World Cup 2018 | 3rd July | R16: Colombia vs England Match Thread, KO 19:00 (BST)

[cyan]

Ali simply isn't as good as we think he is.

i suspect you are right - but I also suspect that just like we are doing with Sterling - Tottenham's fans will be looking at Alli's role and wondering quite what he is being asked to do, because its not the way he plays for Tottenham. But then for all our theorising no doubt Southgate has tried these different combinations in training and come to the conclusion that within the limitations of the squad this is the one that works best.

 

[supercity88]

Ali simply isn't as good as we think he is.

I don't think that is true. The team is a sum of its parts but you have to try and get good players in their best positions. Alli is a no.10 and is given a free role. He will sometimes drop deeper but is best in central areas playing off Kane and then looking to get into the box after a 1-2 or playing the ball out wide. He isn't a central midfielder and doesn't drop deep enough which meams there is a gulf between our defence and Henderson and front 4.

Similarly Sterling is better coming in from wide by using the overlapping full back or running in behind to stretch the play.

Lingard is the one that is playing the free role at the moment and is therefore looking the better player. As long as the team win Southgate will not change it despite how poor we are from open play.

Rose coming in for Young would help. I also think Delph should play to link things better and one of Alli or Sterling should be dropped. I would drop Lingard but he is making good runs and has more confidence than Sterling in an England shirt. I would use Raheem off the bench when there is more space and fatigues defenders to stretch.

Personally I would play a 4-2-3-1 with Hendo and Delph in the middle and Sterling Alli and Rashford behind Kane. Or even Welbeck who always plays well for England.

For Sterling to thrive then Southgate has to get people playing the ball into space for him and not with his back to goal. Lingard and Alli should be picking it up for Sterling to make the run. Instead they are running off Sterling.

The criticism for him is still too harsh. He played well yesterday.

 

[quiet_riot]

For me, if GS is persisting with 3 at the back, the team needs to be


-----------------------------Pickford

----------------Walker-----Stones-------Maguire

Trippier-------------------------------------------------Rose

-------------------------Dier-----Delph

----------------Sterling------------------Alli

-------------------------------Kane


However, that places a LOT on the wingbacks (like City), and I just don't think Rose and Trippier have that quality. If it was me, I'd go like this



----------------------------------Pickford

Walker----------------Stones---------------Maguire--------------Delph

----------------------------Dier---------Henderson

---------------------------------Cheek------

-----Sterling---------------------------------------------Lingard

--------------------------------Kane

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

Sterling is being used in the wrong position and that is southgates flaw - he needs to be used as he is with Pep. Out wide, stretching the back line and getting the opportunity to run at the defender getting into the box. That said even last night it was glaringly obvious that when he went off, the whole movement upfront became stagnant along with the midfield - thus we turned to shit

Sterling has a relatively free role behind Kane.

There's nothing to stop him drifting out wide occasionally, or dropping deep to pick up possession.

Blaming Southgate is a bit lame.

 

[mrbelfry]

I think Raheems first three touches were all in different positions yesterday and for Lingards goal against Panama he had the ball out right and drifted over to just left of center before playing the assist. Questioning his movement is way wide of the mark.

Amazing how different people can see the same game so differently. I literally don't see the Henderson love. When Stones or Maguire has the ball I see him jogging around midfield always making sure there is a player between him and the man in possession. Also anyone raving about Lingards movement compared to Raheems need to recognise who is either playing the ball to him or making the space for him to run into.

 

[FlemishDuck]

One of England strenghts has to be its pace and physicallity in part that of its fullbacks who should optimally often find free space on the flank to simply run in. Kane is a good one to feed from the cross so it wouldnt be too bad to have the opprtunity to cross a lot from the flanks with the fullbacks during spells of possesion.
In order to facilitate that space some pressure should be applied around the center so the opposing defense wants to play more narrow.

Englands pace should also be optimally exploited for the counter. For this to succeed there needs to be enough passing options in midfield aswell as fast wingers who move up.

When considering the use of 2 forwards on the wing like Sterling and Lingard: theoreticly they could push the opponent to a more narrow defense if they sit near to the box in support of Kane and there is enough danger from a pass from the middle. This can often succeed in yielding space on the flanks for the fullbacks to run into but the quality of the passing danger from the attacking midfield certaintly matters and it shows that England is lacking in this regard. Perhaps the midfielders could be pushed up more towards the attacking midfield area but that would leave some space behind though with Englands pace and physicallity that isnt the worst thing.

Otoh, another simple option to increase the passing danger from the middle could simply be putting an extra man in the midfield. The result would be a 4-1-2-1-2. That could help make faster counters succeed more often too.

 

[blueinsa]

I see Maradona has waded in telling everyone how Colombia was robbed.

Amazed the fat **** was sober long enough to tell anyone his views.

Someone would do well to remind him what a cheat at sport can do and how it is real robbery.

 

[FlemishDuck]

Sterling has a relatively free role behind Kane.

There's nothing to stop him drifting out wide occasionally, or dropping deep to pick up possession.

Blaming Southgate is a bit lame.

2 shots on goal, one of which the penalty

Southgate can certaintly be blamed for the fact that the team as a whole doesnt create more chances.

 

[chicagoblue23]

Maradona is a fat worthless fuck, but his comments on England's sub's were spot on, and echo pretty much what everyone on this board said.

 

[aguero93:20]

I see Maradona has waded in telling everyone how Colombia was robbed.

Amazed the fat **** was sober long enough to tell anyone his views.

Someone would do well to remind him what a cheat at sport can do and how it is real robbery.

He was in the papers a couple of days ago going on about how he should get the Argentinean job back, pretty sure the idea would give any Argentina supporter old enough to remember the 2010 World Cup nightmares.