World Cup 2018

[nickjdavis]

I think that if we had our shooting boots on and had gone in 3 or 4 goals to the good at half time then no one would be worrying in the slightest about the lacklustre second half performance...everyone would be saying we killed the game off in the first half and then controlled it as necessary in the second....just unfortunate that our players had legs made of jelly when in striking positions....perhaps a dose of "first night nerves".

I have doubts about Walker in the back three...probably be OK against Panama but if I was Lukaku I'd be licking my lips at the thought of going up against Englands back three in the last match.

Young continues to frustrate me when we are trying to play with pace....everything he does in the attacking third is contrary to how it appears the manager wants to play and he simply doesn't seem to WANT to beat a man...some of our best opportunities came when we got in behind Tunisia down the flanks....there would be plenty of opportunity to pull balls back for oncoming midfielders.....he doesn't have to go down the wing every time....just try it sometimes....but he never does....its always back inside on his right foot....needs more variation, currently he is just so predictable.

Sterling....I guess its just unfortunate that he is unable to transfer his club form on to the pitch when he pulls on an England shirt...I think Rashford should be given a start against Panama.

Slight concern of Southgates apparent reluctance to change things early....Alli who struggled in the second half should have been substituted long before he actually came off.

Well done to Kane....he is not supposed to be a pretty player, his job is to make the onion bag bulge....he seems to be quite good at it.

So...a couple of minor tweaks against Panama would be welcome...especially to give a couple of players a bit more match experience.

Generally I think the refereeing has been OK and the use of VAR has been far better implemented than our attempts last season in the domestic game....but last night was the worst all round officiating that I've seen at this tournament....no real complaints about the Tunisia penalty but we should have had at least one at the other end.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

England are damn sight better than they were 2 years ago Under Hodgson , a lot more pace , energy , ideas , a plan , and they certainly look a lot more happier and enjoying themselves and seem a close bunch.

Still head shaking that Hodgson had Kane taking corners :rofl:

 

[Beezerk]

Sterling....I guess its just unfortunate that he is unable to transfer his club form on to the pitch when he pulls on an England shirt....

He does though, miss 4 chances, score one, rinse and repeat.
He’s absolutely rammel, gets in the way of other players at times and offers very little in the way of intelligent football.

 

[Crazyface]

One massive plus is that for the first time in a World Cup game England have managed to beat 11 men, the ref, the two linesmen, and and other FIFA officals in the one game.

I'll give you that one!!!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Good one England - 3pts in the bag - bring on Panama :thup:

 

[Don Barzini]

that Kane fella. "took his goala superbly". Jesus H Christ me an my fat gut could have scored them from 3 yards out.

Sure he was dragged to the floor. But when I had a gorriilla doing that to me I just moved away from the six yard area outside the box and bobbed about until the ball came in and left him for dead.

Crikey I wish you were England striker instead of Kane. You sound ace! Are you available for selection on Sunday at all?

 

[IanM]

That header was far better than many are saying....easy game from the armchair eh?

The decisions regarding the penalties (given and not) demonstrates one of two things:

1) Utter Incompetence
2) Deliberate attempts to influence the result

OK FIFA, which is it?

 

[Crazyface]

Crikey I wish you were England striker instead of Kane. You sound ace! Are you available for selection on Sunday at all?

Oh come on!!! You're saying that Captain Kane was awesome for taping in a ball into an open net from 2 yards out and again nodding one in from the same distance and this is something that only he could have done?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Watched the second half and Maguire was the stand out player.
Never heard of him or another 3/4 other England players until last night.
Brave move by Southgate, could pay off.

 

[Crazyface]

That header was far better than many are saying....easy game from the armchair eh?

The decisions regarding the penalties (given and not) demonstrates one of two things:

1) Utter Incompetence
2) Deliberate attempts to influence the result

OK FIFA, which is it?

The second. Did you notice how when Tunisia made a sub late on at 1-1, their player walked about getting high fives from his team mates and the ref did nothing. When Lingard was subbed after we'd scored at 2-1, the ref walked Lingard off with his hand on his back pushing him off the pitch!!!!!

We've no chance of winning this. We're hated throughout the world and this is how they can get back at us.

 

[Crazyface]

Watched the second half and Maguire was the stand out player.
Never heard of him or another 3/4 other England players until last night.
Brave move by Southgate, could pay off.

