World Cup 2018

[Crazyface]

Walkers is a liability. He's doing his best to knock us out on his own. Crap back pass and also did you see that leap in the air towards the end with his arm up like that other bloke did that cost his team???? No? Well have another look then. I'd send him home immediately.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Walkers is a liability. He's doing his best to knock us out on his own. Crap back pass and also did you see that leap in the air towards the end with his arm up like that other bloke did that cost his team???? No? Well have another look then. I'd send him home immediately.

:rofl: and, he’s back in the room! :rofl:

 

[clubchamp98]

Walkers is a liability. He's doing his best to knock us out on his own. Crap back pass and also did you see that leap in the air towards the end with his arm up like that other bloke did that cost his team???? No? Well have another look then. I'd send him home immediately.

He’s not a CB though and has been asked to play the dual role .
I did see the arm and it’s not how a CB would challenge.
The defence have been good imo but haven’t played anyone of quality yet.

The lack of creativity is what worries me and still can’t see why your main striker Kane would play so deep.

But were winning and it’s hard to criticise a team / tactics when they win.
Got no nails left.
Come on lads do us and all the young fans proud that’s all we ask.

 

[Orikoru]

He’s not a CB though and has been asked to play the dual role .
I did see the arm and it’s not how a CB would challenge.
The defence have been good imo but haven’t played anyone of quality yet.

The lack of creativity is what worries me and still can’t see why your main striker Kane would play so deep.

But were winning and it’s hard to criticise a team / tactics when they win.
Got no nails left.
Come on lads do us and all the young fans proud that’s all we ask.

Walker has always been a tad error-prone, but he's in the back three for his pace on the cover, on which he is second to none.

Kane drops deep to pick up the ball sometimes as he is a complete forward - the set-up is designed for Sterling and Lingard to run beyond him when that happens, as well as the wing backs. Also, when Vardy comes on he plays on the shoulder of the defence, so then Kane has to be the deeper one of the two by default.

 

[chrisd]

I'd send him home immediately.

Number one of a million reasons why you'd never be the England manager

 

[IanM]

Interesting piece on the radio about folk from England not travelling to Russia in usual number because of previous issues with Russians etc (Even good old Alan Brazil refused to go for this usual drinking binge!)

Looks like Putin had a word in various ears - "Misbehave and you've had it!" - A mate of mine has been there since it started. No a hint of trouble anywhere, the usual suspects have been well behaved.

 

[chrisd]

Interesting piece on the radio about folk from England not travelling to Russia in usual number because of previous issues with Russians etc (Even good old Alan Brazil refused to go for this usual drinking binge!)

Looks like Putin had a word in various ears - "Misbehave and you've had it!" - A mate of mine has been there since it started. No a hint of trouble anywhere, the usual suspects have been well behaved.

I was in St Petersburg a week before it started and the locals weren't expecting trouble. I reckon Putin did as you say.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Interesting piece on the radio about folk from England not travelling to Russia in usual number because of previous issues with Russians etc (Even good old Alan Brazil refused to go for this usual drinking binge!)

Looks like Putin had a word in various ears - "Misbehave and you've had it!" - A mate of mine has been there since it started. No a hint of trouble anywhere, the usual suspects have been well behaved.

To be fair, I have only heard good things about being out there for the tournament. Great PR for the Russians.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

as always, the hype is out of controi. England have only played one decent side (Belgium), and that was in a dead rubber.

England did their usual last night, started off well, then rapidly ran out out ideas. There is no creative spark, the game plan seems to resolve around dead balls. They have only scored 2 goals from open play, and one of them hit Kane on the back of the heel and went in.

Saying that, Sweden do not look like much of a side either, and I wouldn't be surprised if England get past them. If Croatia don't bottle it against Russia, I'd make them favourites to beat England.

I think that’s spot on - England have struggled to create from the middle of the park , something I said when the squad was picked and Lallana wasn’t going , there is no one who can thread that little ball through or produce a touch of magic to open it up for someone.

The players are working very hard and their energy levels are superb but they are relying on set pieces and ill discipline from the opposition. If Colombia had concentrated on playing football instead of the antics then England could have been in big trouble. They have a great chance to get to a final with the teams ahead but they need to find the creative spark from open play , Sweden will be much more disciplined so England will need to find another way to open them up. They should have enough to get through but it’s going to be tough - Sweden are no push over

But one thing that’s good for England is the expirence the players are getting - this is nothing but good for them at the moment and they are going to grow but hopefully with Southgate there keep their feet on the ground at the same time.

 

[Jates12]

Indeed. I’m no great fan of Cahill but he’s head and shoulders above Maguire.

Wow. What can Cahill do that maguire cant? aside from apply for a bus pass 10 years earlier.

 

[Beezerk]

Interesting piece on the radio about folk from England not travelling to Russia in usual number because of previous issues with Russians etc (Even good old Alan Brazil refused to go for this usual drinking binge!)

Looks like Putin had a word in various ears - "Misbehave and you've had it!" - A mate of mine has been there since it started. No a hint of trouble anywhere, the usual suspects have been well behaved.

