I don't think we have the same level of quality as Spain, Germany or France. All the players look the same, fast, strong and quick. No creative, ball players or anyone that looks comfortable on the ball.
Thought England were alright, but really nothing special. Pickford and Trippier the standout players although Hendo was good too. But the hype around the team was ridiculous, even tonight with the pundits talking about how much of a step forward this was and how we're contenders again. No we're not. We weren't good against Tunisia and needed an extra time goal from Kane, we battered a very poor team in Panama then lost to a half decent team in Belgium. Scraped through against Columbia with only 2 shots on target and a penalty then beat another poor team in Sweden who never threatened. Come up against Croatia, another half decent team and we lost again. Imagine we'd have played one of the top teams! We'd have been out ages ago. Thank god that's over, now we can get on with proper football!
I've seen nothing in Maguire that I like other than one brilliant header of a goal. I've already seen Lovren do that. If we're talking WC only, Lovren's had a better one than Maguire and not because he's now going to the final.
think delph should have been given more of a chance to control a game. He's looked okay and his passing is probably a lot better than in the pass having played under Peps regime.
N.a..... he rolled the dice. Alternative with that squad was a Hodgeson surrender type ****e. He gave these young players the belief. And..... yeah if it's klopp (Not sure because the front 5 weren't fit enough to successfully do the Klopp thing and it showed) Like when Klopp came to us there isn't a plan B... average squad with sprinkling of players that can be great on their day but also not. All he could do was set a plan for squad but praying his first 11 stayed fit and on form ... And like Klopps original team... know that your midfield 3 are ok, will try but on the best in the comp
Plan B? You need the players to do that. They were either limited in skill or playing rubbish. One thing that got us so far is his organisation that maintained our defensive shape and his endless motivation. These guys might look good for their clubs but they are playing with better players. That is the reality of the true quality of our players. Sterling is looking great under Pep but ****e for this entire world cup.
Hand on heart, who would say that Croatia didn't deserve to win tonight(based on possession, shots, shots on target)and more fight and not forgetting they have plenty of players with skill? England did their nation proud in reaching the semi-final, but now the inquest begins and club bias kicks in, the finger of blame will be aimed by people that should be behind their nation and applaud their efforts. But Sterling IS hopeless.
True... and I think the mistake when saying do what they did was to somehow create the same type was the error... do the same process but with the reality of what English players have to live with coming through.
They look great in the PL because they play with a variety of skillful foreign talent. But you need the right blend and England don't have that. When Keane said we don't get a better chance he meant this team won't get this far again. It's hard to argue with that. But the media won't address this. They'll be made into hero's and they'll find a way to paper over the cracks.
nah, every second half we lose control and end up hoofing the ball to our tired sterling/lingard/kane. It is at this point he needs to make us a better passing side, having 5 defenders near our penalty ox means we can't play out
I was feeling quite pleased when Henderson went off thinking whatever happens in the penalty shoot out, no blame will be placed on him ..... It was that white kit, I tell yer, who chose that for tonight .....
He can't make us into a better passing side, that comes naturally through development. English players aren't taught to play football that way. We play nothing like continental football that base their football around that. This has to change at grass roots level but the FA are too inept.
This^ It's the same old media hype when we manage not to get knocked out early. Suddenly England are a force again, the achievements are blown out of proportion and the expectations are cranked up to 11. England will be a force when they make a good showing in several consecutive tournaments where they come up against a series of strong teams and overcome them. For all the media jizz spent up to now, we've really not beaten anyone that I wouldn't fully expect us to.
Shhhh don't say that otherwise they'll have to start reporting on our disasterous Brexit negotiations or Cabinet officials resigning and jumping ship...
