The Official England Thread-The Team We All Support [Vol 2]

[GloverMart]

Another win tonight, much the same as Saturday really. Good first half, wheels wobbled a bit after half time but at least this time, we didn't concede.

Okay, so my starting XI for Tunisia would be...

Pickford

Walker - Cahill - Maguire

Trippier - Alli - Henderson - Rose

Sterling

Rashford - Kane

I think.

[GloverMart]

ORD said:

That side would lose every game. Our midfield is absolutely diabolical. Could be a very very bad World Cup.

All that said, we are nailed on to win it.

[GloverMart]

Having been the only poster stupid brave enough to post his team on here after last night, quite impressed that no one except for Ord has torn it a new one (albeit his team would have to be similar to mine as we have no top midfielders ).

One thing that I would say.... with Walker playing right CB and Kane up top, an all-Spurs midfield of Trippier/Alli/Dier/Rose might knit together better than with Henderson in there.

[GloverMart]

An interesting view on the relationship between the media and the England team...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=744&am...

[GloverMart]

JustinF said:

The England team have been visiting an orphanage in St. Petersburg today.
"It's heartbreaking to see their little faces with no hope"
Said Vladimir, aged 5.

Have been waiting for this one to come up, only question was, will it be Igor / Boris / Vladimir.....

Thanks Justin, top man.

[GloverMart]

Just seen pictures of the team leaving for Russia on the plane.

Lads looked relaxed, cheerful and sharing jokes with each other.

Everyone seems happy!*

• - except ORD who was seen loudly complaining that the pilot was st, they should have flown from Manchester as it's far superior to Birmingham & that they'd left it too late before the first match next week.

[GloverMart]

This is doing the rounds on Twitter tonight, getting people in the mood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLcJ057il1c

[GloverMart]

ORD said:

Ascayman said:

Rose instead of young i agree, id play rashford instead of Lingard though and Dier over Henderson better player and more importantly suits the system more as can cover Walker / stones way better than henderson can.

Young is underrated, in my view - he is extremely reliable and can cross the ball.

I would play Henderson, just because he runs more than Dier. Both are bang average, so the one that moves around most gets my vote.

I would certainly not play Rashford ahead of Lingard. Lingard keeps the ball well and can unlock a defence with a pass and/or a run. Rashford is immensely talented but does not contribute much to the overall play, and he has one good game every 5-10.

Young can only accurately cross the ball with one foot. This means he will either scuff the cross into the stand, fail to make a proper contact or, as he does 99.9% of the time, cuts back in on his right foot.

That's easy to play against. Rose is miles better than Young at LB. We have enough good players not to have to put a square peg in a round hole.

[GloverMart]

Had to laugh at Terry Butcher on 5Live tonight.

They asked him if he thought the rumours of Young at LWB and Maguire at CB were right and he said "No no no. It's smoke amd mirrors. There's absolutely no way that Young will be left wing back. If he is, I'm not watching it!"

FWIW, he's right. It also makes a mockery of choosing two LWB's, one of which is so one-footed it's laughable and the other of which is returning after a long injury break. We'd have been better off fitting Ryan Bertrand in there and leaving someone else at home.

[GloverMart]

[redacted]

[GloverMart]

We squeaked past them in the end but how many times in the past have we spluttered and coughed, and only got a draw. Beat Panama on Sunday and we'll be as good as qualified, with Belgium likely to beat the Tunisians.

Rose for Young and Rashford for Sterling would be my two changes. Watching Panama today, their defence are glorified thugs that hate pace so stick MR on from the start and the game'll be over by half time.

One last moan about Young. When we have Kane and Rashford on the pitch, and we get a free kick 20-25 yards out, Young should be back marking the halfway line. Not bloody taking the set piece.

[GloverMart]

Cupramax said:

GloverMart said:

We squeaked past them in the end but how many times in the past have we spluttered and coughed, and only got a draw. Beat Panama on Sunday and we'll be as good as qualified, with Belgium likely to beat the Tunisians.

