UEFA Euro 2016 Group B ** spoilers** (England, Slovakia, Russia, Wales)

[drunkenmaster]

Exactly why is a striker more likely to anticipate things in the box? Do strikers score more often than other players from corners, do they have quicker reaction times, are defenders unused to reacting quickly in the box for some reason?

 

[Kenai]

Exactly why is a striker more likely to anticipate things in the box? Do strikers score more often than other players from corners, do they have quicker reaction times, are defenders unused to reacting quickly in the box for some reason?

Well he's apparently scored 10 times from set pieces in two seasons, not including scoring direct free kicks himself.

Seems he could provide a more useful contribution actually being in the box.

 

[planty]

Is this really worth debating? A striker is normally in the box when crosses come in from open play, so they have more experience of trying to score in those types of situations. My point was that it's not all about winning the first header from a corner.

 

[Egon]

I'm going to stop discussing, I find it amazing some are some are so decieved by yesterday but I'll reference this discussion when we completely tank and niave folk are scratching their heads wondering why.

No offence bud, you just seem to find it amazing that anyone could disagree with your point of view! Of course we are unlikely to win the tournament, so you'll still be able to feel vindicated at some point I'm sure.

If anyone feels that was a good, but unlucky, performance (and this goes for some of the rubbish pundits like Dixon as well) you either have no real clue about football or you are blinded by faith that it'll be all right because "we are ingurland!!1!1"

This pretty much translates to "I'm right you're wrong"...

I thought England did play well, far better than many predicted, this forum has many a pessimist. We didn't take our chances and were punished by a last minute goal.

Rooney was very good last night, some of his passes were excellent and he created at least 2 goal scoring opportunities. Had a decent volley from the edge of the box saved and was denied a goal by an excellent save, he dictated most of the play - but the Rooney haters are gonna hate.

My main gripes were with Sterling and Kane. Sterling hasn't been playing well all season, how he made the starting line up is beyond me, he was dreadful last night but Roy failed to see it and kept him on the pitch for 85 minutes.

Kane was/is wasted taking corners, wtf is that all about? 2 stats from yesterday.. Kane took more corners in those 90mins than he has all season for Spurs & Kane never touched the ball once in the opposing box... says it all really!

The game was crying out for Vardy's pace, Kane for Vardy in the last 15 as Kane was totally ineffective. Anyone at all for Sterling at half time... any time... preferably before kick off!

 

[RobDogDog]

I'm not exactly convinced Kane should take corners, but the reasoning that a striker should always been in the box for freekicks and corners because they score from open play is illogical and more than that, Hoddle would not shut up about it so I want it to continue just to wind that moron up.

How many goals did Kane score from open play vs from corners, has he scored any from corners? Has in training everyone else given the chance at corners been so bad it never gets near Kane and when Kane takes them a much higher percentage get to somewhere Cahill or Smalling can score from?

I disagree with my comment being illogical. You want your in form goalscorer in or around the box when the opportunity arises. That seems pretty logical?!

 

[No1newts]

No offence bud, you just seem to find it amazing that anyone could disagree with your point of view! Of course we are unlikely to win the tournament, so you'll still be able to feel vindicated at some point I'm sure.

Even if we play well we will struggle win the tournament, so I won't feel vindicated at all on that point. My point comes from playing an incorrect formation that will work to an extent but come gloriously unstuck at a later point. It like in the business world where companies do things just because they work right now and ignore a better way of doing things, it always ends in a certain way.

This pretty much translates to "I'm right you're wrong"...

I set out two quite specific instances in which the above would be true, alternatively I am happy to be disproved if you (or anyone else) can factually do so then I will happily admit I am wrong. Most arguments against though have merely been "well I thought we played well..." With nothing factual behind that.

I thought England did play well, far better than many predicted, this forum has many a pessimist. We didn't take our chances and were punished by a last minute goal.

Rooney was very good last night, some of his passes were excellent and he created at least 2 goal scoring opportunities. Had a decent volley from the edge of the box saved and was denied a goal by an excellent save, he dictated most of the play - but the Rooney haters are gonna hate.

My main gripes were with Sterling and Kane. Sterling hasn't been playing well all season, how he made the starting line up is beyond me, he was dreadful last night but Roy failed to see it and kept him on the pitch for 85 minutes.

Kane was/is wasted taking corners, wtf is that all about? 2 stats from yesterday.. Kane took more corners in those 90mins than he has all season for Spurs & Kane never touched the ball once in the opposing box... says it all really!

The game was crying out for Vardy's pace, Kane for Vardy in the last 15 as Kane was totally ineffective. Anyone at all for Sterling at half time... any time... preferably before kick off!

Agree with your points re Sterling/Rooney/Kane, but why would you say we played well?

 

[Swagger187]

Still disappointed we lost the game last night tho it comes as no surprise I suppose.

Roy's decision making is abysmal, his faith or rather hard on for Sterling is ridiculous. How he continues to keep a player on the pitch who has been so ineffective yet take of players that have contributed far more.

This has to be Roy's last tournament. He can't stay on past this. Even if we were to win

Formation doesn't suit the players we have, surely a diamond as we have no natural wide players with Vardy on his own supported by Kane or even Rooney. Kane was terrible yesterday. Didn't do anything when the ball came to him and doesn't try and get involved.

We have pace and a natural finisher in Vardy, we need to let this guy run riot. How he didn't even get on the pitch reiterates the managers decision making as **** poor.

