Semi Final: Croatia vs England - Wednesday 7PM (Continued)

[4froale]

Ignore him mate. He doesn't deserve your energy.

Genuine question. Why is it that you hate us so much along with the Irish and jocks?? I keep hearing "rivalry" but we don't give a fuck about you.

 

[Abertawe]

Genuine question. Why is it that you hate us so much along with the Irish and jocks?? I keep hearing "rivalry" but we don't give a fuck about you.

You've obviously seen my username as being Welsh and made a lazy assumption. I support England apart from when they play Wales. Look at my posts throughout the tournament you fool.

 

[Gassy]

That's what I've been saying for ages. It's down to their agents and clubs to get them out on loan somewhere if they aren't going to be getting first team football at their parent clubs. It's not just the U17s either, we've got players that smashed it last summer across various levels up to pro.

We'll take Rashford on loan

 

[4froale]

You've obviously seen my username as being Welsh and made a lazy assumption. I support England apart from when they play Wales. Look at my posts throughout the tournament you fool.

I looked at your posts on this thread and assumed so I do apologise. However, what is it then with the rest of wales etc hating us??

 

[WilsdenBantam]

We'll take the under 17's on loan, can't be any worse than our lot, in fact we'll take the under 14's as well.

 

[Chris FGR]

Are these kids coming through actually world class then? Cos looking at it the likes of Serbia and Nigeria have won youth wc's recently and they haven't improved at all. Seems winning these things doesn't guarantee success at senior level. Wanna see some of these kids actually smash it at club level, like Sessegnon is before getting too excited.

 

[Abertawe]

I looked at your posts on this thread and assumed so I do apologise. However, what is it then with the rest of wales etc hating us??

They don't. It seems you're the one inventing the rivalry dear.

 

[Abertawe]

Goarn Roy

 

[Gassy]

They don't. It seems you're the one inventing the rivalry dear.

 

[Son of Cod]

Are these kids coming through actually world class then? Cos looking at it the likes of Serbia and Nigeria have won youth wc's recently and they haven't improved at all. Seems winning these things doesn't guarantee success at senior level. Wanna see some of these kids actually smash it at club level, like Sessegnon is before getting too excited.

Well yeah that's exactly why they need to be out on loan instead of sitting on reserve team benches and playing for their club youth teams.

 

[Gassy]

Well yeah that's exactly why they need to be out on loan instead of sitting on reserve team benches and playing for their club youth teams.

But we have the JPT and academy teams entering for this....

 

[Chris FGR]

Well yeah that's exactly why they need to be out on loan instead of sitting on reserve team benches and playing for their club youth teams.

What I'm saying is, rather then hyping up these kids, parading them around for winning a pretty meaningless tournament and paying them a fuck load before they've played a senior game, make them graft for it and only get praise/hype them up as future internationals when they've grafted their way to the top of club football. Before that they're nothing.

 

[Bobbin']

Well yeah that's exactly why they need to be out on loan instead of sitting on reserve team benches and playing for their club youth teams.

Some of them need to look to go abroad aswell.

Obviously I’m bias but Ademola Lookman forced a loan move to Leipzig and impressed. Leipzig have now come out and stated they’re trying to sign him permanently. Kid’s only 20 and may now be playing regularly in the Bundesliga and Europa League. Can only be good for development. Far better than loaning them to Championship clubs etc in my opinion.

 

[Abertawe]

Are these kids coming through actually world class then? Cos looking at it the likes of Serbia and Nigeria have won youth wc's recently and they haven't improved at all. Seems winning these things doesn't guarantee success at senior level. Wanna see some of these kids actually smash it at club level, like Sessegnon is before getting too excited.

I don't know about Serbia & Naija but if the following don't achieve then something is seriously wrong.

Jadon Sancho
Phil Foden
Rhian Brewster
Angel Gomes
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Steven Sessegnon
Tommy Doyle
Faustino Anjorin
Mason Greenwood

 

[Abertawe]

I don't know about Serbia & Naija but if the following don't achieve then something is seriously wrong.

Jadon Sancho
Phil Foden
Rhian Brewster
Angel Gomes
Callum Hudson-Odoi
Steven Sessegnon
Tommy Doyle
Faustino Anjorin
Mason Greenwood

And these boys will compliment what's already there with Rashford, Sterling etc. England should dominate this next decade onwards. Unless the USA take football seriously England have the best genetics. It's not a coincidence the best footballing nation of all times is the most racially diverse country in the world. Our immigration policy has come through and it won't be long before it's coming home forever. Germany have made poor buys - you'll win nothing with Syrians.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

And these boys will compliment what's already there with Rashford, Sterling etc. England should dominate this next decade onwards. Unless the USA take football seriously England have the best genetics. It's not a coincidence the best footballing nation of all times is the most racially diverse country in the world. Our immigration policy has come through and it won't be long before it's coming home forever. Germany have made poor buys - you'll win nothing with Syrians.

What about with Croats?

 

[Abertawe]

What about with Croats?

There was a strange poster on here with an African name who only ever came to post about genetics. He was of the opinion the slavic people's were supremely gifted and it appears he was right. 4 million people and they do this - incredible.

