I've watched us against Tunisia, Belgium and Colombia (yes ! I missed the Panama game) I think we have a very poor squad with little guile, ambition or skill (except Kane) Three extremely dull and lifeless performances. I'm pleased we continue to progress but I don't know how we are doing it. It was good to knock out Colombia who were just a bunch of cheating thugs who didn't deserve to win. Perhaps we'll bore Sweden into submission?it would actually be nice to produce a performance.
On the flip side of that:
Tunisia we were brilliant in the first half, should've been 3-0 up before they got the penalty, then yes we lost our way a bit. Panama were shocking but even so, many England sides in the past would've laboured to a dull 2-0 win. Who remembers the 0-0 with Algeria in 2010? Belgium - complete reserve side and we didn't want to win. Hence we put Welbeck on instead of Kane when 'chasing' the game. Colombia - didn't threaten us until the 92nd minute. Yes we didn't look great, but we were efficient, solid at the back and totally nullified any threat they had.
Unpopular opinion: Sterling makes us tick, we became very average when he went off.
I somewhat agree with this. He got himself into lots of great positions yesterday, and I'm sure the stats will show he saw the ball more out of any of our attacking players.
I wish he was just not so frenetic when he had the ball at his feet, you can get away with that for city when you're playing wider and have more space - however for England as he is paying central he has the opposition players on him straight away.
Interesting listening to Sam Allardyce this morning on TalkShite. He suggested going to a straight 4-4-2, as Sweden don't really have an attacking threat with Ibrahimovic now retired and we don't need a 3rd centre-back...and we should drop Trippier.
Trippier has been one of our better players, if not the best so far in this tournament.
The Swedes will sit back and play counter-attack. Its up to us to break them down. Can we do that, that is the question? This is the time you just wish that England had a midfield playmaker.
Allardyce can fuck right off - he'd have us playing hoofball and still have Rooney up front and we'd already be out of the tournament by now if he was in charge.
Interesting listening to Sam Allardyce this morning on TalkShite. He suggested going to a straight 4-4-2, as Sweden don't really have an attacking threat with Ibrahimovic now retired and we don't need a 3rd centre-back...and we should drop Trippier.
Trippier has been one of our better players, if not the best so far in this tournament.
The Swedes will sit back and play counter-attack. Its up to us to break them down. Can we do that, that is the question? This is the time you just wish that England had a midfield playmaker.
At the moment I'd consider Trippier as Player of the Tournament
Of course he wont get it as he's not a goalscorer or player with flair and trickery to wow the crowds
So Euphoria over, we may well get through this one with a same standard performance but we need to find another gear, even two gears, before we can think about not coming up short against a better team.
Alli, Sterling and Lingard carry so much attacking responsibility for us but are just not at world class level. I’ve no idea how we change that, without hot changing the whole for,action. RLC for Alli maybe?
I really tried not to be too abjective about Sterling as the game progressed. I really am struggling with him though. He looked so lightweight and pretty much lost for a large percentage of that game His link up play with Kane is poor and his ability to pressurise defences and chase the ball is non existent. That might well be his game but he just looks like a luxury that we can ill afford as this goes on. Doubt he would be much use as an impact sub either. Not sure what the solution is? There's not a lot else in the squad.
Interesting listening to Sam Allardyce this morning on TalkShite. He suggested going to a straight 4-4-2, as Sweden don't really have an attacking threat with Ibrahimovic now retired and we don't need a 3rd centre-back...and we should drop Trippier.
Trippier has been one of our better players, if not the best so far in this tournament.
The Swedes will sit back and play counter-attack. Its up to us to break them down. Can we do that, that is the question? This is the time you just wish that England had a midfield playmaker.
I've watched us against Tunisia, Belgium and Colombia (yes ! I missed the Panama game) I think we have a very poor squad with little guile, ambition or skill (except Kane) Three extremely dull and lifeless performances. I'm pleased we continue to progress but I don't know how we are doing it. It was good to knock out Colombia who were just a bunch of cheating thugs who didn't deserve to win. Perhaps we'll bore Sweden into submission?it would actually be nice to produce a performance.
What a happy little soul you are! Thanks for pissing on the fireworks misery guts.
