2018 World Cup qualifiers - Europe

[johnnytodd]

Eric truly is Dier in midfield should go back to CB where we ALL know he belongs.

 

[Skinner]

So the set-up made him be selfish? He shot too many times when he would've been better off passing it to a team mate. He played for himself and not the team.

Selfish? No. Frustrated? Yes.

A player that just can't get into a game will get frustrated, regardless of if you're professional or not, it's a natural human reaction. Sturridge was simply trying to make something out of nothing because he had fuck all else around him/to turn to.

It's not just a Sturridge thing, we've seen strikers all around the world do it a plenty over the years. Tonight was one of those nights, and the finger shouldn't be pointed at Sturridge.

 

[johnnytodd]

Sturridge not fit to lace Rooneys boots....hes meant to be in his prime...Theo is a headless chicken and the rest are all shite.....take my advice and forget this national team for 5 years......unless our ' H' is allowed to play at same age Rooney started.

 

[Christian Slater]

Misses a penalty that let down his country, and twenty years later is given a chance to slightly redeem himself, only to disappoint again.

 

[Skinner]

Sturridge not fit to lace Rooneys boots....hes meant to be in his prime...Theo is a headless chicken and the rest are all shite.....take my advice and forget this national team for 5 years......unless our ' H' is allowed to play at same age Rooney started.

Always baffles me how people can tolerate shit, underperming teams like Everton, but are quick enough to slate England.

 

[JimJams]

I actually agree that Sturridge was selfish. He's always been that way even from his first games at Man City, but when he's comfortable and on form he makes better decisions. His selfishness comes from a confidence in his ability, but it's pretty clear that with the situation he's finding himself in at Liverpool (ie not guaranteed to start or even be the first choice sub - see 'that face') and with other English strikers likely going to be preferred to him in the long run, a la Kane, then he's constantly trying to get his name on the scoresheet. Speculative efforts from range when he has players up with him in better positions. Not playing teammates in when they've made runs in order to try and engineer himself a shooting chance again, from distance. And shooting from tight angles on his weak foot when a cross is a better option. He's playing for himself, not the team because he knows he's got to score to give himself the chance of being a starter when Kane is back. He's playing as though he's auditioning for the part. A lot like many players do in friendlies. Forwards get selfish, everybody else plays within themselves because now it's more about not fucking up than about doing something positive.


Saying all that it's not down to his performance that we didn't score. Everyone was wank bar Hart and the fullbacks.

 

[Nilsson]

Selfish? No. Frustrated? Yes.

A player that just can't get into a game will get frustrated, regardless of if you're professional or not, it's a natural human reaction. Sturridge was simply trying to make something out of nothing because he had fuck all else around him/to turn to.

It's not just a Sturridge thing, we've seen strikers all around the world do it a plenty over the years. Tonight was one of those nights, and the finger shouldn't be pointed at Sturridge.

Check out the extended highlights here: http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/10/11/slovenia-vs-england-highlights-full-match-2/

At 20 seconds: poor first touch after a good pass from Alli
At 52 seconds: goes for a pointless shot from too far out when he would've been better off passing it to Lingard and getting himself in the box

There were also moments not included in those highlights that were poor from him, Lingard slipped him in and he took a weak shot straight at the keeper when he would've been better of putting it across the goal, there was also a moment when Henderson made a good run into the box and Sturridge just ignored him. I'm not saying he was the main problem tonight but he was frustrating and part of the reason why we didn't score.

 

[Skinner]

Kane is just as guilty at that as anybody, as is Walcott and Rooney

Only Vardy and Welbeck really look for a better option, and even Vardy then not all the time.

Strikers are selfish, that's how they got there in the first place. But as I keep saying, frustration plays its part, and nine times out of ten, that isn't down to said striker.

 

[smat]

Studge wasn't great but no one really played well, Hart aside. Team looks rudderless.

 

[Skinner]

Check out the extended highlights here: http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/10/11/slovenia-vs-england-highlights-full-match-2/

At 20 seconds: poor first touch after a good pass from Alli
At 52 seconds: goes for a pointless shot from too far out when he would've been better of passing it to Lingard and getting himself in the box

There were also moments not included in those highlights that were poor from him, Lingard slipped him in and he took a weak shot straight at the keeper when he would've been better of putting it across the goal, there was also a moment when Henderson made a good run into the box and Sturridge just ignored him. I'm not saying he was the main problem tonight but he was frustrating and part of the reason why we didn't score.

I'm not saying it wasn't frustrating, but it stems from his own frustration. Which, comes from a lack of support from the midfield, not just for a pass, but just in terms of numbers and creating space. A player gets frustrated and they don't perform to their ability, in any sport.

I've not said you're wrong, just where to point the finger.

 

[Nilsson]

I'm not saying it wasn't frustrating, but it stems from his own frustration. Which, comes from a lack of support from the midfield, not just for a pass, but just in terms of numbers and creating space. A player gets frustrated and they don't perform to their ability, in any sport.

I've not said you're wrong, just where to point the finger.

Well I'm afraid I'm categorically saying you're wrong. Sturridge's performance wasn't not worthy of any sort of criticism and he should be frustrated with himself first and foremost.

 

[JimJams]

Well I'm afraid I'm categorically saying you're wrong.

 

[Skinner]

I can accept that and move on, before killing this thread by being a broken record.

Have a good night.

 

[Nilsson]

 

[JimJams]

Moving onto Bruce and McCoist talking about Roney should play up front, he's Englands top scorer etc etc.

FUCK OFF. No wonder you fucks go nowhere as managers. FUCK YOURSELVES!

 

[Skinner]

Lol, no. I've not said that Sturridge had a good game. I've simply maintained that singling out Sturridge is harsh. We've had our say, we disagree, it happens.

