England Discussion

the_cliff said:
This is also the best and most balanced England team we've had in a looong time.
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You still have to get them to play. As a team, I think the 2002-2006 had better overall players. Yes, there were occasional weaknesses on the left flank ( eventually Joe Cole was good enough to take that role and I think he's better than most wide players England have had). England had far better centre halves and better full backs (since TAA and Reece James aren't being used).

This team has more depth, but its not like England haven't had easy teams in other world cups. They weren't as decisive as the current team is and I'm not sure that's just due to star power.
 
Bench options in attack look a lot stronger than last Euros.

Defense is vulnerable.

Could be a fun watch this tournament.
 
Coxy said:
As soon as we're up against a top team though - we'll go all defensive again.
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I don't see the problem with that honestly. The game proved one massive thing. England's speed is a real threat. Add Jude Bellingham's box to box abilities and in big games, England would be a counter attacking headache. England weren't cutting Iran apart due to possesion, they were cutting them apart through Kane's passing and the speed and skill of the wide players. In most big games, I don't see Rice and Bellingham simply dominating possession
 
Coxy said:
As soon as we're up against a top team though - we'll go all defensive again.
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That’s my worry too. It’s proven that attack is the best form of defence. If they haven’t learnt from the Euro final against Italy then there’s no hope.
 
I think Mount justified his selection. I don't think anyone played poorly, apart from Trippier. Defence wasn't really tested all that much, and the midfielders had loads of space. I wonder what the approach will be against teams that will attempt to press up high. Maguire fills me with dread against teams like that.
 
Resembled a WC qualifier against Iran but I was impressed with the application of all the players and some like Saka and Bellingham are in great form and have more experience under their belt. Seems like at least the players are ready to put the last 12-18 months behind them and are capable being a threat after a poor nations league and Euro final loss.
 
WeePat said:
I think Mount justified his selection. I don't think anyone played poorly, apart from Trippier. Defence wasn't really tested all that much, and the midfielders had loads of space. I wonder what the approach will be against teams that will attempt to press up high. Maguire fills me with dread against teams like that.
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You reckon?

He just never seems to do anything in an England shirt. I'm not sure what his role is supposed to be. He wasn't bad or anything, I agree Trippier was poor.
 
Djemba-Djemba said:
You reckon?

He just never seems to do anything in an England shirt. I'm not sure what his role is supposed to be.
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Yeah definitely. He linked really well with Saka and Sterling in the first half. Was more quiet in the second half until he was subbed. This 433 system suits him the best I think. Back 3 shoves him out into positions that aren't his preference.
 
tjb said:
You still have to get them to play. As a team, I think the 2002-2006 had better overall players. Yes, there were occasional weaknesses on the left flank ( eventually Joe Cole was good enough to take that role and I think he's better than most wide players England have had). England had far better centre halves and better full backs (since TAA and Reece James aren't being used).

This team has more depth, but its not like England haven't had easy teams in other world cups. They weren't as decisive as the current team is and I'm not sure that's just due to star power.
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The biggest difference by far is the attacking depth. England haven't had such a strong pool of technical, fast attackers in a long time. We had Rooney but players like Vassel, Heskey, Lennon and Walcott were all getting regular starts in the period between 2004 to 2014.
 
Bellingham makes a huge difference to this team - in the Euros our weakness was midfield, particularly against the better teams, but he is a constant threat and a bit of much-needed quality alongside Rice.
 
How did Toney not make the squad?

Toney has out performed every "forward" selected in the squad this season bar Kane, Saka and Foden.

Meanwhile potatoes like Maguire and Coady get picked? Yes, I understand they don't play the dame position.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
How did Toney not make the squad?

Toney has out performed every "forward" selected in the squad this season bar Kane, Saka and Foden.

Meanwhile potatoes like Maguire and Coady get picked? Yes, I understand they don't play the dame position.
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Does it matter that much? Kane will play almost every minute anyway and rightly so.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
How did Toney not make the squad?

Toney has out performed every "forward" selected in the squad this season bar Kane, Saka and Foden.

Meanwhile potatoes like Maguire and Coady get picked? Yes, I understand they don't play the dame position.
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He might be facing a long suspension for betting.

Probably played a part.
 