So Euphoria over, we may well get through this one with a same standard performance but we need to find another gear, even two gears, before we can think about not coming up short against a better team.
Alli, Sterling and Lingard carry so much attacking responsibility for us but are just not at world class level. I’ve no idea how we change that, without hot changing the whole for,action. RLC for Alli maybe?
Yeah, RLC for Alli, Rashford for Sterling and Vardy as backup.
It just don't happen for Sterling at international level and a World Cup ain't the right place to keep giving a player chances.
Don’t think we’ve really started playing yet, but who cares. I’m giving Southgate credit for the Belgium defeat which means we will get to the final against France. Watched Sweden yesterday and they are piss poor. We could make changes and rest a few and still coast to the semis. I would rest Sterling for about 10 years.
Sterling starts, we lack a passer in the midfield to open up defenses, so you need a tricky player to cause problems otherwise, and Sterling did that well, he also puts in a massive shift. Alli isn't fit, and can't see him backing up in time for Saturday.
Sweden are a bit of a bogey side in tournaments, can't remember beating them in one, just scrappy draws up being popped open by Thomas Brolin in Stockholm in '92.
Interesting listening to Sam Allardyce this morning on TalkShite. He suggested going to a straight 4-4-2, as Sweden don't really have an attacking threat with Ibrahimovic now retired and we don't need a 3rd centre-back...and we should drop Trippier.
Trippier has been one of our better players, if not the best so far in this tournament.
The Swedes will sit back and play counter-attack. Its up to us to break them down. Can we do that, that is the question? This is the time you just wish that England had a midfield playmaker.
So he would go 442 v a Sweden side who topped a group with Mexico and germany in because they have little attacking threat, yet 2 weeks ago the same Allardyce decided he would go 352 v Tunisia in a group game with TWO holding midfielders.
Could you imagine if Fat Sam was in charge for this World cup. he probably would have recalled John Terry, to play alongside Gary Cahill, and Rooney would be starting still.
Interesting listening to Sam Allardyce this morning on TalkShite. He suggested going to a straight 4-4-2, as Sweden don't really have an attacking threat with Ibrahimovic now retired and we don't need a 3rd centre-back...and we should drop Trippier.
Trippier has been one of our better players, if not the best so far in this tournament.
The Swedes will sit back and play counter-attack. Its up to us to break them down. Can we do that, that is the question? This is the time you just wish that England had a midfield playmaker.
Allardyce can fuck right off - he'd have us playing hoofball and still have Rooney up front and we'd already be out of the tournament by now if he was in charge.
Thank god that dinasaur isn’t england manager. He was probably on his 6th pint of wine when he was doing that interview.
Sterling starts, we lack a passer in the midfield to open up defenses, so you need a tricky player to cause problems otherwise, and Sterling did that well, he also puts in a massive shift. Alli isn't fit, and can't see him backing up in time for Saturday.
Sweden are a bit of a bogey side in tournaments, can't remember beating them in one, just scrappy draws up being popped open by Thomas Brolin in Stockholm in '92.
Sterling needs to be dropped for Rashford, he did get better but Rashford will scare the defenders more. What i dont understand is why we are playing sterling practically up top or in a free role, he doesn't play there for City... Only person who doesn't suit the system imo, would work better as a sub with his pace.
and 2006 World Cup (2-1); Cole hit a screamer with Owen on the deck screaming as thats when he picked up that nasty injury
That finished 2-2 Henrik Larsson scored in the 90th min. Don’t tell me you turned off with 2 mins left and have spent the last 12 years thinking we won that game?!?
If Sterling were to be dropped, which I don't think he should be, I'd bring in Loftus-Cheek and push Dele up behind Kane. Rashford hasn't done anything Sterling hasn't.
Sterling starts, we lack a passer in the midfield to open up defenses, so you need a tricky player to cause problems otherwise, and Sterling did that well, he also puts in a massive shift. Alli isn't fit, and can't see him backing up in time for Saturday.
Sweden are a bit of a bogey side in tournaments, can't remember beating them in one, just scrappy draws up being popped open by Thomas Brolin in Stockholm in '92.
If Sterling were to be dropped, which I don't think he should be, I'd bring in Loftus-Cheek and push Dele up behind Kane. Rashford hasn't done anything Sterling hasn't.
