World Cup 2018

[Dasit]

Lots of people showing complete lack of football knowledge on this thread tonight.......which isn't unusual!!

Personally I thought Harry Kane was really poor and non-existent.........樂

thanks for this

 

[Hobbit]

What on earth is Sterling even doing in the squad. Worst player on the pitch, including the Tunisians, by a country mile?

 

[User62651]

Frustrating 2nd half for England fans but ended well, quality header too. Almost paid for the first half misses. Maybe a hard fought narrow win is good, reinforces how hard it's gonna get. One foot in knockouts already looking at Panama earlier.
Opinion of Sterling hasn't changed, dont know why he's an international, was calling for Rashford 15 mins earlier than he came on. Fouling at corners ridiculous too.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Frustrating 2nd half for England fans but ended well, quality header too. Almost paid for the first half misses. Maybe a hard fought narrow win is good, reinforces how hard it's gonna get. One foot in knockouts already looking at Panama earlier.
Opinion of Sterling hasn't changed, dont know why he's an international, was calling for Rashford 15 mins earlier than he came on. Fouling at corners ridiculous too.

Not sure we can take Panama that lightly. We have may struggle again. I hope Rashford gets a start but sadly think Southgate will keep faith with Sterling although why I don't know. Good to see VAR working at these corners and the FIFA promise that the defenders holding would be penalised has materialised. No. Didn't think it would. Bet another big name end up getting one this way

 

[Deleted member 15344]

What worried me in the second half was the lack of time on the ball from Sterling, Lingard and Alli. All disappeared and so we created little. Looked better once Rashford and Loftus-Cheek came on.

I honestly don’t think the system suits the players

4-3-3 the same system that both City and Liverpool play would imo get the best out of the players

Your four would be

Walker/Tripper at RB - Stones and Maguire/Cahill CB then Rose LB

Then against Panama you have a three of Henderson , Loftus Cheek then Alli or Lingard or Dier when against Belguim

Then up top you have Kane in the middle with Sterling and Rashford wide either side - positions the players are comfortable playing

So often tonight there was a spare man on the ball and that was Maguire because he stepped out - that should have been Henderson or Loftus Cheek as the spare man and 4-3-3 would allow that.

With Rashford and Sterling wide supported by Rose and Walker/Tripper you would widen the pitch and scare the hell out of teams with four players with that much pace capable of going on the outside but can also swap to cut inside

And then you have one guy high in the middle behind Kane from that middle three - either Alli , Loftus Cheek or Lingard all three happy to come onto balls and then drift as well

England have done well in tournaments when they have been flexible and the manager hasn’t been afraid to make changes - Bobby Robson in 1990 the perfect example - I hope Southgate has the foresight to be flexible and not just stick to a system without a plan B - England are close to a team that can go into the latter stages

 

[GaryK]

What on earth is Sterling even doing in the squad. Worst player on the pitch, including the Tunisians, by a country mile?

The only things that makes Sterling look good are the ridiculous fee that City paid for him and the fact that he plays in one of the highest costing squads in the World.

 

[Hobbit]

I hope Southgate is flexible enough to make Sterling water boy

 

[Deleted member 1418]

thanks for this

You're welcome - any time 👍

 

[Deleted member 16999]

And those I thought were reasonable. Those like Sterling that have the experience weren't.

What experience is that? Age just 23 and 3 previous World Cup appearances in Brazil.

 

[Rlburnside]

Wow so much negativity towards England, I was glad to see a young side trying to play in a positive attacking game which they did well especially in the first half , great credit to Southgate for this.

A massive improvment from recent tournaments, how some can say Alli had a poor game is beyond me, he played well up until he got a knock and maybe should’ve been subbed at half time as he wasn’t as effective but that wasn’t his fault.

I hope Rashford gets a start instead of Sterling, Sterling is just not good enough.

 

[PJ87]

Fantastic result credit to the boys for plugging away against constant fouls

Tripper my man of the match personally.

Need to drop sterling for vardy or Rashford

 

[Cherry13]

Positive start, with some really positive signs. The pressure showed when they conceded and they looked like might freeze, but they kept the positivity and style of play and got rewarded.

I’d keep the formation, they did look a bit unbalanced and vulnerable on the left hand side so maybe address that with rose. I’d also get loftus cheek in for lingard and have him sat alongside Henderson rather than alli. Alli can then push on and be a it more advanced.

Rashford Vs Sterling is a bit more difficult for me, I’d probably edge rashford as he is generally more positive with the ball.

 

[Tashyboy]

Wow so much negativity towards England, I was glad to see a young side trying to play in a positive attacking game which they did well especially in the first half , great credit to Southgate for this.

