The Official World Cup 2018 Megathread

[nimrod]

it's a soft pen, but take our chances and we're still ahead. it's a shame because it was a really good half for us, score aside.

 

[YoungWolf]

From 25-35 minutes (just before the pen) I thought we were quite poor really looked a bit rushed in possession. The penalty seemed to wake us up

 

[Langers]

We're able to carve them open pretty easily but really need to be taking our chances.

And the penalty was correct. Silly from Walker but we're the better side and we've looked dangerous throughout.

Very frustrating, but a lot to be pleased with despite the scoreline. But we have to be finishing better.

 

[Carrotdude]

It’s nice to be able to say we’ve played well and should be winning comfortably even if we’re not

 

[Doctor Doog]

If this defence plays against Belgium, they'll get double figures.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Disappointing but it feels like same old England, I'm really not surprised.

It really isn't is it?

England have been excellent.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

If this defence plays against Belgium, they'll get double figures.

Like they did earlier? What bollocks.

 

[Tredman]

Agree with Jenas, if Alli is coming off we really should be bringing RLC on, not Delph.

 

[malta mick]

Why is Walker playing in the back 3 - its like us playing Doc !!

 

[Tredman]

Because we don't (or shouldn't) need 3 at the back against Tunisia.

 

[Jack Regan]

If this defence plays against Belgium, they'll get double figures.

Belgium were dreadful for 55 minutes, so slow and laboured. Defensively they're easily as disorganised as we are, Boyata, Carrasco (winger) and Meunier (constantly out of position) are crap.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Agree with Jenas, if Alli is coming off we really should be bringing RLC on, not Delph.

Definitely. They're not trying to play through us and it's not like he's a wallflower anyway.

I'd love to have Lallana playing instead of Lingard here but obviously it's not an option.

 

[Doctor Doog]

Like they did earlier? What bollocks.

Earlier?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Belgium - against a defence a billion times worse.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Because we don't (or shouldn't) need 3 at the back against Tunisia.

Tunisia are not that bad - need to put our chances away

We have created enough

 

[ndorsetwolf]

This feels exactly like England as always, start well, early goal then lose focus and let the opposition back in with a soft goal.

England have been pretty good in approach play, however, the finishing has been about league 1 standard. That isn't excellent. Or maybe I am just jaded from watching Enmgland in so many previous tournaments and I just expect it to go wrong.

 

[Alan]

Because we don't (or shouldn't) need 3 at the back against Tunisia.

Is this really right, though? If you play with the right intent and tactics I don't think having X number of players in Y formation against Z opposition makes or breaks things.

Just something I see a lot that I'm not sure I agree with, no matter the perceived gap in quality between two sides.

 

[Parkins left foot]

This feels exactly like England as always, start well, early goal then lose focus and let the opposition back in with a soft goal.

England have been pretty good in approach play, however, the finishing has been about league 1 standard. That isn't excellent. Or maybe I am just jaded from watching Enmgland in so many previous tournaments and I just expect it to go wrong.

I like the way you have a spelling error in your edit as well!

 

[Tredman]

Is this really right, though? If you play with the right intent and tactics I don't think having X number of players in Y formation against Z opposition makes or breaks things.

Just something I see a lot that I'm not sure I agree with, no matter the perceived gap in quality between two sides.

It's more about having a CB who can get forward and can play RB rather than having a worse player.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Is this really right, though? If you play with the right intent and tactics I don't think having X number of players in Y formation against Z opposition makes or breaks things.

Just something I see a lot that I'm not sure I agree with, no matter the perceived gap in quality between two sides.

Depends, sometimes if you have defenders matching up against no-one then it's a waste of time. For instance I felt we should have taken off one of the back three against Forest in January at 2-0 down because they weren't attacking and putting Cav at LWB in the end seemed counterproductive. Social media being what it is, this mild criticism apparently meant I thought Nuno was the worst manager in the world, but y'know. We were wasting our time a bit having Ryan Bennett on the pitch marking empty space.

The issue here hasn't been shape though, it's been wasting chances and Walker being a flid.