[Archived] European Championship France 2016

[roverandout]

I never criticized Hodgson in the first half... honest, we have some of the best attacking talent in the tournament, lets make use of it

[BlueMonday]

I still say Roy doesn't know what his best team or formation is. Half time subs worked, so credit where its due, but the Rashford substitution struck of a bit of desperation, especially as he was out wide more often than not. Talented or not he's very inexperienced to be getting a messiah label.

Kane looked tired, but not sure he fits well in a 4-3-3. He's always looked more effective with Vardy upfront. Sturridge looks like he needs a run of games because he looked rusty until the his goal. Great toe poke!

Roy has some decisions to make if we are to progress in the tournament.

But great result.

[Glosrover]

But today Roy was swift and decisive, and it paid dividends. There was none of this waiting till 60 mins, let's see how the team starts the 2nd half crap.

So refreshing. Hopefully this is a step in right direction and a sign of things to come.

Swift!!?? - it was plain to see from about 10 minutes in that Sterling hadn't a clue how to play the role he needed to be doing, and that Kane was too knackered to either raise a gallop, or trap the ball to his feet. Playing against a narrow back 3 and really only Lallana had a clue how to give the opposition wing back a decision to make and to give his own full back an option to advance into the space behind.

no width, no real incisive passing [Rooney aside], no-one able to cross properly and a defensively shaky back 4 - thank goodness they were only playing against Wales.

[chaddyrovers]

Thought Hodgson made good subs and we control the entire game.

Rooney and Walker were great today.

Kane has been excellent this season so you can understand why he started the Euro's.

Sterling should be dropped.

I would bring in Sturiddge, Vardy and Wilshere for Kane, Sterling and Ali.

[Stuart]

Some of you lot need to click back a few pages and read some of the absolute bunkum you've posted

Roy Hodgson takes some right stick, most of it unwarranted in my opinion, and after a very good performance against Russia he couldn't change things today. But after a very poor first half from Sterling especially, he acted and won the game for us, well done Roy.

Just a word for Ali and Dier, both very poor today I thought, gave the ball away, no penetration and did very little, Rooney was excellent, especially first half and Joe Hart, always prone to a mistake is Joe but we got away with it, just.

So top of the group, despite all the negativity around the Russia game and looking like we'll progress with at a canter.

Not sure who you are singling out there, Gav.

Hodgson got his selection wrong (again). When he finally gave in and picked the players we were crying out for - shock horror - things improved tenfold.

[DE.]

The fact we've gone into the tournament without knowing our best formation and team says it all about how Roy has prepared us. A better manager would have easily gotten six points off two extremely poor opponents. We've had bad luck against Russia and good luck today. It's evened itself out. We now need to forget luck, pick our strongest line up and stop handicapping ourselves.

We will need to be a lot stronger defensively and a lot more creative if we are to have any impact in the latter stages.

[J*B]

Things we have learnt:

Hart is suspect, still.

Walker and Rose have to start.

Dier is undroppable.

Rooney is the best central midfielder we have.

Alli has one more chance to do something.

Sterling isn't good enough.

Lallana is still flattering to deceive.

Kane on his own isn't working.

Now we have a real formation issue - we don't have a winger who is playing well. Do we play 4 in midfield all centrally minded that will cover full backs that attack and give width? The biggest problem is why have we gone into a tournament not knowing our best formation and team.

I'd go:

Hart

Walker Cahill Smalling Rose

Dier Wilshire

Rooney Alli

Vardy Sturridge

Tell Dier and Wilshire to cover Rose and Walker.

[Silas]

But today Roy was swift and decisive, and it paid dividends. There was none of this waiting till 60 mins, let's see how the team starts the 2nd half crap.

So refreshing. Hopefully this is a step in right direction and a sign of things to come.

Swift!!?? - it was plain to see from about 10 minutes in that Sterling hadn't a clue how to play the role he needed to be doing, and that Kane was too knackered to either raise a gallop, or trap the ball to his feet.

Eh?!

So what would you suggest?! A double substitution 15 mins in to a crucial international tournament group stage match? Don't be daft.

I've clearly stated RH got the starting line-up wrong. My point being he was swift to make changes at half time rather than a lot of managers that may have waited till 60th, 70th, hell even close to 80th min (we've all seen it, particularly at rovers), and that was the difference today.

