I think the one concern was Phil Foden. At times this season, he’s been Man City’s best player. In that sort of company, that is saying something. According to the BBC’s poll of fans’ votes, he was England’s poorest player last night with 4.64 out of 10, against Bellingham’s 8.2 and Saka’s 7.2. Perhaps that’s a bit harsh but nevertheless, I thought he contributed very little given what he’s obviously capable of. He’s a big talent and.Southgate needs to get more out of him somehow. By comparison, I thought more modestly rated Jerrod Bowen made an impact when he came on, bustling around the pitch and making a good chance. That again fits with the fan’s votes: he got a 6.55. He spent of lot of last season playing as a No 9 for West Ham due to injuries to others. That’s a role that’s not suited to him at all but he plugged away at it without complaint. He didn’t appear in any suggested England starting 11 I saw, but if Foden doesn’t deliver on what we know he has to offer.. who knows?
This is becoming the Unfriendly Games. There have been complaints about England fans singing “10 Little Bombers” which apparently refers to RAF Bomber Command’s activities in WW2. Meanwhile, the Croatians have apparently been singing about the killing of Serbs during the Balkan Wars.
England get a lucky draw in my opinion.....why is Pickford taking free kicks on the half-way line.....a cock up could make it very embarrassing for him being so far out of his ground. Why are England not playing the style that makes them so successful in the Premiership.....Foden and Bellingham not really in the game. Getting out of the group will be about the best this team can achieve.
Very poor performance. You have to point the finger at Kane, Foden and Alexander-Arnold Kane drops into midfield too much: he always has but we have a wealth of attacking midfield talent and we need someone to play on the shoulder of defenders like Watkins did when he came on. We don’t need a centre forward getting in the way and slowing things down Which brings us to Alexander-Arnold. He is the long pass, long range goal and free kick king and when it comes off, it’s spectacular. But he can’t defend and his general play is less impressive. If you watch him on a few highlights, he looks world class. Watch the full 90 minutes and he’s much less impressive. His overall play is mot up to international standard for me I’m afraid and I fear he’s only in because of press and media pressure. So the defence picks itself so I’d go for: Rice, Bellingham Saka, Foden, Gordon Watkins Rice sits and Bellingham has the licence to get forward. That’s where Bellingham started his England career and of course he immediately looked as though he’d played there 100 times. In some ways No 8 is a better role for him as he’s more difficult to pick up when he decides to go. Southgate has to do something to shake it up as tougher tests are to come.
Have I missed something ! I have seen no sign of Wayne Rooney on BBC's Euro 2024 coverage as yet.......weren't we told that PAFC will not have him full time until after the tournament is finished.......or is he yet to start possibly after the league stage is finished when we get to the knock-out part of the competition.
I have a confession to make.....I didn't see the end of the England game last night. NO....I hadn't found some more exciting drying paint somewhere else to watch. NO....I hadn't flicked channels and found some other programme.with some actual life in it. I HAD ACTUALLY.....fallen asleep.....and they where actually just talking about the odd moment when proper football actually happened. I had to quickly look at my mobile to check the result.......surprise surprise......0-0. Every team is playing the same style of football....the keeper just passes it a few feet to another player....who passes it square across to another player....who rolls it on to another player....who then starts the sequence all over again in the other direction.....and guess what...the ball ends uo with guess who.....................the GOALKEEPER again .....this can happen many times.....and if we're lucky the ball sometimes inches forward...eventually over the half way line.....if no opening appears the ball will start to go backwards and guess what ....end up back with the GOALKEEPER again......BUT there is a difference this time....the keeper is now 30 YARDS up field.......in more exciting moments (yawn) the ball might get level with the opposing penalty area.....and the ball will be passed to and fro from left to right....and from right to left and if no penetration takes place the ball ends up being passed backwards until it get to the .....................................................................................................................................................................................EFFING GOALKEEPER. Is this the modern games answer.....the dread is that if a team scores early (probably an own goal it seems) the match can seem to be decided and that is it a 1-0 result. England looked terrible...deviod of any attacking ideas.....it seems that Harry Kane is on the pitch but not involved in actually touching the ball for long periods. Thank goodness we have some tennis to watch.....these players actually seem to be alive and breathing. I think that Gareth Southgate's reign is coming to and end.....seven years of reasonable success.....thank you Gareth....lets move on to the next generation. The maddening thing is that England possess maybe four or five of the best players at this tournament.....but they just as well be wearing chains and shackels for all the freedom they have to actually play football.....in their club teams they come alive.....but playing for England they seem to have to play a totally different style of football and it is horrible to watch.
