World Cup 2018

[Deleted member 16999]

Walker - it's not a risk because there is no better alternative to play there. He wants a defender with pace, that's Walker. Our other centre backs all have mistakes in them as well, but they don't have half of Walker's pace to go with it.

In Sterling's case we do have other options. Rashford, Vardy. So it's not the same. But I think you knew that, you just like to play Devil's Advocate every single time you post.

Yeah what does Kane do despite repeatedly scoring goals all the time. Rubbish.

I’m not playing devil’s advocate and if you read my post correctly (I actually believed you have a good understanding of the game) I wasn’t criticising Kane.

There is more to Kane than his goals, just like there is more to Sterling, Kane yesterday provided a threat and is feared, if Sterling was our penalty taker yesterday and had scored both pens there would still be those who criticised him.

Sterling never stopped running yesterday from what we could see on the telly, he provided assists and was linking up very well.

If we trust Southgate with the other 10, including playing Walker in an unfamiliar role, then we should be trusting him with Sterling, he, I would guess, sees Sterling as a better option to Vardy or Rashford, why else is he playing him?

The red tops have made Sterling the weak point and people are not giving him a fair crack.

 

[Orikoru]

You could play Stones on the right of a back three, he has enough pace to not be badly exposed. Then it's Cahill or Jones in the middle. Neither exactly scream world class but they're probably the best two centre backs in terms of pure defensive ability.

That's kinda lessening the pace of the whole back three quite substantially though. I think pace in your centre backs is more important in a back three as you haven't got typically fast full back to cover for you (in this case that full back, Walker, has been drafted in to account for that). Stones and Maguire are relatively quick, Walker is extremely quick, but you'd be losing that and bringing in quite a slow player in Jones or Cahill.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Kane's mobility is excellent, pulling defenders all over the place. His hold up play is excellent, and he gets goals. Why are we even having to debate whether or not Kane should be there?

You feel Sterling is worth his place. Fine. I think it should be Vardy. I feel that if we are going to play as narrow as we do, with overlapping full backs, Sterling doesn't fit, as there isn't the room for him to operate in, and he definitely isn't a number10, which Vardy is. And his form suggests he isn't going to score. Southgate wants to use Sterling. Fine. I'll back his choice because he's the expert, but I don't agree with it.

Never said Kane shouldn’t be there. See my answer above :thup:

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Let’s be realistic we played well against two very poor teams but it’s been refreshing to see England play attractive football.

The real test will be when we play Belgium and the better teams ,and over the first two games Sterling has been average at best and we will need better from him if he continues to get picked.

I hope he drops/rests Sterling ,and Rashford gets a game against Belgium and we will see what he brings to the team.

Looking at what is left, I do not think there are many teams better than England.

I fancied Belgium to win the World Cup so I will not expect their England game to be very physical/contested.

Both teams sitting back..…..0-0 written all over it.

 

[Orikoru]

I’m not playing devil’s advocate and if you read my post correctly (I actually believed you have a good understanding of the game) I wasn’t criticising Kane.

There is more to Kane than his goals, just like there is more to Sterling, Kane yesterday provided a threat and is feared, if Sterling was our penalty taker yesterday and had scored both pens there would still be those who criticised him.

Sterling never stopped running yesterday from what we could see on the telly, he provided assists and was linking up very well.

If we trust Southgate with the other 10, including playing Walker in an unfamiliar role, then we should be trusting him with Sterling, he, I would guess, sees Sterling as a better option to Vardy or Rashford, why else is he playing him?

The red tops have made Sterling the weak point and people are not giving him a fair crack.

Yeah I know you were being sarcastic with Kane, hence I responded in kind.

It's ok anyway - while I don't think Sterling is contributing as much as he should or could, I also thing we're beyond the point of dropping him now. With the team having played well up until now Southgate probably wants to keep them together as best as possible. He may have some bit of tactical wizardry up his sleeve for Belgium which requires a different sort of player anyway, we'll wait and see.

 

[Rooter]

it's coming home

 

[Orikoru]

Looking at what is left, I do not think there are many teams better than England.

I fancied Belgium to win the World Cup so I will not expect their England game to be very physical/contested.

Both teams sitting back..…..0-0 written all over it.

Martinez has apparently said he will rest players. After their first team their back-ups are actually quite poor (other than Dembele) so depending on how many players he fancied resting, that game might be there for the taking for us.

There's been a lot of talk about whether it's better to finish 2nd in the group, but since that would require us to lose the game, I'm not sure we really want to kill our momentum at this point. Best case scenario, draw the game but pick up 5 bookings, handing them top spot on the fair play separation? :rofl:

 

[User62651]

Ok, for fun, how many of the Belguim squad would come in to the England 1st 11 team if eligible?

For me -
De Bruyne and Hazard are certs.
Vertonghen and Aldeweireld are arguably a better pair than Stones and Maguire. Lukaku is not better than Kane but would make 1st 11 for England.

So perhaps 4 maybe 5 out of 11. Does that make England the better team on paper (if not rankings)?:lol:

 

[Kellfire]

Vertonghen and Aldeweireld are arguably a better pair than Stones and Maguire.

Arguably? I'd say the Belgian pair are the best CB partnership in the world!

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Ok, for fun, how many of the Belguim squad would come in to the England 1st 11 team if eligible?

