Everybody loves Gareth

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Couldn't find a thread to discuss all the latest Southgate news.

Makingbthe point that now less than 30% of players in the country's top league are eligible for the national team. Less than 20% of players in the top six. Wouldn't happen in Germany.

But mostly, I wanted to point out that Phil Neville is wearing a waistcoat on the touchline tonight. Thinks he's Gaz.

 

[account deleted]

We all got carried away with an easy draw and waistcoats

Still shit

 

[Winnits]

That’s coz you can be Polish or Brazilian or basically from anywhere to play for Germany


Just when I thought I was out.. they drag me back in!

 

[Strummer]

That’s coz you can be Polish or Brazilian or basically from anywhere to play for Germany


Just when I thought I was out.. they drag me back in!

Only if you’re a German Citizen, qualified by residence, or by being born here to (at least) one German parent, can you play for the Nationalelf.

So, minimum seven years residency, or three years if you marry a German.

Players like Gundogan and Özil remember were born in Germany.

It’s not like Ireland, where a more liberal approach is taken.

 

[Thomas]

Immigrants taking our damn jobs.

 

[Winnits]

Only if you’re a German Citizen, qualified by residence, or by being born here to (at least) one German parent, can you play for the Nationalelf.

So, minimum seven years residency, or three years if you marry a German.

Players like Gundogan and Özil remember were born in Germany.

It’s not like Ireland, where a more liberal approach is taken.

I bet there’s a fast track if you’re decent with a football


Just when I thought I was out.. they drag me back in!

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

When Germany were terrible, couldn't beat Latvia and get out of their groups at the Euros and were scared of embarrassing themselves at their home World Cup...Klinsmann and Low managed to get the Bundesliga to commit to playing a certain number of German players per team. Also Klinsmann said, a certain style of play. I don't know the ins and outs of that. But the Bundesliga was set up to feed the national team.

When Forest were last good in the top flight, there was still a rule preventing sides fielding any more than three non British and Irish players. Forest had Roy, Bohinen, Haaland. It was scrapped shortly after for not being legal, I think.

I've never quite understood how you draw the boundaries between employment law and the rules of sport. I mean, I can't legally be made to leave a public field just because I've been trapped leg before wicket. Does that mean I'm within my rights to bat on pending a court case?

But anyway, there's an acknowledgement that Bundesliga has to feed the national team. There's an opposition to the National team from the Premier League.

 

[Strummer]

When Germany were terrible, couldn't beat Latvia and get out of their groups at the Euros and were scared of embarrassing themselves at their home World Cup...Klinsmann and Low managed to get the Bundesliga to commit to playing a certain number of German players per team. Also Klinsmann said, a certain style of play. I don't know the ins and outs of that. But the Bundesliga was set up to feed the national team.

When Forest were last good in the top flight, there was still a rule preventing sides fielding any more than three non British and Irish players. Forest had Roy, Bohinen, Haaland. It was scrapped shortly after for not being legal, I think.

I've never quite understood how you draw the boundaries between employment law and the rules of sport. I mean, I can't legally be made to leave a public field just because I've been trapped leg before wicket. Does that mean I'm within my rights to bat on pending a court case?

But anyway, there's an acknowledgement that Bundesliga has to feed the national team. There's an opposition to the National team from the Premier League.

Spot on Francis.

What helps in Germany is that (with a couple of exceptions of course) the clubs are essentially owned by their members (the 50+1 rule) and hey, the majority of those members might just be fans of the Nationalelf also.

It also coincided with further significant investment in Academies and youth football, and the formalising of the „reserve“ sides playing in the reformed Regionalliga structure, so they get more competitive fixtures.

It’s why the Bundesliga is an attractive option for young players, as they know they’ll get games, rather than being shunted off for the latest glamour signing from South America.

 

[Barry]

But German football is boring as shit to watch.

 

[Strummer]

But German football is boring as shit to watch.

I’d disagree, it’s exciting and has more average goals per match than the Premier League.

 

[Barry]

I’d disagree, it’s exciting and has more average goals per match than the Premier League.

Premier league pisses all over it, its just not cool to state that fact.

