England

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

11 minutes ago, Gav said:

Now we seem to be missing all those aspects against an awful Albania Tuchel!

It was just more of the same. Passing for passings sake.

[jodrell]

wasted 2 hours watching the game and found out i could have watched Ian Durry on BBC 4.

[K-Hod]

Got the job done, I think whilst Foden has had a poor season, that was the worse I’ve seen him play for England.

Rashford not much better. Konsa had a good goal saving block, nobody really looked that good, but we didn’t lose or concede, so it’s something to build on, I guess!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

16 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

Got the job done, I think whilst Foden has had a poor season, that was the worse I’ve seen him play for England.

Rashford not much better. Konsa had a good goal saving block, nobody really looked that good, but we didn’t lose or concede, so it’s something to build on, I guess!

I don’t understand the fuss about Foden. He very rarely influences a game.  All he ever did last night was trap it and pass it back into midfield. He didn’t even try to beat the full back once. Rashford wasn’t much better.

[Mattyblue]

Foden, like Grealish is a highly talented footballer… but has been Pep-ed.

Edited 16 hours ago by Mattyblue

[roversfan99]

To be fair Foden was the best player in the Premier League last season and still always was allowed to play with a level of freedom. Admittedly he has been off the boil this season.

[Mattyblue]

I’m just praying the end is nigh for Pep-ball across the game.

So, so boring… but it won’t be as the ‘analysts’ will have an avalanche of data that backs up how marvellous it is for xG and the like.

[RoverDom]

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

I’m just praying the end is nigh for Pep-ball across the game.

So, so boring… but it won’t be as the ‘analysts’ will have an avalanche of data that backs up how marvellous it is for xG and the like.

Bu...bu...but that's how the game is meant to be played. Play it out from the back and pass it around the midfield. That's what we pay to see isn't it? Possession trumps goals 

[riverholmes]

3 minutes ago, RoverDom said:

Bu...bu...but that's how the game is meant to be played. Play it out from the back and pass it around the midfield. That's what we pay to see isn't it? Possession trumps goals 

It depends what you do with possession. The classy Spain sides of yesteryear kept possession but they did it with intent.

[Claytons Left Boot]

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

Foden, like Grealish is a highly talented footballer… but has been Pep-ed.

That was the problem last night Matty.

I watched a pre match interview with Tuchel, where he was inferring that the team would play in a more British manner. Long ball if needed, with strength and physique, pace etc. 

None of them play this way week in, week out. They’re still all programmed in to the horrendous, backwards-sideways-backwards, monotonous Pep-ball. It will take them a while to transition into a different style, if that is what Tuchel indeed wants.

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I don’t understand the fuss about Foden. He very rarely influences a game.  All he ever did last night was trap it and pass it back into midfield. He didn’t even try to beat the full back once. Rashford wasn’t much better.

He's not a winger, that's why.

He was shoved out wide to accommodate Jamie Tartt - sorry Jude Bellingham. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

3 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He's not a winger, that's why.

He was shoved out wide to accommodate Jamie Tartt - sorry Jude Bellingham. 

It doesn’t matter where he plays, he’s very rarely above average for England.

Edited 14 hours ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

[chaddyrovers]

Foden will never play as number 10 in the England team cos of Bellingham

[RoverDom]

I have doubts about foden in anything other than a pep team. 

[simongarnerisgod]

39 minutes ago, Claytons Left Boot said:

That was the problem last night Matty.

I watched a pre match interview with Tuchel, where he was inferring that the team would play in a more British manner. Long ball if needed, with strength and physique, pace etc. 

None of them play this way week in, week out. They’re still all programmed in to the horrendous, backwards-sideways-backwards, monotonous Pep-ball. It will take them a while to transition into a different style, if that is what Tuchel indeed wants.

pep-ball was great at barcelona,only because he had 3 absolute all time greats and 8 other world class players  in his side,it really is annoying and boring to see anyone else try it,though man city tried to emulate it and did to a certain extent,they did`nt have you rushing to the telly to watch them,i found them quite monotonous

[roverandout]

6 hours ago, riverholmes said:

England’s much heralded U21s (with Wharton) lost 5-3 in France. Naturally, the media that complacently hype the team don’t much reflect on what became a near thrashing.

