England v Croatia semi final

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Henderson did well, much better than I though he would.

But he's our midfield general we'll continue to struggle against the best sides.

I wouldn't call him the midfield general. He's a water carrier, someone to run around and do the running and keep things moving. If you're expecting him to be making the play then sure, we'll only win the big ones using italian style tactics as he isn't a modric or a pirlo or an alonso
 
Sterling is useless end product wise (he mainly got a bunch of tap ins for city) but what he does do is frighten the defenders to death (lovren and vida couldn't handle him properly) and forces teams to drop deeper to defend giving the midfield more space


I don't think he is useless end product wise. I have spent several seasons watching Shane Long. If Shane could score the "tap-ins" Sterling does, he'd be playing for City.

I dislike scapegoating anyway - Henderson, Sterling, Alli, Young, Kane (who no one seems to criticise anyway), they all played their parts in getting us to a World Cup semi final. I was 29 last time that happened, I'm twice that age now. No regrets.
 
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I wouldn't call him the midfield general. He's a water carrier, someone to run around and do the running and keep things moving. If you're expecting him to be making the play then sure, we'll only win the big ones using italian style tactics as he isn't a modric or a pirlo or an alonso


Except he is the midfield general, because we have no one else who even comes close to turning a game upside down with a single, visionary, pass.
 
I have to say I really do like Lovren...

"It's something special for me," Lovren told beIN Sports.

"From my point of view, people said I had a difficult season but I don't agree.

"I took Liverpool to the final of the Champions League. Now with my national team we are in the final.

"I think people should recognise that I am also one of the best defenders in the world and not just talk nonsense."

The guy is ****ing barking mad.
 
Except he is the midfield general, because we have no one else who even comes close to turning a game upside down with a single, visionary, pass.

that's more on Southgate than because Henderson is our best technical player. Henderson can play the long balls and switch play. He's not modric though who is cool under pressure, is aware of space and can turn into it under pressure.

Our Modric should really be Alli who has that skill of carrying and keeping hold of the ball
 
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I have to say I really do like Lovren...

"It's something special for me," Lovren told beIN Sports.

"From my point of view, people said I had a difficult season but I don't agree.

"I took Liverpool to the final of the Champions League. Now with my national team we are in the final.

"I think people should recognise that I am also one of the best defenders in the world and not just talk nonsense."

The guy is ****ing barking mad.

<laugh>. Wise words from a wise man

I hope Klopp takes this on board and makes Lovren the club captain.
 
I have to say I really do like Lovren...

"It's something special for me," Lovren told beIN Sports.

"From my point of view, people said I had a difficult season but I don't agree.

"I took Liverpool to the final of the Champions League. Now with my national team we are in the final.

"I think people should recognise that I am also one of the best defenders in the world and not just talk nonsense."

The guy is ****ing barking mad.


He took Liverpool to the Final of the CL? <laugh>

Ffs.


Come on France. Tear him a new arsehole <ok>
 
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I wouldn't call him the midfield general. He's a water carrier, someone to run around and do the running and keep things moving. If you're expecting him to be making the play then sure, we'll only win the big ones using italian style tactics as he isn't a modric or a pirlo or an alonso

Where’s an English Andrea Pirlo when you need one!...
 
that's more on Southgate than because Henderson is our best technical player. Henderson can play the long balls and switch play. He's not modric though who is cool under pressure, is aware of space and can turn into it under pressure.

Our Modric should really be Alli who has that skill of carrying and keeping hold of the ball


Alli is more of a deep striker though, surely? Not a playmaker anyway, his job is to link up sure, but also get in the box.

If you want someone who can run from depth with the ball at his feet, that's Oxtail Chamberpot. But what we really need is a midfielder with a Scholes, Lampard, or Beckham range of passing. And Henderson, though limited, is the closest we have to that; close but no cigar.
 
Alli is more of a deep striker though, surely? Not a playmaker anyway, his job is to link up sure, but also get in the box.

If you want someone who can run from depth with the ball at his feet, that's Oxtail Chamberpot. But what we really need is a midfielder with a Scholes, Lampard, or Beckham range of passing. And Henderson, though limited, is the closest we have to that; close but no cigar.

Alli plays that role at spurs. Pretty sure he was shoved CM and did okay too on the few occasions they were struggling for players.

Alli has that range of passing and can drive with it though is my point. Just because he's not playing that role week in week out for the spuds (who are a fluid outfit anyway), doesn't mean he's not the best guy for that job in this england side.
 
He's a billy big bollox who needs to understand that all the talent in the world doesn't matter unless you put a shift in.
Alli plays that role at spurs. Pretty sure he was shoved CM and did okay too on the few occasions they were struggling for players.

Alli has that range of passing and can drive with it though is my point. Just because he's not playing that role week in week out for the spuds (who are a fluid outfit anyway), doesn't mean he's not the best guy for that job in this england side.


Maybe you're both right.

I would describe him as "mercurial". Not the sort of character you'd build a side around, and little point expecting him to be something he is not.

But an asset and a constant threat. In danger of becoming another scapegoat, but undeservedly imo. **** scapegoating anyway, it's a team game and this team should be proud of what they have achieved, take the lessons, and move on.
 
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England looked the most threatening the few times Pickford just punted the Allardyce ball upfield, no point dicking around at the back when you don't have creative midfielders
 
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I think you're wrong about Sterling, but gave you a like for the rest of this post. He was stifled by some brilliant defending, didn't get the breaks.

We defended our lead surprisingly well for most of the game, but had to do way too much of that because they bossed the midfield - unsurprising given they have a world class midfield, and we really don't.

With a bit more luck, we could have buried them in the first half hour, but after that we just got deeper and deeper until the inevitable happened.

We wouldn't have beaten France with all the luck in the world.


Perhaps, but his control, distribution and finishing are really very, very poor.

That's why he doesn't scare decent opposition at all, because they know he's incapable of doing anything with the ball once he gets it and can defend against him with ease.
 
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