2 minutes ago, enigma said:

let's be honest, we would have gone out sooner if we had belgium's run. i don't think we would have beaten japan tbh with you. 

Well, we will never know. But what we did achieve was a lot more than was expected and i will take that. I said from the start that i would have been happy to just get out of the group, but i got more than that. 

one positive is the future of england is looking bright. rashford, hudson-odoi, jadon sancho, mccreachan, reece james, phil foden, dujon sterling. i'm sure there's a few others i'm missing. 

Did well to get as far as ET in the semi-final with this squad, though the luck of the draw played a big part. The lack of creativity is very clear though, apart from set pieces we just never looked like scoring in any game except Panama.

semi-final is a good start, all the England semis have had English managers, hopefully the FA will stick to English managers in future, and English youngsters too. Keep doing that and eventually we will bring it home again.

7-1to the croations shots on goal...

2 minutes ago, Womble said:

7-1to the croations shots on goal...

yeah the back three was good to a point but tonight it was found out, hopefully Southgate will drop it now, or at least find a third center back, actually find two because Stones is sh*te, him and Walker both at fault tonight.

2 minutes ago, Womble said:

7-1to the croations shots on goal...

England been watching the Chelsea 17/18 review dvd? 

1 minute ago, Womble said:

7-1to the croations shots on goal...

i wasn't really conscious of that during the game but, yeah fair enough. England just couldn't create enough.

Just now, carrickblue said:

i wasn't really conscious of that during the game but, yeah fair enough. England just couldn't create enough.

two good center backs and a playmaker, Southgate needs to find them.

Not sure we'll ever get a draw that results in such a 'winnable' world cup in my lifetime(although never expected us to beat France).  That kind of performance was about what I expected the whole tournament before it started though.

Shaky, disorganized defense (and why the hell did we keep putting so much pressure on ourselves with dangerous balls back and forth between the keeper?). We played stones with not enough experienced players around him to compensate for his inevitable mistakes

Attacking wise we offered almost nothing, Harry Kane seemed to like hanging around miles offside where he could have no influence on the game and we have no flair players. Sterling has done nothing but squander chances the whole tournament yet he keeps starting. It's no wonder such a massive portion of the goals came from set pieces. The rigid team selection would make you think we had a first team of superstars, when we were being taken out the game, the changes seemed intended to just be more of the same. I've always thought Southgate was someone picked because he was an FA man and the team selection suggested pressure to pick a certain core of players.

Now for the pointless playoff game no one wants where all the reserve players play and get injured.

Regardless of being on the "easier" side of the draw, it's been a much improved tournament performance from England. England teams of more recent tournaments would have struggled more in the group before being disptached by Colombia or Sweden. As posted above this team is young with other young players looking to get in, so there is reason to be confident going forward.

That's not to say, however, that there aren't negatives or concerns. First off the backline. Walker is not a centre back, and he sure as sh*t is no Azpilicueta. He's a liability there. Stones is a liability full stop. I like Maguire and I think he'll improve. Also central midfield is a problem. Henderson (and Dier) are only making up the numbers and contributing nothing. And while there is some good attacking talent, Southgate didn't really get the best out of any of them and most of the goals were from set pieces.

But anyway, on the whole England did well and they can return home with their heads held high.

Edited July 11, 20188 yr by TJB

For the first time in a long time they can come back with their heads held high. Well done lads 

Edited July 11, 20188 yr by Munkworth

10 minutes ago, coco said:

two good center backs and a playmaker, Southgate needs to find them.

I agree and i think a playmaker is the most important one. We need more control in that midfield and we need a player that can play dangerous passes through the opposition defense. If there was one thing missing from England throughout this tournament it was controlled possession.

I also hope, for England's sake, that Rashford grows as a player. We need somebody better than Sterling in those dangerous area's, Sterling will never be a good enough footballer on the ball. I have said it for years now, if Sterling was a yard slower, he would never be a professional footballer.

Edited July 11, 20188 yr by Scott Harris

3 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I agree and i think a playmaker is the most important one. We need more control in that midfield and we need a player that can play dangerous passes through the opposition defense. If there was one thing missing from England throughout this tournament it was controlled possession.

I also hope, for England's sake, that Rashford grows as a player. We need somebody better than Sterling in those dangerous area's, Sterling will never be a good enough footballer on the ball. I have said it for years now, if Sterling was a yard slower, he would never be a professional footballer.

I don't know who that play-maker is - whoever he is, he must be languishing in the youth set up at some Premier League club. That's a huge problem when you look at England taking that next step. 

2 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

I don't know who that play-maker is - whoever he is, he must be languishing in the youth set up at some Premier League club. That's a huge problem when you look at England taking that next step. 

2 years is a long time in football though. Some kid could come out of nowhere.

I hate the 3rd place playoff. For the teams and fans involved, it feels more like a punishment. How do you even prepare for it mentally after going out in the semi final of a world cup? 

6 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

I don't know who that play-maker is - whoever he is, he must be languishing in the youth set up at some Premier League club. That's a huge problem when you look at England taking that next step. 

He’s sitting in our treatroom, Boss Rarkley I think his name is 

That hurts. Missed chances in the first half came back to haunt us. Second half we didn't quite  get it right and slow to react and make changes. Ultimately we weren't quite good enough on the night but we return with our heads held high. Well done lads you've given us a ride to enjoy this tournament.

looks like Kane will still win the Golden Boot - Griezmann needs 4 to beat him, Lukaku needs 3  

Agree with a few who have mentioned needing a play maker. Don’t know who it is going to be. If only josh would have progressed.

France were my favourites, i also said after the groups that Croatia would get to the final, so it's the final i expected in the end. I think France will win it though, i hope they do too. Kante going from nowhere to 2 time Premier League winner, FA Cup winner and World Cup winner in 3 years.....what a story that would be.

8 minutes ago, goose said:

Agree with a few who have mentioned needing a play maker. Don’t know who it is going to be. If only josh would have progressed.

Lewis Cook 

Fwiw I didn't think England were great, for sure credit for getting to the semi final but I can't shake the feeling that tactically we were still a little naive. As Gary Neville said on ITV everything seemed so rushed in possession.

Edited July 11, 20188 yr by the special one

yeah - I'll be backing France in the final, might as well have a couple of World Cup winners at the Bridge 

Pickford and Maguire did well - I'm sure their transfer values will see a rise

22 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

I don't know who that play-maker is - whoever he is, he must be languishing in the youth set up at some Premier League club. That's a huge problem when you look at England taking that next step. 

In hindsight, easy for me to say, Shelvey should have gone, probably in place of Delph.