Rose for Young and Rashford for Sterling would be my two changes. Watching Panama today, their defence are glorified thugs that hate pace so stick MR on from the start and the game'll be over by half time.

One last moan about Young. When we have Kane and Rashford on the pitch, and we get a free kick 20-25 yards out, Young should be back marking the halfway line. Not bloody taking the set piece.

What about Alli, he had a shocker...

Yep, he wasn't his usual self although we'll see what that injury is like first. Wasn't too impressed with Lingard either, but to criticise him, as some have, for missing that chance that hit the post is a little harsh IMO. Think I'll upgrade from two changes to three then, although I think GS will name an unchanged team.

So for Panama, I'd go...

Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire
Trippier Loftus-Cheek Henderson Alli Rose
Kane Rashford

[GloverMart]

[redacted]

[GloverMart]

hilly10 said:

Brave Fart said:

For those saying "scrap VAR, let the ref decide"........I disagree. The system is supposed to be an assistant to the ref, so that it picks up any glaring errors he has made. The ref tonight was incompetent, and missed two obvious penalties. What is needed is more VAR intervention, not less. You need a system that forces the ref to review crucial errors. Either allow the VAR observers to stop the game, or follow cricket's example, and give the aggrieved team the chance to demand a review. If they fail, they lose their review. If successful, they keep it.
Plus, VAR can prove, for all to see, that a given ref is incompetent - and maybe bent, who knows? Tonight's ref, and linesmen, should be on the next plane home, with VAR the proof of their wretched performance.

The commentator said VAR light went green, so they were looking at the first Kane penalty shout, how can they not see it was penalty as I said earlier the operators should be questioned.

In a situation like that, where there are numerous players grappling with each other, I wouldn't be surprised if they were looking at the wrong incident.

If so, it's just going to stir up more on-field dissent as players will feel the need to protest wildly for the penalty just so the VAR refs notice them.....

[GloverMart]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

All set to CET +5 minutes...

[GloverMart]

[redacted]

[GloverMart]

Ascayman said:

Well, well, well. None of us were expecting that not sure what some of the negative comments are about! Christ almighty. Never expected that this morning.

The biggest WC win I've ever seen.
Qualified for the next round with a game to spare
Stunner from lingard
Looking like a team
Best player top of the golden boot charts without even playing well yet.
Loving Harry mquire.
Trips looking unreal.
Southgate seems to know what he's doing
Playing good football.

I maybe pissed but fk me lads this is a good news day.

ENG-GER-LAND

[GloverMart]

Ascayman said:

GloverMart said:

Ascayman said:

Well, well, well. None of us were expecting that not sure what some of the negative comments are about! Christ almighty. Never expected that this morning.

The biggest WC win I've ever seen.
Qualified for the next round with a game to spare
Stunner from lingard
Looking like a team
Best player top of the golden boot charts without even playing well yet.
Loving Harry mquire.
Trips looking unreal.
Southgate seems to know what he's doing
Playing good football.

I maybe pissed but fk me lads this is a good news day.

ENG-GER-LAND

I refer you to the pissed comment

Fair play, mate. You've made a young lad from Sheffield sound like he's from the Congo...

[GloverMart]

Murph7355 said:

ORD said:

...
England still look extremely fragile at the back....

Agree with this. I think Southgate did too judging by the interview I saw (which was great) and think he will make changes in the Belgium game.

Walker looked to lose his man to me for the goal, but this may have been highlighted by Maguire and Rose (?) playing the Panamanians on side.

The defence hasn't looked all that great to me in both games thus far. Walker isn't performing for whatever reason. Stones seems better in the opposition's box, Maguire ditto. Young I've never been that big a fan of. Trippier's playing well but more midfield I would have said!

I don't think much tweaking is needed to make this a very good side. But the Belgium game will be interesting. They also look weak at the back, but have a lot of firepower.

For Belgium, I'd go...

Cahill for Walker
Rose for Young
Rashford for Sterling

And if Alli is fit, I'd still start Loftus-Cheek.

[GloverMart]

Nothing to worry about lads...

It's