World Cup 2018 | 24th June | England vs Panama Match Thread, KO 13:00 (BST)

It’s strange that finishing first means you get one day less rest before the second round. Normally it is the other way round, I always felt that is was undone England in 1998 (along with the Beckham sending off!)
 
ultimateharold said:
Too many thin skins about. That wasn't a dig from Shearer.
Click to expand...

It was imho and I said on the 80th ish minute to my brother if sterling doesn't score after a 6-1, shearer will mention the fact within 2 minutes.

Was an unecessary comment to highlight the fact, and something expected from that tosser.

On the whole though they have been fair on the lad post match and not laid into him.
 
Probably my biggest disappointment was Loftus Cheek, I was really hoping he'd make a big impact and help us play through the middle but he barely touched the ball and when he did, slowed things down too much and didn't take any chances. He really improved us against Tunisia, but didn't take his chance today at all. Don't know whether he was getting open but the ponderous people behind didn't pick him out, or whether he just wasn't getting into space, but it was a real chance missed to stay ahead of Alli.

Set pieces are definitely out main threat this WC, we look like scoring every time we have one and teams can't handle Stones and Maguire
 
Sterling with a really good game.

What people don't understand is that Panama keep 2-3 players on him, opening up space for lingard. Rashford hasn't got the intelligence, neither does loftus cheek. Young poor, rose shocking. Would put Cahill, Delph and Alli in for Belgium.
 
BigOscar said:
Probably my biggest disappointment was Loftus Cheek, I was really hoping he'd make a big impact and help us play through the middle but he barely touched the ball and when he did, slowed things down too much and didn't take any chances. He really improved us against Tunisia, but didn't take his chance today at all. Don't know whether he was getting open but the ponderous people behind didn't pick him out, or whether he just wasn't getting into space, but it was a real chance missed to stay ahead of Alli.

Set pieces are definitely out main threat this WC, we look like scoring every time we have one and teams can't handle Stones and Maguire
Click to expand...

Agreed - I'd been impressed by the bits and pieces ive seen of him previously, but underwhelmed by him today.

This Belgium game could be farcical, with both teams trying to out-do each other for bookings of fringe players!
 
Strange to say after winning 6-1. But I thought we were awful. Only bit of decent football was Lingards goal. Don't understand Southgates system at all. Cannot pass through midfield. Henderson cannot break the lines, Lingard and Loftus Cheek we're woeful. How can any striker do well in this set up. Okay Kanes got 5 goals but 2 set pieces, 2 pens and a fluke. But other than that he's been anonymous
 
BlueMoonz1977 said:
Opposition were total dog-shite....even made rat boy get man of the match
Click to expand...

Belgium didn't score in the first half against them.

Yesterday some people were saying that the fact that Belgium scored five against Tunisia, put our performance against them into perspective.

You can't have it both ways.
 
Psychedelic Casual said:
MLS improves as it beings in more foreign players and the USA team gets worse. They were supposed to be bobbins in qualification
Click to expand...
Every league improves as it brings in foreign players. The USA may not have qualified for this WC, but I would be very surprised if this is not the final one that they miss. It is going to take a bit of time to recover from the Gulati/Klinsmann effect on all things football in the U.S.
 
BigOscar said:
Probably my biggest disappointment was Loftus Cheek, I was really hoping he'd make a big impact and help us play through the middle but he barely touched the ball and when he did, slowed things down too much and didn't take any chances. He really improved us against Tunisia, but didn't take his chance today at all. Don't know whether he was getting open but the ponderous people behind didn't pick him out, or whether he just wasn't getting into space, but it was a real chance missed to stay ahead of Alli.

Set pieces are definitely out main threat this WC, we look like scoring every time we have one and teams can't handle Stones and Maguire
Click to expand...
There aren’t enough men in midfield to get a rhythm going in midfield. The whole set-up is about knocking the ball about the back three, getting the wing backs involved and getting it to the front men. The midfielders in that set up feed off scraps on the edge of the box. Lingard’s contribution we’re winning a penalty and scoring a goal, he didn’t do a great deal in the middle of the pitch where he was playing. Barely remember anything Henderson did. Loftus Cheek similar
 
Sterling did fine, this formation is not really kind to the 2 strikers in open play. Despite his goals I don't think kane has been that great from open play and actually think lingard has been england's most influential player in both games. Southgate needs to find a way to make the strikers more influential as at the moment everything is slow from the back and the best chance for a breakthrough is either quick one-twos through the middle or someone(often lingard) running in behind from midfield. The belgium game will be a big test.
 
Psychedelic Casual said:
There aren’t enough men in midfield to get a rhythm going in midfield. The whole set-up is about knocking the ball about the back three, getting the wing backs involved and getting it to the front men. The midfielders in that set up feed off scraps on the edge of the box. Lingard’s contribution we’re winning a penalty and scoring a goal, he didn’t do a great deal in the middle of the pitch where he was playing. Barely remember anything Henderson did. Loftus Cheek similar
Click to expand...
Yup, it is weird to say after a 6-1 demolition, but I really don't think we played very well in open play and the system is the biggest reason. We just abandon the middle of the park, Henderson joins the back 3 and then we just play it around the back 6 pretty aimlessly, until Trippier decides to put one in the channel for the ever willing Lingard. Both games have been the same, but we're so dangerous from set pieces that it's kind of papered over the cracks. Kane is getting praise, as he's scored 5 goals, but he's barely had a kick in open play and it's not remotely his fault that that's the case.

Moving Sterling back into the midfield seems like such an obvious fix as well, but we seem to be persisting with this system.
 
balotelli's back pocket said:
Sterling with a really good game.

What people don't understand is that Panama keep 2-3 players on him, opening up space for lingard. Rashford hasn't got the intelligence, neither does loftus cheek. Young poor, rose shocking. Would put Cahill, Delph and Alli in for Belgium.
Click to expand...

The stuff of fantasy. He had no more or less opposition players 'on him' than anyone else. Played ok I thought, and no better or worse than most of his team mates, who were all much of a muchness. Big plus was that he was frequently in a good position in the 6 year box looking for knock downs, pull backs etc, and had England had an ounce of City's creativity he might have benefited as a consequence. He also produced a neat lay off for Lingard's goal. Only let down was that there little else from him of eye catching note, which isn't really the criticism it might seem, because for a side that scored 6 goals I thought the limitations of the system and the whole England team were there for all to see. No real creativity in the engine room, lots of passes back and forth between the back 6 without really going anywhere, and the attacking players all crowded out for the most part.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top