Sad State Of Football

[Bunkermagnet]

I'm English. I support England at footy, rugger or anything....BUT the last 2 matches were friendlies and NO I don't bother thank you with them. If there is nothing else on and I'm not doing anything, I may watch them. If it's an important competitive match I will watch them.
Friendlies don't matter in the scheme of things, and anyone who gets worked up over such fixtures needs to reassess their priorities.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well I watched the match and there were certainly some encouraging signs but some obvious issues even if the game was dull

First the positives - the back three and holding mid , very solid but also confident on the ball , to keep some of the best three forwards in the world quiet should be very encouraging - I wonder if Gomez has allowed Neymar out of his pocket yet , superb from him. Stones continues to improve and showed maturity in the back three and was clearly a leader , Maguire was very good , certainly comfortable on the ball and able to break forward , then having just the one holding mid - Dier then that’s a very solid platform that should provide the team with a platform to build on , add in Butland plus any of the full backs and that area is bright for England .


The problems - going forward , clear lack of creativity from the middle of the park , need to find someone who can create and also burst forward running with the ball , it’s not Livermore that’s for sure and it’s also not Wilshire. If you put Ali in just in front of Dier you need to find one more and for me that player should be Barkley , he has all the ability to be a player that can run with the ball and also create. Then you have Kane up top to feed from him and also Vardy - that’s if they play a 5-3-2 type formation. They also have the options to play three up High a bit like Chelsea with Kane the striker , Sterling one side and need to find one more.

England certainly looked more solid last night but missing an X Factor to unlock teams.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Well I watched the match and there were certainly some encouraging signs but some obvious issues even if the game was dull

First the positives - the back three and holding mid , very solid but also confident on the ball , to keep some of the best three forwards in the world quiet should be very encouraging - I wonder if Gomez has allowed Neymar out of his pocket yet , superb from him. Stones continues to improve and showed maturity in the back three and was clearly a leader , Maguire was very good , certainly comfortable on the ball and able to break forward , then having just the one holding mid - Dier then that’s a very solid platform that should provide the team with a platform to build on , add in Butland plus any of the full backs and that area is bright for England .


The problems - going forward , clear lack of creativity from the middle of the park , need to find someone who can create and also burst forward running with the ball , it’s not Livermore that’s for sure and it’s also not Wilshire. If you put Ali in just in front of Dier you need to find one more and for me that player should be Barkley , he has all the ability to be a player that can run with the ball and also create. Then you have Kane up top to feed from him and also Vardy - that’s if they play a 5-3-2 type formation. They also have the options to play three up High a bit like Chelsea with Kane the striker , Sterling one side and need to find one more.

England certainly looked more solid last night but missing an X Factor to unlock teams.

Lalana....when fit

 

[Hobbit]

Well I watched the match and there were certainly some encouraging signs but some obvious issues even if the game was dull

First the positives - the back three and holding mid , very solid but also confident on the ball , to keep some of the best three forwards in the world quiet should be very encouraging - I wonder if Gomez has allowed Neymar out of his pocket yet , superb from him. Stones continues to improve and showed maturity in the back three and was clearly a leader , Maguire was very good , certainly comfortable on the ball and able to break forward , then having just the one holding mid - Dier then that’s a very solid platform that should provide the team with a platform to build on , add in Butland plus any of the full backs and that area is bright for England .


The problems - going forward , clear lack of creativity from the middle of the park , need to find someone who can create and also burst forward running with the ball , it’s not Livermore that’s for sure and it’s also not Wilshire. If you put Ali in just in front of Dier you need to find one more and for me that player should be Barkley , he has all the ability to be a player that can run with the ball and also create. Then you have Kane up top to feed from him and also Vardy - that’s if they play a 5-3-2 type formation. They also have the options to play three up High a bit like Chelsea with Kane the striker , Sterling one side and need to find one more.

England certainly looked more solid last night but missing an X Factor to unlock teams.

Think you've pretty much nailed the problem with England, whoever makes up the team. It looks like the defence is shaping up nicely, and Vardy and Kane are definitely finding an understanding. The midfield is woeful. Sorry but that includes Henderson too, unless you sit him in front of the central defenders. Alli gets a spot but who else?

