‘Screens’ in football are not really new though. People have been blocking runners before this.
England Discussion | Finish 4th
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
‘Screens’ in football are not really new though. People have been blocking runners before this.
The cross wasn't high and shouldn't even have got through. It was like the RHS of the defence didn't exist. The offside was academic.
It’s the first time in forever that England look at least competative and it’s the first time I’ve not hated at least 2-3 players within the squad leaving me bitter when watching them.
I’m all for getting a bit excited feck it. We came here massive underdogs and the support for the team is at an all time low (I read there’s just 3k England fans in Russia) so let’s just get behind them and see how we do.
You are not allowed to get excited unless we beat a tournament favourite 20-0.
It was an amazing game. England didn't really look dangerous from general play and suddenly were 5-0 up. Trippier is a key player. His set piece delivery is fantastic and that is England's main attacking threat.
England don't seem good enough to challenge the best teams but so many big games are decided by set plays you can't count them out in any game.
England don't seem good enough to challenge the best teams but so many big games are decided by set plays you can't count them out in any game.
Will be interesting knowing who we would face if we finish 1st/2nd prior to the Belgium game. I get the feeling we will take it more seriously than they will and that could lead to us topping the group.
I would want to avoid Colombia in the last 16 and Brazil/Germany in the last 8 personally. I think finishing second would be far better for us. Obviously don't want to lose momentum and if you reach the semis you're playing a good team regardless, but Mexico/Switzerland in the last 8 if as good as you will ever get to be honest.
I would want to avoid Colombia in the last 16 and Brazil/Germany in the last 8 personally. I think finishing second would be far better for us. Obviously don't want to lose momentum and if you reach the semis you're playing a good team regardless, but Mexico/Switzerland in the last 8 if as good as you will ever get to be honest.
If you think England are massive underdogs in a group with Panama and Tunisia, then, yes England fans can be excited.
A few mitigating circumstances around that... If it had been in nearly any other country you would be looking at much larger numbers. There was an estimated 70,000 England fans in the opening game of Euro 2016...
I assume they meant in the tournament as a whole.
Edit: Yes they did.
I've been watching England all my life, and yesterday was the best experience I've ever had doing it. I don't care that it was only against Panama, but we were efficient and ruthless, and it's at least 20 years since we've been that in the finals of a major tournament. I thought we showed great determination to beat Tunisia especially after we were denied two absolute stonewall penalties, and We took that momentum into the game yesterday. Bring on Belgium.
Why are some of you so keen to take a dump on a set of fans enjoying watching their NT? Bloody hell, its the World Cup, only 1 team will win it. What's wrong with fans enjoying watching their team play even if some of them go slightly overboard with their praise? The incessant need to tell everyone exactly how much excitement or fun they should have is downright odd.
Suppose it’s understandable and expected from the substantial contingent of posters from Ireland and Scotland on the Caf. Although, I personally don’t actively go out of my way to root against the ROI or Scotland, I wish ‘em all the best if they’re not playing us. It’s very easy to understand their anti-England bias, though.
The odder part for me is the English on here bashing it. Suppose it’s just residual from the last 52 years and especially the incredibly poor showings in the last 2 major tournaments. Suppose it’s a bit fashionable to be negative. Hell, even I wondered if I wanted to put myself through it again at times
. Glad I did though.Come on England!
To be fair the 2014 grouping was nasty and the least heralded team won the group.
I think England has been greatly helped by the lack of expectations and a patient attitude from the fans and media with the belief that this team might be four years away from being a favorite, even though this version is a dangerous side.
Makes for a much more enjoyable experience.
2014 was a frustrating WC for the Belgians. While they played better much better sides in their group (save for England) than 2018 they didn’t express themselves well.
This WC has been great because of attacking joy from this Belgian side.
You either win, or you're out, there are no draws in knockout competitions, so why would teams play for one?
How accurate is Delph's wife's predicted birth date likely to be? Having never had a baby I don't know if they get redone to be more accurate closer to the time or is everyone still working off a prediction months ago meaning it could be any day around now?
England actually look like one of the better teams in this world cup. I mean, the likes of France, Spain etc don't look particularly special so I dont see any reason why england should have no chance.
The team chemistry does look great, and it’s alright for England fans to get a bit excited for the first time in years.
I certainly won’t get carried away with talk about winning it, but this is a team I can get behind, and if we make a bit of noise, or upset a favourite, why not?!
I think we'll see quite a few changes for England tomorrow, same with Belgium. I can't imagine Lukaku and Hazard will start, for example. Expecting England to line up something like this:
Pickford
Stones Cahill Maguire
Alexander-Arnold Dier Delph Rose
Alli
Kane Rashford
Stones Cahill Maguire
Alexander-Arnold Dier Delph Rose
Alli
Kane Rashford
Is Alli back training? I've not seen any reports to suggest he was? I'm a bit wary of making changes for changes sake / squad harmony. We should be aiming to win all games in a consistent manner, and judging Rose solely off his cameo the other day, I'd be loath to start him, to be honest.
I thought he started training again four days ago? Maybe he's more likely to come off the bench. Now is probably the best time to rest people, especially if our opposition is doing it as well. You won't get a chance to do so in the knock-out stages and there are players who need to play so they're a little sharper if they're required in later rounds.
You missed the point. If its the last match of the group and 2 teams can play out a draw and go through then a randomised draw just increases the chance of them doing it
So Harry Kane is likely to start because he wants the golden boot. I wouldn't be fussed either way but this isn't the "Harry Kane team" as Pep once described of his club and Southgate would do well to remember that.
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I'm generally in favour of resting players at a point like this, where we actually have some degree of luxury and players who might need more game time. However, with Harry Kane and the form he's in, I'd rather he started. Just sub him by the hour mark for Vardy.
