World Cup Qatar 2022 - Desert Strike

[Ork1927]

Very disappointed for my Welsh family and friends last night.  Went out with a whimper - couldn't lay a glove on England and the brief excitement of Colwill coming on never led to anything.

 

I think if he'd scored a consolation goal it would have made at least the Cardiff Wales fans go home/finish watching on a bit of a high note.

 

Now Colwill can look forward to Stoke away on Saturday week!

[Art Vandelay]

Rashford is such a strange player. He couldn't trap a back of cement in the first half and then looked absolutely unplayable in the second. I'd love to see him and Saka flanking Kane in the next game as they both don't mind doing their doggies going the other way, and are great at receiving ball to feet. I know we as a nation are obsessed with at least one mercurial ball player at all times, but I don't think Foden really adds that much to this team. Say it quietly, but I think he's probably a tiny bit overrated because of the type of player he is, and City's rising tide. It's a nice problem to have though.

[Hamus]

41 minutes ago, feltmonkey said:

If we get through that, isn't England's likely quater-final opponent France?

 

37 minutes ago, Eighthours said:

Yep!

 

Firstly, Mbappe is absolutely terrifying. Most footballers run fast, but never look like they're running fast. If you've watched Mbappe so far this world cup, the way he knocks it then opens up the throttle - it is enough to scare me even thinking about playing against him.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone quite like that, who would murder you for pace with cheetah like power.

 

Thing is we have to get past Senegal. They're going to be more like USA, and we will for sure struggle more against an organised fit, strong, willing team that are going to run and run and run. Wales were not that team in any of those brackets.

The only chink they may have is some defensive lapses which may let the Rashford in. If we don't get that I feel it's going to be an absolute battle and may not be a fun one to watch.

[neoELITE]

Kyle Walker is in the squad for a reason. He's as explosive as Mbappe. We can beat France. Their forwards just need an off day. 

[Boothjan]

Really enjoyed that performance - very different to the USA game in terms of approach, helped of course by an abject Welsh performance but you can only beat what's in front of you.

 

@Gotters has already said a lot of what I was going to say - but to add to that, I think Southgate is a very good tournament manager.  There's a big difference between the top tier PL coaches and someone who can influence and oversee a successful tournament.  Southgate is very much the latter - he doesn't have to be the best tactician in the world - the players all get that week in, week out at their clubs.  Tournaments need a togetherness and a bond - Southgate seems to get this and has delivered.

 

No question in my mind who is the better tactician and coach out of Fabio Capello and Gareth Southgate, but whereas Capello was one of the most respected head coaches in the world at the time, he was a terrible tournament coach due to OTT discipline which meant massive disharmony throughout the camp.  And you've got no chance if that's the case.  And we were really shit in 2010 as a result.  The players quite clearly hated it.

 

Southgate is far from perfect (the USA game frustrated the hell out of me) - he's too conservative at times, but ultimately he's a very decent, likeable man who the squad all like and respect.  Once you have that, a hell of a lot of the hard work is done.  I'm not for one moment suggesting we should win this tournament because I don't think we've got quite enough quality but I look forward to seeing how we get on in the knockout stages.

 

When Southgate does call time on his England tenure, I don't think he'll go back to coaching in the Premier League because I don't think he has the required tactical ability for club level football, but he deserves a lot more respect from the public and the press for what he's doing for the national team.

[Hamus]

It's the:

World Cup Squad Word Puzzle - England Edition!

 

Let the the minutes ebb away by solving these hastily smashed together clues to uncover the England players! 

The only rule is that there is one rule, which is this one.

 

1 - Friend or?
2 - Angry offspring
3 - The Holy
4 - She fell
5 - Kids Race
6 - No goals
7 - Sheep valley
8 - School dinners
9 - Not running
10 - Quick silver
11 - Not Liam

12 - Not Jonathan
13 - Not Kevin
14 - Bog Sediment
15 - Faust Headlights
16 - Pricey Mackem
17 - Driving Lessons
18 - Secret Horse
19 - Box head
20 - Car selected
21 - Derby X2
22 - McCartney's Ringer
23 - 10 Black

24 - McGregor Not

25 - Perry(d) Deodorant

26 - Starchy Carb

[Gabe]

26 minutes ago, Boothjan said:

Really enjoyed that performance - very different to the USA game in terms of approach, helped of course by an abject Welsh performance but you can only beat what's in front of you.

 

@Gotters has already said a lot of what I was going to say - but to add to that, I think Southgate is a very good tournament manager.  There's a big difference between the top tier PL coaches and someone who can influence and oversee a successful tournament.  Southgate is very much the latter - he doesn't have to be the best tactician in the world - the players all get that week in, week out at their clubs.  Tournaments need a togetherness and a bond - Southgate seems to get this and has delivered.

