The Footie Thread

[ColchesterFC]

The problem is players aren't versatile anymore either. In the 90s and 2000s you had players who could play a number of positions. Now they're all "defensive midfielder" or "number 10" or "inverted winger" and they can only do one job - ask them to be a bit flexible for the England team and they fail. It's fine at club level because managers bring in the players they need for their system. For England though - as you say - we're left with square pegs and rounds holes. What we need is some versatile shapeshifting pegs!

I'd disagree. We've been through the versatile/utility players before. Someone like Milner, who is no doubt a very good player, can fill in at left back or defensive midfield etc but isn't the best player for either of those positions. A useful squad player for a tournament when you need cover for different positions but why not just pick your two best players for each position? If we go in to a tournament knowing we're going to play 4-2-3-1 for example, our squad should be our 2 best right and left backs, 4 best centre backs, 4 best defensive midfielders, 6 best attacking midfielders and 2 best strikers. Add in three keepers and that's our 23 man squad. The only possible concession is if you have someone that almost makes it as an automatic choice but can fill in elsewhere (like Milner) then they might get picked instead of the 4th best choice.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

That doesn't make it deliberate, though.

Deliberate means nothing no more, excessive force is the term they use. I'm sure our resident ref will be able to confirm the exact wording and rule.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

On sunday England came from a goal down to beat Belgium, who are currently ranked No1 in the world, and not one post was made on this forum either praising or criticising the England team.

Tonight we have people highlighting all the supposed problems with the players, the manager, the set up, square pegs in round holes etc etc.

Maybe it’s true what they say about us English only being happy when we are moaning.

You English have a lot to answer for ??

 

[fundy]

On sunday England came from a goal down to beat Belgium, who are currently ranked No1 in the world, and not one post was made on this forum either praising or criticising the England team.

Tonight we have people highlighting all the supposed problems with the players, the manager, the set up, square pegs in round holes etc etc.

Maybe it’s true what they say about us English only being happy when we are moaning.

that or you didnt watch the belgium game, we were quite clearly second best for most of it and more than fortunate to win

all these so called exciting attacking young talents we play 5 at the back and 2 holding midfielders

look at what we could put on the pitch to what we are and theres every reason to be critical currently imho

 

[clubchamp98]

Two rash unnecessary challenges by McGuire but he quite clearly got the ball.
Very similar to Kompany getting Salha couple of seasons ago.
It’s accidental but modern footy it’s yellow or even red.

Where do they get these refs from,? That’s never a pen in a million years.
Booked players for next to nothing, but the one who scythed Kane down from behind nothing.

Grealish was mom in first game and never got a look in.
Thought Rashford did nothing and Grealish should have been on for him.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

that or you didnt watch the belgium game, we were quite clearly second best for most of it and more than fortunate to win

all these so called exciting attacking young talents we play 5 at the back and 2 holding midfielders

look at what we could put on the pitch to what we are and theres every reason to be critical currently imho

I did watch the England game, just like I watched last night and yes there were, good, average and awful moments in both games.

The issues highlighted by people last night didn’t suddenly appear for the first time, so I wondered why WE only trot out the same rubbish after a defeat.

Is it beyond us to point the positives when we win?

 

[fundy]

I did watch the England game, just like I watched last night and yes there were, good, average and awful moments in both games.

The issues highlighted by people last night didn’t suddenly appear for the first time, so I wondered why WE only trot out the same rubbish after a defeat.

Is it beyond us to point the positives when we win?

Apologies will remember to moan here and not just elsewhere in future, win or lose

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I did watch the England game, just like I watched last night and yes there were, good, average and awful moments in both games.

The issues highlighted by people last night didn’t suddenly appear for the first time, so I wondered why WE only trot out the same rubbish after a defeat.

Is it beyond us to point the positives when we win?

You should lead by example. That said 2 flukey goals against Belgium isn't something to shout about is it ?

 

[Liverbirdie]

I did watch the England game, just like I watched last night and yes there were, good, average and awful moments in both games.

The issues highlighted by people last night didn’t suddenly appear for the first time, so I wondered why WE only trot out the same rubbish after a defeat.

Is it beyond us to point the positives when we win?

Maybe Ingurland fans are the most fickle about?

