They did win though. Not Everton that.
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GROUP G - Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
- Thread starter GrandOldTeam
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They did win though. Not Everton that.
Nice one.
The first 20 minutes was superb, and overall England deserved the win.
However, you have to put those chances away and ultimately - while Kane is unbelievable - the rest of the forwards are dreadful when it comes to finishing.
Those missed chances meant that Tunisia always had a sniff, and as soon as Maguire - who I thought played well overall - made that cock up, England collapsed for 10 minutes.
I thought nodding dog Henderson had a decent game, but his passing for that 10 minutes went to pot. The defence were all over the shop and that resulted in the penalty.
Came back strong before the break but again Lingard's finishing was crap.
Second half is a prime example of what I've been saying to my mates all along about this squad.
I like Southgate and what he is trying to build, but he hasn't taken one player who can get his foot on the ball and drive from deep when a team is parking the bus.
Wilshere should have gone. He's not the answer to all of the problems but if you're going to play a possession-based system it'd be a good idea to take a player who can make a team tick from deep and also make some driving runs.
The game only changed when Loftus-Cheek came on, which should have happened at half-time with Alli struggling.
Alli, Sterling, Lingard - they're all very good players, but none of them are ball carriers. All of them want to exploit the space behind and while we managed that in the first half, Tunisia tightened up in the second. It was similar for France the other day - they started a front three purely reliant on pace, so Australia just camped deep as that nullifies the threat.
RLC and, to an extent, Rashford, are both willing to pick the ball up in front of a defender and run at them.
I remember seeing RLC in 2015 play for the England U21s (under Southgate) and he was outstanding. He also reminded me straight away of Barkley in his ability to run with the ball.
The corner came from RLC simply running at his man and forcing the defender into action. And with Kane we'll always have a chance of a goal.
But it will be very easy for a better side to close us out if we just try and play a three behind Kane that is reliant on pace.
However, you have to put those chances away and ultimately - while Kane is unbelievable - the rest of the forwards are dreadful when it comes to finishing.
Those missed chances meant that Tunisia always had a sniff, and as soon as Maguire - who I thought played well overall - made that cock up, England collapsed for 10 minutes.
I thought nodding dog Henderson had a decent game, but his passing for that 10 minutes went to pot. The defence were all over the shop and that resulted in the penalty.
Came back strong before the break but again Lingard's finishing was crap.
Second half is a prime example of what I've been saying to my mates all along about this squad.
I like Southgate and what he is trying to build, but he hasn't taken one player who can get his foot on the ball and drive from deep when a team is parking the bus.
Wilshere should have gone. He's not the answer to all of the problems but if you're going to play a possession-based system it'd be a good idea to take a player who can make a team tick from deep and also make some driving runs.
The game only changed when Loftus-Cheek came on, which should have happened at half-time with Alli struggling.
Alli, Sterling, Lingard - they're all very good players, but none of them are ball carriers. All of them want to exploit the space behind and while we managed that in the first half, Tunisia tightened up in the second. It was similar for France the other day - they started a front three purely reliant on pace, so Australia just camped deep as that nullifies the threat.
RLC and, to an extent, Rashford, are both willing to pick the ball up in front of a defender and run at them.
I remember seeing RLC in 2015 play for the England U21s (under Southgate) and he was outstanding. He also reminded me straight away of Barkley in his ability to run with the ball.
The corner came from RLC simply running at his man and forcing the defender into action. And with Kane we'll always have a chance of a goal.
But it will be very easy for a better side to close us out if we just try and play a three behind Kane that is reliant on pace.
Lickle eric
Player Valuation: £30m
Thats a very fair assessment of the game mate.the only thing i slightly disagree on is wilpshire,mainly because he is a softy and gets injured a lot.
Thad going well
D
Deleted member 28206
Guest
Lingard is utter pony.
I don't think he's brilliant mate but he's the one midfielder who can actually play the style Southgate is wanting us to when we're against a team sitting back, if you get me.
Barkley could have been that guy, but we won't go into that...
