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Day 11: Slovakia v England - Russia v Wales

oskathegobshite

#Spursy
Jan 20, 2004
1,686
2,393
Hodgson making a big play of our possession but, unfortunately, that's what the smaller nations and poorer teams will do to us when they know we lack cutting edge or players who will take a man on - they will say here you are have the ball whilst we sit in.

It is basically the same issue that Man Utd faced domestically all of last season under Van Gaal. Worse still is the fact that when a team like that faces a genuine top side in form (like us at the Lane) they get cut up like a hot knife through butter.

What we should probably do is play more to some of the strengths we do have. By this I mean either -

A) Let our opposition have the lions share of posession and use some of our counter attacking threats (Vardy, Sterling, Alli etc.) more effectively

Or

B) Play 4-2-3-1 as someone said above and try and play all the Spurs boys we have taken in the system they understand. With as close to like for like replacements in the system for the non-English Spurs players missing. Maybe something like -

-------------------Hart

Walker Smalling Stones Rose

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

--------Alli Barkley Lallana

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

Biggest issues I see with B) are the lack or anything close to a Dembele type player and the lack of form during the domestic season of Barkley and Stones.

Such a shame it hasn't clicked and we are still speculating regards team and formation.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,554
As has been mentioned, the second round draw will probably not be too bad for England unless both Portugal and Iceland win with Iceland winning by a bigger margin. Iceland, Austria or Hungary are second round opponents I think everyone would've taken; Austria were touted as a dark horse but have been pretty shite so far, Iceland and Hungary will work harder than anyone but lack quality.

The biggest issue finishing second is it sets up a QF v France and a semi v Germany if results go as expected.

But Wales won't have it easy if they make the QF either, by any means. Winner F or Runner up E await in that case, which could very easily be Belgium or Portugal. I'd still rather play either of them than the host nation though.
 

Archibald&Crooks

Aegina Expat
Admin
Feb 1, 2005
55,533
204,721
Milner, Wilshere, Henderson and Sterling.

Four squad spaces spunked up the wall.
I'd still rather play either of them than the host nation though.
Franc have had the luck of the seven blind bastards so far. Much like England, first proper decent side they meet, they go out.a game against them would be 50/50......
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,554
Milner, Wilshere, Henderson and Sterling.

Four squad spaces spunked up the wall.

Franc have had the luck of the seven blind bastards so far. Much like England, first proper decent side they meet, they go out.a game against them would be 50/50......
I'm fully expecting France to pull it together at some point, and they're a more talented side than England as it is. I'm not convinced they'd fold.

I'd much rather play a Wilmots-led Belgium side that doesn't have any sort of tactical plan against a half-decent side.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,348
87,809
milner.jpg
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Well it's always going to be difficult to get any cohesion when you keep changing the starting line up every game. Impossible to build any team spirit and momentum. Doesn't help when you're contract bound to play a fat over the hill Rooney... who when not in his natural forward role is merely an average midfielder.

I lay it all on hodgson, clueless old codger.

How can you go into a tournament not knowing your best side or your best formation? There may be one of two players that make a late push to be included but you should definitely know how you want to play. One of the reasons Wales are doing so well is because the players know exactly what they are meant to be doing.

Not sure why people think we only had created one chance I can think of three good ones.
Thought Clyne had a cracking first half but was blunted when their coach brought on a defender against him.

Vardy had a good chance in the first half, Alli had one just after coming on, what was the third one? I think you're right, but I can't remember it.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
How can you go into a tournament not knowing your best side or your best formation? There may be one of two players that make a late push to be included but you should definitely know how you want to play. One of the reasons Wales are doing so well is because the players know exactly what they are meant to be doing.



Vardy had a good chance in the first half, Alli had one just after coming on, what was the third one? I think you're right, but I can't remember it.

Lallana shot on the edge of the area and Clyne chance.
 

talkshowhost86

Mod-Moose
Staff
Oct 2, 2004
48,100
47,055
Last night showed how unlikely it is that this team will do anything special.

We are playing possession football but without anyone who knows what to do with the ball.

Rooney's big loopy passes are useless and get us nowhere, but the alternatives are Wilshere, who is clearly not fit, and Henderson, who is clearly crap.

We simply don't have good enough players to break through these teams that come to defend.

Maybe if we get to the latter stages our ability to counter will come more to the fore against the stronger teams, but I'm still not sure which of our midfielders is actually going to pick out the runners.

