12-07-2018, 19:00
We played well first half, and Croatia didn't. Unfortunately Kane and Lingard proved their pudding has been slightly over-egged and missed relatively easy chances, just one of which would almost certainly have won us the game.
I'm not attempting to be super-critical by saying that when the team comes home and the hype dies down we need to make a realistic appraisal. I like Southgate and he created a good atmosphere and a team that was pleasant to watch which really tried, but it would be unfair to him not to discuss certain things like:-
1. He decided his team very early, stuck by it, remained conservative over changes and when the back-up players were offered a chance it was en-masse, which obviously reduced any individual's opportunity to shine.
2. In common with most other managers at the World Cup he took along players who remained unused or very little used and left out players who might have had the creativity or the goalpower to make a difference in a Croatia scenario - Lallana, Grealish, Abraham, young Jadon Sancho even. So you would ask of any manager, did he get it right?
3. There've been few players of searing pace at this World Cup. Mbappe has looked capable of scorching the grass in attack, but the others have been defenders - Advincula of Peru, Varane of France and our Kyle Walker. The question that needs to be asked is, during our Qualifiers Walker was an attacking threat, who provided chances and stretched defences to provide space for our forwards. Once confined to our three-man defence he became the least-likely to push forward. Did we waste him?
4. What does it say for the system we played that when we came up against teams playing traditional strong centre backs, Kane rarely looked like scoring in open play and was forced to drop deeper in order to focus our attack.
I'm sure everyone else on here could and would question some of Mr Southgate's decisions. That's part of being a fan and watching games, and we do see things differently from the pros .......... That's not a bad thing. Sometimes questions have obvious answers, very often the manager will be right ........
For the future Tammy Abrahams and Solanki need games and need to come through. We can't rely on just Harry and a speedster. Tammy in particular just spent a season going backwards. Similarly Grealish needs to get with a team in top football and either prove his talent, become a playmaker or settle for being a playboy, he's 22, it's time.
Well as he did, I'm looking at Pickford and seeing the smallest keeper in the tournament. Butland has the size and once looked a future England keeper, it's time for him to learn the lessons or settle for a quiet life in the Championship. Pope I'd like to see him given a chance ........ but who else have we coming through to challenge Pickford?
Just a few of my thoughts ......... A few minutes into the second half, like many of you I'm sure, I said Croatia will definitely score. They were the better team, but whether they have the capacity to trouble France I'm not so sure. France can put up some stumbling blocks in midfield and if Greizeman and Mbappe are on I think they a just the kind of players Croatia will struggle against. I'm really thinking Croatia will do well to keep 11 players on the pitch.
I'm not attempting to be super-critical by saying that when the team comes home and the hype dies down we need to make a realistic appraisal. I like Southgate and he created a good atmosphere and a team that was pleasant to watch which really tried, but it would be unfair to him not to discuss certain things like:-
1. He decided his team very early, stuck by it, remained conservative over changes and when the back-up players were offered a chance it was en-masse, which obviously reduced any individual's opportunity to shine.
2. In common with most other managers at the World Cup he took along players who remained unused or very little used and left out players who might have had the creativity or the goalpower to make a difference in a Croatia scenario - Lallana, Grealish, Abraham, young Jadon Sancho even. So you would ask of any manager, did he get it right?
3. There've been few players of searing pace at this World Cup. Mbappe has looked capable of scorching the grass in attack, but the others have been defenders - Advincula of Peru, Varane of France and our Kyle Walker. The question that needs to be asked is, during our Qualifiers Walker was an attacking threat, who provided chances and stretched defences to provide space for our forwards. Once confined to our three-man defence he became the least-likely to push forward. Did we waste him?
4. What does it say for the system we played that when we came up against teams playing traditional strong centre backs, Kane rarely looked like scoring in open play and was forced to drop deeper in order to focus our attack.
I'm sure everyone else on here could and would question some of Mr Southgate's decisions. That's part of being a fan and watching games, and we do see things differently from the pros .......... That's not a bad thing. Sometimes questions have obvious answers, very often the manager will be right ........
For the future Tammy Abrahams and Solanki need games and need to come through. We can't rely on just Harry and a speedster. Tammy in particular just spent a season going backwards. Similarly Grealish needs to get with a team in top football and either prove his talent, become a playmaker or settle for being a playboy, he's 22, it's time.
Well as he did, I'm looking at Pickford and seeing the smallest keeper in the tournament. Butland has the size and once looked a future England keeper, it's time for him to learn the lessons or settle for a quiet life in the Championship. Pope I'd like to see him given a chance ........ but who else have we coming through to challenge Pickford?
Just a few of my thoughts ......... A few minutes into the second half, like many of you I'm sure, I said Croatia will definitely score. They were the better team, but whether they have the capacity to trouble France I'm not so sure. France can put up some stumbling blocks in midfield and if Greizeman and Mbappe are on I think they a just the kind of players Croatia will struggle against. I'm really thinking Croatia will do well to keep 11 players on the pitch.