Rashford came on too late last night, i would have made it at half time. Sterling is a good player for city but doesn't play the same way or position for England.
Could you imagine if Fat Sam was in charge for this World cup. he probably would have recalled John Terry, to play alongside Gary Cahill, and Rooney would be starting still.
and 2006 World Cup (2-1); Cole hit a screamer with Owen on the deck screaming as thats when he picked up that nasty injury
That finished 2-2 Henrik Larsson scored in the 90th min. Don’t tell me you turned off with 2 mins left and have spent the last 12 years thinking we won that game?!?
Have to admit, I remember the Joe Cole wonder goal, I remember the equaliser and remember Owen going down injured
Couldnt have told you that Gerrard scored (or so late), certainly dont remember the second equaliser
If Sterling were to be dropped, which I don't think he should be, I'd bring in Loftus-Cheek and push Dele up behind Kane. Rashford hasn't done anything Sterling hasn't.
What? Play Dele Alli in his proper position where he causes the most damage? The position where he links up with Kane so well? Don't talk such nonsense. Sigh.
Interesting listening to Sam Allardyce this morning on TalkShite. He suggested going to a straight 4-4-2, as Sweden don't really have an attacking threat with Ibrahimovic now retired and we don't need a 3rd centre-back...and we should drop Trippier.
Trippier has been one of our better players, if not the best so far in this tournament.
The Swedes will sit back and play counter-attack. Its up to us to break them down. Can we do that, that is the question? This is the time you just wish that England had a midfield playmaker.
So he would go 442 v a Sweden side who topped a group with Mexico and germany in because they have little attacking threat...
I don't disagree overall but Sweden have scored as many goals in this tournament as we did against Panama so he does kind of have a point. The problem is that Sweden have also conceded as many goals in this tournament as we did against Panama!
If Sterling were to be dropped, which I don't think he should be, I'd bring in Loftus-Cheek and push Dele up behind Kane. Rashford hasn't done anything Sterling hasn't.
What? Play Dele Alli in his proper position where he causes the most damage? The position where he links up with Kane so well? Don't talk such nonsense. Sigh.
I'd do the same.
Realised last night what an intelligent footballer Kane is. Just dropping deeper, playing for little fouls to frustrate Colombia and keep possession. Would like to see us start to create chances from open play for him though, whcih hasn't happened too much yet. Dele further up could do that.
Comments
Tunisia we were brilliant in the first half, should've been 3-0 up before they got the penalty, then yes we lost our way a bit.
Panama were shocking but even so, many England sides in the past would've laboured to a dull 2-0 win. Who remembers the 0-0 with Algeria in 2010?
Belgium - complete reserve side and we didn't want to win. Hence we put Welbeck on instead of Kane when 'chasing' the game.
Colombia - didn't threaten us until the 92nd minute. Yes we didn't look great, but we were efficient, solid at the back and totally nullified any threat they had.
I wish he was just not so frenetic when he had the ball at his feet, you can get away with that for city when you're playing wider and have more space - however for England as he is paying central he has the opposition players on him straight away.
Of course he wont get it as he's not a goalscorer or player with flair and trickery to wow the crowds
He looked so lightweight and pretty much lost for a large percentage of that game
His link up play with Kane is poor and his ability to pressurise defences and chase the ball is non existent.
That might well be his game but he just looks like a luxury that we can ill afford as this goes on. Doubt he would be much use as an impact sub either.
Not sure what the solution is?
There's not a lot else in the squad.
Thanks for pissing on the fireworks misery guts.
It just don't happen for Sterling at international level and a World Cup ain't the right place to keep giving a player chances.
Watched Sweden yesterday and they are piss poor. We could make changes and rest a few and still coast to the semis. I would rest Sterling for about 10 years.
Sweden are a bit of a bogey side in tournaments, can't remember beating them in one, just scrappy draws up being popped open by Thomas Brolin in Stockholm in '92.
https://www.givemesport.com/1332272-sam-allardyce-names-the-england-xi-he-would-start-for-world-cup-opener-v-tunisia
Shut up and get back to your pints of wine Sam you useless fat bastard.
Can feel an injury coming on.
' It's the Sun wot won it!'
Couldnt have told you that Gerrard scored (or so late), certainly dont remember the second equaliser
I'd do the same.