It was only Iran, the same as it was only Algeria and it was only Iceland. "It was only XYZ" has tripped us up or led to dull 1 goal wins for all of my life time. 

Interesting how Iran went from a robust team who could easily cause England problems to "just Iran" in about 90 (or 110) minutes. 

That is outrageous use of VAR

Even Roy Keane likes Richards 

At least Iran got a goal back to keep some on here happy. 

Every man and his dog could see his gloves shouldn't have gone back on. 

44 minutes ago, roverandout said:

They have the potential to be England's midfield for the next decade

Only until Wharton comes and benches one of them

9 hours ago, AllRoverAsia said:

a related vid what a plonker Simon Jordan is in his interview with Morgan. Absolute moron.

Jordan imo made a very good point that Morgan went all gooey eyed and didn't challenge anything Ronaldo said

3 hours ago, Nuttall is lost said:

They've literally paid locals to dress up as fans from various countries to generate atmosphere

Such a shame Scotland haven't qualified. I was look forward to a crowd of Qatari men earing one of these

21 minutes ago, matt83 said:

True. But you don’t have to be Nostradamus to see where this one is going 

Heard that one since the transfer window opened 

Not exact quotes but words to this effect have been trotted out

"Shit squad relegation fodder" 

"Poor transfer window, we wont even have a sniff of the top 6 with this squad" 

"It doesn't take a genius to realise that WLWLWL will soon become LLLLL" 

The only prediction that has come true is "if we play like that against the dingles, we'll get trounced" 

Understandable anger at the Burley result, no excuses for it at all but even before that game you've got a a handful of fans who aren't happy unless they're having a moan about something. Never mind the fact that where we're at currently has exceeded even chaddy levels of optimism at the start of the season. 

6 minutes ago, vyeo said:

I've not posted in a decade, but just felt that I wanted to comment now. I'm a big fan of what JDT has done, and in particular, appreciate the uplift in spirit and atmosphere that he has brought since joining us. 

I've watched our other abject away displays, but yesterday was the first time where I have been really, really disappointed. The selection was baffling - I can understand excluding Adam Wharton, but dropping Scott?! Think Pickering would also have felt hard done by, given his improvement over the last month or so, and having built up a good partnership with Brereton on the left. I really thought JDT would have come out to apologise for that non-performance after the game. I suppose he tried to do so in his comments, but I thought something more explicit was required given the circumstances. I'm prepared to back his calls, including on Dack, but this was a situation where he needed to hold up his hands, in my opinion. 

Anyway, having cooled down overnight, I'm telling myself to not lose sight of the bigger picture. For me, JDT has done very well overall for the first half of the season, and I would give him an A- just based the outcomes he has delivered so far. I'm sure he's not here for a lark, and that every game/result matters to him. I buy that he sees us as a project, but at the same time, I don't buy that he's not shooting for promotion this season. (Even yesterday, watching on ifollow's feed, did anyone catch JDT's reaction to a Buckley mistake down the touchline shortly after coming on? It was a blink and you'll miss it moment, but he was Fergie-mad and jumped off his chair.)

This defeat will have hurt, even if he doesn't say so overtly. The unknown is how JDT and the team reacts after the WC break. I'm quietly optimistic that we will not have a death spiral like in recent years. A big factor would be whether we are able to make a couple of astute additions to the team in January, and this is not on JDT alone - I'm hoping for a striker and a midfielder. The league is so close this year, and you never know what could happen. 

 

 

I think that's a pretty spot on assessment. There's some who arent happy unless they're moaning and have written JDT after the first defeat. However he's done a good job and we're exceeding expectations but yesterday was bad, bizzare selection, continuing to play out from the back when it had screwed us a couple of times already and just a lackluster performance. 

Hope someone nuts Barnes in the tunnel

When we play out from the back and we're outnumbered 5 to 2, why don't we just boot long where we have a numerical advantage? I'm all for drawing teams on to you but don't hold onto it when you're going down a dead end. 

1 minute ago, Tom said:

Not sure if it’s the sun or the same shorts but it’s difficult at times to pick out if it’s us or them 

I'm struggling too. Thought it was just my shit telly

Just now, davulsukur said:

Why did Barnes do that?

Weird

Cos bellend

1 minute ago, BigBar said:

Content enough with the start. Let them try break us down, yeah we need to be better on the ball but we are well set up at the minute.

Agreed. They've dominated and got one chance to show for it. 

Didn't Cootes ref yesterday? 

14 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Grealish likes the camera and took the piss out of the quality Almeron 

He was a nob head at villa tbf but the press didn't get at him till City and before the Almiron incident. 

9 hours ago, Ghost7 said:

Overhyping average players has been a problem for years with England.

As a nation we either massively overhype players or massively underhype them.

An 18 year old has one good game and he's England's future or Hary Kane is average. 

The press love to ruin English players as well. Theve lapped it up that Grealish hasn't set the world a light at City. Harry Maguire was a laughing stock even when he wasn't playing that bad. As soon as Rice gets a big money move he'll be in their sights. There's an English premium for players that, through no fault of their own, puts a big press target on their back

Wouldn't be against this line up for Iran. Let's be honest Maguire is starting so atleast Iran is a bit of game time in the legs for him. Hopefully we get to see Maddison and he's not just making up numbers.

No surprises in that squad to be honest, pretty much as expected. I wouldnt have taken wilson becuase hes made of glass but its all academic as southgate will not sub Kane off even if he was in a wheelchair. Wouldn't have taken Phillips either.

His starting 11 is what there's more unanswered questions about. I think he'll be going 

Pickford

Tripper, walker, maguire, stones, Shaw

Rice, Bellingham 

Mount or Foden, Kane, Sterling

But within that there are players who aren't what they were at the last tournament. I just hope Southgate learns to balance loyalty and keeping the team fresh. 

Saka was the surprise package last tournament I.e. very little game time prior to the tournament but had a good impact. I wonder if Maddison will be that person this time round. 

If we play 3 at the back, I'd want TAA starting

2 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Looks like young Wharton won’t be playing on Sunday. He’s starting tonight at West Ham.

Only had 45 mins i wonder if that was preplanned so he could have some involvement on Sunday. 

Would be such a good feeling stuffing Burnley to go top before WC

How long till full time? 

Personally I would keep him and play him more. However based on the fact that JDT clearly doesn't fancy him and he gets 10 minute cameos it would make sense to cash in. His wages would probably cover 2 more players but what could we realistically get fee wise for him? 

I understand not starting TAA but to not have him in the squad would be absolutely criminal. 

Southgate has his favourites and I worry that a few too many of them are either not fully fit or out of form but will be interesting to see his squad and first starting line up.