Grendel
Well-Known Member
We would have been without the two goals
UEFA EURO 2024 (15 Viewers)
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We would have been without the two goals
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Kane was essentially playing as a defensive midfielder against the Swiss. Either he can’t follow instructions or he isn’t fit
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Still the best option we have and that isn’t even worth debating. He was up against Akanji who is a world class CB and Switzerland were a stoppage time equaliser away from winning their group ahead of Germany.
Watkins nor Toney have lit up the team when they’ve played for England. Kane faced the same criticisms at the last Euros.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
What has being up against Akanji got to do with him drifting behind the attacking midfielders?
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
I though Watkins' speed scared the defence when he came on for the last 20 minutes against Denmark. I haven't seen that from anyone else other than possibly Saka. He deserves at least 30 mins against the Hollandaises.
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
With respect , akanji is not world class and toney has played 157 minutes for England with a goal and assist
Harry kane is operating too deep , everybody is saying it .. it's not where we need him to be
The Swiss also drew with Scotland
Otis
Well-Known Member
Simply because they would be playing higher up the pitch, therefore giving us an outlet and helping us break out of defence. It would help take us off the back foot and push the opposition back a bit too.
Kane hasn't been holding the ball up at all has he and therefore we give the ball straight back to the opposition and they come at us again.
It's not amnesia. We are hardly creating a chance all game and barely having a shot on target.
SBAndy
Well-Known Member
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
We definitely need more shots on target. The nature of international football is more boring than in club football.
Our game had 6 shots on target (3 a piece), France v Portugal had 10 shots on target (5 each), Netherlands v Turkey had 8 shots on target (4 a piece) and the most entertaining game, Germany v Spain had 14 split between them.
Realistically, we’re just not going to drop Kane and there’s no guarantee it would lead to a better outcome. Based on the games without Kane before the Euros, it’s a stretch to think we’d be improved.
Having Bellingham and Foden as runners behind Kane is not a bad thing either.
Otis
Well-Known Member
I know he's trying to help, but I wish Kane would hold his ground higher up the pitch at times.
Because he's trying hard for the cause he can end up going from striker to deep midfield, to left back and then it gives us no outlet.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Both times he ended up at LWB, he was covering someone which makes sense.
I agree that he doesn’t look 100%. Where we differ is that he’s still our best player in that position. He has 2 goals in 5 games which is more than Mbappe and others. He’s our captain and if a chance falls to him in the box, you trust him over Watkins and Toney to score it.
Having Bellingham and Foden to press higher up the pitch also makes good sense to take that off the ball work off him.
The team that was fielded against Switzerland is probably the best we’ve got with the exception of Trippier. Shaw starts if he’s fit and Saka at RWB was a revelation so I’d start with Shaw, bring TAA on and then swap Saka on.
The only other way you could potentially improve the team is Mainoo for Palmer and drop Bellingham as an 8. Harsh in Mainoo because he’s been good and Palmer as an impact sub has been perfect.
Great_Expectations
Well-Known Member
The referee appointed for the England/Holland game has previously been convicted of matching fixing and has had a prior run in with Bellingham.
Far from donning a tinfoil hat, but not sure that’s exactly the fairest or best decision in the world.
Far from donning a tinfoil hat, but not sure that’s exactly the fairest or best decision in the world.
Otis
Well-Known Member
If he's been done for match fixing, how is he even still a referee?
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
I agree ...
Zwayer [Wednesday's ref] was given a six-month ban in 2005 after he was investigated for taking a £250 bribe from official Robert Hoyzer.
Hoyzer was subsequently given a ban for life from football.
The fact they have given us an all-German officiating team is bad enough!!
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
To be honest it’s fine as Germany are big rivals with both teams! Never forget Frank Rijkaard spitting on Rudi Völler…
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Otis
Well-Known Member
Yeah, pretty much all of Europe has a problem with the Germans.
thekidfromstrettoncamp
Well-Known Member
I have noticed when it's gone to penalties the referee has allowed keepers (including Pickford ) to play up ie not go straight to their line,touching the crossbar, coming close to the kicker and intimidate them this is against the rules . Refs. have not clamped down why ?
If the takers went up and stood in front of the keeper before taking the kick the ref. would soon take action.
If the takers went up and stood in front of the keeper before taking the kick the ref. would soon take action.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
If they allow the taker to pause in his run up they may as well allow keepers a few shenanigans
D
Deleted member 9744
Guest
The keepers also seem to leave the line before the kick is taken.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
There was a really interesting twitter thread on the psychology of England’s penalties this weekend.
One thing Pickford started to do was meet our penalty takers and walk down to create a 2 v 1 against the Sommer. The referee clamped down on this but not the other shenanigans such as deliberately taking sips of water before the penalty. That and a ‘buddy’ system where a player came to meet our takers after each penalty e.g. Stones and Saka. Finally, only the starting 11 and coaching team were in the huddle before the penalties.
Southgate, credit to him, has done well in regards to the small margins like this even if he isn’t the best coach in the world. Builds really good habits for future England teams after his era has ended.
Ian1779
Well-Known Member
Apologies if anyone has already posted, but an interesting read I thought.
Thread by @GeirJordet on Thread Reader App
Thread by @GeirJordet on Thread Reader App
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
Germany dont really see England as a major rival. The intensity of it in England isn’t reciprocated in Germany; the Dutch and Italians are seen as their big rivals.
Nuskyblue
Well-Known Member
How many were pens?
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
Listening to a bit of Talksport this morning and there was a suggestion to start with Toney and Watkins to run in behind VVD and give Kane the last 20 mins .
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
Switch from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-4-1-2?
Could leave us light in midfield at times if the 10 gets caught up field
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I wonder if we go back to a back 4 now Shaw is fit.
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
I think that has a decent chance of happening, it was the lack of a left footed left back than hampered the back 4 system on the left
Nuskyblue
Well-Known Member
I liked Shaw when he came on. Having a LB that overlapped and got to the byline made a difference, I think it created a few dangerous attacking situations for us.
Sky_Blue_Daz
Well-Known Member
I thought Shaw got caught out of position a couple of times , only natural as I suppose hes rusty
David O'Day
Well-Known Member
He was playing as the LCB as well
