England v Wales, 16th June, 2pm

[Mr. Scruff]

Agree about Coutinho on his consistency, but his heights far eclipse both of the others and thats why Liverpool should persevere with him.

He's not even come close to having as good as seasons as Beckham and Bale both have. I'd bet he never comes to having a season like Bale had in his last year at spurs or Beckham had in 99. They are/were both just far superior.

Maicon's legs had gone then.

Coutinho is inconsistent as said; talent-wise he is on a different plateau to Bale who isn't even as good as Walcott. The transfer of him to Real was purely for publicity to make money just like the Beckham deal back then and the James one after that. All quite average players lets be honest.

Bale is the world record transfer holder and Beckham was voted second best player in the world by his peers. Average they are not. Shit I reckon being anonomyous for two thirds of games whilst smashing the odd wonder goal in makes Coutinho close too that.

Bale is possibly in one of the top 5 players in the wolrd, probably top 10 and definitely top 20. You could take them sentances for Becham and in his time exchange those numbers for 10 , 20 and 30 and be in the ballpark. For Coutnho would be lucky to make the top 50

As others have already pointed out, Beckham and Bale both proved themselves a class or two above him so far.

 

[Pagnell]

I would start Sturridge next game, I don't agree that he's England's best striker (even on pure ability), but he does offer an ability to drift past players with skill that the others do not. Everything he does looks so effortless, he's an absolute joy to watch. Kane is England's best striker and will be for the next decade, he just doesn't suit whatever Roy is trying or else he's in poor form.

Kane is more reliable, purely because he's less likely to be injured. But in terms of overall quality, Sturridge is the better player, partly for the reasons you yourself state above, and partly because he's simply the better finisher of the two.

 

[Benji]

Good David Squires on this match.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...squires-on-england-beating-wales-at-euro-2016

 

[Stevencc]

"All of them"

 

[Nilsson]

I follow Wales. I've been surprised about how people have reacted to it.

Football is a team sport, you back your own team to the hilt. You stay together. Not sure Wayne Rooney is going to say Manuel Neuer is a better keeper than Joe Hart during Euro 2016, for example.

Passion comments were equally as pointless. Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home. (And it's not as if pashun wins you football games at the highest level anyway).

Any time a footballer says anything even slightly off script or out of cliche, journos and fans go nuts. It's no wonder footballers are often so boring.

Come on, Ramsey and Bale coming out with bollocks like "I believe we have the best team" and claiming that none of the English players would get into the Wales line up was always going to get laughed at, especially if they ended up losing. The "passion and pride" stuff was just cringeworthy.

 

[smat]

The "passion and pride" stuff was just cringeworthy.

Idk, it all just seemed like tongue-in-cheek fun to me. Bale was also smiling when he said no England players would get in Wales's team. Bit weird for England fans to give it the big one after beating Wales whatever the pretext, and especially after the way the game went.

 

[Benji]

If they didn't keep asking our players about boring England nonsense, they wouldn't have said anything about them. I didn't see any English players being asked if Ramsey or Bale should be taking corners.

 

[Nilsson]

Idk, it all just seemed like tongue-in-cheek fun to me. Bale was also smiling when he said no England players would get in Wales's team. Bit weird for England fans to give it the big one after beating Wales whatever the pretext, and especially after the way the game went.

It's a British rivalry and and tongue in cheek or not, Wales have been bigging themselves up, they were even singing "England's going home" during the game, all in good homour I'm sure, but England fans were always going to enjoy getting one over them. And getting a dramatic late winner made it even sweeter.

 

[Renegade]

Kane is more reliable, purely because he's less likely to be injured. But in terms of overall quality, Sturridge is the better player, partly for the reasons you yourself state above, and partly because he's simply the better finisher of the two.

This seems to be a pervasive opinion amongst Liverpool fans, that he's the best finisher of the England strikers. I always thought Kane was their best finisher and the statistics back it up (though I haven't looked up Vardy's stats, I discarded him as he only has played the last season as a striker in the Premier League):

Kane averages 0.51 goals and 3.3 shots per game in his career, he had 60% shot accuracy last season, 58% the season prior.
Sturridge averages 0.41 goals in 2.9 shots per game in his career, the previous four seasons (reverse order) his shot accuracy has been 55%, 44%, 40% and 53% in his best season with Suarez.

I think Kane plays much better than Sturridge leading the line, his hold up play is superior and he is a greater aerial threat. I don't think there is much between the two, but you're very definitive about Sturridge's superiority ability-wise with not very much to back it up.

