leffe186

Skimmed through the first half and Greece look like much the better side. Second half too so far (up to 55 mins). Just in the bits I’ve seen they should be three or four down. Must have been a crazy turnaround.

Also I suspect a lot of it was families getting the kids home for bed.

I’d never leave a game early, but now at least you should be able to relate to what a pain in the arse it is to get home from. And I live in North London.

Brilliant by Bowen again.

Rogers allways takes the ball the right way - one of those players that sees moves ahead. Anderson was brilliant too throughout. Just wish we had that one extra proper centre-forward for this half. Hopefully Solanke comes back. Once again there on the left Rashford’s execution isn’t good enough and it puts us in trouble. I wish he’d kept Gordon on the left and tried Rashford through the middle.

Rashford is just a bit too hit-and-miss for this level at times. Stones really jarred his knee then. He was yelling really badly.

Still coming back from half time. First half hour was pretty loud but then the game was over

Brilliant. So unlucky.

Terrific first half. Every single player was very good both on and off the ball. The only player I didn’t really watch closely was Watkins, but I presume he was moving the defence around because there was so much bloody space elsewhere. Still my usual concerns with him on finishing. Wonder if Tuchel gives his knee a rest and tries Rashford up front second half. Just to see.

Oh Watkins you plonker. He did that to himself. If he’d timed it properly he’d have scored and missed the post. The five minutes before that were just brilliant. I mean, Wales have been absolutely fucking shite, but we’ve both assisted that and exploited it. I remain not completely convinced by our defence but Tuchel has decided he’s happy to invite them on a bit at the back because of the space it gives us in the midfield.

Well fucking book him for it then, ref. Was a clear break on and they stopped us taking it quick.

Queuing up tbh.

I’ve got nothing against Wales, but I’d kinda like this to carry on please.

Yeah, but here it’s like Tuchel has paired him with Rogers on the right and they’ve dovetailed brilliantly with Konsa too. Fucking hell I’ve typed us another one.

The movement off the ball is so much better under Tuchel than I can ever remember. I know the opponents haven’t been the best in general, but still.

It pisses me off, but Saka is just such a good player.

This is genuinely embarrassing

Such a lovely ball in from Saka. That should be the stuff Leeds Wales can deal with in their sleep but they’re getting absolutely battered here.

I’m so impressed with Rogers. I know he learned his trade at Man City but every step up he’s made he’s looked at home - confident and classy. Spence has got to learn to use his pace to go past the RB on the outside. He can do it if he puts his mind to it, but needs to work on that left foot. Man every time I start typing we score a goal

Very clever play by Rogers. Oh and now a great goal! Nice start. Wales completely switched off.

Walked in with the dogs just as they were coming out with the mascots. I was very confused for a second, appropriately enough.

It’s slightly bonkers. In the U21s - no guarantee they’ll make the step up - literally only one player is listed as a “centre-forward”, Mubama at Man City (Stoke). He’s played 9 games for Stoke…and scored 2 goals. We’ve got a kid I really rate on loan at Oxford, Will Lankshear, who has 3 from 5. Supposedly the top English scorer in the Premier League is a winger - Jaidon Anthony. Genuine question - what other options are there? Am I missing somebody obvious?

Tonight will be really interesting and I’m kinda glad Kane is out because I want to see what Tuchel’s plan is without him. I’m concerned. Never been confident about Watkins at this level - that one finish notwithstanding - and his form this year is not inspiring. Plus he’s so different from Kane the whole team needs to change. What other options are there? Solanke isn’t amazing but does have some similarities with Kane, not blessed with real pace but capable of coming very deep, holding the ball up and distributing it well. But he’s injured. I’ve heard Rashford, Gordon and Bowen from this squad mentioned and I just don’t see it - maybe Rashford for more physical presence and the willingness to shoot. And who else is out there? Delap is injured, DCL is big and physical but a permacrock and just not good enough. Nketiah hasn’t set the world alight. Ivan Toney?? It’s actually a massive problem.

Oh yeah, I was right, naturally . Just right now there are at least half-a-dozen players on the cusp, probably more, and while you can make decent arguments for each one you have to leave some out. And in the scramble people end up saying silly stuff like “not picking TAA is insane” or “he’s not picking X because they’re young” which is demonstrably false.

Of course. That’s just nonce sense. How much time for “rollernonce”?