[Football] England v USA

[herecomesaregular]

Modern football can be so boring, all Game Management and no Glory.

 

[One Love]

Classic example of a game where it's one team's cup final (they've been preparing it for months) and one team with one eye on future challenges.

 

[The Fifth Column]

Looks like gormless Gareth is plodding England towards the knockout stages whereupon meeting any team better than Wales, Iran and USA they will have their arses handed to them on a plate. They'll probably cause scenes of beer being thrown into the air by scoring in the 4th minute and then revert to the turgid slop dished out by Southgate and succumb to 2 late goals which will have any combination of the following: VAR reversal of blatantly offside goal, penalty awarded and red card, Goalkeeping/defending howler, winner for the opposition in the 27th minute of added time. At 2-1 down Southgate will bring on more defensive minded subs to manage the game out because 2-1 is better than 3-1. He'll be sacked in January and replaced by Potter who by then has lost the Chelsea dressing room and on his way out.

 

[Bodian]

Southgate is a bloody idiot. I find him probably the most frustrating England manager we've ever had. So much attacking talent and his tactics and coaching style get us playing like that against an opposition whom yes, were good, but we really should be beating with the players we have. I find it astonishing that he sets us up like that and then makes the subs he makes. It's baffling. He can be a very good tournament manager and has done well with us, but in the games where we need to make something of them, he decides to do this. But it's more than just these matches.

I suppose that's the thing though - we didn't need to make something of the game. A point last night has basically seen us qualify - as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen. That's his, and the players main aim at this stage - qualify without taking too much out of themselves.

 

[Is it PotG?]

I suppose that's the thing though - we didn't need to make something of the game. A point last night has basically seen us qualify - as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen. That's his, and the players main aim at this stage - qualify without taking too much out of themselves.

I admire your confidence that England were in such control, aware of the situation. On that basis, as soon as they play anyone decent, they'll be able to flick the switch and turn it on.

 

[SK1NT]

Should be wanting to keep the winning run going. Plus never beating the US is a World Cup must have been an incentive. So disappointing that the yanks can lord it over us again. They don’t give a shit about football, and it means so much to us and yet we never can bets them. Ffs.

I thought GS hasd changed and decided to be more stacking, dynamic and exciting in that game against Iran. It was one of the best performances. I started to believe. More fool me.

 

[SAC]

I avoided NSC last night, knowing that there will be so many gloating at England's demise.

For some reason posters on NSC become like Aresnal supporters, expecting us to beat teams like USA (blud) giving little credit to the fact that the oposition played well.

I was disspointed that we didn't batter USA but not surprised. On to the next match.

 

[SAC]

Should be wanting to keep the winning run going. Plus never beating the US is a World Cup must have been an incentive. So disappointing that the yanks can lord it over us again. They don’t give a shit about football, and it means so much to us and yet we never can bets them. Ffs.

I thought GS hasd changed and decided to be more stacking, dynamic and exciting in that game against Iran. It was one of the best performances. I started to believe. More fool me.

Yes, they will be lording it over us after that 0-0 win. Just like the Scotch did.

 

[BN41Albion]

I suppose that's the thing though - we didn't need to make something of the game. A point last night has basically seen us qualify - as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen. That's his, and the players main aim at this stage - qualify without taking too much out of themselves.

Mmm, nice optimism, ala Southgate, but at no point last night were we in control of the game and we could (and should) very easily have lost. Southgate basically did nothing to try and stop the US having control of the game till the last 15 minutes. He got very lucky in the end to come away with a point and be able to say he's pleased with everything we did, etc.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

And if we play like we did against Iran we’ll win it on one leg

Tournament football needs a decent 90 mins in the knockouts but the group games need an element of game management, especially when it’s hot and there’s not much to do

I suppose that's the thing though - we didn't need to make something of the game. A point last night has basically seen us qualify - as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen. That's his, and the players main aim at this stage - qualify without taking too much out of themselves.

Teams that grind out results, knowing that a draw is enough, do so by staying in control and dictating the pace of the game. That is not what we did yesterday. We were not control and could have quite easily conceded more than one.
Southgate is of the same school as CH (CH is by far and away the better of the two) where it’s very much a risk averse approach. To Southgate it’s about not conceding rather than scoring, unfortunately yesterday we very nearly screwed it up.

IMHO, Iran had a bit of a mare against us and we got lucky. They got their shit together for Wales and it showed.

I doubt that any of the other managers are worried about playing England as they know exactly what Southgate will do. Have a go for the first 15 mins then regardless of whether we have scored, defend and hope for a goal.

The one thing that worries me is the early England goal, as it will then be a case of everyone behind the ball and quite frankly we aren’t that good at it.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I suppose that's the thing though - we didn't need to make something of the game. A point last night has basically seen us qualify - as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen. That's his, and the players main aim at this stage - qualify without taking too much out of themselves.

Defending for large periods and being outplayed for periods take it out of you.

If that was the tactic its dumb, why play within yourselves in the second game?

 

[Swansman]

as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen

Famous last words

Anyway, the whole idea that England played like that because of some strategical plan to save energy etc is simply just bollocks.

 

[bhafc99]

Defending for large periods and being outplayed for periods take it out of you.

If that was the tactic its dumb, why play within yourselves in the second game?

Especially as if we’d managed the win, we could have rotated and rested a lot of the team for a dead rubber against Wales. Now we need a result, so aren’t really in the position to do that anymore.

