The England Thread

[Riandor]

One thing that I hadn't considered with the rotation is the yellow cards. Apparently the yellows from the group stage carry forward all the way through to the quarter finals so that could be a factor in Roy's thinking. Players like Rooney and Alli are always likely to get booked so maybe it's a good thing for them to sit out a game at this stage.

Agree, plus barring some weird fluke I think we have already qualified for the next round.
Yes we could lose, come third and get a crap draw, but frankly any run from now on will contain a top team, so meh... I am ok with players being rested.

 

[Fancydan]

From what I can work out our path looks like this:

• Win the group we play Belgium in 1/4's and Spain in Semis
• 2nd in group we play France in 1/4's and Germany in Semis
• 3rd in group we play Germany or Spain in last 16

Not sure which of the top two I'd prefer to be honest, there's an outside chance we could play Portugal in the last 16 on both versions but we should be able to get past any of the teams from Group F.

Dier vs Dembélé would be tasty!

 

[Riandor]

Dier vs Dembélé would be tasty!

Speaking of tasty, Gabby Logan did her Facebook back of car question answering... Was asked live if she was in a "Fake Taxi"... Apparently, yes, for those in the know, the question was referring to THAT Fake Taxi.


Of course what does this say about me... Cough...

 

[spursfan77]

If you know you can win and play Albania but if you don't you play Portugal or Spain. You play your best team. Simple.

 

[Spurger King]

If you know you can win and play Albania but if you don't you play Portugal or Spain. You play your best team. Simple.

I think the owl is trying to be a bit too clever with this line-up, and it seems like an unnecessary risk.

Fair enough, if we win it will look like a master stroke, as we'll have several key players rested for the next round, as well as giving our more important squad players some playing time. However, if it goes tits up it will look like a massive managerial error.

I think that the risks outweigh the benefits here. We're not guaranteed a win even with our strongest line-up, but at least we'd know we gave ourselves the best possibility. Playing a weaker team to provide a bit of extra rest (when our next game would be almost a week away anyway) doesn't seem like a risk worth taking given the circumstances.

 

[KentuckyYid]

The Slovak pre-game team talk will probably consist of "England think we're so shit that despite needing a win they're playing a weakened side that they think will still beat us - Let's show them they're wrong".

I can't help but think that Roy's given Slovakia extra motivation here.

Hopefully, we smash them but I think Roy has underestimated the opposition.

 

[Yid-ol]

lack of width, Walker and rose are needed and wheelchair needs to be taken off, offers nothing at all.

 

[johnbowel]

For all those who have an interest in stats - whoscored at half time had Dier on 0 tackles and 0 interceptions. I like statistics but have observed the wild inaccuracy of whoscored in compiling them over a few seasons. I once counted 5 tackles by Dier, with him registering 0 on whoscored. Possession was also 55% england according to whoscored.

 

[Col_M]

Dier Clyne Lala and Vardy's having good games. Been v I,pressed by Lala this tournament.

 

[wooderz]

England look shit today. Take the Spurs heart away look what happens

 

[teok]

Well there you go. I straight up predicted this.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

#HodgsonOut

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Colin Millar ‏@Millar_Colin 5m5 minutes ago
#eng won only 4 major tournament matches in 10 years. Slovenia, Ukraine, Sweden, Wales. 4 wins from 15.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Why did you make of Dier's performance @Bus-Conductor ?

 

[Mattspur]

Next game I'd go with:

Hart
Walker Cahill Smalling Rose
Alli Dier Rooney
Lalana Kane Vardy​

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Daniel Storey ‏@danielstorey85 12m12 minutes ago
Roy Hodgson led England to their lowest World Cup group stage points total in history, and lowest Euro group stage points total since 2000.

 

[mpickard2087]

We can keep chopping and changing personnel, but it's how we are going about our business that is the problem. As I said in the match thread, in all the games, whilst we have come up against packed defences who make it tough, I think we've lacked clarity and understanding of what we are trying to do. We don't look a team, it's just individuals loping around hoping something sparks out of nothing. There are also far too many players who look afraid and who are playing with the handbrake on. They'll play it safe and seem unwilling to take a chance in the moment a half opportunity presents itself. I think the coaching setup has to take a lot of the stick for this, it's part of their job to foster a 'brave', no fear culture and to have a tactical framework in place. All too muddled right now.

We live to fight another day though...

 

[THFCSPURS19]

We don't look a team, it's just individuals loping around hoping something sparks out of nothing.

It's as if they all play for different clubs.

 

[easley91]

I just don't understand how we can beat teams so easily in qualifying then struggle in tournaments. I know it doesn't help when it's 10 behind the ball we're playing against it seems, but we just cannot break these sides down when it ultimately matters.

Huge positive is Eric Dier. What a boss of a player. His passing at times tonight was superb.

 

[L-man]

Losing a group to Wales and draws to Russia and Slovakia is a sackable offence imo.

Get this **** out before the knockout stage