Raheem Sterling.

[sinkov]

Sterling is a top player for Manchester City and England, he's a prolific scorer for both, some pundits say he is a world class player and a world class finisher. It is said he has, on occasions, carried the England team. He is selected for England in front of Saka, Rashford and Sancho, he is never dropped for any of them, he is never replaced by any of them.

So how is it that, in England's biggest game in 55 years, those three, not fit to lace his boots apparently, plus a centre-half, are taking penalties, while he skulks on the half-way line. Something isn't right.

[Vintage Claret]

[QUOTE=sinkov;39818107]Sterling is a top player for Manchester City and England, he's a prolific scorer for both, some pundits say he is a world class player and a world class finisher. It is said he has, on occasions, carried the England team. He is selected for England in front of Saka, Rashford and Sancho, he is never dropped for any of them, he is never replaced by any of them.

So how is it that, in England's biggest game in 55 years, those three, not fit to lace his boots apparently, plus a centre-half, are taking penalties, while he skulks on the half-way line. Something isn't right.[/QUOTE

Like you Sinkov I think Sterling had a poor game last night and he should have been the first one to be hooked. While he does have the ability to beat any defender he does try and over do it which lead to him losing the ball, when a pass would have been a better choice. Southgate however does not seem to see this side of his game, but Pep does hence he is not an automatic choice at City.

[army88]

[QUOTE=Vintage Claret;39818197]

Sterling is a top player for Manchester City and England, he's a prolific scorer for both, some pundits say he is a world class player and a world class finisher. It is said he has, on occasions, carried the England team. He is selected for England in front of Saka, Rashford and Sancho, he is never dropped for any of them, he is never replaced by any of them.

So how is it that, in England's biggest game in 55 years, those three, not fit to lace his boots apparently, plus a centre-half, are taking penalties, while he skulks on the half-way line. Something isn't right.[/QUOTE

Like you Sinkov I think Sterling had a poor game last night and he should have been the first one to be hooked. While he does have the ability to beat any defender he does try and over do it which lead to him losing the ball, when a pass would have been a better choice. Southgate however does not seem to see this side of his game, but Pep does hence he is not an automatic choice at City.

I see where your going with this but you can’t blame Sterling , he didn’t have his best game however I’d struggle to let it all at his door, we offered nothing in the way of service to him ,

I’m still going to say that the manager was completely at fault for the result, we started with a plan but couldn’t sustain it , the manager then removed trippier ( pointless - bad move ) and we sank deeper and deeper inviting the Italians on to us , we persisted with Kane who was Ok for 30 mins then just looked knackered again , the positives were Rice who surprised me a little stepped up and had a very good game as did Philips.
After the first half we went back to doing what English teams do kicking it long conceding possession continuously, and the game becomes difficult from there on.

Add to the inability to change our structure shape - set up and poor poor substitutions we conceded the game and gave away the opportunity to be Europe’s champions.

The penalties are just a different level
Of failure on the mangers part imo anyway, I think tbh Southgate is a good people person and the players like him because he’s a mate of all of them .

Tactically he’s inept with what he has at his disposal and being friends and loyal to some who he shouldn’t isn’t good management for my part anyway.

It’s difficult to knock finalists at the Euros you might say , but I wander how many of our team woke this morning regretting not having a go at winning the game.

[ClaretinBudapest]

[QUOTE=army88;39818257]

I see where your going with this but you can’t blame Sterling , he didn’t have his best game however I’d struggle to let it all at his door, we offered nothing in the way of service to him ,

I’m still going to say that the manager was completely at fault for the result, we started with a plan but couldn’t sustain it , the manager then removed trippier ( pointless - bad move ) and we sank deeper and deeper inviting the Italians on to us , we persisted with Kane who was Ok for 30 mins then just looked knackered again , the positives were Rice who surprised me a little stepped up and had a very good game as did Philips.
After the first half we went back to doing what English teams do kicking it long conceding possession continuously, and the game becomes difficult from there on.

Add to the inability to change our structure shape - set up and poor poor substitutions we conceded the game and gave away the opportunity to be Europe’s champions.

The penalties are just a different level
Of failure on the mangers part imo anyway, I think tbh Southgate is a good people person and the players like him because he’s a mate of all of them .

Tactically he’s inept with what he has at his disposal and being friends and loyal to some who he shouldn’t isn’t good management for my part anyway.

It’s difficult to knock finalists at the Euros you might say , but I wander how many of our team woke this morning regretting not having a go at winning the game.

He bottled it again big time Army.If he had any balls he would have fired both barrels at them after we scored to get a second because they were rattled for a good 20 minutes as they had never been behind in the tournament.Instead he reverted to type trying to protect a one goal lead which as we all know would not work against the technically gifted Italians.He is a championship manager at best but yesterday he was against a serial winner in Mancini and it showed.

[Vintage Claret]

Army88, I was not intending to blame Sterling for last nights defeat. I was saying the Sterling had a poor game, but my main point was the Southgate did not have the inclination or the balls to substitute him, which he should have done just after half time and brought Grealish on.