Paint their faces, get the little car flags, deck out the house in St. Georges when at major tournaments and things are going well.

Hound their own players, hang effigies, boo them in club and international games when things dont go to plan.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Apologies will remember to moan here and not just elsewhere in future, win or lose

What part of praise did you miss?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

You should lead by example. That said 2 flukey goals against Belgium isn't something to shout about is it ?

For someone who has no interest in the national side you seem to be aware of every performance.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Maybe Ingurland fans are the most fickle about?

Paint their faces, get the little car flags, deck out the house in St. Georges when at major tournaments and things are going well.

Hound their own players, hang effigies, boo them in club and international games when things dont go to plan.

Yep, spot on, we are.

 

[fundy]

What part of praise did you miss?

the lack of something to praise?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

the lack of something to praise?

I rest my case.

 

[fundy]

I rest my case.

Me too

seriously, outside the result what was there to praise from the Belgium game, or is result the only thing that matters? We scored from a soft penalty and a massive deflection, the formation looked awful, we lacked creativity but werent any better at the back. I cant remember a single stand out performance (unless you count KDB for them)

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Me too

seriously, outside the result what was there to praise from the Belgium game, or is result the only thing that matters? We scored from a soft penalty and a massive deflection, the formation looked awful, we lacked creativity but werent any better at the back. I cant remember a single stand out performance (unless you count KDB for them)

The team was far better balanced than last night, the way the performance improved after half time when he obviously made changes to the way they played and pressed.

Southgate giving players on form a chance, Philips, DCL etc.

Last night, Reece James, how they battled with 10 men.

That’s just a couple of quick points, like I put in the first post, WE, as in all of us are guilty of we talk about England, certainly more negatives than positives over the last games, but not all negatives, it’s a nothing tournament after we’ve had 4 PL games with players missing through various reasons, but I reckon Liverbirdie has it correct when he describes us as fickle, how many posters appear on the thread about England matches only when we lose?

 

[Deleted member 1740]

For someone who has no interest in the national side you seem to be aware of every performance.

Thats wrong. I do have an interest in the national side, I like to see them fail?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It just shows the mindset of the manager when

They are playing at home and they

Play with a pure defensive back five

Then add in two defensive midfielders

No creative midfielder

One forward player who is out of form ( Rashford )

One out of Position ( Mount )

A right back in the back three who has been poor for a while

A centre back who has been shocking for months

A right footed player at left back

Plus the third best GK

And on the bench there was

The best right back in European football at the moment

The best creative midfielder England have had since Gazza

The most inform striker who scores for fun

It’s no surprise they were shocking , they were also poor against Belguim and got away with it but last night they didn’t

Southgate clearly doesn’t know how to work with the creative players - he keeps going back to the way they played in the World Cup and is living off that.

 

[clubchamp98]

It just shows the mindset of the manager when

They are playing at home and they

Play with a pure defensive back five

Then add in two defensive midfielders

No creative midfielder

One forward player who is out of form ( Rashford )

One out of Position ( Mount )

A right back in the back three who has been poor for a while

A centre back who has been shocking for months

A right footed player at left back

Plus the third best GK

And on the bench there was

The best right back in European football at the moment

The best creative midfielder England have had since Gazza

The most inform striker who scores for fun

It’s no surprise they were shocking , they were also poor against Belguim and got away with it but last night they didn’t

Southgate clearly doesn’t know how to work with the creative players - he keeps going back to the way they played in the World Cup and is living off that.

I would say that’s a perfect summary.
Rashford did nothing in both games except give the ball away.
Grealish was MoM in first game but kept the bench warm.
And if Sancho is the best in the world on the right. He dosnt show it when I have watched him.
But to be fair the subs were to late .

 

[SteveW86]

I just find watching England a bit depressing, we have some exciting players going forwards but in general tend to set up so defensively. I was discussing it last night and came to the conclusion that its because we have players who just arent good enough at the back to trust them. If we could have a CB pairing from Ferdinand/Adams/Campbell/Terry we could play some exciting expansive football.

I'f prefer to see a 4-2-3-1 formation. A front 4 of Sterling/Grealish/Sancho/Kane (DCL on current form) I think would atleast give some excitement and make me have an interest in watching the games.