Now that's Trolling !!!! LOL

 

[Orikoru]

Oh come on!!! You're saying that Captain Kane was awesome for taping in a ball into an open net from 2 yards out and again nodding one in from the same distance and this is something that only he could have done?

Presumably you have never played or watched football in your life? Scoring a close range header is not dumb luck of it bouncing off your head and in, it's the result of timing a run, losing your marker (despite their obvious repeated attempts to throw him to the ground), and guiding the header perfectly just inside the post where it can't be saved. As a world class striker, Kane's movement, positioning and heading accuracy are up there with the best. That's how he has scored key goals like that throughout his short career so far. You talk as if he just stood there and the ball bounced off his face and in.

 

[USER1999]

You talk as if he just stood there and the ball bounced off his face and in.

You need Wellbeck for that.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

You need Wellbeck for that.

:thup: :rofl:

Laughing apart, being a great striker is not always about skipping around 5 players and scoring the glory goal. It is about being in the right place at the right time. It is about sensing where to be, getting there without a defender realising you are in space, taking you out. Lineker talked about going into space in a penalty area sometimes just because it was empty. He didn't do too badly. Kane's goal were classic poachers goals. Let's hope he keeps knocking them in.

 

[Piece]

Oh come on!!! You're saying that Captain Kane was awesome for taping in a ball into an open net from 2 yards out and again nodding one in from the same distance and this is something that only he could have done?

Did you watch the South Korea v Sweden game? They couldn't do what Kane did

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Oh come on!!! You're saying that Captain Kane was awesome for taping in a ball into an open net from 2 yards out and again nodding one in from the same distance and this is something that only he could have done?

If you go outside today make sure your wearing your tin foil hat. :thup:
You don’t want them aliens tapping your brain

 

[nickjdavis]

Oh come on!!! You're saying that Captain Kane was awesome for taping in a ball into an open net from 2 yards out and again nodding one in from the same distance and this is something that only he could have done?

Its something that only HE did. Other attempts to put the ball in the net from distances where you could see the whites of the keepers eyes all failed.

Its not so much about the physical act of getting the ball over the line, its also about being in the right place at the right time with your body shaped and feet positioned to actually get a clean strike on the ball.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

For those slating Henderson - this is just a small selection of his range of passing just last night - don’t think there is anyone in the squad who can sit in that role and spray the ball around

https://mobile.twitter.com/the_w_address/status/1008837776228454402

Henderson gets battered from pillar to post by people who say he only passes backwards but he takes care of the ball to ensure he doesn’t give the ball away and to keep possession and then waits for the forward ball. He is imo one of the most underrated in the squad and also should be skipper but that’s not as important these days. For the ones that want him to go home would be interested to see who you suggest fills the role instead

 

[Beezerk]

For those slating Henderson - this is just a small selection of his range of passing just last night - don’t think there is anyone in the squad who can sit in that role and spray the ball around

https://mobile.twitter.com/the_w_address/status/1008837776228454402

Henderson gets battered from pillar to post by people who say he only passes backwards but he takes care of the ball to ensure he doesn’t give the ball away and to keep possession and then waits for the forward ball. He is imo one of the most underrated in the squad and also should be skipper but that’s not as important these days. For the ones that want him to go home would be interested to see who you suggest fills the role instead

I refer you to Hacker Khans post 😂

 

[Orikoru]

For those slating Henderson - this is just a small selection of his range of passing just last night - don’t think there is anyone in the squad who can sit in that role and spray the ball around

https://mobile.twitter.com/the_w_address/status/1008837776228454402

Henderson gets battered from pillar to post by people who say he only passes backwards but he takes care of the ball to ensure he doesn’t give the ball away and to keep possession and then waits for the forward ball. He is imo one of the most underrated in the squad and also should be skipper but that’s not as important these days. For the ones that want him to go home would be interested to see who you suggest fills the role instead

I actually thought he got good reviews from the pundits who said he'd improved under Klopp with his passing. He was right to get the nod over Dier for the first two games. We may see Dier against Belgium though for a bit more defensive resilience.

To say Henderson should be captain is balderdash though, Kane was the clear and obvious choice. You can see what a leader he is on the pitch. Hendo seems timid by comparison.