Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021 & 2022
Can’t find it
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NEXT GAME:Leicester City FC
Saturday 4th May 2024
Kick off 12.30 pm
Kingpower Stadium
Championship
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ABBEY
Guest
Oh dear
Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
That’s two you’ve reeled in Abbey 
A
ABBEY
Guest
Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021 & 2022
I call that bullshit. Never mind reeling them in there's nothing clever about posting lies. This is a site of integrity and I expected far more from you pal. In fact is this not flaming and against rules?
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A
ABBEY
Guest
It's a joke post pal .
.carlsbergs .
Chill dude ,I thought it were proper funny
Read the last paragraph .
.carlsbergs .
Chill dude ,I thought it were proper funny
Read the last paragraph .
OnlyOneTugay
Prediction Champion 2019 & 2020
Rovers fans supporting England in Russia last night
Old Darwen Blue
Prediction Champion 2021 & 2022
Ha, got ya you two hat lol
Wilpshire Blue
Senior Member
Hard luck to all the haters - three lions makes chart history
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44818894
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44818894
This thread understandably has quietened down so I'll break my habit on only doing reports on matches that I see live and give my overall verdict on the England squad over the entire tournament.
Pickford 9 Been up to every challenge required of him. Some particularly blinding saves saw us beat Sweden and get to the SF. My only gripe is that I'd prob chin him in the showers if I was a defender as he has that annoying Peter Schmeicel habit of going completely ballistic and bad mouthing the first person he sees whenever he has even an ordinary save to make.
Walker 6 Capable World Cup and should have had a 7 but marred by two pieces of poor defending which led to both of Croatia’s goals. First was in stooping to head when he should have advanced a stride or two to meet the ball at head height and the second when he never got off the ground to challenge for the header which led to the 2nd. Put his electrifying pace to good use in defence and backed Tripper's forward runs up very well.
Stones 6 Always a slip up in him as he seems unable to recognise when to play the ball out of defence and when to hit Row Z. Got the blame for Croatia’s winner but I’d have to share that with Maguire who had a clear view of both Stones position and Manzukic’s and failed to close the gap
Maguire 8. Excellent World Cup and stepped up to the plate well. A little inexperienced in defence and he seemed to want to emulate Stones on occasions by wanting to play the ball out when the situation called for giving it some leather. He should have stepped forward and got tight on the Croat for the 2nd goal and was imo guilty in that instance of the age old schoolboy failing of ball watching
Trippier 8 An excellent World Cup debut from Trippier who has really benefitted from Walker’s move to Man city. He provided a real threat down the right wing provided a good few assists from his dead ball play. Inexplicably faded like many of the others in the final match.
Young 7 Did well at wing back and on many occasions provided much needed experience for his younger teammates. He too inexplicably went missing in the 2nd half against Croatia although in fairness he was left totally exposed by the desertion to duty of Delle Alli.
Henderson 7 Rose to the challenge well in the main but it was a tough world cup for Henderson as the make up of the team left him as the only starting midfielder with anything like a tackle in him. At that level and in that heat it's an unfair ask of one player.
Alli 4 Disappointing World Cup performances for him with the goal v Sweden as his only highlight. Unable to spot the danger developing down the right from Croatia OR unwilling to put a proper shift in. He’d disappeared long before he was subbed. Heaven only knows why he is such a media favourite as he constantly gives me the impression that he thinks that he is better than he actually is.
Linguard 6 Covered a lot of ground throughout the tournament and was a willing runner although he failed to stand out much, with the obvious exception of that marvellous goal v Panama. I think international football is a step too far for Jesse.
Kane 7 Looked more and more jiggered as the tournament progressed and faded completely against the croats in the 2nd half. However he led the line well and when we were defending provided an excellent target man who did lots of unnoticed ‘dirty work’ by controlling and shielding the ball from the opposition. Gained countless free kicks and many precious minutes when opponents were pushing us back and were forced into fouling him.
