England v Slovakia, WC Qualifier - 4/9/2017 @ 19:45

[Izzy]

England are currently 22/1 eighth favourites to win the World Cup - which is about right.

 

If we get to the quarterfinals with this young team it will be a decent achievement. 

[SouthStandUpperTier]

Kane and Alli are our best players and Cahill is a decent defender. Other than that we are horrendous.
 
Only another 9 odd months till our once every 2 years shit show

I'll still put my wall chart up in excited anticipation, only to rip it down in anger 2 weeks in.

[fuchsntf]

2 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Top of the group. Undefeated. Close to qualifying now.

 

I know it's fashionable to slag England off but I'm not sure if anyone would have done a better job than Southgate has to date.

 

I said from day 1 we should stick with him and I haven't changed my mind.

Well said Muzz.. I reckon we played reasonably well tonight, too frantic but we didnt panic and started to

have some good moves. Rashford didnt let his head go down. Ali actually got some good movement going.

Some posters busy jizzing the spurs players off, they missed a good game.

Like city, there are some Permatations or individual Players I might prefer, but I will support the guys who

are given the shirt.

Ali is a talented player, but like gasgoine is  not learning with his antics.I would be tempted in Southgates 

position to leave him out of the next squad, or threaten him with that possibility.

Its not that we dont have midfield talent knocking on the door.

Important issue..!!!  When attacking we have to lift our heads up, and look for the options, they are internationals.

Yes take on the player, but not everytime, give  the oppo something to think about.

Slovakia were a good technical team, with quick movement and had some flowing moves, but we were and should be too

strong for them over 90 minutes, as we were, but they had that  potential to have scored a late 2nd goal, those last 20 minutes

we held our lines well in midfield and defence, and I believe thats was  Southgates input.

 

Vardy, I doubt now will be a starter, but will play cameos as an impact sub until the end of the up and coming WC.

Kane is our first choice, but before we get to that next WC.  I want now to see Kane-Rashford, then Welbeck-Rashford

to get games has our striking duo. The wing player, is still up for grabs but not Rashford I want him around the center....

Could DD force his way in for a midfield spot,  lets see!

I'd like to see Dier take over Hendersons spot, if he proves himself, but not both.

The next games, I want to see Southgate mentallyl chose his 2nd Gkeeper, and then give him games.

Hart is not so steady has 1st choice...No blame for me for goal, silly nick-picking from pannelists.

By the time the WC comes around, the other gks could just simply be better...

 

 

 

[Wymsey]

We have the ability to compete with anyone, but we can be so inconsistent at times during games, despite winning.

 

It seems England's success in games come out of nowhere, but at times we can also be very predictable.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

Hopefully BT Sport will pull those awful Dele Alli ads after his antics tonight.

 

 

[Tielemans63]

To be fair I thought they did reasonsably well tonight. For me there's plenty of talent there but what holds the team back more than anything is poor decision-making.

 

There were numerous occasions tonight where the attacking players in particular just needed to look up and see what's going on around them. There was a lot of head-down running, a lot of running into blind alleys rather than playing the call into space and a lot shooting when a pass was needed. The thing that cost us most imho was players overplaying rather than playing it early where we could have taken them to pieces.

 

 I think if Southgate can coach them to play with a bit less selfishness and a bit more nous then we might be a bit better than bang average.

[Wymsey]

There were rumours of Alli sticking his middle finger up towards Walker.

Southgate confirmed that this was the case.

 

He's a great footballer, but really needs to grow up and be more professional.

 

[Beliall]

3 minutes ago, Wymeswold fox said:

There were rumours of Alli sticking his middle finger up towards Walker.

Southgate confirmed that this was the case.

 

He's a great footballer, but really needs to grow up and be more professional.

 

the boys a cock, cant wait till he gets sent off in the WC quarter final

[BoyJones]

1 hour ago, Paddy. said:

To be fair I thought they did reasonsably well tonight. For me there's plenty of talent there but what holds the team back more than anything is poor decision-making.

