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The England Thread

Lemon

End World Debt
Jul 17, 2014
2,436
4,664
Think if Kane is fully fit England has a good chance of the semi's this summer.

Beyond that will be tough, but there are enough goals and a good enough defensive base.

Quite like Southgate.
 

Johnny J

Not the Kiwi you need but the one you deserve
Aug 18, 2012
18,124
47,908
Walker played well but what is the point of wasting his pace and energy at left CB, other than because Southgate wants to play 3 at the back and we are well short of fit, in form CBs. Just play 4231.
 

Mr.D

Old Member
Dec 2, 2014
4,262
7,876
I don't understand posts like this. You seem proud of how much you don't care about England and want us to know?

You deduce that I don't care about an England football team friendly from one mildly flippant sentence on an internet football forum?
Well, you're half right although I did watch the first 20 minutes but turned over because that fucking band gets on my tits.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Think if Kane is fully fit England has a good chance of the semi's this summer.

Beyond that will be tough, but there are enough goals and a good enough defensive base.

Quite like Southgate.

How far we go depends on who we play if we get out of the group. If we face someone like Germany, France, Brazil or Spain we'll have big problems.

Southgate's done very well off the pitch so far and seems to be addressing many of the issues that we've had for years, but he hasn't really got us playing fluidly yet. I think that will come once we've got a settled squad and he's got time to drill the players properly during the Finals. I'm still not convinced that he's a great tactician or motivator, but maybe he's got someone else in the coaching staff to help with those aspects of the game?

Walker played well but what is the point of wasting his pace and energy at left CB, other than because Southgate wants to play 3 at the back and we are well short of fit, in form CBs. Just play 4231.

We aren't short of fit, in form CBs. It was probably just an experiment to see if he could be relied on as a backup option if needed in the finals. It might mean taking one less specialist CB in the squad. It could also be an option if we come up against a team who play a lightning quick striker as our CBs are all much slower than Walker.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
We face either Poland, Columbia, Senegal, or Japan if we get through the group.
 

cider spurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 5, 2016
9,399
23,731
Well I thought we played reasonably well against a mediocre Dutch side. Hard to gauge how good against that standard of opposition.

Thought we moved the ball about well, plenty of runs off the ball and players looking to offer options to receive.

Final third maybe could have seen more numbers in the box pre crosses, that said, the crosses weren't all that the majority of the time.

Conclusion...I actually enjoyed watching England in a friendly, first time for a while. Signs that we might actually have something to work with. Certainly got a bit of pace at our disposal from back to front.
 

DogsOfWar

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2005
2,293
3,603
I was impressed by Southgate last night.
That starting eleven was picked around pace and movement which it really did deliver rather than some of the more static performances I've seen.
We just lacked a playmaker to make the most of some of that movement. Would have been interesting to see if Wilshere had been fit.

Also, playing Walker at CB shows a manager who is willing to experiment with his ideas. And, more importantly, demonstrate that he can be successful with them.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
We face either Poland, Columbia, Senegal, or Japan if we get through the group.
And then most likely Brazil or Germany in the quarters. :nailbiting:


I wouldn't like to guess how far we will get. I still get the impression Southgate has too much to learn about his players for us to really make an impact at the WC. All I ask is that we go for it, and don't go out with a whimper like we have at the last 3 or 4 major tournaments.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
For what it's worth this is my best England XI

Screenshot_20180324-083107.png
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,836
33,607
Southgate is a a decent bloke. One of the few managers I actually listen to his post match interviews for some reason.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
What would it be with three at the back? Southgate has confirmed he'll be playing with three centre backs.
Only thing that worries me is our lack of a left sided CB. Maguire did okay there yesterday but there were two occasions where he was hesitant to control a ball with his left foot, which is pretty important for a LCB in a back 3.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
Good performance last night, even though Holland are very, very average thesedays.

Should have been 2 or 3-0, and would have been with a decent ref ( worrying how poor the standard of refs are outside of England these days. They are awful in the Champions League and fully expect a poor standard at the World Cup too )

Dele should be very worried for his starting spot. He’s not had the best season for us and virtually every England fan I know, who isn’t Tottenham, complain about his lack of ability to hold on to the ball. Obviously Southgate makes the decisions, but his rivals for the starting spot are playing better than him. Sterling has to start, I don’t rate Lingard but he’s having a good season and Lallana coming back will give England another option.

Southgate didn’t deserve the job but I’m behind him 100%. Lots of pace and movement last night. Ox played well too

Three at the back, Dier, Stones, Maguire. All good on the ball and Dier and Maguire have the physicality. Stones? Don’t rate him and he gets all sorts of allowances made by commentators and pundits ( as if he’s the new Bobby Moore. Dier is better at virtually everything, at least his equal on the ball too ) but he’s going to play so might as well accept it.
Walker and Rose are nailed on. Liked Walker at right centre half last night linking up with Trippier, but against good sides, maybe not the best idea.
Henderson and Ox. Then Sterling, Lallana and Kane. Sterling and the wing backs have the pace, Lallana the smarts and Kane, well, he’s the main man.
I’m loving the Vardy and Rashford options too. Absolute blistering pace and of course Dele can come off the bench and produce something out of nothing.

Keeper? Toss a coin over Butland and Pickford. Pickford ahead as it stands.
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,836
33,607
I'm actually oddly optimistic about england. Probably the nicest bunch of players in my lifetime. Southgate is a nice fella and very grounded as well. Kane is the super star and is so humble.

It's going to be backs against the wall stuff in russia and I really fear what putin has in store for the fans but this could really foster a sort of siege mentality. Going to be fascinating.
 
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