The England Thread

[Timberwolf]

The problem is Southgate is inept at adapting... he failed to do it at the WC and when he was manager of my home town side (Middlesbrough) he was royally inept at adapting then also.

We’ve some very exciting youngsters but Southgate has contradicted himself by stating he picks players on form as opposed to ego/playing for a big club. Walker has been poor for City and Stones is just pants, yet they both make the team ahead of an in form Keane and an outstanding AA-T. Likewise with Delph and Barkley, ones predominantly played at LB and the other has been a squad player.

On the one hand I can see why he picks those players cos he wants to be loyal and thinks they can do specific roles - Stones has been good for England in the past and there aren't many (perhaps any) English CBs that are as comfortable with him on the ball, which is integral to Southgate's plan. He won't play Keane as it doesn't suit his one, very specific, game plan.

But on the other hand, Stones, Rashford and Barkley have all been patchy or haven't played much recently and Delph never gets a game. It's hard to justify some of those picks.

And the lack of adaptability is a huge issue. Tonight reminded me of the Croatia game in the World Cup. We had all the energy and the will but as soon as our one plan didn't work we looked totally passive and devoid of ideas.

 

[fridgemagnet]

Lad.

She looks like she'll eat him alive...


The lucky git

Is that not the streaker from the final?

 

[Clark28]

Another groin injury incoming!

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I'd just like to congratulate Raheem Sterling who marked his game as England captain by hiding for 90 minutes.

 

[spursfan77]

Thought Winks had a great game tonight without actually playing !

Will be interesting to see this team with him in it. Plus if Grealish does well in the premier league next season, then gets selected for England, suddenly there’s a midfield that can pass a ball. It’s a totally different team.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

England will forever have problems at the top level until better midfielders are produced and utilized correctly. I'm not sure how Phil Foden does not make that team. Is he injured?

 

[wirE]

4 or 5 trophies later, im sure he'd agree with you.

Fortunately for him, it's not a one man's team

 

[SteveH]

I'd just like to congratulate Raheem Sterling who marked his game as England captain by hiding for 90 minutes.

Nah that's bollocks he was no worse than the rest, they all looked like they were rusty and looked way off match fit.

 

[absolute bobbins]

England dodged an embarrassing bullet. There is no way Cristiano would have let Portugal lose in the final and the defensive and midfield fuckwittery would have been punished severely.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Nah that's bollocks he was no worse than the rest, they all looked like they were rusty and looked way off match fit.

Lovely way of disagreeing but I disagree with your undoubted expertise in testicles

He was hardly involved enough to show how rusty and unfit he may have been, at least most of the others showed, wether they were poor or not. He wasn't in the game at all, he just jogged up and down the pitch, he was more or less a passenger, you pretty much didn't notice him for the entire game. IMO he hid.

How bad the rest were doesn't excuse it, you expect more from your so called captain and I think last night showed he isn't up to the job.

 

[teok]

As has been said we absolutely missed winks. He wasn't fit though, I don't really blame southgate. It was a weird situation all round with player fitness.

 

[SteveH]

Lovely way of disagreeing but I disagree with your undoubted expertise in testicles.

He was hardly involved enough to show how rusty and unfit he may have been, at least most of the others showed, wether they were poor or not. He wasn't in the game at all, he just jogged up and down the pitch, he was more or less a passenger, you pretty much didn't notice him for the entire game. IMO he hid.

How bad the rest were doesn't excuse it, you expect more from your so called captain and I think last night showed he isn't up to the job.

Nah, as I said before, not for me, our defense and midfield were dysfunctional from the off. Sterling was not good, but who was?
They played terrible and it was a fitness problem imo

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I thought Sterling did alright, he worked hard and won the ball back a few times. Was a bit unlucky with his shot as well just clipped the bar.

 

[wrd]

Think this performance gives a great opportunity to finally put Trent, Gomez and Winks into the first 11 and also cemented dele as a first choice for me.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Switzerland are a decent side, if we play like we did last night we're in for a trouncing

 

[Clark28]

Pep gonna have Toby's dad on the phone first thing this morning.

 

[Gassin's finest]

TBF, I took one look at that starting lineup and knew we'd get beat. Some good young players, but there was nothing special at all.

 

[Marty]

England will forever have problems at the top level until better midfielders are produced and utilized correctly. I'm not sure how Phil Foden does not make that team. Is he injured?

Foden and Maddison are both going to the U21 Euros instead. Both could've been useful yesterday but the England camp philosophy is that starting games in the U21 Euros and getting tournament experience that way is more valuable than getting a few minutes for the seniors. They're following the Germans in that regard.

 

[DJS]

Given that he was clueless at defending corners as well I’d say that even Jones would be better

Jones would have to stay fit first!

 

[DJS]

Seems even odder given Winks clearly looked more match fit than Kane for us in champions league final and would have made more of a difference having him then Kane for this match.

Winks is far more technically gifted than most of the English midfielders available at present too, especially in the box to box department.