JPM

Shared without comment. #SaintsFC

I covered #England under 10 managers, including some caretakers, very august names and figures among them. Not one of them achieved what #GarethSouthgate has, some with potentially exceptional sides in 98, 06 and 10. (Venables might have, but couldn't swallow his pride and do a Euro 96 'audition', though it was really the FA suits fault for insisting he did.) Worth remembering too, that England failed to qualify for a Euros and three World Cups in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Not only is Southgate's record of achievement quite brilliant, he did it with enlightenment, by developing and empowering young men, showcasing them as shining representatives of a diverse and - largely - tolerant nation, partly bolstering a nation's self-esteem in some dark years and ridding the national team of a world-weariness. There are those who called him woke. He certainly woke English football. The 'Dear England' letter was a masterstroke. There were mistakes, moments he missed, opportunities that slipped through his fingers. He will surely reflect on them more than anybody. They are not for today, nor does today belong to those who have been vilifying this most honourable, articulate and steadfast of men for perceived failures that really aren't. Today is for him to be assured that those who have any realistic sense of English football's history and standing, and who appreciate a return to being able to hold heads high, are humbly grateful for his eight years of inspired, yeoman service.

This. On repeat. Forever. #EURO2024

An alternative view on what is wrong with #Eng (it has to do with balance of the team and the trust on names instead of role fillers, but what I will say next too, I think) YOU are all to blame There is no risk, passes are predictable, nobody does anything special or different... Because they are scared, nobody wants to be the player that gets abused on social media or the one blamed for failure. You have seen through the years what happens to the scapegoats Fear takes risk away, which takes confidence away, which makes the team easy to defend against and lacking in creativity This has been going on for decades. The closer success is likely (or the more is demanded), the more that pressure you all put the team under to win (as if there was a divine right for England to win) makes fear prominent No other national team gets this (toxic?) pressured to win, I don't think