England

[B16Rover]

Probably reflects more on me than anything else (and how much Rovers and modern football has turned me off the premier league) but pre this break I barely knew Skelly and didn't realise Tuchel was manager 

[Gav]

Get Rashford off the pitch, his contribution tonight has been appalling. 

[Exiled_Rover]

Latvia should be livid Bellingham wasn't sent off.

[Andy]

Probably the dullest game of football I've seen this season.

And I've not missed a Rovers match.

[chaddyrovers]

job done, 6 points out of 6. 

[B16Rover]

25 minutes ago, Andy said:

Probably the dullest game of football I've seen this season.

And I've not missed a Rovers match.

God what crime did you commit to warrant what I can only presume is community service 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Really boring game. 2 hours of my life I’ll never get back. A total miss match.

[simongarnerisgod]

only got to wait till september for england to face the titans of andorra

[riverholmes]

2 hours ago, simongarnerisgod said:

only got to wait till september for england to face the titans of andorra

Manager’s only getting paid five million a year…

I watched some of the first half of the England U21 game v Portugal U21, which England won 4-2. England looked much better than in the previous game, albeit, probably a lot to do with the opposition being not as good. In yesteryear, any Portugal youth side would make England's boys look like amateurs. Yet, it is a sign of the times, that England's players looked technically as proficient (as well as physically stronger).

Jobe Bellingham and Hackney looked decent in the centre in the absence of Wharton and Anderson. Also, Cresswell (a Toulouse player I discovered) looked fairly good alongside Branthwaite, though the defence and goalie looked shaky at times.

Not sure about the formation with midfielders at full back and wingers as forwards but Carsley likes to throw players into new positions. Could also hint that England may be scratching around for full backs and strikers at that level, as well as goalkeepers.

Edited March 25 by riverholmes

[ben_the_beast]

10 hours ago, riverholmes said:

Manager’s only getting paid five million a year…

I watched some of the first half of the England U21 game v Portugal U21, which England won 4-2. England looked much better than in the previous game, albeit, probably a lot to do with the opposition being not as good. In yesteryear, any Portugal youth side would make England's boys look like amateurs. Yet, it is a sign of the times, that England's players looked technically as proficient (as well as physically stronger).

Jobe Bellingham and Hackney looked decent in the centre in the absence of Wharton and Anderson. Also, Cresswell (a Toulouse player I discovered) looked fairly good alongside Branthwaite, though the defence and goalie looked shaky at times.

Not sure about the formation with midfielders at full back and wingers as forwards but Carsley likes to throw players into new positions. Could also hint that England may be scratching around for full backs and strikers at that level, as well as goalkeepers.

My own experience is football in this country has changed. I always rated myself as a very competent player. I'm 36 now and recently got back into playing 5 a side. Most opposition teams are in their teens or thier 20's. I like to tell myself it's my knackered knees which means I can't keep up anymore. That doesn't help, but in reality the technical level of players in this country has changed dramatically. Everyone is so comfortable on the ball whereas I used to be one of the outliers to 'if in doubt, kick it out'.

[speeeeeeedie]

I missed Friday's game but watched last night. 

It was dull, but England won without any fuss. If Bowen and Rashford had a decent final ball it could have been 10. Bellingham was lucky to stay on the pitch. 

I understand those who decry the lack of quality in qualification. England arguably won't play a team of any significance until game 1 of the World Cup. Diluting the competition with 48 teams ensures qualification is a breeze for the "better" nations. 

Lower teams now have a chance to participate. Us English are used to it, albeit used to the usual slip ups too. 

What are other people's take on the rest of the home nations, and Ireland struggling to qualify for major tournaments, and if they do don't last long?

Is it the fault of those countries for not investing in youth development? Do Premier League clubs not see kids from those countries as any good so don't bother bringing them in at young ages? Of all the countries Scotland has the most robust League but the pipeline that used to send plenty of players down to England has dried up. 

[rigger]

43 minutes ago, speeeeeeedie said:

I missed Friday's game but watched last night. 

It was dull, but England won without any fuss. If Bowen and Rashford had a decent final ball it could have been 10. Bellingham was lucky to stay on the pitch. 

I understand those who decry the lack of quality in qualification. England arguably won't play a team of any significance until game 1 of the World Cup. Diluting the competition with 48 teams ensures qualification is a breeze for the "better" nations. 

