Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Well, that was nearly a first half to forget. England mastering the art of the 3 P's, pedestrian, plodding and ponderous. Like a sea cow grazing on the ocean floor. At one point they had a throw in on the Ukraine goal line and one throw and a pass later the ball was back with Pickford. I've seen Henderson many, many times taking all the momentum out of everything before passing back to the defender, despite the forwards all making runs, but this was his finest display yet.... not only did he suck the life out of nearly everything, when he did look forward he made two terrible crosses into the box that went near nobody, found himself with the ball at his feet on the penalty spot, unmarked and onside and he was so stunned to find himself there that instead of turning and lashing the ball in, he tried to square to Maddison who had 2 defenders on his shoulder, with the expected result. Then a minute or so later he blazed the ball over the bar...... it was the finest Henderson-esque performance that I think I've ever seen (and that isn't good, before anyone gets confused).

Astonishing to see England players in full panic mode against a team like Ukraine, but they were all over the shop after conceding to pretty much Ukraine's only foray into the England half. Maddison and Bellingham throwing themselves on the floor trying to buy a free kick, everybody running around like headless chickens because they'd gone a goal down.

I was just wondering what the master tactician had in store for us in the second half, when Walker scored an extraordinarily good goal to level things up and making tactical change considerations moot.

great ball from Kane, incredible first touch from Walker and composure to boot..... brilliant. You wouldn't catch Henderson doing any of those things

Second half, England dropped their 3 P's approach and shifted seamlessly to the 3 B's .... bumbling, bungling, belaboured.

Sir G changed personnel exactly on 60 mins, which everyone knows is the correct time to make changes.... it's written down in a manual somewhere, so it must be right. Off went Bellingham and Maddison who had struggled to get into the game, and on came Rashford and Foden....... who struggled to get into the game

Doubtless they'll go au naturel for the Scotland friendly and give them a pasting, because there's nothing on the game, while they perfect a brand new method for Italy in October where they'll presumably unveil the 3 T's approach

tepid, turgid and tentative

Sir G chose to field 2 defensively minded midfielders..... against Ukraine..........why? Brazil, Spain, France, I get it.... Ukraine

I think it's written in the Sir G playbook. Who is our biggest rival in the group? well Ukraine are second, it must be them, so we'll shore up defensively and keep the ball for long periods doing nothing with it until something turns up out of the blue. If Italy had played more matches and Ukraine were mid table, I don't think he would have done that. England literally did nothing with the ball going forward, until something turned up out of the blue in the first half and nearly did in the second.

unless of course the plan for Italy is the 3 L's

Limp, listless and lacklustre

As I predicted, England were much improved tonight in a match with nothing on it.

A few personnel changes and suddenly England knew which way was forward. First half they were very good with Foden, Rashford and Bellingham causing Scotland all kinds of problem. They grabbed a two goal lead through Foden and Bellingham and then true to form tried to sit on it in the second half in true Sir G style. Scotland found themselves getting a bit more possession and managed to pull one back courtesy of Maguire's own goal. I say Scotland pulled one back, but really it was their fans who got the goal, because from the moment Maguire came on the pitch at half time they got after him. Ole ing him constantly every time he dithered on the ball before square passing a few yards to his CB partner. Every single touch they got after him and eventually he poked it into his own net to rapturous applause. That sparked England into life a bit and they sealed the win with a lovely piece of skill from Bellingham and a clinical finish from Kane.

There were a few changes to the starting XI for this match. Dunk looked good value at CB, Phillips looked pretty good in midfield breaking up play, Ramsdale looked solid in goal and unflustered with the ball at his feet in tight situations, Rashford and Foden pulled the Scottish defence all over the place.

Walker continued where he left off from the Ukraine game. Bellingham had purpose tonight... terrific

We still had 2 defensive midfielders though..... Scotland..... why?

Gareth has a go at people slagging off Maguire, and says the criticism of him is ridiculous. I am left wondering if Gareth actually watches football, because Maguire has literally turned into a worldwide joke of a player, whose only use is playing so bad he generates so many shared videos of his calamities, the shirt sponsor must be happy with the exposure. He came on against Arsenal, United concede twice. He comes on here, he scores an own goal.... He's just a giant, error prone blockhead.

