nothing has really changed.
Far too many people were getting over excited about Lee Carsley’s debut game as manager, seeing a 2-0 victory over a nothing Ireland side as some great new beginning, when in reality nothing much had changed.
I mean it all started the same. Southgate was the easy option for the F.A. when he was the u21 coach and given the interim role, just like Carsley. They both won their opener 2-0. They’re both nothing managers, after being nothing players and it’s the easy option for the F.A. to just switch him from interim to getting the job, just like they did with Southgate.
Never mind the not singing the anthem stuff. He’s the ideal F.A. yes man. The coach of least resistance.
That anthem, it’s funny how when England fans boo an anthem it’s a source of national embarrassment, there’s outrage from the Linekeratti, but when the Oirish do it to the English anthem. Oh, well, reasons.
It was joyous though that the two players the home fans singled out, you know those ones that wanted a chance to go to a tournament, rather than sit at home watching a finals that even the Scotch reached, scored the two goals that consigned them to another defeat.
But people getting excited by those goals and England’s play in this new era. There was nothing new, all the players bar one were players Southgate picked. That one player being an actual left sided player playing at left back. Yes, such an amazing thing to do. Well, it would be for Southgate. of course he didn’t play an actual left-back at left-back, no he played someone who has played there but doesn’t now in the position. Which probably accounted for the fact Colwill didn’t get forward. Did he actually go forward at any time? I saw the average position and it was over 10 yards into his own half. Hell, even Trippier averaged a position in the opposition half.
Maybe he just though it was a bit crowded up there. Grealish was back in after his summer exile. One thing Southgate got right and we saw why here. When not crowding Gordon on the left wing, he was doing that slowing things up, have to beat a man rubbish, that usually results in losing the ball, either through a tackle or a bad eye of a needle pass, that wouldn’t have needed eye of a needle if played earlier.
Ireland could have opened the scoring with a good chance from a corner. England could have, with a header from Kane – who should have done better with the cross from Alexander-Arnold – who was actually seeing balls in the box during the opening. Yes, this one difference but it was a difference that didn’t last.
The opener should have come just before it came. Again an Alexander-Arnold ball that should have been finished off, this time through the middle and Gordon should have done far better with his attempt. From the save, his cross found Kane but his attempt was blocked, to Rice who banged it in.
Rice’s no celebration was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen on a football pitch. Imaging having more cringe than Rivaldo’s Oscar winning performance at the ’02 World Cup. They’re booing you you melt. You have no respect for them or you’d be wearing green. Kiss the badge Declan.
At least Grealish celebrated his.It came from the best real bit of football, something we didn’t see under Southgate, forward one touch stuff. Playing through the channels to players actually running forward, Rice’s cutback swept home by Grealish. It’s all he offered though.
That all came for the half hour mark. Ireland, a piss poor side made up of Premier League relegation fodder and lower league players, were there for the taking. England took nothing. The second half couldn’t have been Southgate if they tried.
England dropped off and let Ireland back into it. The only real difference was Carsley’s side not conceding. But as with Southgtae, Carsley stood there and watched his team capitulate, doing nothing, while his opposite number made changes, changes that made a difference. Carsley stood impassively, doing nothing.
Andros Townsend was happy though. Happy that England coughed up the ball fannying about at the back, rather than get it out of the danger area. So along as Andros is happy.
77 minutes before he made a change, Ireland had made a few by then. His changes didn’t change much. It was back to Southgate’s playing for themselves routine. Saka back to having shots at every opportunity rather than play anyone in. He started getting greedy when he started being under Sterling’s wing on England duty, now they’re at the same club, expect it to get worse. Not a good influence.
It was all just so predictable. I mean when England were playing reasonably well, Grealish was taking far too many touches, in the second half he was really taking the piss. It wouldn’t have taken a team much better than Ireland to have got something out of England disappearing like that. And currently there’s 57 teams ranked better.
But this performance and result is exactly what will see Carsley handed the job… it’s like deja-vu all over again…