 

[DanR]

Premier League - televised by Sky.
England national team - not televised by Sky.

Sky pump money into the Premier League because it benefits their business. While the England team is not on Sky, there will be a conflict between those who see the league as a development for England internationals, and those who just want the league to have the best players from all over the world.

 

[valspoodle]

England are on Sky tonight. I think ITV had the contract for a time, but obviously this Nations League has an all-encompassing reach because Sky seem to have just about every match on show either on a main channel or the red button.

By the way, not everyone loves Gareth. He still has not only to prove himself to me, but to show an interesting personality. Bland does not appeal to me.

 

[account deleted]

So is tonight just a friendly? Or does it count to Euro qualification?

I'm none the wiser.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Nations League is four divisions, each have four groups (of 3 or 4). Four group winners in the top div then play semi finals and final for the Nations League title. Top from other divs are promoted, bottom from top three divs relegated.

Euro Champs qualifying is 10 groups, drawn after the Nations League ends. Seeding comes from Nations League places. Top two from each group make the Euros, leaving 4 remaining places.

Gets messy then...

16 teams then contest playoffs for Euro Champs. Four branches - semi finals and final - four winners of final makes the Euro Champs.

The four teams for each play off section are the four highest placed teams in each Nations League div that didn't qualify for the Euro Champs through the traditional qualifying. If there aren't four teams that didn't qualify from one div, they pull in the next highest placed team from the div below (and keep going until they have enough). Eventually they end up with four lots of play offs. The highest ranked non Euro qualifying from each Nations League div being is effectively the top seed, facing only teams that finished below them in the Nations League (that's their incentive).

I think that's it.

In short, because most of div A in the Nations League are expected to qualifyfor the Euros through the traditional groups, England are likely to just be playing for the Nations League title (or avoiding relegation in that) and to be a higher seed for the Euro qualification. But it is a back door into the Euros should they have a McClaren style Euro qualifying campaign. Through this system we are almost certainly guaranteed the safety net of a play off spot for the Euros even if we finish bottom of our Euro qualifying group.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Ah, Mansfieldred just said that in the other thread.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

My big hope for the Nations League is that they forgo the national anthems and instead pipe a theme tune that ends with the lyrics 'THE NATIONS' sung in operatic tones through the tannoy. Then I can see the whole competition really taking off.

 

[account deleted]

Nations League is four divisions, each have four groups (of 3 or 4). Four group winners in the top div then play semi finals and final for the Nations League title. Top from other divs are promoted, bottom from top three divs relegated.

Euro Champs qualifying is 10 groups, drawn after the Nations League ends. Seeding comes from Nations League places. Top two from each group make the Euros, leaving 4 remaining places.

Gets messy then...

16 teams then contest playoffs for Euro Champs. Four branches - semi finals and final - four winners of final makes the Euro Champs.

The four teams for each play off section are the four highest placed teams in each Nations League div that didn't qualify for the Euro Champs through the traditional qualifying. If there aren't four teams that didn't qualify from one div, they pull in the next highest placed team from the div below (and keep going until they have enough). Eventually they end up with four lots of play offs. The highest ranked non Euro qualifying from each Nations League div being is effectively the top seed, facing only teams that finished below them in the Nations League (that's their incentive).

I think that's it.

In short, because most of div A in the Nations League are expected to qualifyfor the Euros through the traditional groups, England are likely to just be playing for the Nations League title (or avoiding relegation in that) and to be a higher seed for the Euro qualification. But it is a back door into the Euros should they have a McClaren style Euro qualifying campaign. Through this system we are almost certainly guaranteed the safety net of a play off spot for the Euros even if we finish bottom of our Euro qualifying group.

Is there a tldr for this?

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Nope. Millenials excluded.

 

[account deleted]

Oh well no wozzas. I'll just cheer on Sterling with my whistle.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Still every player singing the anthem. How is Gareth not PM yet?

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

Even Club Sandwich Wembley is half full at kick-off.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

We have lift-off

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

This game is painful to watch. It's like a parody of Forest at Brentford, if Brentford didn't give a shit about winning.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

Are we playing?