 

There were numerous occasions tonight where the attacking players in particular just needed to look up and see what's going on around them. There was a lot of head-down running, a lot of running into blind alleys rather than playing the call into space and a lot shooting when a pass was needed. The thing that cost us most imho was players overplaying rather than playing it early where we could have taken them to pieces.

 

 I think if Southgate can coach them to play with a bit less selfishness and a bit more nous then we might be a bit better than bang average.

Fair comment, but it difficult to coach players when they appear to have zero intelligence, like Oxlade Chamberlain and Henderson. I wouldn't want them in our reserve team (if we had one)

 

The decision making from those two is especially embarrassing. Why do England managers always seem to pick one or two players that average fans wouldn't have in the team. Sterling (not a favourite player of mine) was a massive upgrade on OC, but just a bit part player tonight.

 

Teams still often reflect the personality of their managers, so expect a dour, boring, unexciting, unsuccessful few years under GS.

[RowlattsFox]

I think we've got good attacking players who will score goals if given chances. Defence and midfield however are going to cost us against anyone half decent. 

 

Kane spent far too much time outside the box, which he doesn't do for Spurs, Alli is great around the box and making late runs but he's not someone who can get on the ball and create. They miss someone like Erikson. Options in centre midfield are abysmal. 

[fuchsntf]

6 hours ago, BoyJones said:

Fair comment, but it difficult to coach players when they appear to have zero intelligence, like Oxlade Chamberlain and Henderson. I wouldn't want them in our reserve team (if we had one)

 

The decision making from those two is especially embarrassing. Why do England managers always seem to pick one or two players that average fans wouldn't have in the team. Sterling (not a favourite player of mine) was a massive upgrade on OC, but just a bit part player tonight.

 

Teams still often reflect the personality of their managers, so expect a dour, boring, unexciting, unsuccessful few years under GS.

I am leaning more towards what you say...but

Sterling has had more Int.gametime than OC, and still runs into Players, and cant or will not take his man on when needed, its that

what he got recognised and picked for. Though I would still persevere with both, and see how they develope upto the WCup. OC going to Liverpool might improve and pick up the potential seen earlier.Same with Sterling needs to Get  in now a consistent and improved season.

Both are frustrating, they show hints of being good teckis, then fade into the wind too often.

Sort of now or never situation IMO.

Why Henderson is getting a 2nd showing I dont understand neither, hes ok for Liverpool, but

Doesnt own the pitch like he should do at International level.

 

Like any manager, GS has been given the reins, lets see how far he can take this younger setup

I dont mind a retry on Jones, but without being bias, I would like us to move forward with Maguire and Keane, they can play with the ball, and have a good eye for the right pass.

Question obviously is how are they at the next level .Jones had that, but carried often injuries, when selected.

In a squad set up, Smalling/Jones/Maguire/Keane, would be my 1st choices, I'd like GS to grab the moment, the potential is there hes got to pick those he speaks highly of, for the reasons he himself mentioned.....Like backing his own statements on Maguire and Keane.

We have unearthed another gem with Rashford, earlier than expected, lets not waste him on the wing.

[Guest]

Hard to believe that some people are defending Southgate and the England team.

 

Sure we won last night and played okay for half a match.

 

But be honest the teams in our group (as with most) are a complete joke.

 

We are playing boring, poor football and we will get stuffed when we make the finals. Maybe another defeat to a country the size of Iceland.

[surrifox]

I don't think anyone is anti- England or slags the team off unnecessarily most would want to see a team we can be proud of and get behind . The difficulty is that GS selections are just so obviously poor and unfathomable and the style of play has regressed if anything with long periods of ponderous attempts to walk the ball in the net against frankly 3rd rate opposition.

This coupled with The inane tv coverage makes the whole experience such a dismal one 

[Guest Col city fan]

11 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Top of the group. Undefeated. Close to qualifying now.

