New International Football thread

[sussexpob]

I mean, I would have never guessed giving the job to a youth coach who specialises in player development and has never held a permanent manager role in his career would have been a bad idea.
As much of a bad idea as playing no striker, and an attacking midfielder who can't defend in CM.

Where does the FA dig up these idiots? IF you cant get a job in the PL, you are probably rubbish

[Durhamfootman]

lots of media people are defending Carsley's decision, whilst admitting it didn't work out, but what I found unforgivable was not trying out something new, but not making a change at half time when the situation was screaming out for it. We had that with Sir Plonker for years

[Durhamfootman]

England go back to playing sensibly and beat Finland 3-1.

Kane back, Bellingham at 10, Gomes in midfield alongside Rice. Grealish came in for Gordon, Palmer at right wing, Pickford consigned to the bin and replaced by Dean Henderson. Walker at right back and TAA shifted to left back.

A bright enough first half saw Gomes slip Grealish through for the first goal. England faffed about a bit more in the second half. Bellingham became invisible and was subbed by Foden. Palmer had a poor night and was replaced by Madueke, who did more in 20 mins than Palmer did in 70. TAA actually defended tonight, so I imagine he got a kick up the backside after Thursday night's bimbling around everywhere except the one place a full back should be. Scored from a very nice free kick. Nobody tried to get behind the Finland defenders, until Madueke and Watkins came on and when they did they caused a bit of havoc in the Finland back line and Watkins fizzed one across the back for Rice to poke in.

England were definitely better tonight, but still some distance away from where they should be really amongst 3 other teams ranked way, way below them. The late goal for Finland showed how weak England's defence is still. Stones and Guehi were solid enough, but often lacked support at key times. Henderson slipped under the radar a bit, which after Pickford's antics the other night, was a blessing

[Durhamfootman]

England go to Athens next month, where they realistically have to win by more than they lost on Thursday night because, if I understand it correctly, should they end up on equal points with Greece, then it's the head to heads that decide who gets promoted back to the League A groups

At least I think that's how it works

[Durhamfootman]

Imagine how embarrassing it would be if England didn't get promoted out of a group where all the other teams are ranked 40+ places lower in the FIFA rankings

[Durhamfootman]

Thomas Tuchel becomes the new England manager

Out of the blue

[sussexpob]

lots of media people are defending Carsley's decision

The average British football pundit has no grasp of the game. They see 6 AMs on the field and see intent.... and not a formation that is incredibly unbalanced and is destined for the ball to get stuck in the midfield.

[sussexpob]

Thomas Tuchel becomes the new England manager

Out of the blue

Brilliant appointment. About as good a manager you could dream of in international football.... credit where its due, great work from the FA to bring him in.

Excited for the future.

[Durhamfootman]

It has been suggested that it was a rush job by the FA in response to the Greece game, but seemingly Tuchel had been offered the job the day before that game

I confess that the only thing I know about Tuchel is that he likes a touchline punchup with Conte, using only handbags. I wasn't impressed with that at all.

If he has a plan, if he can ignore the stupid demands of media and fans, if he can understand why things may be going wrong and can work out how to fix them on the hoof, then he'll be a far better manager than any that England have had since Venables (probably).

Lets hope he is

[Durhamfootman]

Tuchel only has an 18 month contract and that at his request, because the FA wanted him for longer. He is only interested in managing England for the next world cup campaign, starting next year. It seems that everything was kept quiet, so as not to affect this Nations League campaign, but the Greece game and the furious media speculation that followed it forced the FA's hand. It also explains the somewhat muddled language used by Carsley when answering questions about his future. He presumably knew all along

I quite approve of this short term contract. It focuses minds on the one campaign, it means that the FA aren't stuck with him if it doesn't go well, nor is he stuck with England if he finds he doesn't like international management, but it also suggests he isn't just interested in a, presumably lucrative, long term England contract.

[sussexpob]

His Champions League win against Man City was a tactical masterclass, and stands out as an achievement for a Chelsea team that were in a lull period and werent that good. They also knocked out Real in the semi of that year. Tuchel managed to create a water-tight defence and a counter punching style that proved highly effective in big games.

Hes managed some of the biggest clubs, and had success at all. The only really blemish is not winning the CL at PSG, but then you have a list of brilliant managers who have all failed to do that. And then Bayern last year, it all went wrong. Tuchel has to cop some of the blame for that, but the club is going through off field problems, and a few recent managers have spoken about how difficult its become there.

All in all, hes about the best manager you could hope to agree to work in international football

[Durhamfootman]

However, I read that no nation has won the World Cup with a foreign manager. I don’t know if that is true of all international trophies or just the World Cup

[Durhamfootman]

Big selection choices from Carsley in a 'must win' game against Greece

Maybe it'll work, or maybe it's just a punt from a guy who loses his job in a few days, but Pickford, Lewis, Gallagher and a Jones that I've never heard of feels 'brave'

Maybe he thinks that the more established selection who got thumped by Greece a couple of months ago didn't deserve another go

[Durhamfootman]

actually not a bad first half of football

Everyone's done okay. The England wide men have been a threat with the goal coming from getting behind the defence and pulling the ball back for a Watkins tap in (Kane would have been 10 yards too far back to poke it in had he played, I reckon). The defenders tonight have a bit more pace about them and are largely getting back to snuff out the counter attack and Pickford hasn't been the complete clown he was in the reverse fixture. Greece have been limited to one good chance with Pickford making a good reaction save. The chance came about because Madueke (who's been very good tonight) didn't track back and Walker got caught between two runners with no support.... and he let Madueke know about it too, who responded by getting back sharply the next time Greece tried to attack down that side

[Durhamfootman]

3-0 win

All in all, a very decent performance and England are now back in charge of the group. Beat Ireland and go through. If they do that then there is nothing Greece can do to stop them because goal difference in the head to head trumps any other goal difference. I say go through because I have no idea what happens after this. Do they just get promoted or is there some sort of knockout thing?

Lewis Hall came on for Konsa at half time (I don't know why). Walker moved into the centre and Lewis went to the other side. Another bright start for England nearly led to another goal before Greece worked their way back into the game. Carsley took off all 3 attackers in one go (and they'd caused Greece loads of problems with their pace) and replaced them with Bowen, Kane and Morgan (not a player I know) and for a while all the attacking threat vanished. England started to sit deeper and deeper as Greece had their best spell of the game. Pickford had to make a couple of decent saves to keep England in front. At first I thought England had made a mistake, but as it happens, they ended up doing to Greece what Greece did to them at Wembley, hit them on the counter, first with Bellingham driving deep, hitting the post, but with the ball rebounding back in off the keeper's legs. Then Gibbs White driving deep, squaring the ball across the box for Curtis Jones to score from a cheeky backheel flick. After that the game was done

Jones was excellent tonight and possibly the best player on the pitch. He did very well on debut (I think?)