Group B: England, Iran, United States, Wales (England and USA qualify)

[NUFCDoog]

4 minutes ago, RS said:

Just me that can see a fired up Wales meeting Southgate driven negative tactics and knocking us out of the tournament?

Would need to score 4 and beat us by 3 clear goals so not happening, could certainly see us not win the game though 

[ponsaelius]

7 minutes ago, RS said:

Just me that can see a fired up Wales meeting Southgate driven negative tactics and knocking us out of the tournament?

 

There's no way even the worst England lose by 4 goals to Wales. We are through.

[The Butcher]

England's biggest problem is a lack of a plan. There are no patterns of play, no rhythm, no nothing. 

 

There are some really good players in that squad, but they all look like strangers on the pitch. 

[Lush Vlad]

Fuck we are boring to watch. Just another reason to go up the pub with your mates, really. 
 

I prefer to watch NUFC at home if it’s on the TV. As you see and hear more. But I think I’d change the channel if I was sat at home watching England. 
 

Whenever there is a tight game. Southgate just seems happy with his lot. Never makes inspiring subs or seems to make any meaningful decisions that change it mid-game. 5 subs, wait all that time and the first thing we do is bring Henderson on FFS  not that he played badly, TBF. But Mount, Saka and Sterling were stinking the pitch out and we have some great options in the forward positions. Foden and Wilson not even getting 10-15 mins is daft. 
 

I’m still not sure what our plan is when we are trying to build an attack when in possession? The odd diagonal to the full backs or Kane drop deep and then nobody goes beyond the ball? 
 

Depressing as fuck to watch such negative shite. Yanks were the better team. 

[WilliamPS]

Tbh if you dig out the threads from the Sweden games, Croatia and Italy you’d see the same issues - England have relied on set pieces or one off moves down the flanks for goals. The midfield has always been poor, although what’s worse this time is he has options (unlike in 2018)

 

With Southgate I think the most they can be hoped for are minor player changes - likely Sterling out for Grealish or Foden.

 

I would like to see a move from the 4231 to 433 to get the midfield functioning and get players closer to Rice but this is probably too big an ask (comically small change as it is!)

[ponsaelius]

Honestly the game last night was bad but people do overreact. A draw puts us essentially through while a loss would have left things completely in the balance. We could afford to do that because the opening win was so convincing.

 

I complained after the Scotland game bitterly that we had 'lost monentum' because of the way we played - but it turned out to be nonsense as we cruised through the rest of the competition up to the final. So this time I am witholding judgement.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by ponsaelius

[Shearergol]

1 hour ago, joeyt said:

 

Second most goals ever in the Prem, incredible statement. Do you really think Southgate should have started Wilson over him?

Kane’s been world class over the years. I just think we needed an in the box striker on the pitch last night.

[St1pe]

Reading loads of stuff on twitter saying Trent should have played. Trent marking Pulisic instead of Trippier and we lose that game. 
 

There was absolutely nothing happening up front so he’d have no one to pass to while having to keep Puslic quiet. No chance. 

[Hanshithispantz]

Playing TAA with no striker 

 

The few times we actually looked dangerous were when Trippier played Saka in behind the fullback.

 

[Vedder]

1 hour ago, La Parka said:

Sterling is a liability. 

 

Mount is fucking shit.

 

The gap between the forward 4 and rice and Bellingham was too far.

 

Not one of the centermids can pick a pass through the lines .

 

The pressing was utter shit, they'd be better off sitting in shape in a low block. 

 

Kane is our best player with the ball at his feet, but he's often too deep if saka and theoretically sterling get in behind.

 

Trips was shit. He misses almiron. 

 

The passing was ponderously slow, predictable shit. There was no urgency. 

Agree 100%.

 

if we’re playing Chelsea, I’m not worried about Mount or Sterling (this season) starting for them. They’re very average. 
 

Foden should definitely be in the team. 

 

On the positive side, Luke Shaw has been better than I expected in the two games so far. 

[Ben]

So if Wales beat us they go through even if we have the same points and a better goal difference 

[astraguy]

Didn't watch it but looking at Livescore it's laughable foden or Wilson didn't come on,Foden is our world class player imo

[Rich]

28 minutes ago, Ben said:

So if Wales beat us they go through even if we have the same points and a better goal difference 

Eh? (They don’t)

[ponsaelius]

37 minutes ago, Ben said:

So if Wales beat us they go through even if we have the same points and a better goal difference 

 

No. It's on goal difference, not head to head.