 

I know it's fashionable to slag England off but I'm not sure if anyone would have done a better job than Southgate has to date.

 

I said from day 1 we should stick with him and I haven't changed my mind.

The old phrase 'you can only beat what's in front of you' is very applicable here mate. You're right. We'll win this group.

However, if we really watch how we are playing, it's that that makes people dubious. Again last night, we made lots of chances but struggled to finish the opposition off. This was whilst the likes of Germany were cruising against Norway..literally scoring for fun.

There is nothing in our play that makes me any more optimistic that we will enter a major tournament...and look like doing really well in it. I don't think we'll have the playing personnel, nor the right managerial team to achieve the unexpected.

As an England fan of more years than I care to mention, I hope I'm wrong. But I can't see it.

[Izzy]

10 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

The old phrase 'you can only beat what's in front of you' is very applicable here mate. You're right. We'll win this group.

However, if we really watch how we are playing, it's that that makes people dubious. Again last night, we made lots of chances but struggled to finish the opposition off. This was whilst the likes of Germany were cruising against Norway..literally scoring for fun.

There is nothing in our play that makes me any more optimistic that we will enter a major tournament...and look like doing really well in it. I don't think we'll have the playing personnel, nor the right managerial team to achieve the unexpected.

As an England fan of more years than I care to mention, I hope I'm wrong. But I can't see it.

Can't argue with any of that mate. We'll qualify and then probably get knocked out in the second round/quarter finals at best would be my guess.

 

We've no divine right to with the World Cup and there's plenty of better teams than England out there. But we are where we are and I'll continue to try and get behind them best I can (however difficult it is)

 

The frustration for me is that the PL is the richest, most glamorous, most watched league in the world -  yet England still can't compete with the likes of Germany, Spain and Brazil. I don't blame Southgate or his selections, it's deeper rooted than that. Too many mediocre foreign players in the PL getting in the way of young English talent coming through probably. 

 

I guess we can't have it both ways. Most fans I talk to would much rather their own team was successful rather than England - which is a shame.

 

As a nation we seem to have fallen out of love with our national team. We're crying out for some leaders who actually give a shit and look like they care. I'd love to see an Adams, Ince, Butcher, Robson in the team but those days have gone. England players earning £100k + a week probably see the Internationals as a distraction and I think they play with fear as the press slaughter them at every opportunity.

 

It's all wrong. But I'll still support them.

[Bert]

24 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

The old phrase 'you can only beat what's in front of you' is very applicable here mate. You're right. We'll win this group.

However, if we really watch how we are playing, it's that that makes people dubious. Again last night, we made lots of chances but struggled to finish the opposition off. This was whilst the likes of Germany were cruising against Norway..literally scoring for fun.

There is nothing in our play that makes me any more optimistic that we will enter a major tournament...and look like doing really well in it. I don't think we'll have the playing personnel, nor the right managerial team to achieve the unexpected.

As an England fan of more years than I care to mention, I hope I'm wrong. But I can't see it.

We will win the group. But for me, with the opposition we have faced we should be winning the group on maximum points. 

[Countryfox]

13 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Top of the group. Undefeated. Close to qualifying now.

 

I know it's fashionable to slag England off but I'm not sure if anyone would have done a better job than Southgate has to date.

 

I said from day 1 we should stick with him and I haven't changed my mind.

 

Nah Muzzett ...   off with his head !    The team looked clueless and it all stems from the top ...    can't remember the last time we had a decent manager ...   the country and the fans deserve better.

[foxy boxing]

does anyone truly believe that history won't repeat itself whearas we top the group in qualifying and then are totally **** at the World Cup!. the team will just totally collapse against any top team. Gareth Southgate said he wanted the England team to excite the fans well his team did totally the opposite!. these England players look like rabbits in headlights and are just one bad defeat away RE Iceland! from buckling! Deli Ali has got a short fuse and a bad attitude/temperament and opposition players will be lining up to get him to react to something!