A massive improvment from recent tournaments, how some can say Alli had a poor game is beyond me, he played well up until he got a knock and maybe should’ve been subbed at half time as he wasn’t as effective but that wasn’t his fault.

I hope Rashford gets a start instead of Sterling, Sterling is just not good enough.

👍 Good write up. Tunisia are ranked 21 by FIFA and were expected to give England a tough game. They hardly had a sniff.

 

[Rlburnside]

 Good write up. Tunisia are ranked 21 by FIFA and were expected to give England a tough game. They hardly had a sniff.

Thanks , I was more critical than most of the dross we played under Hodgson so it was for me refreshing to see England try and play a more attractive style of play, so let’s give Southgate credit.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Against better teams the defence would worry me.

Walker is no CB and Maguire is an accident waiting to happen. Young is too clumsy defensively at this level and going forward can't go on the outside.

Also Pickford apparently got the nod due to his use of the ball but I saw no evidence of that. IMO Butland is the better keeper.

Having said all that a win is a win and more than some of the fancied sides managed.

 

[Slime]

Just got back from watching the game.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and thought England, on the whole, played very well considering their youth and inexperience.
Could/should have been three or four up at half time but some easy chances were wasted ................. but at least the players were getting in good positions and the chances were being created.
No problems with their penalty but we should have had two of our own at the very least.
The officials were shocking and VAR was wasted.
Alli should have been hooked as soon as he was injured, he'd played very well up to that point.
Lingard was wasteful in front of goal but very industrious and caused Tunisia many problems.
Sterling was typically horrendous, as he generally is in an England shirt ................... I'm sure he's colour blind.
Maguire had a shaky start but definitely grew into the game, I thought Trippier was very good too and Young's dead ball delivery was also very good.
Rashford and Loftus-Cheek caused problems when they finally came on, very direct, just what was required at the time.
Henderson was different class tonight, best I've seen him in an England shirt, pure quality.
Kane was Kane, didn't do a great deal but did exactly what he's supposed to do.
Can't wait for Sunday's game against Panama, as long as Sterling's dropped in favour of Rashford.

 

[MegaSteve]

No surprise, to me, a young England team looked somewhat shakey [at times] after the equaliser...
However, they kept plugging away and their heads didn't appear to drop...
So, in the end a positive result was achieved...
Onwards and upwards...

Might have to dig out my Flag of St George avatar...

 

[Crazyface]

Trippier was England's best player by a country mile! Who does he play for? As for the rest.....barring the first 20 minutes, awful. I was expecting my next door neighbor round to complain about my very vocal language. I've got to paint the front room now. Stirling can pack a bag now and sod off. As can pass it back Henderson. Loftus Cheek was a clumsy oaf, as is that Kane fella. "took his goala superbly". Jesus H Christ me an my fat gut could have scored them from 3 yards out. Just what this side footing shooting is about I don't know. Put your stupid foot though the damn ball when your shooting!!!

Best comment was from the wife "have we taken a defence?".

Belgium will slaughter us.

 

[pokerjoke]

Just got back from watching the game.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and thought England, on the whole, played very well considering their youth and inexperience.
Could/should have been three or four up at half time but some easy chances were wasted ................. but at least the players were getting in good positions and the chances were being created.
No problems with their penalty but we should have had two of our own at the very least.
The officials were shocking and VAR was wasted.
Alli should have been hooked as soon as he was injured, he'd played very well up to that point.
Lingard was wasteful in front of goal but very industrious and caused Tunisia many problems.
Sterling was typically horrendous, as he generally is in an England shirt ................... I'm sure he's colour blind.
Maguire had a shaky start but definitely grew into the game, I thought Trippier was very good too and Young's dead ball delivery was also very good.
Rashford and Loftus-Cheek caused problems when they finally came on, very direct, just what was required at the time.
Henderson was different class tonight, best I've seen him in an England shirt, pure quality.
Kane was Kane, didn't do a great deal but did exactly what he's supposed to do.
Can't wait for Sunday's game against Panama, as long as Sterling's dropped in favour of Rashford.

Yes agree with most of this,really some good positives to take out of the game.
Didnt see Young take any free kicks though Trippier took 95% of them.

Acid test in the group games will be Belgium and that should give us a good indication of what we are capable of.
As most pundits are saying are expectations are lower this time so less pressure on the players.
Well done lads.

 

[Crazyface]

Yes agree with most of this,really some good positives to take out of the game.
Didnt see Young take any free kicks though Trippier took 95% of them.

Acid test in the group games will be Belgium and that should give us a good indication of what we are capable of.
As most pundits are saying are expectations are lower this time so less pressure on the players.
Well done lads.

90+ minute goal makes you say "well done lads"????? Be objective! You wouldn't be saying that had Klumsy Kane hadn't nodded in from 3 yards out would you?