Jimmy Melia, arguably the second worst Albion boss after Hypia, took the Albion to their only, to date, FA cup final appearence.
We won 2 games out of 5 in open play in the Euros under him and for our first one and a half games (Switzerland & Scotland) we were awful. He wasn't the messiah history has sometimes made him out to be.
That is absolute rubbish. The 2002 - 2008 team was better than this one and won nothing, only ever getting to QFs. I also think it's so arrogant to think we should just role other nations over. England was on its knees when he took over and frankly, we are just not the big beast national team we all like to think we are. Only ever won one trophy 58 years ago at home. I hope he stays to the next World Cup because I honestly don't know who does better, and don't say Pep or Klopp etc. International management isn't like club management.
But even with its differences, it's still football management.
Columbia in the last 16 of wc2018. We also beatvswitzerland in a pk shoot out in the nation's league but I'm not sure that counts ss a proper tournament. So we've won 2 out of three or 3 out of 4 under him. Bearing in mind we won 1 out 7 before him that's still an impressive record imo. He's ended the hoodoo I reckon. Before that Columbia game I didn't think I'd ever see us win a shoot out again.
Isn't this current period of success a result of a huge review by the FA around that period 2002-2008 where they transformed all the development setup, built St George's Park, and transformed the way coaches, players etc. came through, and a transformation of youth formats at grass roots? This culminated in Dan Ashworth's appointment in 2012. There has been a transformation behind the scenes that's not all down to Gareth.
2002-2008 was abject failure as well given the players, sure Southgate has done better, but tend to agree with @Lenny Rider we have continually under performed
I thought 2002 was a decent world cup. Beat Argentina, thrashed Denmark, and came up against a brilliant Brazil.
That is obviously part of it in terms of developing a production line of players and decent ethos. Southgate has fostered a brilliant atmosphere for them to operate in and of course worked with lots of them at Under 21. I admit he can be limited in terms of tactical ability (although in the last 2 games, he's done really well), but it's not easy regardless of some of the players he has. I don't know who else we get in as a coach. I think it should be an English coach and they are limited. I also think International management is a particular skill. So dropping in say Pep (would never take it) or Klopp (wouldn't take it now) isn't necessarily going to work. That leaves Howe (I can't see he'd leave Newcastle at the moment) or Potter (can he implement a style with limited time to train). I hope he stays a couple more years while we prep a successor.
Fair enough on Trent but lots of pundits and fans wanted him there. Walker is good at RCB works well I think and the change to 3-4-2-1 has massively helped Foden. I wouldn't want him at the Albion either because he's an international specialist manager not a club one.
Where we got lucky on Wednesday was that we were second best aerially to Dutch free kicks and corners. It didn't cost us but It has previously (Mandzukic for Croatia for example). Koeman thought the same with the Weghorst sub and that is the weak part of Walker in that position
Awful against Scotland, but beat them 2-0, whereas Southgate's team drew with them? Both times we drew with Switzerland. And that's your evidence for Southgate being better?
There it is the English delusion that makes all the other countries hate us. You don't "walk" and international football tournament whoever you are.
Came up short against Brazil.
just not true is it. It's our media talking it up and spinning it like all other countries have shite players. International football isnt like that. Our players are good but so are others. Look at the French for example
