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Post by ananalyticalobserver on Jul 5, 2018 5:40:17 GMT
Fabian Delph was on paternity leave as his wife gave birth to their third child on Tuesday morning.
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Post by connors on Jul 5, 2018 6:43:49 GMT
But Southgate's boys have exceeded expectation. Though it could be argued low expectations helped keep the pressure off. Have England truly exceeded expectations by beating a couple of fairly dreadful sides in the group stage, then scraping past a Colombian team missing it's best player? I think all but the most cynical of England supporters would have given us a very good chance to make it to this point before a ball was kicked. Obviously the expectation would have been that we would then face someone far better than Sweden in the quarters. Clearly the draw has opened up for us massively and we've been handed a great opportunity to go deep into the tournament but it feels a bit like the team's being given credit for something it could do before it's actually done it. Hopefully it doesn't happen but if we lose to Sweden on Saturday I hardly think that Southgate or these players will be judged a success. Yes they have. Look at our record in the World Cups and Euros! We often fail to beat the teams you mention. We sometimes even lose to them. I hoped we would get out of the group but that was it. Is it a sorry state of affairs for such an affluent football nation with such a strong league to be in? YES! It is reality though and what we forget is that in tournaments all you have to do is keep winning! Who cares who we beat, we don't pick the opposition we just have to find a way to beat them. Do you think previous winners of the World Cup spend their time wondering if they really deserved it? Did they have it too easy? What about so and so being injured? They don't give a damn and neither will we if somehow we can keep going.
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Post by notoriousbigz on Jul 5, 2018 13:20:59 GMT
I'd say we've a lot better than a 50% chance of beating Sweden.
We're one of the younger and faster squads in the tournament - they happen to be one of the slowest.
I cannot for the life of me see where they're going to trouble us - don't have the attacking options and I don't think they'll be able to keep pace defensively.
The only team I really properly fear until the final is Croatia - they can be excellent on their day.
Sweden will be solid and the European solid teams are way better at dealing with set pieces than some of the other teams we've played so far. Which negates our advantage there I think. They are too intelligent to start grabbing hold of our players and throwing them down to the ground in the box etc I'm expecting a very tight game myself I actually don't think our set pieces give us the advantage in this one. Its the fact they're insanely old and we're one of the younger fitter teams in the tournament. In fact, their best defender was heavily criticised last season for being a bit dodgy (Lindelof).
Not to mention that PC Lustig is suspended for this one. I think they'll struggle with the pace of Sterling/Lingard/Alli (if fit)/Loftus Cheek/the full backs.
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Post by Steven McTowelie on Jul 5, 2018 13:50:47 GMT
Yes they have. Look at our record in the World Cups and Euros! We often fail to beat the teams you mention. We sometimes even lose to them. I hoped we would get out of the group but that was it. Is it a sorry state of affairs for such an affluent football nation with such a strong league to be in? YES! It is reality though and what we forget is that in tournaments all you have to do is keep winning! Who cares who we beat, we don't pick the opposition we just have to find a way to beat them. Do you think previous winners of the World Cup spend their time wondering if they really deserved it? Did they have it too easy? What about so and so being injured? They don't give a damn and neither will we if somehow we can keep going. No they haven't. Not any reasonable expectations anyway. How previous England sides have performed in major competitions isn't hugely relevant in my opinion and doesn't support the point you're trying to make. In 2014 we went out in the group stage but we had an infinitely tougher one to navigate. In 2010 we made the round of 16 and lost to eventual third place finishers Germany. And in 2006 and 2002 we made the quarters, losing to Portugal and Brazil respectively. Brazil went on to win in '02. It's perfectly normal for England to reach this sort of stage in a major tournament. And it's something that a lot of people expected to happen this year given the draw. You may have had doubts but in betting circles our group was seen as the most clear cut of the lot. Belgium and England advancing was perceived to be a virtual foregone conclusion. And the lack of a top side in Group H meant that from the standpoint of making the quarters, it really didn't matter if we only finished second. We were always going to have a very winnable game in the round of 16. Colombia are a reasonable side but hardly top world class and a lot weaker without Rodriguez. I'm just not prepared give a bunch of multi-millionaires from the supposed best league in the world too much credit for what they've done so far. It's around about par. Obviously if we go on to win the thing no one's gonna sit there saying 'well we had an easy route so it doesn't count.' If we win it I'll gladly join you in extolling the virtues of this brilliantly over achieving England team. But we haven't won it yet. We've made the quarters. A place we've been plenty of times before. The only significant difference is that we've got a much weaker opposition than normal this time... The worst team left in the competition in fact, if Betfair is to be believed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 14:23:51 GMT
I have a question for the English members of Whats Bev
Is it coming home?
