Thought this *many times* so adding it, belatedly. Why have none of us contrasted the admittedly macho, but essentially generous liberation of Brendon McCullum & Ben Stokes, with the clear (on-the-park) conservatism of Southgate? Bazball is predicated on a hearty kind of fearlessness – but one which *dares* and attacks. Southgate, in my view, is incapable of that – and yes, that does diminish him. I repeat my admiration for the England football gaffer as a man of integrity and political/cultural significance. I also note that my/our criticism of him is absolutely not borne of English exceptionalist entitlement (and therefore delusion). Southgate is a man of caution. He’s not a great coach.
Anyway. Here’s my twitterblogthing, of yesterday… 👇🏻
What better way of recording the angst, the anger, the disappointment than by exposing it raw? And what’s more raw than The Twitters? So I’ve simply lifted my @sportslaureate feed from last night; in reverse order, with all the hashtags. (Blame the So-shull Meedya Expert who once told us Cricket Wales Peeps that it was ‘essential to bang at least three hashtags & three daft pics in there). It may be cobblers, but I find myself in the position where I am actively courting attention… on account of occasionally-depressingly-low numbers of readers.
Lols at the notion that this is going to fix that problem!
I stand by every word but concede that my frustration with Saka’s propensity to ‘draw fouls’ disproportionately obscured any credit to the player – who did well. However, he should have realised within about five minutes that this clown of a ref was rarely going to give ‘decisions’. My criticisms of Southgate are longstanding. His cultural/political excellence is beyond dispute but that don’t stick the ball in the onion-bag.
My criticisms of Henderson are neither partisan, nor personal. He just had one of those nights.
It took the fella half an hour to strike a clean pass. Everything was underhit, or struck with little confidence – he acknowledged this on more than one occasion, to an angry colleague. Given that he was Playmaker General, this did not augur well.
In short the gist of my arguments is that last night was classic Southgate in that he failed at every stage to go the positive route. Firstly, he chose not to recognise the obvious: that France are a fine side with an ordinary defence (and an iffy keeper). England started with six essentially defensive-minded players. Then, laughably, he not only failed to hoik Henderson at half-time, but chose to insert the marginally safer options (Mount and Sterling) ahead of the obvious threats, Rashford and Grealish. Pitifully weak and poor reading of the game – but very Southgate. Mount might score but he will offer you running cover: Sterling might do something and he is more experienced and has better percentages than Rashford. Woeful and negative on every count.
But I’m ranting. Here’s chapter and verse, Twitter-style. Last tweet first.
Feel free to disagree – but you’d be wrong. 🤣 ⚽️ 🙏🏼
Wow. Lots of people not watching the same game as me. 🤯
Will be up early to watch #cricket. May write about the #football then… or may just say ‘go read my tweets!’ 🤣
Good luck to #Fra , btw. Ordinary tonight but generally better than #Eng . Expected les Bleus to win the tournament: feels likelier, now.
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Poor game, poorly refereed. #Southgate culpable, as so often, for conservative selection & mistrust of game-changers & ‘talents’. No meaningful role for #Rashford or #Grealish. #Foden peripheral.
The guy’s a good man but an ordinary manager.
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Incredible penalty, from #Kane. 🤣Refer back to my Forest v Derby tweet!
Ref’s an idiot. Clear pen against #Mount. #VAR sorts it – unusually, in this tournament.
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
#Eng central defence: is there one? 🤯 👀 ⚽️
Laughable space, repeatedly. Then #Giroud punishes #Maguire’s inattention.
#Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Classic #Southgate, to go for #Mount, instead of the Luxury Player, #Grealish? 🤨
#Eng #Fra ⚽️
#QatarWorldCup2022 #FIFAWorldCup
#conservatives 🤓
#Eng now ahead on points. 🤓
Who knew that URGENCY mattered? 🤷🏻♂️
#Fra
#QatarWorldCup2022 #FIFAWorldCup ⚽️
Inflammatory cobblers 4.
Standard-wise, it’s FA Cup, 3rd round, Forest v Derby, yes? 🤷🏻♂️
#Eng #Fra 👀
#QatarWorldCup2022 #FIFAWorldCup ⚽️
#Saka draws one. It’s probably kosher but mildly irritating that he sees his primary objective as drawing pens, not lashing the ball into the net.
#Kane scores. Perhaps reward for an up-tick in the energy from his side? 1-1.
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
So why is #Henderson – slowish, unlikely to score – the one charging at the keeper or centre-backs, when #Fra pass back?
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
#Southgate may may missed this but it’s widely known that #Fra (relative) area of weakness is their defence…
#Eng
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Half-time. It’s been poor entertainment & generally low-quality. #Henderson must surely get hoiked. #Eng need a creative, confident playmaker. It’s so pedestrian atm even #Bellingham & #Foden look ordinary. #Fra have forward gears in reserve: maybe Eng do, too?
#Qatar2022
33 mins. #Bellingham ordinary/poor, so far. #Saka too interested in drawing fouls – & it’s working against him, with the ref. #Eng looking (largely) like a limited, conservative, pedestrian side. #Fra just livelier.
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup ⚽️
#analysis 🤓
#Henderson relentlessly woeful. Case for hoiking him.
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar #FIFAWorldCup
Ver-ry clumsy challenge. #Kane inevitably looking to draw something… but that WAS clumsy. #Eng don’t get the pen.
#QatarWorldCup2022 #FIFAWorldCup
22 mins. #Henderson yet to hit a firm, committed pass. But some signs #Eng are settling.
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Great strike. #Fra looking better, now they have the lead.
#Saka WAS fouled (but not strong enough) prior to the break but FRANCE LOOKING BETTER. 1-0.
Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
#Shaw dives in & then #Giroud has space for the header, 8 yards out? 👀 🤯 Poor.
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup ⚽️
Unbelievable that #Maguire should be offside for that early free-kick. 🤷🏻♂️
#Eng #Fra #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
How can the ball not be suitable for play? 🤣 ⚽️ 🤷🏻♂️
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Inflammatory cobblers 3. I don’t mind if this is ‘cagey’ – expect that – as long as its high quality cagey. 🤓
#Eng #Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Inflammatory cobblers 2. The #Eng national anthem is ridiculous & waaaay beyond its sell-by-date.
#Fra
#Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup
Inflammatory cobblers 1. #Lloris is poor. 👎🏻 👀
sportslaureate 