The England World Cup Thread

[LexingtonSpurs]

I will say this - and I have been outspoken against Sterling - but he did make the pass that Kane should have converted.

I am still shocked Sterling is still an automatic starter. And, I was very surprised to see Trippier starting this match - he has had a great WC, but why not rest him coming off the injury earlier in the week? Why push him for a 3rd place match? Just because he can play, does not mean he should play...

 

[tooey]

Kane definitely needs a rest, he's barely broken out into a jog. We can point at poor service, and rightly so, but Kane has just been treading on Kompanys toes for 45 mins.

 

[PLTuck]

Dele as the support striker instead of Sterling and either Shelvey or Winks in the midfield and we could be a bloody good team.

For the first time in this whole tournament, I'm finding the game quite boring.

 

[werty]

Lingard = weak = 0
RLC = a big lump = 1

Ali and Lingard were non existent in terms of helping Henderson

Yes they were. That wasn't the problem at all. The problem was he was expecting three men to do the work of four. Croatia did very little in the middle third of the pitch and the majority of their play came down the wings. Their full-backs were free all game and they could cross the ball at will. They didn't suss it out at half time like Bilic said. They were doing the same in the first half, but their crossing was shite. Swapping RLC for Lingard wouldn't have made a single difference.

We've had the same problems when we've played that formation with three "proper" midfielders.

 

[SdB]

To be fair, I think both were being tasked to track the wide players back defensively.

Doesn't mean they could do it though. If that was the case they left Headless Chicken (with and engine) Henderson against two outstanding MF footballers.

Inept management to play Lingard and Ali with Henderson. Said it before the game and still say it now.

 

[SdB]

Yes they were. That wasn't the problem at all. The problem was he was expecting three men to do the work of four. Croatia did very little in the middle third of the pitch and the majority of their play came down the wings. Their full-backs were free all game and they could cross the ball at will. They didn't suss it out at half time like Bilic said. They were doing the same in the first half, but their crossing was shite. Swapping RLC for Lingard wouldn't have made a single difference.

We've had the same problems when we've played that formation with three "proper" midfielders.

We will never know.

What we do know is Southgate's tactics failed miserably.

 

[gregga]

It’s been a strange old tournament for Kane.

He’s likely going to win the golden boot. But has he actually played particularly well at all?

He showed ruthless finishing against Tunisia and huge mental strength against Colombia, but other than that he’s played well within himself.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Who even cares about this game?

 

[dondo]

It was not about creativity it was about matching the midfield. Lingard and Ali are too weak to be alongside Henderson in an area where it was clear Croatia would win the game. It's how it panned out...wasn't it?
RLC could of driven with the ball from midfield but as I said earlier I do reserve judgement on RLC. Then again I would of taken either Wilshire or Shelvey or both. Southgate took no midfield creativity to Russia and it shows.

RCL is a talent and has potential but when has he driven with the ball from midfield? He hasnt done that for palace in the prem (or played in that position) last season but you expected him to do that in a World Cup semifinal playing in a role that he is not accustomed to

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Southgate’s been on here, 433 whoop whoop

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

So Rose out. Probably deservedly so.

 

[SdB]

ffs Southgate try Ali up top with kane

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

Kanes movement has been lacking but I think a massive part of our problem is that nobody is willing to take a risk and force the ball into him whether he's open or not. It's so easy to read atm

 

[paulcumpstone]

Kane definitely needs a rest, he's barely broken out into a jog. We can point at poor service, and rightly so, but Kane has just been treading on Kompanys toes for 45 mins.

Thinks kanes problem has been service all tournement.england have been so slow with the ball and hes barely had a chance in open play to the point hes snatched at it and due to lack of ability of the england midfield hes been dropping too deep trying to get a touch.this england system really hasnt got the best out of him for me.said the same after the sweden game when things were going well.

 

[fridgemagnet]

The number of times I've seen Kane make a run only for Delph, Stirling not play the pass first time is frustrating (if it was Eriksen, Son etc would play it first time)

RLC I do like but he's really raw he seems behind for where he should be at his age IYSWIM, if he really wants to make it he needs to leave Chelsea IMHO (if he's not going to get meaningful games) I think Poch could do a great job with him but he's a bit of a longer term prospect IMHO.

But Belgium are just several levels ahead.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

This is going to be an interesting year for Rose. I hope he stays physically and mentally fit, but he has some work to do to unseat Davies at LB.

 

[SdB]

RCL is a talent and has potential but when has he driven with the ball from midfield? He hasnt done that for palace in the prem (or played in that position) last season but you expected him to do that in a World Cup semifinal playing in a role that he is not accustomed to

I've seen him do it.

At the end of the day we don't know it what I would of done would work but we know Ali/Henderson/Ali/Lingard didn't and it was predicted by quite a few before the game

 

[parj]

It’s been a strange old tournament for Kane.

He’s likely going to win the golden boot. But has he actually played particularly well at all?

He showed ruthless finishing against Tunisia and huge mental strength against Colombia, but other than that he’s played well within himself.

For me it's shit around Kane that's the problem. Sterling has been shit and Alli hasn't really shown up albeit carrying an injury. Henderson hasn't really shown any ambition.

What do you do? He is heading the line with no support. Kane needs players running off him and giving him options. Kane is a clever player but he needs support.

For me, England technically have been poor and questioning Kane isn't the solution. Question why Belgium are better almost every man to man yet Kane somehow still top scorer.

 

[SdB]

45 minutes to watch Rashford and Lingard to do nothing offensively of value.

 

[dondo]

I've seen him do it.

At the end of the day we don't know it what I would of done would work but we know Ali/Henderson/Ali/Lingard didn't and it was predicted by quite a few before the game

Not from cm you haven’t, he played out wide for palace.
Midfield was an obvious weak point for England but my argument is they are the best we had available imo