If Roy doesn't make those changes at half time i truly believe we get a draw at best.

[Gav]

Not sure who you are singling out there, Gav.

Hodgson got his selection wrong (again). When he finally gave in and picked the players we were crying out for - shock horror - things improved tenfold.

Not singling out anyone Stuart, read some of the stuff from during the game today and Saturday, ridiculous comments in my opinion.

I think some posters have seen my comments and misunderstood what I was saying, but equally now we're having the debate, some of the stuff written between Saturday and today was bunkum, I must watch a different game to some.

I'll say it again, Russia was the best performance by an England team in a tournament for many many years, we could argue about subs, I'd agree Roy probably shouldn't have sat back, but we drew the game, we didn't lose, knee jerk!

[DE.]

Eh?!

So what would you suggest?! A double substitution 15 mins in to a crucial international tournament group stage match? Don't be daft.

I've clearly stated RH got the starting line-up wrong. My point being he was swift to make changes at half time rather than a lot of managers that may have waited till 60th, 70th, hell even close to 80th min (we've all seen it, particularly at rovers), and that was the difference today.

If Roy doesn't make those changes at half time i truly believe we get a draw at best.

The problem is, I firmly believe he only made those changes because Wales scored. If we'd gone in at 0-0 I'm certain we would have come out with the same team and labored for another 30 minutes or so before any action was taken. Strangely, Joe Hart's mistake might have been a blessing in disguise.

[BlueMonday]

Things we have learnt:

Hart is suspect, still.

Walker and Rose have to start.

Dier is undroppable.

Rooney is the best central midfielder we have.

Alli has one more chance to do something.

Sterling isn't good enough.

Lallana is still flattering to deceive.

Kane on his own isn't working.

Now we have a real formation issue - we don't have a winger who is playing well. Do we play 4 in midfield all centrally minded that will cover full backs that attack and give width? The biggest problem is why have we gone into a tournament not knowing our best formation and team.

I'd go:

Hart

Walker Cahill Smalling Rose

Dier Wilshire

Rooney Alli

Vardy Sturridge

Tell Dier and Wilshire to cover Rose and Walker.

Agree with most of that, but thought Lallana was good today, but he really should have more of a plan. We are have plenty of possession but are struggling to make it pay.

We'll get found out against cannier teams.

[Silas]

The problem is, I firmly believe he only made those changes because Wales scored. If we'd gone in at 0-0 I'm certain we would have come out with the same team and labored for another 30 minutes or so before any action was taken. Strangely, Joe Hart's mistake might have been a blessing in disguise.

Yep, fair point, see what your saying.

That's why i think the next few games will tell us a lot.

He is being far too cautious, and it isn't working, mainly due to our frailties in defence.

No disrespect, but both russia and Wales are teams we should be attacking the hell out of cos that's our main strength and they're weaker teams that probs can't hurt us as much.

We shud also be doing the same against slovakia, because we have very little to lose now.

Let's see if RH proves you wrong. I am hoping so, but tbh, not confident and fear he may revert to type.

[A cup of beans]

Evans has run into the Ukraine box twice. Must be a record. Never seen him do it for Rovers.

[perthblue02]

Was very impressed with the ref and officials for the England game, probably the best of the tournament so far.

Glad we go into the last group game not really needing a result, but another performance like the second half today should see confidence rocket

[DE.]

Yep, fair point, see what your saying.

That's why i think the next few games will tell us a lot.

He is being far too cautious, and it isn't working, mainly due to our frailties in defence.

No disrespect, but both russia and Wales are teams we should be attacking the hell out of cos that's our main strength and they're weaker teams that probs can't hurt us as much.

We shud also be doing the same against slovakia, because we have very little to lose now.

Let's see if RH proves you wrong. I am hoping so, but tbh, not confident and fear he may revert to type.

I imagine that even Roy won't be able to justify leaving Vardy and Sturridge out now. The question is how he gets them both into the team. We overloaded our attack today against an ultra defensive Welsh side, but we can't start a game like that. I wouldn't be opposed to simply switching out Sterling and Kane for Vardy and Sturridge. Our shape hasn't necessarily been the problem, we bossed the Russians and dominated Wales too. It's the personnel selected who have struggled to deliver so far.

