The Scots making those ironic cheers every time maguire touched the ball has now well and truly cemented his place - this will just make Southgate defiant and show solidarity with the player. It is as if he wants to show that he chooses the team, not fans (let alone rivals).
Its just a good thing us fans don’t get a say in managerial appointments. When is this ex viler going to leave?
Having defended Henderson, Southgate now at pains to defend Maguire stating that he has never known such abuse being shown to one of their own players by England supporters. I certainly don't condone some of the nasty vitriol but ffs, playing him last night -especially given his lack of game time-was surely not only a very poor management decision by Southgate but also setting Maguire up for a fall which he subsequently took with his own goal.
Maguire is not a bad player but he isn't a great one either and whilst I certainly have some sympathy for him for the abuse he has received over recent years, he is a (very well paid) football player at the end of the day and fans have every right to criticise him if his poor performances are poor just as they have a right to criticise the manager for selecting him.
Lots of talk in the press at the moment about a new "golden generation" of England footballers and fears that Southgate still being at the helm could squander this opportunity. Personally, I think Southgate has done a decent job in the past but agree with many who view him as too cautious and too loyal to certain players regardless of performance and that he now needs to be replaced.
As for the "golden generation", it's true that there is far more quality in the current squad than we have had for a long while but IMHO it is only in our attacking options that we have genuine world class players, less so elsewhere. That said, teamwork, attitude and strategy are the things needed to win tournaments as much as individual ability and not convinced Southgate is the best person to deliver these.
McGuire’s own goal could have happened to anybody. Other than that, I thought that he had a steady game. It was mainly the Scottish fans who were ‘giving him stick’. Mind you, they booed all the way through the National Anthem. Morons!
This Woke manager keeps digging himself unneeded holes.
Any player’s place in a side should be based on present form and fitness and not what they’ve done for the team or manager in the past.
If we worked on that premise Rooney would be starting behind Kane and Bobby Charlton would be stroking his combover into place whilst discussing a free kick with Bellingham.
I watch a lot of NFL and whilst watching an excellent daily NFL chat show on SKY ( Pro Football Talk ) I heard the superb host Mike Florio describe recent contract talks of a player about to hit 30.
The player is a star player but as he stated, in the NFL it’s not about “what have you done for me lately” ( as per the Janet Jackson song ) but it’s all about, what are you going to do for me today, tomorrow and next week, the past counts for very little unless you’re playing well in which case it’s just extra brownie points.
If you watch the lowlights of Maguire’s last few years it’s a catalogue of error and own goals and sheer clumsiness.
Southgate then digs out the media and the England supported who spend their hard earned cash following the side.
Southgate is too easily offended, he’s in the wrong profession.
It’s time for quality players to me managed by a world class coach renowned for flair and attacking play.
I’d let Pep carry on managing City if that’s part of his price for managing us.
If we don’t lure him soon, you can be sure Spain will and that’ll make our chances of winning under a lightweight even less.
and the problem now is that he’ll insist on playing him. He should drop him but he won’t because it’ll make him look silly and to the detriment of the team and results that could go against us if he makes an error.
Absolutely right, he is a woke manager Mick. In recent months my hateness in woke people has dramatically increased and now I see them in all walks of life. Like the woke driver who’ll stop in a roundabout to let a car out, when they should continue- you let or give way to cars coming from the right ffs..unless i’ve missed something. Anyway, the viler southgate needs to go.
Totally agree with much of what has been said about Southgate. As stated earlier, I think he has been a good manager for England in the past but things change and I believe it's now time for a new broom. Similarly, whilst Southgate is correct in stating the importance of the role that senior players like Henderson or Maguire have played in the past, time moves on and -as Mick points out-it's not about what you have done in the past, it's about what you can do now that should determine selection.
In Maguire's case, he has put in some important performances for England in the past but if there was ever a player who was prone to errors it is him and very clearly he now lacks the pace needed. Not saying he no longer offers anything at all but he certainly does not deserve an automatic start on the team sheet.
Guardiola has said he would like to manage an international team but that it was 'unlikely to be Spain.' Perhaps got something to do him being such a strong supporter of independence for Catalunya.
I've posted before I can see a scenario where Southgate leaves after the Euros and Pep having won everything at City thinks it's time for a new challenge. Fingers crossed.