 

[Son of Cod]

What I'm saying is, rather then hyping up these kids, parading them around for winning a pretty meaningless tournament and paying them a fuck load before they've played a senior game, make them graft for it and only get praise/hype them up as future internationals when they've grafted their way to the top of club football. Before that they're nothing.

Yep, I'm not disagreeing with you or hyping these players up.

Some of them need to look to go abroad aswell.

Obviously I’m bias but Ademola Lookman forced a loan move to Leipzig and impressed. Leipzig have now come out and stated they’re trying to sign him permanently. Kid’s only 20 and may now be playing regularly in the Bundesliga and Europa League. Can only be good for development. Far better than loaning them to Championship clubs etc in my opinion.

Jadon Sancho too went to Dortmund and has had game time, so definitely agree with you here.

 

[Gassy]

There was a strange poster on here with an African name who only ever came to post about genetics. He was of the opinion the slavic people's were supremely gifted and it appears he was right. 4 million people and they do this - incredible.

Yep - slavs are great at sport.

Croats in general though because they've all of some other descent in very recent times. Of all the Croats I know, only 1 or 2 are 'pure' Croats. Normally it's a case that they marry foreigners as they leave the country

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Having slept and reflected, there are mixed feelings.

At 1-0 up (lovely free kick, Trippier has been excellent) we got caught playing into Croatia's hands. From about 20 minutes onwards for the entire rest of the night we played way too much direct balls and lost all the ball retention focus that we've been working on these past several months.

Croatia were always going to have the better technical players, they were always going to have most of the midfield, but it's not like we needed to dominate midfield. We had the lead and were bound to threaten on the counter. We just needed to be able to hold on for a few passes and get Croatia running around a little bit, and ease the constant pressure we were heaping on ourselves by launching the ball forwards.

If anything we looked the tired side, because we were under constant mental and physical pressure, There was no midfield calming influence, Jordan Henderson I'm looking at you, the most experienced player in our side. Ali did a bit of a disappearing act. Although I really don't want our media to have scapegoats, so I shouldn't either.

There's plenty of players in this batch who will be with us for a long time yet. Pickford, Stones, Maguire, Ali, Rashford, Kane etc. Get this batch of players more experience with Champions League knockout games etc, they will improve at that sort of stuff. Southgate himself is fairly green also. But this batch of players wasn't supposed to be his. He knows the players about to come through.

Our youth age groups right now are winning just about all they can win, our senior side just reach a World Cup semi final. The younger players from this squad augmented with the youth that we have coming through, should make for some interesting squads over the next 4-8 years. Forgive me for not being too down or gloomy about English football right now.

And at what hopefully is only the start of a process, rather than the end, we've already hit a fair height, and have managed to repair years worth of disaffection and disillusionment with the national side. And that must translate to the players. Nobody is going to be highly motivated to play for a national side the nation doesn't particularly like. That's been repaired this summer. This as been a very enjoyable tournament to watch our side through, the most enjoyable tournament for me for years.

It would be nice to finish on a bit of a high come Saturday, although hard to know how seriously and how motivated both sides will be. Belgium if full strength would be favourites. But if we could do it, 3rd would represent our second best World Cup result ever. It's impossible for anyone to argue with credibility that that result wouldn't be a successful campaign.

Anyway ramble over.

 

[SMH]

I can’t be bothered looking it up to confirm but I’m guessing Argentina in 2002 was the last time we beat a genuine “top team” in a major tournament. Christ that’s depressing.

 

[Meadow]

The problem with youngsters going out on loan is that some of the top clubs make lower clubs go through hoops before the kids go out on loan. Guaranteed playing time etc.

Chelsea are one of these.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

There was a strange poster on here with an African name who only ever came to post about genetics. He was of the opinion the slavic people's were supremely gifted and it appears he was right. 4 million people and they do this - incredible.

I descend from Slavs and I'm shit at football. But can play Cricket.

But yes considering their population they have a fantastic record, considering they got to the semis in their first World Cup. Puts the Scottish fan who always goes on about populations as an excuse to shame.

 

[mente captus]

Yep, I'm not disagreeing with you or hyping these players up.


Jadon Sancho too went to Dortmund and has had game time, so definitely agree with you here.

there is a further english boy playing in Germany, in Gladbach i mean, a defender, on loan from west Ham i guess...or already signed permanently?

 

[rudebwoyben]

there is a further english boy playing in Germany, in Gladbach i mean, a defender, on loan from west Ham i guess...or already signed permanently?

Reece Oxford

 

[WilsdenBantam]

there is a further english boy playing in Germany, in Gladbach i mean, a defender, on loan from west Ham i guess...or already signed permanently?

Reece Oxford?

 

[GTFCfish]

This whole tournament we never looked like scoring from open play, not since the first half against Tunisia.

You mean apart from most of the first half against Croatia where Kane and Lingard both missed sitters from open play?

 

[Son of Cod]

there is a further english boy playing in Germany, in Gladbach i mean, a defender, on loan from west Ham i guess...or already signed permanently?

I think that is Reece Oxford.

 

[G.B]

imo the correct answer is reece oxford

 

[epic73]

there is a further english boy playing in Germany, in Gladbach i mean, a defender, on loan from west Ham i guess...or already signed permanently?

Reece Oxford imvho.