 

No question in my mind who is the better tactician and coach out of Fabio Capello and Gareth Southgate, but whereas Capello was one of the most respected head coaches in the world at the time, he was a terrible tournament coach due to OTT discipline which meant massive disharmony throughout the camp.  And you've got no chance if that's the case.  And we were really shit in 2010 as a result.  The players quite clearly hated it.

 

Southgate is far from perfect (the USA game frustrated the hell out of me) - he's too conservative at times, but ultimately he's a very decent, likeable man who the squad all like and respect.  Once you have that, a hell of a lot of the hard work is done.  I'm not for one moment suggesting we should win this tournament because I don't think we've got quite enough quality but I look forward to seeing how we get on in the knockout stages.

 

When Southgate does call time on his England tenure, I don't think he'll go back to coaching in the Premier League because I don't think he has the required tactical ability for club level football, but he deserves a lot more respect from the public and the press for what he's doing for the national team.

A bigger problem for Capello - and Sven before him (McClaren had very different issues) was more the cliques that existed within the squad more than being a harsh disciplinarian. Arsenal, Liverpool & Man Utd players have all spoken about it, as has Sven.

 

For example, Ferdinand has spoken before about how he didn't want to be pally with other non-Man Utd players because he didn't want to give them an edge when they met in league games; I think Lampard has spoken of his rivalry with Gerrard, and Gerrard has said how they would all stick to clubmates when with England.

 

Southgate has helped break that down and nurtured better feelings, helped by there being more diversity in the make-up of the England team now in terms of where they play their club football. 

[Plissken]

Southgate clearly manages his way through a tournament.  The USA game was dull because he wanted to know precisely what was required for the final game to give England the best route through the last 16 and QF.  I'm pretty sure he was doing this in the Euros last year.  It's the sort of thing that Italy and Germany are very good at.

[Plissken]

2 minutes ago, Gabe said:

A bigger problem for Capello - and Sven before him (McClaren had very different issues) was more the cliques that existed within the squad more than being a harsh disciplinarian. Arsenal, Liverpool & Man Utd players have all spoken about it, as has Sven.

 

For example, Ferdinand has spoken before about how he didn't want to be pally with other non-Man Utd players because he didn't want to give them an edge when they met in league games; I think Lampard has spoken of his rivalry with Gerrard, and Gerrard has said how they would all stick to clubmates when with England.

 

Southgate has helped break that down and nurtured better feelings, helped by there being more diversity in the make-up of the England team now in terms of where they play their club football. 

 

Also helped by the fact that the current crop don't have egos the size of a planet.

 

(I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure that the clique-ness of Man Utd players was actively encouraged by Ferguson, because he didn't give a fuck about international football.)

[Gotters]

12 minutes ago, Gabe said:

A bigger problem for Capello - and Sven before him (McClaren had very different issues) was more the cliques that existed within the squad more than being a harsh disciplinarian. Arsenal, Liverpool & Man Utd players have all spoken about it, as has Sven.

 

For example, Ferdinand has spoken before about how he didn't want to be pally with other non-Man Utd players because he didn't want to give them an edge when they met in league games; I think Lampard has spoken of his rivalry with Gerrard, and Gerrard has said how they would all stick to clubmates when with England.

 

Southgate has helped break that down and nurtured better feelings, helped by there being more diversity in the make-up of the England team now in terms of where they play their club football. 

 

Interesting one this as it gets mentioned a lot, and no doubt that those cliques ruined the squads back then and the players did nothing to resolve it as the like of Mourinho and Sir Fergus wanted the players to hate each other. 

 

Has Southgate fixed it or has City's dominance actually meant the leagues aren't hard fought bitter battles for months on end as everybody knows who is going to win it.

 

Bit tongue in cheek but it could be a factor. 

[feltmonkey]

46 minutes ago, Hamus said:

It's the:

World Cup Squad Word Puzzle - England Edition!

 

Let the the minutes ebb away by solving these hastily smashed together clues to uncover the England players! 

The only rule is that there is one rule, which is this one.

 

Okay, against my better judgement... 

 

Spoiler

1 - Friend or? Foden
2 - Angry offspring Maddison 
3 - The Holy Pope
4 - She fell
5 - Kids Race
6 - No goals
7 - Sheep valley Ramsdale
8 - School dinners
9 - Not running Walker
10 - Quick silver
11 - Not Liam Conor Gallagher 
12 - Not Jonathan
13 - Not Kevin
14 - Bog Sediment
15 - Faust Headlights
16 - Pricey Mackem
17 - Driving Lessons
18 - Secret Horse Mount
19 - Box head
20 - Car selected Pickford 
21 - Derby X2
22 - McCartney's Ringer
23 - 10 Black White

 

🤷‍♂️

[Plissken]

I think a lot of them have been together through the junior Academy and England ranks, so they knew each other before the corrosive effect of their top level managers could take hold.

