The World Cup

[CrookesBlade]

We got the job done last night and without playing well. That’s a positive.

Beyond that there are so many questions and most relate to the players we’ve taken and some we’ve left at home.

I think there’s a number of options of RB that Tuchel could’ve taken, I’d have taken James, despite his injury record. But i think whatever your view on who should be there, Spence would never be on the list.

The decision to play Madueke and Rashford was also dubious when there are other players that could fill the roles, left at home. Cole Palmer, Foden and Gibbs-White give us more attacking options. We’ve just not seen consistency with Madueke, Rashford and Gordon.

We’ve played 45 mins of decent attacking football in four games, in stadia and conditions which haven’t been extreme.

What worries me is that we play so slowly, despite possession, we don’t ramp things up. As shearer said, it’s pass, pass, pass, right, then pass, pass, pass, left. Nobody wanted to go past players. Madueke seemed to prefer cutting in but looked dangerous when he went outside. Rashford made some awful decisions.

Gordon didn’t do too much except doing things at speed.

Against Mexico, we have to be smarter, we need to solve the RB problem, the wing problem and bring more pace into our attacks.

I’d also drop Pickford but he’s not going to do that

Tuchel was praised for generally picking players on form rather than reputation/past performances for England but I can’t help thinking we’ve seen why previous managers have gone with players they see as tried and tested despite club form.

It would be a shame if he gets the boot after this tournament as it’s not solely down to him, we seem to be back to having players scared to death when they pull on the England shirt. That said having Maguire and Cole Palmer in the squad would have strengthened us significantly.

Having Spence in the squad is dropping the bar right back to where it was in the early 90s when Carlton Palmer or Andy Sinton helped themselves to a few caps.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

'Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to allow their kids to stay up and watch England's clash with Mexico at 1am on Monday '

I'm sure they'll fall asleep anyway

 

[Cheeky Blade]

'Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to allow their kids to stay up and watch England's clash with Mexico at 1am on Monday '

I'm sure they'll fall asleep anyway

Surely Starmer/Burnham or whoever is supposed to be in charge atm would have to call a bank holiday for this to happen?

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

'Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to allow their kids to stay up and watch England's clash with Mexico at 1am on Monday '

I'm sure they'll fall asleep anyway

As will I. Well past my bedtime.

 

[MKY]

Haha blades fingering flag on full view in this Gruniad article!!!https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ht-back-spain-v-austria-buildup-and-more-live

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Weird place

 

[YES Blade]

We battered Congo last night. That GK will never have a game like that again

I don’t know what people expect from England. We played well, created some good chances, had a definite penalty not given, showed character to come from behind and ultimately deserved to win. What more can you want?

Unless we destroy the unfashionable no name teams, it’s a massive overreaction and as if we played terrible and were incredibly lucky to get through. Congo looked a solid team with players of lower Premier League/Championship standard. Whilst we should expect to beat them, they aren’t mugs either.

 

[BazWainwright]

I saw it as pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass lose it and get caught on the break.
Or pass pass pass pass, could have crossed it, but pass pass pass could have crossed again, but still pass pass pass and then lose it AGAIN.

A bit like United, in fact.

 

[Mendi]

Spain 2 nil up

 

[Silent Blade]

From what I have seen so far, Spain and France are the two best teams in this World Cup

​

 

[Stretch]

From what I have seen so far, Spain and France are the two best teams in this World Cup

​

Agreed.

The yanks are looking surprisingly decent as well and home advantage should never be underestimated.

 

[Kenilworth]

From what I have seen so far, Spain and France are the two best teams in this World Cup

​

I’ve not seen Spain. I find them tedious to watch. France look great and Messi is always worth a watch.
For me, it’s France with their explosive play, that catch the eye.

 

[Stevo71]

We battered Congo last night. That GK will never have a game like that again

Just like Pressman when he was up against us

 

[Igor]

In today’s Daily Mail. The BBF Blades flag proudly flown in front of the victorious England team.

 

[Dkc]

I’ve not seen Spain. I find them tedious to watch.

They certainly build-up very patiently but this is what we are told is attractive football. Play from the back, keep possession, probe for an opening, switch wings, go backwards if necessary, then out of the blue the killer ball. Spain's goals last night were great to watch and came through patience and possession

 

[Kenilworth]

They certainly build-up very patiently but this is what we are told is attractive football. Play from the back, keep possession, probe for an opening, switch wings, go backwards if necessary, then out of the blue the killer ball. Spain's goals last night were great to watch and came through patience and possession

Yep, I’m not denying they are superb at what they do. I prefer a different style of football and for the match to be a contest, where there is some jeopardy. Spain control games to the extent it’s no longer a contest IMO so it’s always a game of attack v defence that’s like a featherweight boxing match, where one boxer is levels above. Technically, almost perfect, but there will never be a TKO, or a toe to toe, blow for blow encounter.
The “purists” (whatever that means) will state that it is the ultimate expression of skilled football. I like a mixture of expression.
I love a goal scored by quick and incisive wing play with a peach of a whipped cross into the box and the big centre forrad nodding in a powerful header, with the noise of the thump as they head it and the ripple of the back of the net as the ball hits it - then you get the. Roar of the crowd.
I love a good old. Thunderbastard (Yeboah, Roberto Carlos, Michael Lake, Mbappe).
I love a nutted goal from a corner.
I love a crunching tackle.
I love seeing those things that commentators say that “we don't want to see this sort of thing on a football pitch” when there is some argy bargy. Oh yes, a lot of do.
Whilst it’s great to see a goal that is a result of many passes (Didzy at Spurs away on prem) it’s not that I want to see every goal like that.
I also want to see a match. Where both sides have a decent chance of winning and where your team comes out on top (seen that plenty with Blades but never seen that in the really big games when it matters)
Football isn’t all about caviar for every meal. I’d expect most of us to get bored if we had caviar for every meal. That’s how I feel about Spain. Top, top players, hugely talented, extremely fit and professional, but I can’t stand the relentless tippy tappy, tappy tippy, repeat again style of football.
For me, it’s not a contest. A team can dominate in other ways and I find that much more appealing than what Spain has to offer.