We need our defence to cut out the mistakes, and our manager to have the courage to leave out players who aren't performing. A tournament isn't the place to give people time to prove themselves. Kane and Sterling have had their chances - it's a bit harsh, but neither should be starting going forward. Both could still have a role to play in future games, but ideally from the bench.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Was very impressed with the ref and officials for the England game, probably the best of the tournament so far.

Glad we go into the last group game not really needing a result, but another performance like the second half today should see confidence rocket

I think they have been pretty decent so far in the tournament from the games I have seen. Don't seem to be that trigger happy with cards and want the games to flow.

I thought Wales were poor truth be told, maybe the occasion was too much for them but they kept giving the ball away especially in the second half. Thought Ramsay was the pick of their players seemed to be all over the pitch.

England and Wales to qualify from the group I would expect unless Hamsik wants to have a big say in it. Not sure how far England can go in terms of the overall tournament they don;t look that good to me but it's still early and you don't want to peak yet.

[joey_big_nose]

loads of people saying we were too conservative?? Wtf? We spent 70% of the game camped on the edge of wales' box and had thirty odd chances. Totally mental to accuse us of "not being attacking enough"

[Audax]

Northern Ireland 1-0

[Neal]

Not singling out anyone Stuart, read some of the stuff from during the game today and Saturday, ridiculous comments in my opinion.

I think some posters have seen my comments and misunderstood what I was saying, but equally now we're having the debate, some of the stuff written between Saturday and today was bunkum, I must watch a different game to some.

I'll say it again, Russia was the best performance by an England team in a tournament for many many years, we could argue about subs, I'd agree Roy probably shouldn't have sat back, but we drew the game, we didn't lose, knee jerk!

You can say it as many times as you want Gav, Russia are worse than dog @#/?... Slovakia proved that.

Fair play to Roy for making the required changes (finally).

Sterling is dire, has no belief in himself and it shows, passes it away at every opportunity, waste of a player, should be dropoed... 50 million, scousers must be ecstatic.

Hart should have done better, after the tournement i'd be looking at bringing in Forster as number 1.

Alli gave it away constantly and showed nothing in 2 whole games now, maybe drop him for Whilshere.

Kane looks like Chris Brown, doesnt deserve to keep his place... Not a threat at all.

Who'd have thought Kane and Sturridge might make a difference? Tut. Sturridge is too clever a player to leave sat on the bench.

Lallana i think deserved to stay on more than Alli, wants to turn at defences and try and create something.

Rashford showed Sterling what proper wing play looks like in just 30 minutes, knocked the ball into space and gave the full back a decision to make.

Need to be more patient in posession instead of floating aimless balls into nothing space and giving it away, make teams work for posession.

Wouldnt play Sturridge and Vardy next game, just one and keep one for impact. Maybe start srurridge.

Fair play, well done and good result hopefully can build on that. Just think it's poor that the manager still doesnt know his best 11 and we're 2 games into the tournement.

[Gav]

Northern Ireland 1-0

Players just gone off because of hailstones.

[DE.]

Need to be more patient in posession instead of floating aimless balls into nothing space and giving it away, make teams work for posession.

Those chipped balls forward were doing my head in. As far as I could tell a 0% success rate and we just kept doing it. We also seemed to completely run out of ideas in the second half and constantly tried to pass through the middle even though it was not working. I can't understand why Roy didn't get a message onto the pitch to push players into the box and start whipping the ball in to create some havoc. It was the only real option available to us. We got lucky at the end by bundling it in, but the players need to show a little more ingenuity than that. Kyle Walker in particular was just flat out refusing to put the ball into the box, constantly passing inwards or running towards the box, and we lost the ball every single time. We have to be smarter than that against better teams, though I acknowledge Wales didn't make it easy by playing a 9-0-1 formation.

[Amo]

Woo for a last-gasp winner against a distinctly average one-man team.

[ABBEY]

Players just gone off because of hailstones.

I was ranting !!

Mard arse pampered prima donnas !!!

Get on with it ya soft fannys

[joey_big_nose]

Woo for a last-gasp winner against a distinctly average one-man team.

France - the tournament favourites - have done this twice, and in neither performance have France been as totally dominant as England have in their two games.

[Gav]

Woo for a last-gasp winner against a distinctly average one-man team.

If you can't get up for a last gasp winner against a home nation in the Euros, you may as well pack it in

Northern Ireland 2-0 now, brilliant win, made up for them.