World cup fred

Libby said:
Didn't see the game but sounds like Bellingham stepped up and saved us from a horrific result?

How did Rogers get on? Know lots of people were calling for him to play.

Now the tournament actually starts for real.
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Rogers was pretty anonymous, but I didn't see it as his fault.

Neither he nor Bellingham played the Rice role (poor Anderson was just left to be the sole the CM - god knows why we didn't select Wharton to provide back-up). Instead they both initially tried to play AM, which really didn't work - we had five attackers who were all largely in each other's way. And then eventually Rogers drifted out wide to join Saka (possibly to help him out, with Quansah rarely crossing the half way line due to our totally inept decision to replace Tino with a CB).

It's no fault of Bellingham's that he didn't drop back to join Anderson, because he was clearly the best player on the pitch. But with Rashford and Saka also in the side, it did mean that there wasn't really a role for Rogers. We'd have better off playing Watkins, to ensure that there was still a focal point whenever Kane drops deep.
 
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Scotland weren’t great, but I’m not sure they did any worse than expected?

Brazil and Morocco are both very good, it’s not unreasonable they got 0 from them.

Ultimately they finished 5 goals short of qualifying . Is not beating Haiti 6-0 a failure?



They weren’t great but they also had a much tougher group than most third places teams as demonstrated by 7/8 qualifiers getting to 4 points
 
Le Tissier's Laces said:
Who would have thought Reece James might get injured!?

Also, who would have though, 'well, Christiano. Turns out being "back" against Uzbekistan might not be *really* all that good a measure'.

Thirdly - glad we avoided Senegal, but Dr. Congo will see you now...
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I'll send the coaching team details of a Nigerian mystic and clairvoyant who's spells will negate anything bush Dr. Congo cooks up.
 
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st_brendy said:
Rogers was pretty anonymous, but I didn't see it as his fault.

Neither he nor Bellingham played the Rice role (poor Anderson was just left to be the sole the CM - god knows why we didn't select Wharton to provide back-up). Instead they both initially tried to play AM, which really didn't work - we had five attackers who were all largely in each other's way. And then eventually Rogers drifted out wide to join Saka (possibly to help him out, with Quansah rarely crossing the half way line due to our totally inept decision to replace Tino with a CB).

It's no fault of Bellingham's that he didn't drop back to join Anderson, because he was clearly the best player on the pitch. But with Rashford and Saka also in the side, it did mean that there wasn't really a role for Rogers. We'd have better off playing Watkins, to ensure that there was still a focal point whenever Kane drops deep.
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Agree about Wharton, apparently Tuchel selected Henderson to prioritise tournament experience, tactical discipline, and dressing-room leadership. Isn't that what Cap'n Kane brings? Plenty of other players with numerous caps to mentor the new boys. Question mark over Stones selection to.
 
st_brendy said:
Rogers was pretty anonymous, but I didn't see it as his fault.

Neither he nor Bellingham played the Rice role (poor Anderson was just left to be the sole the CM - god knows why we didn't select Wharton to provide back-up). Instead they both initially tried to play AM, which really didn't work - we had five attackers who were all largely in each other's way. And then eventually Rogers drifted out wide to join Saka (possibly to help him out, with Quansah rarely crossing the half way line due to our totally inept decision to replace Tino with a CB).

It's no fault of Bellingham's that he didn't drop back to join Anderson, because he was clearly the best player on the pitch. But with Rashford and Saka also in the side, it did mean that there wasn't really a role for Rogers. We'd have better off playing Watkins, to ensure that there was still a focal point whenever Kane drops deep.
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Good take. There were so many bad performances (last night and v Ghana), by players who we see playing so well for their clubs week in week out. Even Saka looked crap, and he has always been good for England.

It just looks like there is no attacking plan, or if there is one, it just isn't coming together. The whole attack is playing like a bunch of strangers. So many mistimed runs and wayward passes. It's also interesting that Bellingham has his best game in an England shirt by effectively being removed from the attack (and the responsibility that brings). He played with a freedom that he seldom seems to have when behind Kane.
 
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Don't see DRC being easy opponents for England tbh, pretty decent defensively and good on the break.

I've only watched England in full last night, just watched the highlights from the other games. But no aspect of our play was working last night. We looked unbalanced across the pitch and I'm not sure what our game plan actually was/is? Seems to be a bunch of players thrown together last minute and hope one of them...probably Kane or Bellingham, pulls something out the bag. We kept going down the wings, but regularly left our wings 1 v 2 and provided no overlap. Mental that we have a forward as good as Kane, in the form he's been in this season, and we just don't know how to use him. He was barely involved. The defence and midfield cover just didn't work either. Panama are a limited side and they still cut through us with ease on a number of occasions. Quansah looked like he took a knock too. So although I don't want him at RB anyway as he offered nothing going forward, we just have no cover for two players who probably shouldn't be starters anyway. It all looked a bit of a mess tbh. But maybe it all changes now we're in knock out football which is supposed to be Tuchels speciality.
 
Panama had 3 centre backs marking Kane basically for the entire game and 2 CDMs covering. With a solid block of 5 it is so obvious our space would be down the flanks.

Which is where we broke through at least 10 times but quality let us down.

It really wasn't that bad..
 
The layout of the R32 and R16 games means some of the usual suspects can't reach the quarters. Only one of France or Germany, only one of Spain or Portugal for example. Also one of Switzerland, Algeria, Ghana or Colombia will reach the last eight.
 
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metalmonkey80 said:
The layout of the R32 and R16 games means some of the usual suspects can't reach the quarters. Only one of France or Germany, only one of Spain or Portugal for example. Also one of Switzerland, Algeria, Ghana or Colombia will reach the last eight.
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Some of that is because Portugal and Canada didn't win their group. The draw is a bit unfair for Group F and C - Brazil v Japan and Netherlands v Morocco are tough games.
 
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