 

[Pagnell]

This seems to be a pervasive opinion amongst Liverpool fans, that he's the best finisher of the England strikers. I always thought Kane was their best finisher and the statistics back it up (though I haven't looked up Vardy's stats, I discarded him as he only has played the last season as a striker in the Premier League):

Kane averages 0.51 goals and 3.3 shots per game in his career, he had 60% shot accuracy last season, 58% the season prior.
Sturridge averages 0.41 goals in 2.9 shots per game in his career, the previous four seasons (reverse order) his shot accuracy has been 55%, 44%, 40% and 53% in his best season with Suarez.

I think Kane plays much better than Sturridge leading the line, his hold up play is superior and he is a greater aerial threat. I don't think there is much between the two, but you're very definitive about Sturridge's superiority ability-wise with not very much to back it up.

There is more to it than pure number statistics, especially with a player like Sturridge with his seasons and therefore form very stop start thanks to various injuries, I've already touched on Kane being the more reliable of the two thanks to that. And it's not simply about myself being a Liverpool fan, there are other fans in this thread who have expressed this view. I would simply trust Sturridge more on a one on one for example. And perhaps I'm being unfair, but I can't see Kane scoring goals of the quality and touch of what Sturridge did in the Europa final for example.

Anyway, I certainly accept my believing it doesn't render it a fact, it's all opinions here.

 

[SALTIRE]

Sturridge does seem to play in halves though still; Kane is the better option for starting and if it doesn't work bring Sturridge on as he always wants to prove himself when coming on as a sub and won't disappear like he can do if he starts.

 

[Pagnell]

Sturridge does seem to play in halves though still; Kane is the better option for starting and if it doesn't work bring Sturridge on as he always wants to prove himself when coming on as a sub and won't disappear like he can do if he starts.

What are you basing this on? It certainly can't be the last two games.

 

[Jockney]

Kane has been poor for 1.5 games played up top on his own but has been quality for two years now and has otherwise played well for the national team. Everyone wanted Kane as England's main striker before the tournament and Sturridge barely got a mention. Now Sturridge is the better option and should start up front with Vardy for the rest of the tournament? I do wonder what the consensus would have been but for his goal. I didn't think either of him or Kane had much of an individual impact on the game. The turnaround was in part due to our increased urgency and the change in shape.

 

[SALTIRE]

What are you basing this on? It certainly can't be the last two games.

Work rate and link up play. Sure he has been poor but starting Sturridge would be a mistake imo, he will have a good half and a bad half, we've seen it enough at Liverpool despite the numbers. He's better at being an impact player after 60 mins for England I'd say.

 

[Pagnell]

Work rate and link up play. Sure he has been poor but starting Sturridge would be a mistake imo, he will have a good half and a bad half, we've seen it enough at Liverpool despite the numbers. He's better at being an impact player after 60 mins for England I'd say.

But, to touch on Renegade's point, whilst I'm personally not suggesting Kane be ruled out for the rest of the tournament (that would be stupid), he's started two games and it's not worked. And you might have a point if Sturridge starting meant he had to finish the entire game, he can be hooked if it's not working. I believe it would be wrong to change what worked in yesterdays game.

 

[SALTIRE]

But, to touch on Renegade's point, whilst I'm personally not suggesting Kane be ruled out for the rest of the tournament (that would be stupid), he's started two games and it's not worked. And you might have a point if Sturridge starting meant he had to finish the entire game, he can be hooked if it's not working. I believe it would be wrong to change what worked in yesterdays game.

Fair enough and I do think Roy will probably go with Sturridge for the next game. We'll see.

 

[Jarv]

Shame because besides the goal all he did was waste shots from 40 yards or pass to welsh players

 

[Pagnell]

Yeah, you said that yesterday. Unfortunately, it's no more true today than it was then.

 

[TractorBoys]

Nothing like getting behind the lads who are struggling.
https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/bring-sterling-home

 

[Kopper]

Sturridge does seem to play in halves though still; Kane is the better option for starting and if it doesn't work bring Sturridge on as he always wants to prove himself when coming on as a sub and won't disappear like he can do if he starts.

I agree

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Wonder what that bus driver was thinking

 

[CEngelbrecht]

Why oh why aren't you playing as Great Britain already?

Because it would be a squad of England players plus Gareth Bale. Yeah, I said it, come at me home nation fans!

Could be cool to see this on the pitches again.