Get Klopp - before someone else does

Well done guys. It was a good effort. Except it wasn’t really was it? Sadly, the bottom line is in the end the luck ran out and another tournament ended badly.

As regulars know, I felt all along England had the look and smell of a team destined to win Euro 2024. Not because they were good, but because everything - literally everything - was going their way. Until Spain proved to be far too good for them.

So another chance to end years in the wilderness limply passed England by. And they remain football’s great under achievers. That’s sad.

I’ve read the fall out and there’s nothing I didn’t expect in the papers. The general line is the boys covered themselves in glory (except they didn’t) and can be proud.

England will continue to be ‘nearly men’ until they start to be honest. And that includes our Press. Here’s the truth - England weren’t good enough. Far better teams went out because they were in the other half of the draw.

Another problem was that none of our so called stars turned up. None of them.

Bellingham had two ‘moments’ - but again failed to stamp any kind of authority on games. His attitude is also bothering me. There’s a sense of entitlement about him now and it’s not a good look.

Kane stunk the place out. He had to be carrying an injury surely? He couldn’t have been as bad as he was unless that was the case. I’m sorry to say it - but it’s got to be over for him now. With the likes of Toney and Watkins available why persist with Kane?

Perhaps England could go in a different direction and not play with a traditional nine? Maybe Bellingham could do a job at the top end? That way you get more ‘players’ in the team.

If you didn’t see my first Euro blog have a look at what I said then. I argued England should leave Kane out. I got hammered - but I wasn’t alone by the end of the tournament was I?

Foden did nothing. Saka got to the by-line once - before delivering a deflected cross that Bellingham hurled himself at to score. Rice? No. Nothing. And it was all too much for Mainoo. Talk of the kid being world class is nonsense. He’s good, but he’s got an awful lot to do before he’s that.

The guys at the back did ok - until the final. Guehi was the best of them. And the keeper was better than I expected him to be, although his antics drive me mad.

Palmer was good and Watkins‘ little cameo did him no harm at all. Why oh why didn’t Safegate find a starting place for Palmer? He’s the best player in the squad. I mean that - in the squad.

Across the tournament I’d say England played well for an hour or so in total. That’s not enough. They relied too much on luck and eventually that runs out.

After stuttering through the group stage they fell into the easiest half of the draw. There was nobody on their side. Germany, Belgium, Portugal and France were all in with Spain and were cutting each others throats.

Look at what Spain had to do to win it. They were terrific. The best team by miles.

As for England - they were out v Slovakia. Bellingham’s brilliant equaliser masked an awful lot and got people believing they were good - not lucky. That was another major error.

The best they played was in the first-half against the Dutch, but even then they were a goal down and toiling - before being gifted a pen that 11 out of ten people knew wasn’t. That award was the worst decision in the tournament. But they got another goal - stole it - and the deluded were in overdrive then.

To be fair - they were clinical in the shoot out v Switzerland, but they shouldn’t have needed pens.

In general, I thought Safegate was slow to make changes and although Palmer and Watkins won the Netherlands game, who wouldn’t have brought them on? Most coaches would’ve done, but perhaps a lot sooner. Safegate was always re-acting not acting.

The experiment with TAA failed miserably - as it was always going to. Jurgen Klopp didn’t think Alexander-Arnold was a mid-field player so what gave Safegate the idea he was? Klopp worked with him every day. Safegate didn’t, but he thought he knew better than Klopp.

When Safegate admitted he was fumbling about looking for a partner for Rice I was astounded. He’d had four years to do that following the Wembley final. In the end - I thought his treatment of TAA and Gallagher was poor.

He also made some really bad calls in his squad. Wharton? Why? You could ask the same question about Gallagher. Clearly he didn’t really fancy him. Dunk? Gordon? Bowen?

I’d have taken both Rashford and Grealish. Granted - neither had a great season for their clubs, but they’re established internationals and both can turn games. I’m not a big fan of Grealish, but he would’ve scared people coming on as a sub. And Rashford’s pace could’ve been devastating. England desperately missed pace in their team. And pace of passing. Positive forward passing.

Safegate will quit. I’m sure he will. If he doesn’t he should be encouraged to. He’s had a really good go at it, but he’s come up short on three occasions now. It’s time for somebody else to have a go.

But who? Well the outstanding candidate for me is Jurgen Klopp. I don’t buy into the theory that an England manager has to be English. That view borders on racist. Anyway, his nationality apart, Klopp is an English as they come now!

I’m also aware that he said he wanted a break from the day to day, never ending demands of club football. Well, what is international management if it’s not that? I think Klopp will already be missing football and his loss will only feel worse once teams start reporting back and playing again.

Klopp is one of the big beasts. He’d love a crack at international management surely? I reckon it would get his juices flowing again.

If he doesn’t feel refreshed right now let him have another month or two. England could fill any void with the U-21 boss Lee Carsley. After all - that’s how Safegate’s tenure started.

If I had my way I’d camp in the grounds of Klopp’s Mallorcan mansion until he said ‘yes’. Come to think of it - I’m there next week. I’ll do it if the FA ask me!

Other candidates would include Carsley. I’m told he’s a very impressive coach. Frank Lampard could be an interesting outsider. Eddie Howe would get a mention as well. He’s a very typical FA man, right out of the Safegate mold, but we need something else now.

We need someone to put fire in the bellies of the lads. Everybody in the squad right is too ‘nice’. They reflect the manager. Like Klopp - Mourinho would do that but he’s got a job. Klopp hasn’t. Give him one. Before someone else does.