A lot of backlash on podcasts, social media etc from Journalists about the match rating of Sterling as voted for by the public on things such as the BBC website. He was doing my nut in, and wasted so many great chances. I can see what they are saying though. He did run them ragged. He worked very hard, and was a constant worry for Sweden. He was lowest rated player by a long way. I think that is unfair. His confidence and decision making in front of goal or in key moments have been poor though. He really needs a goal in an England shirt. Would love him to get a winner that put us into the final. Wonder what the Daily Mail would say about that!
An excellent point FML!! I also think Engerland are playing better than I've seen them play in years and they're playing as a TEAM.
Yes we are working as a TEAM... it is rather novel. Playing players in positions they are used to as well is another strange thing. I watched the match with a mate, it started 10PM our time in WA, the next one starts 2AM.... I am going to be very inefficient at work the next day!
Sorry, something went wrong with my previous post. It was someone making a comment re what if Big Sam had still been England manager!!!!! Edit - They reckon that the World Cup has been worth £2.9BN to the economy, with all the money fans are spending on beer etc!!!
Gerry@JellyTim Why does England have 3 lions on their shirt? I’ve been to England, there are no lions there. They should have 3 arseholes on their shirt. There’s plenty of them there.
An excellent article on Jordan Pickford - not sure if he'll still be at Everton when the transfer window closes.. Everton, however, went into almost instant meltdown under the Dutchman before he was replaced by Sam Allardyce - but in a season of almost unrelenting misery, Pickford was head and shoulders above every other player. It was these performances that persuaded Southgate, a regular visitor to Everton games last season, to give him his debut in the friendly against Germany at Wembley in November 2017 before selecting him as his World Cup goalkeeper in Russia. Everton's end-of-season awards were a Pickford procession as he picked up Player Of The Season, Young Player Of The Season and Players' Player Of The Season. His signing was a rare success for Everton's sacked director of football Steve Walsh. (A bit like AN signing JM!!!!! ) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44756366
I had honestly never heard of Pickford, McGuire, Loftus Cheek, or Trippier. The cost of being out here and not following the PL since we dropped out of it. So refreshing to see so many young players in the first XI, never mind the squad - especially such a young keeper. It was perhaps not so long ago that an England manager would not dream of playing a keeper younger than perhaps 27 or 28, because keepers do not normally reach their peak until then - or so it was believed. I was not sure about the appointment of GS, but credit where it is due - he is doing an amazing job so far
Absolutely TC and many of us thought the FA had 'lost the plot' when they gave Southgate the manager's job!!! #howwrongwewere
I guess many people, myself included, thought he was either too younger, too inexperienced or both. The FA certainly went left field this time, perhaps the first time ever, and must be feeling pretty smug about it now
Yeah, I was dumbfounded that they had gone for someone with so little experience or pedigree as a manager. And whilst its a little early to be hailing him as any sort of great. He has quietly gone about his business in a very reassured manner and I think has done excellent so far. I would question his continued selection of two out of form players (Alli and Sterling), but he has got us to only our 3rd semi and Alli scored a goal and Sterling had a good game uptil final decisions time. Lets hope that goal for him can finally come in the Semi or final! And we can reuse #howwrongwewere Bah!
Yes, I'd forgotten that. Interesting that Redmond was quite a star in under 21 games and now he's nowhere!!!!!
So when England were knocking Sweden out of the World Cup, was Joe Hart watching and supporting the team he used to play for? No he was playing cricket for his home town cricket club in Shrewsbury
