England The New Excuse

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Well it appears that the Main Excuse why England don't Press Is (Drum Roll)

The Players ARE TO TIRED.

Oh the Poor Lambs. Getting Paid Vast Amounts of Money, Holidaying in Sunny Climbs, Playing Once maybe twice a Week during the season and they're To Tired.

Ye Gods these are supposed to be Top Athletes  in Prime Condition   who have all manner  people Pandering to their every need, Food Wise Medical Wise etc. But they can't run up a Football Pitch, and Press the Opposition because they're Tired.

B.S. Interestingly Foreign Players who play in the Premier League,   and for other National Sides, Don't seem to be Tired.

NO the Reason why England Don't Press is they Have A Head Coach who has No Idea how to Lead or set up a Team.

[Robbie]

I have been watching every match and 99% of the teams I have seen have energy commitment and play good open football. 

Guess who the 1% is who are not doing that especially in that 2nd game.

And yes, we have four points, & we are virtually certain to qualify from their group however, I think England are very fortunate to be in that position. They certainly don't deserve to be in that position the way they have played.

I've watched Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands & tonight Portugal & England have a big task on their hands to compete with those five teams later on, if they don't show a marked improvement in their next game.

[CliftonMagpie]

I understand that playing on a pitch where the grass is torn up and the roof is closed can have some impact. However, if we are to accept that the players are truly exhausted, it’s worth noting that the competition will only get more challenging the further they progress. Gareth Southgate could face additional criticism if he doesn’t alter the starting lineup soon. I’m unsure how one can commence a competition of this magnitude with players who are reportedly tired. Some might be two games in, and while it has been warm in Germany, they are professional footballers. I would give anything to be in their shoes, and I can’t envision complaining about fatigue. I would simply relish the opportunity to play football at such a high level.

[Robbie]

@CliftonMagpie Are you watching the Belgium v Romania match?

The outfield play from both sides is sensational tonight. How it is still 1:0 I don't know.

But these two teams are going at it as if there was no tomorrow, & these players have all done a full season. So I don't understand how England's players are like they are.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

@CliftonMagpie

They Are Professional Sportsman and get Payed Vast Amounts Of Money. They should be able to Play On A Ploughed Field. Weather Wise what about the England Team who played in Mexico in 1970? They had No Food Guru No Team of Specialists to look after their every need. No they just Rolled Their Sleeves Up And Got On With It. If memory serves the Only Thing the England Squad had over in Mexico was a New Type of Shirt, to help regarding their Sweating It was a New Cloth which was termed as Breathable.

[DangerousSausage]

It's only been about 20 degrees here @CliftonMagpie , perfect conditions for football (bar the odd downpour). And the roof in Frankfurt doesn't close completely.

One of the big challenges of international football is taking a bunch of players who are doing well at different clubs and fitting them into one team, and we obviously haven't managed it yet. That's what pre-tournament friendlies are for. Then you've got the fear factor, which Southgate did so well to eliminate in the past.

Hopefully we'll get it right in our next group game and we can peakwhen it matters. History shows that the teams that start off well during the group stages often don't keep it up. 

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

@DangerousSausage

Yes but we're Talking Germany France, Spain, Italy and Portugal  I don't see any of them taking their Foot off the Pedal as it were. The Big challenge of getting the best out of a Bunch of Players who play for different Clubs and moulding them into a Team. Well lets see Southgate, has had 8 years to get it right and he ain't Done It  Yet. And doesn't Every Other International Team Coach have the Same Problem? It would appear that their Coaches Know how to Produce a Team Capable of Winning Big Tournaments, because they Play As A Team. Not As Individuals.

[Robbie]

@Wheelbarrow repair man

You missed out Belgium .

They were quite good last night playing as a team.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

@Robbie

Sorry Not Following the Euro's as Close as You. Apparently there are things other that Football on the Box. So the Wife Says.

[Robbie]

@Wheelbarrow repair man

The 2nd Telly does come in handy sometimes

[CliftonMagpie]

@DangerousSausage The commentators and analysis team highlighted those aspects, so I accepted it as it was, especially since many of them remarked on the humidity caused by the closed roof. I wouldn’t have imagined it would have a significant impact, it was merely a point of discussion. Thanks for shedding light on it.

[liampie]

england does need to show signs of improvements come tuesday, whatever excuses are being used. focus on doing better is a must, i think its pressure and confidence, but the only way to combat that is to try to play better football. leading into the tournament england looked just fine, so i dont see why being tired is a reasonable excuse. 

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

I Thought They Had Therapists To Help Them Focus @liampie ? They have them for practically Everything else. It just appears that the England Players Don't Seemed Bothered. They're Poorly Coached and Lead. I know I keep going on about Southgate, but the Buck Stops with him, when all is said and done. Then when the Players cross the White Line there is No Leader on the Pitch. Kane is the Captain why ? I will never understand making a Striker the  Captain of his Country or Team, his Job is to Score Goals and be in the Oppositions Box Rather than his Own, as stated by other PON Members.. A Good Hard Nosed No Nonsense Defender is what is Required for the Captaincy some one to Inspire, Help, Influence his Team Mates. But most of All Lead Them.

Edited June 23 by Wheelbarrow repair man

[Robbie]

@Wheelbarrow repair man

I don't think Southgate is a good motivator, but if the England team or individual players aren't motivated to represent their Country in the 2nd most predigeous tournament in the World they shouldn't be playing for England full stop.

It may also be a case of some players thinking they are too good to be dropped from the side, & the scourge of player power is not far behind, ready to rear it's ugly head.

[Chris]

Tomorrow the excuses need to be put aside, and the team must put on a strong performance.

Unless this is all a ruse by Gareth Southgate to control who we might get in the knock-out stages and for teams to think we will be push overs. It seems unlikely, but I just want to see England put in the effort. I'll be watching the game with @super_ram and @super_pie.

A change of scenery and some more company might make it easier to watch.

[Robbie]

England's next match is against Slovenia ranked 57th by FIFA.

Nothing less than an England win will do against Slovenia and if they don't win, no excuses will be accepted.