Paid Members FLips Posted July 19 Paid Members Posted July 19 18 minutes ago, SuperBacon said: I don't think you can draw any conclusions from what was essentially a training exercise, and if you think Kane is the problem, I really don't know what to say. Genuinely baffling. I'm not saying he's a problem exactly, like I said he scored goals so his inclusion wasn't exactly a waste. I'm saying that he's 32 years old and when he's alone up front our entire team has to try and cater to him and that's a problem when we have so many young up and coming players who are faster, have a more positive mindset and with some experience on the pitch could create more fluidity within the team. He was our sole striker for most of the tournament bar the odd useless Toney cameo and he still wasn't our top scorer. Do you think he's going to be any better in 2 or 4 years than he is now? If we're adamant on taking him, he needs to be used more sparingly than as sole striker every game when we could have been playing teams like last night. Without having a mindset of crossing to Kane because he can't keep the pace of a Rashford or a Saka, we instead had nearly a full midfield of attacking players all contributing and scoring, making individual runs and taking chances we never would have taken had he been there. That for me was a more exciting and potentially better England team than one with Kane in it and one I'd be a lot more excited to watch, win lose or draw, in the next Euros and World Cup. Ideally I'd like to see an actual striker replace him, but we have very slim pickings. The way we played last night but replacing Toney with a midfielder to drop back is the next best option. It's the same with Pickford. He's our best choice keeper and on his day he can perform, but he's worryingly crap with the ball at his feet yet always attempts to play from the back, loses his temper like a stroppy little boy easily, and ultimately in black and white terms, I don't think our absolute best option for a keeper should be finishing in the bottom end of the table every season with Everton. It's fine if you have a couple of midfielders or defenders that are in the lower teams but he's a solo position, we need someone better there. That's less on him though and more on other issues with the Premier League in general. If there was more focus on domestic players we'd have likely taken Trafford and actually played him but I think him being binned off for Donnarumma in the league sealed his fate and has left him without the experience needed to lead England in goal. Basically what I'm saying is Tuchel needs to look at all these 30+ year old players and think ahead to 2 or 4 years from now and what we'll do when they're gone because playing them constantly, or in the case of Jordan Henderson, taking them to the WC at all in favour of other less experienced but fantastic players is going to leave us in some serious shit. Quote
Paid Members johnnyboy Posted July 19 Paid Members Posted July 19 England looked amazing yesterday. The French defence could not be arsed. These things are not mutually exclusive. Quote
d-d-d-dAz Posted July 19 Posted July 19 If there is a Kane issue, i'm not sure it's him being up front alone. The argument you could make is having your 9 sit so deep to enable the runners, you're required to stock your squad with a surplus of fast, direct, flank-hugging wide players and England can't really afford to accomodate the Madueke's of the world given who they've left at home. If Harry played more 'up front alone', there might be space for ball playing 10s like Foden or Palmer or even Gibbs White and England might (just might) be better in possession. Quote
Members SuperBacon Posted July 19 Author Members Posted July 19 I think one of the issues is that none of the England wide players, Saka apart, are really providers. The rest are wide players who will try (quite rightly) to get on the end of balls themselves or create a shooting opportunity themselves, so it's very much a question of service as well. The goal against Argentina is a great example of Kane dropping deep, creating the opportunity and Gordon coming inside and scoring, with both wide players (Rogers in that instance) doing what they're supposed to do in that instance. People talk about pace and tempo when Kane is off the field, but that's a great example that really dispels that myth, as that goal was created by pace and tempo being upped. Saka saying he's fit after last night's game makes it even stranger when you consider he didn't get a minute against Argentina. So was he not fit and now he is? Saka and Rashford are the best two to play either side of Kane IMO, but Gordon's work rate can't be ignored. I dont know if Rogers is