Ah right, I thought he was still training alone after only a few minutes with the squad.
I understand that players need to be fresh, but if we make wholesale changes to accommodate fringe members of the squad and do badly, regardless of the team we put out in the next round that thought will be there that the players that may be subbed on aren't playing well. It's still coming home, mind.
Yeah, it'll probably less wholesale than I posted, but I do expect changes. I'd be surprised if Henderson, Young, Sterling, or Lingard start, for example. I think it's the perfect chance to bring in Dier and Rashford at the least.
----------------- Pickford ---------------
----- Jones ----- Stones ---- Maguire
Trent ------ Dier ------ Delph ------ Rose
------------------ Alli -------------------
----------- Vardy ---- Rashford ----------
The above is the team I would play vs Belgium. If there is any area which I believe consistency is key then it would be the goalkeeper and the CB’s and with the limited amount of caps between them and time spent together on the pitch, they need to be playing together as much as possible to gain more experience. I have replaced Walker with Jones (could also play Cahill there, not fussed who plays) because of his booking so cannot risk him. Pickford has hardly been tested and Stones and Maguire have hardly broke any sweat!
In my opinion Rose should be starting ahead of Young anyways and since he isn’t, this game could be the chance to stake a claim to be a starter for the knockout stages. Dier and Delph need some gametime, so playing those 2 gives them that and also offers better stability defensively vs a better, yet much changed Belgium side compared to Tunisia and Panama. Even though I’m not sure if playing 2 defensive minded midfielders is needed.
Alli should play providing he has recovered and trained well because in the past 6 weeks he has barely played. He played sporadically in the 3 friendly games in the build-up to the World Cup and even in Tottenham’s last game of the season 6 weeks ago he only came on as a sub for the last 15 minutes. He is also one of England’s better players on his day, so we need him to remain sharp for the knockout stages. Fingers crossed he avoids any bookings or an injury! Maybe give him a run out for around 60 minutes before subbing him off.
I assume Kane will not play so Vardy and Rashford should then get a run out. That pace upfront though!!
----- Jones ----- Stones ---- Maguire
Trent ------ Dier ------ Delph ------ Rose
------------------ Alli -------------------
----------- Vardy ---- Rashford ----------
The above is the team I would play vs Belgium. If there is any area which I believe consistency is key then it would be the goalkeeper and the CB’s and with the limited amount of caps between them and time spent together on the pitch, they need to be playing together as much as possible to gain more experience. I have replaced Walker with Jones (could also play Cahill there, not fussed who plays) because of his booking so cannot risk him. Pickford has hardly been tested and Stones and Maguire have hardly broke any sweat!
In my opinion Rose should be starting ahead of Young anyways and since he isn’t, this game could be the chance to stake a claim to be a starter for the knockout stages. Dier and Delph need some gametime, so playing those 2 gives them that and also offers better stability defensively vs a better, yet much changed Belgium side compared to Tunisia and Panama. Even though I’m not sure if playing 2 defensive minded midfielders is needed.
Alli should play providing he has recovered and trained well because in the past 6 weeks he has barely played. He played sporadically in the 3 friendly games in the build-up to the World Cup and even in Tottenham’s last game of the season 6 weeks ago he only came on as a sub for the last 15 minutes. He is also one of England’s better players on his day, so we need him to remain sharp for the knockout stages. Fingers crossed he avoids any bookings or an injury! Maybe give him a run out for around 60 minutes before subbing him off.
I assume Kane will not play so Vardy and Rashford should then get a run out. That pace upfront though!!
I don't think we even played well for the first 30 mins. Panama were just awful.
Wondering if we're going to be the Spurs of international football?
Looking great and stat padding against championship or worse quality opposition.
Then will fold immediately in the first knockout game against decent opposition under any kind of pressure.
If we face Columbia in the next round I wouldn't be surprised if we lose comfortably.
Everything is set up for England to reach the semifinal.
It’s happening if we finish second. I’m feeling confident that it’ll happen.
I'm confident we'll win the whole thing. Might have to bust out some Phil Collins.
I'm with England now.
Blood nation (Nigeria) has been KO.
Blood nation (Nigeria) has been KO.
I mean, Brazil still could finish 2nd in their group or go out.
If Brazil finish 2nd, you'd say better off finishing top with Germany now out.
Brazil get knocked out and it doesn't really matter.
If it were that simple then Belgium will take 2nd. It isn't that simple though. Teams like Colombia and Sweden aren't as shite as Panama and Tunisia.
“Welcome to the terrordome”I'm with England now.
Blood nation (Nigeria) has been KO.
I think England are good enough to beat both of those teams personally.
I know we have a poor record against Sweden but I want to feel optimistic about England for once.
GS should go all out to win. Keep the mentality and confidence. Doesn't matter who we get going forward. If you want to win it, sooner or later you'll come up against the best. Better to do that having won every match.
C'mon England
C'mon England
GS should go all out to win. Keep the mentality and confidence. Doesn't matter who we get going forward. If you want to win it, sooner or later you'll come up against the best. Better to do that having won every match.
C'mon England
It’s a tricky one for Southgate but I’d always go for the easier draw (to put it into a United context, I prefered getting to the final in 2011 by beating average teams to the honourable loss to Real Madrid in the round of 16 in 2013). For England, the team I would really like to avoid is Brazil - I don’t think we have ever beaten them in a WC game and we seem to have a real inferiority complex towards them (see 2002). Against anyone else in this competition, we would have at least a puncher’s chance.
If England wins the cup they had better make sure to not drink from it - especially if the Russians insist. Though I guess it really isn't a cup...
I don't believe in resting players. You get your best XI and keep them playing together and building spirit and understanding.