The International Break

Good performance. System worked well. No complaints or over-reactions from myself.

 

I was unimpressed. We played well in parts, but the Germans didn't have to play anywhere near their best to beat us. We had 3 good chances and should have stuck at least one away.
Play like that in a tournament and it will be the same old English result I'm afraid

 

Not defending them, just been manning one of the social channels today and had to look up his stats at one point.

This made me do a 'wowee' when I saw it, though!

 

I thought England played with a freedom, which wasn't entirely without merit. 2nd half, Germany stepped up the quality, Podolski scored his screamer, and then they went into possession mode. It was a good runout for players, but I felt that England were operating in a higher gear than Germany, who were just ticking over until it suited them. Germany were always more than the sum of their parts, whereas England only sometimes were. That's an improvement for England, by the way. In tournaments they play like strangers who have just kicked a ball between each other for the first time. We're in between tournaments, hence a reason for the improvement.

 

OK, as I'm in an accepting mood today, I'll accept that.

That's probably the best goal Arsenal have scored in recent years. Note, that he wasn't 2 yards from the goal-line when he thumped the ball. Uncharacteristically Arsenal, who still prefer to walk the ball into the net.

 

England played with hunger and determination. Yes, many were fringe players but they wanted their chance. England played well until the substitutions started to make the game meaningless.

 

Must... Not... Bite...

I'll take my small victory of you accepting that goal and call it quits.

 

Indeed, you Southampton supporter, you.!

 

That result showed the importance of having someone who knows how to score goals.
Not disappointed with the performance, other than the lack of goals, but there were times when it made me think of Saints, pre-Gabbiadino, when we were putting in the effort, but either not finding the right final ball, or not taking chances, that could have given a different result.
As I suggested during the game, put Harry Kane in the same position as Lallana or Alli, and I would back him to score at least one, if not both of them.

 

Tbh, as Germany were playing such a high line at times, I thought that with a bit of intelligent thought, England could have got Vardy in at will. Now that he's recaptured his zip and confidence he could have ended up with a couple of goals last night. But very few times did the midfielders properly look up, yet he was making run after run. And there was a bit of an annoying tendency to pass square or even backward. Too much patient build up work can often lead to no progress at all, in the end. And it did.

 

That's what I felt. I'm not one of those "get it forward at all costs" fans, but I felt too many times last night, the midfield totally ignored the runs and passed it sideways or back, only for someone else to then lump it up when Germany had reorganised. Hopefully when they sit down and analyse the game, they'll see that with a quick heads up and fast ball over the defence, we could have scored a couple easily in the first half.

 

Absolutely. Nor am I Dave, but the missed opportunities and safe square and back passing was a bit obvious at times last night, wasn't it.

 

From today...

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Future Bobby Moore style England captain is JWP. Has all the same ingredients as the great man.

 

Looks like the England manager is on the lookout for a future son-in-law as well.

 

****ing horrific challenge by Taylor on Coleman in the Ireland Wales game

Looks like it could be a double break

 

Breaking Tadic's nose before Xmas clearly wasn't enough for him.

Real shame for Coleman. Hope he fully recovers.

 

That is a disgusting challenge by Taylor and should be banned for a minimum of 6 games.