Slovakia v England 2018 World Cup qualifier

You can add Rose to that list

 

Rooney and Llalama did very well 2nd half.

 

Big Sam's first mistake was announcing a Captain so early. After the Euro's debacle, why not rotate it around a bit and then announce it before the finals?

Personally think Kane should have been taken out of the firing line to allow him to rebuild his confidence and form.

Stones looks a different player, Lallana's workrate merited that winning goal, and Sterling is still an important player for us.

Job done in the potentially tricky away tie. 3 points in the bag. We move on.

 

Well done England!
A win is a win, is a win.
Regardless how you played, you won ............. and that is all that matters.
The winning feeling has been created and you can build on that.
Sometimes, you can play well and still lose.
Fact is, you won .................. good stuff.

 

Another poor performance by the same poor team, masked gain by A) getting a last gasp goal b) not very opposition c) playing against 10 men.

No progress, no changes, while once I would have agreed that it's about the result but we know as soon as we come up against any one near decent we will fail. New manager same setup, still rubbish. Sam be a man, be brave and try something new, please or we will qualify and fall apart again.

 

I really hate the way international football and to a certain extent champions league football is played these days.
Most teams play incredibly conservatively, hoping to nick a goal or get through on penalties.
The Euros was a shocking tournament and the last world cup wasn't much better.
These tactics make for very dull viewing.
At least England TRIED to win the game.
Slovakia were at home and didn't have one single attempt on goal....NOT ONE!

 

Sam says he can't control where Rooney plays, ridiculous statement. I know a way, drop him.

 

Agree in general but I thought the group stages at the last World Cup were sensational (the obvious excepted). And we have to find ways to beat these teams, dull and dire as they are. Scraped in yesterday, all good. But apart from that friendly win against Germany, I haven't enjoyed watching England play for a long time, seems to be a lot of fear and nerves in the players, no matter who is manager. If they don't enjoy playing for England it won't get better.

What do you make of Allardyce saying he 'can't tell Rooney where to play'?

 

England failed at the Euro's, we qualified well but failed. Are we happy to do they same for the WC ? Not me. We know something needs to changed and yet we did the same again, played the same with virtually the same players. I understand the pressure that's on Sam, hence I'm not having a go at him but he can afford to lose a game, he can afford to try something different and still qualify.

I don't mind a couple of issues and failures if I can see we and trying new things and learning from previous performances.

 

I find it hugely concerning.
Rooney should be played as the main forward or not at all imo and certainly shouldn't be allowed to play wherever he wants.
If he is going to play so deep don't pick Henderson in the same midfield.
I have to say I was disappointed with Sam's first team, aalthough they thoroughly deserved the win.

 

I agree to a certain extent.
What new things would you suggest?

 

Just found it strange that, even if he believes that, he chose to tell everyone at a press conference. Makes him look weak. Rooney would have scored at least one of the chances Kane fluffed, agree if he plays he should be main striker. I like Vardy, but you have to play like Leicester to get the best out of him.

The team going forward needs to be built around Stones, Alli and Dier, all of whom need development. Would like Barkley to be in there too, but he also needs some consistency.

 

Rooney played very well from central midfield Sunday, 2nd half anyway, didn't see the 1st. Switched the play well when it needed it, and picked out some great passes through their defense. Llalana was also very good. As in the Euros, apart from the Iceland game England played well from box to box with Rooney central, but again were ineffective close to Slovakia's goal.

 

He plays where he likes, he plays where he likes, Wayne Rooney, he plays where he likes

 

Agree with all that.
Vardy and kane were one season wonders imo. Although Vardy will always get goals with that searing pace. As you say, the ball over the top is pretty ineffective at international level. I don't mind Rooney as a genuine 10 but I think he's still our best goal scorer, so I'd play him up top with Alli at 10 if it's a 4-2-3-1.

 

He may still be a kid,but our best goalscorer is Rashford. If you want to have a genuine chance of winning the next tournament,Rooney shouldn't even be in the side !

 

I don't disagree.
I said after the Euros that Rooney should retire from international football and we should look to the future.
The problem with Rashford is that he won't be getting game time at utd, making it hard for Sam to pick him.

 

Col - I have no definitive answer, no magic pixie dust to make it work, I think they need to be experiment and be a bit more brave. Don't be scared of losing.

I'd suggest mixing things up a bit, getting someone to stand on the line like the old wingers to stretch the width opening up the middle and crossing the ball, switching formation if it isn't working, start with 2 up front, have A\B\C plans, don't follow what is trendy in football come up with our own way, play to absorb and hit them on the break ( 3 fast forwards, Rashford, Vardy, Sterling) /shrug etc. Lots of options and things to try but please just give it a go.