[joeyt]

1 hour ago, Shearergol said:

Kane’s been world class over the years. I just think we needed an in the box striker on the pitch last night.

 

There wouldn't be a manager in the world who would have left him out last night, especially after how good he was against Iran

[Ben]

13 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

 

No. It's on goal difference, not head to head.

So we are through then unless something horrific happens ?

 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by Ben

[Yorkie]

Rubbish game and a poor performance but so was Scotland in the Euros. Ultimately it's a useful point because all that matters is getting through the group stage; Portugal won the Euros without winning a single match in the group stages. 

 

People (not pointing to anyone here) criticise results at international tournaments as if they're comparable to 38-match league campaigns, when the competitions couldn't be more different. It's a short and condensed schedule where progress is about fine margins. 

 

Obviously we'll have to improve but I just find the "Gotcha!"s re Southgate so tedious whenever we have a poor game. The only result that matters in this setting is the last one. 

[ponsaelius]

2 minutes ago, Ben said:

So we are through then unless something horrific happens ?

 

Yup. Through unless we get howked.

[ponsaelius]

Just now, Yorkie said:

Rubbish game and a poor performance but so was Scotland in the Euros. Ultimately it's a useful point because all that matters is getting through the group stage; Portugal won the Euros without winning a single match in the group stages. 

 

People (not pointing to anyone here) criticise results at international tournaments as if they're comparable to 38-match league campaigns, when the competitions couldn't be more different. It's a short and condensed schedule where progress is about fine margins. 

 

Obviously we'll have to improve but I just find the "Gotcha!"s re Southgate so tedious whenever we have a poor game. The only result that matters in this setting is the last one. 

 

Also club football is about building a style, fluidity and intensity over that extensive period. Over years and year even. I'm always amazed people watch international football and expect the same thing. It simply doesn't happen from any of the teams really. They're a bunch of players hoyed together. You will always get duff performances.

[Shearergol]

13 minutes ago, joeyt said:

 

There wouldn't be a manager in the world who would have left him out last night, especially after how good he was against Iran

But would another manager make a change when they see it’s not working?

[Dr.Spaceman]

9 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

Rubbish game and a poor performance but so was Scotland in the Euros. Ultimately it's a useful point because all that matters is getting through the group stage; Portugal won the Euros without winning a single match in the group stages. 

 

People (not pointing to anyone here) criticise results at international tournaments as if they're comparable to 38-match league campaigns, when the competitions couldn't be more different. It's a short and condensed schedule where progress is about fine margins. 

 

Obviously we'll have to improve but I just find the "Gotcha!"s re Southgate so tedious whenever we have a poor game. The only result that matters in this setting is the last one. 

 

I think the issue for me and a few others was the perceived lack of  effort (tactically) from England. We didn't press, put in any tackles, have many efforts on target, hell, me or @Sifu could have played in goal for either side and it would have still finished 0-0. So poor when you've got an elite striker like Harry Kane on the pitch, coming up against players from Fulham and the Tampa Bay Rowdies or whoever it was.

[ponsaelius]

I agree the inability to put pressure on their defence was the most frustrating thing. Even from set pieces. Were never able to overcome their intensity in midfield.

[Mike]

Woke up absolutely fucked off about the result.

[Sima]

Not surprised at Southgate’s negative tactics.

 

This is the same bloke that dropped his arse and changed his subs when Iran pulled it back to 4-1 on Monday with not bringing Wilson on.

 

As soon as we scored a fifth he made the sub.

[St. Maximin]

18 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

Rubbish game and a poor performance but so was Scotland in the Euros. Ultimately it's a useful point because all that matters is getting through the group stage; Portugal won the Euros without winning a single match in the group stages. 

 

People (not pointing to anyone here) criticise results at international tournaments as if they're comparable to 38-match league campaigns, when the competitions couldn't be more different. It's a short and condensed schedule where progress is about fine margins. 

 

Obviously we'll have to improve but I just find the "Gotcha!"s re Southgate so tedious whenever we have a poor game. The only result that matters in this setting is the last one. 

Agree it’s a useful point, but I don’t think most people are so bothered by the result as the performance and tactics. It was absolute rubbish and USA would have deservedly won with a better striker. Southgate’s limitations were shown up again and refusing to use Foden is just weird. We should be building the team around him, let alone bringing him off the bench when starved of creativity.