Is there an English midfielder who can ping a 30yd, defence splitting pass?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Think you've pretty much nailed the problem with England, whoever makes up the team. It looks like the defence is shaping up nicely, and Vardy and Kane are definitely finding an understanding. The midfield is woeful. Sorry but that includes Henderson too, unless you sit him in front of the central defenders. Alli gets a spot but who else?

Is there an English midfielder who can ping a 30yd, defence splitting pass?

Henderson needs to regain his confidence but if he does play then you can’t have Dier - it’s got to be only one of them - in a three at the back I would be tempted to put Henderson ( once confident) and then as been mentioned Lallana once fit would add creativity but again he isn’t someone who puts in defence splitting balls - don’t think England have anyone who can do that , they are more running with the ball.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Personally believe the spine of the team, barring injuries, is almost sorted in Southgate’s eyes.

Hart
Walker
Stones
Dier
Alli
Kane
Vardy

Who the other 4 are will be open to debate, 5-3-2, imo, looks our best approach. Personally it may come down to opportunities at club level, will Gomez, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Abrahams get much game time and in the same formation Southgate wants?

Only a friendly but I’d certainly like to see the back 3 from last night Stones/Maguire/Gomez getting the nod for the next 2 matches.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Personally believe the spine of the team, barring injuries, is almost sorted in Southgate’s eyes.

Hart
Walker
Stones
Dier
Alli
Kane
Vardy

Who the other 4 are will be open to debate, 5-3-2, imo, looks our best approach. Personally it may come down to opportunities at club level, will Gomez, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Abrahams get much game time and in the same formation Southgate wants?

Only a friendly but I’d certainly like to see the back 3 from last night Stones/Maguire/Gomez getting the nod for the next 2 matches.

I think you're 100% right that the likes of Loftus-Cheek, Gomez, who I thought was brilliant last night and the others that have had a chance to stake a claim, need playing time. Will he stick to three at the back, or will we need to revert to a 4 at times and who will be in that formation? Lots of interesting questions and with only two games left I wonder how many spaces Southgate thinks he still needs to fill and who he has pencilled in

 

[Rlburnside]

Well I watched the match and there were certainly some encouraging signs but some obvious issues even if the game was dull

First the positives - the back three and holding mid , very solid but also confident on the ball , to keep some of the best three forwards in the world quiet should be very encouraging - I wonder if Gomez has allowed Neymar out of his pocket yet , superb from him. Stones continues to improve and showed maturity in the back three and was clearly a leader , Maguire was very good , certainly comfortable on the ball and able to break forward , then having just the one holding mid - Dier then that’s a very solid platform that should provide the team with a platform to build on , add in Butland plus any of the full backs and that area is bright for England .


The problems - going forward , clear lack of creativity from the middle of the park , need to find someone who can create and also burst forward running with the ball , it’s not Livermore that’s for sure and it’s also not Wilshire. If you put Ali in just in front of Dier you need to find one more and for me that player should be Barkley , he has all the ability to be a player that can run with the ball and also create. Then you have Kane up top to feed from him and also Vardy - that’s if they play a 5-3-2 type formation. They also have the options to play three up High a bit like Chelsea with Kane the striker , Sterling one side and need to find one more.

England certainly looked more solid last night but missing an X Factor to unlock teams.

You were doing so well until you mentioned Sterling:thup:

What did you think of Bertrands performance? I thought Trippeir looked better.

 

[ColchesterFC]

They also have the options to play three up High a bit like Chelsea with Kane the striker , Sterling one side and need to find one more.

I would assume that at the minute Rashford would be in pole position for the spot on the other side. Looks like he'll get the minutes for Man Utd this season to cement his place if he keeps playing well.

 

[Marshy77]

Personally believe the spine of the team, barring injuries, is almost sorted in Southgate’s eyes.

Hart
Walker
Stones
Dier
Alli
Kane
Vardy

Who the other 4 are will be open to debate, 5-3-2, imo, looks our best approach. Personally it may come down to opportunities at club level, will Gomez, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Abrahams get much game time and in the same formation Southgate wants?

Only a friendly but I’d certainly like to see the back 3 from last night Stones/Maguire/Gomez getting the nod for the next 2 matches.

I'd be happy with that back 3 after watching them. Not sure Vardy will be a starter, think he may be used as an impact sub with 20 to go. Can't see Barkley making the squad unless he has a very good 2nd half to the season. Lalana hopefully will stay fit as he could be a great link with midfield and Kane.