 

I also think that style of management has largely disappeared.

[The Fox]

1 hour ago, neoELITE said:

Kyle Walker is in the squad for a reason. He's as explosive as Mbappe. We can beat France. Their forwards just need an off day. 

 

This is a fair point and makes me think maybe a better tactic is to keep the back four and extra midfielder instead, in order to cut the supply line into Mbappe.

 

But that's getting ahead of ourselves a bit obviously, as Senegal are no slouches.

[Plissken]

Spoiler

 She Fell = Trippier

Quick Silver = Sterling

 

 

[The Fox]

Spoiler

Derby X2: TAA

Pricey Mackem: Henderson?

Not Kevin: Phillips

Not Jonathan: Wilson

 

[Hamus]

Without reading spoilers I think I missed someone, at least one.

I have a cold and am not out shopping. I'll sort later.

 

Edit. Yes a 26 man squad, I'll add on where I can. Soz, cold/covid who knows!

 

Edit 2. Updated.

[Hamus]

All guesses correct so far.

 

As an aside this sounds like a Grand National line up.

[Gabe]

1 hour ago, Gotters said:

 

Interesting one this as it gets mentioned a lot, and no doubt that those cliques ruined the squads back then and the players did nothing to resolve it as the like of Mourinho and Sir Fergus wanted the players to hate each other. 

 

Has Southgate fixed it or has City's dominance actually meant the leagues aren't hard fought bitter battles for months on end as everybody knows who is going to win it.

 

Bit tongue in cheek but it could be a factor. 

I do think the fact that in the recent past we've not had Man Utd or Arsenal or Chelsea offering much competition for the PL title, so it has perhaps humbled players a bit more (and Liverpool don't provide many starters either.) Plus, as noted, the management at club level is perhaps not so toxic towards international games now.

 

Southgate is benefitting from it, whatever the reason. 

[ChewMagma]

1 hour ago, Gotters said:

 

Interesting one this as it gets mentioned a lot, and no doubt that those cliques ruined the squads back then and the players did nothing to resolve it as the like of Mourinho and Sir Fergus wanted the players to hate each other. 

 

Has Southgate fixed it or has City's dominance actually meant the leagues aren't hard fought bitter battles for months on end as everybody knows who is going to win it.

 

Bit tongue in cheek but it could be a factor. 

 

I think football has changed, players are more professional and for the most part they just don't have these partisan rivalries. There isn't a mad old bastard like Alex Ferguson in English football anymore. I'm sure I read for example that most of the players' kids from Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool all go to school together.

 

And yeah as someone else said they have all played together at every England level long before they developed serious club loyalties.

[Robsk1]

Spoiler

22 - McCartney's Ringer (hey) Jude Bellingham

 

[Boothjan]

I agree that it's changed - there seems to be a lot more respect in football these days, which is a very good thing.  There's nothing wrong with rivalry, but it should never stop hinder respect and professionalism. 

[Hamus]

20 minutes ago, Robsk1 said:

  Hide contents

22 - McCartney's Ringer (hey) Jude Bellingham

 

 

[Roy Walker Voice] Yesssssss 

[Robsk1]

Spoiler

5 - Kids Race Saka
6 - No goals Dier
8 - School dinners Grealish 
14 - Bog Sediment Stones
19 - Box head Maguire  

 

 

[Hamus]

32 minutes ago, Robsk1 said:

  Hide contents

5 - Kids Race Saka
6 - No goals Dier
8 - School dinners Grealish 
14 - Bog Sediment Stones
19 - Box head Maguire  

 

 

 

Well done on 5 and 14...

6 and 8 though are wrong!

 

(19 is also right but it was obvious surely)

[layten]

Miles offside.  

[Sidewaysbob]

I think one of the biggest changes has got to be the relationship between the players and media. Gone are the days when the team hunkered down and only spoke to the press as an absolute last resort. The WAGs were headlines across all the red tops and the likes of Vardy were selling stories left right and center.

 

These days with more social media training the players seem to be more grounded and accepting of the medias role in things. 

[Hamus]

France appear to be hilariously bad with this team they've put out.

[Gabe]

Neither Denmark nor Australia look like they want to win this game, it's been absolutely dire so far.

[Fierce Poodle]

Tunisia leading against France. These suckers really need to up the pace now.

[Fierce Poodle]

And they have!