Tunisia - England

[The Red Baron]

I thought the referee was as poor as anything we saw in League One last season. He should be on the next flight home.

[NickDRFC]

Amazed that anyone is moaning about England. We deservedly won a game that should have been out of sight. Tunisia only had one shot on goal courtesy of the softest penalty you’ll ever see. We created countless chances - more than I remember seeing us create at any tournament game. Supposedly people had no expectations going into the tournament, yet still there’s all this complaining that we only won 2-1. Unbelievable.

Just enjoy the tournament or turn over and watch love island.

Can't we do both?

[selby]

Alan and Steve, Lingard reminded me of Alfie May in front of goal, not very good.
 What do you think of Welbeck playing instead of him, he averages about a goal every two games for England, a terrific scoring rate, but I suppose you don't like him either.
   Tunisia did not even try to win that game, were helped by poor finishing, and the poorest referee up to press in the competition.
 They were the most negative side  in the competition, and we will now see if they are any good, and deserve their rating in the top twenty when they play Belgium and have to change their game.
   It was a good result as Panama have to attack and be more open in play which should give us opportunities up front, and any of Vardy,Rashford, and Welbeck could come into it.
  As the competition evolves, and if we progress, the makeup of the team will change, playing brilliant football is not the requirement, winning games is.

[NickDRFC]

England just aren't clinical.

Henderson has made some excellent runs back towards his own goal.

Young fouls the opposition player every time he loses the ball. Which is every time he has the ball.

Alli and Sterling were rubbish. Their places must be under threat for the next game.

The attack barring Kane is not the requisite class, let's be honest. Let's see how far he can take us.

Copps is Magic, this thread's equivalent of a bucket of cold water.

[Filo]

I thought the referee was as poor as anything we saw in League One last season. He should be on the next flight home.

The VAR team should be on the plane with him, multiple screens, multiple angles and they fail to tell the ref the Tunisia player conned him, and miss two rugby tackles that the All Blacks would have been proud of

[RedJ]

Alan and Steve, Lingard reminded me of Alfie May in front of goal, not very good.
 What do you think of Welbeck playing instead of him, he averages about a goal every two games for England, a terrific scoring rate, but I suppose you don't like him either.
   Tunisia did not even try to win that game, were helped by poor finishing, and the poorest referee up to press in the competition.
 They were the most negative side  in the competition, and we will now see if they are any good, and deserve their rating in the top twenty when they play Belgium and have to change their game.
   It was a good result as Panama have to attack and be more open in play which should give us opportunities up front, and any of Vardy,Rashford, and Welbeck could come into it.
  As the competition evolves, and if we progress, the makeup of the team will change, playing brilliant football is not the requirement, winning games is.

Tunisia aren't in the top 20 are they? I'm sure they're 21st. But definitely the most negative side I've seen so far. Even Panama had a go.

[GazLaz]

Amazed that anyone is moaning about England. We deservedly won a game that should have been out of sight. Tunisia only had one shot on goal courtesy of the softest penalty you’ll ever see. We created countless chances - more than I remember seeing us create at any tournament game. Supposedly people had no expectations going into the tournament, yet still there’s all this complaining that we only won 2-1. Unbelievable.

Just enjoy the tournament or turn over and watch love island.

Sense at last. If the first half performance was in the second half and vice versa people would be lauding the performance. Completely dominated the game against a side that aren’t bad at all.

[selby]

Rj, if they were they aren't now.

[pib]

Agreed with Gaz and Jonathan. I think people just love to complain and England-bash.

Don't think you can ask for much more. They've got a young manager (yes, unproven, but would we rather have a merry-go-round Hodgson/Allardyce-esque manager in charge?), Southgate has picked the right players largely based on form and hasn't been afraid to make big decisions, they've played at times last night some of the most exciting football you'll have seen from an England side at a tournament in decades, they've got a spirit that looks better than it has in years, AND they've got one of the most potent strikers at the tournament who can win games for us.

Oh and they got 3 points!