 

[Bodian]

I admire your confidence that England were in such control, aware of the situation. On that basis, as soon as they play anyone decent, they'll be able to flick the switch and turn it on.

Mmm, nice optimism, ala Southgate, but at no point last night were we in control of the game and we could (and should) very easily have lost. Southgate basically did nothing to try and stop the US having control of the game till the last 15 minutes. He got very lucky in the end to come away with a point and be able to say he's pleased with everything we did, etc.

Teams that grind out results, knowing that a draw is enough, do so by staying in control and dictating the pace of the game. That is not what we did yesterday. We were not control and could have quite easily conceded more than one.
Southgate is of the same school as CH (CH is by far and away the better of the two) where it’s very much a risk averse approach. To Southgate it’s about not conceding rather than scoring, unfortunately yesterday we very nearly screwed it up.

IMHO, Iran had a bit of a mare against us and we got lucky. They got their shit together for Wales and it showed.

I doubt that any of the other managers are worried about playing England as they know exactly what Southgate will do. Have a go for the first 15 mins then regardless of whether we have scored, defend and hope for a goal.

The one thing that worries me is the early England goal, as it will then be a case of everyone behind the ball and quite frankly we aren’t that good at it.

Defending for large periods and being outplayed for periods take it out of you.

If that was the tactic its dumb, why play within yourselves in the second game?

Famous last words

Anyway, the whole idea that England played like that because of some strategical plan to save energy etc is simply just bollocks.

Fair enough. I suppose what I'm saying is that we didn't 'need' to win or raise our game - and therefore didn't; rather than we set out explicitly and had a plan to get a draw. It's the mindset of players - if you know you don't have to win, you don't try stuff or put in that extra yard. I'm sure we've all been there as players ourselves, at whatever level.

 

[BN41Albion]

Fair enough. I suppose what I'm saying is that we didn't 'need' to win or raise our game - and therefore didn't; rather than we set out explicitly and had a plan to get a draw. It's the mindset of players - if you know you don't have to win, you don't try stuff or put in that extra yard. I'm sure we've all been there as players ourselves, at whatever level.

I get that, and yes other nations usually have blips along the way in the WC, but we do have a pretty unique habit of for at least one game in a tournament being absolutely utterly horrendous, like last night. Laughably bad. You don't often see the top nations play as bad as what we're capable of, even when they do have a blip. For that reason we will never win anything as when we come against properly organised teams, including inferior on paper, we come unstuck, especially with someone like Southgate's risk averse mentality. It's such a shame because I feel if we play without fear we have the players to potentially hurt one of the big nations. How many times have we said that over the years though? Maybe, just maybe, we might hire a manager after this WC who actually believes in attack as a means of defence. I've found both Southgate's post match interviews utterly baffling yet typical of him so far: win 6-2 and he's negative about it (2 sloppy goals yes but come on - no need to only focus on that when we've been excellent in attack); draw 0-0 and he's seemingly delighted with how it played out despite the rest of the world knowing differently.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Fair enough. I suppose what I'm saying is that we didn't 'need' to win or raise our game - and therefore didn't; rather than we set out explicitly and had a plan to get a draw. It's the mindset of players - if you know you don't have to win, you don't try stuff or put in that extra yard. I'm sure we've all been there as players ourselves, at whatever level.

that’s not what happened against the Colonials, you could see by the players reaction that it had been a very very poor perfornance. Personally I don’t think it’s in our mentality to play like this. I thinks just asking for trouble.

 

[Cornwallboy]

What a bloody weird way of thinking. I don't get some on this board. Why would anyone support another country over their own, just because some of our clubs players play for them.

As much as I love the Ecuador contingent, this whole anti-English nonsense on here is grating on me big time. I just don't get it.

Totally agree with you. I don't give a stuff about Ecuador, Belgium, Ghana etc, in fact I'd be very happy if all of them got knocked out in the group stage so our players can rest.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

What a bloody weird way of thinking. I don't get some on this board. Why would anyone support another country over their own, just because some of our clubs players play for them.

As much as I love the Ecuador contingent, this whole anti-English nonsense on here is grating on me big time. I just don't get it.

I’m not anti-English, I’m just very frustrated with the ineptitude of a clueless manager who is wasting the players at his disposal. His defensive, risk averse football was consigned to the bin three seasons ago, it’s now about quick passes and movement. He just hasn’t realised it.
To make matters worse the quality of teams at this World Cup are a lot better than the last and way better than the Euro’s. We have been left behind and fucks me off to the nth degree. It’s criminal!

… and breath.

 

[jcdenton08]

I suppose that's the thing though - we didn't need to make something of the game. A point last night has basically seen us qualify - as the only way we won't is if we lose by more than three goals to the Welsh, and let's be honest, that isn't going to happen. That's his, and the players main aim at this stage - qualify without taking too much out of themselves.

How to the change the mentality though? It’s not like the players on the pitch were thinking “right lads, let’s be really shit, we only need to draw”.

Worryingly, they did their best. Which was shit. The tactics - they were very shit.

I can see a very poor Wales side getting something against England.

 

[Jeremiah]

I guess the most frustrating thing about the USA game for many of us on here was it was just liking watching the Albion at the Amex over these past years. A team we expect to beat rocks up and plays reasonably well and we seem to lack any ideas /enthusiasm/ motivation to break them down and end up endlessly passing the ball from side to side across our backline - throw in a few bizarre substitutions and very below par performances from our better players and I could have been in the WSU !

Oh yes and then our manager post match says "we played well but so did they "