Whenever someone runs or picks up the pace, we look so much better. The rest of the time it's so slow and devoid of ideas, just looking for a long ball. And why do all our corners go to Pickford?
I kept looking at the clock every two minutes; that second half took an age. When we turn it on we look good, but too much is is just boring and unproductive. Two goals in three games isn't exactly amazing. You can't really argue with the results and no goals conceded, but strangely we don't really look solid either. IT's difficult to see us keeping a clean sheet or scoring in the next round. But maybe we'll raise our game
Managerial style isn't it? Like with Mourinho, it's a safety first approach. Every now and then a decent game comes along but for the most part it's just dull. Some potentially exciting players, but rarely let off the leash.
The problem is that by topping the group with Philips and Rice I worry he's now going to think that's the midfield in the next round. What we should've done is developed a better balance between attack and defence ready for the second round. Instead we've developed a midfield that will invite pressure, get pegged back and will be detached from the front 3/4.
So now they're going to try and talk for half an hour about a game in which almost nothing happened. Time for me to go and wash-up again.
Folk genuinely believe it's all about the results. Utter bollox. Results count for nothing when we put out that ****e against the best sides.
I can see England being on the wrong side of a real whooping soon and that'll be tournament over. Hopefully that will kill off the Southgate pragmatic approach era.
Totally agree. I've always maintained that I expect to be entertained when watching football. Occasionally you have to grind out a result here and there but to make it your strategy is just pointless imo.
Yep. But we know that it's going to be those two. If he's gone that defensive against the group teams, he's not going to open up against a better attack. The only change I could see would be to bring in Mount instead of one of them, but it's more likely he'll drop Grealish for Mount.
WTF! Why are all the England players constantly doing the "calm down" and gesture? Especially Pickford! Numerous times we could have played it forward first time or flicked it into the channel but the ball went back to the CBs or keeper. So ****ing frustrating, boring and negative. Wembley or not, whether we face France, Germany or Portugal, we're getting hammered!
I'd have Henderson above Rice at the moment. He's not been great and at least Henderson can turn defence into attack. Grealish is just so much better than Mount imo in this tourny.
Watching that was pain. I mean it won't be lost on people that rice and Phillips were caught on the ball early on easily and just did nothing positive. That can be exploited big time. Southgate has decided "tournament football" means zero risk. It's not lost on me last time out he crawled through the easiest side of the world Cup draw via pens and the odd goal. Here we are playing old faithfuls with a myriad for very talent players being held back totally or in a straight jacket. It should be Germany in Wembley next round. Let's see if they make it. France might fancy playing us though
Hendo made it marginally entertaining when he came on, he tried to be positive and play it forward. He created a couple of openings immediately until he fell in line