Literally no point going around in circles, we're going to get nowhere.

 

[Nilsson]

Well I've certainly got nothing left to say on the subject and am going to spend the rest of my evening laughing at how shit Scotland are.

 

[Skinner]

Well I've certainly got nothing left to say on the subject and am going to spend the rest of my evening laughing at how shit Scotland are.

Now that we can agree on

 

[Skinner]

Odd that our best CB was left on the bench.

Terry wasn't even on the bench

 

[Dirk]

After reading the last 3 pages here....Priceless

Anyway: Just back home from the match against Northern Ireland and I'll have to say, although the team is shite their fans are world class and good "ambassadors" of Northern Ireland. Although they knew before the match that they won't have a chance they were in great mood. That's the kind of away fans we really like.

Jogi Löw's 94th win as coach of Germany and he already reached the legendary Sepp Herberger (Coach of the 1954 World Cup Champs). His stats so far in 10 Years: 94 W- 24 D - 23 L

 

[SALTIRE]

Well I've certainly got nothing left to say on the subject and am going to spend the rest of my evening laughing at how shit Scotland are.

You guys have serious problems with England, but they are nothing, nothing, in comparison with Scotland. I read elsewhere someone stating how pish we are - oh how I wish for pish - we are far worse than that.

 

[Skinner]

You guys have serious problems with England, but they are nothing, nothing, in comparison with Scotland. I read elsewhere someone stating how pish we are - oh how I wish for pish - we are far worse than that.

Well look on the bright side, atleast you can't get to tournaments.

 

[Skinner]

I said it during the Euros, I think England rely on Welbeck a lot more than we think, he was exactly what we needed in the summer and he's the player we were missing tonight.

Everyone takes the piss out of him but he's the only player we have that can hold up, build up and score. Hes the focal point of counter attacks, he can find space behind tight defences, he picks the right pass.

Alex Ferguson didn't build his last side around him for no reason. Wenger didn't buy him for no reason. He's the cog of the England side (no joke), we've never been the same side without him.

 

[Leewilson]

I said it during the Euros, I think England rely on Welbeck a lot more than we think, he was exactly what we needed in the summer and he's the player we were missing tonight.

Everyone takes the piss out of him but he's the only player we have that can hold up, build up and score. Hes the focal point of counter attacks, he can find space behind tight defences, he picks the right pass.

Alex Ferguson didn't build his last side around him for no reason. Wenger didn't buy him for no reason. He's the cog of the England side (no joke), we've never been the same side without him.

Welbeck's class. His scoring record is a bit naff but the rest of his play his excellent. The key aspect for me is that he makes things happen when he's on the pitch. He wins countless corners and makes tons of situations by driving at players and this builds up sustainable pressure. We're a much better team with him rampaging off the left.

At the same time, I really like Lallana and I think we missed him too tonight. Add a potentially rejuvenated Sterling to that list as well (no guarantees for England mind you) and that's a trio far greater than Walcott, Lingard and Townsend. No wonder Sturridge didn't play well as the support play was naff.

 

[silkyman]

Moving onto Bruce and McCoist talking about Roney should play up front, he's Englands top scorer etc etc.

FUCK OFF. No wonder you fucks go nowhere as managers. FUCK YOURSELVES!

Especially as he doesn't even play up front anymore because he's not good enough.

 

[Pagnell]

Has Townsend done a Rooney? Seems to have more hair than I remember.

Hmmm...suspicious. Has to be said though, he looks a lot better for it. Unlike Rooney who just looks a bit weird.

 

[JimJams]

He's probably had stubble tattooed on rather than hair transplants. Oh yes, that is a thing.

 

[Pagnell]

Nah, you're making that up.

 

[St. Juste]

Scots losing - wee Gordon out?

I don't think it will especially help, and I'm not sure there are much better coaches out there. We really missed a trick when we hired Levein ahead of Lars Lagerback. In general, we should show absolutely no preference towards Scottish managers.

I'd be tempted to wait a few months for Moyes to become available. Nightmare scenario is that we end up with someone like Malky Mackay.

Xavi on Scotland: "As a kid, I’d watch them play and I feel real sympathy for the fans and for the players that they're not there. Everyone loves Scotland. In Spain everyone loves Real Betis because of their supporters and Scotland is the same."

There you go mate.

Happier now?

Rather strange thing to say, what on earth is he on about?

But the days of Scotland, or any European nation of less than 10 million people, qualifying regularly for a 32 team World Cup in the current format are long gone. Unless the tournament is expanded we'd be lucky to qualify once in 20 years, we just aren't big enough to expect anything more.

Moving onto Bruce and McCoist talking about Roney should play up front, he's Englands top scorer etc etc.

FUCK OFF. No wonder you fucks go nowhere as managers. FUCK YOURSELVES!

Wait, on what channel was McCoist doing punditry? On the England game?

That's an utterly bizarre choice.

You guys have serious problems with England, but they are nothing, nothing, in comparison with Scotland. I read elsewhere someone stating how pish we are - oh how I wish for pish - we are far worse than that.

Scotland fans, the masters of hyperbole and self loathing.

It's a bad result, two bad results really. I don't think we can expect to beat the 2nd seeds away, but losing 3-0 is very disappointing. Defensively we were poor.

Lets pick ourselves up and try and salvage the rest of the campaign.

 

[JimJams]

But the days of Scotland, or any European nation of less than 10 million people, qualifying regularly for a 32 team World Cup in the current format are long gone. Unless the tournament is expanded we'd be lucky to qualify once in 20 years, we just aren't big enough to expect anything more..

Croatia, a country with a smaller population than Scotland, have qualified for 4 of the 5 World cups they've been able to enter, as well as 5 of the possible 6 Euros.