Junior put a photo up on Twitter and got about 50 comments, almost all were a similar response to yours.
I suspect there was a bit of playing it safe - much better to draw with Scotland than to lose. I also wonder where the occasion possibly got to them a bit? James, Shaw, Mings, Phillips, Rice, Foden, Mount all their biggest game in an England kit last night. And I think arrogance possibly too. We’ll see in the next game possibly.
I'm assuming that this was the broadcasting irritant and not two of your posho chums who's attention was not fully on the game?
Hopefully we'll see a huge improvement in our next game...we were awful! The players you mention are all playing their trade in the best league in the world and should be playing without fear? What has Southgate said before kick off ? Obviously he didn't pump them up like his opposite did? When a 20 year old product of Rangers academy ,who has lacked in game time for Chelsea this season,can go out,wear his heart on his sleeve and cover every blade of grass and pick up the MOTM award,it's a sure sign that things aren't right with the leadership in our team.
Four points from two games. Reverse those results against Croatia and Scotland. Folk would be beaming... Allam’s OUT.
It is tricky but this Is true of so many players in the last 20/30 years who have starred for their clubs and done nothing for England. It’s surely a different level when you’ve got your club fans cheering you on v the whole country expecting you to win.
Absolutely. Of the 13 players used yesterday, I think eight were playing in their first international senior tournament. These haven't experienced having to manage that level of expectation or your own supporters for who idolise you at club level, but are turning on you (because you shouldn't be playing), or playing against an opposition who you know are inferior players but today are fearless as they have nothing to lose and buoyed by a fanatic support (after 15 months of playing in empty stadiums) despite playing at home. Your usual club manager/colleagues who you have built up a trust over a long period of time aren't there to help you through any sticky patches. Nor do you have the comfort of that well ingrained and familiar style of play you use every week. Overall probably well out of your normal comfort zones. If they are mentally strong, they will hopefully adapt and quickly. It's ok if one or two are going through this process, as more experienced are around and can help them through. If they look around and just see most are actually in the same boat, where does the support come from? When Kane was subbed and Scotland were looking far more likely, the lack of leaders was very apparent, with no Maguire, Henderson, Walker, Kane around. Yes we have got an unprecedented number of exciting young players and we want to see them all play but we do need a balance. For that reason, would like to see Henderson, Walker, Kane (got to do better) in the next game. Think our 'arry is gonna have to wait as Mings couldn't be dropped (though Southgate does like 3 at the back).
I think it was entirely deliberate. ‘Passion’ and being ‘fired up’ are brilliant motivators. If they’re harnessed correctly you get a performance like that of Scotland that elevated a pretty run of the mill set of players into a cohesive unit fighting for each other and the win. But it’s far easier to get wrong, and if you do get it wrong it’s more likely you’ll be chasing around like headless chickens, diving into tackles and down to 10 men in the first quarter of an hour. So I think Southgate will have been working with a young set of players on them not getting passionate, not ‘losing their heads’. The back passes that I certainly got frustrated with were, for me, the hallmark of a team that’s been told the crucial thing is to ‘take the sting out of the game’, ‘hold on and let Scotland run out of energy, they’ll just get frustrated and we’ll see them off in the 2nd half’ etc etc. Tedious and frustrating for the fans and it clearly didn’t work, but I think that was the plan.
Agreed, which is why I think I’m holding off judgement on until the Czech game. That’ll tell us more about this England team than last night.
I convinced myself fairly early in the game that we were trying to tire them but that shouldn't remain the tactic when we go forward.How many times did we reject the option of spreading the ball wide? Instead of doing that we passed back,pissed about,then eventually did pass it out. The frustration that brings to us all is oozing through the posts and was even more evident when they were booed/ jeered off the pitch... At some point during this tournament we will have to play football and last night should've been the springboard for our momentum into the tournament.Instead of that we stuttered and struggled to make chances. Wembley on Tuesday now becomes a pivotal game in terms of how far we can go...get an attacking line up on the pitch and let's put our stamp on the tournament!
The more you think of dropping your two full backs the more bizarre the decision was. Settled back four or five is key. I just can’t fathom it out. to even think of playing trippier, he was ok mind, at left back surely means you have doubts about shaw? Personally don’t rate shaw and never have. Walker has been an England regular and vastly experienced and he was just who we needed against the jocks. Too clever for his own good?
I'd reinstate Trippier and Walker for Tuesday.I like Trippier far more than Shaw and feel he gives us much more attacking and defending,Walker no brainer,his experience is key!
OLM was saying James didn't venture out of our half. Makes some sense to nullify Robbo and Tierney, especially with only Foden in front of him playing 4.2.3.1 but is he our best defensive right back? I'd say it was Wambassaka who didnt make the squad. Some pundits on TV before the squad was announced had Wam second best defensively, ironically behind Trippier who he could have played. James had a fantastic end to the season and in big games, which probably complicated Southgate's decision. I'm not saying James played badly. As you say, he is spoilt for choice and probably over thinking it and tinkering, If he is concerned about lack of experience in the team, why go for James at RB?
Just out of curiosity, & this is in no way bitter, as I thought Scotland were better in most areas & we just didn’t turn up, for whatever reason, but what happened with the whole Robbo catching Sterling towards the end, in the box? I thought it was a penalty, but then VAR didn’t even review it. I was working, so couldn’t hear the commentary & didn’t see the discussion after.
I thought it would have been a soft penalty, but it did appear to be a foul. Commentary team just said VAR didn’t look at it.
Robbo definitely caught him, they’re normally the ones given, for me it wasn’t as soft as the Czech penalty.