 

[10-0 win]

Refs also check sensors like last nights Croatian last minute goal ruled out. Ruled out by IT
Adidas Trionda (also known as the Triion), features a built-in 500Hz motion sensor chip. This microchip measures the ball's movement 500 times per second, precisely tracking acceleration, spin, and the exact moment a player's foot makes contact

 

[10-0 win]

According to IT, it can sense a ball hitting players hair, think that happened to Croatia. Is this what we want?

 

[10-0 win]

Yep, I’m not denying they are superb at what they do. I prefer a different style of football and for the match to be a contest, where there is some jeopardy. Spain control games to the extent it’s no longer a contest IMO so it’s always a game of attack v defence that’s like a featherweight boxing match, where one boxer is levels above. Technically, almost perfect, but there will never be a TKO, or a toe to toe, blow for blow encounter.
The “purists” (whatever that means) will state that it is the ultimate expression of skilled football. I like a mixture of expression.
I love a goal scored by quick and incisive wing play with a peach of a whipped cross into the box and the big centre forrad nodding in a powerful header, with the noise of the thump as they head it and the ripple of the back of the net as the ball hits it - then you get the. Roar of the crowd.
I love a good old. Thunderbastard (Yeboah, Roberto Carlos, Michael Lake, Mbappe).
I love a nutted goal from a corner.
I love a crunching tackle.
I love seeing those things that commentators say that “we don't want to see this sort of thing on a football pitch” when there is some argy bargy. Oh yes, a lot of do.
Whilst it’s great to see a goal that is a result of many passes (Didzy at Spurs away on prem) it’s not that I want to see every goal like that.
I also want to see a match. Where both sides have a decent chance of winning and where your team comes out on top (seen that plenty with Blades but never seen that in the really big games when it matters)
Football isn’t all about caviar for every meal. I’d expect most of us to get bored if we had caviar for every meal. That’s how I feel about Spain. Top, top players, hugely talented, extremely fit and professional, but I can’t stand the relentless tippy tappy, tappy tippy, repeat again style of football.
For me, it’s not a contest. A team can dominate in other ways and I find that much more appealing than what Spain has to offer.

Think Spain was much different last night, high pressure, winning ball high up the field and attacking. Learning lessons Even them

 

[Frank the tank]

According to IT, it can sense a ball hitting players hair, think that happened to Croatia. Is this what we want?

From watching the highlights it seems to be what FIFA wants
If it means keeping Ronaldo in the tournament
So far he's had his ban rescinded for no good reason
Messi has avoided a red card that others have walked for and now this

 

[10-0 win]

From watching the highlights it seems to be what FIFA wants
If it means keeping Ronaldo in the tournament
So far he's had his ban rescinded for no good reason
Messi has avoided a red card that others have walked for and now this

Agree on both, shame, one off field political decision, and one on field decision. Some refs with so bad english players hardly understand VAR decisions. In general games been good and refs been fine. Worst is the hard pitches upon artificial surface.

 

[ATL Recs]

I’ve not seen Spain. I find them tedious to watch. France look great and Messi is always worth a watch.
For me, it’s France with their explosive play, that catch the eye.

I watch them but dont always watch where the ball is I just watch the player movement awesome

 

[YES Blade]

According to IT, it can sense a ball hitting players hair, think that happened to Croatia. Is this what we want?

It just seems that the refs/VAR can’t win. Correct it to the right decision and people will moan that it’s hardly touched the player so should be a goal, but don’t correct it then people will moan that it’s offside.

As with the ball crossing the line, there is no grey area with offside. So even if it’s by extremely fine margins, I think it’s correct to enforce it to that level. It shouldn’t be left to a ref or VAR to decide if the goal should stand or not based on only being a little bit off or onside.

 

[Kenilworth]

I watch them but dont always watch where the ball is I just watch the player movement awesome

Yes, it is. So is was the movement of Hot Gossip.

 

[Frank the tank]

It just seems that the refs/VAR can’t win. Correct it to the right decision and people will moan that it’s hardly touched the player so should be a goal, but don’t correct it then people will moan that it’s offside.

As with the ball crossing the line, there is no grey area with offside. So even if it’s by extremely fine margins, I think it’s correct to enforce it to that level. It shouldn’t be left to a ref or VAR to decide if the goal should stand or not based on only being a little bit off or onside.

Has there been any evidence shown of this or fe wo just take FIFA's word for it. ?

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Just been announced, England v Mexico ko time now 7pm Sunday.
Bad weather forecast for 1am.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Just been announced, England v Mexico ko time now 7pm Sunday.
Bad weather forecast for 1am.

Potentially.

Nothing to do with timezones. No sir. A potential storm days out. Uh huh.

 

[mattbianco1]

Potentially.

Nothing to do with timezones. No sir. A potential storm days out. Uh huh.

Its due to kick off at 6pm local time

 

[Foxy]

Just been announced, England v Mexico ko time now 7pm Sunday.
Bad weather forecast for 1am.

Clashes with the eldests dance show, how handy.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Its due to kick off at 6pm local time

View attachment 239674

Yeah storms are easy to predict 48 hours out...

It's ratings.