World Cup 2018 | 28th June | England vs Belgium Match Thread, KO 19:00 (BST)

[Lancet Fluke]

Yup, that's the crux of it. Southgate is just out of his depth and has completely abandoned the idea of a midfield, we have back 6 and then a front 4, with no one linking the two, other than with long diagonals. All the "attacking midfielders" are runners, who want to get on the end of things, with no central midfielder to actually link with them, it's hugely unbalanced. We've no middle third at all

It's such a shame that football punditry in England is proper lowest common denominator shite, aimed at imbeciles. I'd describe myself as relatively clueless when it comes to analysing football matches but fuck me, it doesn't take much to realise that all the forwards have had the same struggle and the problems lie elsewhere. But then it's so much easier to say such and such (usually Raheem) missed a chance therefore he's shit and he's the problem.

 

[aguerrrroooooooooooo]

It was pretty obvious that the player's were under strict orders not to come top of the group. Coming 2nd is more advantageous than coming top.
Tonight clearly meant f##k all and ourselves and Belgium clearly didn't even put 30% effort in.

Except we play against Colombia who I'd argue are a better team than us

 

[Lancet Fluke]

England are always shit when they're on ITV.

Roll on Columbia.

What channel is it on....?

ITV. Hurrah!

 

[Falcao]

It was pretty obvious that the player's were under strict orders not to come top of the group. Coming 2nd is more advantageous than coming top.
Tonight clearly meant f##k all and ourselves and Belgium clearly didn't even put 30% effort in.

I think for all the talk about a new style from Southgate and co there was only one team looking to play football and that was Belgium. Southgate’s tactic was to defend then whack it early for the 2 quick guys up front to chase. It was like watching Leicester City.

Colombia even without James are a huge test, they have a lot of technical ability and speed. We’ll see what Southgate made of.

 

[IH8MUFC]

I think for all the talk about a new style from Southgate and co there was only one team looking to play football and that was Belgium. Southgate’s tactic was to defend then whack it early for the 2 quick guys up front to chase. It was like watching Leicester City.

Colombia even without James are a huge test, they have a lot of technical ability and speed. We’ll see what Southgate made of.

Have you actually had a look at the brackets?

Coming 2nd in the group is a much easier route on paper.

We have to wait until the Colombia game to see how Southgate set's up against a top team.

 

[schfc6]

Yup, that's the crux of it. Southgate is just out of his depth and has completely abandoned the idea of a midfield, we have back 6 and then a front 4, with no one linking the two, other than with long diagonals. All the "attacking midfielders" are runners, who want to get on the end of things, with no central midfielder to actually link with them, it's hugely unbalanced. We've no middle third at all

We have no midfield players though. It's not like he's left a raft of quality players at home.

I think he's doing ok, we'll be a real threat on the counter. The big issue will be our midfield, but we can't make players better.

I'd much prefer to control the midfield. But we simply don't have the players.

 

[mccity]

Something to remember is that we played very similarly vs Costa Rica in that friendly.

It won't be discussed due to the constant Rashford > Sterling narrative but Southgate's basketball approach means that Lingard, Alli and Sterling are extremely important to the team as they're the only players that can and KNOW how to make certain off the ball movements and take up positions that really unsettle defences and create space. It's actually a rather innovative approach.

Point being, without the three of them playing we set up EXTRAORDINARILY differently and we look a totally different side. With the exception of Pickford's questionable performance and decent showings from Cahill and Rose, there isn't exactly too much you could read from this game.

We'll likely get overrun in midfield unless Trippier and whoever's at LWB learn to come inside better, and as a result we'll be on the back foot a lot. But those three players I mentioned earlier playing will give us a unique and likely vibrant attacking style and approach when we do have the ball, similar to how we played in parts vs Nigeria and Tunisia.

 

[burnley blue mcfc]

Pickford just doesn’t look like a goalkeeper... He looks more like a shit canoeist

One who’s up the creek with not a fuckin paddle in sight mate

 

[Bluekiwi]

Holy hell, I got out of a nice warm bed to watch that bore fest.
I think we have been spoiled by Pep's tactics and quick incisive movement of the ball with defence splitting passes. Do England have any players that can do that?

 

[Bill Walker]

An unpopular opinion here possibly but I'd take Rashford at City. I've nowt against him.

Martial maybe......Rashford, no way.