England's Golden XI

[Ormerod89]

Interesting article about the 'golden generation' of England players .. from 2023 .. despite how well they did in the tournaments (which I still put down to the quality of the opposition) would anyone describe the last 12 months as a 'Golden generation'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67087777

 

[Hazi]

Best crop of English players ever, down to Southgate if we win F All

 

[Raging_Bull]

Not sure about a "Golden" generation but Bellingham is the best talent we've produced for a very long time.

 

[voyeur]

Best crop of English players ever, down to Southgate if we win F All

Not necessarily IMO. Like the champions league, there are a few top teams and the coach's job is to get us to the later rounds and then it's what happens on the day, in the knock out stages.

 

[Wizaard]

Not necessarily IMO. Like the champions league, there are a few top teams and the coach's job is to get us to the later rounds and then it's what happens on the day, in the knock out stages.

Southgate has got us to the position of challenging for trophies, the first manager since Bobby Robson. He gets far too much stick.

Arguably, the likes of Eriksson et al had better players with far less relative success.

 

[Make the Pass]

Watched the under 21's last night, very impressive.

 

[20togo]

Best crop of English players ever, down to Southgate if we win F All

Not necessarily IMO. Like the champions league, there are a few top teams and the coach's job is to get us to the later rounds and then it's what happens on the day, in the knock out stages.

I'm somewhere in the middle on this. Is it the best crop of English players ever? No, not a total lot. Certain former players would comfortably make this squad. But is it down to Southgate? Yes to some point it is, especially when we set out to be somewhat negative in the later stages of the tournament. And, there with what voy says, it's down to "on the day" chances created, missed, refereeing decisions and such like.

 

[PNENIL]

For me qualification is a must for any England manager but people take it for granted and clearly weren't around in the 70s when we missed tournaments. Then its getting through the group stage for straight knockout. That's par for me and if an England manager gets us to that stage and looking good then he's done his job because anything can happen after that. In with a chance and that's all I ask. Other people have ridiculous expectations and nothing is ever good enough in any match.
I'm not having it with the criticism of Southgate because we were one penalty shootout kick away from winning a major tournament. I do think this is his last go though but God knows who we bring in. Who would want it that's decent?

 

[Wizaard]

For me qualification is a must for any England manager but people take it for granted and clearly weren't around in the 70s when we missed tournaments. Then its getting through the group stage for straight knockout. That's par for me and if an England manager gets us to that stage and looking good then he's done his job because anything can happen after that. In with a chance and that's all I ask. Other people have ridiculous expectations and nothing is ever good enough in any match.
I'm not having it with the criticism of Southgate because we were one penalty shootout kick away from winning a major tournament. I do think this is his last go though but God knows who we bring in. Who would want it that's decent?

Exactly. 74 and 78 were spent watching other teams, and even the USA games in 94. In a few others we scraped in nervously.

We've not looked remotely not like qualifying since Southgate took over.

 

[Lytham_fy8]

Southgate has got us to the position of challenging for trophies, the first manager since Bobby Robson. He gets far too much stick.

Arguably, the likes of Eriksson et al had better players with far less relative success.

Eriksson was a liability who shouldn't have been anywhere near the job.

 

[Lewis_Winthorpe]

Southgate has got us to the position of challenging for trophies, the first manager since Bobby Robson. He gets far too much stick.

Arguably, the likes of Eriksson et al had better players with far less relative success.

Did Robson really challenge?

Yes a semi in 1990 which England were very, very lucky to get to.

England were poor in '86 barring the Poland game

Less said about '88 the better.

Eriksson well if England could take pens then who knows.

 

[Willie Mcgrotty]

Exactly. 74 and 78 were spent watching other teams, and even the USA games in 94. In a few others we scraped in nervously.

We've not looked remotely not like qualifying since Southgate took over.

Qualification has been made so much easier since the break up of the old states & both the WC & Euros increasing countries taking part in the finals. When you think back to the qualification for '74 & how we lost in Poland through a Bobby Moore error then absolutely battered them at Wembley. Only one team qualified from the group & if my memory serves me right Poland went on to finish third place in Germany.

 

[Wizaard]

Qualification has been made so much easier since the break up of the old states & both the WC & Euros increasing countries taking part in the finals. When you think back to the qualification for '74 & how we lost in Poland through a Bobby Moore error then absolutely battered them at Wembley. Only one team qualified from the group & if my memory serves me right Poland went on to finish third place in Germany.

It was a Norman Hunter error at Wembley, Bobby Moore in the away game, but your point stands.

It's always Leeds' fault

 

[Willie Mcgrotty]

It was a Norman Hunter error at Wembley, Bobby Moore in the away game, but your point stands.

It's always Leeds' fault

I'll correct your correction wiz in that I did reference BM's error away in Poland. In Norman's defence I always felt Shilton dived over the ball at Wembley. Always preferred Ray Clemence.

 

[Satriale's Pork Store]

And Shilton kept his jersey for at least 8 years too long, during which time Puma lead lined his boots!

 

[PNENIL]

Eriksson was a liability who shouldn't have been anywhere near the job.

He wasn't a liability, he was a manager who got the trend going of England qualifying for tournaments quite easily. He was average though who probably should have got more out of the players at his disposal and gone further in tournaments.

 

[Lytham_fy8]

He wasn't a liability, he was a manager who got the trend going of England qualifying for tournaments quite easily. He was average though who probably should have got more out of the players at his disposal and gone further in tournaments.

Not really, we'd only failed to qualify for the World Cup in 94 before him, right back until 78. Last Euros we failed to qualify before him was 1984, Mclaren then failed to qualify for Euro 2008 after he'd gone.

 

[Leon Hindley]

Dead easy to qualify these days with all the no hopers and they still norse it up when it really counts. Golden generation my arris.

 

[Lost Seasider]

Not necessarily IMO. Like the champions league, there are a few top teams and the coach's job is to get us to the later rounds and then it's what happens on the day, in the knock out stages.

Yep, if you want to win tournaments, your job is to get to the QF every time and then ride your luck from there.

 

[Willie Mcgrotty]

And Shilton kept his jersey for at least 8 years too long, during which time Puma lead lined his boots!

And then in 1990 semi final vs Germany aged 78 never got near a penalty