the other. Religious dogma will continue to blight the globe and people will keep being rude and insulting to each other, in a society that is becoming less tolerant day by day.
It is a brave crusade to try and change human nature. The best we can strive for is for each and every one of us as parents to do our utmost to instil into our children a sense of worth, tolerance and understanding. To help our children to grow up with the ability to question and reason and to treat others with respect and dignity.