Match Day Thread Lithuania v England

It's the one we have all been waiting for lads/lasses/gender non specifics it's Lithuania v England.
As the mighty Lions have roared through to the WORLD CUP 2018 already we can take our foot off the gas and rest some of our star players so Hart will sit this one out as well as possibly ex Norwich man Kane.
Southgate has done a fine job in topping the group and England have not lost a qualifying group for over 8 years which is incredible.

Kick off 17:00
Team news to follow.

 

I would hardly call Southgate's actions and selections a "fine" job. It's been tedious and pedestrian for the majority of the time, relying on last-minute savings in most of the games.

I shall watch and hope the replacements make their mark and give him a selection headache in the forthcoming games!

 

His task was to get rid of the dead wood and qualify for 2018.
England will probably be the only British team to go through, with 8 wins and 2 draws.
Didn't see anyone complain when Lambert kept getting late winners for Norwich it was called desire and heart when we did it .
Hart has one of the best records in the qualifying rounds with -3 goals so if he's the biggest problem we are doing well.
If Butland has a mare today and lets in a silly goal then some may look a little foolish, but invatiably Southgate will get the blame anyway.

Bringing through an ex England player and captain from U21 coach to first team is what most fans were calling for after the conveyor belt of "big name" foreign managers and Roy and Sam.

Poisoned chalice as the fans and media expect to win every game and even if they do they complain because they don't do it in style like Brazil.

 

8/1

 

Most of this board will no doubt be taking a knee during God save the Queen in protest to Brexit .

 

5-4-1/3-6-1 formation?

 

3 at the back apparently looks like 3-5-2

 

Perfect penalty, even Lev Yashin would never have stopped that.

 

1-0 pfffft sack Southgate after that disgraceful performance.

 

Well done England and at least we won't have to suffer the humiliation of Scotland going as well.

 

Next time with Middleton maybe ?

 

Who knows and Strachan does seem to be getting them playing better.

 

Is that since he stopped playing Martin at CB.

 

So I see England, EUFA rank 15, managed to demolish the mighty Lithuania, EUFA ranked 120!, by a solitary penalty.
Is it not fair to expect more because, looking at those rankings, awarded on merit, supposedly, it's roughly equivalent to West Ham (currently 15th in the league) whimpering 1 - 0 past the mighty Solihull Moors, who sit 120th in the current footballing pyramid.
Or are my expectation levels too high?

 

Showing your age now Dave!

England are the "Ipswich Town" of international football! Boring, Slow, Drab and 1 dimensional!

 

Cynical, but true unfortunately.

 

But England qualify for the highest level of competition, Ipswich............

Bah!

 

Both just flat track bullies! Once we play anyone decent we get taught a lesson but not on the 22nd I hasten to add.