Wilshere hasn't been injured badly all season. For a tournament, he was worth taking I think. It's not like he'd have to play three full 90 minutes (which is all you're guaranteed in terms of games unless you get out of the group obviously). He didn't even have to start. He could have been used in the situation as and when required.
Jags
Player Valuation: £10m
Full credit has to go to Southgate for the substitutions - both Rashford and Loftus-Cheek added some much need impotus to the side, that pace and directness eventually earned the winner.
Thought many players had good games, but I do worry about a chance that doesnt fall to Kane (or Vardy if on). Sterling, Lingard and Alli all have a tendency to fluff easy chances. Stones was quality, but Walker in possession gives me a fright (although I dont blame him for the penalty whatsoever, except maybe having his body in the wrong position).
As an England fan going into the tournemount hoping to get out of the group, and maybe play some good football at times, it was a positive evening. Im 21 - the first 20 minutes was the best 20 minutes of competitive football England have played that I can remember.
Thought many players had good games, but I do worry about a chance that doesnt fall to Kane (or Vardy if on). Sterling, Lingard and Alli all have a tendency to fluff easy chances. Stones was quality, but Walker in possession gives me a fright (although I dont blame him for the penalty whatsoever, except maybe having his body in the wrong position).
As an England fan going into the tournemount hoping to get out of the group, and maybe play some good football at times, it was a positive evening. Im 21 - the first 20 minutes was the best 20 minutes of competitive football England have played that I can remember.
Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
That was the first time I've enjoyed watching England in a tournament since 2004. I care less about the results and more just about having a team I can enjoy watching. Although good results are obviously a nice bonus.
I reckon a couple of tweaks to the team might improve us. RLC in for Alli or Lingard for example. But no serious complaints for me so far.
Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
LOL - Shelvey and Wilshere are turd and Barkley hasn't played for a year.
McBain
Player Valuation: £80m
I dont know why he didnt get hooked sooner or what he actually brings to the team.
Marius57
Player Valuation: £60m
England were poor. Fortunately Tunisia were worse. But for some of these top level players who are in the top 3/4 teams in the league, the finishing was embarrassing.
We faded massively after about 25 mins compared to how we played before that.
The 3 at the back wasn’t even comfortable. For the periods when Tunisia actually pressed and tried to close down, the defence looked nervous and rushed. They only looked comfortable because Tunisia sat deep for the most part. As soon as we come up against a fast, skilful team that press, say Belgium, they will be found out.
The penalty was the right decision. Walker is an idiot. No need to raise his arm and throw it in the direction he did. I don’t care what the pundits think (the same pundits who thought we were “exceptional”. They are deluded and biased.
What’s the point of VAR if they aren’t going to apply it all the time? Less said about that the better.
I’m a fan of Southgate and what he is trying to build, but we seriously lack in the talent that other countries have. The majority of our team do not strike fear into anyone.
We were poor, fortunately Panama are up next.
We faded massively after about 25 mins compared to how we played before that.
The 3 at the back wasn’t even comfortable. For the periods when Tunisia actually pressed and tried to close down, the defence looked nervous and rushed. They only looked comfortable because Tunisia sat deep for the most part. As soon as we come up against a fast, skilful team that press, say Belgium, they will be found out.
The penalty was the right decision. Walker is an idiot. No need to raise his arm and throw it in the direction he did. I don’t care what the pundits think (the same pundits who thought we were “exceptional”. They are deluded and biased.
What’s the point of VAR if they aren’t going to apply it all the time? Less said about that the better.
I’m a fan of Southgate and what he is trying to build, but we seriously lack in the talent that other countries have. The majority of our team do not strike fear into anyone.
We were poor, fortunately Panama are up next.
YoboCopter
Player Valuation: £50m
recon ruben LC will play for chelsea much?
Barkley relli has no chance does he
Barkley relli has no chance does he
davids
Player Valuation: £70m
Add Sterling and Young to that and you can see why they'll struggle to get far in the knock-out stages
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