It wasn't the complete performance but it showed very good glimpses, and but for a moment of madness from Walker probably would've ended in a 2-0 or 3-0 victory. From a young side that has never played together the result should hopefully instil some confidence and drive the team on.

[NickDRFC]

I thought we played well - out of the blocks superbly in the first 20 minutes, bit of a stutter and a bit flat second half but we kept plugging away and got what we deserved. Certainly plenty to be optimistic about. Trippier looked fantastic at RWB and was MOTM for me, wouldn't surprise me to see Alli out for RLC in the next game if he's not quite fit but I'd expect Sterling to start. I'd have Rashford in in a heartbeat but I get the impression Southgate likes him as an impact sub.

On thing that concerns me is the defence and how casual they are. It's like watching a back 3 of Dave Morleys at times, and against a better team we could have come a cropper with some of the balls given away at the back last night. I like the fact they want to play it out from the back but their decision making leaves a bit to be desired.

Oh and you can tell that Kyle Walker was schooled at Sheff Utd. That forearm smash had Chris Morgan written all over it.

[ravenrover]

Alan and Steve, Lingard reminded me of Alfie May in front of goal, not very good.
 What do you think of Welbeck playing instead of him, he averages about a goal every two games for England, a terrific scoring rate, but I suppose you don't like him either.
   Tunisia did not even try to win that game, were helped by poor finishing, and the poorest referee up to press in the competition.
 They were the most negative side  in the competition, and we will now see if they are any good, and deserve their rating in the top twenty when they play Belgium and have to change their game.
   It was a good result as Panama have to attack and be more open in play which should give us opportunities up front, and any of Vardy,Rashford, and Welbeck could come into it.
  As the competition evolves, and if we progress, the makeup of the team will change, playing brilliant football is not the requirement, winning games is.

Crikey Selby, season hasn’t even started and you’ve got your 1st dig about Alfie😲

[MachoMadness]

Don't understand the negativity about that performance. Granted our standards have been set at basement level as far as England tournaments go, but when was the last time England played with that style, had ideas, or created chances? Tunisia are a very well-organised but very cynical side who set up to be difficult to break down. I wouldn't be surprised to see Belgium struggle for spells in the same way that we did.
Trippier looked outstanding. Every delivery was a threat. That was one of the best team performances of the tournament so far in my book. Spain looked more impressive and Mexico looked good, but I'm struggling to think of another team that looked better than we did last night. Not that I'm saying we'll win the thing, but there are reasons to be cheerful at least.

[DearneValleyRover]

One thing I will add is that you have to go back to 1990 to find an England team that could win a game in the last minutes, room for improvement, yes but it’s game 1. I’m happy with the win!

[Cantley Rover]

So we didn't play well for 90 minutes but how many teams do? With a decent referee and half competent VAR officials it would have been a totally different game.

[dickos1]

Lingard can’t be dropped for wellbeck,
His runs from midfield past Kane are massively important to the way we want to play.
He was good last night just didn’t finish the chances his movement created

[Not Now Kato]

Just like Rovers only the centre forward can score all the other attacking players fluff their lines.

Funny you should say that.  I thought a lot of that game was like watching Rovers....
 
Missing clear cut chances, passing to the opposition, free kicks in attacking positions then three passes and it's back with our keeper, clear cut penalty decisions going against us; oh, and shit refs.
 

Great result though. 

[NickDRFC]

Just like Rovers only the centre forward can score all the other attacking players fluff their lines.

Funny you should say that.  I thought a lot of that game was like watching Rovers....
 
Missing clear cut chances, passing to the opposition, free kicks in attacking positions then three passes and it's back with our keeper, clear cut penalty decisions going against us; oh, and shit refs.
 

Great result though. 

What about the quick, incisive attacks we saw last night? Polar opposite to Rovers' approach play for most of last season!