My take on it is.
That load of Russians who kicked the living hell out of everyone at Euro 2016 was a warning shot. Don’t bring any louts to our World Cup or this is what you’ll get.
Add in that a lot of the trouble makers of the past aren’t really fans, they just jump on the bandwagon for a cheap weekend away on the lash. These haven’t travelled for the above reason and obviously logistics.
All of the above and obvious tensions with Russia has put the more regular fan from travelling over there, plus the weather over here has been awesome so why bother going abroad 😎

 

[pbrown7582]

:rofl: and, he’s back in the room! :rofl:

 

[Orikoru]

I think that’s spot on - England have struggled to create from the middle of the park , something I said when the squad was picked and Lallana wasn’t going , there is no one who can thread that little ball through or produce a touch of magic to open it up for someone.

The players are working very hard and their energy levels are superb but they are relying on set pieces and ill discipline from the opposition. If Colombia had concentrated on playing football instead of the antics then England could have been in big trouble. They have a great chance to get to a final with the teams ahead but they need to find the creative spark from open play , Sweden will be much more disciplined so England will need to find another way to open them up. They should have enough to get through but it’s going to be tough - Sweden are no push over

But one thing that’s good for England is the expirence the players are getting - this is nothing but good for them at the moment and they are going to grow but hopefully with Southgate there keep their feet on the ground at the same time.

You're not wrong, but that player just doesn't exist. Lallana clearly didn't have the fitness and there is no other similar player out there. Southgate recognises this and has come up with a system that he believes can work for us. He's tried to play to our strengths and utilise the willing runners we have like Lingard, Sterling and Alli. And scoring from set pieces isn't an accident - again it's something they've worked hard on to make it one of our strengths.

We can't magic up an English De Bruyne to chuck in the squad, sadly. I think Southgate is working excellently with what he's got.

 

[GB72]

My take on England so far has been positive. Are we the best team, no but are we going in the right direction, very much so. The match against Tunisia, past teams would have walked off with a 1-1 draw but we kept it going and got our rewards. Panama, not the best team in the world but how many times have we scraped through those matches with an early goal then another one or two late on to keep things respectable. Not sure I remember too many times when an England side has put away a weaker team by half time. Not sure what to make of the Belgium match, 2 second string teams, a good goal from them, no incentive to really push for the win but the back up players got decent match time and the first string side got a rest. Both of these points could prove vital later on.
The Columbia match showed a greater level of maturity. Did not rise to the dirty tricks, heads did not go down when the late equaliser was scored and we overcame the penalty hoodoo. Again, good experience going forward.
What I do like is that England have the fans back on side again. People are excited, people are enjoying it, people are not booing dull and heartless performances.
Whatever happens going forward, I can see nothing but positives going forward. We have a young team with good spirit gaining massive experience that can only bode well for the Euros and the next World Cup.

 

[rudebhoy]

If it's ok for England fans to be buoyant despite underwhelming against the two decent teams they've played, it's ok (and not at all bitter) for those who don't support England to want them to fail. Both sides of the coin!

spot on.

I have nothing against Southgate, he seems like a decent bloke doing a decent job to me.

What gets my back up is the way the media go totally OTT - good example being the Tunisia game, we kept being told what a great performance it was, despite the usual running totally out of ideas 2nd half. If Kane hadn't scored that last minute goal, they would have been slaughtered by the same media.

Again, vs Colombia, no mention of another abject performance against a very average team, instead it's coming home apparently (which begs the question, how can you call somewhere you haven't been for 52 years home?)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

instead it's coming home apparently (which begs the question, how can you call somewhere you haven't been for 52 years home?)

You are just jealous because that is the best football song for years and can be brought out time after time. Kicks Allies Army into touch :ears:

 

[GB72]

But when has sport been about realism and sober thinking. Sport is all about hopes, dreams, expectations, excitement, the belief that this could be your team's year. Why not get excited, jump on the bandwagon, watch in hope and expectation rather than predicting another failure. Sport is hype and overreaction, unrealistic expectations etc.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Wow. What can Cahill do that maguire cant? aside from apply for a bus pass 10 years earlier.

Apart from win everything available to him at club level both domestically and on the European stage? Winning is a habit and a proven winner, with an older calmer head would do no harm. He’s no Adams, Ferdinand, Carragher or Terry but in my opinion he’d bring something that we are currently missing, a degree of calmness and maturity.

Rather than sarcastic bus pass comments how about bringing something useful to the discussion?

 

[Orikoru]

Apart from win everything available to him at club level both domestically and on the European stage? Rather than sarcastic bus pass comments how about bringing something useful to the discussion?

Bit pointless to cite trophies in a debate between a 32 year old and a 25 year old isn't it? Maguire has 7 years to catch up. The point is, on current ability, Maguire is quicker, better on the ball, and an utter machine in the air. His key contributions have been driving the ball forwards and being the target of every set piece, and winning the vast majority. Both things that Cahill would be worse at than him.

 

[rudebhoy]

You are just jealous because that is the best football song for years and can be brought out time after time. Kicks Allies Army into touch :ears:

have you forgotten this classic?

[video=youtube;gmzDOqUdu8A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmzDOqUdu8A[/video]