Management

Denmark 1 - 1 England

Aston Villa under St$phen G$rrard were absolutely garbage. The same players under Unai Emery were sensational. 

Why?

Because they now had a good coach, with a clear vision, a method, a system, balance and the passion to build towards something better.

Management is key.

England have built an era of politicians football. It's all been about optics over substance. The smart waistcoat, appearing 'more together', being risk averse at every step to avoid retribution.

I'm genuinely sick of the Southgate era. We are top of our group, and who knows we could go on and somehow win this tournament, but it would feel hollow, lucky, undeserved.

The problems didn't start here in Germany. They have existed all along. A reluctance to try the new players is a facet of Southgate's reign.  Pissing about for years with MacGuire, Henderson and Phillips, and guess what, there's now no rhythm between our centre backs and midfield. 

Apparently there are no left footed English players in existence, so we have sacrificed any purpose or rhythm down one half of the pitch. We have a centre forward who occupies the #10 space, so let's select two other #10s to work that exact same space with him. 

It's awful. Hopefully bad enough to get the press all over Southgate to the point he folds and takes the path of least resistance (as he always does) and changes things. When Grealish was in his pomp, Southgate's reflex was to omit him, only when the press really pushed did he capitulate. 

So now, all my hopes are strangely pinned on the UK media to dig us out of this [shit] hole.