Watching parts of the game, what was apparent, apart from horrendous defending, was that this talented young side struggled to know how to manage the game. Concerning for the future, despite the individual talent.

 

 

 

It was a friendly.  We beat France 4-0 in a friendly a year ago

[roverandout]

Haven't been on this thread since yesterday because I was expecting a barrage of negativity. Yes it wasn't great. I was bored shitless.  Take into account Albania only lost by 1 goal against Italy and Spain at the euros and drew with Croatia.  These aren't easy games. We pressed alot better than under Southgate and it could have been more than 2-0. The negatives. Foden never turns up for England.  We passed the ball too much. The positives, myles Lewis-skelly was immense.  Bellingham was his usual marauding self. Konsa looked excellent at the back. I thought rashford was pretty poor.  I'm looking forward to seeing saka and Palmer in this team. Madueke gives us far more pace on the wing.  Also Wharton should be playing deep, allowing rice to get forward.  I've no interest in debating roversfan on the England topic because we never agree. 

Edited 13 hours ago by roverandout

[roverandout]

1 hour ago, Exiled_Rover said:

He's not a winger, that's why.

He was shoved out wide to accommodate Jamie Tartt - sorry Jude Bellingham. 

Jude bellingham is England's best player 

[roversfan99]

"A barrage of negativity."

I think it was standard and boring qualification fare. Players playing at 75% against really poor opposition and winning comfortably.

You dont really learn anything as qualification is really easy with the additional teams in every tournament, its against far inferior opposition, its over a year until the tournament and there is no test. The defence will likely be our ondoing v the top teams but for the most part had no concerns last night.

[K-Hod]

17 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Haven't been on this thread since yesterday because I was expecting a barrage of negativity. Yes it wasn't great. I was bored shitless.  Take into account Albania only lost by 1 goal against Italy and Spain at the euros and drew with Croatia.  These aren't easy games. We pressed alot better than under Southgate and it could have been more than 2-0. The negatives. Foden never turns up for England.  We passed the ball too much. The positives, myles Lewis-skelly was immense.  Bellingham was his usual marauding self. Konsa looked excellent at the back. I thought rashford was pretty poor.  I'm looking forward to seeing saka and Palmer in this team. Madueke gives us far more pace on the wing.  Also Wharton should be playing deep, allowing rice to get forward.  I've no interest in debating roversfan on the England topic because we never agree. 

So this isn’t a barrage of negativity then? 😅.

[roverandout]

12 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

So this isn’t a barrage of negativity then? 😅.

Yep lol but it's  constructive negativity 

Edited 13 hours ago by roverandout

[roverandout]

12 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

"A barrage of negativity."

I think it was standard and boring qualification fare. Players playing at 75% against really poor opposition and winning comfortably.

You dont really learn anything as qualification is really easy with the additional teams in every tournament, its against far inferior opposition, its over a year until the tournament and there is no test. The defence will likely be our ondoing v the top teams but for the most part had no concerns last night.

I totally agree.  My goodness we agree on something 

[Exiled_Rover]

1 hour ago, roverandout said:

Jude bellingham is England's best player 

Probably, but he doesn't need to touch the ball as much as he does. He DEMANDS it from teammates rather than complementing them.

[roverandout]

1 minute ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Probably, but he doesn't need to touch the ball as much as he does. He DEMANDS it from teammates rather than complementing them.

Agree somewhat but I like that he wants the ball. He's got a swagger. At least he doesn't hide like foden 

[joey_big_nose]

England have got a lot of good players but its hard to see how to build a well balanced world class team out of them. Everyone loves coming short, ball to feet, central. Just too samey... 

It will be interesting if Tuchel can get anything different out of them.