It's not often any team score 6 against any team in the WC. It happens maybe once or twice in a tournament. Even most England fans around here seem to be almost momentarily content, if grudgingly. :)

A notable trait of the first two games have been how superior the better sides have been - quite often, especially in the first round, things have historically tended to look a bit more deadlocked? I wonder if the timing of this tournament will leave the good teams more dominant than usual, hitting the ground running because the players are in the middle of their club seasons? Maybe those lengthy summer training camps are a bit of a leveller?
 
Great to see a score of 6 without Kane getting one. I find England tend to rely on him too often so its good to see ithers chipping in this time. Could be what we need to go quite far.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
How did Toney not make the squad?

Toney has out performed every "forward" selected in the squad this season bar Kane, Saka and Foden.

Meanwhile potatoes like Maguire and Coady get picked? Yes, I understand they don't play the dame position.
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The squad was announced a couple of weeks ago!
 
Djemba-Djemba said:
You reckon?

He just never seems to do anything in an England shirt. I'm not sure what his role is supposed to be. He wasn't bad or anything, I agree Trippier was poor.
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Would much rather have Foden in place of Mount - just a much much better player.
 
Conceding two and how easily England were opened up when Iran went through 1v1 is a big question mark.

Bellingham brings a lot more balance to the midfield and was great at ball carrying today.

Three points are three points but plenty to work on for England.
 
pascell said:
Conceding two and how easily England were opened up when Iran went through 1v1 is a big question mark.

Bellingham brings a lot more balance to the midfield and was great at ball carrying today.

Three points are three points but plenty to work on for England.
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Defence continues to be a weakness and midfield as you say has improved with the development of Bellingham however I would be concerned how they would do against the very best teams.
 
Surprised at the criticism for Mount, I thought he was doing a lot of important work in the first half. It's not all about end product.

 
Lynty said:
Bellingham is everything Paul Pogba thinks he is. Probably the most complete midfielder in a long time.
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Wow, Bellingham hasn't even had the career Pogba has had at Juventus or at National team level.

Don't agree on the most complete midfielder in a long time either. Gavi, Pedri, Gravenbech, Tonali, Camavinga have all played at a similar or higher level unless you mean only in England.
 
balaks said:
Defence continues to be a weakness and midfield as you say has improved with the development of Bellingham however I would be concerned how they would do against the very best teams.
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I agree, most of the chances created today wouldn't be there against the best and the defence would be tested more.

There are a lot of deficiencies with the team as a whole, especially on the defensive side of the team. I felt Maguire, Dier, Mount and Trippier were poor today.
 
Was at work so didn’t see the game, but it was a good job done by the looks. Several forwards off the mark which is great to see. Shipping two goals to Iran is poor though, defence is going to get some stick for that.
 
pascell said:
I agree, most of the chances created today wouldn't be there against the best and the defence would be tested more.

There are a lot of deficiencies with the team as a whole, especially on the defensive side of the team. I felt Maguire, Dier, Mount and Trippier were poor today.
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Maguire was fine first half. Shit for their goal and then went off straight away. I thought Mount had a decent game.

We won't play the same way against better teams, but it was encouraging that we had chemistry and passed and finished well. And I think some of those chances are ones we certainly could have against better teams, especially when games get stretched
 
I said last year during the Euros that England have a good chance to go far this World Cup and I won't be surprised if they will, with an even better chance of doing so if they can shore up their defence. Their attacking depth alone is almost Brazil level.

I want them to do well. I have personal ties to England and I like this bunch of players.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
How did Toney not make the squad?

Toney has out performed every "forward" selected in the squad this season bar Kane, Saka and Foden.

Meanwhile potatoes like Maguire and Coady get picked? Yes, I understand they don't play the dame position.
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I know little about their sexual preferences.
 
cesc's_mullet said:
How did Toney not make the squad?

Toney has out performed every "forward" selected in the squad this season bar Kane, Saka and Foden.

Meanwhile potatoes like Maguire and Coady get picked? Yes, I understand they don't play the dame position.
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While you’re not wrong, it’s just funny how that’s what you take from a game where England scored 6 goals. More than enough goal scoring talent in that squad.

England were really good today. Let’s see if Southgate has the balls to play like that against a top team. Would love to see it but he’ll probably drop a forward and play Saka defensive winger instead.
 
pascell said:
Conceding two and how easily England were opened up when Iran went through 1v1 is a big question mark.

Bellingham brings a lot more balance to the midfield and was great at ball carrying today.

Three points are three points but plenty to work on for England.
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You can't please some people :lol:
 
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