World Cup 2018

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Not enough creativity. We only made half chances after half time. Just as well we're out, France would have battered us. 

[Tom]

Best team won on the day but can’t help think we beat ourselves, 2 shots on target.

Proud of the effort overall

[jim mk2]

Southgate's done well with a good bunch of lads. But he's no managerial genius. Lumping long balls forward won't beat top international teams.

England need to find two top-class playmakers. 

[Baz]

Croatia just about deserve it, shame to lose to such a crummy goal. Overall, a lot to be proud of.

[Husky]

Those that actually watched the full game without any  distractions will see  we got nobbled by a poor Turkish ref in the end.

[jim mk2]

Just now, Husky said:

Those that actually watched the full game without any  distractions will see  we got nobbled by a poor Turkish ref in the end.

 

Nonsense. We were beaten by a far superior side. 

[roverandout]

The better team won..if our midfield could  have matched the rest of the team we would have won the game...midfield was always our weak position

[wolfie]

Hope for the future, I honestly didn't think i'd be saying that before the tournament started. 

On a side note, isn't it great to have a world cup not dominated by knuckle draggers?

Congrats to Russia on a great world cup, it;s been immense.

C'mon Croatia

[roverandout]

Just now, Husky said:

Those that actually watched the full game without any  distractions will see  we got nobbled by a poor Turkish ref in the end.

The ref was definately on the side of the croats

[roverandout]

Just now, wolfie said:

Hope for the future, I honestly didn't think i'd be saying that before the tournament started. 

On a side note, isn't it great to have a world cup not dominated by knuckle draggers?

Congrats to Russia on a great world cup, it;s been immense.

C'mon Croatia

Cant stand croatia.. come on france...hump em

[Tom]

Hard to take, the pride is back and that’s great long term but right now we’d started to believe and it’s a horrible bump to Earth 

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, Husky said:

Those that actually watched the full game without any  distractions will see  we got nobbled by a poor Turkish ref in the end.

With the aid of both linesmen.

We should have had 3 by half time. After that Croatia ran the show. Walker and Trippier fell apart after half time. Ali and Lingard are Academy softies, I actually dont know what their function is. Young showed his age. Not a creative bone in the team, played more hoofball than if Sam had been manager.

We will get a load of how heroic the youngsters are when actually they are bang average and got found out by a side that France will thrash.

Picford however had a great WC.

Cricket tomorrow TTFFT

[Ewood Ace]

First half decent side we play and we are out. Croatia are decent nothing more but they had the quality in midfield that we dearly lack with Henderson, Dele & Lingard. Perisic was sensational, and Modric & Rakitic controlled the midfield against our boys. 

[roverandout]

Just now, AllRoverAsia said:

With the aid of both linesmen.

We should have had 3 by half time. After that Croatia ran the show. Walker and Trippier fell apart after half time. Ali and Lingard are Academy softies, I actually dont know what their function is. Young showed his age. Not a creative bone in the team, played more hoofball than if Sam had been manager.

We will get a load of how heroic the youngsters are when actually they are bang average and got found out by a side that France will thrash.

Picford however had a great WC.

Cricket tomorrow TTFFT

Dont be silly far from bang average

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Its not coming home.

[Tugay's Right Foot]

Looking forward, the young ones will learn and grow. Still very strong defence, midfield yes including alli and lingard, and strikers like Kane. Really did think there was something divine and we were going to the final and smashing France 

could be the booze speaking now

[Baz]

Full team vs Belgium, or reserves? ?

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, roverandout said:

Dont be silly far from bang average

ok - very bang average. We got to the semi because of the route we got in, let's be honest. 

I wanted us to win and thought we would, we were not as good as Croatia an oldish team from a small country. 

The amount of hoofball we played was a disgrace.

[Tugay's Right Foot]

Just now, AllRoverAsia said:

Croatia an oldish team from a small country. 

 

Very backhanded there, mate ?

[DE.]

A massive issue that we can't score from open play. The Kane/Alli/Lingard/Sterling front four doesn't really work. I'd be looking to tweak that quite significantly. Defensively we're not quite there either. A lot to work on before Euro 2020. 

Still, we've got a base to build from. We're far from the finished article and benefited from the luck of the draw. In most world cup years we wouldn't have been anywhere near a semi final. Getting there was more than we'd get most years, so that's something. And we won a penalty shootout. 

We need to see evolution for Euro 2020. There's something here but we aren't quite there at the moment. 

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, Tugay's Right Foot said:

Looking forward, the young ones will learn and grow. Still very strong defence, midfield yes including alli and lingard, and strikers like Kane. Really did think there was something divine and we were going to the final and smashing France 

could be the booze speaking now

There was. My internet connection dropped out for a bit and I missed the winning goal and have avoided seeing it. I will not watch highlights, it's a coping mechanism.

[Tugay's Right Foot]

And we have found a real gem of a keeper. Still so young and not afraid of giving lip to those in front of him with every shot

[Ewood Ace]

Just now, DE. said:

A massive issue that we can't score from open play. The Kane/Alli/Lingard/Sterling front four doesn't really work. I'd be looking to tweak that quite significantly. Defensively we're not quite there either. A lot to work on before Euro 2020. 

Still, we've got a base to build from. We're far from the finished article and benefited from the luck of the draw. In most world cup years we wouldn't have been anywhere near a semi final. Getting there was more than we'd get most years, so that's something. And we won a penalty shootout. 

We need to see evolution for Euro 2020. There's something here but we aren't quite there at the moment. 

Playing those 4 gives you no balance in midfield. When you play against high quality opposition like Modric and Rakitic they will expose it.

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, Tugay's Right Foot said:

Very backhanded there, mate ?

I do think they play good football though ... ahlnd are fit as butchers dogs despite being oldish and from a small country. I like their red polka better than widow weed black. I want them to beat France but doubt it.

[Tugay's Right Foot]

Just now, Ewood Ace said:

Playing those 4 gives you no balance in midfield. When you play against high quality opposition like Modric and Rakitic they will expose it.

Come 2020, probably need a Davenport or a Rothwell to mix it in there