Btw An excellent role model which Jordan Rhodes should emulate…. But we all know that’s simply not in him don’t we?
Sterling 7 Lots of effort all tournament but ultimately a disappointing contribution from Raheem. He really needs to get that tattoo removed doesn’t he as any comparison to a sharp shooter is doomed to national ridicule. However always worth his place as he occupies defenders and frightens them to death. Marking him must be a nightmare and it was noticeable that Croatia pushed up a couple of yards when Southgate took him off. He persists in getting to the touchline and then looking up instead of simply playing the ball across the 6 yard line. It simply telegraphs his intention to defenders and is the reason his excellent build up play frequently comes to nothing.
Vardy 6 Only brought on to provide fresh legs when England were in front and winding the clock down. His groin injury must have been worse than the England camp let on. When fit I’d really like to have seen Shelvey in the squad to supply a stream of wickedly accurate through balls to him as only Shelvey can.
Rashford 6 Tried hard but have we really no one better than an Old Trafford reserve? He needs to leave Man Utd if he is to progress. Pity Wenger has retired because he could have been the perfect manager to develop Rashford’s abilities. Mourhino will hammer his confidence and damage him permanently if he stays.
Dier 6 Didn’t get on much but did everything expected of him. Not used as much as he should have been by the foolishly gung ho Southgate
Jones
Loftus Cheek
Wellbeck
Pope
Rose 7 Like Dier should have seen more action. Suffered because as I have said before Southgate had no plan B.
Delph 6 Little to remark. Just does what he does.
Alexander Arnold
Southgate… 6 Motivated the youngest team with the fewest caps of the entire tournament well and presented a popular figure head to press and media, Joe Public etc. Preferred a different formation than we are used to by going 3 at the back and utilising a very attacking line up which proved itself by scoring first in every match. An unquestionably easy group and then favourable latter stage draw saw us march quite easily to the Semi’s. However imo this masked Southgate’s lack of tactical nous. Time and again we went in front which forced the opposition to come at us and as a result expose our weakest department… the defence. Our vulnerability was there for all to see as the 3 defenders were exposed by the formation and the lack of midfield bite. The second half v Colombia was a warning but the most obvious example was the quarter final v Sweden who had definitely over achieved and were a step down in quality in virtually every dept and could have beaten us but for a series of truly world class saves from Pickford.
This might sound daft and WILL be controversial but I believe if we’d had Southgate manage the first halves and Allardyce the 2nd 45 minutes we could have beaten Croatia and possibly even won the world cup! Allarydce imo would have replaced Lingard and Alli at HT with Rose and Dier, pulled Kane back to play in the hole and left Sterling up top to run the channels and gone with a defensive 4-4-1-1 formation. Another sub option on 75 minutes if needed with Vardy (preferably) or Rashford available to come on for Sterling if we were still defending our lead.
Southgate will continue by popular demand as England enters what could be another golden era as the excellent players in the u21’s and youth teams start to mature. He’s a very acceptable figure head and popular with the public BUT he must appoint a No2 who is a master tactician and who can spot things happening and situations changing throughout a match to mask his tactical naivety. Also I'd check out the fitness coaches as too many England players looked definitely worn out during the semi.
The plain fact remains that throughout the tournament we needed too many chances to score and gifted poorer teams too many opportunities on goal too. Tunisia, Colombia and to a much lesser extent Croatia should have been seen off by HT.
and give my overall verdict on the England squad over the entire tournament. Pickford 9 Been up to every challenge required of him. Some particularly blinding saves saw us beat Sweden and get to the SF. My only gripe is that I'd prob chin him in the showers if I was a defender as he has that annoying Peter Schmeicel habit of going completely ballistic and bad mouthing the first person he sees whenever he has even an ordinary save to make.
Walker 6 Capable World Cup and should have had a 7 but marred by two pieces of poor defending which led to both of Croatia’s goals. First was in stooping to head when he should have advanced a stride or two to meet the ball at head height and the second when he never got off the ground to challenge for the header which led to the 2nd. Put his electrifying pace to good use in defence and backed Tripper's forward runs up very well.
