The Official England Thread-The Team We All Support [Vol 3]

[Slowboathome]

Rico Lewis is tiny but made of the right stuff.

[GloverMart]

BrabusMog said:

mickk said:

RichB said:

Crap refereeing aside, this is tedious crap from England.

It really is.

It’s times like this that make me glad to be Scottish

Amen, brother Brabus McMog!!

[Challo]

tamore said:

Byker28i said:

Alexander Arnold needs to cooling or be subbed.

not sure what he's doing tonight. awful game and doesn't look bothered.

Never understood the fascination with trying to play him in midfield. Yes he is talented but he isn’t a midfielder. Why not play JWP who actually is a midfielder and probably has a better dead ball delivery

[BrabusMog]

GloverMart said:

Amen, brother Brabus McMog!!

[Dr Murdoch]

Challo said:

Never understood the fascination with trying to play him in midfield. Yes he is talented but he isn’t a midfielder. Why not play JWP who actually is a midfielder and probably has a better dead ball delivery

Fashion?

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

BrabusMog said:

mickk said:

RichB said:

Crap refereeing aside, this is tedious crap from England.

It really is.

It’s times like this that make me glad to be Scottish

It was really bad but it wasn't that bad!

[Hants PHer]

Bloody hell, that was one of the most incompetent performances I've seen in a long time. I'm describing the ref by the way, although England weren't much better. Even when the idiot ref got a decision right, by not originally awarding a foul by Lewis - that was never, ever a penalty - he then managed to reverse it! Of course, he didn't give a penalty for Maguire's stupid push on their player earlier on. That one looked much more of a pen, so I suppose they cancel out.

Ah yes, Harry Maguire. An accident waiting to happen. Why Southgate persists with him I cannot fathom, although that applies to Phillips and Henderson too. And what has happened to Rashford? He looks absolutely devoid of confidence.

[48k]

Congratulations Gareth Southgate and England on securing qualification for the Euros, winning group C unbeaten.

[mickk]

48k said:

Congratulations Gareth Southgate and England on securing qualification for the Euros, winning group C unbeaten.

How dare you come on hear with positive thoughts!

[andyA700]

RichB said:

tamore said:

starts at the back. you can't have CBs and a GK with suck poor footballing skills

Not sure I'd pick out Pickford for blame. He's not the one playing sideways and back instead of creating something.

I agree, I cannot see he is in anyway to blame for this shambolic mess. He is a very good goalkeeper, who is constantly being put under pressure by people in front of him, who think the best way to win a game is by constantly passing sideways and back.

[SWoll]

A completely meaningless game against a poor side when the majority of players in the team have far more important games at the weekend to think about. Not surprised in the slightest that's the performance that was delivered personally, hence why I don't bother with qualifiers.

I have watched the "highlights" this morning though, and the Maguire penalty shout is one of the funniest I've ever seen. Even Southgate can't take a player that bad to a tournament surely?

Clearly a reset against Lewis as that's never a penalty in a million years.

Edited by SWoll on Tuesday 21st November 08:07

[Skyedriver]

tamore said:

has gareth got any sugar lumps or carrots for his fav centre back?

[Skyedriver]

Slowboathome said:

Foden will look to get the ball to Grealish
....

Something I noticed a lot too. Think Ollie Watkins had a raw deal tonight. Every time Foden passed out to Grealish his team mate, not looking for Watkins who was often stood waiting.
I find Foden an irritating little tt but I'd always have him in the team for his workrate.

Southgate needs to rethink his team but it's really too late now.
Start with Walker, Trippier, Grealish (yes really) Foden, Watkins, possibly Gordon, Lewis maybe in a couple of years.

Edited by Skyedriver on Tuesday 21st November 08:34

[Slowboathome]

Skyedriver said:

Something I noticed a lot too. Think Ollie Watkins had a raw deal tonight. Every time Foden passed out to Grealish his team mate, not looking for Watkins who was often stood waiting.
I find Foden an irritating little tt but I'd always have him in the team for his workrate.

Southgate needs to rethink his team but it's really too late now.
Start with Walker, Trippier, Grealish (yes really) Foden, Watkins, possibly Gordon, Lewis maybe in a couple of years.

Edited by Skyedriver on Tuesday 21st November 08:34

Bowen got a raw deal too when he played. To a large extent I think players who are used to each other know what kind of movement/pass to expect. I think that needs to figure in team selection. However I'd also add that I think Alexander-Arnold and Saka are on the same wavelength.

[Byker28i]

Speed 3 said:

Slowboathome said:

I'm not a huge fan of Grealish, but he's done a lot more tonight than Rashford against Malta.

Funny, I was just thinking I wouldn't have him on the plane. He's a show pony who can't even really be called a mercurial talent like Le Tiss, Marsh etc. I'd rather have Rashford & Sterling in the squad, they're inconsistent & frustrating but have more overall productive output than Grealish.

My thought was he was a bit of a one trick pony. Tried running down the wing then cut inside everytime. The defenders soon got used to that, so the ball almost always ended up going backwards.

Maguire.FFS! why have we got him in the team everytime.

Edited by Byker28i on Tuesday 21st November 09:38

[Byker28i]

Slowboathome said:

Rico Lewis is tiny but made of the right stuff.

I thought that. Worked hard, made some great runs, got into good positions, tackled back. Great first game.

[Roofless Toothless]

Byker28i said:

Slowboathome said:

Rico Lewis is tiny but made of the right stuff.

I thought that. Worked hard, made some great runs, got into good positions, tackled back. Great first game.

I just wish he would get rid of the Sideshow Bob haircut.

[coldel]

Grealish has gone backwards for sure, quite literally. It has gotten so bad that we all know he will try beat his man, fail, cut back inside and pass backwards. That channel is no longer an attacking option. Foden had a much better game for England, finally. Burst of pace and then trying to get people away. The subs as expected had zero impact, presumably came on to keep some club managers happy. And Maguire, why oh why. Why play Tomori for one game out of position then continue with this guy.

It is utterly perplexing how GS just doesnt have the conviction or ability to play the best in form players.

[Speed 3]

Grealish is the maverick that doesn't do anything mavericky any more.

It's amazing to look back at when Maguire broke through. He was genuinely a ball playing centre half who drove through midfield and started an attack. That player is long gone.

[Slowboathome]

coldel said:

Grealish has gone backwards for sure, quite literally. It has gotten so bad that we all know he will try beat his man, fail, cut back inside and pass backwards. That channel is no longer an attacking option. Foden had a much better game for England, finally. Burst of pace and then trying to get people away. The subs as expected had zero impact, presumably came on to keep some club managers happy. And Maguire, why oh why. Why play Tomori for one game out of position then continue with this guy.

It is utterly perplexing how GS just doesnt have the conviction or ability to play the best in form players.

Sterling is increasingly looking like a good option on the left. Him, Kane and Saka in front of Bellingham Rice and Foden would be quite a front 6. But I suspect it'll be someone more defensively inclined than Foden, in which case I'd go for Lewis. But Southgate will go for Henderson.