[dickos1]

It was as good as we’ve played in a major tournament for a long time.
Don’t understand the negativity that’s knocking about at all

[sedwardsdrfc]

I thought Lingard did ok can't just drop a player because they miss a chance! Marquis would never get a game for us that way

He does a lot of work off the ball and its easy not to see on TV how much space that makes for others

[grayx]

Danny Rose HAS to replace Young who us shocking. Sterling needs to be used as an impact player off the bench, how he and dele ali stayed on so long is a mystery to me. Why are england managers always slow to sub players who are playing shit?

[DearneValleyRover]

I agree on Rose we lost a lot going forward with Young having to come inside on his right foot. Rose gives more balance.

[Alan Southstand]

Sterling needs to be used as a ball boy!

Selby - I wonder if you actually understand the concept of who plays where! Check out the BBC supporters ratings for all the players last (a record number of people gave their ratings, apparently) and Sterling came bottom, just managing to score 4. A fair reflection. Still, no doubt you are still sticking to your view over 2 million other supporters! The point I am making is most people seem to concur with my thoughts on who was our worst player last night.
And, as for your Alfie May comment - well, I'm not going to lower myself to reply.

[selby]

  Actually Alan, both points were the views of three professional footballers I listened to on Talksport while walking the dog after the game last night.
 A bit naughty of me I know, but I wondered which touch line international  ( I had an idea though) would take the bait. I think I will go along with the two Chelsea players and the West Ham players knowing just a little bit more about the game than yourself mate and your two million mates.
  If you want to take it up with them phone in after 10pm tonight, they might give you a couple of minutes.

[selby]

  I can just imagine the Belgian managers team talk before they play us.
   Our scout Alan Southstand says England have a poor player in midfield called Sterling, when De Bruine says " hey just hold it there" who's he?

[dickos1]

  Actually Alan, both points were the views of three professional footballers I listened to on Talksport while walking the dog after the game last night.
 A bit naughty of me I know, but I wondered which touch line international  ( I had an idea though) would take the bait. I think I will go along with the two Chelsea players and the West Ham players knowing just a little bit more about the game than yourself mate and your two million mates.
  If you want to take it up with them phone in after 10pm tonight, they might give you a couple of minutes.

Which points?
If anybody suggested wellbeck should replace lingard then I don’t care who they are, they’re talking shite

[Bentley Bullet]

They'll also be saying " hey, keep an eye out for Lingard, that Selby bloke says he reminds him of Alfie May".

[selby]

  Dickos, don't jump in, in my original post I said they suggested that Rashford should be in for Lingard. and rose for young.
   And that shite you are talking about has scored 17 goals at very nearly one every two games at international level.
   I would suggest you don't give your day job up and go scouting for players.

[NickDRFC]

  Dickos, don't jump in, in my original post I said they suggested that Rashford should be in for Lingard. and rose for young.
   And that shite you are talking about has scored 17 goals at very nearly one every two games at international level.
   I would suggest you don't give your day job up and go scouting for players.

Selby, don't be silly, he's not calling Welbeck shite, he's saying that putting him in for Lingard would be a shite decision. And he's right. The way England are set up at the moment Lingard is a key player with his movement and runs. Welbeck is a trier but he's not as good a footballer and best suited to playing on the wing, which isn't needed in the team right now. He's a good player, has a role to play this world cup and has a great record at international level, particularly given his mediocre record at club level, but it would be daft to bring him in for Lingard.

[dickos1]

Thanks nick,
That was exactly my point, lingard is an attacking midfielder that interchanges and gets about the pitch, wellbeck is a striker and a completely different player to lingard. He’s probably in the squad in case Kane gets injured he wouldn’t be replacing lingard.

He may have a record of one in two, but how long do you want to go back? Crouch has a great international record maybe he should be playing

[selby]

I think you are mistaken about me saying Wellbeck  should be playing.
   I agree with the professionals that Rashford for Lingard, and Rose for Young, which was in my first post.
  I asked a question about Wellbeck, and pointed out that he has one of the best scoring records, and he is noted for putting a shift in, drops back into midfield and helps out, a far better player than given credit for.
     The big change may come if Ali is injured for the next game.