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Post by notoriousbigz on Jul 5, 2018 14:25:40 GMT
I have a question for the English members of Whats Bev Is it coming home? Is the Pope a Catholic?
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Post by reallyoldfeenixfan on Jul 5, 2018 14:37:22 GMT
I have a question for the English members of Whats Bev Is it coming home? Yep, they'll be home sooner or later. However England's main threat appears to be at set pieces. The plan looks like putting 6 in the box then everyone running around madly until a defender gets hold of one of them and pulls them over. Nice trick, worked so far,but have my doubts that it'll work against Sweden, they seem to be more solid defenders and can't be bothered chasing players around.
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Post by connors on Jul 5, 2018 15:36:10 GMT
Yes they have. Look at our record in the World Cups and Euros! We often fail to beat the teams you mention. We sometimes even lose to them. I hoped we would get out of the group but that was it. Is it a sorry state of affairs for such an affluent football nation with such a strong league to be in? YES! It is reality though and what we forget is that in tournaments all you have to do is keep winning! Who cares who we beat, we don't pick the opposition we just have to find a way to beat them. Do you think previous winners of the World Cup spend their time wondering if they really deserved it? Did they have it too easy? What about so and so being injured? They don't give a damn and neither will we if somehow we can keep going. No they haven't. Not any reasonable expectations anyway. How previous England sides have performed in major competitions isn't hugely relevant in my opinion and doesn't support the point you're trying to make. In 2014 we went out in the group stage but we had an infinitely tougher one to navigate. In 2010 we made the round of 16 and lost to eventual third place finishers Germany. And in 2006 and 2002 we made the quarters, losing to Portugal and Brazil respectively. Brazil went on to win in '02. It's perfectly normal for England to reach this sort of stage in a major tournament. And it's something that a lot of people expected to happen this year given the draw. You may have had doubts but in betting circles our group was seen as the most clear cut of the lot. Belgium and England advancing was perceived to be a virtual foregone conclusion. And the lack of a top side in Group H meant that from the standpoint of making the quarters, it really didn't matter if we only finished second. We were always going to have a very winnable game in the round of 16. Colombia are a reasonable side but hardly top world class and a lot weaker without Rodriguez. I'm just not prepared give a bunch of multi-millionaires from the supposed best league in the world too much credit for what they've done so far. It's around about par. Obviously if we go on to win the thing no one's gonna sit there saying 'well we had an easy route so it doesn't count.' If we win it I'll gladly join you in extolling the virtues of this brilliantly over achieving England team. But we haven't won it yet. We've made the quarters. A place we've been plenty of times before. The only significant difference is that we've got a much weaker opposition than normal this time... The worst team left in the competition in fact, if Betfair is to be believed. We have not won a knock out game in 12 years!! I know what you are driving at but for me there is a spirit and much improved attitude about this squad that I think is quite refreshing given what we've had with most england teams since the turn of the century. Yes they are all well paid players for big clubs. Some of them are regulars and some of them are not. I honestly thought we would conspire to drop some points somehow against Panama or Tunisia and need something from the Belgium game. I felt, based on my experience of watching England play, that we would not get past Columbia. So to avoid an argument I will adjust my statement to "They've certainly exceeded my expectations!".
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 15:36:54 GMT
Not to mention that PC Lustig is suspended for this one. I think they'll struggle with the pace of Sterling/Lingard/Alli (if fit)/Loftus Cheek/the full backs.
Hahaha, PC Lustig... love it!
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Post by connors on Jul 5, 2018 15:37:12 GMT
Sadly I think its not coming home. I do think we have a reasonable set up to build on if the players don't get too ahead of themselves.
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Post by faz on Jul 5, 2018 16:13:24 GMT
Previous teams massively underperformed. I watched the highlights when we lost to France in the Euro’s when they scored 2 late goals. Not one of the current team would replace any of the golden generation. That includes Kane. Possibly calamity might go. We are probably par for the group we have but previously way below par. Again well done coach. Par is good.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 16:14:39 GMT
I remember there was that time England hadn't beaten Sweden in something like 30 years. England eventually ended the bad run.