For me -
De Bruyne and Hazard are certs.
Vertonghen and Aldeweireld are arguably a better pair than Stones and Maguire. Lukaku is not better than Kane but would make 1st 11 for England.

So perhaps 4 maybe 5 out of 11. Does that make England the better team on paper (if not rankings)?:lol:

I’d take Vertonghen, not so convinced on Aldeweireld.
De Bruyne and Hazard would be in a world 11 for me.
Lukaku is marmite, so many wouldn’t have him.
I’d prefer Southgate to set up to win rather than trying to avoid defeat, plus if anything, we’ve played better against bigger teams in friendlies (which may or may not of helped).

The big thing for us at the moment is the squad look confident and happy.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Ok, for fun, how many of the Belguim squad would come in to the England 1st 11 team if eligible?

For me -
De Bruyne and Hazard are certs.
Vertonghen and Aldeweireld are arguably a better pair than Stones and Maguire. Lukaku is not better than Kane but would make 1st 11 for England.

So perhaps 4 maybe 5 out of 11. Does that make England the better team on paper (if not rankings)?:lol:

Well if using the England system then this would be the combined team for me

Courtois

Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Stones

Walker
Rose

Henderson
De Bryune
Hazard

Mertens
Kane

 

[Orikoru]

Ok, for fun, how many of the Belguim squad would come in to the England 1st 11 team if eligible?

For me -
De Bruyne and Hazard are certs.
Vertonghen and Aldeweireld are arguably a better pair than Stones and Maguire. Lukaku is not better than Kane but would make 1st 11 for England.

So perhaps 4 maybe 5 out of 11. Does that make England the better team on paper (if not rankings)?:lol:

My combined XI would be:

Hazard - Kane - Mertens
De Bruyne - Dembele - Alli
Trippier - Vertonghen - Alderweireld - Walker
Courtois​

Yes I've put Trippier on the wrong side but neither team actually has an in-form left back at the moment, and I wanted Trips and Walker both in it, so, yeah.

 

[User62651]

How could I forget Courtois, he would be a shoe in.

Dont know too much about SerieA and Mertens but Napoli have been challenging for a few seasons now. Reputedly coming to Chelsea if (when) Hazard leaves?

Could be swinging Belguims way.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

How could I forget Courtois, he would be a shoe in.

Dont know too much about SerieA and Mertens but Napoli have been challenging for a few seasons now. Reputedly coming to Chelsea if (when) Hazard leaves?

Could be swinging Belguims way.

You forgot the biggest difference though,
Southgate over Martinez

 

[Kellfire]

Well if using the England system then this would be the combined team for me

Courtois

Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Stones

Walker
Rose

Henderson
De Bryune
Hazard

Mertens
Kane

Henderson over Dembele?

Ah man, your bias knows no limits.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Uruguay or Russia v Spain or Portugal, no easy ties them.

 

[Orikoru]

Uruguay or Russia v Spain or Portugal, no easy ties them.

I still believe Russia are a fairly average side riding on home advantage and having played two very poor-at-the-back sides. Uruguay have already taken the lead here, I'll be surprised if it isn't reasonably comfortable for them now.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm going to be in Stockholm on Wednesday but annoyingly will have to be at the airport when the Sweden game is on. I would love to have been in a bar or square showing the match to get the real atmosphere. I should get to see most of it there though so maybe some local tension will be there.

With regards to England, lovely to enjoy watching them. Can't remember the last time I said that about an England team. Personally I'd swap Rashford for Sterling for the Belgium game, see how he does from the start. Sterling looks out of sorts so get someone on who looked sharp against Tunisia. If he has a bad game then Sterling comes back in. If not then he stays for the first knockout match. Of all the midfield and above players he looks the most vulnerable. We have alternatives, use them. Some of the defenders don't look great but there are no great surprises there and I'm not sure the alternatives are banging on the door to loudly. All in all though, very good.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Henderson over Dembele?

Ah man, your bias knows no limits.

Is that the same Dembele who currently occupies a space on the bench for his country and has a grand total of 16 mins so far at the World Cup

So yes I rate Henderson a lot higher than most and it’s no surprise a Man Utd fan doesn’t - what was that about bias again

I guess you missed the Spurs fan who pretty much picked every Spurs or ex Spurs player available even playing one out of position - imagine that eh

 

[Orikoru]

I'm going to be in Stockholm on Wednesday but annoyingly will have to be at the airport when the Sweden game is on. I would love to have been in a bar or square showing the match to get the real atmosphere. I should get to see most of it there though so maybe some local tension will be there.

With regards to England, lovely to enjoy watching them. Can't remember the last time I said that about an England team. Personally I'd swap Rashford for Sterling for the Belgium game, see how he does from the start. Sterling looks out of sorts so get someone on who looked sharp against Tunisia. If he has a bad game then Sterling comes back in. If not then he stays for the first knockout match. Of all the midfield and above players he looks the most vulnerable. We have alternatives, use them. Some of the defenders don't look great but there are no great surprises there and I'm not sure the alternatives are banging on the door to loudly. All in all though, very good.

If he was going to do that with Rashford/Sterling, it needed to be against Panama I think. If anything it makes more sense to put Vardy up with Kane for the Belgium game, and keep the midfield quite compact behind them.