Mole_Toonfan

Whole reason i was looking forward to this WC, we actually looked like in the friendlies that we have a team which has a plan and plays towards that plan. I can't remember the last time that happened.

In theory our team should be better set up to be the underdog tbh but i guess we'll see.

It's far too simplistic view to say the first decent team we play will beat us. Against a decent team they will have to concentrate and defend properly and they won't switch off anything like as much as when playing against teams like this. It's incredibly hard to be mentally on top of your game when you are up by multiple goals, as seen by the amount of times big teams go up big in the first leg of a CL tie and somehow it's a close game in the 2nd leg. My concern atm is i feel like we don't have enough passers in midfield but Southgate is doing as good as job as you can to negate that.

Didn't see anyone shitting on Panama when Belgium scored 3 against them, but when we score 5 before half time it's because they are the worst team ever.

I agree it would be nice if Sterling get a goal or two, be at least he's releasing the ball early today. I was very critical of him in the first game because he held the ball too long if he can make quick decisions that's good.

Expecting the usual whenever a team goes up big at half time, slow the pace down and preserve energy with early subs. Would like to be proven wrong but i don't expect it.

You are tbh.

No idea, they must be fucking shit though !

Seriously how did USA not qualify over this lot?

Best team in the tournament tbh.

I liked how he said we will have the majority of possession which in these hot conditions will allow us to dictate the tempo etc. He said that not through arrogance, but belief as that’s how he wants us to play and has us playing. 4 years ago we never had the majority of possession even against so-called lesser teams. Not only that but considering how we have a bunch of players who want to press high, keeping the ball allows us to conserve energy so we don't get completely gassed in 40 minutes.

I mean, you say that like we would've gotten anywhere near such a tally in the same circumstances. Considering we had the chances to score more than that when they hardly left their box against us i don't see why we wouldn't. They barely defended at all in the first half against England. When they tightened up in the second England barely had a chance What? they barely left their penalty area the entire game first half or second half. Because we managed to create chances early on doesn't change that. It wasn't even close to the same as today where they actually tried to attack.

Can't wait until the Germans get knocked out, the amount of arrogance they have is disgusting.

I mean, you say that like we would've gotten anywhere near such a tally in the same circumstances. Considering we had the chances to score more than that when they hardly left their box against us i don't see why we wouldn't.

Considering how we play i completely understand it now personally.

I want to see him play for a team which actually has some technical talent, mainly because i'm tired of the what if situation which seems to have dominated his career.

No idea why they are playing Witsel and De Bruyne as two CMs tbh, can see a better team exploiting that.

In the sense yes, but his movement off the ball isn't all that great. When he has space to run into he looks great, but he's not good at making movement off the ball to create space for his team mates. Which has always been my no 1 criticism of him, for example Harry Kane is significantly better at this and it's part of the reason why Spurs midfield excels so much. Which is why i was so adamant about my opinion of him going years back, it's the one skillset which top teams require the most and it's the thing he struggles with the most. I'd argue that his technique ( which is what i see most people criticise) isn't even that bad really.

They are all twats in general so it's not surprising.

Can't believe he's not isolated upfront while everyone else defends as well, i don't even blame him at Man Yoo as Mourinho is clearly a melt of the highest order. "Never play in the Champions League" I never said that, i said he wouldn't perform for a team in the CL because of the flaws he has and considering all the complaints i had about him back then have basically been said on a weekly basis this season i don't feel too bad tbh. Although like i said it's not his fault, no striker would look good under Mourinho.

I don't quite understand Tunisia though, it's made for an exciting game but against us they barely left the penalty area.

Can't believe he's not isolated upfront while everyone else defends as well, i don't even blame him at Man Yoo as Mourinho is clearly a melt of the highest order.

Nee one's going to let this supporting Belgium shit fly Michael. It's okay, it will just feel better when we thrash his Poirot boys. It will feel beautiful, almost like there's something at stake. I'm crying with happiness just thinking about it.

Man, I am nervous. The thing is we are not always the most disciplined defensively, and with those two on the pitch, and the likes of Higuain and Dybala to bring on ... well, it's going to be a bumpy ride. I am very hopeful though. A very strong possibility that a draw takes us through too, and so we don't have to go too gung-ho to try and win the game, so guess we'll see how it goes. Yeah but the players behind them are incapable of not only finding them with passes or taking advantage of the space afforded to them because they are double and triple teamed. Unless something drastically changes i don't see how Nigeria don't win.

They aren't capable of extraordinary things if they don't get the ball, you'll win and easily.