Lower teams now have a chance to participate. Us English are used to it, albeit used to the usual slip ups too. 

What are other people's take on the rest of the home nations, and Ireland struggling to qualify for major tournaments, and if they do don't last long?

Is it the fault of those countries for not investing in youth development? Do Premier League clubs not see kids from those countries as any good so don't bother bringing them in at young ages? Of all the countries Scotland has the most robust League but the pipeline that used to send plenty of players down to England has dried up. 

A large proportion of the Scottish players were aggressive and physical. Changes in rules have made this sort of player less needed and more of a liability.

Edited March 25 by rigger

[Upside Down]

9 hours ago, ben_the_beast said:

My own experience is football in this country has changed. I always rated myself as a very competent player. I'm 36 now and recently got back into playing 5 a side. Most opposition teams are in their teens or thier 20's. I like to tell myself it's my knackered knees which means I can't keep up anymore. That doesn't help, but in reality the technical level of players in this country has changed dramatically. Everyone is so comfortable on the ball whereas I used to be one of the outliers to 'if in doubt, kick it out'.

The problem that exists in English football is a systemic lack of tactical understanding of the game. That's what separates the big European nations from England. It's not just about being able to play and control the ball, it's where you're playing it to and why.

This is the reason why England fail as a nation and why there's never been a single English manager to even win the top division in this country since 1993.

[Gav]

26 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

The problem that exists in English football is a systemic lack of tactical understanding of the game. That's what separates the big European nations from England. It's not just about being able to play and control the ball, it's where you're playing it to and why.

This is the reason why England fail as a nation and why there's never been a single English manager to even win the top division in this country since 1993.

Rubbish.

Southgate got us to 2 finals during his tenure, majority of the big nations didn’t….

[Upside Down]

1 hour ago, Gav said:

Rubbish.

Southgate got us to 2 finals during his tenure, majority of the big nations didn’t….

I could have managed that team to at least the semis in those competitions.

When they got to the finals they were totally outclassed and outfoxed tactically.

That game against Spain was embarrassing. Men against boys from the first whistle.

[Exiled_Rover]

12 hours ago, ben_the_beast said:

My own experience is football in this country has changed. I always rated myself as a very competent player. I'm 36 now and recently got back into playing 5 a side. Most opposition teams are in their teens or thier 20's. I like to tell myself it's my knackered knees which means I can't keep up anymore. That doesn't help, but in reality the technical level of players in this country has changed dramatically. Everyone is so comfortable on the ball whereas I used to be one of the outliers to 'if in doubt, kick it out'.

That's possibly true, but further to Upside Down's point, they're tactically clueless. We have a wide range of ages in our group (it's 7 a side, drawn from a large pool of players). Invariably the older lads (in their 30s) hold their positions whereas the younger lads can dribble, but have no idea about positional play and are frustrating to play with.

[superniko]

On 22/03/2025 at 19:21, roverandout said:

As for rice the amount of criticism he gets is bonkers. He's not going to control a game, he wins the ball, plays it simple.  That's his job and there's no one better in world football at doing that. He needs an Adam Wharton alongside him to dictate play and release rice to get forward.  He's also better on the ball than people think 

Wharton, Rice, Bellingham trio please and our local lad will be coming home with a medal

[roverandout]

5 minutes ago, superniko said:

Wharton, Rice, Bellingham trio please and our local lad will be coming home with a medal

Rice is underrated 

[Darrenbot]

After seeing his goals tonight how has he never been a regular free kick taker,2 beauties against Real Madrid.

[roverandout]

We've got some good competition with trent James and rice

[oldjamfan1]

I don't think I can recall ever seeing anyone hit two worldie free kicks in one game before. And to do it in a game of that magnitude as well. Bravo.

[roverandout]

32 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I don't think I can recall ever seeing anyone hit two worldie free kicks in one game before. And to do it in a game of that magnitude as well. Bravo.

And in 12 minutes 

[MarkBRFC]

On 09/04/2025 at 10:32, oldjamfan1 said:

I don't think I can recall ever seeing anyone hit two worldie free kicks in one game before. And to do it in a game of that magnitude as well. Bravo.

Not quite a Champions league Quarter final, but I remember a friendly at Ewood years ago where Ian Harte scored a hat trick of free kicks against us for Leeds.