European Under 21 Championship

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I can't say that trying to make too many short passes in midfield strikes me as something that England have typically done. And presumably the reason Ings went wide was to maintain the balance of the team while increasing the potential goal-threat. The closer to the end of the game the more cause to take risks by pushing Ings forward. I don't think at the time he came on though there was any cause to throw caution to the wind. We shouldn't be panicking just because we're a goal behind in the first group game.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Seems baffling to me that you'd play one up top yet ignore Pritchard who has dominated in midfield in that setup all season. If anything, not playing someone like him behind Kane and leaving him so exposed with 3 identical midfielders only increases the chances of balls being lumped forward, especially in latter games when frustration and pressure to win comes in.

 

[mistermagic]

I see a lot of praise for Bernardo Silva tonight. Not sure where you've all been, he's had a great season with Monaco and will only improve.

I didn't find him particularly good compared to what he offered this season. Monaco do have a knack for taking on gems lately. I can see him moving to something bigger in a few years for lots of money.

 

[Modernist]

That tends to happen when you're playing against superior players who play week-in week-out at a higher level. I would much rather they tried to build the play and failed than hit it to Kane and hope they could get bodies around him before he loses it, that would be a typical England performance. These will be lessons learned for the players, which is the whole point. They dominated at the end and will take that experience into future games. A 1-0 defeat to a strong Portugal side is nothing to get all dramatic about.



What does that even mean?

Have to say I can't see much room for optimism, many parts of the game it looked like men against boys, couldn't get the ball off them. A good first 10 mins and that was about that. 5 defeats on the trot no win in 9 final games.

Always hope though, but as for a bright new dawn for English football, I haven't see that, hopefully it was a we'll get going and really show what we can do in the next game.

 

[mistermagic]

Men against boys? What game were you watching?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Everything has to be over the top one way or another with England. Either it's a bright new dawn or there is nothing to be optimistic about. Portugal had 52% possession and half as many short on target as England, by the way. The Portuguese response has been a lot more measured from what I have seen. They recognise that they controlled the ball better than us, but that we created the better chances, and they can't understand why we're being so negative.

And it's again worth mentioning that this would look like an exceptional year group by our standards were we to actually call up a full strength squad. Probably only Kane and Butland and maybe Jenkinson would make it back into that side.

 

[Super_horns]

2 dominating wins today for the Czechs and Germany..

 

[Bilo]

Well good luck today then. Looking forward to it.

 

[WAP]

I'd be surprised if we don't score a couple today, the defending is always a problem mind.

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

Looking forward to seeing Kiese Thelin play. Tall striker for Bordeaux who can cause problems.

But expecting an England win.

 

[WAP]

Pritchard and Hughes in for England.

 

[Bilo]

Fairly confident. This is one of the better generations we've had in a while.

 

[mistermagic]

If you're not watching this, don't. It's shockingly rubbish.

 

[Stevencc]

Excellent block to deny Hughes there.

 

[WAP]

Sweden parking the bus.

 

[mistermagic]

Must admit I'm disappointed that Sweden are so negative. They just stand there with its 2 banks of 4 waiting for something to happen.

 

[Stevencc]

Nasty "tackle" there.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Could easily have been red for the studs on Hughes in a higher profile game.

 

[mistermagic]

Well it's dull as hell but not exactly England's fault who are trying unlike the Swedes. Not sure having Pritchard on the left is a good idea as I thought Lingaard was good against Portugal but the same old problem remains: zero penetration.
Oh and Garbutt is proper shit. Not sure if he plays like that week-in week-out but his delivery is poor (and sometimes stupid as he aims crosses to no one in particular) while he misses essentials like a simple ball control. Not sure who England have on the emerging LB front though...

 

[Madejski]

Strange because Garbutt has been very good almost every time i've seen him play for the U21s and other age groups. Think it is starting to show now with his lack of first team football at club level.

As for emerging LBs, should have Luke Shaw if he stops getting injured, still only 19 years old.

Ben Gibson could also play there at this tournament if need be. Matt Targett too.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Shaw would have been playing there but for injury. The weird thing is that great deliveries is what Garbutt is usually known for. I had worried about him prior to the tournament, but more because he had a tendency to panic when pressed.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I don't get the rationale behind taking Hughes off over Carroll unless he's injured.

 

[Bilo]

A point from here would be good, but England aren't creating much. A goal will probably decide it.

 

[Luke_1884]

Yeah, thought he'd shown a bit more than Carroll in the opening 45 too. Change of formation probably tips it, haven't seen loads of Carroll but Hughes is much better in a 5 man midfield than a 4.

 

[Leewilson]

I'm quite happy about our change to 4-4-2 because our weakness is quite clearly the averageness of the CM position. Chalobah painfully average and ineffective. Carroll just plods through games keeping possession but not doing much else. And Hughes still looks very raw at present. We were basically relying on a bit of magic from Kane or Redmond. At least now we have much more of a threat up front. Next game I want to see Loftus Cheek over Chalobah. Surely he must offer more?!

 

[TomPNE94]

Chalobah, Carroll and Garbutt are shite

 

[Madejski]

Without Chalobah we might as well give up on a midfield though. Apart from RLC all of our other midfielders are very attacking focused. It would expose our defence a lot more.

 

[Stevencc]

We need to win this game to maintain a realistic chance of progressing, right?

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

Should be a penalty all day long. Shocking decision to let that go.

 

[TomPNE94]

We need to win this game to maintain a realistic chance of progressing, right?

Well, not necessarily. We would have to beat Italy and hope Portugal beat Sweden by at least 2 goals.