The Group Chat Has Its Say on Southgate & More

Following England’s 3-3 draw with Germany on Monday night, the Group Chat via Betfair, featuring just Will Perry and Alan McInally this week met up to discuss their thoughts on Gareth Southgate, as well as an intriguing midfield battle ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Perry starts off by asking McInally if Southgate is still the man for the job, and jokes that we’ve gone crazy, asking a Scotsman about this situation. He also gives Alan the statistic that the Three Lions are on their longest spell without a win since April 1993 to June of that year.

Will also states that you have to go all the way back to March to find England’s last win - when the Three Lions beat the Ivory Coast 3-0 where Ollie Watkins, Raheem Sterling and Tyrone Mings all got on the scoresheet.

Perry eludes to the fact that Southgate called England’s 1-0 loss to Italy a step in the right direction and jokingly asks, what does the Three Lions' three second-half goals against Germany mean?

McInally instantly replies that he was only recently made aware of England’s barren run without a goal from open play, which amassed to 565 minutes, assuming that England would always score goals due to the plethora of attacking talent that they have.

The Scot then further elaborated that he can now understand why Gareth is getting some stick for his tactics. However, he does look past this by saying that he’s still on Southgate’s side, having lead the Three Lions to the final of Euro 2020, as well as the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Perry then makes the point that with all of the high-quality individuals and talents that England have got, fans of the Three Lions expect more end product - Will also goes on to say that England players look like they have lacked belief since the final of Euro 2020.

Ex-Aston Villa striker McInally goes on to say that international football is different and that every team shows pride and desire because they are playing for their nation. He believes that the England team needs to pick themselves up and play how they are expected to, as well as how the manager wants.

The 59-year-old does finish by saying that if it doesn’t work out for England, Southgate will know that he will feel the pressure.

The next topic that was discussed by Perry and McInally is based on this weekend’s Manchester derby, with Perry asking who gets started, benched and dropped between Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen

Perry believes that this is the easiest edition of this question that the Group Chat have done all season, instantly stating that Silva should be started and believes that the former AS Monaco man’s playstyle resembles that of David Silva.

Will acknowledges that Eriksen is a good player, Perry believes that neither the Dane or Fernandes get close to Silva - with his decision to drop Sporting Lisbon’s former captain as the “easiest in the world”.

McInally tries to pick holes in Perry’s argument, but, believes that Fernandes has been acting weird and petulant of late whilst his form has dipped off. Alan thinks that it will be a matter of time before he rediscovers his form for United.

The Scot also believes it is a close one between Eriksen and Silva, however, the latter edges the Dane out having scored twice and created three assists in his opening seven Premier League appearances of the 2022/23 campaign.