I still chuckle when that video of De Gea looking for a pass, seeing Maguire in acres of space, then booting the ball straight into the stand rather than pass to him, pops up now and then on social media. Its very funny.

My great hope right now is that Henderson never gets called up again. He was atrocious at the weekend and England were so much better and so much more positive without him sucking the life out of the build up play. He's a busted flush, playing in Saudi so I see no compelling argument for his inclusion at the highest level of football

doubtless Sir G will disagree and call me a joke for expressing that opinion

Another dull performance from England. A rather experimental side that only featured Grealish Henderson Maddison and TAA of the usual suspects in the starting XI. In fact when Sir G made a quadruple substitution on 60 mins (when else), the 4 players who came on (Stones, Trippier, Rashford, Phillips) had more caps between them than the whole of the starting XI according to the commentary.

England were dreadful in the first half. Tentative, negative, soft passing that went nowhere. Australia set themselves up to defend and counter and they did that with great effect. Australia were a threat throughout the game, but lacked the finish, although they came close several times. England were better in the second half and better still once Henderson was subbed off. Watkins looked a threat all night, Dunk looked solid in defence and Johnstone made some decent saves. Maddison's corners were absolutely dreadful. I think he had 6 goes, 4 he went short and nothing meaningful transpired, 2 he went long and floaty and were easily cleared, yet TAA was on the pitch and then Trippier, both of whom are good at this stuff.... very odd that Maddison kept taking them

Henderson got booed off when he was subbed. I think he was in the last game too. Sir G says he can't understand it, citing 79 caps, father figure to Bellingham and blah, blah, blah. The BBC can't seem to see beyond him moving to a Saudi team as a reason, but I'd have thought it was completely obvious, tbh.... he sucks the life out of England's play, he's always sucked the life out of England's play and people are fed up of it. England are more dynamic and positive when he isn't around, so for me, they boo him because of what his presence on the pitch does to the team. His international career is well past its sell by date and his constant back passing when players are making forward runs annoys the life out of me. If Sir G got his head out of his @rse he'd probably see it. If he's a helpful presence in the squad call him up for behind the scenes stuff, but don't put him on the bloody pitch

Anyway, England won by the odd goal and Australia were a credit to themselves. That sums it up pretty well, I think

I wonder what the master tactician has in store for us tonight

perhaps he do something really radical like play 2 defensive mids, recall Maguire and wait until the 60th minute before making his substitutions

It wouldn't surprise me if he goes with 5 at the back and 2 DMs, tbh

it's a good job the rules state only one goalkeeper!

crikey, it's a slow game this

at times I could hear the howls of frustration from the fans as England dithered and dallied with the ball in their own half. Then we get 3 added minutes, but the penalty check must have taken at least that and then there was a head injury delay which took a long while too.

England have defended poorly. Trippier is playing out of position, so Italy are getting a lot of joy down that side, and Maguire and Stones have about 1 game of match time this season between them and their defending is last ditch desperate at times. Italy score with their first attack as easy as it gets and the only time England moved the ball quickly it led to a pen and an equaliser. You'd think there might be a message in there somewhere. Phillips has no game time this season either and he makes 3 rash challenges in the first 8 minutes and ends up on a yellow when a more officious ref could easily have brought out 2 yellows and England would have been down to 10 men. It's hard to fathom really.

What worries me as much as anything is that with Malta scoring against Ukraine, this scoreline takes England through to the finals and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Southgate and England settle for 1-1.... right up until the point when Ukraine score again

Not sure I follow how a draw qualifies England, but Rashford pulls England ahead.

Never in any doubt?

England qualify, and Italy must beat Ukraine to qualify, otherwise it'll be the playoffs..

bigfluffylemon wrote:Not sure I follow how a draw qualifies England, but Rashford pulls England ahead.

I think it was when Ukraine were only drawing.