Not sure how this one will end up.
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2NFR
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Post by 2NFR on Jul 6, 2018 14:02:44 GMT
Who needs technical analysis when you have Mystic Marcus the precognitive pig ... predicting an England win
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Post by notoriousbigz on Jul 6, 2018 14:11:01 GMT
Previous teams massively underperformed. I watched the highlights when we lost to France in the Euro’s when they scored 2 late goals. Not one of the current team would replace any of the golden generation. That includes Kane. Possibly calamity might go. We are probably par for the group we have but previously way below par. Again well done coach. Par is good. You'd not have Kane over Heskey?
I'd also argue that Sterling would get a game down the left - given we had ABSOLUTELY nobody to play there so ended up with Trevor Sinclair in 2002
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Post by faz on Jul 6, 2018 16:50:18 GMT
Wasn’t Rooney in the team
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Post by faz on Jul 6, 2018 16:54:48 GMT
Just googled and Rooney did play. The midfield was Beckham, Gerrard, Scholes and Lampard. You could argue balance and a case for Sterling despite him being one of the least effective players at this tournament. Could Gareth get those 3 to play in the same team. I think he’d find a structure to allow it
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Post by faz on Jul 6, 2018 16:57:11 GMT
Owen was the other forward However I would have Kane above Heskey I like Kane but not in the same class as a Shearer, Lineker. Fowler, Owen , Rooney
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Post by interestedridersfan on Jul 6, 2018 16:59:14 GMT
All through the England agegroups Southgate has targeted athletes and pace. Hopefully comfortable on the ball as well.
It's a different type of team and approach
And I think next few years we will reap the benefit
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Post by faz on Jul 6, 2018 17:00:24 GMT
Let’s hope so. Doing a great job with less talent than we’ve previously had
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Post by interestedridersfan on Jul 7, 2018 9:52:58 GMT
I think we have a 50/50 chance of beating sweden Anything could happen that game. But that's decent odds. We win it and I would similarly give us a 50/50 chance of beating Russia or Croatia. There's very little between the teams IMO Take one game at a time now BUT we go into every game with a good chance of winning I'm glad there are a few days rest now as yesterday will have been both physically and mentally draining for all of them I'd say we've a lot better than a 50% chance of beating Sweden.
We're one of the younger and faster squads in the tournament - they happen to be one of the slowest.
I cannot for the life of me see where they're going to trouble us - don't have the attacking options and I don't think they'll be able to keep pace defensively.
The only team I really properly fear until the final is Croatia - they can be excellent on their day.
The more I think about the game the more I think how tough it's going to be Sweden have taken out Holland, Italy, Germany and Switzerland already to get to this stage They aren't a team of superstars but they get the job done again and again It's going to be very tough today
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Post by youngnixfan on Jul 7, 2018 10:34:00 GMT
I was thinking that IRF but other teams, to me, are more concerned about how well we can play on our day. This crap on Tuesday regarding them practising penalties, they had the wrong mentality going into the game. Ive got a quiet confidence on winning today, need to have correct mindset from now on..if not then ah well theres always next time
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Post by notoriousbigz on Jul 7, 2018 13:42:55 GMT
I'd say we've a lot better than a 50% chance of beating Sweden.
We're one of the younger and faster squads in the tournament - they happen to be one of the slowest.
I cannot for the life of me see where they're going to trouble us - don't have the attacking options and I don't think they'll be able to keep pace defensively.
The only team I really properly fear until the final is Croatia - they can be excellent on their day.
The more I think about the game the more I think how tough it's going to be Sweden have taken out Holland, Italy, Germany and Switzerland already to get to this stage They aren't a team of superstars but they get the job done again and again It's going to be very tough today Holland and Italy are about as bad as they’ve ever been in terms of a national side. We all saw how despondent germany were. they scraped past Switzerland with a lucky deflection. Its. ****ing. Coming. Home.
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Post by interestedridersfan on Jul 7, 2018 14:50:52 GMT
Great first half performance
We need to keep going at them though
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2018 14:51:47 GMT
Sterling has been crap. Get RLC on.
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2NFR
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Post by 2NFR on Jul 7, 2018 15:52:29 GMT
Mystic Marcus gets it right ... again
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