The Football Thread

[victor meldrew]

Well three points missed.

First half highlights empty stadium, hitting the post, very little else.

Second half we made early running Kane heads one against the bar, while Rashford misses two opportunities at one on one.

Sterling

Why does Henderson get so angry when a decision goes against him, needs to calm down on Monday's day off.

Damage limitation against Spain should see us avoid relegation, unless we lose at home to Croatia.

[Meini Again]

Croatian police guided some England fans to a high-up Pub.
They could see one half of the ground ~ posted pics on Twattles

On the other side of the ground, some England fans, on a hill, started chanting "Pickford-Give-Us-A-Wave"... which he heard, and rsponded to

Seems mostly England fans around the ground, which may be why Croatia moved the match away from the Capital.



Anyway... Sir Gareth has moved on from Pearce's triangles with the U23s to a hi-tech quadrangle for passes. Stunning. Means people like Kane get to stand around forever, waiting for the high ball or the lucky and rare, throughball.

Jadon Sancho replaces Raheem Sterling.

At 78 Minutes... and is joint MotM with Ben Chilwell, another debutant.

Harry K had less than 12 touches in 90 minutes and Ross B.... emough said

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by Greenman

England v Croatia. The game is incredibly boring to listen to with Terry Butcher droning on and Chris Waddle moaning about things as usual on 5Live.

I felt sorry for them: two of England's most passionate former players and supporters sat watching souless rubbish.

During the WC, when expectations had been so low, the nation appeared buoyed by our ability to turn over a couple of pub level national sides then, experience a sensational win a penalty shoot out. After that, we were more than a bit rubbish, saddled with a manager who is a tactically inept embarressment.

A small number of players came out of the competition with their international standing greatly enhanced. Trippier was certainly one of them. And was dropped last night to make way for Walker, who is over-rated as a defender and always nods off at least once during a game but was presumably in to shore up the hapless Sterling.

If ever there was a straw being clutched at, it's Raheem Sterling. FFS put him out of our misery.

Sadly last night confirmed that we have a side built on pace with a tactical approach which means we resort to being pedestrian at best, a midfield utterly devoid of talent, whether it be old, new, borrowed or blue, and a striker who is given appalling service and is bereft of confidence. Add that to a media who still over-rate our chances, a nice but clueless manager and a broadcasting policy fated to alienate supporters.

And they had to watch this shower in an empty stadium where you struggled to get a cup of tea? I think we were lucky to get moans and groans rather than the sound of snoring or seats flapping back into an upright position and former pros vacating to go to the nearest bar.

[Old Jud]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

.....while Rashford misses two opportunities at one on one.

.

I refer to him as 'Danny Welbeck MK 2'.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Rashford isn't good enough to be in Utd's first team.

He always lets us down in the crucial games, he misses sitter after sitter, what use is pace (and he has it in abundance) if the final ball ends up in row Z?

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by Old Jud

I refer to him as 'Danny Welbeck MK 2'.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Rashford isn't good enough to be in Utd's first team.

He always lets us down in the crucial games, he misses sitter after sitter, what use is pace (and he has it in abundance) if the final ball ends up in row Z?

At least Welbeck scores in internationals, given chance. Which under gormless Gareth, he isn't.

As for Utd, you have damn near a whole squad who struggle to be good enough to be in your first team but someone has to be. De Gea is excellent but limited - no use beyond the six yard box, but that's a MU tradition, as you've always had two steadfast, reliable central defenders who command the area. You may be able to detect a snag already?
You have Pogba, undoubtedly a world class something, but what, precisely, is debatable. Jose is spot on in his assessment of Lukaku, but frankly the remainder of the first team squad veer between just about competent, through to downright lucky to be there. And at Old Trafford, that ain't ever going to be good enough.

[footstep]

Went to a Coupe de France match this afternoon 5th "tour".
10 vs 11 th division.
1 5 visitors.
Poor skill, poor physic, poor everything.
I was surprised I didn't enjoy..

[djangoed]

Germany are going through a bit of a weird phase to say the least, they lost 3-0 to Holland who have had a dismal few years themselves. I read that Germany have only won 3 of their last 12 matches, a bit of a head scratcher really? One thing I know, this dip in form won't be permanent.

[pierrelm]

Spain 0- 2 England after half an hour. Scorers: Sterling, Rashford.

The bookmakers must be curled up with laughter and I'm wondering what I've been smokin'...

er, Spain 0- 3 England and unfeckinbelieveably, Raheem of the Rovers has a second goal...

Have I been on the mushroom tea and Amsterdam brownies or what?!!!!!!!!!!!

[m100]

Don't worry give it a few days it will all be forgotten and we'll be being told how Spain are kings of the world etc etc.

[Greenman]

3-2 England win fantastic stuff just a shame there were a few idiots who had to spoil the build up to it.