Stones 6 Always a slip up in him as he seems unable to recognise when to play the ball out of defence and when to hit Row Z. Got the blame for Croatia’s winner but I’d have to share that with Maguire who had a clear view of both Stones position and Manzukic’s and failed to close the gap
Maguire 8. Excellent World Cup and stepped up to the plate well. A little inexperienced in defence and he seemed to want to emulate Stones on occasions by wanting to play the ball out when the situation called for giving it some leather. He should have stepped forward and got tight on the Croat for the 2nd goal and was imo guilty in that instance of the age old schoolboy failing of ball watching
Trippier 8 An excellent World Cup debut from Trippier who has really benefitted from Walker’s move to Man city. He provided a real threat down the right wing provided a good few assists from his dead ball play. Inexplicably faded like many of the others in the final match.
Young 7 Did well at wing back and on many occasions provided much needed experience for his younger teammates. He too inexplicably went missing in the 2nd half against Croatia although in fairness he was left totally exposed by the desertion to duty of Delle Alli.
Henderson 7 Rose to the challenge well in the main but it was a tough world cup for Henderson as the make up of the team left him as the only starting midfielder with anything like a tackle in him. At that level and in that heat it's an unfair ask of one player.
Alli 4 Disappointing World Cup performances for him with the goal v Sweden as his only highlight. Unable to spot the danger developing down the right from Croatia OR unwilling to put a proper shift in. He’d disappeared long before he was subbed. Heaven only knows why he is such a media favourite as he constantly gives me the impression that he thinks that he is better than he actually is.
Linguard 6 Covered a lot of ground throughout the tournament and was a willing runner although he failed to stand out much, with the obvious exception of that marvellous goal v Panama. I think international football is a step too far for Jesse.
Kane 7 Looked more and more jiggered as the tournament progressed and faded completely against the croats in the 2nd half. However he led the line well and when we were defending provided an excellent target man who did lots of unnoticed ‘dirty work’ by controlling and shielding the ball from the opposition. Gained countless free kicks and many precious minutes when opponents were pushing us back and were forced into fouling him.
Btw An excellent role model which Jordan Rhodes should emulate…. But we all know that’s simply not in him don’t we?
Sterling 7 Lots of effort all tournament but ultimately a disappointing contribution from Raheem. He really needs to get that tattoo removed doesn’t he as any comparison to a sharp shooter is doomed to national ridicule. However always worth his place as he occupies defenders and frightens them to death. Marking him must be a nightmare and it was noticeable that Croatia pushed up a couple of yards when Southgate took him off. He persists in getting to the touchline and then looking up instead of simply playing the ball across the 6 yard line. It simply telegraphs his intention to defenders and is the reason his excellent build up play frequently comes to nothing.
Vardy 6 Only brought on to provide fresh legs when England were in front and winding the clock down. His groin injury must have been worse than the England camp let on. When fit I’d really like to have seen Shelvey in the squad to supply a stream of wickedly accurate through balls to him as only Shelvey can.
Rashford 6 Tried hard but have we really no one better than an Old Trafford reserve? He needs to leave Man Utd if he is to progress. Pity Wenger has retired because he could have been the perfect manager to develop Rashford’s abilities. Mourhino will hammer his confidence and damage him permanently if he stays.
Dier 6 Didn’t get on much but did everything expected of him. Not used as much as he should have been by the foolishly gung ho Southgate
Jones
Loftus Cheek
Wellbeck
Pope
Rose 7 Like Dier should have seen more action. Suffered because as I have said before Southgate had no plan B.
Delph 6 Little to remark. Just does what he does.