A poor performance but then, so far the “middle ranking” teams have generally outshone the “big names”. Phil Foden has come back to the UK as the birth of his 3rd child is imminent. In a way that may be a good thing. It’s a chance to try someone different……
If you want to see a team that will rightly be mobbed when they get home, look no further than Georgia They made mugs of Portugal last night. Five across the back who stuck to their positions and tasks like limpets but then a 3 and a 2 who played with energy, skill and enthusiasm such that Portugal were never safe. In long years following football, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an underdog maul their opponents like this. At one point, the commentator asked if the Georgian players were aware they were playing in the European championship and not in the school playground given the fearless way they skipped past opponent after opponent in quick succession. Breathtaking stuff. Watch it on replay if you can. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4ngll4je4mo https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cqllllkd73dt
What a load of absolute crap England have been and still are in this tournament. I was wailing to her indoors about the way England play being the way Argyle were supposed to play under Foster. You can see that any coach who has been involved with the England set up under Southgate only operates in one way. They cannot change and there is no plan B. I said that I hoped Switzerland would score and put us out of our misery. Lo and behold 5 seconds later they did. Then Southgate made a Sub and only then. He is so jammy that it worked again. England do not really deserve to be still in this although I suspect a lot would not agree. I am currently watching an interview with Southgate who has just said what a really good game it was. The bloke is deluded.
England corner.....ball ends up in mid-field.....and past back to Pickford.....why oh why.....Thank heavens for Bukayo Saka.....he might be told off for scoring when he could have past back to Pickford.
I don’t understand his team selections. We’re short of full backs so having nevertheless picked a back 4 in the preceding games, he goes with a back 3. So far, so good. He picks Saka, predominantly an attacking player in the right WB position. So far so good. He picks Trippier, a right footed FB in the left WB position when he has Antony Gordon, who’s been ripping shreds out of EPL defences from the LWB back position for Newcastle on the bench. So far, WTF? We spend 75 minutes in a lopsided mess until we go 0-1 down and only then does he make a change by bringing in Shaw, left footed but predominantly a FB when we need a WB. OK, we got there eventually and his work on penalty taking paid off. It’s testament to his scientific approach. I read how he did iit, identifying for example that we took penalties too quickly, showing nervousness. They must stand and breathe for X seconds. Also I read that players, after penalty practice, have to decide where they will put their penalty: left, right, centre, high or low and write it down and seal it in an envelope. That’s their decision and that envelope is never to.be reopened, even mentally, They place the ball and comply with the decision. That’s all well and good but can we please pick a balanced side using the players in form to start with?
That was the best five penalties' we have ever taken. Bit of a gamble with inexperienced Palmer taking the first one.....but he came up with the goods.
I watched the France v Spain with trepidation and it turns out rightly so. I wouldnt have fancied our chances against either of them given how England have been playing. Of the two, Spain were better side so there’s no comfort there. That so-and-so Morata makes my blood boil. Talk about the dark arts…. And Curcella isn’t much better either. What are the odds on one of those two turning the final with a dive, sneaky foul or getting someone sent off?
Not great but at least it was better. Penalty for me all day long even though most of the pundits thought otherwise. Studs up on the pitch anywhere else and its a free kick. In the box it's still a foul so penalty. Almost lost my voice shouting at my tele. England are so frustrating to watch. Subs still too late but once again one saved the day. Great finish even if he did play for Exeter once.