effective on the wing (despite the goal against Argentina) and I'll keep my thoughts on Madueke to myself, as he seems like a nice lad. I just really don't know how much you can garner from last night's game. For Sakas first, England's third, the entire French team were at least 10 yards inside the England half! I'd have probably scored that (except I wouldn't as my knees are made of wafers and I'd have crumbled to dust on the third touch) For Bellinghams goal the same. The French just couldn't be arsed and who can blame them? If England went 5 or 6 games without Kane and they still performed like they did last night, I'd maybe be inclined to agree with some of the points, but the team would not be better off without him for me. The best players and managers figure it out. Quote
Paid Members mim731 Posted July 19 Paid Members Posted July 19 2 hours ago, SuperBacon said: I'll keep my thoughts on Madueke to myself, as he seems like a nice lad. I've not watched him much for England, but for Arsenal this year he offers "something" it's just hard to define exactly what. There's direct running which opens defences, he's got a decent finish at points and he works ridiculously hard. It's just putting it all together but I still think he'll get there. He's definitely got something, and whether it's a bit more coaching or something else he needs to unlock it, it'll come together I suspect at some stage. Quote
TibBo Posted July 19 Posted July 19 I get why people sometimes feel like that about Kane, because when he has a bad game he can be quite anonymous, but you really need to think why that is. Usually if he doesn’t get many touches etc, it is because the other team have setup their tactics to take him out of the game, which should then in-turn open up more space for our other players on the pitch. And the reason that they try to take him out of the game is that they know how good he is… One of the biggest issues was not solidifying the final team before the tournament. If we had a solid back-four who were used to playing together cohesively, and knew what areas each were covering etc, that would have helped greatly. Not taking Trent must seem like a mistake now. 3 people taking a goal kick and then passing it around our penalty area while the other team slowly close-in is a terrible tactic for us when we are so shaky at the back too. Every time it felt like they were playing us into trouble. Quote
Tim Healys Chutney Spoon Posted July 19 Posted July 19 What the fuck is this half time shit all about? Absolute joke and now its a 'ain't the BBC great?' Thing. Not sure if this is worse than the half time show or not.... Game is officially gone. Quote
WyattSheepMask Posted July 19 Posted July 19 (edited) That half time show was so shit it kind of circled back round into not being able to look away from it. Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl this was not Edited July 19 by WyattSheepMask Quote
Members SuperBacon Posted July 19 Author Members Posted July 19 1 hour ago, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said: What the fuck is this half time shit all about? Absolute joke and now its a 'ain't the BBC great?' Thing. Not sure if this is worse than the half time show or not.... Game is officially gone. Rubbish, it was superb bollocks. It was worth it just for this. Look at them! Loving life. Robbie turning into Paulie Walnuts. Let me heh heh entertain you. No shots on target in 120 minutes. Enzo sent off. Simeone in tears. Pedro Porro world cup winner. Lovely stuff. Quote
deathrey Posted July 19 Posted July 19 Rashers, that half time show was absolutely cringe worthy. The best thing about it was The Count from Sesame Street popping up Quote
BrodyGraham Posted July 19 Posted July 19 (edited) Uninspiring game of football marred by FIFA bullshit and Argentinian fuckery. Not a bad metaphor for the whole tournament to be honest. Best team won. Shout out to Pau Cubarsi for that picture Perfect Kurt Hennig bump to get Enzo sent off. Edited July 19 by BrodyGraham Quote
Members SuperBacon Posted July 19 Author Members Posted July 19 6 minutes ago, deathrey said: Rashers, that half time show was absolutely cringe worthy. The best thing about it was The Count from Sesame Street popping up I support Spurs, I'm used to seeing muppets on the pitch. Quote
BrodyGraham Posted July 19 Posted July 19 1 minute ago, SuperBacon said: I support Spurs, I'm used to seeing muppets on the pitch. I can hear that picture. Quote
Members SuperBacon Posted July 19 Author Members Posted July 19 Wayne Rooney saying Infantino looks stupid in his trainers after earlier calling the half time crap. He's had a superb tournament. I love him. Quote
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