Based on the Wales/Slovakia game, I thought we would easily get out of this group. Also considering our first half performance. Second half different team, and on that basis deserved to concede.

Bottled it as usual

 

[Egon]

*snip*

but why would you say we played well?

I thought there were many positives which far outweighed the negatives. Walker was excellent and looked dangerous, in fact our right side in general looked superb. Not tested defensively, but I can't really see where I could fault them. Rooney as stated played well, Dier looked solid, Alli and Lallana linked well, albeit not so much with Kane. The left side was noticeably weaker, Rose did OK but not exceptional and the less said about Sterling the better. But overall we looked a better team with more cohesion than in the last 3 friendlies we played.

I've said before our defence will be our undoing and the reason we won't go on to win the tournament, nothing last night changed my mind on that point, but we looked threatening going forward. Getting Kane in the box and on the end of the things is what was missing from last night's performance, hopefully something that will be worked on in training.

 

[Egon]

Kane was terrible yesterday. Didn't do anything when the ball came to him and doesn't try and get involved.

Bit harsh, he didn't have his best game no, but one thing you can rarely accuse Kane of is not working hard. The problem was he was everywhere except the where we needed him, in the opposition box.

 

[bloodline76]

I'm by no means Rooney's biggest fan, he has been pretty poor for a long time but your "facts" are anything but.

He was actually running around a lot of the time, certainly not at walking pace. There were a lot of controlled short passes , yes, but there were a lot spreading the game out also depending on where other players (Russian and England) were at the time.

He also did some last ditch tracking back and tackling right on /in our box without which we would have had a lot more pressure on Hart.

There where also a couple of really decent attempts on goal - one of which was going into corner without a brilliant save (2nd half I think)

For right or wrong we are stuck with him in that role for this tournament and most likely by the WC he will have long gone (age if nothing else), so get behind him or at least get some "facts" correct

Ok if you want to be pedantic about it then I will base it on facts. His completed pass rate was 88% which I don't consider anything exceptional considering 33 of his 51 were short passes under little or no pressure.

His shielding of the ball was fifty fifty, so any time he was under pressure then he lost it 50% of the time. Which is not good in the middle of the field.

Going forward he completed just 8 runs in 75 minutes which were rarely challenged. When he had to run past someone 1v1 he failed 25% of the time, With his tricks failing 33% of the time.

He had three shots, two of which were on target, one admittedly unlucky not to score.

And finally he tackled no one and won no aerial duels according to the facts.

It's only my opinion that he shouldn't be starting in midfield for england but the facts don't paint a pretty picture. All the stats I would be ok with if he were up front but not in the heart of mid field.

 

[bloodline76]

I disagree with my comment being illogical. You want your in form goalscorer in or around the box when the opportunity arises. That seems pretty logical?!

11 headed goals in total, 33 goals in total in six yard box. I would definitely have him in the box at corners.

Surely someone small like sterling can cross a ball, at least it will give him practice on those final balls

 

[Gilly]

Lallana isn't ever going to do anything in the box for a corner, he's too lightweight, so get him on them.

 

[G-MAN2004]

Why is it that Slovakia and Russia play four days after their first game, but England and Wales have an extra day of rest? Bit unfair isn't it? Not that I'm moaning or anything...

 

[omnomnom]

11 headed goals in total, 33 goals in total in six yard box. I would definitely have him in the box at corners.

Surely someone small like sterling can cross a ball, at least it will give him practice on those final balls

Sterling didnt play particularly well however when he did beat his man on the left there was no one in the box to hit a final ball to. Kane was the worst player on the pitch for me, if he's playing poorly then the lads who have the job to supply him are kinda screwed.

Id be strongly thinking about having Sturridge start on Thursday.

 

[The Running Man]

Rooney had a good match. Provided some excellent passing. Lost the ball oje or twice all match.

 

[daz]

Vardy against the slow Russian defence would have been a great option at ~70 minutes. I was bewildered why Roy didn't make a change.

Sterling flattered to deceive - he would beat a man well, and then his final delivery or pass was very poor. His decision making was poor and he should have been off much earlier. Just not his night and I think someone else should be given a chance to start in his place on Thurs.

 

[dacads]

I think what we need to do is replace Lallana with Wilshere and Sterling with Vardy.

 

[FrankJH]

snip.

majority of that doesnt sound like facts at all and have just come off the top of your head. Anyway, there are enough (even just on here) who think Rooney had a much more reasonable game than you are willing to admit so lets just leave it there.




Is Sturridge even fit enough to start? Keep on getting lost when he is fit or coming back from injury

If the problem is Roy (which it appears to be) , England are ****** to start with, game management from the bench is attrocious and even if by some fluke England get out of the group we will be completely hammered in the last 16

I think what we need to do is replace Lallana with Wilshere and Sterling with Vardy.

I wouldnt trust Wilshere starting right now , he will be run into the ground before the 1st half whistle has gone

 

[Artery]

Sterling flattered to deceive - he would beat a man well, and then his final delivery or pass was very poor. His decision making was poor and he should have been off much earlier. Just not his night and I think someone else should be given a chance to start in his place on Thurs.

It's typical Sterling, bombs down the wing then decides to cut inside & not do anything with it. I don't really know what to expect because he can't cross the ball either.

 

[dacads]

I wouldnt trust Wilshere starting right now , he will be run into the ground before the 1st half whistle has gone

That only leaves Barkley then, who's international form is questionable but he should have an opportunity anyhow.