International Football Discussion

by **Crimey** Fri 26 Aug 2016, 3:15 pm

First topic message reminder :

Thierry Henry has been named Belgium's assistant manager.

Another odd appointment, it makes sense for Henry who didn't want to give up his media duties. Will be interesting to see how he improves Belgium's forwards, if he can rub off any of his playing skill onto them it'd be sure to have an effect. I'm excited to see if he can work well with Origi who is a striker in his mould.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 10 Jun 2017, 8:57 pm

owen10ozzy wrote:Hahaha! I loaded up BBC just as we went 1-0 up....next time i reloaded we had escaped the jaws of defeat!

God just when you think England cannot get any worse! So much for the next exciting generation...! Again I level much of the blame at the doorstep of the FA! No Love sacks between the lot of them and the fact ex players like Le Saux etc sat on a committe and ran with the idea that Southgate was a good replacement for the uninspiring Hodgson tells everyone all they need to know. Absolute dire..and for the level of money in our game we should be completely embarrassed to call football our national sport!

Let this sink in a moment...Southgate is the 4th best paid manager in International Football!!!

I've given up on them until they give me a proper plan and actually show they care - the Southgate appointment was and still is laughable

by Born Slippy Sat 10 Jun 2017, 11:26 pm

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:That game should be Joe Hart's last as England's number 1 - both Butland and Pickford are better

You aren't seriously suggesting either them would have done better today are you? Hart has made some errors in Italy but he's been excellent for England since the Euros and nothing he could do about either goal today. I'd have Butland ahead of him if he can stay fit for a while but Pickford isn't quite there yet. At the moment, he's the right selection.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 10 Jun 2017, 11:32 pm

Born Slippy wrote:
Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:That game should be Joe Hart's last as England's number 1 - both Butland and Pickford are better

You aren't seriously suggesting either them would have done better today are you? Hart has made some errors in Italy but he's been excellent for England since the Euros and nothing he could do about either goal today. I'd have Butland ahead of him if he can stay fit for a while but Pickford isn't quite there yet. At the moment, he's the right selection.

Neither free kick is anywhere near the corner of the goal - not huge power in either and Hart is nowhere near them (despite for the 2nd one, starting essentially in the middle of his goal) - Butland would've saved at least one of them.

He's had one good game against Slovakia away and barely done anything for the rest - and was an abomination at the Euros. His time has passed, as Man City have clearly evaluated and realised

by GSC Sat 10 Jun 2017, 11:37 pm

Both teams well into their summer holidays. England largely most of the way of Russia, Scotland largely already out. Low intensity end of season borefest

by Guest Sun 11 Jun 2017, 1:45 pm

England win the U20 world cup. That must be something worth celebrating. Everton contributed quite a few of the players - hopefully they will make an impact in the premiership in the next few years.

by compelling and rich Sun 11 Jun 2017, 1:58 pm

always thought we do well at younger levels because we develop the big strong quick kids. seen it at work for years, win at all costs mentality. problem being when they get caught up there not as good technically. we was out played for large parts of that game against Venezuela! i'll be surprised if many of them make it to top level

nevertheless its a decent achievement. any reason why the likes of spain and brazil werent there?

by Guest Sun 11 Jun 2017, 2:18 pm

Brazil u-20 didn't qualify, they came fifth in qualification, with only four slots available.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 11 Jun 2017, 5:37 pm

Who'd have thought a team starting Glenn Whelan instead of Wes Hoolahan is struggling to keep hold of the ball and create chances?

by westisbest Sun 11 Jun 2017, 5:42 pm

Missing wessi.
O Neil loves Whelan sadly, so will always start him.

Captain today.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 11 Jun 2017, 5:49 pm

westisbest wrote:Missing wessi.
O Neil loves Whelan sadly, so will always start him.

Captain today.

Just seems a bit silly to me Westi - I could understand it away from home, but at the Aviva you should be looking to be a bit more adventurous than this imo. Especially as this is such a big opportunity to go top of the group

by westisbest Sun 11 Jun 2017, 5:58 pm

It's bizarre. Whelan offers nothing.

Wessi will always set things up, score the odd goal.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sun 11 Jun 2017, 8:52 pm

Wales 1 up from a penalty that shouldn't have been, but Serbia are well in charge of everything but the important part. Forcing the Welsh to hang on desperately to what would be a fantastic result with how things stand in their group

by westisbest Sun 11 Jun 2017, 9:10 pm

Make things right at the top.

by GSC Sun 11 Jun 2017, 9:18 pm

Solanke looked useful if a bit raw. Needs a year or two seasoning.

by GSC Sun 11 Jun 2017, 9:20 pm

Mitrovic makes Wales pay for settling at 1-0

by GSC Sun 11 Jun 2017, 9:28 pm

Ramsey would be a good signing for a mid table side based on his Wales displays.

Hes not good enough to get that roaming role in a good team.

by GSC Sun 11 Jun 2017, 9:48 pm

Reasonable result for Wales, but they're probably going to have to win at least 2 of their last 4 if not 3.

by westisbest Sun 11 Jun 2017, 10:14 pm

Gonna be tight.

We have Georgia a, Serbia h, Moldova h, Wales a.
Would hope for 6 points against Georgia and Moldova.