Alexander Arnold
Southgate… 6 Motivated the youngest team with the fewest caps of the entire tournament well and presented a popular figure head to press and media, Joe Public etc. Preferred a different formation than we are used to by going 3 at the back and utilising a very attacking line up which proved itself by scoring first in every match. An unquestionably easy group and then favourable latter stage draw saw us march quite easily to the Semi’s. However imo this masked Southgate’s lack of tactical nous. Time and again we went in front which forced the opposition to come at us and as a result expose our weakest department… the defence. Our vulnerability was there for all to see as the 3 defenders were exposed by the formation and the lack of midfield bite. The second half v Colombia was a warning but the most obvious example was the quarter final v Sweden who had definitely over achieved and were a step down in quality in virtually every dept and could have beaten us but for a series of truly world class saves from Pickford.
This might sound daft and WILL be controversial but I believe if we’d had Southgate manage the first halves and Allardyce the 2nd 45 minutes we could have beaten Croatia and possibly even won the world cup! Allarydce imo would have replaced Lingard and Alli at HT with Rose and Dier, pulled Kane back to play in the hole and left Sterling up top to run the channels and gone with a defensive 4-4-1-1 formation. Another sub option on 75 minutes if needed with Vardy (preferably) or Rashford available to come on for Sterling if we were still defending our lead.
Southgate will continue by popular demand as England enters what could be another golden era as the excellent players in the u21’s and youth teams start to mature. He’s a very acceptable figure head and popular with the public BUT he must appoint a No2 who is a master tactician and who can spot things happening and situations changing throughout a match to mask his tactical naivety. Also I'd check out the fitness coaches as too many England players looked definitely worn out during the semi.
The plain fact remains that throughout the tournament we needed too many chances to score and gifted poorer teams too many opportunities on goal too. Tunisia, Colombia and to a much lesser extent Croatia should have been seen off by HT.
Steve Moss
Senior Member
On the way to the pub to watch England to play for third place. There’s still something to play for.
Update: 2-0 loss. I think England's keeper is excellent. Some of the field players were soft, and the defense needs some stiffening.
Still 4th overall is nothing to sneeze at.
All in my opinion, of course.
Update: 2-0 loss. I think England's keeper is excellent. Some of the field players were soft, and the defense needs some stiffening.
Still 4th overall is nothing to sneeze at.
All in my opinion, of course.
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Good post, I said the same thing about Southgate, he needs a tactician as number two. He keeps the lads happy someone else works out the rest. I've no idea why ali is rated so high either, never seen him play well. Rashford and Loftus cheek looked much more like it today.
Good world cup for sure and glad Southgate called it right after the match, we are not a top four side, quite right.
Good world cup for sure and glad Southgate called it right after the match, we are not a top four side, quite right.
AllRoverAsia
Senior Member
Kane became increasingly ineffective as the tournament progressed.
He ended up with 6 goals which included 3 penalties and a lucky deflection but had just 1 shot on target in his final 4 games and that was his penalty against Colombia in the last 16.
A combination maybe of increasing tirdeness, he worked very hard in the group stage games, maybe carrying an injury (?) and our overall lack of creativity.
Today a couple of decent crosses when into the Belgian area and Harry was awol.
In todays game I thought Delph played ok and liked the way he could receive, control and turn in one movement and decent passing.
We still play far too many balls back to our keeper.
Belgium imo never went into top gear.
He ended up with 6 goals which included 3 penalties and a lucky deflection but had just 1 shot on target in his final 4 games and that was his penalty against Colombia in the last 16.
A combination maybe of increasing tirdeness, he worked very hard in the group stage games, maybe carrying an injury (?) and our overall lack of creativity.
Today a couple of decent crosses when into the Belgian area and Harry was awol.
In todays game I thought Delph played ok and liked the way he could receive, control and turn in one movement and decent passing.
We still play far too many balls back to our keeper.
Belgium imo never went into top gear.
A
ABBEY
Guest
Correct...he should have the ball fed to him , just like Rhodes .
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ABBEY
Guest
ah well ive made 10o quid profit on this game guaranteed....matched betting boom
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ABBEY
Guest
1-0 frogs og