04 Jul 2018 12:51:04
I'm not english but for the first time in decades you guys are fun to watch, finally you have a modern day manager who wants his players to feel comfortable in possession, you do lack a little more creativity in the middle of the park but the way this english team is playing is the right way to try to win international cups.

if only Shaw never got injured and continued with that very good form at the start of the season under Van Gaal i think you would have more chances because almost all of your attack comes from Trippier's side (whom i must say have been superb) .

But even if you don't win it i believe Southgate and his philosophy are right for england and if he gives your world champions youth a chance then you will be protagonist in the next 2, 3 world cups.


1.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 13:22:38
Reman - Maybe it's entertaining for the neutral, it sure does get the heart going as an England fan. But our actual performances have been pretty poor for me, we need to lift it a few gears if we expect to win the whole thing as the other nations in with a shout are all playing very competitive games.

Tunisia we were fortunate to win in the end, likewise with Colombia and obviously the Belgium game was not real. But Panama was a bit of a trick for the confidence, we didn't play that well as a team, we just punished them from set-plays and they were truly awful. We have created so little in open play, Kane has been anonymous aside from the goals, 3 pens, 1 deflection, and 2 poacher'esque goals and he will walk goldenboot, pretty crazy stuff.

I'm waiting for us to click, because yesterday was too negative. It's a lot like watching Utd at the minute to be honest, we know the tools are there, but the individuals aren't doing their stuff on the whole. Sterling, Lingard, Alli, Kane all were well below par yesterday. Walker and Young offered nothing as well. We can get away with a couple of players being off, but not half+ the team being below standard.


2.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 13:45:21
I thought last night England hardly went at them at all after the first 15 mins. the south americans were very cynical but England stepped back and i thought we re very directionless for a lot of the game. Was it 2 shots between 2nd half and first period extra time?

Maybe they will now push on but I can see them just as easily going out than going through.


3.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 13:57:20
Beast,

I genuinely have no idea why you watch football.

Kane was far from anonymous yesterday, he tired as the game went on but some of his hold up play was fantastic.


4.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 14:13:57
GDS2 - You worry about why you watch it and I'll worry about why I watch it mate.

We haven't played very well, or should I say, I expect us to play better and I think we need to play better if we intend to win it. We have lacked a lot of creativity and it is very similar watching England to watching Utd at the moment for me. Each to their own mate and I'm suspecting we will kick on after that scare putting Sweden to the sword. But our overall play has been below standard, we are lucky with who we have been up against so far.


5.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 14:15:34
Last night we had 7 corners and Colombia made 23 fouls, let's say at least 15 of them were in areas where we could deliver. We had 7 corners v Belgium and they made 14 fouls, let's give 8 of them in areas to deliver. We actually only had 3 corners v Panama and they gave away 13 fouls so 7 in areas to deliver and finally 7 corners v Tunisia and they made 14 fouls so let's go 8 within delivery. In total that is opportunities to get 62 chances to deliver the ball at least into the opposition’s box. With the likes of Kane, Henderson, McGuire, Stones all 6ft+ it would be naïve of us to not play to our strengths and with VAR being the way it is why not get balls into the box.

The point is, although our chances aren’t coming from open play, we are creating chances to get deliveries in to the box through the runs in behind from Lingard especially and working the ball into good positions for Young and especially Trippier from open play. So for me, we are attacking well, we are getting into good positions and we are punishing teams (Belgium being an exception) when given these chances.

As for Walker being off, he is not in the team now for his attacking ability as he is part of a back 3 so apart from his mistimed back pass, he came across and cleared up well on a few occasions because of his pace. Young defensively was strong and delivered some good balls and Harry Kane was immense last night, holding the ball up, doing defensive duty and getting the pen again and scoring.

If we score 3 more goals for the rest of the tournament and win the games 1-0 and all goals are from a set piece, I for one will not be complaining.

It’s coming home.


6.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 14:20:11
For me the biggest problem last night was how deep Kane ended up playing. He is our big goal threat, and favourite for the golden boot. He needs to be closer to the goal of he is going to get those g.


7.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 15:26:29
The reef was awfull last night.


8.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 16:33:24
I think our problem has been putting teams away. We dominated against Tunisia, played some great stuff int he first half but nicked a win at the end. We smashed Panama, then our second 11 lost to Belgium. Colombia are half decent but we made hard work of it.

We are looking like a team that means business and I love Southgate’s attitude and demeanour. I’m going we click against Sweden and put them away early.

One other quick point, how big are Rashford’s balls? 20years old, steps up to take the second penalty, top kid.


9.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 16:36:35
He was indeed, I thought he went to pot.


10.) 04 Jul 2018
04 Jul 2018 20:39:07
Spot on Tony, It was an incredible penalty by rashford. I was so shocked that he stepped up and the finish was world class. The boy has serious cojones and it was great to see.