Thank god for Eric Dier is all I can say.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,891
45,039
How can you go into a tournament not knowing your best side or your best formation? There may be one of two players that make a late push to be included but you should definitely know how you want to play. One of the reasons Wales are doing so well is because the players know exactly what they are meant to be doing.



Vardy had a good chance in the first half, Alli had one just after coming on, what was the third one? I think you're right, but I can't remember it.
Clyne's run onto the box and shot.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
Erik Dier is the shining light in the team really. Thought Clyne was good yesterday and Walker and Rose can offer something down the flanks. I think Vardy was shown up a bit if I'm honest, against teams with a high line he'll have a field day, against a team who sits back he will struggle. I forgot he was even still on the pitch at the time when I saw Kane about to come on.

I actually think we have the players but it's clearly not all clicking right now.
 

Cheltenham Spur

Re mem mem remember member
Aug 23, 2012
1,018
3,700
How can you go into a tournament not knowing your best side or your best formation? There may be one of two players that make a late push to be included but you should definitely know how you want to play. One of the reasons Wales are doing so well is because the players know exactly what they are meant to be doing.



Vardy had a good chance in the first half, Alli had one just after coming on, what was the third one? I think you're right, but I can't remember it.

Don't forget Eric Dier played 2 passes Hoddle would have been proud of, one in each half. Sadly they were both to that knob jockey Sturridge.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,413
11,620
The problem really is England's imbalance in Midfield and srikers out of form or out of position.

What worries me the most is the Pundit's liberal purring over Rooney in Midfield. His solution last night when coming on was to ping useless balls to the wing or charge at the 10 man defence like a pitbull and ultimately lose the ball.- But we all like a man with heart and that bulldog spirit right? WRONG.

I would actually keep Henderson on, all be it he needs to improve and simply have Alli in that forward Midfield role. Bench Rooney or play him as a wide forward, but for god sake get him out of the killing the midfield creativity role.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,413
11,620
It's worth noting that the media in Germany and France were pretty complimentary of England last night.
Our own media are of course going at Hodgson with a machete.

There are some tweaks needed yes, but this England team "should" be good enough to achieve the Semi's. It really does need the strikers to find their goal scoring boots, but I am sure we will see a better al round performance ere the end.

I would actually love us to play France in the Quarters if we get there. Could be mouthwatering. France will be under immense pressure themselves. First things first, have to get past whichever opponent we get from group F. Not sure who I want. Iceland will park the bus, Hungary could be interesting. Austria are errr, weird. Portugal. Hmm, we have previous and it would be good to get one over them in a tournement.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,348
87,809
We do have the players (mostly), just not the manager with the nous to use them properly.

Also everyone forgetting Clyne was first choice RB until a few games ago.
 

tobi

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose
Jun 10, 2003
17,445
11,564
Dier was excellent in possession but it'd be wrong not to recognise the space he's been given in all three games.

Clyne was the only other player to play well.

At this level Vardy is an impact sub, Rashford offers a lot more than him in the build up.

Lallana needs serious shooting practice, his poor finishing is spoiling his initial good play.

Barkley is the only midfielder that can accelerate past and take it to the opponent whilst keeping the ball but loyalty gets in the way of the obvious. Rooney comes on, tries the latter three times and overruns the ball each time.

Sturridge didn't play well but IMO he went searching for the ball because Vardy can't do link up in tight spaces.

I don't see what difference Townsend would have made, if anything he'd just negatively affect Walker/Clyne because he'd ignore the overlap.

Who is a good alternative to Hodgson?
 

not_tenth-again

Well-Known Member
Jun 19, 2009
2,599
2,095
I think Vardy has been fantastic so far.

all 3 or 4 touches....
Erik Dier is the shining light in the team really. Thought Clyne was good yesterday and Walker and Rose can offer something down the flanks. I think Vardy was shown up a bit if I'm honest, against teams with a high line he'll have a field day, against a team who sits back he will struggle. I forgot he was even still on the pitch at the time when I saw Kane about to come on.

I actually think we have the players but it's clearly not all clicking right now.

And a clear reason why you shouldn't be making wholesale changes. You should know your team or just back whoever you think is best. England have no momentum and in fairness only sit second in the group due to a super late and somewhat lucky goal
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,836
33,607
When do we find out who we are playing (it's next monday yeah?)
 
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