England - the aftermath

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Plum

Plum

Well-Known Member
Apr 19, 2013
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The press'll do this to death but I thought we'd have our own. Referring to the tournament as a whole, not just the Croatia game.

For what it's worth, overall I thought Dele Alli and Lingard didn't contribute enough leaving Kane with a bit too much to do. If that can be fixed we'll have a great team.
 
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If I was being really picky I’d add Sterling and Walker too.

A right back playing right side of a back 3 he made quite a few mistakes.

Sterling, the conundrum. Yes he can run fast, yes he can open up defences and split play - then what? A misplaced shot or a scuffed pass. It happened time and time again.
 
Finishing.

We worked around it in the Tunisia and Colombia games but the chances we've missed in this tournament have been ridiculous. Kane smashing it against the post from one yard and that laughable Lingard effort when he was in space on the edge of the box and put it about 10 yards wide despite trying to place it. I think fitness played a part last night too, but the main thing has been finishing.
 
How many of you older players expected the Croatian first goal to be disallowed for dangerous play ie. Foot at chest level as another player attempting to head ball.
 
The teams work in progress. We progressed further than expected and did it playing a passing game. World cup semi final not to be sniffed at. Its what happens now.
 
Ouch.

Defender Sime Vrsaljko was also critical of England’s attempts to find a way back into the game after they fell behind. “The all-round perception was that this is a new-look England who have changed their ways of punting long balls upfield but when we pressed them it turned out that they haven’t,” he said.

Have to say it's true. We were supposed to see flair from lingard and alli but they played like midfield runners.
 
Plum said:
For what it's worth, overall I thought Dele Alli and Lingard didn't contribute enough leaving Kane with a bit too much to do. If that can be fixed we'll have a great team.
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I liked Lingard in the tournament, midfield can improve though, Dier got the penalty but makes no impact when coming on so need better back up for Henderson.
 
Dills double deckers said:
The teams work in progress. We progressed further than expected and did it playing a passing game. World cup semi final not to be sniffed at. Its what happens now.
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That was the annoying thing about last night .. all tournament he has encouraged them to play a passing game .. we have created chances doing just that although only taken a small percentage of them. But after half an hour last night the Croations began stepping up onto our back line and we started goofing it up field aimlessly .. like watching a game from the 70s. It was crying out for someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck . Put their foot on it and pass the ball .. alas we got caught up in trying long balls over the top to find Sterling and Lingard.. futile .. the big defenders just gobbled it all up. Surprised Southgate didn't say to them at half time get back to playing football
 
Hopefully England can kick on from the feel good factor surrounding this world cup.

Would hate to see what happened after the 1990 WC with Euro 92 and failing to qualify for the WC in 94
 
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Blaknamberblood said:
That was the annoying thing about last night .. all tournament he has encouraged them to play a passing game .. we have created chances doing just that although only taken a small percentage of them. But after half an hour last night the Croations began stepping up onto our back line and we started goofing it up field aimlessly .. like watching a game from the 70s. It was crying out for someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck . Put their foot on it and pass the ball .. alas we got caught up in trying long balls over the top to find Sterling and Lingard.. futile .. the big defenders just gobbled it all up. Surprised Southgate didn't say to them at half time get back to playing football
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It did go the way you have explained. Maybe Croatia worked us out after been on the back foot first half. Learning curve for all. Croatia have some wise old owls who worked us out. We have got some real talent around just got to get street wise.
 
Chazz Rheinhold said:
Ouch.

Defender Sime Vrsaljko was also critical of England’s attempts to find a way back into the game after they fell behind. “The all-round perception was that this is a new-look England who have changed their ways of punting long balls upfield but when we pressed them it turned out that they haven’t,” he said.

Have to say it's true. We were supposed to see flair from lingard and alli but they played like midfield runners.
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A lot of the Croatian press after the game was quite poor sportsmanship in my opinion. Not very good winners. Hope France pump them.
 
We all know what the fundamental problem is. Just to clarify for those who don't know or have forgotten.


The Premier League
 
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GLP said:
If I was being really picky I’d add Sterling and Walker too.

A right back playing right side of a back 3 he made quite a few mistakes.

Sterling, the conundrum. Yes he can run fast, yes he can open up defences and split play - then what? A misplaced shot or a scuffed pass. It happened time and time again.
Click to expand...
Once sterling went off they stepped up ten yards
 
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GLP said:
If I was being really picky I’d add Sterling and Walker too.

A right back playing right side of a back 3 he made quite a few mistakes.

Sterling, the conundrum. Yes he can run fast, yes he can open up defences and split play - then what? A misplaced shot or a scuffed pass. It happened time and time again.
Click to expand...

Every time he's gone off the pitch we've been dog ****. Yes, he ****s up an easy pass or shot now and again, but he ****ing terrorises defences and nearly every good move we make comes through him.

Absolute madness taking him off last night, he was the most dangerous player on the pitch by some way. That's when the game was lost and we struggled to worry Croatia at all.
 
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Mr Bob said:
Every time he's gone off the pitch we've been dog ****. Yes, he ****s up an easy pass or shot now and again, but he ****ing terrorises defences and nearly every good move we make comes through him.

Absolute madness taking him off last night, he was the most dangerous player on the pitch by some way. That's when the game was lost and we struggled to worry Croatia at all.
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