 | Forum
Reply | Willock
at 00:56 11 Jul 2024
Meh. I would have been reasonably content had he decided to stay but equally I won't lose any sleep over him leaving.
Nourry's statement says it all really. I suspect Willock's move to Cardiff will turn out similar to Langley's. |
| Forum
Reply | England vs some other team. Euros Semi Final match thread.
at 00:44 11 Jul 2024
I've been critical of earlier performances in the tournament but this was much more like it. The team played with real belief and the manager made the right changes at the right time. Well done all round. Roll on Sunday. |
| Forum
Reply | Richards.
at 01:19 5 Jul 2024
Weeks of Tyson Fury calling him a big dosser might get the message across. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 17:46 2 Jul 2024
"2018 was a fortunate draw, although if you win your group you will generally get a better draw."
England didn't win the group in 2018. They finished second to Belgium yet landed on the kinder half of the draw. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 03:46 2 Jul 2024
I think that stat is somewhat misleading as you have to take into account how fortunate Southgate has been with draws and the teams he's faced in the knockout stages. Previous managers may not have gone as deep into tournaments but, generally speaking, they were getting knocked out by quality opposition. In 1986, England went out in the quarters to Argentina. 1990 Germany in the semis. 1996 again Germany in the semis. 1998 Argentina in the round of 16. 2002 Brazil in the quarters. 2004 Portugal in the quarters. 2006 Portugal again in the quarters. 2010 Germany in the round of 16. 2012 Italy in the quarters. Bar 2022, Gareth has a happy knack of avoiding the big guns until the latter stages. Once again the draw has been very kind to him so he needs to take the bull by the horns and release the handbrake. |
| Forum
Reply | Richards.
at 15:56 1 Jul 2024
Maybe you do. I'm having a bit of fun with it. [Post edited 1 Jul 15:57]
|
| Forum
Reply | Richards.
at 15:51 1 Jul 2024
Nope. Not until he does. |
| Forum
Reply | Richards.
at 15:48 1 Jul 2024
KFC gives you wings. |
| Forum
Reply | Richards.
at 14:45 1 Jul 2024
Any sightings of the lesser-spotted Richards in pre-season? |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 14:40 1 Jul 2024
The subs have shown that it is fixable but Southgate won't change it because he's stubborn. Rather than change the formation and/or starting 11, Gareth appears to be banking on Shaw making a recovery to bring much needed balance to the team. In the meantime, England are stumbling their way through the competition. Given that we're 5 days away from the next game, all eyes will be on Luke in training. If he does feature, it'll be a massive gamble as he hasn't played a competitive match in months and, with Guehi suspended, will have another new entry alongside him. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 14:29 1 Jul 2024
England do not have width on the left. Merely standing on the touchline doesn't give you this. When Trippier receives the ball he tends to cut in or pass backwards. He hasn't the confidence to open his body up and play a ball down the flank with his left foot. Foden will make the run but by the time Trippier has sorted his feet the opportunity to play in behind is lost. This has played into the opposition's hands as they tend to set up in a narrow, low block to squeeze space in the middle of the park. Result - England just keep playing it from side-to-side looking for gaps in-field that will rarely appear. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 16:08 30 Jun 2024
That's his job. He's paid £6million a year to figure those problems out. Either find an adequate replacement OR change the tactics to suit the players at your disposal. What you don't do is experiment with a right-back in midfield at a major championship. Now stop apologising for the man. If he doesn't get to at least the final, he's a failure. End of discussion. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 14:36 30 Jun 2024
Phillips' form has dropped off a cliff since those qualifying games so Southgate decided not to select him for this tournament. Before reaching that decision, he should have established whether he has a ready-made replacement lined up or is willing to alter his tactics to suit the players he selected.
The bottom line is the question was asked and I've answered it, unequivocally. Gareth has 3 viable options available to him in the squad. The time has come for Gareth to stop making excuses and put his best foot forward. The footballing gods have once again smiled upon him with a very favourable draw. If he doesn't make at least the final with this group of players then he deserves all of the criticism that will inevitably come his way. [Post edited 30 Jun 14:45]
|
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 03:54 30 Jun 2024
Kobbie Mainoo
Adam Wharton
Jude Bellingham
Gareth has plenty of options and made himself look very foolish by bemoaning Kalvin's absence. |
| Forum
Reply | Players leaving
at 14:00 28 Jun 2024
Only here will you find a debate between stainrod and his elbow. You've gotta love this site. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 13:49 28 Jun 2024
Yes and No.
On the one hand, the defence (which many people thought would be England's Achilles heel) has performed well, conceding only 1 goal in 3 games. Walker and Trippier have been solid, if unspectacular.
On the other hand, there is a lack of balance on the left hand side. Being right-footed, Trippier has offered little going forward. With Foden looking to cut inside from the left, England have little width or attacking threat on that flank.
Moreover, Southgate brought an unfit Shaw to Germany and started the tournament with 3 right-footed full-backs in the team. Trippier at left-back, Walker at right-back, and Trent in midfield. That's more on Southgate than the players but in a way fullbacks (through no fault of their own) have been a problem for England. |
| Forum
Reply | England v Slovakia last 16 Match Thread
at 17:21 27 Jun 2024
Agree. I feel a bit for Foden as not only has he has been played out of position on the left but there has been no genuine left back to support him or provide an overlap. At the start of the tournament I would've like to have seen Bellingham revert to central midfield with Foden in the 10 but Gareth instead decided to experiment with TAA in midfield. Indeed, England started the tournament with 3 right backs in the team; 1 at right back, 1 at left back, and 1 in central midfield. A bonkers experiment which thankfully didn't cost England its place at the tournament. With all that being said, England now have a real opportunity to kick on. One just has to hope that Gareth starts putting round pegs in round holes and has the courage to allow the players to play on the front foot. Given his track record, it feels a vain hope but with this likely to be his final tournament perhaps he'll finally throw the shackles off. |
| | Benny_the_Ball
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 2578 | | Comment Votes: | 1 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 2579 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.