Once again, Southgate let the game drift and made no changes until the 70th minute, he then bought on the chaos merchant that is Gallagher rather than asking Wharton or Marino to give some control. I really don't understand his approach. Decent first half, although Serbia came back into it. 5 minutes into the second half it was clear that we had lost control. Rice was babysitting TTA as he is an accident waiting to happen in that position.
2 Apr 2024
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The biggest problem we have is that there has been highly consistent selection and tactics, to the exclusion of trying any other options, for a number of years. Now we have picked a squad that can't play that way, because key component parts aren't there.
So we need to experiment, and hope for the best. Yet the virtually invisible Kane plays the ninety.
The atmosphere and condition the squad is in means we are more consistent than England have ever been in my lifetime. But the flaws the approach exposes still means that we are likely to fall short.
A more clinical tactician probably won't get them to the same level of output, to put that cherry on top. Southgate can, but has no fruit.
That's just how it is.
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I Understand the reason for TAA in midfield because as a defender he is a liability as caused by his cock up at the end of the first half. Having said that his set pieces are usually excellent and he can pass like no other but I suspect he was a little overwhelmed by the occasion which is okay. He wasn't very good but no-one was with the exception of Bellingham who was terrific. Kane should have been pulled though. Looks injured. Not in it at all. Watkins or even Toney showing what they could do would have been more optimal.
It is was it is as England are always dodgy on their first games in tournaments. Not sure why everyone was bricking it, Serbia didn't look that likely to get into it. Was disappointed with Foden only because I think he is a sensational player. I think that Saka if he can stop getting the shit kicked out of him is also going to be a star though.
Can we bin off Kane for a few games and see what a rest will do for him? Gareth won't do that but I wish he would.
Chicago: Reasonably satisfied.
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I'd really rather not, although if he goes on to top score in the tournamenty as we stroll to victory, then I will not be upset.
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Not sure that the manager is allowed to muck about with brand England. It's the only thing that I can think to make sense of what I can see with my eyes, of a football coach who also presumably has eyes. I can't think of any coach in world football who doesn't change their centre forward. Let alone one that regularly does fuck all of anything. Especially in tight games. Even pep who doesn't like a sub changes the Viking beast.
It makes absolutely no footballing sense. Must be something to do with money.
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Took me a while to work out who your autocorrect player was - for a moment there I had visions of Carlos Merino miraculously reincarnated as an Englishman. Though 'control' is not a word I'd always associate with Wor Carlos.
Usual ritual "we should be stuffing teams like Serbia" knee-jerk shite all over everywhere this morning. Serbia are not rubbish; they have played 17 games (before last night) since losing 3-0 to Brazil at the start of the Qatar WC, and they have scored in 15 of them. Almost everyone was wringing their hands about England's defence before last night; they did fine.
England also have along history of stuffing up the opening game of tournaments - something like 7 of the last 8 have either been draws or defeats.
We won. It's fine. Stop hyper-analysing everything (not aimed at you, Guru - just in general).
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Exocet Winklepickers is the name of my new death metal band.
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Just read this elsewhere that made me smile - 'had £5 on Kane completing 4 dribbles tonight. Bet came in when he was halfway through singing the National Anthem'.
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Hungary's #9 does not fit the mold of a modern international centre forward.
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Seems Matt Bianco is once again playing for Ukraine
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Leicester's star centre half looking like an absolute mug to let Slovakia take the lead.
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And Orel Mangala anchoring the Belgium midfield.
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Belgium look a yard off the pace here.... and as we all know* the pace that you can play at determines the level. Wouldn't be surprised to see them go on to lose from here. Although they can kick, and that can get you out of trouble.
* Heavily branded dead legged striker myopia aside.
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Oh dear, Lukaku’s touch…. I guess you can’t lose it if you never had it
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Sels would have saved that.
Hilarious that the Belgies are clocking up already.
Chicago: Chortling.
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Maybe but he wouldn’t have got near that volley at the end of the first half that Casteels tipped round the post ;)