Last game in Cardiff could be massive.

by GSC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 8:14 pm

Shaky start but a nice goal from pretty much the first attack

by GSC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 8:21 pm

Dembele fluffs a sitter

by GSC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 8:28 pm

Umtiti equalises following up a Heaton save from a Giroud header

by GSC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 8:41 pm

Pogba must do about 5-10 flicks a game that are utterly pointless

by Guest Tue 13 Jun 2017, 8:53 pm

Dier & Ox in central midfield providing nothing

France 2-1 England HT

by GSC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 8:55 pm

Shaky at the defence, midfield providing no cover.

Look decent when they get it forward, Sterling a threat given the room he keeps finding

by GSC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 9:15 pm

2-2 Kane from the spot, Varane off

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Tue 13 Jun 2017, 9:42 pm

England's passing from the back has been very English

by Ent Tue 13 Jun 2017, 10:05 pm

Just standard England really, no clue on the ball or how to manage a game.

Good effort and lots of fouls though.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 13 Jun 2017, 10:24 pm

Who'd have thought a team managed by Gareth Southgate would be awful?

Oh yeah everyone bar the FA

by NickisBHAFC Tue 13 Jun 2017, 10:48 pm

Does anyone really care?

Whatever happens, we're getting knocked out in the last 16 at best in Russia.

by Guest Wed 14 Jun 2017, 6:25 am

I see Pogba receiving high praise. Inevitable, given that his direct central midfield opposition, was a failed winger from Arsenal & a player who plays at CB for Spurs.

Huge worry for England is CM

by **Crimey** Wed 14 Jun 2017, 9:29 am

Just John wrote:I see Pogba receiving high praise. Inevitable, given that his direct central midfield opposition, was a failed winger from Arsenal & a player who plays at CB for Spurs.

Huge worry for England is CM

England's central midfield options are poor but there's no reason to exaggerate. Oxlade-Chamberlain played quite a bit in central midfield for Arsenal this year and by most accounts performed pretty well there and Eric Dier has played pretty consistently in midfield for Tottenham for the past 2 seasons. Of course there have been times he has dropped into defence to cover for injuries or when changing systems, but generally he's been in central midfield.

by GSC Sun 18 Jun 2017, 5:22 pm

Mexico out playing Portugal here

by GSC Sun 18 Jun 2017, 5:50 pm

Portugal take a late lead via an own goal but Mexico equalise from a corner in injury time

by wisden Fri 01 Sep 2017, 3:38 pm

Is the England game on ITV tonight?

by Beer Fri 01 Sep 2017, 4:08 pm

Should be, 7pm start i think (the program, not the match).

by Guest Fri 01 Sep 2017, 6:55 pm

Not that it matters who plays vs Malta

Hart, Walker, Bertrand, Cahill, Jones, Henderson, Livermore, Oxlade, Sterling, Alli & Kane

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 01 Sep 2017, 7:20 pm

A game for Chalobah, Cresswell, Stones and Defoe, if you ask me. Get rid of The Ox, Livermore, Bertrand and Cahill. Cresswell delivery would be a good outlet against a team like this, two strikers of different sorts, Kane also can play just behind. Stones better on the ball so can be a deep midfielder basically against a team that won't move forward. Chalobah just as he's a touch classier than Livermore.

Not that it matters, but I would prefer England considered opposition before picking players.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 01 Sep 2017, 8:38 pm

#Southgateout

by Steffan Fri 01 Sep 2017, 8:42 pm

Both my caravan mates are English (one from London and one from Coventry) and both said they want England to lose. Strange...but oh well it's a Team Malta caravan laughing

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Fri 01 Sep 2017, 9:33 pm

Rashford MOTM.

by westisbest Sat 02 Sep 2017, 5:29 pm

Great start, looking nervous now though.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 02 Sep 2017, 5:37 pm

Turned it on on 20 minutes - that goal might force Ireland to start playing a bit - why are you trying to hold onto a 1-0 for 85 mins?

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sat 02 Sep 2017, 5:39 pm

There's literally nobody within 40/50 yards of Shane Long for Ireland

by westisbest Sat 02 Sep 2017, 6:57 pm

McLean should have dinked it over the keeper.
Poor though on the night. Fair play to Georgia.

If we can beat Serbia we go top, highly unlikely on that performance.
Would like to see Hoolahan or Hourihane start on Tuesday.
Even McGeady. Looked ok when he came on.

by **Dolphin Ziggler** Sat 02 Sep 2017, 7:38 pm

O'Neill went tactically, ummm, weird.

And what has happened to McGrady over the years?

by westisbest Sat 02 Sep 2017, 8:18 pm

O'Neil getting a lot of flack from Irish fans.
Sits back to much after going 1-0 up.

Need to get at Serbia from the off on Tuesday.
Drop Whelan to start with.

I've always thought McGeady was a decent player.

by Duty281 Sun 03 Sep 2017, 9:45 pm

France drew 0-0 with Luxembourg. Laugh

Of course, they won't have the same immature fallout in Paris that happens to the English media and some English fans when England have a poor result in qualifying.

Because they know qualifying and tournament football are two separate things.

by whocares Sun 03 Sep 2017, 10:45 pm

Credit to the Luxembourg bus. They did well and could even have scored and won this! Despite 75% possession, more than a few opportunities and plenty of "talent" , France forwards got frustrated way too easily, lost the plot and were running like headless chickens most of the time. Hope they learn something from a game like this because 50% of the opposition will play this type of game against them.

by whocares Sun 03 Sep 2017, 10:51 pm

Oh and need to mention Kurzawa performance : 17 crosses and none on target ! Laugh

by Guest Mon 04 Sep 2017, 7:24 pm

Hart, Walker, Bertrand, Cahill, Jones, Dier, Henderson, Oxlade, Alli, Rashford & Kane

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