[Izzy]

26 minutes ago, Countryfox said:

 

Nah Muzzett ...   off with his head !    The team looked clueless and it all stems from the top ...    can't remember the last time we had a decent manager ...   the country and the fans deserve better.

Any suggestions mate?

 

I can't think of anyone else in the game off the top of my head who would be the perfect England Manager. Over the last 20 years we've tried old, young, foreign, domestic and pretty much fvcked it up every time...

 

I know Southgate isn't everyone's cup of tea but he's making the right noises for me. The fact he wants to tap into what the All Blacks rugby team do to build a winning culture tells me he's serious about making it work.

 

[Countryfox]

8 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Any suggestions mate?

 

I can't think of anyone else in the game off the top of my head who would be the perfect England Manager. Over the last 20 years we've tried old, young, foreign, domestic and pretty much fvcked it up every time...

 

I know Southgate isn't everyone's cup of tea but he's making the right noises for me. The fact he wants to tap into what the All Blacks rugby team do to build a winning culture tells me he's serious about making it work.

 

 

He seems like the right man for the job .....   but what I saw last night says otherwise ...   and its on the pitch that matters ..  not all the rhetoric.

 

Who else ? ...   someone better than him !    ...     I'll give it some thought.     But basically (imo), the FA should be trawling through the top leagues and looking for the best out there, draw up a short list, talk to the final candidates, then make them an offer they can't refuse and not take no for an answer.    Martin O'Neill should have been given a crack ages ago ...

[Durnerz]

it's a shame in many ways the Premier League has become a showcase for the best foreign talent. Thinking back to 1996 when players like Le Tissier barely got a cap and we had a strike force of Shearer, Sheringham, Ferdinand, Wright, Fowler, Cole, Collymore to pick from. Now it feels like we're scraping the barrel just to get a side together.

[Izzy]

1 hour ago, Countryfox said:

 

He seems like the right man for the job .....   but what I saw last night says otherwise ...   and its on the pitch that matters ..  not all the rhetoric.

 

Who else ? ...   someone better than him !    ...     I'll give it some thought.     But basically (imo), the FA should be trawling through the top leagues and looking for the best out there, draw up a short list, talk to the final candidates, then make them an offer they can't refuse and not take no for an answer.    Martin O'Neill should have been given a crack ages ago ...

The FA did this with Capello didn't they? 

 

I'm not sure a top club manager necessarily = top international manager. I've no idea what the right criteria is and the FA have had more task forces and committees about this over the years than you can shake a stick at.

 

The latest decision is to stick with English isn't it? If so, I do wonder who would do a better job that Southgate tbh. Bearing in mind you have to be a 'Yes' man I guess that rules a few out!

 

It's all bollux and a bit demoralising really. Shame we can't bring Bobby Robson back from the dead 

[Izzy]

1 hour ago, Durnerz said:

it's a shame in many ways the Premier League has become a showcase for the best foreign talent. Thinking back to 1996 when players like Le Tissier barely got a cap and we had a strike force of Shearer, Sheringham, Ferdinand, Wright, Fowler, Cole, Collymore to pick from. Now it feels like we're scraping the barrel just to get a side together.

20 years on and we've currently got Kane, Vardy, Wellbeck, Surridge, Rashford and Defoe as our strike force instead 

 

But who else realistically is there to pick from? I dunno. The PL has a lot to answer for in terms of the national team's demise I think...

[purpleronnie]

We could have the greatest manager in the world and we wouldn't win anything.  Our players simply aren't consistently good enough whilst playing for England.  They seem to lack the ability to step up a gear when playing higher quality opposition in tournaments, I also believe we have a lack of tactically aware, technically gifted and intelligent players.

 

We'll go out early, the manager will be blamed first, then the players, then we'll say its a grassroots problem, and cycle it all again for Euro 2020.

 

 

[Turbogre]

Southgate has the charisma of a dead fish

We'll qualify and then make a pigs ear of the tournament