A plethora of assholes promoted above their capabilities were shown the door: Jacob Rees-Mogg-Twat, Ian "airmiles" Paisley and Stephen "woke as f-f" Farry were the highlights.
And while it was going to be hard to top that list,I was hoping, really hoping, that the weekend would finish with Gareth "useless" Southgate being shown the door too. Alas, it was not to be as the most boring team in world football stumbled through another round to reach the semi-finals.
How is this happening? Are we inhabiting in some sort of alternative universe? England's last 6 games have seen them lose to Iceland, draw with Denmark, Slovenia and Switzerland, beat Serbia 1-nil despite being awful for most of it and need extra-time to beat Slovakia. In all of those games they have been poor to watch and created very little despite having a squad stacked with talent. Southgate's conservatism with team selection and complete void of tactics is making this wonderful team of Champions League winners and Premier League winners look like a Sunday pub team. It is anti-football.
Simple.
The most galling part is that the pundits have defended him to the hilt. Gary Neville was at it on Saturday. As well as dancing around the studio screaming like a right twat when the winning penalty went in, he was quick to defend "the most successful England manager since Sir Alf". I think he just doesn't have the balls to criticise him, just like he didn't have the balls to criticise Ole Solksjaer. "Win at any cost" shouldn't be an option for the big sides. It should be how Northern Ireland win games, or RoI, or Scotland, not England. With their squad they should be entertaining.
France have been just as bad as England. They have caught the anti-football bug. The quarter-final against Portugal was so bad I switched it off at half-time. Deschamps has been shockingly poor. As was Martinez for Portugal. Despite their stellar squad, Martinez kept Ronaldo on the pitch for the full 120 minutes when he was useless. No balls. At least ten Hag had the necessary cojones to tell the over-the-hill CR7 that he was surplus to requirements. And so, a quarter-final of a major tournament that started with Mbappé, Griezmann, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo and Leão on the pitch, ended up a 120 minute snorefest.
Now it is down to the Netherlands to get the dork of all dorks sacked.
I fear I'm becoming obsessed! But we just can't have a France v England final. We just can't. For the sake of football it must be Netherlands v Spain.
And while it was going to be hard to top that list,I was hoping, really hoping, that the weekend would finish with Gareth "useless" Southgate being shown the door too. Alas, it was not to be as the most boring team in world football stumbled through another round to reach the semi-finals.
How is this happening? Are we inhabiting in some sort of alternative universe? England's last 6 games have seen them lose to Iceland, draw with Denmark, Slovenia and Switzerland, beat Serbia 1-nil despite being awful for most of it and need extra-time to beat Slovakia. In all of those games they have been poor to watch and created very little despite having a squad stacked with talent. Southgate's conservatism with team selection and complete void of tactics is making this wonderful team of Champions League winners and Premier League winners look like a Sunday pub team. It is anti-football.
Simple.
The most galling part is that the pundits have defended him to the hilt. Gary Neville was at it on Saturday. As well as dancing around the studio screaming like a right twat when the winning penalty went in, he was quick to defend "the most successful England manager since Sir Alf". I think he just doesn't have the balls to criticise him, just like he didn't have the balls to criticise Ole Solksjaer. "Win at any cost" shouldn't be an option for the big sides. It should be how Northern Ireland win games, or RoI, or Scotland, not England. With their squad they should be entertaining.
France have been just as bad as England. They have caught the anti-football bug. The quarter-final against Portugal was so bad I switched it off at half-time. Deschamps has been shockingly poor. As was Martinez for Portugal. Despite their stellar squad, Martinez kept Ronaldo on the pitch for the full 120 minutes when he was useless. No balls. At least ten Hag had the necessary cojones to tell the over-the-hill CR7 that he was surplus to requirements. And so, a quarter-final of a major tournament that started with Mbappé, Griezmann, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo and Leão on the pitch, ended up a 120 minute snorefest.
Now it is down to the Netherlands to get the dork of all dorks sacked.
I fear I'm becoming obsessed! But we just can't have a France v England final. We just can't. For the sake of football it must be Netherlands v Spain.
 |
| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
Apologies - this piece was due Tuesday, ahead of last night's game between England and The Netherlands. The holiday season caused a mix up.
ReplyDeleteGood piece as always Peter.
Right you bunch of Rebels who was supporting the Orangies v the English? LOL!
ReplyDelete¡Viva España!
DeleteI went for the English!!
Delete😆
DeleteWas with the Orangies this evening. Great win for Armagh against Kerry after extra time.
DeleteGalway and Donegal tomorrow afternoon in the other semi. Divided loyalties here.
Wimbledon, Alcaraz and Djokovic repeat of last year at 3:00
And then the soccer tomorrow evening.
A full-on day of sport!
I can't help wishing Southgate and his team well. They seem like a group of decent guys. I haven't watched any of the matches, so can't comment on the standard of play. Come to think of it, even if I did watch the matches, I still don't really know much about football.
ReplyDeleteWhat about yourself, Steve? Who were you rooting for?
If the final is as good as either semi we shall not be disappointed
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Liverpool in # 2005 C L & Man U F A Cup last season , I believe England's name is written on this season's trophy .
ReplyDeleteSince # 2001 , every final @ international & club level involving the Spanish national & club sides ( World Cup , Euros , C L , Euros ) has seen a Spanish winner # 23
ReplyDeleteSligo's last gasp own half goal V Bohs @ Dalymount on Friday is on www.youtube.com # 0 -2 Who needs Xabi Alonso ?
ReplyDelete